Category Archives: results

Porsche Profits Impaired by Pending VW Diesel Recall, Fines

Because of the capital stake Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart holds in Volkswagen AG (31.5%), the results of Porsche SE will be diminished. The Porsche Profits target for the Porsche SE Group for fiscal 2015 will also require adjustment downward. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Investigation underway for Deliberately Violating Diesel Emission Rules – $18 Billion in Fines Coming?

A sophisticated software algorithm on VW and Audi diesel engines detects when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and turns full emissions controls on only during the test. Continue reading

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August EU Sales Surprise – Up 11%

Despite the longstanding trend that August along with February are the two slow months in EU light vehicle sales, August saw demand increase 11% with growth in all major markets as the European recovery continues. Continue reading

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September in US is Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept. 15 is the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. Continue reading

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Ten Carmakers to fit AEB – Auto Emergency Braking – on New Vehicles as Standard Equipment

FCA, aka, Chrysler, which has more than its share of problems with DOT over safety matters, is notably for its absence. FCA as well as other automakers will face increasing pressure to add AEB as more systems are added at competitors. Continue reading

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August Global Sales Strong as China Comes Back

Helping a newfound optimism for the balance of the year were strong results in the US (running at 18 million annually) and West European markets (800,000 or +10%) in spite of Greece – remained solid. However, the Russian (-19% y-o-y) and Brazilian markets (falling below 2.3 million annually) continued to suffer. Continue reading

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US August Sales Continue Truck, Crossover Boom

AutoData says the seasonally adjusted annual rate, aka SAAR, in August was at 17.8 million units compared to 17.3 million units a year ago. This is the highest reported SAAR since July 2005 and the highest August SAAR since 2003. Continue reading

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One-Millionth Corvette back in National Corvette Museum

The car was damaged on Feb. 12, 2014, when it and seven other rare Corvettes tumbled into a sinkhole that opened beneath the museum’s Skydome area. After recovery from the sinkhole, the one-millionth Corvette was moved from the museum to the Design Center on GM’s Technical Center. Continue reading

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Pork Alert! Dump Ethanol Say Voters in National Poll

Likely 2016 voters have serious concerns about ethanol’s unintended consequences as a fuel, including damage to engines, land conversion and food prices, according to a new national poll. Continue reading

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August SAAR Projected at 17.4 Million. Labor Day Sales in September 2015

A later than usual Labor Day holiday weekend this year is pushing the impact of that major car-buying period for automakers to September. Continue reading

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Toyota Hybrid Sales Surpass Eight Million

Toyota has now sold more than eight million hybrid vehicles, with only 10 months between this and the nine million sales milestone. Continue reading

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Is the Tesla Bubble About to Burst?

Not surprisingly, the stock market is wary. Tesla stock has dropped for three straight days since the results – more than -5% on Thursday, almost -7% on Friday, and on Monday morning, it was trading down -9% at $236 per share. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Downsizes Engines Once Again

Volkswagen was an early leader with the use of small displacement; highly efficient turbocharged and direct-injection engines in the U.S. Volkswagen first used the now common combination of turbocharging and direct injection in the U.S. with its TDI diesel engines in the Passat in 1996 Continue reading

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Weak Yen Helps Toyota Motor Post Record Profit

Toyota Motor posted a 10% rise in net profit to ¥646.3 billion for the Japanese Q1, but if it was not for the weak yen (¥124:$1) Toyota’s profits would have dropped. Continue reading

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US Trade Deficit Increases in June

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit was $43.8 billion in June, up $2.9 billion from $40.9 billion in May, according to the Department of Commerce. Continue reading

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