Category Archives: economy

Politics or Finally a Policy? Obama Administration Protests at WTO over Chinese Auto and Parts Subsidies. China Instantly Fights Back

The Obama Administration filed a complaint against the Communist Chinese government at the World Trade Organization today. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SAIC-GM-Wuling JV in China Sells 1,000,000 Vehicles

SAIC-GM-Wuling has sold 1,000,000 vehicles in China for the fourth consecutive year. It is the earliest the General Motors China joint venture – required by the communist government as a successful job creating policy – has reached the milestone. In 2011, SGMW sold its 1 millionth vehicle in October. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More U.S. Companies Working on Sustainability and CO2 Reduction

The Carbon Disclosure Project released today an analysis showing that S&P 500 companies are making progress towards reducing carbon emission when compared to the so-called Global 500. CDP claims its results show a “tipping point” has now been reached in American C-suites and boardrooms to integrate a sustainability agenda into overall business strategy. This apparent acknowledgement of the growing spending and voting power of the green movement is occurring without comprehensive regulatory requirements in the U.S. to reduce CO2, and despite the goal – sometimes actually stated this election season – of Republican party candidates to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and ignore climate change and possible remedial actions. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AIG Bailout of $182 Billion Paid Back. Taxpayers make at least $12B

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it is selling 553,846,153 shares of its American International Group (AIG) common stock at $32.50 per in a public offering. The proceeds to Treasury from the common stock sales are expected to be ~$18.0 billion. This means that the transaction locks in at least a $12.4 billion positive return on the $182 billion in Treasury and Federal Reserve loans and commitments to AIG. The bailout loan will be fully paid off in what remains an unpopular (but extremely effective) example of government intervention in a failed marketplace. Ideologues still refuse to admit that the TARP and associated government actions saved the U.S. and perhaps the global economy. It certainly – without question – saved the U.S. auto industry and this includes companies that received no loans. Continue reading

Posted in economy, fools 'n frauds, news, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford outlines its latest European Turnaround Plan to Dealers, Workers

At a meeting with 2,500 dealers and employees in Amsterdam last night, senior Ford Motor executives outlined the latest European turnaround plan for its loss-making Western European operations. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Airline Employment Rises Slightly in June

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 1.4% more workers in June 2012 than they did in June 2011 but still remain below pre-Great Recession levels, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Continue reading

Posted in aviation, economy, news, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NAFTA Trade Up in June to $83 Billion. Vehicles Post Big Gains

Trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, increased 6.6% in June 2012 compared to the year earlier period as measured by surface transportation. This means that $82.6 billion worth of goods traversed the NAFTA zone. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates, the June 2012 total was $61.0 billion in 2004 dollars, up 11% from June 2011 according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. August Auto Sales Tepid at a Projected 12 Million Units

LMC Automotive has revised the outlook for total light-vehicle sales in the United States downward to 14.3 million units from 14.5 million units, with retail auto sales at 11.4 million units, down from 11.5 million units. Weaker U.S. economic growth and concerns with the deepening Eurozone crisis are cited as factors for slower growth during the second half of the year. The U.S. auto industry is still projected at a 15-million-unit level in 2013, but the outlook has been cut from 15.2 million units, as the risks in could carry over into next year. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Auto Loan Delinquency Rate Declines by 35%

Mirroring a trend in many consumer lending categories, auto loan delinquency rates have declined significantly in July year-over-year. Equifax’s latest monthly National Consumer Credit Trends Report released today says that auto loan 60-day plus delinquency rates declined 35% in dollars.CNW Research also has good news for automakers and their stockholders. Its latest Loan-to-Value Ratio data shows a rise, especially for sub-prime borrowers. Banks are once again chasing auto loans because of low repossession rates and a minimum of late-payers. In the heyday of sub-prime lending, those with the lowest acceptable FICO score (credit rating in industry jargon) had LV ratios in the near-100% range. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marine Corps to Test Finnish Personnel Carrier as U.S. Long Term Unemployment Continues at Post Depression Highs?

It was not immediately clear if Lockheed really intends to import the Finnish-built personnel carrier for the 600 units the Marine Corps eventually plans to buy at ~$5 million each while long-term U.S. unemployment continues at post Great Depression highs. There are competing U.S.- and Canadian-built carriers available from General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and Science Applications International Corporation. Continue reading

Posted in economy, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Bids on Ally’s International Auto Lending Business

The GM bid carries some potential risks for U.S. taxpayers, which still own a large part of the company. If GM buys the international Ally businesses, it could expand lending overseas, but not without potentially hurting liquidity. GM Financial’s consolidated assets could more than double, and it could incur substantial amounts of indebtedness, including secured debt. GM Financial’s ratio of adjusted assets to adjusted equity could more than double as well. It all depends on how much GM acquires, and then its ability to successfully run the new operations while integrating them into the larger company. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Freight Shipments Down in June as U.S. Economy Languishes

Commercial freight fell 0.1% in June from May, following no change in the index from April to May, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) released today. The June 2012 index level (109.5) was 16.1% above the April 2009 low during the Great Recession, which might be poised for a sequel. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Q2 Profit Plummets $1.4 Billion as Europe, South American and Asia Continue to Hurt Earnings and Shareholders

Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] posted its 12th consecutive quarterly pre-tax operating profit this week based almost entirely on North American results. Weak to frankly disastrous performances in Ford’s global operations saw Q2 income drop to $1 billion, or 26 cents per share, a decrease of $1.4 billion from Q2 2011. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Indiana Plant to Increase Capacity and Add Civic Hybrid

Honda announced at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit that it is investing $40 million to increase annual capacity by 50,000 units to 250,000 vehicles at its Indiana plant. The strong Japanese Yen continues to be a good development for autoworkers as all Japanese firms are shifting production out of Japan. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PSA Peugeot Citroën to Reorganize, Close Aulnay Plant

Philippe Varin, Chairman of the PSA Peugeot Citroën Managing Board has told the works council that the loss-making French automaker will close the Citroën C3Aulnay plant in 2014, and trim production at Rennes, which makes the Peugeot 508 and Citroën C5 and C6. More than 4,400 jobs are affected. Work in other plants could absorb 1,500 of the displaced workers in the local Paris area. The company will also pursue voluntary separations of its corporate workforce. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, manufacturing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment