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Category Archives: news analysis
GM Pension Buyout Financial Engineering or Coup?
General Motors announced that it would offer lump-sum buyouts to 42,000 retired salaried employees while 76,000 others would have their pensions transferred to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, which would take over the GM white-collar plan. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, insurance, news, news analysis, results
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gm pensions, Ken Zino, pension buyouts, pensions, prudential
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Mazda to Race Diesel Engines in U.S. Grand Am GX
With the RX-8 no longer in production for the U.S. market, Mazda is moving to bolster its marketing efforts by combining racing with a car that will be on sale here. The racing effort also begs the question when and where a Mazda Skyactiv-d production engine will appear in the United States. No Japanese automaker is currently selling a diesel in the U.S. – a possible area Mazda could exploit, building on its fuel-saving technologies. Continue reading
Posted in milestones, news analysis, performance, racing
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, grand am gt, Ken Zino, mazda, mazda diesel, rx-8, Skyactiv-d
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Chrysler, Ford and GM Post Best U.S. May Sales in Years. But…
Chrysler, Ford and GM posted the best May sales in years today as the U.S. auto market continued its slow recovery to what looks to be shaping up as a 14 million unit year – the best since the collapse of the economy under the waning years of the Bush Administration. In terms of numbers, GM once again led with sales of 245,000 light cars and trucks – it’s highest in 33 months, followed by Ford Motor (209,000) and Chrysler Group (150,000). The market appears to be slipping away from Ford and General Motors, though. Only Chrysler Group at 689,000 year-to-date for a 33% increase outraced industry growth of 13%. Ford Motor up 6.5% (933,000) and GM up a mere 2% at 1,067,000 badly lagged the auto sale expansion. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chrysler sales, ford sales, gm sales, Ken Zino, may sales, results, u.s. sales
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Ford Stays Number Two in May Sales Ahead of Toyota by 6,000
Whether Ford can retain the Number Two spot as it converts plants to build the new 2013 Fusion and Escape as well as the Lincoln MKZ remains to be seen. Ford is capacity restrained and during May it could have sold more of ‘high demand” vehicles such as the Ford Fusion. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, ford results, Ken Zino, may sales, results, Toyota results
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U.S. DOT Closes 26 Bus Operations in Its Largest Crackdown
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced today that it has shut down 26 bus operations, declaring them “imminent hazards” to public safety, the largest single safety crackdown in DOT’s history. Continue reading
April Japanese Automaking Surges with $13 Billion in Exports
The strong recovery is bad news for the Detroit Three since many of the vehicles will be shipped to North America, by far the largest export market for Japanese automakers. More than 157,000 vehicles were shipped to North America, with 140,000 of those sent the United States, where the new vehicle market is slowly growing once again. Continue reading
EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Drop 12% in April
Unlike the car market in Europe, which is in its fifth straight year of declining sales year-over-year, the commercial vehicle market was posting small gains until about a year ago. The declines since then are an ominous sign that EU economic problems are deepening as voters are turning out existing governments and demanding economic stimulus packages from new or surviving ruling elites. Expanding debt ridden national economies has thus far have been resisted mostly by the German government, which has a relatively stronger economy keeping it in power for the moment. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged acea, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, eu, eu commercial vehicle sales, eu sales, Ken Zino, results
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Republican NLRB Member Terence Flynn Resigns Over Ethical Violations. Romney Adviser under Criticism for Links
Flynn’s resignation as a temporary Board member is effective 24 July 2012, a laughably long time given the seriousness of the findings by the Inspector General of many instances of misconduct. In the view of many critics, Flynn should resign immediately and the Department of Justice should pursue criminal charges. For the moment, Flynn has recused himself from all agency business and has asked that the President withdraw his pending permanent nomination for Board Member of the NLRB. Continue reading
GM, Toyota Computer Problems Cause Latest Safety Recalls
The ongoing computerization of vehicle systems has caused safety recalls at GM and Toyota. In the latest round of software malfunctions, brand new 2013 model Chevrolet Malibu cars can blow up the roof rail airbag for no reason or prevent the air bags from going off in a severe accident. Toyota’s Lexus luxury division is recalling its 2013 model GS performance sedans because a sensor can cause the steering wheel to be wildly out of place to where the front wheels are actually pointed. Continue reading
Posted in engineering, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, electronic recalls, gm recalls, Ken Zino, lexus recall, nhtsa, recalls, toyota recalls
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Bowing to Pressure, Fiat Suspends Business in Iran
The auto industry represents 20% of Iran’s GDP that is dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. UANI has developed model legislation, The DRIVE Act, to force auto manufacturers to choose between American taxpayers and the regime. The DRIVE Act requires automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran, or engaged in the implementation of any agreement with Iranian entities in order to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, iran, iran boycott, Ken Zino, nuclear weapons, uani
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BMW Group and Brilliance Open Second Plant in China
BMW has been producing BMW 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market with Brilliance in Shenyang since 2003. The opening of the second vehicle plant in China will expand the range of locally produced models to include the BMW X1. Production of the long-wheelbase version of the BMW 3 Series will also begin during the coming weeks. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, shows and events
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, BMW, brilliance, china, Ken Zino, shenyag, tiexi
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Judge Rules Against Dealers on Disclosure of Car Loan Terms
A federal judge in Washington has ruled that automobile dealers who engage in so-called three-party financing transactions must disclose information to consumers who take out car loans if they are offered less favorable terms, such as a higher interest rate, than the most favorable terms available to the majority of consumers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, marketing, news, news analysis
Tagged auto financing, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, credit reports, doj, ftc, Ken Zino, nada
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Iran Auto Production Down 27% as UANI Blasts Peugeot and Nissan for Ongoing Business with Islamic Revolutionary Guard
The auto industry represents 20% of Iran’s GDP that is dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. UANI has developed model legislation, The DRIVE Act, to force auto manufacturers to choose between American taxpayers and the regime. The DRIVE Act requires automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran, or engaged in the implementation of any agreement with Iranian entities in order to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, GM, hanging chads, hyundai, iran, Ken Zino, mark d. Wallace, mazda, nuclear weapons, Peugeot, porsche, uani
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Fiat and Mazda to Develop a Sports Car for Alfa and Mazda
The non-binding MoU states that both Fiat and Mazda will develop two “differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific light weight, roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive.” The Alfa Romeo and Mazda models will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged alfa romeo, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Fiat, Ken Zino, mazda, mx5
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Milestones – Toyota Motor Sells 4 Million Hybrid Vehicles
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan announced today that its global hybrid vehicle sales totaled four million vehicles through April 2012. of that 1.5 million Toyota hybrids have been sold in the United States where it dominates the advanced technology vehicle market by outselling all other hybrid and electric vehicles combined. Toyota in the U.S. now holds 65% of the hybrid market, with the Prius a line accounting for 1.2 million vehicles year-to-date. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, hybrids, Ken Zino, prius, Toyota hybrid sales
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