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Category Archives: news analysis
Toyota Projects 20% 2012 Sales Rise. Ichiban Again?
Both General Motors Company and Volkswagen Group, at more than 8 million vehicles each, will outsell Toyota’s 2011 sales tally of fewer than 8 million in a record global market of 75 million vehicles. Continue reading
EPA Issues First Standards on Powerplant Mercury Pollution
Environmentalists say more battles are ahead in “pay to play” Washington, DC during what likely will be the most expensive presidential election in history – literally awash with billions in “contributions” from the extremely wealthy or “One Percenters” and large corporations. Some extremist Republicans running for president want to abolish the EPA entirely. Continue reading
The Latest Safety Problem – Deferred Auto Maintenance?
The latest pernicious problem of the flagging U.S. economy comes in the guise of drivers who deferred auto maintenance at the potential cost of their safety. According to a new survey, 40% of respondents who are involved in repair decisions said they are postponing car maintenance or repairs on their primary vehicle. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, auto news, economy, news, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto repair, autoinformed.com, automotive news, consumer reports, Ken Zino
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FAA Finally Alters Pilot Fatigue Rules after Colgan Air Deaths
The Federal Aviation Administration today announced a final rule that changes commercial passenger airline pilot scheduling two years after the crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 killed 50 people where pilot fatigue and pilot distraction were responsible. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, news, news analysis, safety, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, aviation fatalities, colgan air 3407, faa, Ken Zino, pilot fatigue
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GM China Advanced Technical Center Nears Completion
GM intends to use Chinese battery suppliers in future electric vehicles – the latest setback for beleaguered U.S. workers who are facing grim employment prospects in the moribund U.S. economy. This is no longer a blue-collar or solely a UAW problem. College level white collar engineering jobs are at stake in advanced technologies touted by politicians as the key to returning the U.S. to global competitiveness. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, environment, labor issues, new vehicle, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, China Advanced Technical Center, electric vehicles, EVs, GM, great recession, industrial policy, Ken Zino, unemployment
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Saab Files for Bankruptcy. It’s All Over Except for Mourning
The end of Saab was practically assured last Saturday when General Motors reiterated a long-standing position against Saab transferring GM intellectual property to the Chinese and having Chinese companies build a rebadged Cadillac SRX as a Saab in China. GM is the largest automaker in China, albeit with communist government dictated partners. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news, news analysis, results
Tagged auto informed, auto tariffs, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chinese auto industry, GM, Ken Zino, pang da, saab, saab bankruptcy, spyker, swan, trade, wto, youngman
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European Auto Sales Drop Continues Unchecked in November
Counter intuitively the Eurozone crisis is producing calls for austerity, instead stimulus plans that would increase tax revenues and employment from all industries, including auto manufacturing and sales. The automobile industry in Europe provides employment for more than 2.3 million workers and supports another 10 million jobs in related industries. Annually, automakers invest more than €30 billion in R&D, which makes it the largest private investor in R&D in Europe. Europe’s increasing instability poses risks for European, as well as the global economy. It could even affect the outcome of the U.S. presidential election next year. Continue reading
Buick 2013 Encore Teaser Photo – Will it Play in China?
The real challenge for all new Buicks going forward is not whether the vehicle will play in Peoria, but rather how it plays in Shanghai? Buick sold a record of 59,763 vehicles in China in November – more than 5 times what it sold in the U.S. Little wonder the head of GM advance design in China is now Chinese. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, buick, buick china, buick encore, enclave, gm design, Ken Zino, naias, wulin gaowa
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Finalists in for 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year
Cars selected were the 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Last year the Chevrolet Volt was the car winner. In the misleadingly named ‘truck’ category, the 2012 BMW X3, 2012 Honda CR-V and the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque made the final cut. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, awards, new vehicle, news, news analysis, results
Tagged 2012 bmw x3, 2012 honda cr-v, 2012 hyundai elantra, 2012 land rover range rover evoque, 2012 volkswagen passat, american car and truck of the year, apa, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nactoy, naias, north american international auto show, the 2012 ford focus
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Ford Employees to Beta Test Latest My Ford Touch Patch
Ford Motor Company will beta test new software designed to ease myriad consumer complaints about the My Ford Touch infotainment system, which caused Ford and Lincoln vehicles to sink to below average in Consumer Reports quality ratings.
Ford’s overall reliability rank among 28 major car makes slipped from the 10th to the 20th spot this year—the biggest drop for any major nameplate in Consumer Reports 2011 Annual Auto Survey. The badly needed software upgrade is coming for 2013 models – and to owners of existing My Ford Touch equipped vehicles. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, engineering, news, news analysis, people, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive electronics problems, automotive news, Ken Zino, lincoln my touch patch, microsoft software problems, My Ford Touch, my ford touch patch, my touch, my touch beta testing
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CMU Research Backs Ban for Cell Phones When Driving. NTSB Wants States to Prohibit All Non-Emergency Use of Cell Phones
Research by Carnegie Mellon University’s Marcel Just shows that simply listening to someone speak on the other end of a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%, compared to driving alone. The decrease in available brain resources can cause drivers using cell phones to commit the same type of driving errors that can occur under the influence of alcohol. Continue reading
Chrysler to Build 2013 SRT Viper at Conner Avenue Plant
Chrysler Group announced today that it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit for the production of the next generation 2013 SRT Viper. The closed Viper plant was the victim of the Chrysler bankruptcy in 2009 and was originally listed as an asset to be sold. However, there were no takers for the sale of the Viper and its entire Conner Avenue plant for only $10 million. The Viper business earned $16 million in 2008 by building 1,545 cars and engines, according to a bankruptcy filing. Continue reading
New Compact Acura ILX to be Built in Indiana by Honda
This means Acura ILX will be Acura’s first-ever hybrid model, as well as the first Acura model to be produced in Greensburg, Indiana, which also builds the new 2012 Civic model. The plant recently added nearly 1,000 associates to support the move to two-shift production, which started on Oct. 24, 2011, doubling the plant’s capacity to 200,000 vehicles per year. In what is a major public relations error, Honda did not even release a teaser photo of the ILX. Continue reading
News Bits – Carbon Fiber, Chinese Leaf, Rolls-Royce, Thailand Floods and Impending Goodyear Airline Tire Shortage?
General Motors and Teijin Limited, Japanese company with roots as a textile maker will co-develop advanced carbon fiber composite technologies for potential high-volume use globally in GM cars, trucks and crossovers.
Nissan Motor and Dongfeng Motor delivered 15 Nissan Leaf EVs to the Guangzhou Municipal Government in China.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that it will enter the South American market for the first time in the company’s history.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company says that as a result of the Thailand flooding commercial airlines are facing a potential global shortage of bias aviation tires
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, aviation, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, news, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, carbon fiber, chinese leaf, Ken Zino, news bits, rolls royce, thailand floods and goodyear airline tire shortage
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Toyota Cuts 2012 Forecast as Yen and Thailand Floods Hurt
Toyota Motor Corporation today drastically cut its fiscal year 2012 forecast based on the ongoing negative effects of the strong Yen and the production disruptions caused by the Thailand floods. As a result, Toyota has revised down its 2012 full year profit forecast by -¥250 billion to ¥200 billion. Continue reading
