Category Archives: news analysis

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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A123 Recalls Lithium Ion Batteries Shipped to Fisker, Others

Posted on 26 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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Chevrolet TrailBlazer Debuts in Thailand. No U.S. Sales Planned

Posted on 22 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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Colorado Volt Buyers Eligible for $13,500 in Taxpayer Subsidies

Posted on 21 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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EU Automakers Protest Globalization as Trade Policy

Posted on 20 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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Penske Automotive Group Expands to Northern Italy

Posted on 20 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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Anti Nuke Group Protests Iran Business Ties of Mazda

Posted on 20 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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