-
Recent Posts
- Wadda You Say? Personalized Sound at Nissan, Infiniti
- Bye Sauber – Hi Audi Revolut F1 Team
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Marketing – Stellantis, Cox Automotive
- Chinese Junk Watch Death Risk – Luyuan Youth ATVs
- ICE Vehicle Mobile Apps – Wide Satisfaction Differences
- Sports Betting Tax Revenues Soaring
- IndyCar Cheating – New Independent Officiating for 2026 Series
- Ford Expands Mustang Cup USA Series in 2026
- GM Canada Leadership Change – Jack Uppal new President
- Toyota Enhances Arizona Proving Ground
- Happy Nightmare! Holiday Travel to Set New Record
- First Look – $34,995 Subaru Uncharted EV
- Stellantis and Bolt Partner on Driverless Mobility
- Detroit Auto Show – Official U.S. Route 66 Centennial Project
- Genesis Recall for Sudden Unintended Braking
Recent Comments
- Magna on its Share Repurchase Plan in reference to on Magna Posts Solid Q3 2025 Earnings Gain
- Daniel Ricciardo Global Ford Racing Ambassador on Ford Performance Rebranded as Ford Racing
- Gen 3 2026 Nissan Leaf Less than $30,000? | AutoInformed on Milestones – Nissan Begins Assembly of 2013 LEAF EV in Tennessee
- ACSI – Customer Satisfaction with Autos Dropping | AutoInformed on New DOGE Scorecard Announced to Track Trump
- Cadillac Off-Roader – Elevated Velocity | AutoInformed on Annals of Marketing – Cadillac Opulent Velocity Concept EV
Archives
Meta
Tag Archives: auto informed
General Motors September U.S. Vehicle Sales Up Slightly
General Motors reported September U.S. vehicle sales of 210,245 vehicles, an increase of 1.5% compared year-over-year to September 2011 in an industry that grew by 14.5%. GM sales executives, looking for a bright spot, said that passenger car sales increased to 89,000 from 69,000 for September, or +29%, compared to an industry gain of +23.5%. All GM brands increased their retail sales in what was another tough month for the U.S.’s largest automaker. The largest U.S. automaker now unquestionably has a better sales mix with calendar year-to-date sales of 813,000 cars, 678,000 trucks and 478,000 crossover vehicles. GM sales year-to-date are up 3.4% in an industry that recovered at four times that rate, though. The tepid or turn-around GM sales – choose your interpretation – GM are the sum of a complex three-dimensional game, which attempts to balance profits, capacity, competitive actions and momentum, with still badly needed brand rebuilding. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, results, sales
Tagged auto bailout, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gm results, Ken Zino, results, truck sales
Leave a comment
Ford Motor U.S. Sales Flat in September
September U.S. vehicle sales at Ford Motor were the same as last year,175,000, as the Dearborn-based automaker continues to lag market growth. A variety of factors – including inventory shortages, the result of deficient forecasting made early in the Great Recession when Ford jettisoned (too) many workers and plants, as well as necessary new model changeovers now underway are clearly hurting results.
Projections put the overall U.S. industry up more than 12% when final numbers are available late today [September came in at +13%], with Japanese makers Toyota, Nissan and Honda expected to post double-digit increases as car segments continue to boom because of $4 a squirt gasoline. Once again, this month Toyota – now fully back in production – challenged Ford for the Number Two U.S. sales position with monthly sales of 171,910 units.
The subcompact, compact and midsize car segments are expected to show retail sales growth of at least 25% percent, compared with September 2011, according to a projection by J.D. Power and Associates. Japanese automakers have strong reputations and residual values in these segments, which result in attractive pricing, buyer loyalty and increasing sales. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, f-series, Ken Zino, results, small car sales
Leave a comment
Firing of BMW Salesperson for Facebook Photos Upheld
The National Labor Relations Board has found that the firing of a BMW salesperson for photos and comments posted to his Facebook page did not violate federal labor law, because the activity was not protected. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, labor issues, litigation, people, results
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, facebook, Ken Zino, knauz bmw, nlrb
Leave a comment
Honda Expands Acura TL Fire Recall to add 573,000 Accord Cars
Honda is expanding an Acura recall for defective power steering hoses that can cause fires to a combined total of more than 625,000 vehicles, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing revealed today. This is an additional recall since the initial Acura one last May. Affected are 2007-2008 Acura TL and now – far more numerous – 2003-2007 Accord V6-powered cars. Honda in Japan eventually decided to recall the Accords after a fire was reported by a U.S. dealer in early June. However, parts are not yet available for Accord owners. They will have to wait until early 2013 because replacement parts for Accord V6 vehicles are different from the parts for the recalled Acura TL models. The supplier was not identified. Continue reading
CAW Members Approve New Chrysler Two-Tier Labor Contract
CAW members at Chrysler have approved a new collective bargaining agreement, voting 90% for ratification, the Canadian union announced late yesterday. The number of Chrysler members actually casting ballots was not disclosed after ratification meetings held over the weekend in Windsor, Brampton and Etobicoke, Ontario.
It was the end of a difficult series of negotiations for the weakened union, as the three multinational automakers – Chrysler, Ford and GM – presented a united front and asked for the end of all defined benefit pensions, cuts in current wages, which ranged from C$34-$41, dropping the “30 years and out” retirement provision, and elimination of most work rules. The Detroit Three argued that an overvalued Canadian dollar, unhealthy financial markets, and increasing imports from Asia and Europe, required the drastic givebacks. When the deal was finally done, a partial victory emerged for both sides, and it was arguably the best the union could do against job-exporting automakers without bringing the factories tumbling down on its own union members. Continue reading
Honda Aircraft Breaks Ground on New Maintenance Hanger
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
GM Claims Aluminum Spot Welding Innovation
General Motors Research & Development has invented what it claims is an industry-first aluminum welding technology, which it predicts will increase the use of the lightweight metal on future vehicles. The latest fuel economy regulations are forcing automakers to improve efficiency. Simple Newtonian physics explains that the force needed to accelerate a mass decreases with weight reduction, for example, less fuel is needed to move a lighter vehicle – if the weight reduction is not used to increase performance, a traditional industry response. Continue reading
GM CAW Members Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract
CAW members at General Motors have approved a new collective agreement by 73% after voting took place at a series of ratification meetings Wednesday and Thursday in Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock, Ontario. The union did not release the actual number of members who voted but said that 72% of production workers approved the deal, with skilled trades members 79% in favor. The CAW represents 21,000 workers at the Detroit Three auto companies, including more than 8,000 GM workers including 2,500 at CAMI in Ingersoll, Ontario. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, results
Tagged auto informed, auto unions, autoinformed.com, automotive news, caw, GM, ken Lewenza, Ken Zino, two-tier wages
Leave a comment
BP Fined Again, this time for Oil Spill Violations in Maryland
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 auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, big oil, bp, bp curtis bay, deepwater horizon, doj, epa, Ken Zino, oil spills
Leave a comment
Zipcar Expands Car Sharing to Tacoma
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
Honda Signs Joint Venture to Make Motorcycles in Bangladesh
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 auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, honda, Honda motorcycles, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
Honda Says New Steel and Aluminum Welding Process Cuts Weight
Honda Motor Company says it has a newly developed technology for the continuous welding of the dissimilar metals of steel and aluminum. Continue reading
Milestones: GM Tonawanda Builds 4.2 Million Ecotec Fours
The General Motors Tonawanda Engine Plant has built its final 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, 13 years after production began in 1999. Since the New York State GM plant opened in 1938, more than 70 million engines have been assembled there. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, manufacturing, milestones
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, engine plants, gm bankruptcy, gm ecotec, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
NHTSA Prompts GM Recall of Chevrolet, Saturn and Pontiac Cars
An engineering analysis started more than a year ago by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has now forced the recall of more than 426,000 General Motors passenger cars sold under the Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn brands. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gm recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
Leave a comment
GM and SAIC Open the Largest Proving Grounds in China
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
