Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Volkswagen and Ford Alliance Under Study

Posted on 21 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Against this backdrop and with a possible shakeout as devastating as occurred more than a century ago as the automobile emerged, it’s not surprising that long established car companies are seeking collaborative agreements to share the risks, cut the cost of research, development and production and survive as an entity when taking an individual road appears one paved with doom. Continue reading →

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Le Mans 2018 – Wrecks, Pit Stops, Safety Car – Pick Winners. Toyota Finally Wins P1 After Years of Breakdowns with a Record 388 Laps.

Posted on 19 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed a 1-2 result, with Fernando Alonso winning at his debut at one of the world’s most famous endurance races. The Spaniard – who together with Kazuki Nakajima and Sébastien Buemi – drove hard throughout the 24 hours in this second round of the FIA WEC Super Season. Continue reading →

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Ford Introduces Two Taxis with Hybrid and Diesel Powertrains

Posted on 14 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The van-like Taxi seats five with a flexible interior. It has more than 60 cubic-feet of cargo volume behind the second row, more than the Nissan NV200 Taxi , which beat it to market years ago. Continue reading →

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U.S. Newspapers Continue to Decline in Readership, Employment, Revenue

Posted on 14 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Despite overall declines in newspaper circulation, digital circulation rose for some national newspapers. In recent years The (not failing) New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have not fully reported their digital circulation to AAM, the group that audits the circulation figures of many of the largest North American newspapers and other publications. Continue reading →

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GM CFO Stevens to Retire. Dhivya Suryadevara New CFO

Posted on 13 June 2018 by Ken Zino

In an unusually long exit, Stevens will remain with the company as an advisor until his retirement. At GM’s annual meeting yesterday, five anti management proposals received significant votes, but not enough to disrupt business as usual at GM. GM stock has been trading in the $44 range, about $6 ahead of its post-bankruptcy return to public trading. Continue reading →

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Ford Expands Power Loss Recall on Edge, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ. Issues Two More Safety Recalls in North America

Posted on 13 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Ford announced today it is issuing two safety recalls and expanding one safety defect recall in North America. On 2018 Ford F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5-liter GTDI V6 engine have high-pressure fuel pumps with misaligned welds. … Continue reading →

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Avalon Amplifies Its Sound with JBL, Dynamometers

Posted on 11 June 2018 by Celtic Princess

The newest Toyota sedan – already known for its quietness- and the modern facility represent a heightened level of cooperation between Toyota and suppliers by working from concept to roll out of a vehicle. Again, this is standard industry practice. Continue reading →

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Honda, GM Expand Cooperation for Next Gen Battery

Posted on 7 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate based on GM’s next generation battery system with the intent for Honda to source the battery modules from GM. The collaboration will support each company’s respective vehicles. The combined scale and global manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers. IT’s another example of how automakers are scrambling to cover the cost of future products as they try to morph to mobility companies. Continue reading →

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NASA Satellite Data Show Pollution Controls Work in SoCal

Posted on 7 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The study, which focused on the four major components of PM2.5, was recently published in the journal “Atmospheric Environment.” This type of pollution denotes particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter, or about 3/100ths the diameter of a human hair. PM2.5 is especially burdensome in California and accounts for the greatest percentage of health impacts attributable to air pollution. Continue reading →

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U.S. Space Exploration Essential for Climate Monitoring

Posted on 7 June 2018 by Ken Zino

More than half of Americans say they would not be interested in going into space, citing cost, fear, and age or health concerns. * Therefore, an expanded definition of the automakers quest to transform into mobility companies does not include to go where no man has gone before at this time. Continue reading →

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SoftBank Vision Fund to Invest $2.25 B in GM Cruise

Posted on 7 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The SoftBank Vision Fund investment will be made in two phases. At the closing of the transaction, the Vision Fund will invest the first tranche of $900 million. At the time that Cruise AVs are ready for commercial deployment, the Vision Fund will complete the second tranche of $1.35 billion. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicle Nod – Super Cruise on All Cadillacs

Posted on 6 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The driver assistance device is made possible by precision LiDAR map data, high precision GPS, a driver attention system and a network of camera and radar sensors. It requires an active OnStar service plan with emergency services to function. Customers it’s said can drive hands-free on more than 130,000 miles of limited-access freeways in the U.S. and Canada. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Piloting Augmented Reality for Technicians

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Ken Zino

The tool – it’s said -can operate in loud workshop environments and dark and tight areas that need light. It also allows for hands-free use in rough environments. This virtual assistance could significantly reduce service time, as technicians will be supported throughout the diagnosis and repair of the vehicle. Continue reading →

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Cadillac, Acura Win in Detroit on Belle Isle Streets

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Ken Zino

In the GTD class, Katherine Legge and Meyer Shank Racing successfully repeated their class win here from one year ago, but with Mario Farnbacher joining the lineup in the #86 Acura NSX GT3. Starting second, Legge unsuccessfully challenged the leading Lamborghini of Bryan Sellers throughout the first 40 minutes. Meanwhile, Justin Marks ran a close third in the #93 MSR Acura. Continue reading →

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FCA Sells Minivans to Google’s Waymo for Driverless Use

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Given Chrysler’s dubious safety record, it’s a risky proposition in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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