Category Archives: news analysis

Ford to Expand Chongqing Plant, Raising Capacity to 950,000

Posted on 5 April 2012 by Ken Zino

This will make Chongqing by far the largest Ford production site in the world – a latter day Rouge for communist customers. The latest expansion includes a new assembly line, body and paint shop. Construction on the extension is expected to begin immediately and the first vehicle is expected to come off the line in late 2014. CFMA already operates two assembly plants and an engine plant in Chongqing, with another engine plant and a transmission plant currently under construction. Continue reading →

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Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroën to Drop JV on Diesel Engines

Posted on 5 April 2012 by Ken Zino

PSA Peugeot Citroën and Ford said today that the companies have decided to independently develop and manufacture their larger diesel engines displacing more than 2-liters starting in 2015. The announcement, likely the result of the PSA and General Motors JV announced in February, ends a 12-year business relationship. Continue reading →

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Offshore Brands Take 56% of U.S. Auto Market in March

Posted on 5 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Six of the top ten vehicles were international brands. At number six, the Toyota Prius made its strongest showing in history with sales of 28,711 units – a 54.3% increase over March 2011. As the top selling car in America, the newly revised Toyota Camry continued to sit in second place behind the Ford F-Series pickup truck; sales for the sedan were up 35.3% over March 2011. The aging Nissan Altima also remained strong at Number Three; Altima sales were up 27.1%. The new Honda CR-V held the fifth position – with sales up 54.3% – while the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic took the ninth and tenth spots, respectively. Continue reading →

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New Chevrolet Ads with Verlander, Fielder for 2012 Season

Posted on 4 April 2012 by Ken Zino

As the 2012 major league baseball season begins, Chevrolet is using Justin Verlander and Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers in 15-second spots that are a remake of the now classic 1974 “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet” TV ad. Don’t quit your day (and night) baseball jobs, guys… Continue reading →

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Fisker Shows Atlantic EV – Will It Ever Be Built?

Posted on 4 April 2012 by Ken Zino

In essence, Fisker – similar to EVs – has a range problem with doubts about whether it can reach its stated destination of creating 2,000 autoworker jobs building 100,000 plug-in hybrids per year at the 3.2 million square-foot factory in Delaware before it runs out of cash. Continue reading →

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U.S. Auto Sales Shift to Efficient and Less Profitable Cars

Posted on 3 April 2012 by Ken Zino

One potentially negative result because of the downsizing and easier credit trends is declining profits at automakers. The shift to smaller vehicles—in addition to the increase in financially less-qualified new–vehicle buyers, who tend to be younger and with less money to spend—means the average transaction price for new vehicles has dropped substantially in the recent quarter. Continue reading →

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Delta Largest U.S. Airline. American Largest Overseas

Posted on 3 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Delta Air Lines, because of its merger with Northwest Airlines, carried more total system passengers in 2011 than any other U.S. airline for the second consecutive year. American Airlines carried more international passengers to and from the United States in 2011 than any other U.S. or foreign carrier, followed closely by Delta. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Ends Business in Iran Says Anti Nuke Weapons Group

Posted on 3 April 2012 by Ken Zino

In the view of many, this is a perfect example of the hypocritically bad behavior of global corporations supporting terrorism and repression abroad in the pursuit of profits against the policies of their home governments. These policies resulting from democratic laws  protect them financially and provide for the well being their major stockholders and executives.

The 12 automakers displayed in the Watch List’s “Virtual Showroom” are Fiat, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Suzuki, Toyota and Volvo. Combined, they sell more than 650,000 vehicles per year in the country, making it the second-largest sector of Iran’s economy, according to UANI.  With the exception of Fiat controlled Chrysler, General Motors and Ford are supporting U.S. foreign policy. Continue reading →

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Ruling against Chevron in $18 Billion Toxic Oil Waste Case

Posted on 30 March 2012 by Ken Zino

In February 2011, after an eight-year trial that produced 220,000 pages of evidence, an Ecuador court found Chevron liable for deliberately dumping more than 16 billion gallons of toxic waste into Amazon waterways when it operated in Ecuador from 1964 to 1992 under the Texaco brand. The dumping severely hurt indigenous groups and caused an outbreak of cancer and other diseases, according to the evidence. Continue reading →

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Distracted Driving – Chapel Hill Bans All Cell Phones

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

This makes Chapel Hill the first town in the United States to ban hands-free use of cell phones. Motorists also will be banned from using on-board wireless systems in vehicles – another first-of-its-kind law. Continue reading →

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Anti Nuke Weapon Org Targets Automakers Selling in Iran

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

In the view of some, this is a perfect example of the hypocritically bad behavior of global corporations supporting terrorism and repression abroad in the pursuit of profits against the policies of their home governments, whose democratic laws financially protect them and provide for the well being their major stockholders and executives. Continue reading →

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Shelby to Show 1,000 Horsepower Mustang in New York

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

Both of these blatantly irresponsible or politically incorrect pony cars – your choice – are derived from the 2012 Ford Shelby GT500. Shelby American uses Ford Motor Company’s 5.4 liter V8 block, but adds new rods, crank and pistons. The stock Ford supercharger is also replaced, and the cooling and exhaust systems modified to handle the additional demands. Continue reading →

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Chevy Gogo Link Transfers Smart Phone Apps to Dumb Radio

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

This latest foray into automotive electronics raises not only distracted driving issues but marketing ones as well since GogoLink competes with GM’s OnStar. Continue reading →

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TBC Begins Tender Offer for Shares of Midas at $11.50

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The offer appears positive for Midas shareholders since share prices have ranged from a recent 52-week high of, well, $11.50 – raising the distinct possibility of insider trading – to a 52-week low of $5.08. Currently Midas is trading at $11.47. Midas made $0.28 per share during 2011 or $4 million on revenue of $184 million. For this dismal performance, its top executives were compensated $1.7 million, which left no money to pay a dividend to shareholders. Directors and officers of Midas own more than 10% of the stock, which could result in a challenge to the takeover. Continue reading →

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EPA Announces Carbon Pollution Limits for New Power Plants

Posted on 27 March 2012 by Ken Zino

EPA in 2009 determined that “greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans’ health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.” Tougher national fuel economy standards ensued. Now it’s the power industry’s turn. Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit, which comes from burning fossil fuels. Continue reading →

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