Category Archives: news analysis

Daimler Truck, Volvo Group Create “cellcentric” Fuel-Cell JV

The joint venture will develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty trucks as the primary focus, as well as other applications. A key goal of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group is to start with customer tests of trucks with fuel-cells in about three years and to commence series production during the second half of this decade. Continue reading

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Pandemic Negative Impact on Global Auto Industry Is Permanent. Debate is over How Bad and Who Gets Hurt

LMC says globally the Pandemic recovery is a K-shaped curve. There are winners and losers. Continue reading

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Ford Motor 2020 Loss $1.3 Billion. Microchip Shortage Looms

Chasing General Motors, Ford said it would increase its planned investments in electric and autonomous vehicles to more than $22 billion and $7 billion in turn through 2025. GM caught the industry by surprise when it said it would have 30 new EVs globally during roughly that period. It was the latest Ford attempt to appease the capital markets which remain skeptical about the lackluster performance of the Dearborn based automaker. Continue reading

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Good and Bad? January US Light Vehicle Sales Down -3%

Projections for 2020 Global Light Vehicle sales ended at 77.7 million units, down -14% from 2019 and with a stronger recovery than expected initially. LMC maintains that 2021 is poised to continue the recovery, with volume projected at 86.5 million units, up 11% from 2020. AI thinks while the past isn’t a 100% sure predictor of the future, the new – perhaps more virulent strains of the Covid virus, the nationalistic fights over vaccines, the emergence of fascism and sedition in the US,  and stricter and ongoing social controls in most major market are huge risks. Continue reading

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Daimler to Spin-Off Daimler Truck into Separate Company

Actually, current Daimler shareholders will be Mercedes-Benz holders since the Daimler name will be recast as Mercedes-Benz at “the appropriate time.” Both companies, whatever they are called, are in mobility industries that are facing disruptive technological and structural changes that threaten survival. Continue reading

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IndustriALL Global, IndustriAll European Trade Union Ask for Justice and Solidarity in Covid Fight

“No continent, no country, no economy, no person will be safe until the whole world is safe. Vaccine nationalism is a short-sighted response to this global problem. It will prolong the pandemic and the threat of new variants endangering us all. We stand for the right of universal access to vaccination,” said IndustriALL. Continue reading

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Environmental About Face – General Motors Ditching Internal Combustion Engines by 2035. Carbon Neutral by 2040?

More than half of GM’s capital spending and product development team will be devoted to electric and electric-autonomous vehicle programs. And in the coming years, GM plans to offer an EV for every customer, from crossovers and SUVs to trucks and sedans. This neatly coincides with President Biden’s executive orders dealing with climate change and converting federal fleets to EVs. The success of the initiative will depend on the voters, err buyers, who will ultimately decide. Continue reading

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eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Resumes

The first five mid-week events will air on FS1 (S for Sedition?- editor. Note Bene NASCAR has been proactive in banning the Confederate, aka Traitors’ flag. see NASCAR Disavows Racist Confederate Flag and The Confederate Flag, Conservative Politics and NASCAR ) on select Wednesday nights beginning March 24th. The races include Bristol Motor Speedway’s new dirt configuration, Talladega Superspeedway, Darlington Raceway, and Texas’ Circuit of the Americas’ facility. NBC Sports will pick up the second half of the 10-race season once the network’s broadcast window begins in June. Continue reading

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Motor Vehicle, Parts, Supplies Wholesalers Added Sales in 2019

Notably, Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 4247) and Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 4235) sales decreased in 2019. Continue reading

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Stellantis – a Mega Merger of Auto Companies Names Execs

Today Stellantis officially announced its Executive Team along with the 9 dedicated committees* covering enterprise-wide performance and strategy for running the merged FCA and PSA companies. It is the latest merger in the capital-destroying automotive industry that seeks to pursue … Continue reading

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Alpine and Lotus to Study Joint Development of an Electric Sports Car as Groupe Renault Restructures

It’s a strange twist when French and English performance car purveyors with winning race teams find themselves cooperating. This also comes as the so-called *Renaulution plan that aims to restore Groupe Renault’s competitiveness based on return, not sales or market share was approved in Boulogne-Billancourt by the Board of Directors this morning, Continue reading

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Latest Ford Restructuring – Brazil Manufacturing to Cease

Production will cease immediately at Camaçari and Taubaté in Brazil, with some parts production continuing for a few months to support inventories for aftermarket sales. The Troller plant in Horizonte, Brazil, will continue to operate until the fourth quarter of 2021. As a result, the company will end sales of EcoSport, Ka and T4 once inventories are sold. Manufacturing operations in Argentina and Uruguay and the sales companies in other South America markets are not affected. Continue reading

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A Decade of Chinese Ownership – Volvo Cars Posts Strongest Second-Half Sales in Its 93-Year History

While sales dropped by 21% during the first half of the year, Volvo Car resumed growth in the second half of 2020, reporting month-on-month growth from June onwards. Sales rose by 7.4% to 391,751 cars in the second half of the year compared with the same period in 2019. However, globally, Volvo Cars sold 661,713 cars in 2020, a decline of 6.2% compared to 2019. Although final numbers for the full year are not confirmed, the company claims it outperformed its competitors and gained market share in all its main sales regions during the first 11 months of the year. Continue reading

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BrightDrop? New GM Business Will Electrify, Improve Goods and Services Delivery

BrightDrop introduces GM’s Ultium platform to the commercial vehicle segment and has Level 2 and DC fast charging capabilities. FedEx Express will be the first customer of BrightDrop. An EP1 pilot program has been completed in partnership with FedEx Express. During the pilot, FedEx Express couriers were able to handle 25% more packages effectively and safely per day with the EP1s. FedEx couriers said that the EP1s were easy to maneuver and reduced physical strain. Continue reading

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We the People Say Again Farewell to Despots and Treason

Now, once again, the courtiers of privilege and wealth are presiding over our fate and using hatred, false patriotism and militias of fascists to enrich themselves, expand their unearned privileges and oppress our Citizen Patriots who voted some of the haters out of office. The rest need to go too, especially all the Republicans who wanted to and continue to try to overthrow our votes and cancel our elections. Our new battles of Lexington and Concord will now take place in voter registration procedures and polling places, and our courts. This is our birthright – we will govern ourselves according to our Constitution. Continue reading

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