Category Archives: news analysis

Another DENSO Exec Guilty of Price Fixing and Bid Rigging

Posted on 27 April 2012 by Ken Zino

According to the latest charge, Hattori participated in the conspiracy from at least as early as July 2005, until at least July 2008. During the conspiracy, Hattori was an assistant manager in the Toyota Sales Division at DENSO from July 2005 until December 2006, and a manager in the Toyota Sales Division from December 2006 until at least July 2008. Continue reading →

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Mazda BT 50, Ford Ranger Pickup Capacity Upped in Thailand

Posted on 26 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor, of course, once dominated the compact pickup truck market in the U.S. until years of product neglect combined with an assault by Toyota and Nissan pushed it to a footnote in the segment. This first forced the closing of Ford’s Edison, New Jersey plant. The remaining plant in Minnesota did not survive the Ford UAW contract last year. It was and remains a stunning amount of business to cede to the competition. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Provides Most of Q1 Fiat Group Profits of €866m

Posted on 26 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The weak consolidated Fiat-Chrysler Group return of 4.2% on sales of more than €20 billion stood in stark contrast to Chrysler Group’s return of 7% on €872 million in revenues during the quarter reported earlier in the day. Simply put, courtesy of U.S. and Canadian taxpayers, a reorganized Chrysler, now 58.5% owned by Fiat, is providing the profits for the newly created Fiat-Chrysler Group. Continue reading →

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AutoNation, Penske Report Strong Q1 Earnings from Dealers

Posted on 25 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The two largest auto dealer groups operating in the United States reported large increases in Q1 earnings and profits today. It was the latest sign that a slow recovery is well underway in the auto industry. However, the new luxury vehicle business, where broken out, had relatively weak results compared to other segments. Luxury cars, of course, were once thought to be recession proof and discount proof, but that is no longer the case as discounts are increasing along with competition from non-luxury autos with high levels of equipment. Continue reading →

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Fitch says Ford Motor Company Debt is No Longer Junk

Posted on 24 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) for Ford Motor Company (Ford) and its Ford Motor Credit Company LLC (Ford Credit) captive finance subsidiary to BBB- from BB+. This means that Ford Motor and Ford Credit debt is investment grade for the first time since 2005 when Ford Motor was losing billions of dollars. Continue reading →

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Cadillac to Build New XTS in China at Shanghai GM

Posted on 24 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Cadillac will build the new XTS luxury sedan in China in conjunction with its mandated joint-venture partner Shanghai General Motors (SGM) starting this fall. Cadillac sold a record 30,000 vehicles in China in 2011, compared with 17,000 in 2010 even … Continue reading →

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Earth Day Milestones – History of Auto Air Pollution Regs

Posted on 22 April 2012 by Ken Zino

As we celebrate Earth Day here’s a list of important dates in the fight against automotive or so-called mobile source air pollution. In 1970, Congress passes the first major Clean Air Act, requiring a 90% reduction in emissions from new automobiles by 1975. Congress also establishes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), giving it broad responsibility for regulating motor vehicle pollution. Continue reading →

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EPA Issues Tougher Rules for Oil and Natural Gas Production

Posted on 18 April 2012 by Ken Zino

EPA – sensitive, if not given over to election year politics and high energy prices – also said the standards would enable companies to collect additional natural gas that can be sold. The updated EPA standards include the first federal clean air rules for natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured, specifically requiring operators of new fractured natural gas wells to use what it says are cost-effective technologies and practices to capture natural gas that might otherwise escape the well. Continue reading →

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Ford China Sales Drop Again in Q1 as March Continues Slump

Posted on 17 April 2012 by Ken Zino

This is the third straight monthly decline for Ford in China, and it comes at a time when Ford is aggressively expanding its capacity there, an unfortunate development for shareholders and the Ford balance sheet, which needs the cash flow from increasing sales to build new plants. All major automakers have announced ambitious expansion plans in China, the world’s largest auto market. However, in 2011 the Chinese auto market only grew by 5%, by far the lowest growth rate of the 21st century, as the communist central government deliberately slowed the economy in an attempt to fight inflation. Continue reading →

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Energy Research to be Coordinated by Three Federal Agencies

Posted on 16 April 2012 by Ken Zino

In a public relations move that clearly has political value during an election year with skyrocketing energy prices, the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior are supposed to work together “to ensure that continued expansion of natural gas and oil production happens safely and responsibly.” Continue reading →

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EPA Releases 2010 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Posted on 16 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory. The final report shows overall emissions in 2010 increased by 3.2% from the previous year because the economy expanded slightly. In addition, a factor was an … Continue reading →

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Anti Nuke Weapons Group Says Porsche Ends Iran Business

Posted on 16 April 2012 by Ken Zino

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) joined New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio in announcing that Porsche AG has ended its business in Iran. In a statement, the pressure group headed by former U.S. Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, said Porsche officials have confirmed that the company is no longer “engaged in any business or providing any goods or services in Iran,” and “has no intention to conduct business in Iran in the near future.” Continue reading →

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Younger Passengers Least Likely to Protest Distracted Driving

Posted on 16 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Young drivers are nearly three times as likely to report having been reading or sending a text or e-mail when such an incident occurred as compared to drivers age 25 and higher. In addition, drivers younger than 25 are two to three times more likely to drive while sending or reading a text message or email. Reports of texting while driving drop sharply as age increases. Continue reading →

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Taxpayers to Turn Profit from Controversial TARP Bailouts

Posted on 14 April 2012 by Ken Zino

TARP, arguably the most contentious of the Federal government’s attempts to stop the U.S. and global economies from sliding into another Great Depression or worse, prevented the collapse of the financial system by bailing out profligate and reckless Wall Street firms. To date not one person has been successfully prosecuted for the rampant financial fraud that caused the housing and stock markets to collapse. Continue reading →

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NSC Says Much Work Needs to be done on Distracted Driving. Again Urges Total ban on all Cell Phone Use

Posted on 13 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Determining the scope of the cell phone distracted driving problem remains a challenge. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and NSC claim the actual number of crashes involving cell phone distracted driving is higher, likely much higher, than reported figures. Continue reading →

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