
General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra drives the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV onto the stage Monday, January 11, 2016 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. GM Executive Vice President Product Development Mark Reuss rides in the passenger seat.
The Bolt EV is said to have more than 200 miles of range on a full battery charge. The expected selling price should be below $30,000 after Federal tax credits when the Bolt EV goes into production before the end of 2016. It’s a tough market segment to enter. During 2015 the hybrid Chevrolet Volt tallied U.S. sales of 15,000, a -18% decline year-over year. Nissan Leaf EV sales at 17,000 declined -43%. Toyota Prius hybrid sales of 185,000 dropped -11% as the electrified segment languished while truck and SUV sales flourished and the overall light vehicle market grew almost 6%.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Mainstream Launches at 2017 NAIAS. Automakers continue to migrate away from traditional auto shows in favor of other venues and experiential market events. These are either built around other trades shows or are self-standing.
• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Terrain
• Toyota Camry
• Kia Stinger
• Honda Odyssey
• Volkswagen Tiguan
• Nissan Rogue Sport
• Ford F150
• Subaru WRX
• GAC Group
• Volkswagen ID Buzz
• Nissan VMotion 2.0