Category Archives: news analysis

Death Of The Diesel Continues As London Mayor Delivers Online Checker To Help Car Buyers Choose Cleaner Cars

The Mayor wants to help restore public confidence following the ‘dieselgate’ scandal, in which many Londoners wrongly brought ‘cleaner’ cars in good faith but later found out they had dirty polluting engines because of defeat devices or the official testing process not reflecting emissions in ‘real world’ conditions. Continue reading

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Variables Abound – Meet the New NAFTA

AutoInformed agrees that the text offers greater certainty about the future of North American automotive production, trade, and investments, the USMCA still must be signed, ratified, and the enabling legislation must be passed in each of the three countries before the agreement can go into effect on the target date of 1 January 2020. It’s by no means a sure bet. Continue reading

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Dieselgate – Audi Fines of ~$1 Billion hit Porsche Guidance. Porsche is Economical with the Truth on Ongoing Risks.

Porsche rules out however a spin off ala Ferrari that could value and independent company at more than $80 billion. The remaining outstanding fraud case from the noxious diesel emissions scandal is remains ongoing in Stuttgart, where state prosecutors are investigating the role Volkswagen’s sports car brand Porsche played in the sordid diesel affair. Continue reading

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Volvo Cars Canada Debuts First Vehicle Subscription Service

With a few clicks on a smartphone, Canadians can order a new car in less than 10 minutes. The Care by Volvo subscription includes services such as winter tire installation and storage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a concierge service that assists Care by Volvo subscribers through every step of the process including coordinating delivery with their local Volvo retailer. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company Q4 Dividend Remains $0.15

While the F-Series exceeded the 70,000-truck mark for the seventh straight month, selling 75,092 pickups in September, year-to-date the F-Series was down -8.8% in September and up 3% year-over year to date. Still, transaction pricing is running at record levels of $46,600 per truck, up $1,000 over a year ago. Super Duty transaction pricing totaled a record $59,100 per truck in September. How long can this last? Continue reading

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Beware of Self Interest in Mobility Promotion says NADA

“I get it. You can’t go to an automotive or a tech conference these days without hearing about the end of personal vehicle ownership,” he said. “But I’m asking you: Question the hype, ask for proof, and find out what they’re not telling you. The future will work itself out regardless. I just want us to be informed in the meantime.” Continue reading

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Freshened Mazda CX-5 Launched in Japan

Pre-orders have also begun for the CX-5 Exclusive Mode special edition. This range-topping special edition money maker (Mazda is financially challenged since the Ford Motor divorce that hurt both parties) has selected materials that create a look of “warmth and modernity.” Sales of the updated CX-5 and CX-5 Exclusive Mode special edition start on November 22. and the crossover will, maybe, eventually find its way to the U.S. Continue reading

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World’s First Female Formula 1 World Champion?

The last woman to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix was Lella Lombardi more than 40 years ago. There has never been a female Formula 1 Grand Prix race winner. Gimmicky or not – and this could work at least as a business – racing remains one of the last sports heavily dominated by men, not only behind the wheel but everywhere you look: in the pit-lane, garage, workshop and laboratory. W Series aims not only to promote female drivers but also to encourage “girls and women” into engineering and science careers and to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in schools, colleges and universities. Continue reading

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UN on Global Warming: Rapid, Far-Reaching Unprecedented Changes in All Aspects of Society Needed

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved by the IPCC on Saturday in Incheon, Republic of Korea. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. Continue reading

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Bye J Walter Thompson as Ford Sacks Global Marketing, Adds New Creative Agency and More In-House Workers

Ford also is creating more than 100 new in-house marketing positions tied to brand design, media tools and partnerships, and digital labs. Ford claims this new global marketing approach – is expected to yield $150 million in efficiencies annually. This only part of a series of actions that Ford’s in taking to become more profitable. More white-collar job cuts will assuredly follow. Continue reading

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Don’t Like Change? Avoid the Auto Biz

Industry stakeholders will be further challenged over the next 17 months as numerous critical new vehicle launches will add to the strain of an already stressed industry,” says Bill Rinna, in charge of Americas Vehicle Forecasts at LMC Automotive. Continue reading

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Western European Car Registrations Plummet -23%

September saw the downside to August’s pull-forward effect, as WLTP emissions regulations were widely implemented from 1 September. The transition to WLTP also led to the unavailability of some models that had not received approval under the new procedure. The fact that there was one fewer selling day in September 2018 than in September 2017 across the region did not help sales either. Continue reading

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Amazon Raises Minimum Wage to $15 for All U.S. Employees

More than 250,000 Amazon employees, as well as more than 100,000 seasonal holiday employees, and their families will benefit from the new, higher pay. Amazon’s public policy team will also begin advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage so that it remains competitive at the bottom of the labor market. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel: CARB Fines LKQ $294,000 for Selling Illegal Used Diesel Soot filters

In a related case in 2017, West Coast Diesel, a Fresno repair shop caught selling and installing illegal parts, agreed to a settlement that included additional monetary penalties should they violate the terms of the agreement by installing even one diesel particulate filter. Several other Central Valley diesel repair shops are now under investigation for selling and installing illegal filters. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Barely Bests BMW in September US Sales

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 26,169 Mercedes-Benz models, a decrease of 9.8% from September 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported best-ever month of 4,448 units (up 44.0%) and smart reported 98 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 30,715 vehicles for the month. Continue reading

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