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Category Archives: news analysis
Milestones: 20 Years of FAW-Volkswagen in China
FAW-Volkswagen is currently the second largest of China’s largest automobile manufacturers, behind GM and its Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and FAW partners. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, marketing, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, chinese auto market, faw, faw-volkswagen, gm saic, gm-faw, Ken Zino, zino
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4,547 Worker fatalities in 2010 About Same as 2009 – 12 a Day
Because of the way data are gathered it is difficult to directly tally automaker fatalities. In Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, all heavily dependent on the auto industry, more than 350 workers died in manufacturing related positions; motor vehicle or parts dealers were involved in 49 fatalities across the U.S. And this doesn’t include trucking, warehousing or other transportation injuries, which could be auto related. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, people, results, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, autoworker fatalities, bls, car dealer fatalities, Ken Zino, manufacturing fatalities, worker fatalities, worker fatality statistics, zino
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Driving More – 31.5 Million Travelers During Labor Day Holiday
The current national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is approximately $3.57 per gallon, about 86 cents higher than one year ago. Down nearly 10% from their May peak, gas prices will have less of an impact on Labor Day holiday travelers than they had on Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday travelers, during which 42% and 44% of travelers, respectively, stated gas prices would impact travel plans.
General Motors and LG to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles
The high cost of developing new technologies to meet increasingly stringent CO2 and fuel economy regulations prompted the deal. Earlier this week Ford Motor and Toyota announced a collaboration on new hybrid trucks. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis
Tagged alternate fuel, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cafe, chevy volt, co2, dan ackerson, EVs, fuel economy, general motors, GM, hybrids, juno cho, Ken Zino, lg, opel ampera, zino
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Toyota Increases Fuel Economy and Equipment While Cutting Prices on 2012 Camry – a Gambit to Reestablish Leadership
A beleaguered Toyota Motor Corporation is counting on a revised 2012 Camry sedan to brush aside safety and quality concerns that have haunted it for the past two years. These, along with the Japan earthquake will relegate it to the third largest automaker in the world for 2011 after it assumed the number one spot in 2008 and held it for three years. Continue reading
Ford and Toyota to Develop a New Hybrid System for Light Trucks and SUVs as well as Future Telematics Standards
Both companies of course are heavily invested in fuel thirsty larger trucks, with Ford’s best selling vehicle the F-Series pickup rated at 16 mpg on the EPA city test cycle. The F-Series has been the U.S.’s best selling truck for the past 34 years with year-to-date sales of 313,000 units. Toyota before the Great Recession invested billions in full-size trucks and SUVs. Both the Tundra pickup and Sequoia full-size SUV have been sales disasters. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cafe, epa, Ford and Toyota truck hybrid, ford f-series hybrid, ford fuel economy, Ken Zino, toyota hybrid, zino
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GM’s Woodward Test Resulted from Real Durability needs of the Street Racing that the Woodward Dream Cruise Honors
In the hay day of the Detroit Three, who were really the Big Three in the 1960s, General Motors used Woodward Avenue not only as a rolling marketing clinic about what kids were driving, but also as a model for a durability test still in use. Continue reading
Infiniti JX Concept at Pebble Beach Teases 2013 Model
Previous attempts to use CVTs with V6 engines have failed – so this appears to be a daring move on Infiniti’s part prompted no doubt by impending fuel economy regulations. This potentially sets up a Lexus – clearly the luxury hybrid leader with more applications coming – versus Infiniti, which eschews hybrids in favor of parent company Nissan’s CVT technology. Continue reading
Treasury Receives $2 Billion TARP Repayment from American International Group. U.S. Taxpayers Still out at Least $51 Billion
During the financial crisis and Great Recession caused by Wall Street financiers, the U.S. Government’s support for AIG totaled approximately $180 billion. After today’s repayment, the taxpayers remaining outstanding investment in AIG through Treasury is $51 billion. Not one of the involved executives has been prosecuted for what were various forms of financial fraud that lead up to the near collapse of the global financial system and the ongoing Great Recession. Continue reading
August New Vehicle Sales Barely Up. U.S. Economy Still Stalled
It looks like the new vehicle retail sales for August will continue at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of a mere 9.9 million units since sales for August are projected at 898,000 units. The retail selling rate is just … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged 2012 election, august sales, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, fta, j.d power, Ken Zino, korean automakers, Korean fta, results, u.s. auto sales, zino
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Daimler and Honda Lead in Car Fuel Cell Development, Maybe
According to a new Pike Research report, the two light-duty FCV manufacturers who are best positioned in this formative stage of the market are Daimler and Honda. However, Daimler has made ambitious announcements on fuel cell technology readiness in the past, and these – well, did not pass the reality test. Daimler recently moved up its FCV target date to 2014 from 2015. We will see if anything comes from this except an expensive taxpayer subsidized demonstration program. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, energy, environment, news analysis, transportation
Tagged alternate fuel, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, daimler fuel cell, fcvs, fuel cell, fuel cell vehicles, honda clarity, Ken Zino, linde, pike research, zino
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Chevrolet Orlando Debuts this October in Canada, but not U.S. Competitive MPV Rejected Because of Greater Equinox Profits
Unfortunately, U.S. buyers won’t get a shot at Orlando because some executives inside GM are basking in the profits (at the moment) of the more expensive and fuel thirsty Chevrolet Equinox. ‘mericans like trucks and all-wheel-drive, and those versions of the Equinox are giving GM some badly needed profits at the moment.
It’s one of those GM financial decisions that look good on paper at the time, but in my view represents the inability to take a longer term chance by attacking a segment GM’s not in. Ford, with its decision to shelve the C-Max seven passenger minivan, and offer only low volume, expensive plug-in hybrid versions has given GM an opening here. And that says nothing of successful entries such as the Mazda 5 or even the Scion Xb, and who knows what else. Continue reading
Porsche Sales Down in July, But Set New Record in China
Porsche said it had record sales in the Chinese market in July with deliveries of 2,484 vehicles, the best monthly result in China ever. In total the sports car manufacturer delivered 14,751 vehicles in the current financial year in what is now Porsche’s second largest market. This marks a 72.6 % increase compared with the period January to July 2010. The Cayenne especially is in strong demand in Asia. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto sales, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, global auto sales, july results, Ken Zino, porsche, results, zino
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GM Rethinks ASEAN Strategy. Invests $150M in Indonesia
The investment represents a change in GM strategy in Asia by expanding GM production away from Vietnam and especially Thailand, which provided a good infrastructure and previously political stability. However, Indonesia has been widely derided for its corruption and red tape. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged 500 units. In the first half of 2011, 500 units. This makes GM a mere footnote – at best – in the region dominated by Toyota. indonesia, asean, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gm asia, gm bekasi, gm southeast asia, GM’s sales in Indonesia rose 72% to 4, Ken Zino, Last year, michael dunne, sales were up another 18% on an annual basis to 2, zino
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GM CEO Akerson Buys Another 10,000 Shares at $25.05
Akerson vowed this week that there was plenty of upside in GM stock given its new structure and emphasis on managing costs. On a cost cutting side, one program with great promise involves vehicle architectures. Akerson said “We need to simplify.” The company said that by 2018 it plans to cut that number to 14 from the 30 currently use.
Skeptics, and there are many, say show us the earnings per share and start paying dividends. Well, at least Akerson is putting his money where his promises are, so to speak. Continue reading
