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Category Archives: economy
Census Bureau Releases Data on US Fleet after 18 Year Gap
The US Census Bureau today released data on the nation’s inventory and use of selected vehicles. The Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) is a collaboration with the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Energy; and the Census. For automakers it contains a wealth of data about miles driven, fuel economy and actual use patterns, which are key to product development, marketing, corporate forecasting, among other things. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, data for transportation and air quality models, economic Role of motor vehicles, Emissions studies, Energy efficiency of vehicle fleets, Freight movement, Highway cost allocations, Ken Zino, operational characteristics of vehicles, tracking the deployment of driver-assistance technology, Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey, Vehicle size and weight, VIUS
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President Biden on UAW Picket Line Backs Wage Bids
The crowd was extremely vocal in its support, even though the UAW estimates that one-third of its members voted for a wealthy east-coast elite candidate who became one-term President Trump after, among other things, he put in place anti-labor policies and destroyed the economy breaking his campaign promises. While the UAW hasn’t endorsed Biden thus far, the 2024 Presidential candidate the union emphatically said it won’t endorse is the 91-count indicted, twice-impeached ex-president. Continue reading
Brand Loyalty Down Again for New Vehicles
“As vehicle availability increased and more choices hit the market for consumers, loyalty among brands as a whole saw a decline this year,” said Tyson Jominy, vice president of data & analytics at J.D. Power. “Additionally, owners were tied down to their vehicles for longer than normal due to ongoing supply chain disruptions, and as a result were more likely to experience problems with their vehicles.” Continue reading
Unifor Selects GM as Next Negotiation Target
“We’ve got an incredibly strong pattern agreement at Ford that will serve us well over the coming years. Our job now is to negotiate that pattern in the form of a renewal collective agreement with General Motors and Stellantis,” said Payne. “General Motors will be our next target company. Starting tomorrow Unifor will be at the table with GM.” Continue reading
EPA Launches More Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
The two new competitions are part of the second round of funding from EPA’s $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was created by President Biden’s bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. EPA is announcing the availability of $4.6 billion across two implementation grant competitions, one general competition and one specifically for Tribes and territories. Under these competitions, eligible applicants will compete for CPRG implementation grants to fund measures in their state-, municipality-, Tribe-, or territory-specific climate action plans. As part of its evaluation of applications, EPA will prioritize measures that achieve the greatest amount of GHG emissions reductions. Continue reading
Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, public health
Tagged @KenAutoinformed, Adam Ortiz, autoinformed.com, Automotive News and Commentary, Biden-Harris Administration, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, Climate Week 2023, epa, Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, Ken Zino
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UAW Big Three Strike Continues
“They pretend that the sky will fall if we get our fair share of the quarter of a trillion dollars the Big Three has made over the past decade,” UAW President Shawn Fain says in the video. “They want to say that our righteous fight for a higher quality of life for the working class would wreck the economy. We’re not going to wreck the economy; we’re going to wreck their economy because it only works for the billionaire class.” Fain is the first president in UAW history directly elected by members. Continue reading
Posted in customer satisfaction, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, GM Wentzville Assembly, Ken Zino, Ken Zino on UAW Big Three Strike Continues, Michigan Assembly Plant, Shawn fain, Stellantis Toledo Assembly, UAW Big Three 2023 Contract talks
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UAW on Strike at Select Ford, GM, Stellantis Plants
At all of the US Big Three companies – as of now – their new or slightly revised offers when made public are so far short of the UAW requests that they might as well be non-existent. We will have to wait as things unfold. Big Three executives appear to have thought that business as usual would allow them to continue to do business. Well, not today,,,
Moreover there are signs that a resurgent labor movement in other sectors will support the UAW with selective strikes. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said today “The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including our members in the carhaul industry, stand in solidarity with the United Auto Workers to get the best contract possible from America’s biggest automakers. Just as the Teamsters saw at UPS, record profits at any company must result in record contracts for the workers who make those profits possible…. All UAW members deserve respect at work and dignity in retirement. They deserve strong wages in a new contract that rewards them for everything they do for the Big Three and to keep this country moving. You can be sure there is no division in America’s labor movement today. And you are urged to remember that Teamsters don’t cross picket lines.” Continue reading
August Global Light Vehicle Sales Up Again
“The USA, Western and Eastern European countries all registered double digit YoY growth, partly due to 2022 being a weak base and partly because of an alleviation in supply-side issues. Chinese sales grew 5.2%, driven by a booming export sector. However, the domestic PV market in China fell slightly because of subdued consumer confidence,” GlobalData said. Continue reading
UAW to Start Selective Big Three Strikes at Midnight
UAW President Shawn Fain last night with an audience of ~30,000 on YouTube spoke for more than 50 minutes. His message was simple. “Let’s Stand up and let’s make history,” Fain said. The history he is talking about starts at midnight tonight when the UAW for the first time ever is striking all of the so-called Big Three companies – Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. With defiant language Fain laid out the latest twist in the UAW strategy to “stop the Big Three from killing jobs.” Rather than the traditional single target company, there will be selective and ongoing strikes at all of the companies. Continue reading
August 2023 Western European Car Sales Best of the Year
The Western Europe passenger vehicle selling rate rose to 14.6 million units per year in August, according to an analysis just released by the GlobalData* consultancy. This is up from a 11.5 million units rate in July, making it the … Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, GlobalData, Ken Zino
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Labor Day – UAW Struggles Are Key to The American Dream
Let us pause here to remember and reflect on Walter P. Reuther (1907 – 1970). “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well,” he famously said. Reuther built the United Automobile Workers into one of the most awakened and progressive forces in American history. A fierce champion of collective bargaining, Reuther also had a much larger vision of the American society then many of our mere politicians. He viewed the labor movement in the context of community – the whole community. Led by him the UAW fought for civil rights, health care, affordable housing, environmental protections among other things. Continue reading
July 2023 EU Car Sales Up 15%
During July, the market share of battery-electric cars rose to 13.6% (up from 9.8% the same month last year). Hybrid-electric cars maintained their position as the second choice among new car buyers, with more than 25% of the market. Nonetheless, internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, including gasoline and diesel models, retained a combined market share of half of new car sales. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged acea, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Death of the diesel, July 2023 EU car sales, Ken Zino
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Unifor Picks Ford Motor Company as Detroit Three Target
Unifor National President Lana Payne said, “Ford was selected as the target because we believe that the company is in the best position to reach an agreement that delivers on the needs of our members and sets a strong pattern for Canada’s auto industry. These negotiations are about reaching an agreement that reflects the historic nature of the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. That means setting the highest possible standards that protect the livelihoods and job security of all autoworkers now and in the future.” Continue reading
Virtually All Unifor Members Authorize Big Three Strike
“Canadian autoworkers have sent a strong message to D3 automakers that they are united behind our bargaining committees in an effort to improve pensions, increase wages, and secure good, union jobs in the EV future,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. Continue reading
UAW Strike Expands as Ford and GM Execs Squawk
“To be clear, negotiations have not broken down. We are still talking with all three companies. I am still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade. But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job. It’s time to use that power. That is why I’m calling on an additional 7000 members across Ford and GM to go on strike starting at noon Eastern today,” said Shawn Fain. Continue reading →