Category Archives: economy

GM 2020 US Sales – Infected by Covid –  Are Down -12%

However, on Tuesday it was agreed by most of OPEC that it will keep production stable while Saudi Arabia offered to make a big voluntary cut. The price of oil, as well as when – or if – the US economy recovers are external factors beyond GM’s control that could stop the chortling in Detroit. Continue reading

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Commerce – S. Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam Tire Dumping

Using Census Bureau trade numbers, AutoInformed figures this involves 85,330,506 tires with a value of more than $3.5 billion. The case will drag on well into this year. Continue reading

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Small Business Pulse Weak – Large Negative Covid Effects

A tip of the AutoInformed racing helmet to Census Bureau employees for doing their jobs whilst under constant and ongoing attacks from the Republicans and COVID19.  Help is on the way for others, but it took the election of President Biden to signal the beginning of the beginning of recovery on 20 January 2021 at noon. Better late than never. But for the suffering it’s small compensation for enduring a President for four years who – based on his actions in office was unemployed all the while being pampered, housed, fed and subsidized – aka welfare for the rich –  by taxpayers he disdains. Continue reading

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November EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Flat. YTD -20%

Year-to-date reflects the ongoing Covid catastrophe. Sales at 1.5 million units  were down -20.3% 11 months into 2020. All EU27 markets – including the four major ones – have recorded double-digit declines so far in 2020, although less steep than in the preceding months: Spain (-28.4%), France (-18.4%), Germany (-16.3%) and Italy (-15.6%). Continue reading

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GM Investing $76 Million in Tonawanda, Parma Plants

The Tonawanda investment will be used to increase capacity on the engine block machining line and the Parma investment will be used to construct four new metal assembly cells to support increased truck production volumes. Continue reading

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Ford Future Trends – Younger Gen Less Resilient than Older

Younger generations have taken it harder than their older peers: 63% of Gen Zers say adapting has been harder than they imagined, vs. 42% of Boomers who say the same. How these attitudes will influence the world in 2021 and beyond is unknown. Continue reading

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Toyota to Cut AA Shares for Sustainable Development

If the transaction proceeds, shareholders who by exercising their voting rights to a “high degree” have actively participated in the management of TMC will no longer be of concern to TMC management. Environmental, social and corporate governance issues – so-called ESGs – are at the heart of a growing movement to measure the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. The theory – yet to be convincingly proven in AutoInformed’s view – is that this will help predict the future financial performance of companies. Continue reading

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Pulse Weakening on Small Businesses

38.7% of U.S. small businesses have experienced a decrease in operating revenue in the last week. From responses collected 11/9 – 11/15, this statistic was 33.4% Continue reading

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Barrett-Jackson Flagship Scottsdale Auction Adrift to ???

Barrett-Jackson did not respond to a request about data supporting claims of safety. It is unknown if any pre-testing, monitoring, post auction testing or, if needed contact tracing, were done on the workers or attendees involved in the October auction. Continue reading

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Trump’s Losing Trade Wars – Auto and Other Deficits Grow

Despite magical thinking – and bluster from the ousted Trump Administration, the October imports of automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($32.2 billion) were the highest since July 2019 ($32.4 billion). Continue reading

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English Covid Crisis Reigns. November Auto Sales Drop 27.4%

During November when showrooms across England had to close due to new lockdown restrictions, the industry recorded 113,781 new registrations, taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 Great Recession. Continue reading

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A Grim Covid Reaper Lurks as November US Auto Sales Drop

New light-vehicle sales fell to 1.19 million light vehicles in November – a likely foreshadowing of things to come as the Covid virus runs rampant in the US in a surge of the waning days of the Trump Administration, which ignored the crisis with the result it lost a reelection. One American is now dying every 34 seconds, unemployment is rising, and an earlier Covid federal relief package expires at the end of December meaning extended unemployment benefits and help for small businesses will evaporate as millions will face evictions. Continue reading

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Mazda to Buy Out Sumitomo from MMVO, a JV Plant in Mexico

Given the ongoing effects of soon-to-be ex-president Trump’s losing trade wars with Canada, Mexico, China and Japan, among other nations, and the uncertainty around provisions of a new trade agreement now called USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), Mazda remains at risk on multiple fronts. The new Agreement went into effect, with no apparent enforcement, started on July 1, 2020. The U.S. Congress has still not ratified it. Continue reading

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Trump Covid Casualties – State Sales Tax Collections Dive

Raising taxes on the middle class is not a viable option. A federal bailout or large assistance program for states appears likely. Senate Majority leader McConnell – aka Moscow Mitch – has a sure-fire way to create another great depression – let the states go bankrupt while Trump eats cake- and crow in Mira Largo. Continue reading

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Grim Survey – a Nation of Broke and Broken Shopkeepers?

Mnuchin is likely trying to stop President elect Biden’s next Treasury secretary extending relief to state and local governments.

The Federal Reserve – in what AutoInformed says is the latest example of the ugly, vindictive politics of the defeat at the ballot box of the impeached and lame-duck Trump – responded with a statement claiming it “would prefer that the full suite of emergency facilities established during the corona-virus pandemic continue to serve their important role as a backstop for our still-strained and vulnerable economy.” Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier in the week said there was a need for the programs to continue.  Continue reading

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