Category Archives: economy

August Global Light Vehicle Sales Weaken Again

The US Light Vehicle market continued to be hurt by low inventories during July. Sales grew by only 3.2% YoY, to 1.28 mn units. This is a slight advance compared to July 2020’s pandemic-affected result. The selling rate declined more to 14.6 mn units/year, from 15.4 mn units/year in June. This is the lowest rate since June 2020. Continue reading

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Is China Now Clearly in the EV Affordability Lead?

This of course is not good news for occidental auto conglomerates or their customers, which through a forced combination of government regulation, shareholder pressure and consumer sentiment are investing billions in EVs to solve the very real and deadly problem of fossil fuel use, which has increasingly visible negative health and climate effects. Continue reading

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COVID Losses – NISMO Festival Canceled Again

The annual festival in Japan, billed as a fan appreciation event, has been held in the off-season. This year’s festival was to have been the 23rd After last year’s event was cancelled, the organizers had hoped for it to go ahead this year and had been watching the situation closely. Continue reading

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US August Light Vehicle Sales Continue Shrinking Trend

 “The month of August is historically a peak selling month as manufacturers launch promotional events to clear inventories of outgoing model-year vehicles and begin sales of the new model year. This year, however, the industry has insufficient inventory at dealerships to meet strong consumer demand. The consequence is that the retail sales pace is depressed, but transaction prices are elevated,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading

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Labor Day – Majorities of Americans Say Unions Good

As of July, 55% of U.S. adults say labor unions have a positive effect in the U.S., unchanged from August 2019, the last time the Center asked this question. While the overall figure has remained the same, Democrats have become more likely – and Republicans less likely – to say unions have a positive effect. Continue reading

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GM Workers in Mexico Reject Corrupt Union to Form New One

Workers at General Motors plant in Silao, Mexico, have formed a new union – the national union of automotive workers, SINTTIA. The union seeks to represent GM workers and negotiate a new collective employment agreement. In a crucial vote on … Continue reading

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US Auto Sales Forecast Down Again in August

Overall new-vehicle sales for August 2021, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,094,500 units, a 13.7% decrease from August 2020 and a 25.3% decrease from August 2019. Comparing the same sales volume without adjusting for the number of selling days translates to a decrease of 17.0% from 2020 and a decrease of 33.3% from 2019. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is expected to be 13.1 million units, down 2.1 million units from 2020 and down 4.0 million units from 2019. Continue reading

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Chinese Covid Recovery Policies is Zero-Sum Game for Automakers Overall. Luxury, Compact Segments Benefit Most?

As with most statistics though, the devil is hiding in the details. Consultancy LMC Automotive says there is an enduring imbalance in the economy’s internal structure: the performance of the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) among medium and large enterprises is significantly better than that among smaller enterprises. Continue reading

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Global Village – Record UK Used Car Prices. Demand High

“It not only marks 66 weeks of consecutive price growth, but a huge acceleration on what is now a comparatively conservative 5.7% increase recorded during the week of 12th April when physical forecourts (dealerships) reopened, ” Auto Trader said. Continue reading

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US Vehicle Sales Drop in July for Third Month Running

Toyota, General Motors and Hyundai were the three bestselling OEMs, while Ford had the weakest performance compared to last July. Ford remains mired in simi-conductor shortages and long-standing troubled relationships with suppliers. Hyundai re-introduced the Compact Pickup segment in July, with the first units of the Santa Cruz delivered. This segment of course was once dominated by GM and Ford before Toyota and Nissan moved in. Continue reading

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US Trade Deficit in Goods and Services Increases to $75.7B

The US international trade deficit in goods and services increased to $75.7 billion in June from $71.0 billion in May (revised) because imports increased more than exports. This was the highest on record. However, the June exports of goods ($145.9 billion) were also the highest on record. Continue reading

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President Biden Targets 50% Electric Vehicle Sales in 2030

The weak points in the plan is allowing for hybrids, and worse plug-in hybrids, which have laughable range running as an EV. However this is a politically needed SOP for most automakers that have been slow to embrace pure EVS. This is industrial policy on a grand scale that proponents argue is needed to survive in the global economy. Less than 4% new vehicles sold in the U.S. during June were electric or plug-in hybrids. This puts the Republicans in a tough spot. Helping Big Business – in effect tax cuts for the rich – is their highly selective policy. But creating middle class jobs while acknowledging Global Warming and setting policy that benefits all of “we the people” is counter to their failed attempts at governing for the selective few. Continue reading

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Nissan Motor Posts ¥75.7B Operating Profit for Q1 FY

During the first three months of the fiscal year, Nissan unit sales increased sharply as the industry rebounded from the pandemic disruption of 2020. Both total industry volumes and global Nissan retail sales increased by more than 60% with keeping pace with the industry volumes. Nissan’s digitally influenced sales have further increased in quarter one. Continue reading

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GM Posts Record Q2 Earnings of $4.1B Amid Delta Doubts

With GM’s evolving view on Automobility it is placing itself squarely in the middle of a global battle royal among other automotive giants such as Toyota, Stellantis and Volkswagen Group, by developing a full EV portfolio that doesn’t depend on “partial solutions” like hybrids and “electrified” ICE vehicles. Continue reading

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Stellantis Posts Record H1 Results. Full-Year Guidance Upped

“While delivering this strong operational performance the Company also made significant progress on strategic matters related to electrification acceleration and software, which are fundamental pillars of our strategy,” claimed Carlos Tavares, CEO. Continue reading

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