Category Archives: transportation

Honda Aircraft Breaks Ground on New Maintenance Hanger

Posted on 28 September 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

Posted in aviation, milestones, mobility company, news, news analysis, shows and events, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

BP Fined Again, this time for Oil Spill Violations in Maryland

Posted on 27 September 2012 by Ken Zino

EPA alleged that BP Products violated federal regulations requiring oil storage facilities to conduct drills and exercises to respond to oil spills. The civil penalty is EPA’s highest to date for violations of oil drills and exercises requirements where there was no discharge of oil. BP, of course, was responsible for dumping 5 billion gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico after a blowout on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig killed 11 men. A former BP worker is under indictment for the disaster in an ongoing investigation that has thus far not reached executive levels. Continue reading →

Posted in environment, litigation, news, results, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Zipcar Expands Car Sharing to Tacoma

Posted on 27 September 2012 by Ken Zino

Zipcar today announced the expansion of its car sharing program to the city of Tacoma, Washington. Ten vehicles will be available, including Honda Insight Hybrid, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus models. Six Zipcars will be located in downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Signs Joint Venture to Make Motorcycles in Bangladesh

Posted on 27 September 2012 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor Company today signed a joint venture agreement with Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) to establish a production and sales joint venture company for motorcycles before the end of 2012. The JV – 70% of shares held by Honda and 30% by BSEC- will produce locally. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, motorcycles | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fraud Charges Filed in Gulf Oil Cleanup Employment Scam

Posted on 26 September 2012 by Ken Zino

A 22-count federal indictment was unsealed in New Orleans charging Connie M. Knight, 46, with impersonating a federal employee in order to get people to pay her for fraudulent hazardous waste safety training after the BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill. Continue reading →

Posted in economy, environment, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, people, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM and SAIC Open the Largest Proving Grounds in China

Posted on 24 September 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors and its Chinese communist government dictated partners – SAIC, Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center – have opened China’s largest proving grounds with 37 miles or 60 kilometers of test roads. The 5.67-square-kilometer (2.18 square miles) Guangde Proving Ground in Guangde County, Anhui, represents an investment of RMB 1.6 billion ($253 million). Shanghai GM and PATAC are managing the proving ground’s operation, which includes support facilities to test 67 different driving conditions

It is the latest transfer of white-collar professional salaried jobs from the U.S. taxpayer controlled company to the businesses operating in the world’s largest auto market, which is strictly regulated by the Chinese Central government in a successful jobs creation program that requires local partners and onshore investment as the price of doing business. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, milestones, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CAW Working as 24-hour Contract Talks Shift to Chrysler, GM

Posted on 18 September 2012 by Ken Zino

Thus far, what is known of the Ford contract represents mixed results for the union, which was fighting a defensive action since talks opened in August. In spite of a push to reduce wage costs by all the automakers, the union retained its base pay and got cost of living bonuses. However, the controversial two-tier wage system that union members decry as divisive remains in place for ten years. Sharply lower wages for new hires at 60% of full pay would only allow them to reach parity after they are on the job for ten years. This could pose ratification problems. A similar deal remains controversial at the UAW in the U.S. among its members, which was successful last year in getting a two-tier contract renewed in spite of member opposition. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Politics or Finally a Policy? Obama Administration Protests at WTO over Chinese Auto and Parts Subsidies. China Instantly Fights Back

Posted on 17 September 2012 by Ken Zino

The Obama Administration filed a complaint against the Communist Chinese government at the World Trade Organization today. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, news, news analysis, people, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LeMay Car Museum to Stay Open on Weekends

Posted on 13 September 2012 by Ken Zino

LeMay or America’s Car Museum said today that it will continue to open seven days a week year-round. The Tacoma museum’s original plan when it opened this June was for five days a week during the fall and winter months. LeMay’s collection, estimated by the Guinness Book in the mid ‘90s to include a 3,000-plus cars, trucks and motorcycles, highlights cars ranging from a 1916 Pierce Arrow to a 1956 Chevy two-door hardtop. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, design and styling, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More than 75,000 Electric Buses Will Be on Roads by 2018

Posted on 6 September 2012 by Ken Zino

While the slow sales of electric cars are in the headlines, there is one segment of vehicles – e-buses – that are adopting electric drivetrains at a rate that makes for a healthy business. In North America, hybrid models have captured 40% of new transit bus purchases in recent years. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan

Posted on 5 September 2012 by Ken Zino

Since electric driving depends on a tiny 6.7 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery, this means the Accord plug-in will be hard pressed to stay on electricity for more than 10 or 15 miles, although it will look good on the window sticker with a projected EPA rating of greater than 100 MPG-e. The electric motors are rated at 124-kilowatt (kW). Thank goodness there is also power dense gasoline on board, so the projected range of the plug-in is almost 500 miles. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Airline Employment Rises Slightly in June

Posted on 29 August 2012 by Ken Zino

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 1.4% more workers in June 2012 than they did in June 2011 but still remain below pre-Great Recession levels, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Continue reading →

Posted in aviation, economy, news, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Navy Week Comes to Detroit Commemorating War of 1812

Posted on 29 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Five days of activities will take place in downtown Detroit next week commemorating the War of 1812, which gave us a burnt White House, the Star Spangled Banner and finally convinced the British that we were no longer colonies, among other things. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, milestones, news, people, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DOT and EPA Issue Record 54.5 MPG Fuel Economy Standards

Posted on 28 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Realistically, the fuel economy average will likely be in the 38-40 mpg range. Therefore, your mileage not only can vary but will vary from big numbers being touted in a closely contested Presidential election year. This, by the way, is where European fuel economy is right now, so if you want to know what the roads will look like a decade hence, travel to Spain or Italy whose governments desperately need tourist revenues to cover their massive deficits. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, environment, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NAFTA Trade Up in June to $83 Billion. Vehicles Post Big Gains

Posted on 28 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, increased 6.6% in June 2012 compared to the year earlier period as measured by surface transportation. This means that $82.6 billion worth of goods traversed the NAFTA zone. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates, the June 2012 total was $61.0 billion in 2004 dollars, up 11% from June 2011 according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Continue reading →

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