Category Archives: results

2.95 Trillion Miles Travelled on Interstate Highways During 2011

Drivers tallied 2.95 trillion miles during 2011 on U.S. interstate highways, according to a new report from the Federal Highway Administration, or nearly double the number of highway miles traveled in 1980. Continue reading

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August Auto Sales Forecast at a Robust 13.1 Million SAAR

U.S. new vehicle sales in August are projected at 1,270,400 units, a 12% increase from August 2012 and the highest monthly sales tally since 2006. Continue reading

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Georgia Most Expensive State to Drive in, Oregon Cheapest

California ($3,966), Wyoming ($3,938), Rhode Island ($3,913) and Nevada ($3,886) round out the five most expensive states. Alaska ($2,227), South Dakota ($2,343), Montana ($2,660) and Indiana ($2,698) join Oregon among the five cheapest states. Continue reading

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Ally Closer to IPO as it Plans to Buy Back Treasury Stock

If several complicated agreements and transactions go as planned, U.S. taxpayers will recover $12.1 billion or more than two-thirds of the bailout they subsidized. Ally has currently paid the U.S. Treasury $6.2 billion. Continue reading

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North Carolina Joins Electronic Title and Lien Parade

Legislation just signed in North Carolina directs the Division of Motor Vehicles (aka NC DMV) to start an electronic titling and lien program by July 2014. Within a year of implementation, banks, credit unions and other automotive lenders in the state will begin to replace their paper liens with an electronic exchange of data with the NC DMV. North Carolina would be the 20th state to do so. Continue reading

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Save Highland Park the $5 a Day Model T Plant with a $5 Donation

The Woodward Avenue Action Association, aka WA3, has bid $550,000 to buy two of the buildings at the famous Ford manufacturing complex: the Administration Building, which fronts Woodward, and the adjacent 8,000-square-foot executive garage. Continue reading

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Jaguar E-type on First Class Royal Mail Stamp

The Jaguar E-type known for its sleek shape and 150 mph performance is being celebrated on one of three new First Class postage stamps launched today by the Royal Mail. The stamp shows a 1961 Series One Jaguar E-type roadster, aka XK-E, in red as one of a set of six classic British motor cars. The E-type was an instant hit when it was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1961. Purists will question why the stamp doesn’t picture an E in British Racing Green. Continue reading

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JPMorgan Chase Employees Charged With Financial Fraud

“Our financial system has been hurt in recent years not just by risky bets gone bad, but also, in some cases, by criminal wrongdoing,” opined Attorney General Holder. Critics maintain Holder has done little to prosecute financial fraud at the ratings agencies and on Wall Street that led to the collapse of the U.S. economy, cut American wealth in half, and created the highest rates of unemployment since the Great Depression that is still hurting the American middle class. Continue reading

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Milestones – Jefferson North at Five Million Jeeps

Chrysler Group’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant today celebrated the five millionth Jeep to come off its assembly line. A Billet Silver 2014 Grand Cherokee Overland was driven by Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Scott Garberding during a celebration at the plant he once managed before finding a permanent home with the United Service Organizations (USO). Continue reading

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Global Light Vehicle Sales up 14% in July 2013

While global light vehicle sales slowed during July, the selling rate is still ahead of year-ago levels with a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate or SAAR at 82.2 million. In the U.S. during July, sales were once again strong, with a SAAR of nearly 15.8 million, an increase of 14% versus July 2012. Continue reading

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GM UAW VEBA Warrants at $3.85 allow $42.31 Share Buy

The UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (UAW VEBA) secondary public offering of up to 45,454,545 warrants to purchase GM common stock was priced at $3.85. They allow the purchase of one share at $42.31. The warrants expire 31 December 2015. Continue reading

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Economics, Not Disinterest Explains Low Car Sales to Young

Disinterest in new cars by young people is a myth that ignores fundamental economic trends, General Motors Chief Economist Mustafa Mohatarem said at the CAR Management Briefings in Traverse City, Michigan. New car affordability, a crushing student loan debt and higher operating and insurance costs are delaying young people from buying new vehicles. “It’s not a permanent withdraw from the market, it’s more of a delay,” Mohatarem said. Continue reading

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Alternative Powertrains to Remain Technical Curiosities

The market share of battery electric vehicles’ (BEVs) of U.S. light vehicle sales is expected to remain below 1% through 2020. If plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), such as the Chevrolet Volt and the Ford Fusion Energi are included, share will only increase to 3% by 2020. Continue reading

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VW to Introduce New Diesel Engine in U.S. in mid-2014

Volkswagen Group of America today confirmed the timing of the company’s newest diesel engine, the so-called EA288 will power the 2015 Golf, Beetle, Passat, Jetta, due in dealer showrooms during the second half of 2014. Continue reading

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Offshore Brands Move Ahead in July. Toyota outsells Ford

GM by slightly outperforming an overall market that was up 14% easily held onto its Number One spot in the U.S. at 234,071 vehicles sold. However, Ford Motor slipped to Number Three as Toyota had a stronger month with sales soaring to 193,394 to Ford’s 190,080. March of 2010 was the last time Toyota topped Ford and with new Corolla compact car and Tundra pickup trucks just entering production, the back half of the year will see a battle royal between the two global automakers. Continue reading

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