-
Recent Posts
- Bye Sauber – Hi Audi Revolut F1 Team
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Marketing – Stellantis, Cox Automotive
- Chinese Junk Watch Death Risk – Luyuan Youth ATVs
- ICE Vehicle Mobile Apps – Wide Satisfaction Differences
- Sports Betting Tax Revenues Soaring
- IndyCar Cheating – New Independent Officiating for 2026 Series
- Ford Expands Mustang Cup USA Series in 2026
- GM Canada Leadership Change – Jack Uppal new President
- Toyota Enhances Arizona Proving Ground
- Happy Nightmare! Holiday Travel to Set New Record
- First Look – $34,995 Subaru Uncharted EV
- Stellantis and Bolt Partner on Driverless Mobility
- Detroit Auto Show – Official U.S. Route 66 Centennial Project
- Genesis Recall for Sudden Unintended Braking
- Road Hazard – Ford Escape Liftgate Hinge Cover Recall
Recent Comments
- Magna on its Share Repurchase Plan in reference to on Magna Posts Solid Q3 2025 Earnings Gain
- Daniel Ricciardo Global Ford Racing Ambassador on Ford Performance Rebranded as Ford Racing
- Gen 3 2026 Nissan Leaf Less than $30,000? | AutoInformed on Milestones – Nissan Begins Assembly of 2013 LEAF EV in Tennessee
- ACSI – Customer Satisfaction with Autos Dropping | AutoInformed on New DOGE Scorecard Announced to Track Trump
- Cadillac Off-Roader – Elevated Velocity | AutoInformed on Annals of Marketing – Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept EV
Archives
Meta
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Japanese Suppliers Yazaki, Denso Plead Guilty of Price Fixing
The two-year price fixing sentences would be the longest imprisonment imposed on a foreign national for a Sherman Act antitrust violation. The fine amounts and prison sentences are subject to court approval and the potential influence of the U.S. State Department, which based on previous actions, cares little – if at all – in my opinion about competitive aspects of the U.S. auto industry or its effects on workers and the U.S. economy. In fact it can be argued that since the end of World War Two, State has actively pursued policies that strengthen offshore competitors of U.S. firms at the expense of the U.S. middle class. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, people, results
Tagged auto informed, auto parts big rigging, autoinformed.com, automotive news, denso, department of justice, honda, japanese price fixing, Ken Zino, sherman antitrust act, state department, toyota, yazaki
Leave a comment
Mopar Debuts Third Factory Built Hot Rod off Chrysler 300
Still working its muscle car roots, the Mopar 300 has a 363 horsepower (hum the Charger was 370?) 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine and a now dated five-speed automatic transmission. A change from a 3.06:1 to a 3.91:1 final-drive means zero-to-60 mph times in the low 5-second range, according to Chrysler, same as the Charger. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing, new vehicle, performance
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Chrysler 300, chrysler group, hemi v8, Ken Zino, mopar, mopar 300, mopar challenger, muscle cars, performance cars, street racers, zino
Leave a comment
Mazda Tribute Recall Follows Ford Escape Defect for Fires
Mazda is recalling 2001-2002 Mazda Tribute SUVs because the master cylinder cap can leak brake fluid, corrode an underhood ABS wiring connector and possibly start a fire. The recall follows one announced by Ford two weeks ago for the same safety defect on Escape SUVs, which mechanically are the same as Mazda Tributes. Like Ford, Mazda said it will tell owners to park their vehicles outside until parts are ready. Continue reading
Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus Lead in NADA Satisfaction Survey
The survey, conducted twice a year by the National Automobile Dealers Association, rates dealer sentiment in three areas: franchise value, automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership and the automaker’s field staff who visit dealerships. Continue reading
BMW Conducts Second Smallest Recall in NHTSA History
In third place with a Bronze medal resides Toyota, the reason for the renewed emphasis on following recall regulations to the letter, after Toyota was fined in 2010 millions of dollars for covering up safety effects. Continue reading
PBGC Says American Airlines Workers Should Worry About Pensions and Medical Care – So Should Taxpayers
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has called out what it says is misleading statements to American Airlines employees by its management about their pension plans under a bankruptcy reorganization. “American Airlines is telling their workers and retirees not to worry, … Continue reading
Posted in aviation, economy, financial results, labor issues, news, news analysis, people, results, transportation
Tagged american airlines, amr, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, pbgc, pension, pension benefit guaranty corporation, zino
Leave a comment
Pep Boys Sold to The Gores Group for $800 Million
The proposed transaction has already interested at least one legal firm trolling for business. Tripp Levy, a securities law firm, immediately put out a notice to investors that there are “potential claims of breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law” against the board of directors of Pep Boys in connection with the sale. There likely will be more such allegations from firms looking to garner legal fees.
However, the agreement does provide for a 45-day “go-shop” period and contains customary closing conditions, including receiving the approval of Pep Boys’ shareholders and all applicable regulatory approvals. A special meeting of Pep Boys’ shareholders will be held following the filing of a definitive proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gores group, Ken Zino, nyse pby, pep boys, sec, tripp levy
1 Comment
Ford Motor Company Posts 2011 Profit of $8.8 Billion
As a result of Ford’s 2011 financial performance, profit sharing payments will go to 41,600 eligible U.S. hourly employees. Under the UAW-Ford collective bargaining agreement, Ford’s North American pre-tax profits of $6.2 billion will generate approximately $6,200 on a full year basis. Based on first-half 2011 results, about $3,750 was paid per employee, which was distributed in December 2011. For the second half of 2011, about $2,450 per employee will be paid in March. Continue reading
Honda at 800,000 Hybrids as Toyota Reaches 400,000 in Europe
In the U.S. alone Toyota has 1,000,000 Prius owners. Moreover Toyota has built a substantial environmental reputation as the global leader in hybrid vehicles with sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids now well over 3,000,000 vehicles.
In spite of clear fuel economy benefits and high U.S. fuel prices, hybrids remain a tiny portion of the U.S. auto market – a little over 2% of sales because mainstream buyers refuse to pay a premium amounting to several thousand dollars over a comparable gasoline-fueled car. Plug in hybrids with expensive lithium ion battery packs will compound the problem. The Prius plug-in coming this year adds another $4,000 to the cost of the standard Prius hybrid. Continue reading
Volt Fire Hearings Pits Ideologues versus Engineers
In the end how you view this low-voltage Congressional short circuit – with lots of smoke but no fires – depends on how you view Obama Administration actions that used taxpayer-funded subsidies to encourage production of the Volt. These include $151.4 million in stimulus funds for LG Chem, which produces lithium-ion polymer battery cells for the Volt, and $105 million given directly to GM, as well as an end-user federal tax credit of up to $7,500 per Volt purchased. Such subsidies will likely be hotly debated for all industries during the election. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, california republican darrel issue, dan akerson, GM, icct, john german, Ken Zino, nhtsa, obama administration, ohio republican jim jordon, volt, volt fires, volt hearings
Leave a comment
Nissan to Build $2 Billion Plant In Aguascalientes Mexico
The announcement comes as the United Auto Workers union is developing plans to once again try to organize transplants in the United States, where Nissan has two other plants. The UAW has been unsuccessful in previous organizing attempts, and its lack of international alliances with other unions is a decided disadvantage.The lack of exports from UAW organized Detroit Three plants is preventing the creation of middle class jobs in the U.S. – now clearly the issue in the upcoming presidential election. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis
Tagged aguascalientes, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, carlos ghosn, Ken Zino, march, nafta, nissan americas, nissan mexico, sentra, tiida, tsuru, uaw, versa
Leave a comment
U.S. New Auto Sales to Drop in January for Third Month
Retail transactions are thought to be the most accurate measurement of underlying consumer demand for new vehicles, so the New Year starts for automakers with mixed results. A weak recovery of some sorts is underway, but auto sales are nowhere near their pre Great Recession levels where the retail SAAR was routinely above 14 million units. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged 2012 auto sales, auto informed, auto sales, autoinformed.com, automotive news, j.d power, january results, Ken Zino, results
Leave a comment
Chrysler Opens Manufacturing Academy in Warren, Michigan
WCM is the creation of Chrysler owner Fiat, which began developing, implementing and refining manufacturing operations in 2005 with the purpose of reducing waste, increasing productivity and “restoring dignity” to the employees. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chrysler, Fiat, Ken Zino, uaw, wcm, world class manufacturing
Leave a comment
Hewlett-Packard Fined $425,000 for Not Reporting Defective Lithium Ion Batteries that Seriously Injured Consumers
The controversy is of interest to the auto industry since its use of lithium ion batteries in electrical vehicles and hybrids is growing at exponential rate, with millions of battery packs soon to be on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation of fires in Chevrolet Volt EVs last week. Nevertheless many consumers remain wary of the emerging technology and it remains to be seen if the Volt brand is damaged. Continue reading
