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Tag Archives: auto informed
Distracted Driving Prompts Technology Forced Compliance
Most fleet managers lack confidence in current enforcement methods, so 27% plan to investigate cell phone use analytics and 21% plan to explore ‘smartphone’ software within the next twelve months to automate and force employee compliance with regulations and company policies. Translation: big brother is going to get bigger, ultimately with privacy and civil liberty implications for all drivers. It is also just a matter of time before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets more involved in regulating all drivers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, distracted driving, news, news analysis, safety, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, cell phones, distracted driving, dot, Ken Zino, nhtsa, ntsb
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Federal Regs Work as Airlines Cut Delays and Cancellations
It is a clear example of the effectiveness and the need for government regulation of industry since airline passengers were not treated fairly or getting reliable transportation until DOT put in place regulations with stiff fines to stop all too common abuses. Continue reading
Energy Conversion Devices Files Chapter 11, Sells Ovonic Battery. Common Stock to Be Worthless Under Reorganization
OBC was the inventor and worldwide licensor of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery technology, but the cancellation of GM’s EV1, which used the batteries, and the building of a NiMH battery factory in Ohio, which was never used, severely hurt the company, which had a record of obtaining research grants and licensing patents, but was ultimately never able to profitably commercialize its advanced technologies. Continue reading
Buick Drops Base Regal Model in 2013. E-Assist Now Standard
Starting with 2013 models this fall, E-Assist will be standard on the mid-size Buick Regal with the discontinuation of the 2.4-liter base model. It is the second mild-hybrid to join the Buick lineup as standard equipment following the full size … Continue reading
2012 Toyota Prius C Hybrid Priced from $19,610 to $25,140
Though relatively high prices for a sub-compact car in the U.S., Toyota is betting that the hatchback with an EPA-estimated 53/46/50 city/highway/combined mpg along with Toyota’s unquestioned leadership in hybrid vehicles will be sufficient to make the car a success. Notably, the highway rating leads all cars except plug-in hybrids, which benefit in the ratings from credits when they run on electricity. Even the base Prius C model is loaded with equipment as an added incentive to spur sales. Continue reading
Nissan Recalls Versa for Unsafe Auto Transmission Shifter
Mechanical interference between the shifter actuation rod and the shifter handle can cause the safety defect, which could lead to ‘untended acceleration’ and injuries to people both inside and outside the subcompact Versa. Mexican supplied parts from GHSP Mexico are responsible for the defect. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto recalls, autoinformed.com, automotive news, Ken Zino, nhtsa, nissn recall, recalls, versa recalls
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BMW Follows Toyota by Paying $3 Million Fine for not Reporting Known Safety Defects within Five Days to NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has levied a $3 million fine on BMW of North America, after the German automaker failed to comply with requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act that BMW report safety defects and so called non-compliances to the federal government in a timely manner. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, litigation, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, auto safety, autoinformed.com, automotive news, bmw recall fines, bmw recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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Ford Motor CFO Booth, Global P.D. Head Kuzak to Retire
Ford Motor Company announced today that Lewis Booth, 63, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Derrick Kuzak, 60, group vice president, Global Product Development, will retire on 1 April. Both of these key executives served the Number Two U.S. automaker for more than 30 years. Booth had wanted to retire for years but stayed on out of loyalty. Kuzak came as a surprise.
These senior executive changes are unfortunate in timing as both the highly compensated Booth and Kuzak did yeoman’s work in trying to right a still troubled company that recently is showing signs of returning to competitive health.
In late 2008, a week after the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a worldwide financial crisis and the ongoing Great Recession, Booth returned from heading Ford of Europe to Dearborn as Ford’s chief financial officer where management was struggling with the dire cumulative effects of years of losses, declining sales, heavy debt loads and unfunded pension liabilities – the same issues Booth was grappling with in Europe. Prior to that Booth headed Mazda in Hiroshima. Ironically, it was Booth as Ford’s CFO who was forced to sell Ford’s controlling interest in the feisty Japanese company for badly needed cash. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, news analysis, people
Tagged auto executives, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, derrick kuzak, ford motor, Ken Zino, lewis booth
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Toyota to Up Highlander SUV Production in Indiana by 50,000
The ongoing strength of the Japanese yen against the U.S. Dollar and the Euro means Toyota’s old Japanese export based strategy is a new money loser. Yesterday Toyota reported a stunning drop in profits of 57.% in Q3 in part because of the strong yen. Continue reading
Posted in auto news
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, exports, highlander, Ken Zino, suvs, tmmi, toyota
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U.S. and Chinese Nationals Charged with Economic Espionage to Firms Controlled by Communist Chinese Government
To achieve that communist government goal, companies controlled by the PRC government, specifically the Pangang Group companies named in the indictment and employees of those companies allegedly conspired and attempted to illegally obtain TiO2 technology that had been developed over many years of research and development by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, people
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, dupont, industrial esponiage, Ken Zino, pangang, prc, tio2, trade secrets
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Ford China Sales Plummet 42% in January? GM off 8%
Ford China reported January sales of 30,976 vehicles – a – 42% freefall compared with 53,340 vehicles in the same period last year, and just under 50,000 vehicles in December of 2011. General Motors also posted a drop of 8% in January to 246,654 vehicles – GM’s second-best January ever in China where it is well established. The open question is whether this is the beginning of a prolonged downturn in the Chinese economy that some western economists are predicting as a result of Chinese government policies to slow down growth. If so, it will be an unwelcome development for both GM and Ford with their weak balance sheets, and loss making operations in Europe. Things will become clearer when other automakers report China sales. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, news, results, sales
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, buick china, chevrolet china, china sales, ford china, gm china, Ken Zino, results
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Dover Chemical to Pay $1.4 Million for Making Oil Additives
Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chlorinated paraffin chemicals at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind. The settlement resolves violations of pre-manufacture notice obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for Dover Chemical’s production of various chlorinated paraffins used in oil additives and coolants, in widespread use in the automobiles, automaking and other industries. Continue reading
Ex President George Bush Endorses Federal Auto Bailouts
Former President George W. Bush received large ovations as he addressed the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention yesterday in Las Vegas. Bush’s message on the controversial government bailouts of the U.S. auto industry was simple “I’d do it again,” he told standing-room-only crowd of mostly affluent auto dealers. Continue reading
Alcoa Expanding to Make More Lightweight Aluminum Alloys
With the auto industry now pursuing composites to reduce weight to meet increasingly stringent emission and fuel economy standards, the increased supply of lightweight aluminum alloys could find its way onto production automobiles. The question is at what rate? Continue reading
Aftershocks – Toyota Revenues Drop 10%, Profits Down 57.5%
Major factors contributing to the decrease include the negative effects of marketing activities and incentives of ¥120 billion, as well as currency fluctuations of ¥200 billion, both breathtaking demonstrations of leverage effects in the automobile business. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, financial results, news analysis, results
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, financial results, Ken Zino, tmc, toyota, Toyota q3 results
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