Tag Archives: auto informed

BMW Group Sales Set All-Time Global Record in March, Q1

During Q1 BMW also achieved a new high for the first three months. Retail volumes for the year to the end of March increased by more than 40,000 vehicles to 425,528 units (Q1 2011 – 382,763 units), which represents a growth of 11.2% compared with the first quarter of 2011. Continue reading

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Chinese Great Wall Alternative Power Systems Now Building Cyclone External Combustion Engine. Return of Steam Power?

The Cyclone technology is intriguing, but not commercially proven. It is a Rankine Cycle heat-regenerative external combustion engine. It is sometimes called a “Schoell Cycle” engine after company founder and CEO Harry Schoell. Simply put it’s a 21st century steam engine.
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Automobile$ Provide $91.5 Billion in $tate Tax Revenue$

The amount of revenue involved begs questions about the lack of U.S. industrial policy – alone among industrialized countries – as well as what critics say is anti industry attitudes among politicians and regulators. These critics also point to the actively hostile policies of the U.S. State and Defense Departments, which support and protect offshore automakers, while increasing taxes for U.S. based automakers. Continue reading

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Toyota Starts Sub-Compact Yaris Hybrid Production in France

Toyota Motor Manufacturing France began production today of an all-new Yaris Hybrid. This means that TMMF is the first French and first European auto plant to produce full hybrid vehicles for the high-volume sub-compact B-segment. Continue reading

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U.S. Fuel Consumption Drops in Q1 as High Prices Hurt

Total U.S. liquid fuels consumption fell by an estimated 850,000 bbl/d (4.5%) in the first quarter of 2012 from the same period last year, the Energy Information Agency announced this afternoon. However, hard-pressed consumers did not see that drop in demand reflected in the price of fuel since the energy markets do not always follow academic economic theory.
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DOT Launches ‘Choose the Right Seat’ for Children in Cars

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one through 12 years old. From 2006 to 2010, 4,028 children aged 12 and younger were killed in crashes involving passenger vehicles. Another estimated 660,000 children were injured in crashes – a figure greater than the entire population of Boston, Massachusetts. Continue reading

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Honda Says it Will Double Sales in China By 2015

During 2011 Honda sold 618,000 cars in China last year, dwarfed by market leader General Motor’s 2.55 million and Volkswagen Group’s 2.26 million. Among the Japanese Big Three, Nissan in China is twice as big as Honda and Toyota is 40% larger in terms of vehicle sales. Continue reading

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Justice Department Seizes Counterfeit Chinese Sports Jerseys

The Department of Justice has seized more than $896,000 in proceeds from the distribution of Chinese made counterfeit sports apparel and jerseys as the result of an investigation into the sale of bogus goods on commercial websites. The individuals involved, based in China, sold counterfeit professional and collegiate sports apparel, primarily counterfeit sports jerseys. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls Focus for Defective Windshield Wipers

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 140,000 Focus compact cars because the windshield wipers can fail. Model year 2012 Focus cars were built at the Michigan Assembly Plant without a proper seal on the wiring harness for the passenger-side windshield wiper motor. Continue reading

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Have Gasoline Prices Peaked in the U.S.?

With the official short-term energy outlook due tomorrow from the federal government, some are predicting that gasoline prices in the U.S. have already peaked and will be heading back down again. Continue reading

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Gasoline Prices not Shifting Buyers to Small Cars

With U.S. gasoline prices up more than 25 cents compared to a year ago to a national average of $3.94 a gallon, a new survey claims that SUVs remain the first choice among potential buyers as their vehicle replacement choice. Continue reading

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Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, 911 Designer, Dead at 76

In 1958, Ferdinand joined the engineering office of what was then Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG. His first model was the design of a successor to the 356 model out of plasticine. In 1962, he took over as head of the Porsche design studio, making his name one year later with the Porsche 901, which went into production as the 911, and is still in production seven iterations later. Porsche also designed racing cars, including the type 804 Formula One racing car and the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. Continue reading

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Jobless Recovery as U.S. Employment Barely Grows in March

Some independent estimates have the real U.S. unemployment levels at 14% or more, as politicians in a dysfunctional Washington try to cast the blame on the other party. One thing is certain; unemployed do not increase revenues via payroll or social security taxes, at a time of soaring deficits. Continue reading

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EPA First as Marathon Agrees on Flare Gas Controls

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Company would install the latest controls on combustion devices known as flares. This is an oil industry first. The settlement is part of EPA’s national effort to reduce air pollution from refinery, petrochemical and chemical flares. Continue reading

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Ford to Expand Chongqing Plant, Raising Capacity to 950,000

This will make Chongqing by far the largest Ford production site in the world – a latter day Rouge for communist customers. The latest expansion includes a new assembly line, body and paint shop. Construction on the extension is expected to begin immediately and the first vehicle is expected to come off the line in late 2014. CFMA already operates two assembly plants and an engine plant in Chongqing, with another engine plant and a transmission plant currently under construction. Continue reading

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