Category Archives: news analysis

Chevrolet Volt Plant to Shut for Upgrade. Shortages Coming?

Posted on 19 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Potential Volt shortages are occurring at a time when a debate is underway – inside GM and out – about just how large the demand is for the Volt, which starts at $42,000 and has the fuel economy (but less interior space) than numerous compact cars, including Chevrolet’s own Cruze… Continue reading →

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AAA Asks Congress Yet Again to Pass “Right to Repair Act”

Posted on 18 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Dealerships used to thrive on automaker-paid warranty repairs, paid for by the factory at reduced labor rates. In order to compensate technicians for this factory dictated lower rate, dealers charged higher rates for non-warranty parts and repairs. In effect, car owners were subsidizing the cost of poor quality at automakers if they went to a factory store. Continue reading →

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Big Oil has Big Day in U.S. Senate as Tax Breaks are Intact

Posted on 18 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Energy industry tax breaks will not however go away as a contentious political issue anytime soon with a soaring U.S. budget deficit that now requires borrowing 41 cents of every dollar spent, and gasoline prices at $4-$5 a gallon making voters angry. Continue reading →

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New Vehicle Sales in Europe Fall Again in April and Year-to-Date

Posted on 17 May 2011 by Ken Zino

European sales results are of concern for U.S. taxpayers because they can undermine the results at General Motors and Chrysler, which is controlled by Fiat. Both Opel and Fiat are struggling in Europe. Even at Ford Motor results are negatively affected by Europe, which remains a drag on earnings. Continue reading →

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Porsche Sales Double in April Led by Cayenne SUV

Posted on 17 May 2011 by Ken Zino

In terms of total vehicle sales Porsche now looks like a traditional automaker rather than a sports car specialty house. Continue reading →

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Nissan Posts Profit of ¥537.5 Billion for Japanese Fiscal Year

Posted on 12 May 2011 by Ken Zino

The Nissan financial results also surpassed those of Japan’s largest automaker, the Toyota Motor Corporation, which reported sales of 7.308 million cars and trucks and a profit of $6 billion yesterday. Continue reading →

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Toyota Posts Fiscal Year Profit of $5 Billion, but Q4 Dives

Posted on 11 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that net revenues for the fiscal year ended 31 March 31 2011 were 18.993 trillion yen, an increase of 0.2% compared to the previous fiscal year as Japan’s largest automaker continues to struggle to return to pre-2008 levels of return. TMC operating income increased from 147.5 billion yen to 468.2 billion yen, while net income increased from 209.4 billion yen to 408.1 billion yen, or $5.1 billion. Continue reading →

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CAR on U.S. Economy Impact of GM’s Plant Investments

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Ken Zino

In an analysis of General Motors’ newly announced plant investments, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) today said that more than 28,000 jobs will be retained or created, and will contribute almost $2.9 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Continue reading →

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GM to Invest $2 Billion in U.S. Plants, Depending on Tax Breaks

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Critics, of course, say the cost per job – when you total all the loans and tax breaks – is exorbitant, especially since what is mostly going on these days is the retention of existing jobs long after jobs move South to non-union transplants. Continue reading →

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Ex General Motors Chairman Bob Stempel Dead at 77

Posted on 10 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Stempel was an engineer by training with an analytical, easy going disposition who was accessible to the media. On many occasions I listened as he patiently explained complex manufacturing and development processes that he was instituting first as president of GM during the late 1980s, then as chairman. All to little apparent good effect, and far too slow in producing results for the Board of Directors. Continue reading →

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Motorists Want More Laws, Enforcement on Highway Safety

Posted on 9 May 2011 by Ken Zino

“Despite shrinking federal and state transportation budgets and a public debate over the most appropriate role of government, it’s clear that a majority of Americans want government officials to do more – not less – about highway safety,” claimed AAA President and CEO Bob Darbelnet. Continue reading →

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Pork Update – USDA and DOE Award $47 Million in Taxpayer Dollars for Biomass Research to Special Interests

Posted on 6 May 2011 by Ken Zino

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu have announced that $47 million in taxpayer dollars will be diverted to fund eight research and development projects to support the production of biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products from … Continue reading →

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Buick Sales in China Surpass 3 Million

Posted on 6 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Shanghai GM builds, imports and sells Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet products in China, the worlds’ largest auto market. In 2010, Shanghai GM became China’s first automaker to sell 1 million vehicles in a single year. Continue reading →

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General Motors Posts 2011 Q1 Profit of $3.2 Billion. Results Almost Doubled by One Time Sales of Ally and Delphi Preferred

Posted on 5 May 2011 by Ken Zino

The General Motors results were not as strong as they appear on first glance because special items increased profits by $1.5 billion or $0.82 per fully-diluted share. GM stock is currently selling at under $32 a share, below the initial IPO price of $33 last November. Continue reading →

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Honda Expands Airbag Recall to 833,000 Honda, Acura Models

Posted on 5 May 2011 by Ken Zino

All automakers typically try to limit the number of vehicles covered in recalls or service actions to cut down on expenses and limit damage to their reputations. However, as investigations proceed the population of affected vehicles sometimes expands due to uncertainties around the root cause or inability to identify exactly how many parts are affected. Continue reading →

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