Category Archives: results

Daimler Posts Q3 Profit of €1.2 Million, a €155 Million Drop

The Eurozone crisis expanded into Germany in Q3 as Daimler AG (DAI) posted Group earnings of €1,921 million, off from Q3 in 2011at €1,968 million. Net profits for the period were €1,205 million (Q3 2011: €1,360 million), leading to declining earnings per share of €1.03 (Q3 2011: €1.21). Daimler sold 528,600 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide in Q3, surpassing the prior-year total by 1%. Revenue of €28.6 billion was 8% above the prior-year level. Adjusted for changes in currency exchange rates, the increase amounted to only 3%. As a result, of the weakened results and prospects for the future, Daimler said that it will not match 2011’s earnings. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars tried to be optimistic in a statement: “Considering the significantly more difficult market conditions, Daimler achieved good earnings in the third quarter.” The earnings release was sent out ahead of schedule because of the accidental issuing of an e-mail. Continue reading

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2014 Corvette Sticks with A Revised LT1 V8 Engine

When Chevrolet Corvette arrives late next year, most of the sports car will be all new, but not the 6.2L V8 engine. The latest Corvette LT1 engine, the first of the so-called Gen 5 family of Small Block engines, combines several advanced technologies, including direct injection for the first time, cylinder fuel shut off and continuously variable valve timing to support an advanced combustion system. Zero-to-60 mph times of less than four seconds are predicted for the base car. The new LT1 is the third engine in the Corvette’s history to be so-named, with previous versions introduced in 1970 (Gen 1) and 1992 (Gen 2). Continue reading

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French Government Backs €7B in PSA Peugeot Citroën Debt

The French State will provide up to €7 billion in refinancing guarantees for new bond issues during the 2013-2015 period. It is the latest example of a taxpayer bailout of an ailing auto company facing increasingly limited credit options in the private capital markets, if they now exist at all. The subsidy is subject to EU approval by the Competition Commission in Brussels, and is vehemently opposed by the German state of Lower Saxony, the second largest owner of VW, the largest automaker in Europe by far. Continue reading

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Honda Hybrid Sales Top 1 Million. 3M More to Catch Toyota

Honda Motor Company said today that worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles have now surpassed 1 million units. This milestone was reached at the end of September after the start of sales of the first generation Insight in Japan during November 1999. At the time, Insight fuel economy was rated at 35km/liter, then the world’s highest fuel efficiency among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles. Continue reading

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NADA Chairman Says Automakers Use Unfair Business Practices

The new chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, Bill Underriner, said today that automakers need to stop intruding into dealerships. After noting the Tigers are back in the World Series at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, he said there’s “good energy here. The auto industry is doing its part to lead the economic recovery. But we still have a long way to go – not just here but all around the country. Auto sales are up, but financial pressures are too…especially on dealerships.” Continue reading

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Ally Financial Sells Its Canadian Auto Financing Business

Notably absent as buyers were Ford Credit and General Motors. Ally has other international operations in Europe and Latin America on the block, and GM has submitted a bid for the business. Ally expects to announce the buyer after the U.S. Presidential election next month. Continue reading

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Next Generation Chevrolet Silverado Pickup to Debut in December

Chevrolet will unveil what is calling the all-new Silverado 1500 full-size pickup on 13 December at a special event in the Detroit area. In a release, Chevy claimed, “bold exterior design of the new Silverado reflects the enhanced capabilities of the truck while features such as jewel-like, projector beam headlamps showcase the careful attention given to every detail.” Presumably, this also means a “bold new grille.” Continue reading

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Stefan Jacoby Out at Volvo Car. Håkan Samuelsson new CEO

The Board of Directors of Volvo Car Group has appointed Håkan Samuelsson as its new President & CEO effective immediately, the Chinese owned company said today. Stefan Jacoby will leave Volvo Car Group and the board. Continue reading

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Ally Financial to Sell Mexican Insurance Business

Ally Financial today announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its Mexican insurance business, ABA Seguros, to the ACE Group, one of the world’s largest multi-line property and casualty insurers. ABA Seguros is the fourth largest insurer in the Mexican auto insurance market, and the transaction has a purchase price of $865 million in cash.

The latest move to fix the balance sheet of the former finance arm of General Motors comes a week after the announcement that Ally will make a payment of approximately $134 million, or $1.125 per share, to the U.S. Treasury next month. U.S. taxpayers have invested $17.2 billion in keeping Ally in business as a bank holding company after improvident home mortgages made it bankrupt under the Bush market crash. Continue reading

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Milestones: 25 years of Volvo Airbags

The airbag has been a standard feature in all cars for several years now, but in the early days both the technology and its reliability created intense debate with safety advocates and government regulators ignoring the very real problems earlier designs had. The problem in the U.S. was largely caused by Joan Claybrook and other advocates and legislators who sold the idea of the airbag as eliminating the need for unpopular safety belts and belt interlock system.

In spite of extensive crash test data from Ford and General Motors, among others, showing that the regulation proposed in 1984 and effective in 1987 required a too powerful explosion to protect an unbelted 170-pound male without hurting smaller stature people the law went ahead. Regulators and politicians simply ignored the engineers. Dead drivers and passengers, some of them decapitated, were the grisly result until the regulations were rewritten as field results came in – dead on arrival so to speak. Continue reading

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Cadillac ELR to be Built at Detroit-Hamtramck

Development of the Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac ELR is now underway, and GM has just confirmed that the ELR will be built at the GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant. The on again/off again program is based on the Converj concept first shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show as General Motors was hurtling toward a bankruptcy reorganization. Converj, err ELR, will be GM’s second hybrid after the Chevrolet Volt/ Holden Volt/ Opel Ampera when it appears late in 2013 as a 2014 model. Continue reading

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A123 Files Bankruptcy. Johnson Controls to Purchase its Auto Assets

A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE), a developer and manufacturer of nanophosphate lithium iron batteries and systems, today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. A123 ran out cash as demand for EVs and its batteries remains weak to almost non-existent. As part of a proposed reorganization Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) will supply $72.5 million in “debtor in possession” financing to support A123’s continued operations as JCI purchases parts of A123. Continue reading

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September EU Vehicle Sales Drop 11%. Eurozone Crisis Unabated

EU new vehicle registrations continued their downward slump in September declining 11% from September 2011. It was the twelfth straight month of sales declines across the economically embattled Eurozone as the trade bloc comprised of 27 bickering nations or tribes heads for its fifth straight year of declining sales. Continue reading

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Ford and GM Set China Vehicle Sales Records in September

General Motors Company and Ford Motor Company have set September sales records in China, the world’s largest automarket. The results were in keeping with the disparate positions of the Number One and Number Two U.S. automakers in the communist country. Continue reading

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Los Angeles Most Congested of any City in the U.S. and Canada

Los Angeles traffic remains the most congested of any city in the U.S. and Canada, according to a survey just released. Trip times in Los Angeles are 33% longer on average than when traffic in the city is flowing freely, and a whopping 74% longer during evening rush hour. Other congested cities include Vancouver 33%, San Francisco 29%, Montreal 28%, Toronto 27%, Washington 26%, Seattle 26%, New York 25%, Chicago 23% and Miami 22%. Continue reading

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