Category Archives: people

GM Sells Peugeot Shares. Claims Strategic Alliance Lives

As GM was issuing its statement, PSA shares in Paris were sinking after the automaker said more write-downs are coming with perhaps the need to raise more capital. GM has already written of part of its investment in PSA and it is clearly cutting its losses, with another write-down likely to follow in its Q4 results. Peugeot is trading at $15 a share, down from $30 in 2012. Continue reading

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Matt Tsien New GM China President as Bob Socia Retires

The move comes as GM China is facing a serious challenge to its long held sales leadership in the communist country from Volkswagen Group. GM was apparently caught napping and did not anticipate shifts in the market to small trucks and SUVs. Continue reading

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More Japanese Price Fixing from Stanley Electric

While the Obama Administration is pushing forward on a secret and job-destroying trade agreement with Japan, another Japanese company, Stanley Electric is caught as part of a huge price fixing cartel, which is hurting the U.S. auto industry and autoworkers as Oriental disdain for U.S. law continues unabated Continue reading

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Japanese Price Fixing Scandal Expands Again. Now Toyo

Diogenes’ search for an honest man would be futile in Japan if the latest, but by no means the last, price fixing scandal is indicative of Asian scorn for western laws. Including Toyo, 22 companies and 26 executives have been charged in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into the automotive parts industry. All 22 companies have either pleaded guilty or have agreed to plead guilty and will pay more than $1.8 billion in criminal fines. Of the 26 executives, 20 have been sentenced to serve time in U.S. prisons or have entered into plea agreements calling for prison sentences. Continue reading

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Al Gardner new CEO Chrysler Brand

Chrysler Group said today that effective immediately, Al Gardner is appointed President and CEO of the Chrysler Brand. Gardner replaces Saad Chehab who was named Chief Marketing Officer of Maserati S.p.A. worldwide. Continue reading

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How to “Hatch” a Flint Revival with Local History

Statues of Louis Chevrolet (July 2012), David Buick (December 2012) and GM founder William C. “Billy” Durant (August this year) have been unveiled along Saginaw Street, the main street in downtown Flint. Another, of Walter Chrysler, who was president of Buick in Flint before he started Chrysler Corporation arrived a few weeks ago at Flint’s Bishop Airport. Continue reading

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Attacks EPA, Again, over Powerplant Emission Rules

In today’s what’s not news department, the Energy Institute President Karen Harbert of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today called on EPA to ensure that any new powerplant emission rules are cost-effective, attainable, and don’t harm the American economy. Continue reading

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Ellinghaus from a Pen Maker is New Cadillac Marketing Head

Cadillac today announced that Uwe Ellinghaus, 44, would take a newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer, Global Cadillac effective 1 January 2014. Ellinghaus will lead marketing and brand building at GM’s regional luxury brand as it attempts to take on the Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz and Lexus in the global markets. Continue reading

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J Mays to Retire at Ford Motor in Latest Exec Shuffle

Ford Motor Company today announced a series of changes in its senior leadership team that could have an important impact on its future direction. Absent from the list was the most important pending change where Alan Mulally will leave, and reportedly be replaced by pretty boy and corporate jet and expensive perks lover Mark Fields. Continue reading

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September Unemployment National Scandal as Hiring Slows

September unemployment numbers finally released two weeks late show that a mere 148,000 jobs were added in September, keeping the unemployment rate officially above 7%. More than 11 million people who want to work are idled in an ongoing economic and social crisis. Continue reading

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Tony Nicolosi Now CEO at Volvo Cars of North America

VCNA reported U.S. sales of 4,188 units, a -15.9% decrease versus September 2012 in an overall market that was off -4%. Year-to-date sales are down -7% during the first nine months of 2012 compared to a market that grew by 8%. Continue reading

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Smart Phones for Dummies – a Modest Proposal

Smart phones may have Mensa-level brilliance, but they have spawned legions of dummies. So I have a brilliant solution: Bring back John Wayne. Why? Because the Duke, in numerous memorable films, insisted that anyone entering his town check their guns or face jail time – or worse, his every ready Colt. Continue reading

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Nine Japanese Auto Parts Firms Guilty of Price Fixing

Including those announced today, 20 companies and 21 executives have been charged in the Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry, in a scandal that keeps on growing in size and raises serious systemic corruption issues for some of the largest and respected Japanese firms. AutoInformed predicts more indictments are coming. Continue reading

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Pebble Beach Postcards

“Millionaires and billionaires everywhere, you have to see it to believe!” Continue reading

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Panasonic Exec Indicted in Toyota Price Fixing Scam

A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted a Panasonic Automotive Systems executive for his role in an international conspiracy to fix prices of switches and steering angle sensors sold to Toyota. Continue reading

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