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Monthly Archives: May 2012
How Long does the Shelby Brand Survive at Ford?
The challenge going forward for both Shelby International and Ford Motor Company is how to remain relevant with a marketing proposition that grows more backward looking as time passes. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, news, news analysis, people, performance
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, carroll Shelby, cobra, edsel ford, ford shelby, gt500, Ken Zino, shelby 1000
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Largest U.S. Airlines Barely Profitable in Q4
These data, combined with record levels of long-term unemployment and a moribund housing market, one wonders how anyone in the ruling class can claim the recession is over? Continue reading
Right to Repair Bill Passes Massachusetts Senate
A version of the bill, omitting dealerships, is currently before the Massachusetts house, with unknown prospects. However, more than 100,000 citizens signed a Right to Repair ballot initiative earlier this year. If the legislature does not pass a final bill, the state’s consumers will get their own chance to vote—on the November ballot. Recent polls have shown support level for Right to Repair as high as 87%. Continue reading
Toyota to Increase V6 Engine Output in Alabama
In April, Toyota Motor Sales came within a rounding error of surpassing Ford Motor Company as the Number Two selling automotive group in the U.S. Ford Motor’s U.S. sales decreased 5% in April year-over-year to 179,660 vehicles in a market that was up 2.3%, in part because its plants were running flat out. Number Three Toyota Motor Sales reported April sales of 178,044, up 12%. Year-to-date, Toyota Motor trails Ford Motor by 52,000 cars and light trucks, a gap is decreasing each month. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, marketing, milestones
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, ford motor, Ken Zino, toyota, toyota Alabama
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Ford C-Max Hybrid Priced $1,000 Less than Prius V
Ford Motor Company said today that the 2013 Ford C-Max compact hybrid utility vehicle will be available this fall with a base price of $25,995 – more than $1,000 lower than the Toyota Prius v’s base price. Whether this makes any sales difference in the marketplace against the formidable Prius lineup remains to be seen. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, marketing
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, c-max hybrid, EVs, Ford, Ken Zino, prius hybrid, toyota
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Natural Gas Company QEPFS Fined for Air Pollution
The Department of Justice said QEPFS, formerly Questar Gas Management, would reduce its emissions by removing outdated equipment at its compressor stations, installing additional pollution controls, and replacing the natural gas powered instrument control systems with compressed air control systems. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, environment, litigation, news, results
Tagged air pollution, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, clean air act, doj, epa, Ken Zino, natural gas
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Acura Recalls TL Sedans for a Bad Power Steering Hose
Acura will recall 52,615 model-year 2007-2008 TL sedans in the United States to replace the power steering hose. The power steering hose form an unidentified supplier may deteriorate and develop a fluid leak. Leaking power steering fluid could lead to loss of power steering assistance or, if it leaks onto a catalytic converter, it can result in smoke, or in the worst case, a fire. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged acura recalls, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nhtsa, recalls, tl recall
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NHTSA Wants Stability Control on Large Trucks and Buses
NHTSA estimates that a standard requiring ESC on the nation’s large trucks and large buses would prevent up to 2,329 crashes, eliminate an estimated 649 to 858 injuries, and prevent between 49 and 60 fatalities annually. Many of these vehicles are now offered with ESC, a computerized system that uses automatic application of individual or multiple wheel brakes to correct for oversteer or understeer. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, safety, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, commercial vehicles, david strickland, esc, FMVSS 136, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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April EU Cars Sales Down Again as Eurozone Crisis Continues
In April, 1,017,912 new passenger cars were registered in the EU, or 6.9% fewer than in the same month of 2011. For the first four months of the year, new registrations were 7.5% lower in the EU than a year earlier at 4,332,342 units. This means the EU remains on track for the fifth straight year of sales declines, an economic disaster that has potential negative effects on Fiat, Ford Motor and General Motors in North America. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, eu, eu april sales, european union, Ken Zino
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Study Claims E15 Ethanol Gas Will Damage New Car Engines
At the heart of the controversy are the costs of installing E15 pumps at gas stations, which already are selling fuel with E10, as well as warranty costs at automakers, where typically powertrains are now covered for 100,000 miles. The problem for automakers and consumers comes from a regulation that applies to existing vehicles on the road, instead of a phase-in for future vehicles. While automakers are now building some vehicles that can safely run of blends containing up to 85% ethanol, CRC said the decision to move to E15 was “premature and irresponsible,” since millions of existing auto engines cannot. Continue reading
Opel Woes Continue as EU Auto Sales Decline In April. Latest Turnaround Plan Faces Fierce Union Fight over Plant Closings
Worrisome for GM shareholders, including the U.S. taxpayers who still own 32% of the world’s largest, but only marginally profitable, automaker after a $50 billion bailout, Stracke told employees that Opel will stay with existing labor agreements through 2014. With the European auto market headed for its fifth straight year of sales declines and with no upturn predicted for years, it’s impossible to see how Opel will cease being a drag on GM earnings. Continue reading
Ford Europe Sales Down 10% in April. UK and Eastern EU Up
Like other automakers, Ford is struggling with the contractionist policies of governments in Germany and Brussels, as voter unrest grows with the Depression level economic conditions. Both in April and year-to-date light vehicle sales in the EU are off almost 8%, the fifth straight year of declines. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged april sales, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, eu, eu sales, european union, ford Europe, Ken Zino, results
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Mercedes Predictive Cruise Control Uses GPS to Save Fuel
As the first GPS-based cruise control system, what the German truck making giant calls Predictive Powertrain Control intervenes to control speed, braking, and can now also regulate the transmission where it perform a single or double downshift of gears ahead of time when fitting. Continue reading
Harold ‘Red’ Poling – Ex CEO and Chairman of Ford – Dead
My favorite Poling story was when Ford was looking to buy Alfa Romeo. So they had a car in the executive garage for Red and other senior execs to drive. One problem, Red’s big wing tips didn’t allow him to operate the small pedals unimpeded. Therefore, he took them off and drove the car in his socks, leaving the shoes on the walkway. It is unknown if the garage staff polished the shoes while he was gone. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, milestones, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, ford motor, harold red poling, Ken Zino, obit
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Honda Uni-Cub Electric Unicycle Enters Testing in June
Honda Motor Company today unveiled its new Uni-Cub personal mobility device, a computer-controlled electric unicycle that looks to be a production ready outgrowth of the U3-X first shown in 2009. The compact EV with a saddle provides the same freedom of movement in all directions that a person has while walking. Since it doesn’t replace body parts, Uni-Cub is not technically a prosthetic device, but will have widespread applications in manufacturing or warehousing and any other indoor occupation that requires walking. Continue reading
Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle, news, transportation
Tagged asimo, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, honda uni-cycle, Ken Zino, u3-x
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