Tag Archives: auto informed

Johnson Controls to Build $100 Million Battery Plant in China

Johnson said it plans to produce an annual capacity of 2.4 million batteries by 2015 for local and global automakers. The U.S. based company, which fired about half of its U.S. automotive plant workers during the Great Recession to cut costs, said it is considering several potential locations for the new plant and expects to make a final decision in the coming months. Continue reading

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NHTSA Ups Scrutiny of Failing Chrysler Minivan Headlights

According to NHTSA, the minivan headlights randomly shut off and remain dark on Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivans. More than 600,000 vehicles are potentially affected according to a NHTSA filing. Continue reading

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NTSB Wants Cell Phone Ban for Commercial Drivers

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended banning the use of all types of cell phones by commercial drivers except in emergencies. The Safety Board said cell phone use by the driver of an 18-wheel semi truck was the … Continue reading

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Toyota Production Now at 100% in North America and Japan

Toyota’s North American production has now returned to 100%. The resumption of all car and truck manufacturing – months ahead of initial projections – is welcome news at Japan’s largest automaker, whose U.S. sales through August have declined 16% year-over-year, relegating it to fourth place, while the market grew 10.5%. Continue reading

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IAA Frankfurt Motor Show Emphasizes Concepts and Electric Vehicles as Euro Zone Economic Crisis Threatens Automakers

The auto markets in the EC have declined for three straight years now, and 2011 is thus far following the same downward trend. It’s against this backdrop of political crisis and economic uncertainty that automakers are revealing cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show that are being dictated – or heavily influenced – by expensive EU regulations – with an emphasis on electric vehicles that will be required to meet impending EU CO2 standards. Continue reading

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to Expand UK Manufacturing Plant

The expansion of the BMW owned company follows from what Rolls-Royce characterizes as significant growth in worldwide sales during the last 18 months, including record sales of 2,711 models in 2010, and a greater demand from customers for customized Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom models. Total investment in the project will be about £10 million, which will be completed in late 2012. Continue reading

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Honda Reeling From Sales, Quality Declines Has New Ads

American Honda is launching a new national advertising today starring actor Patrick Warburton, which attempts to reverse its recent sales decline by looking backward at the Japanese company’s long tradition of earning awards, while using humor to parody industry marketing techniques that even Honda once used. Continue reading

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EPA Grants Emergency Fuel Waiver for Flooded Pennsylvania

In a statement just issued, EPA said that in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), and at the request of Republican Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (who receives funding from oil and natural gas companies), EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said that extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist. These problems are likely in EPA’s view to result in a shortage of gasoline that meets federal regulations. The federal waiver will help provide adequate supply of gasoline in the affected area until normal supply to the region can be restored. Continue reading

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Honda Recalls 310,000 Pilot SUVs for Defective Seat Belts

The latest quality gaff from the Japanese maker once known for its quality follows Honda recalls announced over the Labor Day weekend for fires on more than a million vehicles globally. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 22 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Now Rated at 580 Horsepower

Earlier, less powerful 2011 production Camaro models faced about a 300 pound weight disadvantage against the Mustang because of a larger size and more sophisticated independent rear suspension. Nonetheless, Camaro has been easily outselling the Mustang since production reached normal line speeds. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Takeover of Porsche Stalled, Legal Problems Cited

The announcement on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show also appeared to be an attempt by VW to protect the debut of the 911 sports car in Germany next week. The sale of the all new 911 models starts on 3 December 2011. However, the new Porsche sports cars can be ordered starting in late September. Prices in Germany are €88,038– hold your breathe, that’s $127,000, for the 911 Carrera and €102,436 – or $148,000 for the 911 Carrera S, including a punitive 19% VAT in effect in Germany. Continue reading

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Bankrupt Highway Trust Fund Could Send One Million More Taxpaying Workers to Unemployment Lines

Left out from the speech was the fact that it was the failure of politicians – starting with President Obama and his Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood – to act on the bankrupt Highway Trust Fund issue two years ago – in effect kicking the problem down to what now looks like a dead end road. Continue reading

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Saab Files for Bankruptcy in Sweden. State to Pay Workers

In the months ahead, the Swedish government will pay Saab’s 3,700 workers while a reorganization plan is debated. Saab suspended worker payments in July, as the company only sold fewer than 13,000 automobiles and posted a loss of -€201.5 million during the first half. The grim reality is that Saab Automobile after decades of losses, changes of ownership and financial engineering has limited financial resources and options remaining. Continue reading

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Honda Recalls a Million Vehicles for Fires, Software Problems

The latest Honda recalls are part of much larger global quality problems that affect almost one million Honda vehicles with potential fatal safety defects, including the Honda Fit, which was already recalled in the U.S. Worse, Honda recalls during the last year show that Honda’s once vaunted reputation for manufacturing and design quality is in shambles. Continue reading

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Unemployment Unchanged as Zero U.S. Jobs Created in August Amid Political Posturing, Inaction, Policy Failures

While private companies add 17,000 jobs in August, those meager gains were cancelled by the loss of 17,000 government jobs in August, meaning the unemployment crisis continued. Zero, zilch, nil, no jobs were created during another month of inaction, which saw the U.S, Congress take an extended paid vacation as the U.S. economy limped along with an official – and hugely understated – unemployment rate of 9.1 %, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This devastating unemployment rate has shown no change since last April. Continue reading

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