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Category Archives: fools ‘n frauds
Long-Time Volkswagen Engineer Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges for Rigging Tests on Dirty Diesels
In the latest setback for beleaguered Volkswagen in the thus far un-ending Dieselgate scandal, a long-time employee – James Robert Liang – pled in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Michigan to criminal charges over his role in rigging results for at least 11 million diesels, thereby defrauding regulators. Continue reading
GM Recycles 2 Million Flint Water Bottles from Toxic Crisis
The Flint water crisis, of course, is a sordid chapter in the questionable record of the two-term Republican governor Rick Snyder. General Motors acted disgracefully as well, and was in the middle of it and participated in the coverup of the toxic water supply. Continue reading
Judge Issues Initial OK of VW Dirty Diesel Settlement
Under the proposed settlement, eligible customers have two choices: (1) they can sell back their vehicle to Volkswagen or terminate their lease without an early termination penalty, or, (2) keep their vehicle and receive a free emissions modification, if approved. Continue reading
Posted in environment, fools 'n frauds, litigation
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, vw diesel scandal
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Two Florida Men Guilty in Multi-State Biodiesel Fraud
The co-conspirators received at least $42 million from the sale of these RINs to third parties, and $4,360,724.50 in false tax credits for this fuel. Continue reading
$14.7 Billion Volkswagen Diesel Fraud Settlements
The plea bargain requires Volkswagen to spend up to $10.03 billion to compensate consumers under the program. In addition, the VW will spend $4.7 billion to mitigate the pollution from these cars and invest in green vehicle technology. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Volkswagen diesel
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Fiat Argentina Removes Owner Manuals that Insult Women
The booklet in Argentina given to every new vehicle owner said: “If a lady’s skirt is too short, we recommend that she travel in the backseat to keep our concentration.” It dug the hole deeper by saying “if the skirt is not that short but you tend to have a wandering hand, she should also travel behind.” Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, news analysis
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino
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German Motor Transport Grants Fix on Dirty VW Diesels
Such an inexpensive fix is not possible in the U.S. where emissions standards are much tighter, and regulatory authorities – it could be argued across the EU – are not in the pocket of auto companies and major suppliers. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, dirty diesels, Ken Zino
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U.S. Treasury Issues Inversion Regulations. Is It Too Little, Too Late for Catching Corporate Tax Cheaters?
Under current law – obviously written by corporate lobbyists – following an inversion or foreign takeover, a U.S. subsidiary can issue its own debt to its foreign parent as a dividend distribution. The foreign parent can then transfer this debt to a low-tax foreign affiliate. The U.S. subsidiary can then deduct the resulting interest expense on its U.S. income tax return at a significantly higher tax rate than is paid on the interest received by the related foreign affiliate. Continue reading
Posted in economy, fools 'n frauds
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, corporate welfare, Ken Zino, tax code, U.S. Tresury
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Teamsters Protest United Airlines at PGA Shell Houston Open
Don’t Loot Mechanics’ Healthcare & Profit-Sharing” and “No Contract – No Flights,” during the opening round of the PGA Shell Houston Open. United is the airline sponsor of the PGA tour. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, labor issues
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, pga, teamsters. United airlines
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VW America CEO Michael Horn Out in Dirty Diesel Scandal
Thus the history of sudden death departures at VW in North America continues. When sales previously slumped, Horn became CEO after the abrupt resignation of Jonathan Browning when VW brand sales fell in 2013. The decade before VW said it would triple sales here in 10 years. The lack of trucks and SUVs doomed the plan from the start. Continue reading
Volkswagen CEO, other Execs Knew of Diesel Scandal Months – if Not Years – Before Public Exposure of the Fraud
The German defense appears weak to AutoInformed (caveat we know little about German law) because former CEO Martin Winterkorn on 27 July 2015 discussed with Volkswagen employees the diesel emissions problem at a regular meeting about “damage and product issues.” Herbert Diess, Volkswagen passenger car CEO, was also present. Memos were sent more than a year earlier. Continue reading
The Un-luck of the Irish – St. Patrick’s Day Drunks
St. Patrick’s Day – when it’s said everyone is Celtic – is sometimes heartbreaking because of drunk drivers behind the wheel. NHTSA says that during St. Patrick’s Day from 2009 to 2013, there were a total of 276 lives needlessly lost in drunk-driving crashes. Continue reading
FAA Wants $200,000 Fine for Unsafe Conditions at Detroit Wayne County Airport – DTW
Unless successfully challenged – highly unlikely – once again beleaguered taxpayers will be picking up the tab for illegal behavior at an airport that has a long history of malfeasance and criminal behavior by Democratic politicians who control Wayne County. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, litigation, safety
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, dtw, Ken Zino
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Winterkorn off Porsche Exec Board over VW Diesel Cheating
This is the latest development in the growing and company-threatening crisis at Volkswagen Group because of its deliberate diesel emissions fraud perpetrated on several continents by now disgraced engineering and management groups. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, people
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Hans Dieter Pötsch, Ken Zino
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FAA Fines Drone Operator SkyPan $1.9 Million
SkyPan operated the aircraft in a careless or reckless manner to endanger lives or property, the FAA alleges. Continue reading
Posted in aviation, fools 'n frauds, litigation, safety
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, drones, Ken Zino, SkyPan, uas, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
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