Tag Archives: auto informed

GM’s Changwon Assembly to Add 3MW of Solar Panels

Posted on 12 December 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors’ Changwon Assembly plant in South Korea will install solar panels that can make three-megawatts of electricity on its 688,000 square-foot rooftop. When running at full capacity, the solar panels of Changwon by converting sunlight into electricity will generate enough energy to cut carbon emissions at the facility by 2,400 metric tons per year. Continue reading →

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Japanese, South Korean Automakers to offer Fuel Cell EVs by 2015

Posted on 12 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Japanese and South Korean automakers are optimistic about commercializing fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015, according to a new study. Mercedes-Benz is also known to be pursuing the advanced technology that in theory is emission free with demonstration units due in 2014. Continue reading →

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Honda Claims Ecological Paint Breakthrough

Posted on 12 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor Company said today that it would put into production a new paint process that uses less energy. Starting next July a new painting technology at its Yorii Plant at Saitama Factory in Japan will eliminate a middle coating process from a commonly used 4-coat/3-bake auto painting process. Continue reading →

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Ford Changes Software to Stop New Escape and Fusion Fires

Posted on 11 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company will change computer software to stop fires on 2013 Escape SUV and Fusion sedan models- both redesigned for 2013. At the end of November Ford recalled two of its best selling vehicle lines equipped with a 1.6-liter engine – both redesigned for 2013 – without having a fix after at least 13 fires were reported. Continue reading →

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U.S. Treasury Sells Final Shares of AIG Common Stock. Taxpayers Earn $22.7 Billion! More Profits to Come from the Bailout

Posted on 11 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Along with today’s stock sale, the return to date on the Federal Reserve and Treasury’s combined $182 billion commitment to bailout AIG during the financial crisis is now $22.7 billion. Treasury has now earned a positive return of $5 billion and the Federal Reserve has posted a profit of $17.7 billion. Continue reading →

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Fiat to Expand Jeep Sales to India by Late 2013

Posted on 11 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Fiat will sell Jeep brand vehicles in India by late 2013 as part of a larger business plan to launch nine new or refreshed models under the Fiat and Jeep in the next few years. The first step will be the importation of the existing Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee models, which will be arrive toward the end of 2013. Continue reading →

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Another Ford Recall – 2013 Fusion Models have Hazy Headlights

Posted on 10 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor is recalling 2013 Fusion sedans because of defective headlights. Due to a faulty manufacturing process affecting more than 19,000 of the Mexican-built sedans, the headlights can become hazy in use, reducing the brightness of the low-beam lamp. Continue reading →

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Consumer Reports Claims 47 MPG Ford Hybrid Claims are Bogus in Real World Driving. Another EPA Mileage Scam Exposed?

Posted on 7 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Consumer Reports say that it can’t duplicate Ford Motor’s 47 city/47 highway/47 comb­­­ined mpg claim for the new Fusion and C-Max hybrids. In CR tests, the Fusion Hybrid provided 39 mpg overall, 35 city and 41 during highway conditions. For the C-Max Hybrid, CR got 37 mpg overall, with 35 and 38 for city and highway. “These two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we’ve seen among any current models,” said CR. Continue reading →

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Richmond Towing Company Takes Car and Driver Home for $50

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Seibert’s Towing a Richmond Virginia firm, is running a new “Toast’d Tow” program that returns drivers and their cars home for just $50 between 10pm and 4am. Toast’d Tow operates seven nights a week, giving holiday revelers another option for getting home safely – car included. Delivery of drivers and vehicles outside the city limits incurs an additional $1.50 per mile charge. Continue reading →

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International Auto Fraud Ring Busted in Four Countries

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Law enforcement officials in Romania, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Canada arrested six Romanian nationals today for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated multimillion-dollar auto fraud scheme. The U.S. Department of Justice said the defendants were responsible for saturating Internet marketplace websites including eBay, Cars.com, AutoTrader.com and CycleTrader.com with detailed advertisements for cars, motorcycles, boats and other high-value items generally priced in the $10,000 to $45,000 range. Unbeknownst to the buyers, however, the merchandise did not exist. Continue reading →

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EPA Releases 2013 Vehicle Model Fuel Economy Guide

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just released the 2013 Fuel Economy Guide, which covers efficient and low-emission vehicles in a variety of sizes. Continue reading →

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

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

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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GM Sets Annual Sales Record in China with a Record November

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

With record domestic Chinese deliveries of 260,018 vehicles in November, GM’s sales in 2012 reached 2,593,642 units in the first 11 months, the most ever. Last month’s sales were the highest ever for November and the second highest for any month in GM’s largest market, increasing 9.7% from November 2011. Continue reading →

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Exhaust Gas Regen and 48-Volt Cars – Next Efficiency Breakthrough?

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ken Zino

European automakers are rethinking the need for 12-volt cars. This move toward 48 volts, little noted in the U.S. media, has significant implications for a new generation of potentially cost-effective mild or semi-mild hybrid vehicles. A 48-volt standard could be a major factor for enabling the required motor-generator efficiency and power levels to make a practical hybrid at a lower cost. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Volt Owners Surpass 100 Million Electric Miles

Posted on 5 December 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors said today that Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have driven more than 100 million all-electric miles since the hybrid went on sale two years ago this month. The average Volt owner travels more than 65% of the time in pure electric mode, using the gasoline-engine generator for longer trips. Continue reading →

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