Tag Archives: auto informed

BMW Group Sales at Record for June and Six months

The BMW Group announced this morning in Munich that it delivered more vehicles in June than ever before in any month. A total of 165.855 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were sold, which is an increase of +15.9% compared to sales in June last year (2010 – 143,156 units). Continue reading

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Infiniti JX Concept Teaser Photo Released

Infiniti also announced the launch of the “Power of 7,” the latest social media campaign from an automaker designed to spark interest about the JX Concept in advance of its global reveal at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18. Continue reading

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GM Claims Landfill Free Leadership in Facility Recycling

In 2010, all of GM’s worldwide facilities combined – including regular and landfill-free plants – recycled 92% of the waste they generated. Continue reading

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40 MPG Hyundai Models Continue to Set Sales Records

Call it luck or call it planning, but Hyundai’s emphasis on fuel economy and interior room is paying sales dividends. The Korean maker announced today that it had sold its 100,000 40 mpg vehicle this year as rated on the EPA highway cycle. Continue reading

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EPA Tightens Airplane Emissions Rules as U.S. Carriers Sue EU

The new EPA standards, lacking a CO2 component that automakers are subject to via fuel economy rules, were either previously adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), or agreed on at ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) in 2010.

Critics say American airlines have a long history of actively seeking to disrupt all measures to cut climate changing emissions. The legal case is another cynical attempt to derail a modest and cost effective climate initiative. Continue reading

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BMW Shows Two Wheel Concept E-Scooter at Motorrad 2011

BMW introduced its latest liquid-cooled electric motorcycle – dubbed E-Scooter at its 11th Motorrad Days in Garmish this past weekend. The E-Scooter is said to use motorcycle technology that could make it suitable for a wider range of commuting than current inner-city scooters provide for short trips. Continue reading

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New-Vehicle Consideration Rates Shift To European Models in China, away from Japanese. Chevrolet and Buick Gaining

The study finds that the proportion of new-vehicle intenders who say they would consider purchasing a model from a European automaker has increased to 32% in 2011 from 25% in 2009. Consideration rates for Japanese models have declined to 27% in 2011 from 32% in 2009. An increasing proportion of intenders are citing concerns about quality and reliability and concerns about dealer service for Japanese models. Continue reading

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Chevy Recalls Colorado, GMC Canyon for Bad Transmissions

The safety defect in violation of FMVSS #114, which deals with the shift interlock design, is caused by a defective automatic transmission adjustment clip built in China. Continue reading

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New Vehicles Overpriced, Sending Sales to Used?

About 8% of the people who bought a used vehicle in June were trying to decide between purchasing a new or used car and elected for the older one. This means that approximately 360,000 new-vehicle sales went to older vehicles. That’s two final assembly plants worth, and it doesn’t include supporting component parts plants at a time when unemployment is officially more than 9%. Continue reading

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U.S. Auto Sales Decline in June as Shortages and Cautious Consumers Result in a Weak Market and Overall Economy

U.S. auto sales in June declined for the second straight month but increased 7% compared to an admittedly weak 2010. Earthquake induced inventory shortages at major Japanese automakers continued to be a major factor in sluggish sales even though marketing executives denied what could be the beginning of another recession. Continue reading

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Editorial: Happy Fourth of July! More Independence Needed

We should celebrate our past today, and honor the men and women of vision – and property – who created this country starting with the War of Independence, continuing through the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution that is still in place, as fine a document of governance of the people, by the people and for the people that ever existed. Remember well the resounding words of its preamble – WE THE PEOPLE. And we need to toss out of office the people who don’t understand WE, who are in it just for ME. Continue reading

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Ford of Europe CEO Stephen O’Dell Calls for a Comprehensive Industrial Policy and Rejection of Korean FTA

Odell also criticized a proposed Korean trade agreement, which in a different form is also controversial in the U.S. However, Ford in the U.S. supports a pending Korean FTA, which is opposed by all major U.S. unions except for the United Autoworkers. A Ford spokesperson was unable to explain the disparity in the conflicting positions. Continue reading

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Toyota Offers New Prius Plus Performance Package for $3,699

The custom body kit was aerodynamically designed to reduce the vehicle’s coefficient of drag, while maintaining fuel efficiency, according to Toyota. Continue reading

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Porsche Returns to Le Mans in 2014. Will VW Group Spend Millions to Compete Against Itself with Audi in the Top Class?

Some potentially contentious racing and marketing budget allocation debates are ahead, and they will last longer than 24 hours. Will Volkswagen really spend hundreds of millions of dollars to run multiple factory teams to compete against itself? Continue reading

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Japan Auto Production -31% in May. Export Loses $2.89 Billion

The total value of automobiles exported for May 2011 was $6.76 billion, including $4.49 billion for vehicles and $2.27 billion for parts. This is a decrease of $2.89 billion or -30% compared with $9.65 billion for the same month of the previous year. Continue reading

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