Category Archives: news analysis

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy – Pensions Threatened?

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

American Airlines has four traditional pension plans that cover almost 130,000 participants. As of today, the plans collectively had only about $8.3 billion in assets to cover about $18.5 billion in benefits, according to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. If American Airlines were to end their plans, the agency would be responsible for paying about $17 billion in benefits; about $1 billion in benefits would be lost. Continue reading →

Posted in aviation, economy, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Milestones: GM Builds 100 Million Small Block V8 Engines

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

GM also announced Tuesday that the fifth-generation small-block under development will feature a new direct-injection combustion system that will help enhance efficiency over the current-generation engine. Chevrolet now sells more four-cylinder engines than V8s, and the traditional powerplant of Detroit cars and trucks is threatened with extinction as fuel economy and emission regulations become more stringent. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, engineering, manufacturing, milestones, news, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Moves East out of Euro Zone to Build Next Corolla

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Neither country uses the Euro, which is crumbling in value as Eurozone crisis continues to increase, while EU leaders bicker over what steps to take about unsustainable, Greek, Italian and Spanish debt. So far the Greek and Italian governments have fallen, and serious questions are being raised about the political stability of the Spanish and French Governments. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Will Lend Cars to Concerned Chevrolet Volt Owners as NHTSA Volt Battery Fire Investigation Continues

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

General Motors announced Monday that any Volt owner concerned about safety can contact his or her Volt advisor to arrange for a free GM vehicle loan until resolution of the issue. A letter to Volt owners will go out today. The aggressive customer satisfaction move came after the National Highway traffic safety Administration announced on Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, customer satisfaction, electric vehicles, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Production Returns to Normal in December. Resourcing Components Helps Ongoing Thailand Flood Disruptions

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Honda automobile production in Japan and North America will resume Normal levels by the end of the first week of December, Japan’s third largest automaker said this morning. All of Honda’s North American plants will resume normal production by December 1, 2011, with some plants resuming normal production in late November. A combination of re-sourcing parts outside of Thailand and aiding suppliers in Thailand after the worst floods in decades is responsible for easing the crisis. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Volt Earns 5 Stars in Euro NCAP with No Battery Fires. GM Announces Volt Export Plans to China Next Year

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

At the same time the National Highway Traffic safety Administration was preparing to announce that a formal investigation had begun over Chevrolet Volt battery fires, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) released its latest results, which gave the Opel Ampera a top 5-star rating. The Ampera is a virtual clone of the Chevrolet Volt.

Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, engineering, environment, news, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Opens a Formal Defect Investigation into Chevrolet Volt Battery Fires When a Second Fire Occurs After a Crash Test

Posted on 26 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – is opening a formal safety defect investigation to assess the risk posed by Chevrolet Volt battery fires after a serious accident. The formal investigation came after NHTSA observed two post-crash testing fires emanating from Volt’s lithium ion batteries, the latest occurring last Thursday. Since July, GM has implemented a post crash procedure that includes the depowering of the battery after a severe crash, returning the battery to what it calls a safe and low-powered state. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, news, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy New Year – BMW Ups U.S. Prices and Delivery Fees

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Year-to-date, U.S. sales of the BMW brand are up 12.9% at 199,552 compared to 176,736 sold in the first ten months of 2010. BMW is on track to displace Lexus as the number one Luxury brand in the U.S. because of Toyota’s earthquake induced production disruptions. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news, news analysis, prices, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DOT Distracted Driving Rule Bans Hand-Held Phone use by Commercial Drivers, but Allows Hands-Free Cell Phones

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The latest DOT rule falls far short of a recommendation in September from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ban the use of all cell phones – hand-held and hands-free – by commercial drivers except in emergencies. NTSB made the recommendation after a horrific crash in Kentucky between an 18-wheeler and a van killed 11 people. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, distracted driving, news, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daimler Employee Arrested, Detained Under Controversial Alabama Immigration Law

Posted on 22 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The controversial Alabama immigration law requires the proper papers be carried by foreigners, including employees of firms investing in the state. Daimler, of course, is one of the largest employers in Alabama, with billions invested thus far and recently announced millions more will be added to increase production. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, litigation, manufacturing, news, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Toyota Camry Hybrid Prices Cut $850 to $1,150 for 2012

Posted on 21 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The revised hybrid-electric powertrain, like other 2012 Camry models has a newly-developed 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Toyota says that improved electric motor-voltage control, optimized regenerative braking, and reduce parasitic losses in the transaxle are key to the ratings. Reduced vehicle weight and improved aerodynamics are also factors in the class-leading fuel economy ratings. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

November U.S. Auto Sales Up – 11.3 Million Retail SAAR?

Posted on 18 November 2011 by Ken Zino

New-vehicle retail sales in November are increasing at a rate that could mean deliveries of 791,900 cars and light trucks, which represents a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 11.3 million units. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Volt Qualifies for California HOV Lanes in 2012

Posted on 18 November 2011 by Ken Zino

This is nothing more than a subsidy for the wealthy, according to critics, since it allows single occupant vehicles access to more than 1,400 miles of California HOV lanes. The subsidy is crucial to the sales of the Nissan Leaf, Honda Civic Natural Gas, Smart ForTwo, and Tesla roadster, and upcoming plug-in hybrids from Ford and Chrysler, among others. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyundai Azera Targets LaCrosse, Taurus and Avalon Sedans

Posted on 17 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The Azera – like all recently upgraded Hyundai models – is fiercely competitive entry, in this case in the large car segment. Azera will provide a real choice for shoppers of large Toyota and Lexus models, as well as the slow selling Ford Taurus – off 10% at ~53,000 ytd of 619,000 total Ford car sales. Azera is also trouble for the upcoming revised Chevrolet Impala in 2013. The existing Impala is road kill here, in my view. As always, the buyers will decide what’s the best value, with Azera likely pulling sales from less expensive and more expensive models. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, design and styling, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cadillac XTS Sedan Unveiled With a V6 and All Wheel Drive

Posted on 16 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Cadillac XTS will be the most-spacious Cadillac sedan in the current line, with interior space roughly comparable to current full-size sedans. In what appears to be a clear bid to make the XTS saleable to the chauffer-driven communist ruling class in China, XTS has 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rear legroom. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment