Category Archives: results

Ford and GM to Develop 9- and 10-Speed Automatic Transmissions

Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation have signed an agreement whereby both companies will jointly develop an all-new generation of 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor to Pay Q2 Dividend of $0.10 Per Share

Ford Motor Company today declared Q2 dividend of $0.10 per share on the company’s outstanding preferred Class B and common stock. This is the same dividend paid in the first quarter of 2013, and twice the amount paid in Q2 last year. The second quarter dividend is payable on June 3, 2013 to shareholders of record on May 3, 2013. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Steel Alloys can Outperform Aluminum and Carbon fiber

Part of the steel industry’s problem, aside from the overall lack of interest among technically illiterate consumers, is regulatory. While the Obama Administration is in the process of implementing the most stringent emissions and fuel economy standards in history, the Environmental Protection Agency only looks at a crude mile per gallon rating that does not take into effect the energy used and greenhouse gas emissions that result during the creation of the 10,000 or more components that comprise an automobile. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, design and styling, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Daimler AG Sets Dividend at €2.20 a Share

At the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of Daimler AG in Berlin on Wednesday, shareholders approved a dividend for the year 2012 of €2.20 per share, the same as in 2011 for a total dividend payout of €2.35 bllion. Continue reading

Posted in financial results | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors Declares Dividend on Series B Stock

The dividend on the hybrid stock – a mixture of stock and debt – is cumulative. GM has not paid a dividend on its common stock since 2008 before it entered bankruptcy. The total amount of the dividend is $59.4 million. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, financial results | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jaguar Land Rover Set March and Q1 Sales Records

Overall and particularly overseas, JLR made impressive gains that eluded it under Ford Motor Company ownership. The Tata owned British automaker had sales of 53,772 in March and 115,504 for Q1 of 2013. This means Jaguar Land Rover has posted its best ever monthly and quarterly global sales performance, up 16% and 17% respectively versus the prior year. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors to Invest €4 Billion in Loss-Making Opel

GM has lost more than $18 billion in Europe since 1999, including $1.8 billion in 2012. GM also wrote down more than $5 billion in assets in the Eurozone, and it wrote off more than half the value of its PSA Citroën stock (-$220 million) acquired latest year in what GM said at the time was a collaboration that would, eventually, save billions. Nothing was really new in today’s speeches. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, financial results, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors, Ford Set March and Q1 Sales Records in China

General Motors and its joint ventures reached all-time highs for March sales in China and Q1 of 2013. Far smaller Ford China also set sales records in March. With total overall light vehicle sales projected at more than 20 million for 2013, China will easily retain its title as the world’s largest auto market followed by the U.S. at more than 15 million. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dominion Energy Deal Cuts Emissions at Coal Powered Plants

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that Dominion Energy has agreed to pay a $3.4 million civil penalty and spend approximately $9.8 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. Continue reading

Posted in energy, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Plunge 13% in February

Demand for new commercial vehicles in the EU during February was down for the fourteenth consecutive month in a decline that hurt all vehicle segments. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Trade Deficit with Korea Highest on Record under FTA

The U.S. trade deficit with South Korea reached its highest level in history just ten months into the controversial trade agreement, according to the latest data released by the U.S. International Trade Commission. During January the deficit with South Korea was at -$2.4 billion — the largest monthly deficit with Korea on record. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EPA Voids Import Certificates for More Chinese Recreational Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China. The agency said that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, environment, fuel economy or emissions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Offshore Brands Increase U.S. Sales and Share During March

U.S. vehicle sales of 1.45 million cars and light trucks during March made it the strongest month since 2007 as the Federal Reserve continued to print money and credit flowed freely. In spite of an ongoing recovery in pickup truck sales from the Detroit Three with gasoline prices roughly 30 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, offshore brands, led by the Asians increased their market share to 55.3% compared with 53.4% in February and 54.4% in January. This represented sales 803,554 vehicles from offshore nameplates, up from 636,912 in February and 567,313 units in January. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors U.S. Sales Up 6% in March, Outpacing Market

General Motors sold 245,950 vehicles in the United States in March, up 6% compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 4%, fleet sales were up 12%, with the fleet mix at 27% of total sales. As a result, GM retained its position as the sales leader in the U.S. ahead of Ford Motor and Toyota Motor, respectively.Sales of GM crossovers were up 31%; trucks, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 2%; and car sales were down 3% as high volume large pickup sales were up 6%. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Motor Company U.S. Sales Up 6% in March

Ford Motor Company March U.S. sales increased by 6% at 236,160 vehicles sold compared to last March in a market projected to grow by 8% overall. It was Ford Motor Company’s best U.S. sales results since May 2007. Cars were even with a year ago, utilities up 14% and trucks up 6%. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment