Category Archives: people

Bridgestone Exec to Plead Guilty For Price Fixing U.S. Car Parts

Posted on 19 April 2014 by Ken Zino

The Japanese auto parts price fixing scandal continues to grow with more indictments and prison time likely coming. To date, 33 people have been charged in the government’s ongoing investigation of the auto parts industry. Additionally, 26 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.29 billion in fines. Continue reading →

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Dürheimer to Head Bentley Motors. Schreiber to Return to Volkswagen Group

Posted on 18 April 2014 by Ken Zino

Wolfgang Dürheimer, 55, General Representative of the Volkswagen Group responsible for motorsport, is the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors on June 1. He is to succeed Wolfgang Schreiber, 56, who will take a “leading position” within the Volkswagen Group. Continue reading →

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Two Mexican Illegals Charged in Wisconsin for Odometer Fraud

Posted on 4 April 2014 by Ken Zino

The indictment alleges that from late 2009 through February 2014, the defendants rolled back the odometers on at least 146 vehicles. Continue reading →

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Kerr-McGee $5.15 Billion Cleanup Settlement Largest in History

Posted on 3 April 2014 by Ken Zino

“If you are responsible for 85 years of poisoning the earth, then you are responsible for cleaning it up,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “That’s why this case was brought.” Continue reading →

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Niharika Taskar Ramdev is New GM VP Finance and Treasurer

Posted on 2 April 2014 by Ken Zino

General Motors has named Niharika Taskar Ramdev, 44, GM vice president, Finance and Treasurer. It is the latest sound of shattering glass at the U.S.’s largest automaker, which was the first global automaker to appoint a female CEO. Continue reading →

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Baseball, Apple Pie and Red Sox v White Sox at White House

Posted on 1 April 2014 by Ken Zino

“We’re all on the same team.” And I think Big Papi put it better and more colorfully than any of us could. I won’t repeat his quote. But the point is, Boston and the Red Sox were one this season.” Continue reading →

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Odometer Fraud and Carfax Scam in New York Uncovered

Posted on 24 March 2014 by Ken Zino

Capicchioni also took steps to hide his odometer fraud scheme. He checked the Carfax public database to see if it included a mileage entry that was higher than the false, lower mileage to which he reset the odometer. When Carfax included a higher mileage, Capicchioni submitted to Carfax fraudulent documentation in the name of the vehicle’s prior owner, in order to have the higher mileage reading removed. Continue reading →

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Detroit Lobbyist John Bozzella Joins Offshore Auto Trade Group

Posted on 24 March 2014 by Ken Zino

Private equity firm Cerberus placed a large bet during Bozella’s Chrysler tenure by buying controlling interest in Chrysler from Daimler. Prior to that, it bought 51% ownership of GMAC, the financing arm of General Motors. These bets ultimately failed when Chrysler entered bankruptcy in 2009. Both GMAC and GM went into bankruptcy as well. Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor Guilty of Criminal Fraud. Cops $1.2 Billion Plea

Posted on 19 March 2014 by Ken Zino

This appears to be ‘cash register justice’ at its worst. Toyota is buying its way out of its blatantly illegal behavior where people died, and former Toyota employees working at NHTSA, the U.S. safety regulator, stalled an investigation and needed recalls for years. Continue reading →

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Consumers Will Commit Fraud for Cheaper Car Insurance

Posted on 19 March 2014 by Ken Zino

However, in the bold new world of snooping, two thirds (64%) of people are comfortable with a telematics type of product that would share information about the events leading to a traffic accident, in order to help determine which driver was at fault. Continue reading →

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Jeff Boyer New Vehicle Safety Chief at GM

Posted on 18 March 2014 by Ken Zino

Boyer, a GM lifer who has spent nearly 40 years in engineering and safety positions at GM, now has global responsibility for the safety development of GM vehicle systems, confirmation and validation of safety performance, as well as post-sale safety activities, including recalls. Continue reading →

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Political Grandstanding Starts on GM Ignition Switch Deaths

Posted on 11 March 2014 by Ken Zino

In the dysfunctional ways of of now completely partisan Washington, the Republican controlled “do nothing” House is looking for political advantage here while giving the appearance that it is actually performing its legislative duties. This laughable proposition – given the record of the past decade- is increasingly hard to put forth to skeptical taxpayers of both parties. Continue reading →

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Detroit Lions Owner William Clay Ford Dead at 88

Posted on 9 March 2014 by Ken Zino

William Clay Ford was the sole remaining grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford. Mr. Ford had numerous roles outside of Ford Motor Company. He became president of the Detroit Lions football team in 1961. He purchased the team in November 1963, reportedly for less than $6 million, and served as its chairman until his death. The Lions won a single playoff game in Ford’s controversial tenure, a January of 1992 38-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. If not a skilled football tactician, he was unquestionably a generous philanthropist and community leader. Continue reading →

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Denso Exec Guilty for Obstructing Parts Price Fixing Probe

Posted on 22 February 2014 by Ken Zino

Kazuaki Fujitani, once a director of Denso in Japan will serve one year and one day in a U.S. prison instead of the maximum price fixing penalty of 20 years in prison and a criminal fine of $250,000 for individuals. Continue reading →

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Bridgestone Latest Japanese Scofflaw as Auto Supplier Price Fixing Scandal Expands Yet Again

Posted on 13 February 2014 by Ken Zino

Including Bridgestone, 26 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry. Continue reading →

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