Category Archives: news analysis

Treasury Secretary Defends $80 Billion Auto Bailout, Says 90,000 Jobs Added in Strongest Growth Period in Decade

“For the first time since 2004, all three American automakers have an operating profit. And since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy in June 2009, the industry has added nearly 90,000 jobs—the strongest period of job growth in more than 10 years,” Geithner said. Continue reading

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50,000 Died from “Occupational Diseases” and 4,340 Worker Deaths on Job in 2009, Latest AFL-CIO Report Says

Workplace safety has improved in the 40 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed, but many workers remain at risk, according to the AFL-CIO. In a new report, “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect,” the … Continue reading

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Chrysler Sells Global Electric Motorcars to Polaris Industries

In practice the glorified golf carts provided good transportation in gated communities, sports stadiums or campuses, but with a top speed of 25 mph and a range of 30 miles on a charge GEM electric vehicles were limited to niche markets. Nonetheless, Chrysler estimates that it sold 45,000 of the EVs during the last decade. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Nets $2.6 Billion in Q1 on $33 Billion Revenue

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported first quarter 2011 net income of $2.6 billion, or 61 cents per share, an increase of $466 million, or 11 cents per share, from first quarter 2010 as the global auto industry continued … Continue reading

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Standard & Poor’s Says Japanese Auto Outlook Now Negative

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services in Tokyo today cut its outlook on six Japanese auto companies from stable to negative, including the Japanese Big Three – Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, 7203.TO), Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO) and Nissan Motor Co. … Continue reading

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Honda Sets Fiscal Year Record for Overseas Auto Production

That of course was before the parts shortages and vehicle production disruptions caused by the Japan earthquake and tsunami on 11 March took hold. Continue reading

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Nissan Recalls Pathfinder, Infiniti QX4 for Rust, Steering Failure

Nissan Pathfinders from model years 1996-2004, and Infiniti QX4 SUVs from 1997-2003 are affected by regional recalls for vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following 20 states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Critics of regional recalls for safety defects maintain that they do not address the entire population of defective vehicles. Automakers like them since it cuts the expense by limiting the inspection to fewer vehicles. Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls Rav4 and Highlander SUVs for Bad Airbags

Toyota has been aware of the problem since October of 2007, and changed the software in new vehicles in 2008, and yet did not recall the defective vehicles. Previous such coverups resulted in record fines imposed on Toyota by NHTSA in 2010 for failure to act promptly on a safety defect. Continue reading

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ACLU Seeks Records about Alleged State Police “Secret Searches” of Driver Cell Phones During Traffic Stops.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is in an ongoing battle with the Michigan State Police (MSP) who refuse to release information regarding the use of portable data extraction devices (DEDs) that can allegedly secretly capture personal information from cell phones during routine traffic stops. Continue reading

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April U.S. New Vehicle Retail Sales Strong But Inventories Drop

However, the pace isn’t expected to be sustainable as inventory dries up, especially among small cars, and becomes a more widespread problem toward the end of April and into May Continue reading

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Chevrolet Sells 1.1 Million Vehicles in Record 2011 Q1

The latest Chevrolet expansion bodes ill for the future of Opel/Vauxhall. These old world brands, steeped in history and baggage, will increasingly be relegated to regional European labels – until they can be rationalized – someday – under the Chevrolet Bow Tie. Continue reading

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Lousy Economy Lowers U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Emissions in 2009 represent the lowest total U.S. annual GHG emissions since 1995. These numbers reflect the most up to date data at the time of publication. Continue reading

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Global Share of Emerging Auto Markets Exceeds Matures

The marketshare of global light-vehicle sales coming from so-called “emerging” markets has surpassed share from economically mature regions, led largely by growth in China, according to J.D. Power and Associates. “Mature markets like the United States, Western Europe and Japan … Continue reading

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Great Leap Forward! GM China Announces Five Year Plan to Double Sales by Introducing 60 New and Upgraded Models

In fact, due to a job creating industrial policy dictated by the Communist Chinese government, China is actually benefitting from leverage as all western automakers must establish joint ventures with local Chinese companies – some of them former munitions makers and military suppliers – in order to gain access to the lucrative market. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Debuts Most Fuel-Efficient VW Beetle Ever

In 1998 the “New Beetle” returned, successfully riding a wave of nostalgia that was triggering automotive retro designs – including the Ford Thunderbird, BMW Mini, Chrysler PT – creating another generation of Beetle owners, most of whom thought WW2 was a history class. In yet another irony, the new Beetle was a mere sales footnote in Germany, where buyers thought the design too frivolous – no Love Bugs for them. All told about 500,000 New Beetles were sold in the U.S. – 10% of the original Beetle’s U.S. volume, as the competition in small cars had heightened considerably, notably by the Japanese Big Three – Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Continue reading

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