Category Archives: shows and events

GM and Honda Target 2020 for Viable Fuel Cell EVs

The light duty fuel cell vehicle (FCV) has shown promise for decades, but the problem remains that it is space age technology at NASA levels of cost. Not surprisingly, automakers have varying levels of interest fuel cells that always appear to be just a decade or so from commercialization, but interest is rising. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 500,000th Porsche Cayenne Made in Leipzig

German Chancellor German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week killed a draft European Union law aimed at reducing carbon dioxide. Merkel facing federal elections in September, said “This is also about employment,” a concept that has eluded EU politicians for more than five years as the economic crisis deepens, but not for the lavishly paid, fed and housed Eurocrats. Continue reading →

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President Obama Calls for $2 Billion Energy Security Trust Using Fossil Fuel Development Taxes to Wean U.S. from Oil and Gas

Leaving aside the controversy over President George W. Bush’s plan to do so under the flawed Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which mandates ethanol that apparently is now adding $1 per gallon to the price of gasoline, the question remains is this just Washington politics from an Administration whose approval rating is dropping or sound national policy? Continue reading →

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Corvette Stingray Convertible Debuts next Month in Geneva

Given the well-publicized success of the Stingray debut at the NAIAS in Detroit last month, the move appears designed to bolster GM’s battered image in Europe that is the result of years of losses at Opel Vauxhall. It is also a counter thrust in Europe against the most successful global sports car of all time, the 911 of Porsche, which celebrates 50 years during 2013. This and the fact that 820,000 911s have been built since 1963, will no doubt be emphasized at the Geneva Show. Continue reading →

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Mississippi Leaders blast Nissan for Its Anti-Union Efforts

On the opening morning of the press previews at the North American International Auto Show, a pressure group called the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan – MAFFAN – spoke out in Detroit against what it says is unfair labor practices at Nissan’s non-unionized plant in Canton. Continue reading →

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Milestones: Honda Builds 1 Millionth U.S. Made Auto for Export

Honda has built a silver 2013 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan that will be shipped to South Korea – the 1 millionth Honda automobile to be exported from the U.S. Continue reading →

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Honda Opens Advanced Design Studio in Los Angeles

Honda R&D Americas today opened an Advanced Design Studio in downtown Los Angeles for the creation of future Honda and Acura “automobile and mobility design concepts.” Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving for Our Democracy

What is often called the most American of holidays, Thanksgiving, had its roots in pilgrim and other colonial celebrations of refugee and immigrant survival and bountiful harvests going back to the early 17th century. Continue reading →

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BMW to Build a Car Plant in Brazil Prompted by Tough Legislation

The BMW Group plans to build a new auto plant in Brazil, based on the government’s new industrial policy under the so-called “Inovar Auto” legislation just adapted. The hard-nosed legislation strictly limits the amount of money that can be counted toward local content, imposes tariffs and requires specific R&D and production investments as a percentage of sales that increase from now until 2017. It is the latest example of protecting a local auto industry against pillaging by global companies in the view of supporters. Critics counter that consumers will pay higher prices. Continue reading →

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Honda Aircraft Breaks Ground on New Maintenance Hanger

The ~$5 million HondaJet has claims to what could be advances in aircraft design, including a unique over-the-wing engine-mount that is said to improve aircraft performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. However, this claim awaits FAA-certified production aircraft powered by two new design GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines. The small business jet market has long been dominated by Wichita-based Cessna, of course, which pioneered the idea of turbofan engines and manufacturer-supplied maintenance – and guaranteed costs for owners – in business aviation with its successful Citation line starting in the 1970s. Continue reading →

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SAIC-GM-Wuling JV in China Sells 1,000,000 Vehicles

SAIC-GM-Wuling has sold 1,000,000 vehicles in China for the fourth consecutive year. It is the earliest the General Motors China joint venture – required by the communist government as a successful job creating policy – has reached the milestone. In 2011, SGMW sold its 1 millionth vehicle in October. Continue reading →

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China Sales Satisfaction Down. Audi, Nissan, Hyundai Lead

There is a decline in customer satisfaction in China as experienced salespeople are in short supply as auto dealerships continue to expand. Coupled with the slow down in Chinese vehicle sales this year, there is a “notable deterioration” in overall sales satisfaction among new-vehicle owners in China. Continue reading →

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BMW Group and Brilliance Open Second Plant in China

BMW has been producing BMW 3 Series and 5 Series models for the Chinese market with Brilliance in Shenyang since 2003. The opening of the second vehicle plant in China will expand the range of locally produced models to include the BMW X1. Production of the long-wheelbase version of the BMW 3 Series will also begin during the coming weeks. Continue reading →

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DOT Launches ‘Choose the Right Seat’ for Children in Cars

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one through 12 years old. From 2006 to 2010, 4,028 children aged 12 and younger were killed in crashes involving passenger vehicles. Another estimated 660,000 children were injured in crashes – a figure greater than the entire population of Boston, Massachusetts. Continue reading →

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Toyota Launches Prius c Hybrid as Aqua in Japan for $21,700

In Japan the Prius c comes in seven models with a price ranging from $21,750 to $34,500 for lavishing equipped models for handicapped people. Look for the Japanese-built Prius c in the U.S. to start somewhere under $20,000 with several more expensive option packages. AutoInformed is betting Toyota will continue to use aggressive ‘comeback pricing’ and incentives to regain market share lost post-tsunami and Thailand floods this year. With the introduction of the all-new reduced price Camry last October, Toyota has regained 2 percentage points of U.S. share in the last two months. Continue reading →

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