Category Archives: results

Frost Bit! Winter Weather Hurts U.S. February Auto Sales

With the exception of Chrysler, a frigid stormy February hurt car sales in the U.S. The other two of the Detroit Three, Ford Motor and GM were off -6/1% and -1% respectively. Among the major offshore brand sellers, Honda was down -8%, Toyota down -5.8%, Hyundai down- 6.3%, and the politically fraught in Southern anti-union politics Volkswagen was down -13.8%. Continue reading

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EPA Finally Cleans up Fuel over Big Oil Objections and Money

Once fully in place, the standards will help avoid up to 2,000 premature deaths per year and 50,000 cases of respiratory ailments in children, according to agency that Republicans – owned by big oil – love to hate and obstruct. Continue reading

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Second and Third Sinkhole Corvettes Recovered. Major Damage Sustained on 40th Anniversary Model

Still unexplained is how it is possible to design, obtain permits and build a Museum in Kentucky on unsafe ground. Continue reading

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Honda Kills Insight Hybrid Production this Summer

During 2013 Only 4800 Insights were sold, a 20% decline year-over-year. By comparison, Toyota sold 234,000 of its multi-bodied Prius line. Total Honda and Acura hybrid sales of all types were less than 15,000 in 2013. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Group Sets Third Straight Record Profit in 2013

A combination of new products, technology, acquisitions – Porsche, Ducati, and MAN – and plant expansions, especially in China, continues to give credence to VW’s announced intention to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018. It is now in third place behind Toyota and General Motors, so the Big Three in the business are from three different continents. Continue reading

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SAE World Congress to Review 48-Volt Mild Hybrid Progress

Both systems are based on switched reluctance (SR) motor-generator technology developed for a new breed of 48-volt hybrid vehicles. CPT claims multiple O.E. applications are being explored, particularly in Europe for sub-compact and compact vehicles as a relatively inexpensive way to make big gains in fuel economy. Continue reading

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Weather Whacks U.S. February Sales. Recovery Predicted

Conventional wisdom has it that the rate of sales will increase toward month end, with an increase from President’s Day holiday weekend promotions and a normal increase in sales at month’s end as dealers try to move metal. Continue reading

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Tesla Loses Money Again During 2013. Stock Market Bullish

The darling of automotive stock speculators electric vehicle maker Tesla posted a yearly loss of -$74 million on revenue of more than $2 billion during 2013, compared with a -$396.2 million loss on $413.3 million in sales in 2012. The stock is trading at record levels of above $200 per share given the revenue increase, and with the company promising to increase it yet again during 2014. Continue reading

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Chevrolet to Oversee Restoration of Sinkhole Corvettes

The National Corvette Museum cars damaged in a sinkhole collapse will be shipped to Warren Michigan where Chevrolet will oversee their restoration. Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design will lead the project. Continue reading

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Chrysler Group Borrows $5 Billion to Pay off UAW VEBA Debt

Before the bankruptcy, the UAW had previously – and reluctantly – accepted the notes to cover the health care costs of its retired members. This was a classic, many would say infamous, example of financial engineering under the Wall-Street-owned Bush Administration that removed union health care costs from the balance sheets of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors with a slight of hand trick. Continue reading

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Mazda MX-5 Miata Celebrates 25 Years at CAS

With the collapse of the British sports car industry and the absence of roadsters, the Miata, as it was then called in the U.S., hit a sweet spot in the market. Miata weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than nine seconds. Japanese quality, spirited open top driving and a starting price of $13,800 MSRP proved a winning combination. Continue reading

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Nissan Shows Cummins Diesel Frontier Pickup at CAS

It looks as if Nissan will join the mid-size pickup diesel parade based on a concept truck created to gauge consumer interest in a next-generation Frontier with a Cummins diesel engine. First shown at the Chicago Auto Show, aka CAS, it is powered by a 2.8-liter Cummins turbo diesel with nearly 200 horsepower, and more than 350 lb.-ft. of torque. The estimated fuel economy increases 35% compared to the current Frontier V6. Continue reading

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GM and Isuzu to Update Ohio Diesel Engine Plant

The investment – in the depressing language of the jobless auto recovery – retains 500 jobs at what is a joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu. DMAX has produced 1.6 million engines since opening in 2000. Continue reading

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Chrysler Bucks January Sales Dive in U.S. Subaru continues its Streak too

The conventional wisdom in the auto business is that winter weather was responsible for the unexpected decline in January Auto Sales in the U.S. While GM, Ford and Toyota all posted big sales drops, Chrysler, the comeback car company, reported U.S. sales of 127,183 units, an 8% increase compared with sales in January 2013 (117,731 units). Continue reading

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Ford Motor Earns $1.3 Billion in Q4, $8.6 Billion during 2013

Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported that Q4 pre-tax profit was $1.3 billion, a decrease of $402 million compared with 2012. However, Q4 earnings per share at 31 cents were the same as a year ago. Ford has posted … Continue reading

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