-
Recent Posts
- First Look – Genesis GV60 Magma Performance EV
- Revised Auto Forecasts Assume Slight Iranian War Effects?
- Sudden Power Loss – Ford Motor Recall Parade Persists
- GM Expands Owners’ Manual Recalls
- Andretti Global Rules Inaugural Java House Grand Prix
- American Axle – UAW Demands Released Before Contract End
- J.D. Power – Dealer Service Satisfaction High, But…
- Legal Tariffs – Detroit Diesel to Add Third Shift, Recall Laid Off Workers
- Porsche AG Reorganization 2.0 or The New Strategy 2035
- Hit-And-Run Crashes at Record High
- Honda Heritage Parts Program Debuts
- IndyCar – Freedom 250 to Run Past U.S. Capital
- Instrument Panel Display Failures – Honda, Acura Recalls
- Ford Recalls 850,000 Bronco, Edge SUV Rear View Cameras
- Ford Recalls Escape, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Corsair SUVs
Recent Comments
- Autocrat on Stellantis Subordinated Perpetual Hybrid Bonds on Stellantis Posts Full Year 2025 Loss of €22.3B
- Michigan Governor Whitmer on Pew – Confidence in Trump Dips, Fewer Support His Policies
- Porsche Motorsport Daytona Victory on Daytona 24 Hours – Old and New Stars Getting Ready to Run
- UAW Ford Department Director VP Laura Dickerson on Trump's Ford Plant Visit on Whitmer Stands in Stark Contrast to Trump at Detroit Auto Show
- Ken Zino on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
Archives
Meta
Category Archives: economy
Education, Hospitals, Police – Comprise the Largest State and Local Government Employment Groups
Full-time state and local government payroll increased 3.4% to $79 billion, and part-time employees’ payroll totaled $6.8 billion. Continue reading
New Mercedes-Benz Strategy Aimed to Help Higher Profits
This follows the Q2 Daimler disaster. The COVID pandemic or the Grim Reaper saw a decline in demand for cars, vans, trucks and buses. Group total sales decreased by -34% to 541,800 cars and commercial vehicles (Q2 2019: 821,700). Revenue slipped significantly by -29% to €30.2 billion (Q2 2019: €42.7 billion). EBIT was minus -€1,682 million (Q2 2019: minus -€1,558 million). Adjusted EBIT was -€708 million (Q2 2019: plus €2,447 million). Continue reading
Porsche – First Virtual Annual Meeting Declares Risky €676 Million in Dividends. No Earnings Forecast Yet
The shareholders approved the proposed distribution of a dividend of €2.210 per preference share and €2.204 per ordinary share for the fiscal year 2019. The total distribution comes to around €676 million euro. It’s a risky move given the ongoing Covid pandemic that has infected global economies. Continue reading
Ford Pickup Truck Sales Best Q3 in 15 Years. Cars Dead
Ford’s overall pickup sales of combined F-Series and Ranger totaled 249,997 pickups. This was Ford’s best Q3 pickup sales since 2005, with combined sales up 4.0% over a year ago. F-Series Q3 retail sales were up 10.1% over a year ago and are back above pre-corona virus sales levels. Total F-Series sales of 221,647 for the quarter were up 3.5%. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, ford motor, Jim Farley, Ken Zino
1 Comment
Covid Casualties – GM US Q3 Sales Drop Year over Year
GM tried to spin the weak Q3 as the Seasonally Adjusted Selling Rate – aka SAAR – was ~15.9 million vehicles for the quarter, up about 4 million units from the previous disastrous pandemic quarter. Mention was made of the pent-up demand effect that started at the end of Q1 continuing through Q2 as the economy was mimicking the Great Depression because of the Covid shutdown. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, gm sales, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
GM Adding $71 Million at Two Ohio Parts Plants
These investments in what is increasingly the no growth auot business norm will enable GM to retain 240 U.S. manufacturing jobs. The Toledo investment will be used to upgrade and enhance the production of GM’s eight-speed rear-wheel-drive transmission – important for its pickup truck sales. The Defiance investment will be used to prepare the facility for future engine casting components work. Continue reading
Michigan Joins the Swelling Carbon Neutrality Movement
“The science is clear – climate change is directly impacting our public health, environment, our economy, and our families,” said Governor Whitmer. “This dangerous reality is already causing harm throughout Michigan, with communities of color and low-income Michiganders suffering disproportionately, which is why I’m taking immediate action to protect our state. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to leave them a cleaner, safer and healthier world.” Continue reading
Making America Late Again – NAIAS to September 2021
NAIAS will remain a fall show going forward after the inaugural event in September 2021. Show dates have been secured with TCF Center for the next three years. NAIAS organizers choose dates towards the end of the month because of the new IAA in Munich, which is scheduled for the first full week in September. NAIAS has had a troubled relationship with German automakers. The NAIAS move in our view is defensive with a yet unknown outcome. Continue reading
2020 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Cancelled
“We know that we have all been hoping for the best, but with the uncertainty and the current State of Illinois limitations regarding spectators at indoor events, it is not feasible to continue with the show this year,” said MCACN Managing Member, Bob Ashton. Continue reading
Posted in aftermarket, economy, environment, performance
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, COVID-19, Ken Zino, MCACN
Leave a comment
Covid Labor Day 7 September 2020 Sees a Sick Economy
The unemployment rate fell to 8.4%, down from 14.7% in April and 10.2 % in July (The so-called U-3 measure is people without jobs who must have looked for a job in the last four weeks). Any way you look at it joblessness is still higher than the peak of many past recessions. The real unemployment rate was 14.2% because it contains 535,000 discouraged workers. (This is U-6 or the real rate because it includes people who would like a better job. It also includes those who are underemployed and marginally attached.) Continue reading
Posted in economy, news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, Ken Zino, Labor Day, Unemployed
2 Comments
COVID-19 – Ford to Donate 100 Million Masks
Masks will support presumptive President Joe Biden’s pending mask wearing mandate. Ford, currently manufacturing 2.5 million medical-grade masks a week for its employees and at-risk communities, is growing the number of mask-making machines by mid- to late-October to increase production and deliver on its goal. Continue reading
Our Sinking US Economy Sinks $3.3 Trillion Further
It is now almost completely likely that the US federal debt under the Trump Administration will exceed annual gross domestic product (GDP ) in 2021. The last time this happened was at the close of World War II, when amassed debt exceeded in value the size of the economy. Continue reading
This Grim Picture is Not Worth a 1000 Corona Deaths
The United States accounts for 22% of the Global Corona Virus Deaths with a mere 4% of the world’s population. Fear the Trump Administration if you care for your own o ranyone else’s health and safety. Continue reading
Covid Causalities: US Trade Deficit Continues to Increase
Particularly worrisome for the Covid -Sick US economy were goods deficits with countries that effectively addressed the Covid-19 crisis with strong central government responses: In billions of dollars, with China ($26.4), European Union ($15.7), Mexico ($12.5), Germany ($4.6), Japan ($4.3), Italy ($2.6), France ($2.2), South Korea ($2.2), and Canada ($1.2). Continue reading →