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- February 2026 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast is Down Again
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- Ken Zino on Ford Fuel Injector Leak Recall Now at ~694,000
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Category Archives: economy
Renault’s Board of Directors Continue FCA Merger Study
The proposed combination would create a global automaker, pre-eminent in terms of revenue, volumes, profitability and technology, benefiting the companies’ respective shareholders and stakeholders, according to FCA. Continue reading
Renault’s Board of Directors to Study with FCA the Merger
“After careful review of the terms of FCA’s friendly proposal, the Board of Directors decided to study with interest the opportunity of such a business combination, comforting Groupe Renault’s manufacturing footprint and creating additional value for the Alliance,” Renault said in a carefully worded statement. Continue reading
Posted in economy
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, fca, Groupe Renault, Ken Zino
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ASEAN Light Vehicle Sales Up Slightly
The Indonesian LV market closed the quarter with 233,000 units sold, marking a sharp 13% drop from Q1 2018, with almost every automaker declining. The best performance was recorded by Isuzu (+776 units), led by the new TRAGA Truck, which launched in Q2 last year. Continue reading
Posted in economy, sales
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, indonesia, Ken Zino, LMC group, Q1 ASEAN sales, thailand
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CARB – Cleaner Fuels Replace 3 Billion Gallons of Dirty Diesel
“Renewable and bio-diesel, renewable natural gas, ethanol, and electricity are all seeing growth under the LCFS,” said CARB Executive officer Richard W. Corey. “These are key reasons why other states and nations are establishing similar programs.” Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, economy, environment, fuel economy or emissions
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, dirty diesel fuel, greenhouse gases, Ken Zino, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Trump Withdrawal of California Waiver and Preemption of ZEV by EPCA
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Commerce Identifies Entities of National Security Concern
This list contains the names of foreign parties that are subject to specific license requirements for the export, reexport, and/or in-country transfer of controlled items, ensuring that sensitive technologies do not fall into the hands of those who would threaten U.S. national security or American citizens. Continue reading
US Economy Showing Some Growth in Q1
Government spending and tax policies – particularly at the state and local level – added three-fourths of a percentage point to growth in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2019, according to the latest reading. Continue reading
Global Light Vehicle Sales Drop -5% in March
The slight nudge up came from an easing in YoY losses in China, and an improved selling rate in the USA. Consultancy LMC notes that Western Europe had a “disappointing month, while the Japanese, Korean and South American markets all continued to struggle in YoY terms.” Continue reading
EU Antitrust Allegations to Hurt BMW Earnings – €1 Billion!
The BMW Group provision will likely exceed €1 billion. The EBIT margin in the BMW Automotive Segment for the current financial year is expected to be 1-1.5 percentage points below the previous target range of 6-8%. Continue reading
If Trump Closes the Mexican Border, the Entire U.S. Auto Industry Shuts Down in Days
There are few vehicles assembled in the United States that do not rely on Mexico for at least some parts content. Vehicle assembly is the quintessential “complete set” — an assembly plant cannot build a partial vehicle. Even if a few relatively minor parts are missing, automakers do not make a practice of storing the vehicles and then repairing them when the parts are ready. This repair work alone creates the potential for quality issues. Since it is impossible to do a partial build, the assembly plant and many of its associated supplier plants will be idle until the automaker can obtain sufficient stock to relaunch production. Continue reading
Brexit Bloody Hell! Now Stock Exchange Issues
Well, it seems that there are risks posed by jurisdictional share trading obligations, which “could increase market fragmentation and impose unnecessary costs on investors,” the SEC said in a whistling past the graveyard observation. Hell, it’s not even clear that the UK can continue to be a key market for funds and fund managers in the United States. Continue reading
1,700 workers strike at Hankook Tire in Hungary
IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Federation of Chemical Workers of Hungary (VDSZ), which represents workers at Hankook’s Dunaújváros plant in central Hungary, says that 70% of 2,400 shift workers have joined the indefinite strike that began on 12 March. Continue reading
People Choose Low Loan Repayments and High Interest Rates
Borrowers appear to set targets for their monthly payment on rounded amounts like $200, $300, and $400, rather than choosing the most cost-efficient payments. When borrowers are offered cheaper loan terms, they are more likely to take out larger loans rather than pocket the savings. Continue reading
Michigan to Make First AVs, but Loses Ford Transit to Mexico
In a transparent attempt at spin – in AutoCrat’s view laughable and tragic – Ford is re-adding a second shift at Flat Rock. The plant will become the production home to vehicles from the company’s next-generation battery electric flexible architecture. These vehicles will follow, ahem, the all-electric performance SUV coming in 2020 from Ford’s Cuautitlan, Mexico plant. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, autonomous vehicles, economy, electric vehicles, labor issues, manufacturing, news analysis, people, shows and events
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, AV manufacturing center, Ford Cuautitlan Mexico plant, Ken Zino, Ken Zino as AutoCrat, mexico, NAFTA Lite, transit connect
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Trump Tariffs on Mexico – Job Destroying Taxes on Workers
Ultimately, prices on models imported from Mexico could increase by $8500. Factoring in parts for assembly in the US, the average price of all vehicles sold in the US could rise by as much as $2,500-3,000. the substantial increase could lower sales by 500,000-1.5 million units annually. Continue reading →