Monthly Archives: April 2013

Jaguar Land Rover Set March and Q1 Sales Records

Posted on 10 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Overall and particularly overseas, JLR made impressive gains that eluded it under Ford Motor Company ownership. The Tata owned British automaker had sales of 53,772 in March and 115,504 for Q1 of 2013. This means Jaguar Land Rover has posted its best ever monthly and quarterly global sales performance, up 16% and 17% respectively versus the prior year. Continue reading →

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General Motors to Invest €4 Billion in Loss-Making Opel

Posted on 10 April 2013 by Ken Zino

GM has lost more than $18 billion in Europe since 1999, including $1.8 billion in 2012. GM also wrote down more than $5 billion in assets in the Eurozone, and it wrote off more than half the value of its PSA Citroën stock (-$220 million) acquired latest year in what GM said at the time was a collaboration that would, eventually, save billions. Nothing was really new in today’s speeches. Continue reading →

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Kia Dealers Offer Three Months of Sirius on Used Vehicles

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Sirius XM Radio and Kia dealers will give customers a three-month subscription when buying used vehicles equipped with satellite radio. Participating Kia dealers join more than 9,000 auto dealers across the country enrolled in the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle Program. Continue reading →

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Zhongding Power to Fund $200 Million EcoMotors Engine Plant

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Zhongding Power and EcoMotors today announced an agreement to produce engines in Anhui Province China. The plant represents an investment by Zhongding of more than $200 million and will have a capacity of about 150,000 “Opoc” engines per year when production begins in 2014. Continue reading →

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General Motors, Ford Set March and Q1 Sales Records in China

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors and its joint ventures reached all-time highs for March sales in China and Q1 of 2013. Far smaller Ford China also set sales records in March. With total overall light vehicle sales projected at more than 20 million for 2013, China will easily retain its title as the world’s largest auto market followed by the U.S. at more than 15 million. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Recalls Ram Pickup Trucks for Bad Parking Brakes

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group will recall about 9,300 Ram pickup trucks because of defective parking brakes. In a statement just issued, Chrysler said that an internal audit of 2013 Ram 1500 pickups discovered a small number of vehicles whose parking brakes did not comply with mandated performance standards. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Opens Investigation into Sonata Rear Suspension Failures

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

NHTSA has opened an investigation into rear control-arm failures on Hyundai’s popular Sonata sedan. Almost 400,000 Sonatas from the 2006-2008 model years are potentially affected by what could turn into an expensive recall because of corrosion. Continue reading →

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First Fiat Platform Jeep Debuts in fall – 2014 Cherokee

Posted on 8 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Jeep has revealed full details on its upcoming Cherokee mid-size SUV that will be first offering from the famous off-road brand that will use a Fiat-derived platform. When it goes on sale this fall, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee will debut three four-wheel-drive systems, a 9-speed automatic transmission and a new 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 engine with 4,600 pounds of towing capacity. There is also 2.4-liter “Tigershark” MultiAir four-cylinder that will deliver a 45% fuel economy improvement compared to the outgoing unloved and slow selling Liberty model. Continue reading →

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Dominion Energy Deal Cuts Emissions at Coal Powered Plants

Posted on 5 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2014 Cadillac CTS Mid-Size Sedan

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ken Zino

In GM’s latest attempt to make Cadillac a global brand, it is increasing the size of the CTS while toning down its distinctive styling that made it successful in the U.S. but is thought too radical for offshore customers of German and Japanese luxury cars. Continue reading →

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GM to Build 8-Speed Auto Trans, 3-cylinder Engines in U.S.

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors will invest nearly $332 million in four manufacturing sites to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions. The latest investments, announced today at GM plants in Flint and Bay City, MI, Toledo, OH and Bedford, IN, will support production of a new 3- and 4-cylinder Ecotec small gasoline engine, a new V6 engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and tooling for an existing 6-speed transmission. Continue reading →

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EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Plunge 13% in February

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU during February was down for the fourteenth consecutive month in a decline that hurt all vehicle segments. Continue reading →

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Mega Commuters in U.S. Travel 90 Minutes or More to Work

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ken Zino

More than 8% of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer and almost 600,000 full-time workers are mega commuters with journeys of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles. The average one-way daily commute for workers across the U.S. is 25.5 minutes, and one in four commuters leaves their county to work. The data come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey, which provides local statistics on a variety of topics for even the smallest communities. Continue reading →

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U.S. Trade Deficit with Korea Highest on Record under FTA

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. trade deficit with South Korea reached its highest level in history just ten months into the controversial trade agreement, according to the latest data released by the U.S. International Trade Commission. During January the deficit with South Korea was at -$2.4 billion — the largest monthly deficit with Korea on record. Continue reading →

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Hyundai, Kia Recall More Than 1.8 Million Vehicles for Safety Defects

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motor are recalling more than 1.8 million car and crossover vehicles for bad stoplight switches and defective airbags. The most popular selling vehicles from the 2007 up through the 2013 model year are affected. In a required NHTSA filing just made public today, the South Korean automakers once known for poor quality said that a defective brake switch can cause the brake lights to fail or may keep the cruise control engaged even when the driver presses the brake pedal. Continue reading →

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