Category Archives: milestones

Porsche Opens Display at Autostadt Park in Wolfsburg

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG inaugurated its new pavilion in Wolfsburg’s Autostadt theme park today. The auto manufacturer’s new exhibition building has a curved roof design said to be inspired by the silhouette of a Porsche 911. Inside, the center stage of the pavilion displays 25 vehicle models that take visitors on a journey through the development of the sports car brand. Continue reading →

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OnStar Subscribers Reach 450,000 in China

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

OnStar Shanghai said today that it passed two major milestones in May with its subscriber base across China reaching 450,000, and requests for Turn-by-Turn Navigation totaling 13.8 million since the launch of the telematics service in October 2009. OnStar has 6 million subscribers worldwide.

Shanghai OnStar received certification from China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in 2011, becoming the first telematics joint venture allowed offering mapping service in China. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV Starts Production in Thailand

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

In the U.S., the body on frame Trailblazer was discontinued after 2009, and replaced by the unit-body Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. Trailblazer is a traditional American truck although it was developed along with the all-new Chevrolet Colorado pickup by GM do Brasil. Continue reading →

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Mazda to Race Diesel Engines in U.S. Grand Am GX

Posted on 4 June 2012 by Ken Zino

With the RX-8 no longer in production for the U.S. market, Mazda is moving to bolster its marketing efforts by combining racing with a car that will be on sale here. The racing effort also begs the question when and where a Mazda Skyactiv-d production engine will appear in the United States. No Japanese automaker is currently selling a diesel in the U.S. – a possible area Mazda could exploit, building on its fuel-saving technologies. Continue reading →

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Now it’s Football, Bangers, Mince Pie and Chevrolet

Posted on 31 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet is entering into a five-year deal with Barclays Premier League member Manchester United to become the club’s Official Automotive Partner. Chevrolet’s five-year agreement includes the creation of the Chevrolet China Cup in July, with matches against Shanghai Shenhua FC and team in “another” Chinese city, which will be announced later. This is Chevrolet’s first global football sponsorship in the brand’s 101-year history. Continue reading →

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BMW Group and Brilliance Open Second Plant in China

Posted on 24 May 2012 by Ken Zino

BMW has been producing BMW 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market with Brilliance in Shenyang since 2003. The opening of the second vehicle plant in China will expand the range of locally produced models to include the BMW X1. Production of the long-wheelbase version of the BMW 3 Series will also begin during the coming weeks. Continue reading →

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Fiat and Mazda to Develop a Sports Car for Alfa and Mazda

Posted on 23 May 2012 by Ken Zino

The non-binding MoU states that both Fiat and Mazda will develop two “differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific light weight, roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive.” The Alfa Romeo and Mazda models will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Continue reading →

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Toyota to Increase V6 Engine Output in Alabama

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ken Zino

In April, Toyota Motor Sales came within a rounding error of surpassing Ford Motor Company as the Number Two selling automotive group in the U.S. Ford Motor’s U.S. sales decreased 5% in April year-over-year to 179,660 vehicles in a market that was up 2.3%, in part because its plants were running flat out. Number Three Toyota Motor Sales reported April sales of 178,044, up 12%. Year-to-date, Toyota Motor trails Ford Motor by 52,000 cars and light trucks, a gap is decreasing each month. Continue reading →

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Harold ‘Red’ Poling – Ex CEO and Chairman of Ford – Dead

Posted on 15 May 2012 by Ken Zino

My favorite Poling story was when Ford was looking to buy Alfa Romeo. So they had a car in the executive garage for Red and other senior execs to drive. One problem, Red’s big wing tips didn’t allow him to operate the small pedals unimpeded. Therefore, he took them off and drove the car in his socks, leaving the shoes on the walkway. It is unknown if the garage staff polished the shoes while he was gone. Continue reading →

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Carroll Shelby – Sports Car Racer and Builder – Dead at 89

Posted on 11 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Carroll Hall Shelby, a legendary sports car racer and builder died Thursday at age 89, his company, Carroll Shelby International, said today. The creator of the Cobra, Shelby passed away yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Carroll Shelby is the only man to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race as a driver, team owner and automotive manufacturer. Shelby once told me that he “spent a ton of old man Ford’s money, and kicked Ferrari’s ass,” which his team did for successive years at the 24 Hours of Le Mans until a rule change made the brutally fast and reliable cars illegal. Continue reading →

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Windsor, Canada to Buy Chinese BYD Electric Buses

Posted on 8 May 2012 by Ken Zino

The agreement also opens talks to bring manufacturing of BYD buses to the Ontario region in the near future. BYD has delivered over 300 all-electric buses worldwide and has orders for over 1300 more in 2012, making it apparently the largest electric bus manufacturer in the world. Continue reading →

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Milestones: Ten Years of Porsche Leipzig SUV and Sedan Plant

Posted on 7 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Porsche has marked the tenth anniversary of what was at the time a controversial expansion into the truck market. However, the Porsche factory opened in Leipzig during 2002 to build the Cayenne SUV has proved to be a successful investment that has since grown to produce another controversial – but just as profitable vehicle, the Panamera sedan. Continue reading →

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Renault-Nissan Take Control of Russian Automaker Avtovaz

Posted on 4 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Total auto industry volume in Russia last year was 2.65 million vehicles, including light commercial vehicles. Volume in 2012 is expected to be 2.9 million units. The economy went through a bubble and subsequent collapse a few years back, and Lada has been steadily losing share all through the recession. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Corvette Goes on Sale in Korea Tomorrow

Posted on 3 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet Corvette, goes on sale for the first time on Friday 4 May in the heretofore government restricted auto market in South Korea. The Corvette Coupe is priced at KRW 86.4 million ($76,399) and a special leather interior package is available at KRW 3 million ($2,653) – a 50% premium over the U.S. price of $50,575. Corvette coupe models are powered by the 430-horsepower (321 kW) LS3 V8. Continue reading →

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Guangqi Honda to Build a Third Automobile Production Line

Posted on 23 April 2012 by Ken Zino

During 2011 Honda sold 618,000 cars in China last year, dwarfed by market leader General Motor’s 2.55 million and Volkswagen Group’s 2.26 million. Among the Japanese Big Three, Nissan in China is twice as big as Honda and Toyota is 40% larger in terms of vehicle sales. Continue reading →

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