Category Archives: results

Beware of Self Interest in Mobility Promotion says NADA

“I get it. You can’t go to an automotive or a tech conference these days without hearing about the end of personal vehicle ownership,” he said. “But I’m asking you: Question the hype, ask for proof, and find out what they’re not telling you. The future will work itself out regardless. I just want us to be informed in the meantime.” Continue reading

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Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to Begin Seven-Year $650m Renovation

For the first few years, some of the most popular artifacts will remain on display, including the “Spirit of St. Louis,” the 1903 Wright Flyer, Bell X-1, the Apollo Lunar Module and Skylab. The first set of galleries are scheduled to reopen in 2022. Continue reading

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McLaren 570S Spider to £725,000 bid at Elton John Argento Ball

A McLaren 570S Spider auctioned earlier this year at the Elton John Argento Ball has been presented to the successful bidder by Amanda McLaren, daughter of the company’s founder Bruce McLaren, at a Pure McLaren driving event in North America. Special ‘Blade Silver’ 570S Spider raised £725,000 – four times retail – at an auction to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The convertible was hand-finished in metallic ‘Blade Silver’ to honor the 25th anniversary of the charity foundation. Funds raised at the Argento Ball, which took place at Elton John’s Berkshire home in the UK in June 2018, are helping to provide many young people with information about HIV, the means to test themselves and access to medical care, if required. Continue reading

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Hyundai Indonesian Plant: Koreans Versus Dominant Japanese and Versus Looming Chinese Invasion Threat

“Despite having a presence in the Indonesian market for more than a decade, Hyundai’s local business has been relatively small, with sales of just 936 units in the first eight months of this year. The only vehicle currently assembled locally is the H-1 (Grand Starex) MPV. Hyundai’s other models sold in Indonesia – the Santa Fe, Tucson, i20 and i10 – are imported and therefore subject to import duties,” says LMC. Continue reading

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Critical TechWorks JV with BMW Group and Critical Software

Critical TechWorks represents an addition of unknown importance to the BMW Group’s global innovation network in IT and software development. With increased involvement in the field of digitalization, BMW Group is pursuing its transformation into a mobility-tech company and actively shaping the digital shift in the automotive industry. Continue reading

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NAFTA Lite – US-Mexico-Canada Agreement Hurts US Workers

Roughly 30% of the 2.33 million vehicles imported to the U.S. from Mexico in 2017 don’t meet the current 62.5% content requirement. Continue reading

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Bosch Enters the Car-Sharing Business with Electric Vans

Bosch already has a nascent sharing services business, as demonstrated by Coup, its rental service for electric scooters. Since its launch in 2016, Coup has constantly expanded, and now has a fleet of 3,500 scooters in Berlin, Paris, and Madrid. Continue reading

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UN on Global Warming: Rapid, Far-Reaching Unprecedented Changes in All Aspects of Society Needed

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved by the IPCC on Saturday in Incheon, Republic of Korea. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. Continue reading

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Ford Motor US Sales Reverse in September. Job Cuts Coming

Nonetheless, when you peer around the p.r. flak, Ford Motor Company’s September U.S. sales declined -11.2% on total sales of 197,404 vehicles (-2% year-to-date). The only semi-bright spot is that Ford brand SUV sales are running at a record pace this year through September. Expedition turned in a 27.4% gain on record transaction prices of $63,600 as customers opted for more high series Platinum SUVs. Ford and Lincoln cars were a total disaster – at 37,112 in September (-26.5% y-o-y), and 357,278 for 9 months, or -16.6%. No wonder that Ford is preparing to cut white collar jobs but it won’t say how many or when. Continue reading

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Gimme Shelter: U.S. Home Affordability Lowest In 10 Years

Nationwide, the Q3 2018 home affordability index of 92 was down from an index of 95 in the previous quarter and an index of 102 in Q3 2017 to the lowest level since Q3 2008, when the index was 87. This could portend trouble for the Detroit Three automakers which rely on the sales of trucks, some of which are used to build and haul things instead of the fashion accessories they have become for many purchasers. Continue reading

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Q3 GM US Sales Dive -11% to 700,000 Vehicles

But it was more money on fewer vehicle sales. GM total sales plummeted -11% year over year. The third quarter light vehicle SAAR was 17.2 million units in 2017 and 16.9 million in 2018. Continue reading

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Western European Car Registrations Plummet -23%

September saw the downside to August’s pull-forward effect, as WLTP emissions regulations were widely implemented from 1 September. The transition to WLTP also led to the unavailability of some models that had not received approval under the new procedure. The fact that there was one fewer selling day in September 2018 than in September 2017 across the region did not help sales either. Continue reading

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Blues Brothers Note: Ford Police Interceptor Fastest Cop Car

Standard hybrid technology and standard all-wheel drive with good safety, passenger or cargo space, the all-new 2020 Police Interceptor Utility brings improved horsepower, torque, acceleration and top speed versus today’s 3.7-liter V6 model. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel: CARB Fines LKQ $294,000 for Selling Illegal Used Diesel Soot filters

In a related case in 2017, West Coast Diesel, a Fresno repair shop caught selling and installing illegal parts, agreed to a settlement that included additional monetary penalties should they violate the terms of the agreement by installing even one diesel particulate filter. Several other Central Valley diesel repair shops are now under investigation for selling and installing illegal filters. Continue reading

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Mercedes-Benz Barely Bests BMW in September US Sales

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported September sales of 26,169 Mercedes-Benz models, a decrease of 9.8% from September 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported best-ever month of 4,448 units (up 44.0%) and smart reported 98 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 30,715 vehicles for the month. Continue reading

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