Category Archives: news analysis

Multi-Seasonal Self-Driving Data Issued by Ford

Leaving aside for the moment giant unresolved privacy issues and how companies can sell your personal information their benefit not yours, data is needed to help engineers and researchers create software that can teach self-driving vehicles how to analyze their environments. This software used to be called the driver. Continue reading

Posted in autonomous vehicles, electronics, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alexandra Ford English to Join Rivian’s Board of Directors

The announcement comes at crucial point for Ford Motor as analysts are speculating that future of a challenged Ford – operational competence, liquidity, as well as quality and warranty issues – will require a merger with another global automaker, perhaps Volkswagen. (Bill Ford has been quoted – second hand – by insiders as saying “No.” Then after a pause “Hell No.”) Continue reading

Posted in mobility company, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

US Q1 GDP Estimates – Negative Growth as Economy Retracts

Given Wilbur Ross’s previous statements the upcoming GDP estimates will be Trump re-election campaign documents, likely as disconnected from economic reality as Trump and his courtiers who stood by and watched the ongoing US COVID-19 disaster happen, claiming it would disappear by the beginning of April. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Penske Automotive to Hold Audio Annual Meeting

Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person; however, stockholders will be afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2020 are entitled to vote at, or attend, the Annual Meeting. Penske Automotive did not immediately respond to whether this means no media access. Continue reading

Posted in financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Global Unions Want COVID-19 Dubbed Occupational Disease

The global union movement says workers need official recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. Such recognition would ensure the right to worker representation and occupational safety and health (OSH) rights and the application of agreed measures to reduce risk. These rights include the right to refuse to work under unsafe working conditions. This also ensures employers are responsible and liable and that negligent employers are subject to the application of penalties. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, labor issues, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daimler Q1 2020 Net Profit Down -92% at €168m from €2149  

Daimler says it responded to the “temporary drop in demand” caused by the Covid pandemic by proactively taking production stoppages in March and April. The net liquidity of the industrial business decreased to €9.3 billion at the end of first quarter, compared to €11.0 billion at year-end 2019. The decrease is particularly due to the negative free cash flow of the industrial business. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Toyota and FAW Restructure Their Joint Company Management

AutoInformed thinks this really is a giant step toward eliminating Germany luxury car makers as the brands of choice in the Chinese market with a Chinese brand with electric, sports and luxury cars. Continue reading

Posted in electric vehicles, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Global Light Vehicle Sales Plunge. Prelude to Rest of the 2020 Year or the Trend for Years After?

Almost all major vehicles markets suffered steep year-over-year declines in March. The beginning of a downward spiral of unknown duration, according to consultancy LMC with 2020 dropping to 71 million units compared to, gulp, 90 million in 2019 Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, manufacturing, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Most Say Trump Too Slow in Coronavirus Response

With the Trump administration and many state governors actively considering ways to revive the stalled U.S. economy, the public strikes a decidedly cautious note on easing strict limits on public activity. About twice as many Americans say their greater concern is that state governments will lift restrictions on public activity too quickly (66%) as say it will not happen quickly enough (32%). Continue reading

Posted in customer satisfaction, environment, milestones, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

First GM-Ventec Critical Care Ventilators Delivered

The shipments, of course, are putting important tools in the hands of front-line medical professionals treating patients seriously ill with COVID-19 as the US desperately tries to catch up with the plague and the deaths made worse by denials among top political leaders. Continue reading

Posted in environment, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

TravelCenters of America Lays Off  More than 3000

Most were involved in the restaurants at the truck stops. All furloughed employees currently enrolled in TA’s benefits programs will continue to be eligible for health care coverage based on their plan. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, economy, environment, labor issues, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Groupe Renault Reveals A New Strategy for China

Renault will continue to provide aftersales service for its 300,000 customers through Renault dealers, and also through Alliance synergies. Further development for Renault brand passenger cars will be detailed later within a new mid-term-plan from Renault. Continue reading

Posted in manufacturing, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Social Distancing Time Frames: How Our Expectations Affect Compliance

“We said, ‘There’s something wrong here in the news,’” Briscese says. “Someone from the government says one thing and then another thing and you had conflicting messages from epidemiologists saying, ‘We are here for the long run. This is a marathon, not a sprint.’” Continue reading

Posted in environment, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Q1 Prelim Results Hint at COVID-19 Illiquidity

Ford’s Q1 vehicle wholesales were down 21% from a year ago, largely as a result of lower production and demand related to the coronavirus.  Ford currently expects to report revenue of about $34 billion and first-quarter adjusted losses before interest and taxes of about negative -$0.6 billion, which excludes about $0.3 billion of special-item charges. The company has not yet calculated its tax rate for the first quarter and is not able to provide its preliminary net loss or loss per share. As of 9 April, the company had about $30 billion in cash on its balance sheet, including $15.4 billion of proceeds from borrowings last month against two existing credit lines. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

COVID-19 – GM Gives $2.65 Million to 40 Non-Profits

Included in these efforts is a $1 million grant to the DonorsChoose Keep Kids Learning plan, which provides $1,000 credits to 1,000 teachers in high-need school districts to help send basic resources like books, pencils, notebooks, food and cleaning supplies to students’ homes. Continue reading

Posted in environment, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment