Category Archives: news analysis

Under Reporting of Cell Phone Crashes Rampant. New National Safety Council Research Shows NHTSA FARS Data is Garbage

Posted on 10 May 2013 by Ken Zino

A new study from the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that government statistics on the extent of the Distracted Driving problem are deeply flawed, defy common sense and severely underestimate the extent of the deadly public health epidemic that is killing untold thousands and injuring millions more. Continue reading →

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Ford Adding Jobs at Kansas City Assembly

Posted on 2 May 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor is adding more than 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri to meet recovering demand for the Ford F-150 and planned production of a revised Ford Transit. In the sad language of the Obama Administration’s mostly jobless recovery, only half of the jobs will be new hires at an hourly rate – when adjusted for inflation – is less then Henry Ford’s $5 a day Model T wage a century ago. Continue reading →

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Subaru Recalls Forester for Pedal Interference

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Subaru is recalling more than 10,000 2014 model Forester vehicles because the carpeted floor mats were not manufactured properly and can interfere with the gas, accelerator, brake or clutch pedals. Continue reading →

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Highway Trust Fund – Higher Taxes or Big Spending Cuts?

Posted on 25 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The latest report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office paints a grim picture of the status of the Highway Trust Fund that is supposed to keep the nation’s transportation infrastructure up to date and in good repair. Put simply, the … Continue reading →

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U.S. DOT Publishes Distracted Driving Guidelines

Posted on 23 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Department of Transportation finally released today distracted driving guidelines in an attempt to “encourage automobile manufacturers” to limit the distraction risk connected to electronic devices built into their vehicles, such as communications, entertainment and navigation devices. These are of course among the most profitable and sought after accessories in new cars and trucks. Continue reading →

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The History of Lexus

Posted on 19 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Lexus launched in 1989 with two luxury sedans, one small and the other large aimed directly at the Mercedes-Benz S-class. The full size Lexus LS 400 was priced more than $10,000 under top of the line German offerings in the US. At the time, Lexus made bold claims of superior quality and durability, as well as several years without a marked decrease in the quietness, smooth ride, and exterior and interior finishes of the new luxury car line. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor to Pay Q2 Dividend of $0.10 Per Share

Posted on 12 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company today declared Q2 dividend of $0.10 per share on the company’s outstanding preferred Class B and common stock. This is the same dividend paid in the first quarter of 2013, and twice the amount paid in Q2 last year. The second quarter dividend is payable on June 3, 2013 to shareholders of record on May 3, 2013. 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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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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Offshore Brands Increase U.S. Sales and Share During March

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

U.S. vehicle sales of 1.45 million cars and light trucks during March made it the strongest month since 2007 as the Federal Reserve continued to print money and credit flowed freely. In spite of an ongoing recovery in pickup truck sales from the Detroit Three with gasoline prices roughly 30 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, offshore brands, led by the Asians increased their market share to 55.3% compared with 53.4% in February and 54.4% in January. This represented sales 803,554 vehicles from offshore nameplates, up from 636,912 in February and 567,313 units in January. Continue reading →

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Horses for Courses – GM’s Small Block V8 Versus Ford and Ram

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

This debatable engineering philosophy gained some credibility today when GM revealed that the 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups with the 5.3-liter V8 engine – the most popular engine – will be rated at an EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6, an expensive approach that uses two turbochargers and intercooling, among other tweaks. Ram is using a 5.7-liter double overhead camshaft multivalve V8 linked in its best version to an 8-speed automatic, and is rated at 20 mpg. Continue reading →

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Pickups Top F-Series and Ram in Fuel Economy with EPA 23 MPG Highway for V8

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

In a one-two punch, Chevrolet and GMC announced the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup for the 2014 Silverado and Sierra models at EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6. Continue reading →

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EPA Proposes Stricter Emissions Standards, Lower Sulfur Fuel. Big Battle between Oil and Auto Industries Coming over Tier 3

Posted on 29 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed new standards for vehicles and fuels that are the strictest in the history of the agency. EPA said the regulations would reduce both tailpipe and evaporative emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles. Continue reading →

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Scientists Urge Strong Government Policies to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Develop Alternative Fuels. Caveats Abound

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Not surprisingly, it also calls for “strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.” Continue reading →

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Opel Union Members in Germany Vote Down Labor Deal

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Today, IG Metall union member employees of Adam Opel AG in Bochum voted against a revised labor agreement that would have offered their location some long-term jobs while cutting others. Since Opel management at the loss making GM subsidiary previously said that no further negotiations on the proposed labor agreement will take place, the production of the Zafira Tourer and the exclusion of compulsory separations will run out by the end of 2014. Continue reading →

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