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Monthly Archives: October 2012
Driving the 2013 Lexus LS 460, F Sport and 600hL Flagship Sedans
Lexus after decades of understated luxury has turned to relying on a “bold new grilles” and German-like performance models across the lineup to attract younger buyers. The latest example comes from its flagship LS sedan, which once upon a time (1989) catapulted Lexus to luxury car fame by being anti-German with its compliant ride without harshness and nosie, anti-German with a simple interior, anti-German with its limited maintenance requirements, anti-German with its much higher quality and durability, and decidedly anti-German with its much lower – by thousands and thousands of dollars lower – sticker prices. This formula has Lexus on track to sell 250,000 luxury vehicles in the U.S. this year, where it has dominated luxury sales for decades, except for natural disaster induced production losses that curbed sales during 2011. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, road test
Tagged 2013 lexus, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, driving impression, f-sport, Ken Zino, ls 460, ls60hL, luxury cars
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U.S. Motorcycle Thefts Decrease to One Every 11 Minutes
The National Insurance Crime Bureau today said that motorcycle thefts were down 6% in 2011 from their 2010 total. This means 46,667 motorcycles reported stolen in 2011 compared with 49,791 in 2010. The theft rate, which sounds low, actually averages to one motorcycle theft every 11 minutes. Continue reading
New “Eco Friendly” Refrigerant Can Burn in Accidents Says Mercedes
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Environmentalists have forced the use of a new air conditioning refrigerant in Europe, saying it is better at cutting down on global warming, but it turns a out that the latest concoction from DuPont or Honeywell can go up in flames during an accident. Continue reading
NHTSA Prompts Recall of Dodge Ram Pickups for Axle Lockups
The Office of Defects Investigation at NHTSA opened an investigation this past July into complaints alleging rear differential failures resulting in rear wheel lock-up on Dodge pickup trucks,. Chrysler has now decided to recall 44,300 Dodge Dakota and Ram 1500 models. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Dakota recall, Ken Zino, nhtsa, ram recall
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Honda Adds to Previous Recalls of CR-V Crossovers for Fires
Honda is recalling 500,000 CR-V models globally because an electric window switch can melt and cause an interior fire. This is in addition to a Honda recall in March for the same problem on other CR-V and Pilot models. At least five fires have been reported. In the U.S., the latest quality gaff covers model year 2002-2006 CR-V passenger vehicles manufactured from February 2002, through July 2006, potentially have the defective driver-side power window switch that may fail or melt.
Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s well-publicized quality meltdown, but so far it hasn’t hurt new vehicle sales at either.
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GM Ren Cen Honors Triple Crown of Tiger Miguel Cabrera
General Motors is adding three panels to its changing LED sign atop its Renaissance Center headquarters this weekend to celebrate Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera’s winning the American League Triple Crown. Cabrera led the league during the 2012 regular season in the batting average (.330), runs batted in (139) and home runs (44), and if there’s any justice in the baseball world should be the most valuable player when the votes are tallied, unless something, well, fishy occurs.. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, detroit tigers, gm ren cen, Ken Zino, miguel cabrera, mlb
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Brits Say Rising Car Travel Costs are More Important than a Pint
What is said to be the rising car travel costs is forcing changes in buying and drinking habits in Great Britain, if you can believe MoneySupermarket.com. One third of right-hand drive motorists could not live without their car as costs rise, says the web comparison-shopping site. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, british car costs, car costs, Ken Zino
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Toyota, Honda Post Huge September Sales Gains, Nissan Stalls
Worrisome for competitors were increases in market share of 2.6% at Toyota, and 1.2% at Honda year-over-year, according to AutoData. Each percentage point in share is worth roughly $1 billion dollars in profits, according to an old industry rule of thumb. Left as road kill was Nissan whose share dropped more than 1% with sales of 92% units. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, honda, hyundai, imports, Ken Zino, kia, nissan, results, september sales, toyota
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Chrysler Group Reports September 2012 U.S. Sales Increase of 12%
Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 142,041 units, a 12% increase compared with sales in September 2011 (127,336) – the group’s best September since 2007 before the reckless practices of Wall Street collapsed the housing market and the economy. Of the Detroit Three automakers, Chrysler put in what was arguably the best performance of the month by nearly matching overall industry growth of 13%. Continue reading
Posted in marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chrysler group sales, Fiat, Ken Zino, u.s. sales
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General Motors September U.S. Vehicle Sales Up Slightly
General Motors reported September U.S. vehicle sales of 210,245 vehicles, an increase of 1.5% compared year-over-year to September 2011 in an industry that grew by 14.5%. GM sales executives, looking for a bright spot, said that passenger car sales increased to 89,000 from 69,000 for September, or +29%, compared to an industry gain of +23.5%. All GM brands increased their retail sales in what was another tough month for the U.S.’s largest automaker. The largest U.S. automaker now unquestionably has a better sales mix with calendar year-to-date sales of 813,000 cars, 678,000 trucks and 478,000 crossover vehicles. GM sales year-to-date are up 3.4% in an industry that recovered at four times that rate, though. The tepid or turn-around GM sales – choose your interpretation – GM are the sum of a complex three-dimensional game, which attempts to balance profits, capacity, competitive actions and momentum, with still badly needed brand rebuilding. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto bailout, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gm results, Ken Zino, results, truck sales
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Ford Motor U.S. Sales Flat in September
September U.S. vehicle sales at Ford Motor were the same as last year,175,000, as the Dearborn-based automaker continues to lag market growth. A variety of factors – including inventory shortages, the result of deficient forecasting made early in the Great Recession when Ford jettisoned (too) many workers and plants, as well as necessary new model changeovers now underway are clearly hurting results.
Projections put the overall U.S. industry up more than 12% when final numbers are available late today [September came in at +13%], with Japanese makers Toyota, Nissan and Honda expected to post double-digit increases as car segments continue to boom because of $4 a squirt gasoline. Once again, this month Toyota – now fully back in production – challenged Ford for the Number Two U.S. sales position with monthly sales of 171,910 units.
The subcompact, compact and midsize car segments are expected to show retail sales growth of at least 25% percent, compared with September 2011, according to a projection by J.D. Power and Associates. Japanese automakers have strong reputations and residual values in these segments, which result in attractive pricing, buyer loyalty and increasing sales. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, f-series, Ken Zino, results, small car sales
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Firing of BMW Salesperson for Facebook Photos Upheld
The National Labor Relations Board has found that the firing of a BMW salesperson for photos and comments posted to his Facebook page did not violate federal labor law, because the activity was not protected. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, litigation, people, results
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, facebook, Ken Zino, knauz bmw, nlrb
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Honda Expands Acura TL Fire Recall to add 573,000 Accord Cars
Honda is expanding an Acura recall for defective power steering hoses that can cause fires to a combined total of more than 625,000 vehicles, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing revealed today. This is an additional recall since the initial Acura one last May. Affected are 2007-2008 Acura TL and now – far more numerous – 2003-2007 Accord V6-powered cars. Honda in Japan eventually decided to recall the Accords after a fire was reported by a U.S. dealer in early June. However, parts are not yet available for Accord owners. They will have to wait until early 2013 because replacement parts for Accord V6 vehicles are different from the parts for the recalled Acura TL models. The supplier was not identified. Continue reading
CAW Members Approve New Chrysler Two-Tier Labor Contract
CAW members at Chrysler have approved a new collective bargaining agreement, voting 90% for ratification, the Canadian union announced late yesterday. The number of Chrysler members actually casting ballots was not disclosed after ratification meetings held over the weekend in Windsor, Brampton and Etobicoke, Ontario.
It was the end of a difficult series of negotiations for the weakened union, as the three multinational automakers – Chrysler, Ford and GM – presented a united front and asked for the end of all defined benefit pensions, cuts in current wages, which ranged from C$34-$41, dropping the “30 years and out” retirement provision, and elimination of most work rules. The Detroit Three argued that an overvalued Canadian dollar, unhealthy financial markets, and increasing imports from Asia and Europe, required the drastic givebacks. When the deal was finally done, a partial victory emerged for both sides, and it was arguably the best the union could do against job-exporting automakers without bringing the factories tumbling down on its own union members. Continue reading
