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March 2, 2022

5 trends shaping the auto industry in 2022 – Brian Finkelmeyer

Throughout the previous few yrs, there has been a good deal of conversation surrounding new vehicle inventory and price ranges. Now that we’re in the 1st quarter of 2022, what essential items can dealers do to remain forward? Currently on Inside of Automotive, we’re joined by Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of New Car or truck Alternatives at Cox Automotive, to talk about new automobile traits for 2022.

From Finkelmeyer’s viewpoint, the automotive marketplace is in a circular pattern of very low new automobile stock and substantial consumer desire. Several auto dealers are still managing with single-digit day supplies and the current U.S.-Candian border protests are slowing matters down more. On the need side, Finkelymeyer says there has been a very little softening of purchaser sentiment that is probably caused by the worldwide economic hardships surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Consumers nevertheless appear to be to be extra than eager to spend comprehensive sticker selling price, or shut to it, for new autos. In truth, info reveals that pre-pandemic, 75{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of new vehicle consumers paid out beneath MSRP for their automobiles. Right now, 75{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} are paying out accurately the MSRP or previously mentioned. Despite this, Cox Automotive’s 2021 Car or truck Purchaser Journey Study unveiled that individuals are still additional pleased with their procuring experiences than they had been pre-pandemic.

Sector gurus including Cox Automotive’s Main Economist, Jonathan Smoke are stating provide problems will increase but it’s possible not for at the very least 6 to eight more months. Car or truck dealers will have to have to be strategic in purchase to attain a foothold with their stock for the Spring advertising time. Finkelmeyer claims auto dealers must take into account these three issues when it comes to controlling stock right now.

Gross earnings vs. turn. Brands are fulfilling dealers who change and earn the quickest. Button up on your reporting the working day in advance of the allocation operates.
Be mindful of aging automobiles and inventory updates on your web page. On normal, 15{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of stock revealed on a dealer’s internet site is 90 times or more mature.
Around 42{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of dealers’ utilised auto stock will come from trade-ins and new vehicle gross sales. It is a vital piece of the business enterprise that allows make the in general profitability of a retail store.

The EV marketplace is still tiny but it is a intense and feisty section. In January of 2022, all around 4.1{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of new auto profits had been EVs. This will be an interesting year for the business, states Finkelmeyer. A amount of EV launches are scheduled to choose place, but customer adoption is nevertheless questionable. Many of these launches are for entire-size EV pick-ups. Will that be plenty of to sway the average buyer? Only time will notify.

A person of the more intriguing developments with Tesla is their acquire about of the luxurious current market in 2021. Tesla outsold Lexus, BMW, and Merced-Benz regardless of not remaining available for acquire or shipping in every state. It is undoubtedly shaping up to be a interesting yr in automotive.

The 2022 NADA Clearly show is right all-around the corner and Finkelmeyer is psyched to get again to in-individual activities. On the agenda for Cox Automotive is new product launches from vAuto such as ProfitTime® GPS, which can help auto dealers improve their used auto acquisition tactic. vAuto is also increasing its ProfitTime® and Conquest™ platforms with Intelligent Advertising to simplify auto dealers’ digital merchandising attempts. Cox Automotive isn’t stopping there however, the firm also announced its new wholesale sector solution, Upside™, previously nowadays.

Click listed here to discover more and timetable your personalized consultation now!

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March 2, 2022

What is today’s news? | Monday, February 28, 2022

In advance of the night chores, look at out present-day newest information.

Right here is a roundup of the headlines in circumstance you’ve got skipped it.

Technological innovation and Equipment

Editor Alex Gray writes about New Holland’s Speedrower In addition series, which has improved electricity, new technological innovation, and a fresh new design and style for 2022.

“When we introduced the product calendar year ‘22 New Holland, Speedrower Additionally, generally the full device was redesigned from the head all the way again via the rear axle,” suggests Lena Bioni, product internet marketing manager for New Holland. “Its options enhanced a large amount of the efficiency, with more quickly infield functions and transport speeds.”

Editor Chelsea Dinterman handles modern information from Syngenta.

The company has announced a 1-of-a-type device to position sustainability insights into the fingers of farmers. The Sustainable Results in Agriculture (SOA) standard is obtainable by the Cropwise Sustainability application.

“Sustainability assessments do not have to be a time-intensive method – consumers who leverage Cropwise Sustainability usually full a 20-30-moment farm evaluation and receive immediate benefits,” mentioned Liz Hunt, Syngenta sustainable and responsible organization head, in a news release.

ReClaim sprayer engineering was introduced by Precision Planting in January 2022 at the firm’s once-a-year Winter Convention.

In this video, internet marketing manager Bryce Baker points out the technology, which is in beta.

“We dwell in a miraculous age,” says Jerry Nelson. “Thanks to modern technological know-how, we can get a pizza, Facetime with Grandma, and upload your most current TikTok video – all though motoring alongside at 70 mph in your self-driving automobile.”

Nelson reflects on the Shoebox Process of storing memorabilia, which could appear to be inefficient, but brings a big delight element.

Very hot Topics in Agriculture

Editor Madelyn Ostendorf covers the latest in the spread of avian influenza.

The point out of New York claimed two added situations of avian influenza past Thursday. A person situation was reported in a flock of captive wild birds in Ulster County, and the other in a backyard flock of blended species birds in Dutchess County.

The USDA has quarantined the premises, and birds on the home have been depopulated to stop the spread of the ailment.

While pressing China to are living up to its trade commitments, the United States will concentration more and more on how to defend its economic passions in dealing with an unreliable companion, reported U.S. trade agent Katherine Tai.

China and the United States are the two major economies in the entire world and their in general relationship is “profoundly consequential,” stated Tai on the closing day of USDA’s annual Outlook Forum.

Drought price tag California’s agricultural sector $1.2 billion and 8,750 comprehensive- and element-time work opportunities previous calendar year, according to a new report prepared for the state’s Office of Foodstuff and Agriculture.

It is the most current evidence that local weather improve is upending the country’s most productive agricultural location.

Final yr was just one of the driest in California’s recorded history, and a lot of farmers’ drinking water utilization was also constrained by new conservation insurance policies.

March 1, 2022

Governors Newsom, Brown and Inslee Announce Updated Health Guidance

SACRAMENTO – With declining scenario prices and hospitalizations across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving with each other to update their masking steerage. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California, Oregon and Washington will undertake new indoor mask guidelines and transfer from mask needs to mask suggestions in educational institutions.

Condition procedures do not modify federal needs, which even now include things like masks on general public transit.

Statement from California Governor Gavin Newsom: “California carries on to regulate our guidelines primarily based on the most recent data and science, implementing what we’ve figured out above the earlier two a long time to manual our response to the pandemic. Masks are an productive instrument to decrease distribute of the virus and future variants, in particular when transmission costs are large. We are unable to forecast the long run of the virus, but we are greater well prepared for it and will continue to take measures rooted in science to retain California relocating ahead.”

In California, beginning March 1, masks will no more time be required for unvaccinated folks, but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor configurations. After March 11, in schools and baby treatment amenities, masks will not be demanded but will be strongly proposed. Masks will still be demanded for everyone in high transmission settings like community transit, emergency shelters, health and fitness treatment options, correctional amenities, homeless shelters and lengthy-term treatment facilities. As generally, nearby jurisdictions may have supplemental necessities outside of the state advice.

Assertion from Oregon Governor Kate Brown: “Two several years back today, we determined Oregon’s very first situation of COVID-19. As has been made very clear time and all over again around the last two yrs, COVID-19 does not halt at state borders or county lines. On the West Coast, our communities and economies are joined. Collectively, as we carry on to recover from the Omicron surge, we will build resiliency and put together for the future variant and the future pandemic. As we discover to live with this virus, we will have to remain vigilant to defend every single other and reduce disruption to our universities, businesses, and communities––with a focus on protecting our most susceptible and the persons and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

In Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority principles requiring masks in indoor community sites and universities will be lifted after 11:59 p.m. on March 11. Other state and federal requirements, these as all those for wellbeing care configurations, public transit, and other specialized settings, will continue being in position for a time period of time.

Assertion from Washington Governor Jay Inslee: “We’ve continued to check knowledge from our condition Office of Wellbeing, and have determined we are able to regulate the timing of our statewide mask necessity. Whilst this represents a different action ahead for Washingtonians, we ought to still be mindful that a lot of within just our communities continue being susceptible. Several corporations and households will continue deciding on to don masks, simply because we have uncovered how productive they are at preserving 1 a different safe. As we changeover to this subsequent section, we will keep on to transfer forward alongside one another thoroughly and cautiously.”

In Washington, indoor mask specifications will be lifted as of 11:59 p.m. on March 11. This new date does not change any other aspect of the up-to-date mask prerequisites Inslee announced final week. Masks will even now be essential in sure settings including health treatment, corrections facilities and extensive-expression treatment services. The Washington Point out Department of Health and fitness will be issuing new direction for K-12 colleges up coming 7 days so educational facilities can get ready to apply current protection protocols.

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March 1, 2022

Ukraine invasion: Kremlin says EU is ‘acting in a hostile fashion towards us’ over arms supplies to Kyiv | World News

The Kremlin has accused the European Union of “performing in a hostile style to us” more than arms materials to Ukraine.

Russia’s government warned that supplying weapons to Ukraine is “hazardous and destabilising” as Russia continues to progress on the place.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also today called the West an “Empire of Lies” as he reviewed the economic climate with major officers next the imposition of sweeping sanctions in opposition to Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to elaborate on Putin’s final decision on a “particular routine” for nuclear forces or the variety of casualties the Russian forces has suffered.

Putin has requested that Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces be put on large alert, expressing aggressive statements by NATO leaders and financial sanctions against Moscow have been guiding the choice.

Stick to are living updates: Blasts read in Kyiv and Kharkiv as Zelenskyy suggests following 24 hours ‘crucial’ for Ukraine

British isles Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described his feedback as “a significant attempt to distract away from his problems in Ukraine” by reminding the earth Russia has nuclear capacity.

The Kremlin’s opinions on Monday are a reaction to the West’s stepping-up of weapons materials to Ukraine to aid it defend against the biggest invasion of a European point out considering that the Next Earth War.

It arrives as Moscow has claimed it has launched a “special military procedure” aimed at protecting civilians.

With out furnishing proof, Mr Peskov went on to say that many Ukrainians were getting utilized as human shields in what he known as a crime by Ukrainian nationalists and described them as victims of their country’s propaganda.

He additional that most Russian citizens have kinfolk in Ukraine, and their hearts had been aching about what was taking place there.

Critical developments in the Ukraine disaster:

• Putin orders nuclear deterrent forces to be set on superior inform
• Zelenskyy: Ukraine and Russia to keep talks at Belarus border
• Ukraine claims regulate of crucial city Kharkiv right after intense clashes
• Overseas secretary warns conflict could last ‘years’
• BP to offload its stake in condition-owned Russian oil huge Rosneft

The Kremlin also acknowledged on Monday that Russia’s economic actuality had improved – but noticed no motive to question
the efficiency and trustworthiness of the central bank, which hiked fascination prices to 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} as it sought to shield the economic climate from unparalleled Western sanctions.

West is an ’empire of lies’

Putin is meeting with numerous officers throughout the day, which include the finance minister and central financial institution governor, Mr Peskov said.

He additional that Russia experienced a plan to react to sanctions and was now carrying it out.

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He stated Moscow will also retaliate in opposition to Western sanctions that concentrate on Russia’s aviation industry.

“The guiding basic principle will be reciprocity, and our possess interests will be at the forefront of that,” he informed reporters on a conference simply call.

A transcript of a assembly with the Russian Key Minister Mikhail Mishustin quoted Putin condemning the West about sanctions.

He reported: “[Mishustin] and I reviewed this subject, the natural way bearing in mind the sanctions that the so-known as Western community – as I known as it in my speech, the ’empire of lies’ – is now making an attempt to put into practice versus our
place.”

Ukraine-Russia talks start off in Belarus

In the meantime, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak has mentioned talks with Russia in Belarus have begun, according to Reuters.

The assembly will emphasis on attaining an fast ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces, the Ukrainian presidency reported in a assertion earlier.

The delegation, which arrived in the Gomel area by helicopter, also includes Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov.

March 1, 2022

Sanctions slam Russian economy – CNN

President Vladimir Putin held disaster talks with his top rated financial advisers following the ruble crashed to a report minimal against the US greenback, the Russian central bank additional than doubled interest costs to 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, and the Moscow stock trade was shuttered for the day. It will keep closed Tuesday, the central lender introduced.

The European subsidiary of Russia’s most important lender was on the brink of collapse as savers rushed to withdraw their deposits. Economists warned that the Russian economic system could shrink by 5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

The ruble shed about 25{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of its benefit to trade at 104 to the greenback at 12:15 p.m. ET soon after before plummeting as a great deal as 40{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. The start out of investing on the Russian stock current market was delayed, and then canceled totally, in accordance to a assertion from the country’s central financial institution.

The hottest barrage of sanctions came Saturday, when the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada reported they would expel some Russian banks from SWIFT, a worldwide financial messaging company, and “paralyze” the belongings of Russia’s central financial institution.

“The ratcheting up of Western sanctions above the weekend has remaining Russian banking institutions on the edge of disaster,” wrote Liam Peach, an rising current market economist at Funds Economics, in a be aware on Monday.

Freezing reserves

Putin’s govt has used the past 8 several years making ready Russia for tricky sanctions by making up a war upper body of $630 billion in intercontinental reserves including currencies and gold, but at minimum some of that fiscal firepower is now frozen and his “fortress” economic climate is beneath unparalleled assault.

“We will … ban the transactions of Russia’s central bank and freeze all its assets, to avert it from financing Putin’s war,” European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen claimed in a statement Sunday.

The United States also banned US greenback transactions with the Russian central financial institution in a move built to reduce it accessing its “rainy working day fund,” senior US administration officials mentioned.

“Our tactic, to put it simply, is to make positive that the Russian financial system goes backward as long as President Putin decides to go ahead with his invasion of Ukraine,” a senior administration formal said.

Peach at Cash Economics estimates that at minimum 50{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of Russia’s reserves are now off boundaries to Moscow.

“Exterior circumstances for the Russian financial state have greatly changed,” the Russian central bank said, saying its extraordinary fee hike and series of other crisis steps. “This is desired to assistance fiscal and price tag balance and protect the personal savings of citizens from depreciation,” the bank added.

Russia is a foremost exporter of oil and fuel but many other sectors of its economic system count on imports. As the worth of the ruble falls, they will become substantially more pricey to get, pushing up inflation.

The crackdown on its top banking companies, and the exclusion of some of them from the SWIFT protected messaging program that connects economic institutions all over the world will also make it harder for it to offer exports — like oil and fuel despite the point that Russia’s critical vitality trade has not however been specifically specific with sanctions.

Finnish oil refiner Neste claimed it experienced primarily replaced Russian crude oil with other materials.

“For a prolonged time, Russia has been methodically getting ready for the function of feasible sanctions, which includes the most serious sanctions we are at this time struggling with,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed. “So there are reaction programs, and they are becoming carried out now as problems occur.”

A operate on the banking companies

But analysts warned that the turmoil could guide to a operate on Russian financial institutions, as savers try out to safe their deposits and hoard cash.

“The sanctions goal Russia’s domestic economic system, triggering financial institution runs and forcing Russia’s central financial institution to continue climbing costs and/or to use its foreign exchange reserves,” the Institute of Intercontinental Finance mentioned in a report published Monday.

“On top of that, we believe that that the [central bank] will have to institute rigid capital controls and quite possibly declare a financial institution holiday as lender runs speed up and demand for overseas trade continues to increase sharply,” it extra.

People stand in line to use an ATM money machine in Saint Petersburg, Russia February 27, 2022.

1 early casualty was the European subsidiary of Sberbank, Russia’s most important lender that has been sanctioned by Western allies. The European Central Financial institution stated Sberbank Europe, together with its Austrian and Croatian branches, was failing, or probable to fall short, because of “sizeable deposit outflows” induced by the Ukraine disaster.

“This led to a deterioration of its liquidity placement. And there are no available steps with a realistic chance of restoring this position,” the ECB stated in a statement.

Sberbank (SBRCY) shares mentioned in London fell by almost 70{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. Other Russian firms with international listings had been also hammered. Gas giant Gazprom (GZPFY) dropped 37{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in London investing. Shares in web services supplier Yandex (YNDX) were being suspended from trade on the Nasdaq, alongside 7 other Russian organizations shown in New York.

Nasdaq declined to remark. But a person acquainted with the subject explained to CNN that the trade was asking Russian organizations whether they want to make materials disclosures pursuing the sanctions declared in new times by the United States and other nations.

The Russian central financial institution final week intervened in the forex marketplaces to try out to prop up the ruble. And on Friday, it reported it was increasing the supply of charges to ATMs to satisfy improved desire for dollars. On Monday, the Russian governing administration purchased exporters to trade 80{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of their international currency revenues for rubles — a evaluate analysts claimed was aimed at relieving stress on the Russian forex.

The central financial institution also temporarily banned Russian brokers from marketing securities held by foreigners, despite the fact that it did not specify which assets. The federal government experienced also purchased a ban on overseas trade financial loans and bank transfers by Russian residents exterior of Russia from March 1, Reuters claimed.

— Charles Riley, Laura He and Chris Liakos contributed reporting.

March 1, 2022

Nutson’s Wekly Auto News Wrap-up February 20-26, 2022

AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO – February 27, 2022; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel’s “take” on this past week’s automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.

LEARN MORE: Full versions of today’s news nuggets along with thousands of pages of relevant news and opinions, information stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a bold headline and then inserting into any Site Search Box.

Nutson’s Automotive News Wrap-up – Week Ending February 26, 2022 Below are the past week’s important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as
expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets.

* U.S. DoE factoid of the week: The Environmental Protection Agency maintains a listing of “off-cycle” vehicle technologies that reduce emissions but are not sufficiently accounted for in city and highway test cycles. These technologies include active aerodynamics, thermal control technologies, active warm up, engine idle stop-start, high efficiency lighting and alternators. Manufacturers can gain credit toward meeting their emissions requirements by adopting these technologies and several saw widespread adoption by vehicle manufacturers for the 2020 model year. The use of thermal glass or glazing to reduce transmission of heat from the sun reached a production share of 89{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, followed by high efficiency lighting at 85{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and passive cabin venting at 78{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. The oft not-loved Engine Idle Stop-Start system had a production share of 50{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

* For the eighth consecutive week, the nation’s average gas price has climbed, rising 3.2 cents from a week ago and stands at $3.52 per gallon according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. The national average is up 20.7 cents from a month ago and 88.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 5.7 cents in the last week and stands at $3.93 per gallon, the highest since May 20, 2014. Oil prices have seen a see-saw between two different situations. Oil is rising due to the Russian incursion, and falling on the potential Iran nuclear deal unleashing Iran’s crude oil.

* The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is recognizing 65 models with the 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, as improved headlight offerings boost more vehicles into the top tier. Another 36 models earn the lower-tier TOP SAFETY PICK award for a total of 101 winners overall. This time last year, there were 90 winners, including 49 earning TOP SAFETY PICK+. Hyundai Motor Group, which includes the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, has the most 2022 awards overall and the most awards in each category — 11 TOP SAFETY PICK+ and 10 TOP SAFETY PICK awards for a total of 21. Volkswagen Group, which includes the Volkswagen and Audi brands, is not far behind with eight TOP SAFETY PICK+ and three TOP SAFETY PICK awards. Volvo earns 10 TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards. See the full report here.

* Automotive consulting firm AutoPacific just issued its forecast of fully electric light vehicle sales in the U.S. of around 700,000 units in 2022 with strong annual increases throughout the 6-year forecast period. The forecast comes as consumer demand for EVs is also at its highest yet, having spiked significantly in the past two years.

* DeLorean will return as an electric vehicle, according to various reports including a recent story in the San Antonio Business Journal, which says DeLorean Motor Co., now known as DeLorean Motors Reimagined, plans to hire 450 people for its new home in Port San Antonio. DeLorean teased its return to the automotive market with a 30-second advertisement that aired in selected markets as part of Super Bowl LVI pre-game coverage.

* Volkswagen has launched the countdown for the electric ID. Buzz! The World premiere of the zero-tailpipe-emission ID. Buzz is scheduled for March 9th. Two versions to be sold in Europe. The new electric Bus debuts this year as ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo. Production of the ID. Buzz starts in the first half of this year, and the European launch follows just a short time later in the Fall. The ID. Buzz is also set to be sold as a long-wheelbase model in the U.S. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz will make its first-ever U.S. public appearance at SXSW from March 11-20, 2022.

* Raptor everything! The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor made its debut and it’s coming to the U.S. with a 392-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine paired up with a 10-speed automatic. So get ready to fly across the Mojave Desert. It’ll arrive next year.

* The cargo ship carrying a load of VW Group vehicles continued to burn all week with less intensity. By week’s end fire crews were able to board the vessel to douse hot spots. The cause of the fire is not yet determined. Battery electric vehicles on board had made the fire difficult to extinguish. VW, Audi, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini dealers are scrambling to try and find replacement vehicles for their customers. The latest estimate of the total loss is $335 million.

* French authorities are installing “sound radars” in some cities to detect and photograph vehicles making excessive noise, which they say is a public health hazard. New sensors, or “sound radars,” were placed in seven cities last week as an experiment. The sensors can detect and take pictures of vehicles making excessive noise, a problem that officials say has gotten worse in recent years. The hope is to eventually set a noise-pollution limit and fine those motorists exceeding it.

* Ford is recalling more than 330,000 Mustangs in the U.S. to fix backup camera displays that go blank or become distorted. The recall covers cars from the 2015 to 2017 model years. The rear view camera wiring can become loose or damaged, causing the problem.

* Ford is also recalling nearly a quarter-million heavy duty pickup trucks in the U.S. because the drive shafts can fracture and cause a loss of power. The recall covers certain F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups from the 2017 through 2022 model years. The trucks have gasoline engines and aluminum drive shafts.

* Stellantis NV has issued a temporary stop sale on a limited number of Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for a problem preventing the vehicles and their key fobs from communicating. Customers have reported being locked out of their vehicles and unable to start them. Both the two-row Grand Cherokee and the three-row Grand Cherokee L are affected. Parts to fix the problem are being expedited to dealers.

* From ClassicCars.com we read Denise McCluggage will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in early March as a member of a Class of 2022 that also includes Pete Brock, Helio Castroneves, Jack Roush and Banjo Matthews. While she won’t be there, she died in 2015 at the age of 88, the car in which she won her first race will be. The car, a Jaguar XK140, was a gift from Briggs Cunningham, the wealthy American sportsman she met in the early 1950s while covering a yacht race as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle.

* The Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, has announced its 2022 inductee class: The Green Book publishers Alma and Victo Green; Lamborghini founder Feruccio Lamborghini; motorsports pioneer Lyn St. James; Lu Guanqui, founder of Chinese automotive supplier Wanxiang; and Taicho Ohno, pioneer of the Toyota Production System.

* Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Vice President for Design and Chief Creative Officer has been named 2022 World Car Person of the Year by the The World Car Awards jury panel representing 102 journalists from 33 countries. The 2022 World Car Awards program will end at the New York Auto Show on April 13, 2022 with the announcement and presentation of the: World Car Design, World Luxury Car, World Performance Car, World Urban Car, World Electric Vehicle and World Car of the Year.

* On the 85th birthday of his car owner, Roger Penske, 23-year-old NASCAR Cup Series rookie Austin Cindric beat Bubba Wallace to the finish line by .036 seconds in overtime to win last Sunday’s 64th running of the Daytona 500. Cedric piloted the Discount Tire sponsored No. 2 Team Penske Ford to a packed house at Daytona. It was the first big race for NASCAR’s Next Gen race car. It was the first time a rookie won the Daytona 500 since 2011.

* Michael Andretti is targeting expanding his motorsport portfolio into Formula 1 in time for the 2024 season. Formula 1 has featured 10 teams since 2017, with the most recent addition being the US firm Haas, but the regulations allow for as many as 13 entrants. Andretti Autosport’s empire includes teams in the NTT IndyCar Series and Formula E, but it has recently targeted a further expansion into Formula 1. Andretti had submitted an entry to the FIA to field a new F1 team, starting in 2024, under the name of Andretti Global. The application requires approval from Formula 1’s governing body the FIA.

Stay safe. Be Well.