Tag Archives: autoinformed.com

Trump’s Losing Trade Wars – Auto and Other Deficits Grow

Despite magical thinking – and bluster from the ousted Trump Administration, the October imports of automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($32.2 billion) were the highest since July 2019 ($32.4 billion). Continue reading

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English Covid Crisis Reigns. November Auto Sales Drop 27.4%

During November when showrooms across England had to close due to new lockdown restrictions, the industry recorded 113,781 new registrations, taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 Great Recession. Continue reading

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A Grim Covid Reaper Lurks as November US Auto Sales Drop

New light-vehicle sales fell to 1.19 million light vehicles in November – a likely foreshadowing of things to come as the Covid virus runs rampant in the US in a surge of the waning days of the Trump Administration, which ignored the crisis with the result it lost a reelection. One American is now dying every 34 seconds, unemployment is rising, and an earlier Covid federal relief package expires at the end of December meaning extended unemployment benefits and help for small businesses will evaporate as millions will face evictions. Continue reading

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GM Signs MoU with Nikola to Supply Hydrotec Fuel Cells

Despite decades of fuel cell research, GM appears to be far behind Toyota in the market use of fuel cell commercial vehicles – increasingly looking like a mandatory segment for survivors of the commercial truck wars. Continue reading

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Whither US Vehicle Sales in 2021? Is 14 Million a Stretch?

AutoInformed puts it to you thus: This is the market price of failed ideologies grimly held by blind true-believers who ignore real data-backed consequences, scientists, epidemiologists, economists and political scientists to their own detriment – if not indeed their own self destruction. Continue reading

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J.D. Power Completes ALG Acquisition

The money involved right now is breathtaking. Determining an accurate residual value –  the value of a vehicle at the end of a lease term is the underpinning of auto leasing because it allows dealers and manufacturers to set the most competitive lease terms today, while protecting their profits tomorrow. About one-third of new vehicles sold each year are leased, typically for a three-year term. At any point in time, the value of vehicles in outstanding lease portfolios is estimated at $500 billion by Power. Continue reading

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Mazda to Buy Out Sumitomo from MMVO, a JV Plant in Mexico

Given the ongoing effects of soon-to-be ex-president Trump’s losing trade wars with Canada, Mexico, China and Japan, among other nations, and the uncertainty around provisions of a new trade agreement now called USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), Mazda remains at risk on multiple fronts. The new Agreement went into effect, with no apparent enforcement, started on July 1, 2020. The U.S. Congress has still not ratified it. Continue reading

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NHTSA Imposes Engine Recalls, Penalties at Hyundai, Kia

These consent orders do not affect separate, ongoing investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation regarding allegations of non-crash fires in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles, some of which are equipped with Theta II engines. Continue reading

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Toyota and Hino Heavy-Duty Fuel-Cell Electric Truck Verification Tests Start in the Spring of 2022

The goal is to accelerate the early commercial application of heavy-duty FCETs contributing to the development of a sustainable society. The air quality goals may be achieved, at least in part, by reducing CO2 emissions from heavy-duty trucks, which account for approximately 70% of all CO2 emissions from commercial vehicles in Japan. Continue reading

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CARB Alters and Adds Stationary Source Emissions Measurements to Improve Local Air Pollution and Health

Once fully implemented, the amendments aim to create a unified reporting mechanism resulting in the most comprehensive emissions inventory programs in the nation. They also established expanded and consistent reporting applicability criteria that determines which facilities need to report their emissions data, CARB said. Continue reading

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Trump Covid Casualties – State Sales Tax Collections Dive

Raising taxes on the middle class is not a viable option. A federal bailout or large assistance program for states appears likely. Senate Majority leader McConnell – aka Moscow Mitch – has a sure-fire way to create another great depression – let the states go bankrupt while Trump eats cake- and crow in Mira Largo. Continue reading

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NHTSA Nixes GM Petition for Exclusion of Millions of Big Trucks and SUVs from Takata Airbag Recalls

The biggest recall* in US history just got bigger as NHTSA has ordered GM to replace Takata airbag inflators used in its full-size trucks and SUVs. In dispute were millions GM vehicles. Continue reading

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Grim Survey – a Nation of Broke and Broken Shopkeepers?

Mnuchin is likely trying to stop President elect Biden’s next Treasury secretary extending relief to state and local governments.

The Federal Reserve – in what AutoInformed says is the latest example of the ugly, vindictive politics of the defeat at the ballot box of the impeached and lame-duck Trump – responded with a statement claiming it “would prefer that the full suite of emergency facilities established during the corona-virus pandemic continue to serve their important role as a backstop for our still-strained and vulnerable economy.” Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier in the week said there was a need for the programs to continue.  Continue reading

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Porsche Q3 in Black at €437 Million Because of VW

Porsche SE’s positive result after tax basically comes from the profit from an investment accounted for at equity in Volkswagen AG of €505 million (prior-year period: €3.58 billion. Porsche Se is the largest holder of VW common stock). The business of the Volkswagen Group was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the first nine months of 2020 but made a recovery in the third quarter. Nonetheless both groups remain in difficult if not precarious financial positions. Continue reading

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Vijay Sankaran Rejects Information Officer Job at Ford

Ford has previously said that Sankaran, 47, had accepted an offer to become Ford’s chief software and information officer beginning this week, after serving seven years with TD Ameritrade. Continue reading

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