Category Archives: results

First 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition Sells for $2.5 Million

Posted on 20 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The breathtaking return for a production car followed the auction on Friday of the first 2020 VIN 001 of the Mustang Shelby GT500 for $1.1 million. Ford will donate in total $3.6 million to two long-time charity partners – $1.1 million to JDRF, for funding type 1 diabetes research and $2.5 million to support United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Continue reading →

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Final Winter NAIAS Charity Preview Raises $4,000,000

Posted on 18 January 2019 by Ken Zino

Now in its 43rd year, Charity Preview has raised over $121,000,000 for southeastern Michigan children’s charities since the Detroit Auto Dealers Association established the event. Continue reading →

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No Recharging or Refueling Infrastructure for Euro Trucks Exist

Posted on 17 January 2019 by Ken Zino

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (aka ACEA) has published data on the “severe lack of recharging and refueling infrastructure suitable for electric and other alternatively-powered trucks” in the EU. AutoInformed views this under the category of “legislate in haste; repent during a long leisure” of the unemployed workers caused by ruined economies. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicle System Oops! New 2019 Lincoln Nautilus Recall for Hands On/Off Detection Warnings

Posted on 16 January 2019 by Ken Zino

If this safety defect occurs, the hands on/off detection system may not alert the driver to place his or her hands back on the steering wheel, which could increase the risk of a crash. Such systems are building blocks for autonomous vehicles. Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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