Category Archives: people

Bye J Walter Thompson as Ford Sacks Global Marketing, Adds New Creative Agency and More In-House Workers

Ford also is creating more than 100 new in-house marketing positions tied to brand design, media tools and partnerships, and digital labs. Ford claims this new global marketing approach – is expected to yield $150 million in efficiencies annually. This only part of a series of actions that Ford’s in taking to become more profitable. More white-collar job cuts will assuredly follow. Continue reading

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Surprise! Bodo Uebber to Leave Daimler Board as Purge Continues

Like all automakers, Daimler is facing the unknown future of mobility, autonomous vehicles and the internet of things. Its problems are complicated by currency valuations and a vulnerable international supply and manufacturing footprint fraught with political issues starting in Germany, and competitors, of course. Continue reading

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Gimme Shelter: U.S. Home Affordability Lowest In 10 Years

Nationwide, the Q3 2018 home affordability index of 92 was down from an index of 95 in the previous quarter and an index of 102 in Q3 2017 to the lowest level since Q3 2008, when the index was 87. This could portend trouble for the Detroit Three automakers which rely on the sales of trucks, some of which are used to build and haul things instead of the fashion accessories they have become for many purchasers. Continue reading

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Workers Fired by Goodyear Mexico Continue Fighting

The global union IndustriALL is helping fight Goodyear’s callous actions that are reminiscent of Corporate America’s tactics a century ago. The new Trump mini Trade Agreement – NAFTA Light – apparently does not protect union workers, a shop-worn Republican move. Mexico’s freshly elected federal authorities have stated that they will ensure that workers can freely elect their representatives, which will result in employer protection contracts being phased out. Continue reading

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Amazon Raises Minimum Wage to $15 for All U.S. Employees

More than 250,000 Amazon employees, as well as more than 100,000 seasonal holiday employees, and their families will benefit from the new, higher pay. Amazon’s public policy team will also begin advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage so that it remains competitive at the bottom of the labor market. Continue reading

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50 Years of Jaguar XJ at Paris Motor Show

“The Jaguar XJ story is one of design, desirability and performance and over the past 50 years it has become a true giant in the automotive world” Continue reading

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Trump’s International Ratings Remain Laughably Low

As the second anniversary of U.S. President Donald Trump’s election approaches, a new 25-nation Pew Research Center survey finds that Trump’s international image remains poor, while ratings for the United States are much lower than during Barack Obama’s presidency. Continue reading

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Milestones: Rouge at 100 Years

By the 1930s, more than 100,000 workers punched in every day. Today, Ford employs approximately 201,000 people worldwide. Continue reading

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FAA Targets UAS or Drone Violators for Enforcement

In July 2016, Congress authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of not more than $20,000 for anyone who operates a drone and deliberately or recklessly interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response efforts. Continue reading

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Route 66 on Regent Street?

While Regent Street is arguably the English capital’s prime shopping “High Street,” Illinois is the start of America’s Route 66. Celebrated in both rock ‘n roll history and car culture, America’s epic ‘Mother Road’ in its original form stretched for almost 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica in California. Continue reading

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Porsche 911 Highest-Rated Vehicle for 2018 Model Year

Power says the scores are based on depreciation and verified data from real owners in the areas of quality, dependability, performance, reviews, awards and dealership ratings. Continue reading

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New responsibilities at BMW. MINI Position Vacant?

Starting in 2013 Mackensen was initially in charge of global sales and marketing for MINI, before assuming overall responsibility for the brand in 2015. His successor will be named later. Continue reading

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Pew: American Middle-Class Losing Financially to Upper-Income Families

A recent Pew Research Center analysis also found that the wealth gaps between upper-income families and lower- and middle-income families in 2016 were at the highest levels recorded. Although the wealth of upper-income families has more than recovered from the losses experienced during the Great Recession, the wealth of lower- and middle-income families in 2016 was comparable to 1989 levels. Thus, even as the American middle class appears not to be shrinking (for now), it continues to fall further behind upper-income households financially, mirroring the long-running rise in income inequality in the U.S. overall. Continue reading

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Experienced Pro Corvette Drivers Garcia and Magnussen Maintain Lead in the IMSA GTLM Driver Championship

Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen, drivers of the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, take a 3rd place finish in the GTLM class Sunday, 9 September during the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s America’s Tire 250 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. They won together in Monterey in 2013 and 2014. Continue reading

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U.S. Diversity-Visa Lottery Requests Near Record

Under a different, centuries old – and now thoroughly politicized program President Trump is and has been using rages against “chain migration” to feed his base (both the political sense and the moral sense). Trump apparently now wants to end family-preference immigration visas, after his his in-laws Viktor and Amalija Knavs were granted U.S. citizenship through the first lady’s sponsorship. Continue reading

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