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Category Archives: news analysis
Chevy Gogo Link Transfers Smart Phone Apps to Dumb Radio
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
Posted in auto news, distracted driving, marketing, news, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, distracted driving, gogolink, Ken Zino, mylink, sonic, spark
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TBC Begins Tender Offer for Shares of Midas at $11.50
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
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, news analysis, prices, results
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, insider trading, Ken Zino, midas, sec, takeover, tbc
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EPA Announces Carbon Pollution Limits for New Power Plants
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
A123 Recalls Lithium Ion Batteries Shipped to Fisker, Others
The $55 million recall comes after the well-publicized failure during testing of a Fisker Karma that was owned by Consumer Reports. A123, an investor in Fisker, lost almost $260 million in 2011. A123 received a $249.1 million grant from the Department of Energy to reopen plants in Livonia and Romulus, Mich., as well as money and tax credits from Michigan worth more than $100 million. The future of the company, which has never earned a profit, is not clear. Continue reading
Chevrolet TrailBlazer Debuts in Thailand. No U.S. Sales Planned
In the U.S., the TrailBlazer was discontinued after 2009, and replaced by the unit body Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. A Chevrolet spokesperson told AutoInformed that no U.S. sales are planned at this time. Continue reading
Colorado Volt Buyers Eligible for $13,500 in Taxpayer Subsidies
The core environmental problem here is an economic one. The slow selling $40,000 Volt – even with subsidies – remains overpriced and not competitive in the marketplace. No wonder that the Volt plant in Michigan is currently down for five weeks. More troubling is the sales of the smaller Prius c hybrid. In the first three days since the small Prius c went on sale this month it sold 1,201 units, bypassing sales of the much more expensive – two times the price – Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf for the entire month of February. Continue reading
EU Automakers Protest Globalization as Trade Policy
Call it pragmatism or pure hypocrisy, but the Association of European Automakers – ACEA – is protesting trade negotiations to open markets. This is the so-called globalization that many – if not all- of its parent automaker companies previously used to break or weaken unions as they moved jobs away from their older, established manufacturing sites. Now, the effect of globalization is coming home to an impoverished European roost as the EU opens up formerly protected markets to developing countries, some of which produce automobiles. Management and remaining workers are in danger of losing their jobs this time. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, people, transportation
Tagged acea, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, eu trade policy, free trade agreements, Ken Zino, marchionne, trade wars
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Penske Automotive Group Expands to Northern Italy
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:PAG) has formed a joint venture with Andrea Mantellini, the operator of a BMW/Mini dealer group located in Bologna, Italy. The joint venture intends to acquire and operate dealerships in northern Italy, Penske said in a news release today. Mantellini will manage day-to-day operations of the business. Financial terms were not disclosed. Penske appears to be buying a premium brand and entry into the market at presumably fire sale prices. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, news analysis
Tagged andrea mantellini, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, eu, eurozone crisis, Ken Zino, mariani bmw, Penske, roger penske
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Anti Nuke Group Protests Iran Business Ties of Mazda
Mazda is tied to the IRGC through its long-standing partnership with the Bahman Group, a Tehran-based manufacturing conglomerate that is licensed to manufacture Mazda vehicles. Bahman is 45.5% owned by the IRGC’s Sepah Cooperative Foundation, according to UANI. In 2010, Bahman produced a total of 36,891 Mazda vehicles in Iran. Continue reading
Taxpayers Make Money on Treasury Bailout of Mortgages
While this is good news in a slowly recovering economy, taxpayers are still on the hook for billions upon billions advanced to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae – up to $100 billion each in capital – to prop up their $5 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt, of which an unknown amount will never be repaid. Continue reading
Nissan Recalls Infiniti M45 for Bad Electronic Gas Gauges
In the pre-Toyota cover-up fines from NHTSA, it appears that Nissan ignored the safety problem and warranty data. In the post Toyota fine era at NHTSA, the number of recalls from Japanese makers, not coincidentally, has accelerated dramatically.
This is the sixth major Nissan recall since the fall. Earlier recalls involved Nissan and Infiniti gasoline leaks, oil leaks, sudden stalling on Sentra models, Juke turbocharger boost sensors, and defective Rogue electric power steering control computers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, quality, recalls, results, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, infiniti recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa, nissan recalls, recalls
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Electric Sales for Prius C Hybrid after Three Days
While Detroit Three Automakers concentrate on increasing the transaction prices of their new models, Toyota Motor Sales is proving that price matters. In the first three days since the small Prius C went on sale it sold 1,201 units, bypassing sales of the much more expensive – two times the price – Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf for the entire month of February. The Volt plant in Detroit suspends production for five weeks starting next Monday because of slow sales. Continue reading
BizJet Pays $11.8 M Fine under Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
BizJet International Sales and Support will pay an $11.8 million criminal penalty to resolve charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for bribing government officials. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based aircraft maintenance company with links to Lufthansa was under investigation by the Department of Justice for bribing government officials in Latin America to secure contracts to perform aircraft services for government agencies. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, litigation, news, news analysis, people, results, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, bizjet, doj, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Ken Zino, Lufthansa
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Ally Squeals after Flunking New Fed Capital Stress Test
Taxpayers still own more than 70% of Ally, with the owner – the Fed – saying it does not have enough capital to endure a theoretical recession that would produce an unemployment rate of 13% percent, a 21% drop in housing prices and as economic slowdowns in Europe and Asia. This admittedly severe test – surpassing even the Bush Administration’s dismal record of economic stewardship – may or may not be anything more than an academic exercise.
In what I take to be a gratuitous insult to taxpayers, Ally said, “Further, the Federal Reserve has not objected to the ongoing payments of preferred dividends and interest on the trust preferred securities and subordinated debt.”
Darn right we expect you to pay interest on the loans. Continue reading
Milestones: Freedom of Information Act Web Site
Any citizen can make a FOIA request about any topic, although there are still considerable delays, prevarications and redactions by government agencies in making politically sensitive information available. Moreover, Congress still largely conducts its business behind closed doors with access only given all too often to the privileged wealthy few and monied special interests that dominate our ‘pay to play’ political process. Continue reading
Posted in news, news analysis, Uncategorized
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, foia, Ken Zino, louis brandeis, one percenters, open government
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