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Category Archives: economy
More Management Changes at Profit Challenged Daimler
The reorganization at Daimler continued today at Daimler in Investor Relations and Greater China. Olaf Schick is to take over Finance & Controlling at Daimler Greater China replacing Steffen Hoffman. Hoffmann will take over as Head of Investor Relations on 1 April 2020 with the current head, Björn Scheib, leaving the company by “mutual agreement,” after 11 years in the position. Continue reading
New York Auto Show Claims It Will Happen
The show’s fate of course will be determined by public health departments at the city, state and federal levels. At the moment there is no known vaccine for preventive or ameliorative use against COVID-19. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, coronavirus, COVID-19, Javits Center, Kenneth Zino
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Electric Vehicles – a Virus That Can’t Be Controlled?
Riddell in essence poses this riddle: When buying an IC car today, a larger engine is a big cost option, and for a BEV, a bigger ‘gas tank’ is a major, high-cost feature. Will this continue? Can this continue? Based on past behaviors, cost is a major inhibitor to adaption of advance technologies. Continue reading
US February Retail Vehicle Sales to Surpass a Million
“Last year it took until September for the industry to reach the current spend levels,” King noted. “While the coronavirus has had no meaningful effect on production yet, it does have the potential to reduce overall inventory levels and lower the need for continued elevated incentives. If unhealthy inventory levels persist throughout the year, however, manufacturers may be faced with spend levels that are pacing towards $5,000 by next year.” Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, j.d power, Kenneth Zino, lmc automotive
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Aston Martin Valkyrie: Formula One Drivers Get First Laps
Each verification prototype – there will be eight built – is exposed to a variety of tests to develop and validate specific attributes that contribute to achieving the performance of what Aston boasts will be the world’s fastest ever road-going hypercar, with a price to match. Continue reading
EU Passenger Car Registrations Decline in January 2020
ACEA claims that major taxation changes announced by some EU member states for 2020 pulled registrations forward into December 2019, explaining the January drop. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged 2020 Geneva Motor Show, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Czinger 21C, eu sales, Kenneth Zino
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Auto Industry Sets Record for Transaction Prices, Incentive Spending in December 2019. However, US Sales Falling?
The combination of record prices with overall sales means that consumers will spend $462 billion on new vehicles in 2019. This is up $8.4 billion from last year and marks the first time that expenditures will exceed $460 billion. Continue reading
Posted in economy, news analysis, sales
Tagged 2019 US Auto Sales, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, j.d power, Kenneth Zino
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Fasten Your Seat Belt – General Motors Files RICO Lawsuit Against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
In GM’s view FCA was the sponsor of “pervasive wrongdoing, paying millions of dollars in bribes to obtain benefits, concessions, and advantages in the negotiation, implementation, and administration of labor agreements over time.” Continue reading
FCA + PSA = Massive Job Losses
For enthusiasts as well a workers there are other threats. How about a spin-off FCA’s expensive low-return Alfa Romeo/Maserati operations? Simple math here: It would provide funds for the new FCA-PSA group while improving its utilization rate. Continue reading
UAW Members Okay Contract with GM. Ford Motor Next
The contract achieved most but not all of the demands, notably Lordstown will no longer be a GM plant. Ford Motor is the next company to agree with or slightly modify the pattern agreement, followed by FCA. Continue reading
Posted in economy, labor issues
Tagged 2019 UAW Strike, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Kenneth Zino, uaw gm
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September New Passenger Car Registrations Up in European Union, But Trend is Downward
During the first nine months of 2019, EU new car registrations were down 1.6% compared to the same period the year before. Despite demand recovering across the European Union in September, Germany (+2.5%) was the only major market to post positive results so far this year. Spain (‐7.4%) saw the strongest drop, followed by the United Kingdom (‐2.5%), Italy (‐1.6%) and France (‐1.3%). Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged acea, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Kenneth Zino
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Global Light Vehicle Sales Fall Again in September
The selling rate drop in September seems partly the result of further changes to the WLTP** emissions testing in Europe, which may have pulled sales forward to August, at the expense of September. In China, LV sales dropped once again. Unfavorable calendar effects thwarted any chance of YoY growth in the US, even though the selling rate was good. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, Kenneth Zino, lmc automotive, WLTP
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Western European Passenger Car Sales Weak
The introduction of WLTP in September 2018 distorted the market in August and September last year, with a high base effect in August and a low base effect for September as it became clear that diesels were dirty and not meeting emission standards. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Kenneth Zino, lmc
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US Medical Uninsured Rate and Number Up from 2017
Healthcare of course is one of the key issues in the ongoing UAW GM strike. Continue reading
US Trade Deficit Continues at $45 Billion a Month
The drop in imports portends shortages, which could harm both consumer and business spending. The coronavirus epidemic has upset businesses and production in China, with an extension of the Lunar Year holidays cutting output in an effort by the Chinese government to constrain its spread. This likely will be repeated in the US economy as the epidemic spreads here. It’s too soon to see the potential negative effects on the auto industry, but disruptions are likely given China, South Korea and Mexican trade in automotive goods. Continue reading →