Category Archives: news analysis

Chevrolet Volt Price Cut? Fully Loaded 2012 Now $46,265

Chevrolet has announced that the base price for the 2012 Volt will be $1,000 lower when it goes on sale later this year. Suggested retail asking price is $39,995. The price includes an $850 freight charge but excludes tax, title and license fees. A loaded Volt, with leather appointments, backup camera, navigation system and premium paint and wheels is now priced at $46,265 including delivery. Continue reading

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Toyota Predicts 31% Profit Dip in Fiscal Year from Earthquake

The longer term issues facing Toyota are recovering lost market share and the unprecedented strength of the Japanese Yen caused by massive inflows of cash as export oriented Japanese companies attempt to recover from earthquake losses. Continue reading

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SUVs Now Among the Safest as Electronics Stop Rollovers

The safety improvements are so large that SUVs drivers are now statistically less likely to die in a crash than drivers of equivalent size cars. This conclusion on driver death rates was published today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which for decades pointed out that SUVs were among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Continue reading

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Akerson Praises GM at Annual Meeting as Stock Languishes

The weaknesses at GM remain in its sales of traditional trucks, with a 110 days supply of full size pickups; it’s heavy use of incentives, which remain higher than the industry average, (but are lower than the levels that drove it into bankruptcy); and gaps in updating the product line because of delayed programs at the end of the last decade when cash was short. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Holds Base Price of New Beetle to $19,765

Transaction prices of the Beetle will be much higher of course than the $19,765 starting point. The sportiest model the 2.0L TSI will start at more than $24,000 with a 2-liter in-line four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Continue reading

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Ford Europe to Build Three-Cylinder. U.S. Sales Promised

The new Ford three-cylinder engine arises in part from the success of the award-winning Fiat Twinair two-cylinder engine already on sale Europe. A large factor is also impending European emission standards that are forcing automakers to produce radical engine designs with low CO2 emissions. The newest Ford Ecoboost three-cylinder is projected to have CO2 emissions under 100 g/km. Continue reading

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Korean Automakers Post Huge U.S. Sales Gains as Disputed Free Trade Agreement Heads for Congressional Approval

Some of the biggest sales gains in May were posted by Korean automakers Hyundai (up 20.7% versus a year ago) and Kia (up 53.4%). Combined, the two Korean automakers sold more than 100,000 vehicles for the month. Korea is the fifth largest producer and fourth largest exporter of motor vehicles in the world.

However, Korea ranks at the very bottom — 30 out of 30 among the largest automotive markets — for auto market access. The average among major developed economies is 40% market penetration by imported automobiles, but in Korea, the total of import vehicles from all global manufacturers in all countries entering the Korean market is around 3.6%. This is about 40,000 vehicles in a market that buys roughly one million vehicles annually. Continue reading

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Japanese U.S. May Sales Plunge as Inventories Evaporate. Toyota, Nissan and Honda Decline in Earthquake Aftershocks

Toyota, Nissan and Honda – the Japanese Big Three – all saw U.S. sales plummet in May as a combination of their limited inventories because of the production disruptions from the Japan earthquake and the decreased marketing activities that followed took a huge bite out of sales. Continue reading

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Chrysler May U.S. Sales Up 10% as Retail Sales Soar 27%

Chrysler Group, the weakest of the Detroit Three, today reported U.S. sales of 115,363, a 10% increase compared with sales in May 2010 and the best May sales since 2008. The strong results came as larger Ford and General Motors posted flat sales year-on-year. Continue reading

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Ford May Sales Flat in U.S. as Retail Sales Rise 5%

Ford Motor Company sales in May were 192,102, the same as one year ago as the economy stalled. Retail sales were up 5% and fleet sales were down 8%. Year-to-date, total Ford Motor sales were 878,600, up 12%. Continue reading

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Automakers Cut Incentives on Small Cars as Fuel Prices Rise

U.S. consumers already embattled by a weak economy and record high fuel prices for the month of May can add another worry to the list – automakers have drastically cut incentives on small, fuel efficient cars. Continue reading

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Renault Tries Humor in New Electric Vehicle Ad Campaign

Renault has kicked off a new series of electric vehicle advertisements in Europe where it is in the process of introducing four EVs. By taking a humorous approach that shows that a car is the only non-electric device in common use, the French automaker is hoping to makes EVs more acceptable. Continue reading

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U.S. Oil Imports Declining Since 2005 Peak. It’s Not All Good

There are several problems with the imported oil numbers since oil is mostly imported as crude, an unrefined product, but is consumed as a refined product. In between there is refinery gain – yes, gain – whereby more comes out of the process of splitting heavier oils into lighter ones. Continue reading

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Japan Auto Production, Exports off More than 60% in April

The economic destruction is mounting. The total value of automobiles exported for April 2011 was $5,913.446 million – $2,696.405 million for vehicles and $3,217.041 million for parts. This is a decrease of $5,523.561 million or 48 % as compared with $11,437.007 million recorded for the same month of the previous year. Continue reading

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Small Cars Improve in Latest Crash Tests. Size Still Matters

While you can’t change the laws of physics, you can use them to improve crash test results for vehicles. Six of 13 small cars tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earned the Top Safety Pick award. None earned … Continue reading

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