Category Archives: auto news

US Medical Uninsured Rate and Number Up from 2017

Healthcare of course is one of the key issues in the ongoing UAW GM strike. Continue reading

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Q3 Ford Motor US Sales Continue Slump

Ford, as always,  tried  a positive spin claiming it was a transition year of its phasing out of cars – Focus, C-Max, Taurus – with a changeovers ongoing in the all new Explorer and Escape, which are undergoing complex launches that in our view are showing mixed results. The freshened Escape went on sale last week. The new platform Explorer launch is going slowly with hopes that sales will expand in Q4. How Ford ran out of inventory of Explorers is puzzling, However given the history we bet quality issues loomed large. But pay no attention to that man behind the curtain… Continue reading

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Amazon Selling Level 2 Electric Vehicle Home Chargers

The Electrify America Electric Vehicle Home Charger is compatible with all electric vehicles available in the North American market today. It has a charging power of up to 7.6kW – about 6 times faster than the typical Level 1 charger provided to some new EV owners, depending on vehicle make and model. Continue reading

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Ford Restructuring – Mahindra Joint Venture Announced

The joint venture will be responsible for expanding the Ford brand in India and exporting its products to Ford entities globally. Ford will continue to own the Ford brand, and its branded vehicles will be distributed through the current Ford India dealer network. Mahindra will continue to own the Mahindra brand and operate its own independent dealer network in India. Continue reading

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BMW Motorrad Heritage Collection 2020 Coming

The famous black and white color of the early motorcycles is claimed to be reflected throughout the entire collection. The original branding and the BMW metal emblem are also incorporated in the design. The copper-colored details and visual accents displayed in these garments are similar to the materials used in classic BMW motorcycles. Continue reading

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Fiat Chrysler Cops Plea on Fraudulently Reporting Sales

According to the SEC’s order, between 2012 and 2016, FCA US issued monthly press releases falsely reporting new vehicle sales and falsely touting a “streak” of uninterrupted monthly year-over-year sales growth. However, the growth streak had been broken in September 2013.  Continue reading

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Hyundai Motor and Cummins to Work on Fuel Cell Technology

Hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources, stored economically, and deployed for many industrial and residential energy-generation applications. It is, of course used, in fuel cell passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Continue reading

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SEC Charges Westport Fuels Systems and ex-CEO with Bribing a Chinese Government Official via a Private Equity Fund

According to the SEC’s order, beginning no later than 2016, Westport, acting through Gougarty and others, engaged in a scheme to bribe a Chinese government official to obtain business and a cash dividend payment by transferring shares of stock in Westport’s Chinese joint venture to a Chinese private equity fund in which the government official held a financial interest. Continue reading

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Bentley Bentayga Hybrid Has 24-Mile Electric Range

A high voltage battery is capable of recharging in a leisurely “the servants have nothing else to do anyway” 2.5 hours. Continue reading

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Workers at Google Contractor HCL to Join United Steelworkers

The workers, who are staffed at the tech giant’s Bakery Square office alongside Google employees are seeking a voice on the job and the opportunity to bargain over wages and working conditions. Continue reading

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Autonomous Driving – Aptiv and Hyundai $4 Billion JV

Hyundai Motor Group affiliates — Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis — will collectively contribute $1.6 billion in cash at closing and $ 0.4 billion in vehicle engineering services, R&D resources, and access to intellectual property. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel: Volkswagen Board Crisis as Three Chairman Indicted in Germany for Stock Market Manipulation

As a result, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG hastily convened a meeting, claiming that it was unaware that the indictments were coming since it was allegedly cooperating in the investigation by the public prosecutor. It will also meet again tomorrow to discuss what is company threatening development. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel: Daimler Guilty of Selling Dirty Diesels in Germany – Pays $957,000,000 Fine Rather than Litigate

The negligent violation of supervisory duties occurred on the department head level. It appears that the Daimler has refrained from taking a legal action challenging the fine notice because senior executives are not implicated. The public prosecutor’s administrative offense proceeding against Daimler AG is thereby fully concluded. This is not so at Volkswagen Group where senior executives were indicted today. Continue reading

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SEC Charges and Settles False Financial Disclosures Against Nissan, Former CEO Carlos Ghosn, Former Director Greg Kelly  

Critics no doubt will say the settlement is laughable given the amount of money involved. Continue reading

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First Ford Performance Off-Road Leveling Kits

Most Ranger and F-150 trucks are purchased with four-wheel drive, and it’s said the leveling kits will enable off-road drivers to risk more challenging terrain. Beyond adding additional ground clearance, off-road performance is improved with Ford truck-optimized FOX  shocks. Continue reading

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