Tag Archives: auto informed

European Bid for 48-Volt Cars Finally to be Noted in U.S. at NAIAS

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Johnson Controls will show a 48-volt Micro Hybrid battery system using a traditional 12-volt lead-acid battery and a 48-volt Lithium-ion battery at NAIAS next week. As AutoInformed has reported, the technology is well underway in Europe with cars expected to be on the road this year. Continue reading →

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General Motors to Open a Third IT Center in Georgia

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Ross Perot founder of EDS made a fortune from GM when he sold part ownership in EDS to GM in 1984 for $2.4 billion. Perot later ran for the U.S. presidency twice, losing both times in 1992 and 1996. He is infamous in automotive circles for characterizing the GM board of directors as “pet rocks.” Continue reading →

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Honda to Build 2014 Accord Hybrid in U.S. at Marysville, Ohio

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Honda of America Manufacturing said today that it would invest $23 million and hire 50 new workers at its Marysville, Ohio auto plant to add assembly of the new Accord Hybrid Sedan scheduled to go on sale this fall. Continue reading →

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Milestones: GM Toledo Builds 2 Millionth Six-Speed Auto Transmission

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Toledo Transmission Operations has now made the 2 millionth six-speed automatic transmission for General Motors rear-wheel-drive vehicles. The milestone comes 21 months after it built the 1 millionth six-speed. The so-called RWD6 transmission is built for the Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro, Silverado HD, Tahoe, Suburban and Express, GMC Sierra HD, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Savana and Cadillac Escalade. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Doubles Quarterly Dividend for Q1 2013 to $0.10

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company declared a first-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share on the company’s outstanding Class B that the family controls as well as common stock. This doubles the $0.05 dividend paid in each quarter of 2012. Continue reading →

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New Lexus IS Debuts at NAIAS but U.S. Won’t Get Hybrid Versions

Posted on 9 January 2013 by Ken Zino

The revised Lexus IS compact sport sedan will make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week with the new Lexus snout grille. The latest versions of the rear-drive IS model range – BMW wanna be’s – will include IS 250, IS 350, and the first IS hybrid, the 300h, which will be available in Europe, Japan and other international markets, but not the U.S where the $33,000 and higher CT220h – a hatchback derived econobox – is available. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Nissan Begins Assembly of 2013 LEAF EV in Tennessee

Posted on 9 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Nissan is starting U.S. assembly of the 2013 LEAF electric car at its manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, where it will be made along with the far more popular Altima and Maxima models. Since 2010 Leaf has been imported from Oppama, Japan. Continue reading →

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BMW Opens Health Center at its South Carolina SUV Plant

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

BMW Manufacturing has opened a Family Health Center at its South Carolina plant for all BMW workers, retirees and their dependents. BMW’s existing onsite family pharmacy was relocated to the new facility and joined there by occupational, primary care services, as well as vision, dental and physical therapy. Continue reading →

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Non-Spy Shot – Cadillac ELR Photographed in Southern California

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors has released this photograph of a Cadillac ELR hybrid electric vehicle, which will be revealed with nicer paint at the 2013 North American International Auto Show next week. Continue reading →

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December Car Sales in Western Europe Drop 16%. Off -8% in 2012

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

The last month of 2012 saw car sales in Western Europe decline by 16% to a SAAR – or Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate – of just 11.7 million vehicles as the Eurozone crisis deepens. The market dropped more than -8% for the year taking it back to levels not seen since 1993. Sales in 2012 are more than 3 million units lower or -21%, compared to the size of the 2007 market. Continue reading →

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GM Offering Free Maintenance to Fleet Buyers

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors Fleet and Commercial Sales is now offering what could be an industry first free maintenance program with the purchase of new or leased Chevrolet or GMC vehicles by business customers. The so-called GM Business Choice program includes a two-year, 30,000-mile Business Maintenance Plan, in addition to a cash allowance for vehicle accessories. Continue reading →

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2012 Record Year for U.S. Hybrid Sales, But EVs Remain Insignificant

Posted on 7 January 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. auto industry posted a record year for hybrid sales during 2012 as almost 500,000 hybrids were sold, or 3.4% of the overall new vehicle market. Continue reading →

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Ex Ford EVP David Thursfield Sentenced to Jail over Divorce

Posted on 6 January 2013 by Ken Zino

David Thursfield, a former executive vice president of Ford Motor Company and then a top Cerberus executive, has been sentenced to two years in jail in Great Britain for allegedly hiding assets during a contentious divorce settlement in 2005. Continue reading →

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EPA Hydraulic Fracking Study Now Due in Late 2014

Posted on 6 January 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA said in a “progress report” that the outlines for a study on hydraulic fracking, aka fracturing, are now complete. EPA emphasized though that it has not drawn conclusions about the potential impacts of controversial hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, which will be made in the final study. Continue reading →

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GM Recalls 2013 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC SUVs for Rollaways

Posted on 6 January 2013 by Ken Zino

GM is recalling certain 55,000 2013 SUVs for rollaways because the vehicle can shift out of “Park” by itself because of a defective steering column. Continue reading →

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