-
Recent Posts
- American Axle – UAW Demands Released Before Contract End
- J.D. Power – Dealer Service Satisfaction High, But…
- Legal Tariffs – Detroit Diesel to Add Third Shift, Recall Laid Off Workers
- Porsche AG Reorganization 2.0 or The New Strategy 2035
- Hit-And-Run Crashes at Record High
- Honda Heritage Parts Program Debuts
- IndyCar – Freedom 250 to Run Past U.S. Capital
- Instrument Panel Display Failures – Honda, Acura Recalls
- Ford Recalls 850,000 Bronco, Edge SUV Rear View Cameras
- Ford Recalls Escape, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Corsair SUVs
- Silverado and GMC HD Pickups Recalled for Sudden Stalling
- IndyCar Phoenix – Newgarden Wins Good Ranchers 250
- Windshield Wiper Failures – Ford Motor Recalls 605,000 SUVs
- Jeep Wrangler Finally Fixes Crash-Test Tipping
- Acura and Honda to Export U.S. Made Vehicles to Japan
Recent Comments
- Autocrat on Stellantis Subordinated Perpetual Hybrid Bonds on Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B
- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
- UAW Ford Department Director VP Laura Dickerson on Trump's Ford Plant Visit on Whitmer Stands in Stark Contrast to Trump at Detroit Auto Show
- Ken Zino on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: fools ‘n frauds
UAW to Demonstrate During Romney Speech at Ford Field
GM’s latest financial results added fuel to a raging fire as the elite political ruling class continues a contentious debate about the proper roll of government in the flagging U.S. economy in general, with the $80 billion auto bailout one of the focal points. One wag suggested that Democrats should run on “Bin Laden is Dead, GM is Alive,” a tough argument for Republicans and their ‘do nothing’ Congress to refute in the view of critics and what appear to be many pragmatic voters. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people
Tagged 2012 election, auto bailout, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, mitt romney, uaw, us unemployment
Leave a comment
Cramming, the Latest Assault on Your Privacy and Pocketbook
The latest scam in our largely unregulated computerized world is ‘cramming,’ a criminal practice that imposes small charges on your phone bill for false services or products. The root cause is the lack of adequate security at phone companies, which allow thieves to corrupt the billing system and arrange for fraudulent charges. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, litigation, news
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cramming, department of justice, doj, fcc, internet privacy, Ken Zino, phone fraud
Leave a comment
U.S. and Chinese Nationals Charged with Economic Espionage to Firms Controlled by Communist Chinese Government
To achieve that communist government goal, companies controlled by the PRC government, specifically the Pangang Group companies named in the indictment and employees of those companies allegedly conspired and attempted to illegally obtain TiO2 technology that had been developed over many years of research and development by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, dupont, industrial esponiage, Ken Zino, pangang, prc, tio2, trade secrets
Leave a comment
Local and Network TV See Steep Declines as News Sources
The long term declines in the number of people getting news from such sources as local TV and network news shows have steepened this year. The number of people gathering campaign news online, which had nearly tripled between 2000 and 2008, has leveled off in 2012. In previous campaigns, declining figures for traditional TV and newspapers as sources were at least partly offset by increasing numbers turning to the internet. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Japanese Suppliers Yazaki, Denso Plead Guilty of Price Fixing
The two-year price fixing sentences would be the longest imprisonment imposed on a foreign national for a Sherman Act antitrust violation. The fine amounts and prison sentences are subject to court approval and the potential influence of the U.S. State Department, which based on previous actions, cares little – if at all – in my opinion about competitive aspects of the U.S. auto industry or its effects on workers and the U.S. economy. In fact it can be argued that since the end of World War Two, State has actively pursued policies that strengthen offshore competitors of U.S. firms at the expense of the U.S. middle class. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, news analysis, people, results
Tagged auto informed, auto parts big rigging, autoinformed.com, automotive news, denso, department of justice, honda, japanese price fixing, Ken Zino, sherman antitrust act, state department, toyota, yazaki
Leave a comment
Volt Fire Hearings Pits Ideologues versus Engineers
In the end how you view this low-voltage Congressional short circuit – with lots of smoke but no fires – depends on how you view Obama Administration actions that used taxpayer-funded subsidies to encourage production of the Volt. These include $151.4 million in stimulus funds for LG Chem, which produces lithium-ion polymer battery cells for the Volt, and $105 million given directly to GM, as well as an end-user federal tax credit of up to $7,500 per Volt purchased. Such subsidies will likely be hotly debated for all industries during the election. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, engineering, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, california republican darrel issue, dan akerson, GM, icct, john german, Ken Zino, nhtsa, obama administration, ohio republican jim jordon, volt, volt fires, volt hearings
Leave a comment
Chinese Maker to Pay EPA $680,000 Fine for Dirty ATVs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $680,000 settlement with recreational vehicle manufacturers, Loncin (USA), Inc., Longting USA LLC, and Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd., to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) caused by the import of 7,115 uncertified recreational vehicles into the United States. It was the latest in a series of actions against the Chinese company and its agents. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news, news analysis, results
Tagged atv emissions, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, caa, caa violations, chinese atvs, chongqing longting power equipment, clean air act, emissions, epa fines, Ken Zino, loncin, longting usa, motorscience, pep boys, uncertified vehicles
Leave a comment
Tidbits – Leaf, Marchionne, Volt, Politics, Rust, Electronics
Nissan has re-opened “reservations” for the 2012 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle in Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Deliveries will begin next spring. Nissan LEAF is now available for order in 30 states, including Washington, D.C. National … Continue reading
Daimler Employee Arrested, Detained Under Controversial Alabama Immigration Law
The controversial Alabama immigration law requires the proper papers be carried by foreigners, including employees of firms investing in the state. Daimler, of course, is one of the largest employers in Alabama, with billions invested thus far and recently announced millions more will be added to increase production. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, litigation, manufacturing, news, news analysis, people
Tagged alabama immigration law, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, daimler, illegal immigrants, Ken Zino, mercedes-benz, tuscaloosa mercedes plant, zino
2 Comments
California Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Storing Toxic and Explosive Hazardous Wastes in His Backyard
Wyman was charged in June 2009, after firefighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at Wyman’s residence. Because of the ammunition that was being “cooked off” in the fire, firefighters had to wear bullet proof vests. Continue reading
Posted in environment, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people, results, safety
Tagged ammunition, auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, environmental crime, fbi, hazardous waste, Ken Zino, news, rcra, resource conservation and recovery act, toxic waste, zino
Leave a comment
The Film – Chevy 100, An American Story – Debuts in Detroit
Do not confuse this Chevy 100 infomercial with other serious documentaries sponsored by GM and produced by Ken Burns during his long association with the largest automaker in the U.S. Chevy 100 lacks an organizing theme – other than it’s time to sell more Chevrolets. Instead, Chevy 100 is comprised of sporadic observations along with snapshots of the history of the brand, supplemented with large amounts of quick-cut contemporary footage from collectors clubs and fawning owners. Be forewarned, you will not see the history of Chevrolet, or the history of the automobile in U.S.A. that Chevrolet is such a significant part of, given justice in this treatment. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, design and styling, fools 'n frauds, manufacturing, marketing, milestones, news, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, auto news, Autocrat, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Chevrolet, chevrolet centennial, chevy 100, chevy 100 birthday, GM, gm bankruptcy, Ken Burns, Ken Zino, news, roger Sherman
Leave a comment
New Jersey Stiffs U.S. Taxpayers over $271 Million Grant. Republicans, Democrats Collude on Cancelled ARC Tunnel
Well, it sounds like LaHood (an Illinois Republican appointed by Obama) had no choice. Defenders of the deal, and there are some, say that DOT maneuvered to get N.J. taxpayers some benefit from the cancelled transit investment. In their view this solves the standoff over reimbursement — interest and penalties were accruing daily that New Jersey taxpayers would have been responsible for — and maybe New Jersey residents will also get the benefit of improved transit in the state. We will see. There sure is enough political manure here in my view to help New Jersey remain the garden state… Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, people, transportation
Tagged auto informed, auto news, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, budget deficit., department of transportation, dot arc tunnel, dot grants, Ken Zino, lahood, mass transit, nj politics, railroad holdup, taxpayer subsidies, theft of taxpayer funds, zino
Leave a comment
Obama Administration Submits Controversial FTAs to Congress. Largest Loss of Jobs since NAFTA Coming?
The AFL-CIO said the “The Korea agreement is the largest offshoring deal of its kind since NAFTA. If enacted, it likely will displace 159,000 U.S. jobs, mostly in manufacturing. And its glaring loopholes would allow unscrupulous businesses to import illegally labeled goods from China and possibly even from sweatshops in North Korea—potentially without any tariffs at all.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, fools 'n frauds, labor issues, manufacturing, people, transportation
Tagged afl-cio, auto informed, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, cwa, eu korean fta, Ford, fta, hyundai, jobs, Ken Zino, kia, Korean free trade agreement, Korean fta, richard trumka, trade, trade imbalances, u.s trade deficit, uaw, unemployment, usw, zino
Leave a comment
Facebook Posting Costs Chicago BMW Salesperson His Job
A National Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge ruled this week that Knauz BMW, a Chicago area car dealership, did not wrongfully terminate an employee for his Facebook postings. Back in May the NLRB alleged unlawful termination of an employee … Continue reading
