Category Archives: financial results

March Global Light Vehicle Sales Plunge. Prelude to Rest of the 2020 Year or the Trend for Years After?

Almost all major vehicles markets suffered steep year-over-year declines in March. The beginning of a downward spiral of unknown duration, according to consultancy LMC with 2020 dropping to 71 million units compared to, gulp, 90 million in 2019 Continue reading

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

Ford Motor Q1 Prelim Results Hint at COVID-19 Illiquidity

Ford’s Q1 vehicle wholesales were down 21% from a year ago, largely as a result of lower production and demand related to the coronavirus.  Ford currently expects to report revenue of about $34 billion and first-quarter adjusted losses before interest and taxes of about negative -$0.6 billion, which excludes about $0.3 billion of special-item charges. The company has not yet calculated its tax rate for the first quarter and is not able to provide its preliminary net loss or loss per share. As of 9 April, the company had about $30 billion in cash on its balance sheet, including $15.4 billion of proceeds from borrowings last month against two existing credit lines. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trade to Plunge as COVID-19 Upends Global Economy

The response of political leadership can also have a big impact in the outcome. But WTO economists believe the decline will likely exceed the trade slump brought on by the global financial crisis of 2008‑09. Estimates of the expected recovery in 2021 are equally uncertain, with outcomes depending largely on the duration of the outbreak and the effectiveness of the policy responses. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, financial results | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Porsche “Gives” Employees A Voluntary Bonus

Porsche* is combining an optional bonus to its employees with an appeal for donations to support the “Porsche aid” program. The bonus of  €9,000 Euro will be paid out to the Porsche workforce for the 2019 financial year; €700 will … Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, financial results, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

RumbleOn Posts 2019 Loss. Cancels Guidance

Executive summary from AutoInformed: RumbleOn has ambitious plans with more than $840 million in revenue in 2019, but what is arguably a national brand is facing the ongoing contraction (collapse?) of the U.S. economy. Continue reading

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

LMC Automotive Now Projects Double the Decline of the Great Recession in Light Vehicle Sales During 2020

LMC currently is forecasting 2020 global Light Vehicle sales to fall below 77 million units, a decline of nearly 14 million units or -15% from the 2019 level. For comparison, global Light Vehicle sales fell 6 million units from 2007-2009 to 64 million units, a two-year decline of 8.7%, or 4.5% CAGR. Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, financial results, manufacturing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

General Motors Draws Down Credit Lines in COVID-19 Fight

This increases GM’s cash position and preserves financial flexibility in light of current uncertainty in global markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will supplement the company’s cash position of approximately $15 billion to $16 billion expected at the end of March. Continue reading

Posted in financial results | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Maxes Out Lines of Credit

The cash from these borrowings will be used to offset the temporary working capital impacts of the coronavirus-related production shut downs and to preserve Ford’s financial flexibility. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Volkswagen Group Closes 2019 Books

The spread of coronavirus is currently impacting the global economy. It is uncertain how severely or for how long this will also affect the Volkswagen Group. Currently, it is almost impossible to make a reliable forecast. Continue reading

Posted in financial results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SEC Sets Guidelines for Virtual Annual Shareholder Meetings

Affected parties can announce in filings made with the SEC the changes in the meeting date or location or the use of “virtual” meetings without incurring the cost of additional physical mailing of proxy materials.  Continue reading

Posted in economy, environment, financial results | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Proposes 41% Dividend Rise at May Annual Meeting

The increase in Porsche SE’s proposed dividend is disproportionately higher than the increase in result. This growth come from the dividend proposal of Volkswagen AG, which increased the payout rate to 24.5%, after 20.4% in the prior year. Continue reading

Posted in economy, financial results | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Daimler Postpones Annual Shareholders’ Meeting

Daimler said in a statement just issued that the worldwide spread of the coronavirus ( aka COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2) as well as The Robert Koch Institute and the responsible health authorities in Germany are assuming that the number of infections will increase significantly in the coming weeks. Continue reading

Posted in environment, financial results, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Debt Projections – Off the Chart Before COVID-19

Debt held by the public is a measure that indicates the extent to which federal borrowing affects the availabil­ity of private funds for other borrowers. All else being equal, an increase in government borrowing reduces the amount of money available to other borrowers, putting upward pressure on interest rates and reducing private investment. It is the measure of debt most often used by CBO in its reports on the budget. The cost of growing debt increases the finance payments of new and used vehicles. Continue reading

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

Trump Deficit Growing: $625 Billion FYTD – $80B Higher YoY

Net interest on the public debt rose by $5 billion (or 17%), mostly because of a different rate of inflation. Continue reading

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

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

Posted in economy, financial results, manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment