Category Archives: results

General Motors Sells 300,000 Vehicles in China – All Time Record

Posted on 6 February 2013 by Ken Zino

GM has led sales in China for eight consecutive years, but during 2012 it just barely stayed as Number One at 2.84 million vehicles because the VW Group, China’s Number Two automaker, sold 2.81 million vehicles, a +24.5% increase compared to 2011. GM sold 194,699 vehicles in the United States in January, up 16% compared with a year ago, which was slightly ahead of an overall auto market that grew 14%. Continue reading →

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Renault Nissan Sets Sales Record in 2012 Despite EU, Asian Drops

Posted on 5 February 2013 by Ken Zino

In 2012, global sales of all zero-emission vehicles across the Alliance were 43,829 units, up 83.8% from 2011 as Nissan LEAF sales increased worldwide and Renault launched two more EVs. The Alliance’s worldwide zero-emission market share stood at 64%, excluding Twizy, Renault’s two-seater urban commuter. Since sales began in December 2010 to the end of 2012, the Alliance sold 67,723 zero-emission vehicles globally. Billions of dollars are at stake for shareholders in this EV investment that is thus far behind its original sales goals. Continue reading →

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Taxpayer Owned Ally Financial Earns $1.2 Billion in 2012

Posted on 5 February 2013 by Ken Zino

“Our focus remains on delivering strong results from our leading franchises, completing our strategic transformation, gaining additional efficiencies in the business and repaying the U.S. Treasury investment,” said Ally Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Carpenter. Continue reading →

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Toyota Led all Makers in U.S. Sales Gains During January of 2013

Posted on 4 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Offshore brands started 2013 with 54.4% of the U.S. auto market, down from the 55.3% they took in December, and the 55.8% share they occupied last January. The Detroit Three had a strong month in full size pickup sales as the housing market slowly recovers, accounting for more than 115,000 trucks, good for more than 11% of the market. Combined with other truck sales, this accounted for the offshore brand share decline, which offset in part by Toyota strong gains, including sales of 7,000 full-size Tundra pickups and 11,600 smaller Tacoma pickups a space now vacated by the extinct Ford Ranger. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor January Sales up 22%, Best since 2006

Posted on 1 February 2013 by Ken Zino

After the F-Series pickup, the second best seller in the Ford line was the new Fusion sedan at 22,000, followed closely by the Escape at 20,000, the best January ever. Escape also had its best January ever, – sales increasing 16%, topping last year’s January record. The Fusion and Escape are apparently coated with Teflon, since reputation damaging multiple recalls after their launch, including engine fires affecting both, were ignored by buyers of the European-based vehicles that were redesigned for 2013 without the help of former subsidiary Mazda.
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GM U.S. Sales Up 16% in January, a Bit More than Market Gain

Posted on 1 February 2013 by Ken Zino

The strength of the market itself was surprising. January 2013 was 14% higher than last year 27% higher than January 2011 and roughly 50% higher than January 2010 – an amazing recovery trend that should allow leveraged automakers to print money, including GM as 2012 results are released in February. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group January Sales Up 16% in U.S.

Posted on 1 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 117,731 units, a 16% increase compared with January 2012 of 101,149 units. Once again, Chrysler outpaced overall U.S. auto market growth of 14% during a month that was running – surprisingly – at the same sales rates as November and December of last year. Continue reading →

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Toyota Ousts GM from Global Auto Sales Leadership. VW Third

Posted on 31 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor regained global sales leadership in 2012 ousting GM by selling 9.75 million vehicles. GM’s sales were 9.29 million vehicles with Volkswagen Group closing on GM in third place at 9.07 million vehicles for the year. Toyota had led global sales from 2008 until 2010 when natural disaster induced production disruptions, the result of a tragic earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand, halted its growth. Continue reading →

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GM Cuts Powertrain Locations in Efficiency Move

Posted on 31 January 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors will close three leased facilities in Wixom, Michigan; Castleton, Indiana, and Torrance, California and consolidate their powertrain engineering activities into a Global Powertrain Engineering center in Pontiac, Michigan. GM R&D’s Propulsion Systems Research lab in Warren, Michigan will also relocate to the Pontiac campus, including its electric motor engineering . Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group Posts 2012 Net Income of $1.7 Billion

Posted on 30 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Marchionne says he will merge the two groups by 2015. However, he surprised analysts by changing his business plan forecast for Chrysler, slashing free cash flow from $3 billion to only $1 billion for 2014, with 2013 at about half of the $2.2 billion 2012 generated. He needs the cash to develop new products for both Groups while shoring up Fiat’s foundation. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls More than 1 Million Corolla and Lexus IS Cars

Posted on 30 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Bad airbags and windshield wipers are forcing the recalls of 752,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models and 270,000 Lexus IS cars by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S. The two separate safety recalls are the result of a defective airbag control module … Continue reading →

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Ford Makes $8 Billion in 2012 – Almost all in North America

Posted on 29 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford remains heavily dependent on the slowly recovering North American auto market, where it earned $8.3 billion, with an operating margin of 10% on sales of 2.8 million vehicles during 2012. Because of Ford’s 2012 financial performance, the company will make profit sharing payments to 45,800 U.S. hourly employees of $8,300 each. Ford expects similar North American results in 2013, with perhaps a profit increase if the pickup truck – where it is the sales leader – market continues to recover. Continue reading →

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Shoppers Don’t Worry about Reliability as Cross Consideration Grows

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ken Zino

As perceptions of both reliability and actual vehicle dependability improve, new-vehicle shoppers are considering more models before making their purchase decision, according to a new study. As vehicle quality improves across the industry, new-vehicle shoppers now consider an average of 3.3 vehicles in 2013, compared with 3.1 in 2012 and 2.9 in 2010. Continue reading →

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GMAC-SAIC Finance More than One Million Car buyers in China

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ken Zino

GMAC-SAIC Automotive Finance Company says its customer base has now surpassed one- million car buyers in China. The first and largest auto finance company in China since its founding in 2004 also has a continuous record of profits. In August 2012, GMAC-SAIC reached 880,000 customers when it celebrated the company’s eighth anniversary. Continue reading →

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January 2013 U.S. Vehicle Sales Forecast as Highest in Five Years

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ken Zino

January 2013 new vehicle sales are predicted to come in at 812,600 vehicles for a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 12.9 million units. This is 14% higher than January 2012. Total light-vehicle sales in January 2013 in the United States are projected to reach 1,027,700 units, an 8% increase from January 2012. The encouraging January sales prediction, if true, is well ahead of the forecast of 12.4-million-unit annual level for 2013. Continue reading →

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