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Category Archives: news analysis
Mercedes-Benz Wants Smart Distribution Back from Penske
Smart had U.S. sales of 5,927 in 2010 compared with 14,595 in 2009, a -59.4% decrease. The tiny two-seat car, designed by Mercedes more than 20 years ago, is struggling in the marketplace. However, credits for the sale of small cars will be crucial going forward for makers of larger, gas guzzling luxury cars. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, daimler, Ken Zino, lieb, mbusa, Penske, smart, smart ev, zino
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CAR Says Electric Vehicles Will Follow the Incentives at the Federal, State and Local Levels. Budget Battles Loom?
Executive summary – taxpayer money on the hood moves the sheet metal, but auto company press release predictions are dubious. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, environment, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, budget deficit., car, center for automotive research, electric vehicles, ev, ev incentives, EVs, global warming, GM, Ken Zino, taxpayer subsidies, zino
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Roush Begins Making Blink Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Ecotality home charging stations are said to offer advantages over conventional charging stations, including advanced energy monitoring capabilities that allow homeowners to optimize their energy usage and charge their vehicles when rates are lowest. The Blink Network charger interface is the hub where users can receive information about their EV and Blink Home Charging Station including charge status, statistics and history. Continue reading
Renault Group Reveals Its 2016 Plan – Largely Outside Europe
The plan is heavily dependent on cost cutting, growth in emerging markets, and success of electric vehicles. In a statement that disappointed analysts, and sent the stock price down, Ghosn dismissed out of hand a merger with Nissan, claiming it was culturally impossible. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, milestones, news analysis, results
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto plants, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, emerging auto markets, european auto business, european auto results, european auto sales decline, ghosn, Ken Zino, nissan, renault 2016, renault group, renault growth plans, results, volkswagen, zino
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Acura 2012 TL Luxury Sedan Debuts at Chicago Auto Show
Parent company Honda is expected to report strong financial results tomorrow in Tokyo, roughly twice that of global sales leader Toyota, but its U.S. sales results have been tracking below overall market growth recently Continue reading
DOT Releases Long Delayed Toyota Unintended Acceleration Report, Exonerates Self, Claiming It Was Right All Along
The self conducted NHTSA study if it found problems, of course, would make DOT – with a staggering $79 billion budget vulnerable to Congressional dictated reforms, as well as budget and staff cuts as the deficit debate heats up on Capital Hill. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto safety, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, budget deficit., dot, Ken Zino, nas, nasa, nhtsa, ray lahood, toyota, unintended acceleration, zino
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Chrysler Challenges Nader, Center for Auto Safety, Disputing Need for a Jeep Grand Cherokee Recall for Rear Impact Fires
Ralph Nader and the Center for Auto Safety are calling on Chrysler to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee models because they are, allegedly, defective and subject to fires during rear-end collisions.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the claims, and of course Chrysler is cooperating, as required by U.S. safety regulations. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto news, auto safety, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cas, grand cherokee fires, jeep fires, Ken Zino, nadar, nhtsa, safety recalls, zino
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Honda Passport SUVs Recalled for Wheels Falling Off
Honda will recall 35,984 Passport SUVs sold in the United States from model years 1998-2002 to inspect the rear suspension lower trailing links. The forward mounting bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link may suffer excessive corrosion leading to a failure of the suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.
Atlanta Airport TSA Employee Handcuffs, Rapes Woman
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International airport handcuffed a woman, sexually assaulted her and then committed suicide. TSA is rapidly becoming, arguably, the most effective but inadvertent promoter of “automobility” in the bloated agencies of all U.S. federal and state governments. Continue reading
Ford Reduces Debt With Successful Conversion Offers
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today the results of conversion offers of bonds for stock that will reduce the company’s Automotive debt by more than $1.9 billion, lowering annualized interest costs by about $180 million. “These successful conversion offers represent another significant step toward our goal of reducing our Automotive debt and improving our balance sheet,” said Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer.
However, Ford is still listed as below investment grade by the rating agencies such as Moody’s Investors Service (Ba2) and Standard & Poor’s B+. Both junk ratings raise borrowing costs and limit large funds from buying Ford bonds. Ford lost its investment grade rating in 2005. Continue reading
Driving Impression – Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet is finally replacing its aging Cobalt with the Cruze sedan, which is already on sale in more than 60 countries in Asia and Europe since 2009. The new Cruze is a design hybrid since its engineering was done at Opel in Germany and Daewoo in Korea. North American versions went into production at Lordstown, Ohio this summer. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, blog, design and styling, engineering, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news, news analysis, road test
Tagged auto industry, auto marketing, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, chevrolet cruze, compact cars, cruze driving review, driving impression, family cars, ford focus, fuel economy, honda civic, Ken Zino, malibu, midsize cars, new car review, nissan altima, toyota corolla
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Toyota Ups 2011 Prius Pricing. Hybrid Costs More than $30,000
The Prius entered the Japanese market in 1997 as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid – negating the conventional wisdom of German and U.S. engineers and executives that the Japanese only copy and couldn’t innovate. Toyota’s complicated, but effective Hybrid Synergy Drive System was introduced in 2004 on the second-generation Prius, another technical coup.
The first-generation Prius was rated at an estimated 41 EPA combined MPG, and the second-generation model achieved a 46 MPG EPA combined rating. Using a combination of technologies, Toyota increased fuel efficiency for the new Prius to an EPA estimated 51 MPG in city driving, 48 MPG highway and a combined 50 MPG. Mileage is especially improved in cold-start conditions and at higher speeds, according to Toyota. Continue reading
Ford to Build a Second Engine Plant in China
Ford Motor Company and its government dictated partners are building new engine plant in China that is due to open in 2013. With the additional capacity of 400,000 units at the new facility, Ford’s joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Ltd (CFMA) is more than doubling its existing engine capacity of 350,000, to 750,000 engines annually.
China is now by far the world’s largest auto market, and Chinese industrial policy in effect requires that all profits earned there are reinvested in the country and its local partners. The U.S. remains alone among industrialized nations – with elected or totalitarian governments – without any such job and investment protecting policy. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed.com, automotive news, changan ford mazda automobile, chinese auto market, chinese industrial policy, ford job exports, ford job loss, great recession, Ken Zino, us industrial policy, us job loss, zino
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Nissan Leaf Debuts in U.S. at $32,780
Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) says that the 2011 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle on sale in December starts at $32,780 MSRP before a $7500 federal tax credit, plus taxes, title and license fees. A Leaf lease starts at $349 per month. The pure electric vehicle requires a charging dock, which Nissan says will cost another $2200 on average, and require eight hours to fully recharge Leaf’s 48 lithium ion battery modules.
There are also other potential subsidies for the mid-size with what is claimed to be a 100-mile range. There is $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California. The charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50% federal tax credit up to $2000. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged auto industry, auto marketing, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, electric car, EVs, Ken Zino, lithium ion battery, Nissan leaf, Nissan Leaf pricing, U.S. Leaf prices
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