Category Archives: results

U.S. March Sales – Light Trucks Up, Cars Down Again

During an unexpectedly strong March, U.S. auto dealers sold 1.65 million vehicles, a 6.3% increase year-over-year. Detroit Three brands per AutoData held just 45.7% of the U.S. market in March, selling 755,152 vehicles – with 612,052 or a whopping 81% … Continue reading

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Monthly Sales Reports Die as GM Shifts to Quarterly Updates

“Thirty days is not enough time to separate real sales trends from short-term fluctuations in a very dynamic, highly competitive market,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. Continue reading

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April Fools – Aston Martin Project Sparta

Project Sparta, which has been engineered in parallel with the brand’s upcoming DBX SUV, is set to wreak havoc in the Monster Jam series starting in 2019, taking on some of the world’s biggest names including Grave Digger, Big Kahuna, Ice Cream Man and Jailbird. Continue reading

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US Tariffs At or Near Lowest Levels Ever

During 2017, says the U.S. International Trade Commission, import duties totaled $33.1 billion – equal to 1.4% of the total value of all imported goods, and 4.7% of the value of all imports subject to duty. Most imported goods carry no duty at all. Continue reading

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Ford Proxy – Shareholders Want Political Spending Info

Herein lies the potential hypocrisy problem: In 2012, the U.S. issued light duty vehicle rules strengthening GHG emission reduction standards and improving corporate average fuel economy. These rules – made working with automakers – are being challenged by Ford and other automakers. Continue reading

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70 Years Porsche Sports Cars at Retro Classics

The Porsche Museum is celebrating “70 years of the Porsche sports car” at this year’s Retro Classics exhibition on March 22–25, 2018, at the Messe Stuttgart trade fair center. Continue reading

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Troubled Asset Relief Program – Total Cost $32B

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of 2008 and other desperate actions let the Department of the Treasury promote stability in financial markets through the purchase and guarantee of “troubled assets.” It was a latter part of the Emergency Economic … Continue reading

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US Car Sales Plummet in February. Trucks Gain Again

The smoking tire and news wheel spin of the month – given Trump’s ongoing trade tirades amidst a complete collapse of White House staff support and an ongoing exodus – came from the American International Automobile Dealers Association Continue reading

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Trump Tantrum on Trade Kills Jobs, Distracts from Expanding Russian Collusion Investigations and Criminal Indictments

The impact on automotive and parts production will be significant, but the magnitude of the action is not yet known. Continue reading

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Top Ten 2018 Vehicles

Seven substantially revised or all-new new vehicles made the 2018 Annual Top Picks list from Consumer Reports: Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Optima, Ford F-150, BMW X3 and Audi A4. Three of CR’s 10 Top Picks were … Continue reading

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Gutting Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Hurts Auto Biz

As a congressman, Mick Mulvaney sponsored legislation to abolish the CFPB. A White House budget proposal cuts funding for the CFPB by ~$150 million – 25% of its total budget. Mulvaney has already frozen hiring and put a temporary hold on payments to victims of illegal banking practices. Three to 5 million American households turn to payday loan companies whose storefronts in working class neighborhoods outnumber McDonalds and Starbucks. Continue reading

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BMW 320D Meets German Emissions Regulations

The KBA test results also BMW claims “suggest that the emissions readings criticized by “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” resulted from forced driving situations and flawed execution of tests and are therefore not representative.” Does forced mean the way owners actually drive the vehicle? No wonder on the road testing will increase in all regions to check for emissions compliance. Continue reading

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Largest US Auto Exporter – BMW Manufacturing

BMW Manufacturing has exported 272,346 BMW X models from the Spartanburg plant during 2017. Nearly 87% of these “Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes” were exported through the Port of Charleston with a value of approximately ~$8.76 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Continue reading

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Porsche Classic Supplies Parts from a 3D Printer

Let’s hope that this catches on – not only for collectors of rare classic cars – but for older vehicle or airplane owners of whatever ilk. It is not fake news that the absence of replacement items (or, ahem, ethics) leads to problems. Worst auto case, the car may be scrapped. Continue reading

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Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Didi Chuxing Sign Chinese Car-Sharing MoU

Automotive Alliance to explore future business opportunities with global Chinese transportation company. Continue reading

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