Category Archives: news analysis

Volkswagen and Ford Announce Alliance Without Cross Equity

Posted on 15 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The history of such industry collaborations is difficult and littered with road kill. The problem is whether the two global giants and hundreds of thousands of workers can walk in step together or stumble over each other. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, engineering, financial results, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

GM Projects Strong Earnings, Improved Cash Flow in 2019

Posted on 12 January 2019 by Ken Zino

In 2019, despite a diminishing car market, GM expects the overall U.S. market to remain strong, projecting total industry sales in the low 17-million range. The company will benefit from a full year of volume from GM’s all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty full-size pickups. The trucks have contributed to retail market share growth in the light- duty pickup segment every month since August, with average transaction prices that have surpassed those of key competitors. Continue reading →

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

Ford to Restructure European Business Once Again

Posted on 11 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Near term, Ford is cutting costs by a reduction of surplus labor across all functions – salaried and hourly. A change in management structure, announced in December, already is underway through Ford’s hoeing and weeding its global salaried workforce. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, financial results, labor issues, mobility company, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

California, Federal Fines and extended Warranties and Fixes Cost Fiat Chrysler at Least $800m for Diesel Cheating

Posted on 11 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Companies and their board of directors may not believe in global warming, but regulators backed by ruinous fines along with alarmed shareholders and customers are making them act as if they do. Continue reading →

Posted in environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Rejects Unifor Proposals for Oshawa Plant Closing

Posted on 9 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The study shows there would be an immediate fallout in 2020, with Ontario’s GDP expected to fall by $5 billion and a decline in Ontario government revenues of $330 million. In the long-term, Ontario’s economy would shrink by an average of $4 billion each year to 2030, leading to a reduction in Ontario government revenues of nearly a half billion and federal government revenues of just over half a billion a year. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Non-Representative Government? Religions of the 116th Congress

Posted on 5 January 2019 by Ken Zino

By a wide margin, the largest difference between the U.S. public and Congress is in the share who are unaffiliated with a religious group. In the general public, 23% say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” In Congress, just one person – Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who was recently elected to the Senate after three terms in the House – says she is religiously unaffiliated, making the share of “nones” in Congress 0.2%. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people, quality | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Corporate Raiders After Ford Motor Stock at Deep Discount

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Baker Mills’ offer price of $7.00 per share in cash is approximately ~17.84% lower than the $8.52 closing price of Ford common stock on Dec. 14, 2018, the last closing price prior to commencement of the offer. The markets are closed today. Continue reading →

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

Inside Job – Mark Reuss Named General Motors President

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Reuss once kicked the author’s butt at a closed track in New York State. It’s surprising when the North American president of an auto company appears at a race track to drive a car he worked on as an engineer. It’s embarrassing, though, when he’s as fast, well frankly faster, than any hot shoe out there. I was looking at Reuss’s taillights – in the distance. (see AutoInformed on Driving the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe) Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, milestones, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Geely moves Closer to Owning AB Volvo. Chinese Company Owns the Car Brand and Is Buying Into the Truck Business.

Posted on 1 January 2019 by Ken Zino

China’s Geely Holding [GEELY.UL], owner of the Volvo car brand, is buying an 8.2% stake in Volvo (VOLVb.ST) from Cevian Capital. This is worth more than $3 billion at market prices. This makes Geely the biggest individual shareholder in AB Volvo and second ranked in terms of voting rights behind Swedish investment firm Industrivarden (INDUa.ST). Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Predictably – So-Called Tokyo “Court” Secretly Prolongs Detention of Carlos Ghosn By 10 Days According to TV Asahi

Posted on 30 December 2018 by Ken Zino

Ghosn, accused of aggravated breach of trust, is facing allegations of making the car maker take on ¥1.85 billion ($16.8 million) in investment losses that allegedly were his. (See AutoInformed from last Sunday: Japanese Justice or Farce?) Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stefan Juraschek on BMW Electric Car Development

Posted on 29 December 2018 by Ken Zino

We currently produce the following electrified models: the BMW i3 (third model evolution with 120 Ah) , BMW i3s, BMW i8 Coupe, BMW i8 Roadster, BMW 740e, BMW 740Le, BMW 530e, BMW 225xe Active Tourer, MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 and, in China, the BMW X1 xDrive25Le. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, electronics, energy, engineering, manufacturing, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mobility Company Capital Destruction. Latest German JV Attempts to Lessen Negative Effects on Shareholder Value

Posted on 28 December 2018 by Ken Zino

It’s just the latest example of the capital intensive, shareholder-value destroying transition to an ill-defined, but demonstrably expensive mobility company that all automakers are now pursuing. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Japanese Justice or Farce?

Posted on 23 December 2018 by Ken Zino

Carlos Ghosn remains in a tiny jail cell in jail for at least the rest of the year, a Tokyo court ruled today, Sunday 23 December 2018. Ghosn stays locked up until January 1, giving the Japanese “authorities” added time to question him – without his lawyer present – on more alleged wrongdoings as Nissan Motors CEO. Continue reading →

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

The GM Grinch that Stole Christmas, or Did It?

Posted on 22 December 2018 by Ken Zino

There will be a 15% reduction in GM’s salaried workforce, the closing of the Lordstown and Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plants in the US and the Oshawa complex in Canada in 2019. Baltimore Operations and Warren Transmission plants will also be shut down in 2019. The arrival of year-end auto sales data makes things clearer in the view of consultancy LMC. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, autonomous vehicles, car sharing, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Car Rental Rate Holiday Rip-Offs

Posted on 22 December 2018 by AutoCrat

Travelers in need of a rental car in Seattle this Christmas will pay a lot more than usual. According to a new survey from CheapCarRental.net, rental car rates have nearly quadrupled in the city for the holidays. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, news analysis, prices | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment