Category Archives: economy

CARB Chair Liane Randolph to Retire

Posted on 16 September 2025 by Ken Zino

Late yesterday, California governor Gavin Newsom announced that California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Liane Randolph will be retiring from state service effective 30 September 2025. Newsome named Senior Advisor to the Governor for Climate Lauren Sanchez to serve as the next CARB Chair. Chair Sanchez starts 1 October 2025 and assumes Chair Randolph’s current term which ends in December 2026. The appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation. It is inarguably the most powerful position in the Clean Air movement now that the US EPA has abandoned its role on protecting the environment and dealing with planet threatening Global Warming. Continue reading →

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Trump Economics – Growth Slowing, Unemployment Rising

Posted on 11 September 2025 by Ken Zino

John C. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer Federal Reserve Bank of New York spoke at the Economic Club of New York on 4 September 2025. The views expressed are his own. However, AutoInformed notes that, regrettably, the data when … Continue reading →

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Gasoline Prices Stable as Summer Travel Ends

Posted on 11 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“The national average for a gallon of regular is down about a penny to $3.19. There remains an abundance of crude oil supply which is outweighing demand. The seasonal transition to winter-blend gasoline – which is cheaper to produce – is also beginning. While the national average has been relatively stable, drivers in the Pacific Northwest are feeling pain at the pump. Gas prices in the area have jumped more than 20 cents in the past week due to the shutdown of a major pipeline that transports fuel from Washington to Oregon. The pipeline is reportedly expected to resume operations in a few days,” said AAA Continue reading →

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Trump Tariffs Hit N.A. Automakers $1.389B

Posted on 11 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“Tariffs hit North American automakers hard in July,” said Patrick L. Anderson, Principal & CEO of Anderson Economic Group. “The automakers made extensive use of temporary allowances that effectively allowed an exemption for the majority of both parts and vehicles through June. That changed in July for assembled vehicles, and we can expect that these costs will become embedded into the prices consumers are paying in the very near future.” Continue reading →

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CARB Files Comments on DOE Climate Misinformation

Posted on 3 September 2025 by Ken Zino

“This DOE document relies on the old tobacco industry strategy of undermining established science, spreading doubt about established reality and carelessly endangering fellow human beings,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “If the endangerment finding is rolled back, it will clearly establish that the federal government is further stamping its approval on a proposal that puts profits before the health of the people the administration claims to represent.” Continue reading →

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Trump Tarriff Chaos – GM EV Sales Set Record

Posted on 2 September 2025 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that U.S. electric vehicle sales likely set an all-time monthly record in August, as customers rushed to make purchases ahead of the expiration of Federal EV tax credits.*

“August was our best month ever for EV sales – and we expect that buying surge to pay long-term dividends, given our industry-leading manufacturer loyalty, and EV customers’ overwhelming commitment to the technology. I’m grateful to our team and our dealers for helping us outperform nearly every EV competitor,” said Duncan Aldred, GM Senior Vice President and President, North America. Continue reading →

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Environmental Pillage Agency attacks California

Posted on 25 August 2025 by Ken Zino

This proposed disapproval comes after two complaints filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) about the State’s enforcement of emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers. This politicization of the Justice Department – long attacked previously by President Trump as a misuse of power and directly opposed to the Republican party’s long-standing support of States’ rights, is yet another baffling move by the Trump mis-administration. A better name for the agency given its actions under Trump 2.0 is the Environmental Pillage Agency in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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Used Vehicle Prices Down as Consumer Sentiment Drops

Posted on 19 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“We started to see stronger sales trends in late July and early August for retail and wholesale markets, and that’s causing some additional volatility in wholesale pricing trends in recent weeks, against a stronger comparison from last year,” said Jeremy Robb, senior director of Economic and Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. Continue reading →

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California Movies Ahead as Fed Agencies Retreat on Clean Air

Posted on 19 August 2025 by Ken Zino

“Cleaner vehicles will also save Californians billions of dollars in fuel, maintenance and healthcare costs as the state pushes for the cleanest, most affordable ways to travel,” the agencies said. Continue reading →

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Goodyear Posts H1 2025 Loss of $59 million

Posted on 8 August 2025 by Ken Zino

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) today posted a Q2 2025 loss of $48 million compared to a net income of $48 million in Q2 of 2024. Goodyear during H1 2025  had net sales of $8.7 billion, with tire unit volumes totaling 76.4 million. Goodyear net income was $369 million ($1.27 per share) compared to Goodyear net income of $10 million (4 cents per share) a year ago. Goodyear’s first six months 2025 saw net sales of$8.7 billion, with tire unit volumes totaling 76.4 million. Goodyear net income was $369 million ($1.27 per share) compared to Goodyear net income of $10 million (4 cents per share) a year ago. Nonetheless, the stock market punished the stock dropping it ~17% from the previous day closing as the impending Trump tariff recession appears to be underway. Tariff costs at Goodyear are now estimated at, gulp, $350,000,000 for 2025.
“The second quarter proved challenging in both our consumer and commercial businesses, driven by industry disruption stemming from shifts in global trade – including a surge of low-cost imports across our key markets,” said Mark Stewart, Goodyear CEO. “We expect conditions to stabilize in the coming quarters, and we see clear opportunity ahead as we capitalize on our strong U.S. manufacturing footprint. We continue to expect to exceed the original goals for Goodyear Forward both in terms of cost savings and proceeds from asset sales.” Continue reading →

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Ford Says Trump Tariffs Will Slash Earnings by $2B

Posted on 31 July 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) reported late yesterday its Q2 and H1 2025 financial performance. The now common internally created factors of Ford’s warranty costs,* losses on electric vehicles and the external Trump’s tariff chaos negative effects were in play. Tariffs slashed $800 million from Ford profits during Q2, the Dearborn-based company said. Its latest estimate of $2 billion in tariff costs for the year includes the impact of cost-cutting and other measures Ford is taking in response to President Trump’s trade policies. Ford Motor booked a $1.3 billion loss from repairs of vehicles under warranty, cancellation of plans to build an electric sport utility vehicle and other one-time costs. The Q2 net loss was $36 million. Ford common stock per share has been trading in the $8.44 – $11.97 range during the last year, hovering ~$11 a share recently. Its three-year return of ~5% compares to the S&P 500 at 54%. Continue reading →

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Penske Automotive Group Posts Record $1.3B Q2 Gross Profit

Posted on 31 July 2025 by Ken Zino

“I am pleased with the performance of our diversified international transportation services business in the second quarter. The second quarter represented the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings growth driven by an overall gross margin increase of 50 basis points, an increase of 50 basis points in retail automotive service and parts gross margin, and a 30-basis point improvement in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of gross profit,” said Chair Roger Penske.

“New and used vehicle gross profit per unit retailed remained stable and strong while retail automotive same-store service and parts revenue increased 7%.” Penske continued, “While we continue to monitor the potential impact to our business from tariffs, the benefits provided by our premium brand mix, geographic diversification across the North American retail commercial truck, the U.S. and international automotive markets, and the diversification of our gross profit across new and used vehicles, service and parts, and finance and insurance, coupled with our highly variable cost structure, provide us with opportunities to flex our business to meet the changing automotive and commercial truck landscape,” Penske said. Continue reading →

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Stellantis Posts H1 2025 Loss of €2.3 Billion

Posted on 29 July 2025 by Ken Zino

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA)* today announced results for the H1 2025, reporting Net revenues of €74.3 billion, down 13% compared to H1 2024. The breathtaking net loss was -€2.3) billion, including €3.3 billion of net charges excluded from Adjusted operating income, down compared to H1 2024 Net Profit of €5.6 billion. It updated its tariff cost assumptions to an estimated 2025 net tariff of~€1.5 billion (~$1.7B), of which only €0.3 billion was incurred in H1 2025. Continue reading →

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Cap-and-Invest Cleans Air in Most Polluted Areas

Posted on 25 July 2025 by Ken Zino

A new report released today by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) shows that the California law funded by Cap-and-Invest dollars improves air in the state’s most polluted communities. In each of the 19 communities the program supports, CARB and the local air districts established partnerships to develop plans to address local pollution problems where people live, work and play. CARB is now expanding the program’s offerings to 64 communities in coordination with other regulatory partners. In AutotInformed’s view this is democracy in action – in sharp contrast to the politics of grievances by the super-rich.

“The Community Air Protection Program has become a critical tool for improving air quality in areas most impacted by sources of pollution,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “As one of the hallmark efforts funded by Cap-and-Invest revenue, it is recognized as a national model for substantially and cost-effectively reducing harmful emissions in vulnerable communities. The success of the program is a testament to the power of partnerships and a result of our collective commitment to the pursuit of clean air for all Californians.” Continue reading →

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CARB Amends Clean Truck Regs With Trucking Industry!

Posted on 24 July 2025 by Ken Zino

“California’s commitment to cleaner trucks has created an ecosystem of programs and incentives that will continue to drive progress despite the federal administration’s unlawful actions challenging our state’s efforts to reduce emissions and deploy to clean transportation technologies,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “The amendments approved today provide manufacturers with flexibility, and we look forward to continued collaboration with manufacturers in efforts to reduce emissions, protect public health and ensure global competitiveness as the rest of the world shifts to zero-emission technologies.” Continue reading →

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