Category Archives: results

New Michigan Transportation Projects Increase Mobility

Posted on 15 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The Challenge grants are said to address core mobility gaps for seniors, persons with disabilities and veterans across the state, with projects in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, the Central Upper Peninsula and Southeast Michigan receiving funding in this second round. Continue reading →

Posted in awards, milestones, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen and Ford Announce Alliance Without Cross Equity

Posted on 15 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The history of such industry collaborations is difficult and littered with road kill. The problem is whether the two global giants and hundreds of thousands of workers can walk in step together or stumble over each other. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, engineering, financial results, manufacturing, marketing, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chattanooga to Build US VW Electric Vehicles

Posted on 14 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Globally, Volkswagen Group plans to commit almost $50 billion (44 billion euros) through 2023 toward the development and production of electric vehicles and digital services. The Volkswagen brand alone has fore-cast selling 150,000 EVs by 2020 worldwide, increasing that number to 1 million by 2025. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, electronics, environment, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Projects Strong Earnings, Improved Cash Flow in 2019

Posted on 12 January 2019 by Ken Zino

In 2019, despite a diminishing car market, GM expects the overall U.S. market to remain strong, projecting total industry sales in the low 17-million range. The company will benefit from a full year of volume from GM’s all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty full-size pickups. The trucks have contributed to retail market share growth in the light- duty pickup segment every month since August, with average transaction prices that have surpassed those of key competitors. Continue reading →

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

Ford to Restructure European Business Once Again

Posted on 11 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Near term, Ford is cutting costs by a reduction of surplus labor across all functions – salaried and hourly. A change in management structure, announced in December, already is underway through Ford’s hoeing and weeding its global salaried workforce. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, financial results, labor issues, mobility company, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

California, Federal Fines and extended Warranties and Fixes Cost Fiat Chrysler at Least $800m for Diesel Cheating

Posted on 11 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Companies and their board of directors may not believe in global warming, but regulators backed by ruinous fines along with alarmed shareholders and customers are making them act as if they do. Continue reading →

Posted in environment, fools 'n frauds, fuel economy or emissions, litigation, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Almost Showtime for the Last Winter Weather NAIAS

Posted on 7 January 2019 by AutoCrat

Next year the 2020 NAIAS moves to June, starting the week of the 8th. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, milestones, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Police Interceptor Claws Back the Profitable Business that Dearborn Abandoned by Killing the Crown Victoria in 2011

Posted on 6 January 2019 by Ken Zino

As of last year, The Explorer based Police Interceptor accounted for nearly two-thirds of police vehicle sales in the United States. The limousine business also abandoned when Ford Killed the Lincoln Town car is another losing matter. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Non-Representative Government? Religions of the 116th Congress

Posted on 5 January 2019 by Ken Zino

By a wide margin, the largest difference between the U.S. public and Congress is in the share who are unaffiliated with a religious group. In the general public, 23% say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” In Congress, just one person – Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who was recently elected to the Senate after three terms in the House – says she is religiously unaffiliated, making the share of “nones” in Congress 0.2%. Continue reading →

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

Ford Again Expands Takata Air Bag Recall to 1,000,000 Vehicles

Posted on 5 January 2019 by Ken Zino

This safety recall represents the addition of previously recalled vehicles to include more model years within the geographic zones defined earlier by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, engineering, litigation, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor 2018 US Sales drop -3.5% to 2.5 Million. Cars at 486,000 dive -18%. Trucks Up Again

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The continued stronger mix of trucks and SUVs at Ford Motor meant an expanded transaction pricing for another new record of $38,400 in December, a $1,600 increase compared to December last year. This outperforms the industry average of a $470 increase for the overall industry at $34,000 per vehicle. Continue reading →

Posted in economy, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Corporate Raiders After Ford Motor Stock at Deep Discount

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Baker Mills’ offer price of $7.00 per share in cash is approximately ~17.84% lower than the $8.52 closing price of Ford common stock on Dec. 14, 2018, the last closing price prior to commencement of the offer. The markets are closed today. Continue reading →

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

Toyota N. America Sales Flat in 2018. Truck Sales Set Record

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

For the year, TMNA reported sales of 2,426,672 vehicles, a -0.3% decrease on a volume basis and down -0.6 percent on a DSR basis. Continue reading →

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

Inside Job – Mark Reuss Named General Motors President

Posted on 3 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Reuss once kicked the author’s butt at a closed track in New York State. It’s surprising when the North American president of an auto company appears at a race track to drive a car he worked on as an engineer. It’s embarrassing, though, when he’s as fast, well frankly faster, than any hot shoe out there. I was looking at Reuss’s taillights – in the distance. (see AutoInformed on Driving the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe) Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, milestones, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mobility Company Capital Destruction. Latest German JV Attempts to Lessen Negative Effects on Shareholder Value

Posted on 28 December 2018 by Ken Zino

It’s just the latest example of the capital intensive, shareholder-value destroying transition to an ill-defined, but demonstrably expensive mobility company that all automakers are now pursuing. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, marketing, milestones, mobility company, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment