Volkswagen of America’s Q1 Sales Drop -13%. March Off -42%

Posted on 2 April 2020 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen of America’s Q1 2020 sales fell 13 % to ~75,000.  March sales were down 42% due to pandemic crisis. Volkswagen observed that total Jan-Feb sales were up 9.4% and the Atlas sales were up sales up 15%. In fact, SUV share of sales -Atlas and Tiguan – in Q1 2020 were 50% of the 75,075 deliveries reported. 

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UAW Pressure: Ford Further Postpones NA Production Restart

Posted on 1 April 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed on the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ford Motor can build other things than big trucks.

Ford is delaying its planned restart – announced less than one-week ago – of certain North America plants to help protect its workers. (Ford to Restart Production at North American Plants?)

In a duh statement Ford admitted: “Ford and autoworkers’ unions – especially the UAW – are working closely on initiatives to keep the workforce safe, including upgrading social distancing guidelines, requiring the workers to self-certify daily that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms – and more.”
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FCA US Reports Q1 Sales Drop -10%

Posted on 1 April 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Q1 sales as COVID-19 runs unchecked

So far trucks are relatively immune to COVID-19.

FCA US reported a 10% decline in its first-quarter sales as the positive momentum in January and February was more than offset by the country’s unpreparedness for the ongoing coronavirus that is still running rampant. For the quarter, U.S. sales were 446,768 vehicles compared with 498,425 for the same period a year earlier. Retail sales were 306,898 vehicles for the quarter. Fleet accounted for 31% of total sales.

For a real indicator of things to come, it will take another couple of months. One harbinger is worrisome – Fiat sales dropped 49% from a tiny base to 1128; More relevant is Dodge sales declining -20% to 88,657 for the month of March; Overall as stated, FCA monthly sales declined to 446,768 or -10%.
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GM First-Quarter U.S. Sales Drop -7% to 618,335

Posted on 1 April 2020 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today that it delivered 618,335 vehicles in the first quarter of 2020, a decrease of about -7% compared to a year ago. That number included 3820 new Corvettes, a drop of (-3.8%) compared to Q1 a year ago. The industry experienced significant declines in March due to the outbreak of COVID-19. FCA US reported a 10% decline in its first-quarter sales as the strong momentum in January and February was more than offset by the negative economic impact of the coronavirus in March. GM stock was trading at $19.96 per share in early trading. The yearly range is $14.33 – 41.90. Inventory at the end of the Q1 was 668,443 units, down about 18% from a year ago.

President Trump admitted yesterday that the US is looking at a painful two weeks of deaths from the COVID-19 virus. Public health experts have been less optimistic. The GM announcement comes as all of the Detroit Three have postponed resumption of vehicle production due in part to the UAW demanding safe work spaces. Unbelievable that there are still states without shelter-in-place orders.
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Data Point: 2020 Census Paid Temporary Workers Released

Posted on 31 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on COVID-19 in the US

Click to Enlarge. Do nothing to increase the size of the problem.

The U.S. Census Bureau today released the total number of 2020 Census paid temporary workers that earned any pay between March 15-21, 2020. The data tables include national totals for all 50 states and the District of Columbia by Census Bureau regional geography. A weekly number of paid temporary workers for Puerto Rico is also available.

The weekly release will occur 10 days after the end of the weekly period. Many questions remain about how the $2 trillion welfare plan passed by the Congress will be distributed. Data will help sorting out the mess created by the US’s unpreparedness for what is now a Global Pandemic with the US a leader in cases, illnesses and deaths.

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COVID-19 Disrupts the Mobility Industry

Posted on 30 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Connected Cars and Privacy Issues

A Ford partnership program gives mayors access to driver generated traffic data, allowing them to make planning and investment decisions as autonomous mobility arrives in their cities.

So called disruptive technology companies are – ironically – subject themselves to disruptions. Zahra Bahrani Fard Transportation Systems Analyst at the respected Center for Automotive Research notes that Coronavirus is hitting high-density urban areas with a ferocity completely unexpected.

“Many cities around the world are currently experiencing lockdowns and ‘shelter at home’ executive orders that have slowed the pace of urban life. Mobility is one of the industries that is being hit directly by the new pandemic in multiple aspects,” Bahrani Fard says.
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Jeep Renegade and Compass 4xe Ready for Euro Orders

Posted on 30 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Jeep COVID-19 Marketing

Given a difficult situation, showrooms are open to potential customers via Google Hangouts Meet app.

Marketing has been shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic as is made clear by FCA’s challenges of introducing new Jeep Renegade and Compass models in Europe.

A dedicated web platform giving early shoppers in some European markets the first chance to pre-order the exclusive Jeep Renegade and Compass 4xe First Edition – until 30 April, has proved “a resounding success. Now, the wait is over, and the Jeep brand has given the green light for full orders to be made,” says FCA. Continue reading →

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RumbleOn Posts 2019 Loss. Cancels Guidance

Posted on 30 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on RumbleOn

Click to Enlarge. Losses are below.

RumbleOn, Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBL), an e-commerce company, today announced operating results for the year ending 31 December  2019. The Company also provided a business update in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, given the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, RumbleOn is withdrawing its prior 2020 financial guidance. It’s currently trading at $0.26 a share down from a 52-week high of $5.69. At 26 cents it’s overvalued in AutoInformed’s view.

Theories in business and science are often elegant, but they are subject to correction or questioning by data. The e-commerce RumbleOn touts using innovative technology to simplify how dealers and consumers buy, sell, trade or finance pre-owned vehicles. As such, it’s one of a growing number of companies that are catching analysts’ enthusiasm because they are “disruptive” to the ruling business order. Well, so is COVID-19, which is ideologically atheistic about class, party, economic theories and Wall Street. Continue reading →

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Audi A6 Hybrid Vehicles Recalled for Short Circuits, Fires

Posted on 30 March 2020 by AutoCrat
AutoInformed.com on Audi Hybrid Fires - Recall

Audi was the first premium brand to develop an extended-wheelbase car with a larger back seat for the Chinese Market, the A6l. Both it and an A4l are produced in Northern China with FAW.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 5,471 2019-2020 Audi A6 vehicles equipped with mild-hybrid technology and 2.0TFSI engines. Moisture may enter the starter generator – the inverter inside the belt starter generator is coated with a plastic molding – and cause an electrical short circuit leading to smoldering and a fire.

A fire in a railway container in China last December with 2 new Audi vehicles started a chain of events that lead to this global recall. Audi investigations with Valeo the supplier on the  root cause, possible contributing factors and affected production period ensued.
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2020 NAIAS Canceled. TCF Center to be Field Hospital. Michigan’s COVID Crisis had Little Federal Help

Posted on 29 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on 2020 NAIAS

Governor Gretchen Whitmer at  2019 NAIAS.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) announced today that it is canceling the June 2020 show in Detroit because of the global corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will likely convert the Convention Hall (TCF Center) into a field hospital for an unknown period of time. The effect on the Detroit Auto Dealers Association – organizers of the show – is unknown, but like COVID-19, it could be fatal. According to the Labor Department, nearly 3.3 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week. The last weekly record, set in 1982, was 695,000 claims.

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmore today publicly released a letter to President Trump requesting a major disaster declaration during the COVID-19 pandemic that she wrote last week. Continue reading →

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Italian Metalworkers Strike to Halt Non-Essential Production

Posted on 28 March 2020 by Ken Zino

AutoInformed.com on Italian Metal Workers Strike for COVID19 Health MeasuresNumerous metalworkers participated in an eight-hour general strike called last week by Italian unions FIOM, FIM and UILM in Lombardy, the heaviest COVID-19 affected region in northern Italy.

The unions decided to strike to persuade the government, which under pressure from the employers’ association Confindustria had approved a wide list of the companies allowed to continue production despite the pandemic. It appears that” profits not people” is also global virus among the Owning Class. Local unions report about work abstention levels as high as 60-90% in all the provinces of the region, according to IndustriALL, the global workers union.
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Mercedes-Benz Offers Medical Component Production

Posted on 27 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Mercedes-Benz - Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Process

On passenger cars, 3D printing is normally used for prototype construction and small-series production.

Mercedes-Benz is now supporting the production of medical equipment. With the aid of 3D printers, individual components can be produced that are urgently needed in medical technology as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“With our highly competent team and years of experience in 3D printing technology, we are ready to make our contribution to the production of medical devices,” says Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain. “To this end, we are also in contact with the state government of Baden-Württemberg. Our expertise and specialist knowledge are available for production; now it is up to the medical technology sector to contact us. Our 3D printers are definitely available.”
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Ventec Life Systems and GM to Mass Produce Ventilators

Posted on 27 March 2020 by Ken Zino

AutoInformed.com Ventec Life Systems and GM Partner to Mass Produce Critical Care VentilatorsVentec Life Systems announced today General Motors will build VOCSN critical care ventilators at GM’s Kokomo, Indiana manufacturing facility with FDA-cleared ventilators scheduled to ship as soon as next month. This effort is in addition to Ventec taking aggressive steps to ramp up production at their manufacturing facility in Bothell, Washington. (GM to Provide Logistical Support for Ventilator Production)

Under Trump Administration do-nothing policies that refused until this morning to invoke the Defense Production Act (while criticizing GM? Insiders say that GM was waiting for Government Agency approvals). There are  now and have been global back-orders of critical care ventilators capable of supporting patients fighting COVID-19. Nonetheless in spite of Trump and his courtiers politicizing the pandemic, companies are adding thousands of units of new capacity with a significantly expanded supply chain capable of supporting high-volume production. GM is contributing its resources at cost.
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FCA Expands Coronavirus Relief – 1 Million Meals for Kids

Posted on 27 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on FCA COVID-19 Actions and Reactions

Trump no doubt will attack FCA for its help, just like he did this morning to Mary Barra at GM. Or maybe you have to be a women to get abused by him?

At Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO Mike Manley told employees that FCA is in the process of converting its first plant to produce face masks for donation to first responders and health care workers. The first machinery has been delivered and installed with supply and donation coming on stream in the coming weeks.

FCA said publicly yesterday its plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations and construction projects, are to remain closed only until 14 April, dependent upon the various states’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to production. (FCA to Restart of North American Operations?) The UAW is apparently not pleased with the decision that threatens the health and safety of its members. (UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces)
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Bosch Develops Quicker Test for COVID-19

Posted on 26 March 2020 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on Bosch Develops Quicker Test for COVID-19

It could speed up the identification and isolation of infected patients.

Bosch claims it has a new, fully automated rapid test for COVID-19 that can help medical facilities such as doctors’ offices, hospitals and laboratories make fast diagnoses. The so-called rapid molecular diagnostic test runs on the Vivalytic analysis device from Bosch Healthcare Solutions.

The newly developed test, which apparently has not been certified yet by a major health or regulatory organization, will be available in Germany starting in April, with other markets in Europe and elsewhere to follow at an unknown time in the future. Bosch’s rapid COVID-19 test is the result of collaboration between the company’s Bosch Healthcare Solutions subsidiary and the Northern Irish medical technology company Randox Laboratories Ltd. Continue reading →

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