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Category Archives: news analysis
March New Vehicle Retail Sales Running at 10.9 Million SAAR
March new-vehicle sales are showing stability through the first three weeks of the month, continuing a trend of monthly double-digit year-over-year increases, according to the latest data.
New vehicle retail sales are projected to come in at 991,900 units, which represent a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 10.9 million units, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers transaction data from more than 8,900 franchise dealers throughout the United States. Continue reading
Toyota Postpones Prius V Japan Launch; With Honda Expects U.S. Plant Shutdowns from Earthquake Parts Shortages
At the same time Toyota was telling workers in U.S. plants to expect shutdowns because of parts shortages resulting from Japan’s triple disasters of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant meltdowns. Toyota said it did not know at this time when, where or how long the production disruptions would last, but it was likely that some would happen. Continue reading
New Ford Ranger Debuts in Bangkok – U.S. Bound?
Ford is billing the compact pickup truck as a global entry – it will be sold throughout Europe, Asia and South America – but remains mute if the Ranger will reappear in the United States, the world’s largest pickup truck market. Continue reading
Opel Shuts German, Spanish plants for Japanese Parts Shortage; Management Shifts as Stracke Returns as Opel CEO
There is a certain amount of friction between Opel and Chevrolet factions inside GM as both brands compete for the same customers, and Chevrolet increasingly turns to GM’s Korean subsidiary Daewoo as a source for small cars that Opel once designed exclusively. Opel’s future is clearly as a regional European brand in a market where it is struggling. Continue reading
Is Coca-Cola Part of Japan’s Nuclear Power Problem?
The Coca-Cola statement on the Japanese triple crisis of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power disaster is straightforward. Coca-Cola sends condolences, pledges $7.3 million in cash and products, and is running TV and radio ads to encourage energy conservation. What’s missing … Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, news analysis, safety, transportation
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, coca-cola, electric power shortages, fukushima, japan, japan earthquake, japanese auto industry, Ken Zino, nuclear power, rolling blackouts, zino
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Sales of Fuel Efficient 4-Cylinder Engines Double at Chevrolet
There’s no better example of how rising fuel prices have changed the auto industry than the ongoing shift in demand for more efficient engines. The trend led by customer demand is also reinforced strongly by the first government increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy in decades, which finally prompted reluctant auto executives to invest in technologies that produce significant decreases in the amount of fuel needed per mile traveled. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Chevrolet, co2, four cylinder engines, fuel economy, fuel economy regulations, gasoline prices, greenhouse gases, Ken Zino, national fuel efficiency policy, zino
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U.S. Bound Infiniti Models Damaged in Japanese Port; Nissan to Reopen Some Japanese Plants. V6 Engines a Problem
Nissan says that about 1,300 Infiniti vehicles were damaged in port in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami. However, this equates to a few days’ supply for the luxury brand, which is heavily dependent on Japanese imports for most of its premium vehicles. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, manufacturing, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, earthquake, fukushima nuclear disaster, infiniti, iwaki engine plant, japan, japanese auto production, Ken Zino, nissan, nissan americas, vehicle shortages, zino
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How Long Will U.S. Japanese Buyers Wait for Earthquake Delayed Vehicles and Where Will They Go if They Defect?
While U.S. sales executives at Japanese companies are taking an optimistic “wait and see” attitude about the effects on sales of Japanese brands of Japan’s triple tragedies – earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns – they also acknowledge that since Japanese imports … Continue reading
NRC Sends more Experts on Nuclear Reactors to Japan
In what is a politically sensitive area in Japan, as a result of the U.S.’s deployment of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima, home of Mazda, and Nagasaki that ended the war in 1945, NRC said that “only if asked” would it be part of the Japanese government’s decision making process” on the reactors. Continue reading
Toyota Starts a Sweeping Reorganization – “Global Vision”
Vowing that “Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility,” Toyoda, the scion of the founding family, said the executive staff would be streamlined and more decision making power would now reside in the regions.
The unintended acceleration and stuck gas pedal recalls were only undertaken by Toyota after years of neglect when U.S. Department of Transportation officials flew to Japan and insisted on the safety recalls. U.S. Toyota executives were only responsible for sales matters and were powerless to address the issue. Subsequently, DOT imposed record multi million dollar fines on Toyota for delays in addressing the deadly problem.
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New Chevrolet Colorado Concept Begs the Fuel Economy Question: Where oh Where is Ford’s Small U.S. Pickup?
Ford, which once dominated the compact pickup truck segment in the U.S., has said that it will close its Twin Cities, Minn, Ranger plant at the end of this year, offering instead more fuel efficient models of the gigantic F-150 pickup the best selling vehicle in the U.S. at 74,000 units year-to-date. The Toyota Tacoma is currently the best selling mid-size pickup truck in the U.S. at more than 15,000 units year-to-date, outselling an ancient Ranger – last major redesign was in 2001 – by more than 2:1. Continue reading
Toyota Recalls Trucks For Tire Pressure Monitor Defect
About 22,000 trucks are affected in the U.S. and had optional wheels with LT tires instead of the standard P-metric tires installed during truck manufacturing in California, Indiana and Texas. Either Toyota vehicle processing centers or Toyota dealers could have switched the wheels and tires. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto recall, auto safety, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, fj cruiser, Ken Zino, land cruiser, nhtsa, recall, sequoia, tacoma, toyota recall, tundra, zino
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U.S. Treasury to Sell $2.7 Billion of Ally Preferred Securities
As part of this corporate welfare program, Treasury invested a total of $17.2 billion in a failing Ally. This was the result of what critics called reckless lending practices in the home mortgage markets, which caused huge Ally losses when the housing bubble burst in 2009. Continue reading
Labor Group Blasts Ford for Chinese Sweatshop Abuses
The Institute for Global Labor & Human Rights released a new report today that said Ford Motor Company is guilty of worker rights violations at what it terms is a Chinese sweatshop that supplies Ford. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, charles kernaghan, china, china sweatshop, Ford, institute for global labor & human rights, Ken Zino, workers compensation, yuwei plastics and hardware products company, zino
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