Tag Archives: auto news

The Business of Plugging In Conference Returns in October

Posted on 13 July 2011 by Ken Zino

The Center for Automotive Research announced today that The Business of Plugging In, a plug-in electric vehicle conference, will take place this October 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, MI. The agenda for the conference – now in its third year – includes representatives from utilities, automotive manufacturers and suppliers, investors, regulators and researchers. Continue reading →

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Testing Connected Vehicles to See if They Connect with Drivers

Posted on 13 July 2011 by Ken Zino

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report found that connected vehicle technology has the potential to address 81% of all unimpaired driver related crashes, but there is no real world data. Continue reading →

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Porsche Consulting Opens U.S. Office in Atlanta

Posted on 13 July 2011 by Ken Zino

Porsche Consulting said today that it is opening an office in Atlanta, Georgia. The wholly-owned subsidiary automaker Porsche AG in Stuttgart was founded in 1994 and will formally begin operations in October with ten consultants. The Atlanta office will be the third foreign office, following ones in Milan, Italy and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Continue reading →

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Gravity Racers Heading to Akron for 74th Soap Box Derby

Posted on 12 July 2011 by Ken Zino

The Derby started in 1933, when a Dayton Daily News photographer came upon three boys racing home-made, engine-less cars down an inclined brick street .The photographer Myron Scott asked “why not hold a coasting race and award a prize to the winner?”

He told the boys to come back to the same hill with their friends a week later, and they could participate in a race with a “loving cup”- as it was called in Depression era America – as a prize. Continue reading →

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Toyota Europe Increases Sales. Delivery Waits Now Normal

Posted on 12 July 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) reported half-year sales of 403,656, an increase of 3% compared to 2010. The results are good since the overall European market is flat year-to-date and has been declining for three years. The Toyota Auris family ( 3- and 5-door hatchbacks off the Corolla platform), including the Auris hybrid, saw sales of 55,222 vehicles, up 22% from 2010. Continue reading →

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Tax Cuts, Deregulation Led to Jobs Crisis AFL-CIO Forum Claims. More of Same Means Fewer Consumers

Posted on 11 July 2011 by Ken Zino

Since two-thirds of the economy of the United States is based on consumer spending, no wonder corporations are reluctant to hire. There is just too much uncertainty in the economy, too much uncertainty in Washington. We could be heading for another recession while politicians dicker. Continue reading →

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California High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes Closed to Hybrids. CNG, Electric Vehicles Now Picked as Winners by Government

Posted on 11 July 2011 by Ken Zino

Thus ends another episode of the California government using its power to pick vehicle winners instead of allowing market forces to operate. However, as the hybrid favoritism fades in memory, new auto winners are being picked for single driver HOV access from now until 2015. Continue reading →

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EPA Wants to Eliminate a Vapor Recovery Regulation

Posted on 11 July 2011 by Ken Zino

In a statement the EPA said the “proposal is part of the Obama Administration’s initiative to review outdated and redundant rules and ensure that regulations are beneficial without being unnecessarily burdensome to American businesses.” (Well, yes, but it’s redundant because another regulation was put in place without limiting the life of the existing one.) Continue reading →

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U.S. Unemployment Rises Again in June to an Official 9.2%

Posted on 8 July 2011 by Ken Zino

This means that more than 14 million Americans are unemployed, with at least another 10 million underemployed. The average length unemployment is now the highest on record. The Administration and its cabinet appointees as well as Republicans were quick to attempt damage control. Continue reading →

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Toyota Opens a European Proving Ground in Belgium

Posted on 8 July 2011 by Ken Zino

The new Zaventem Proving Ground will play an important role for Toyota’s European vehicle development as part of the company’s plan to become Toyota’s global development center for the small and compact vehicle segments, the Japanese company said in a release. It’s hard to believe Toyota will move those jobs out of Japan where generations of Corolla and other small models have been developed. Continue reading →

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Muscle Hybrids Decried for Performance in Hybrid Scorecard

Posted on 8 July 2011 by Ken Zino

The pressure group criticized the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, the new Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and BMW’s X6 and 750i Active Hybrids as among the worst-rated hybrids for environmental improvement because they emphasize power over economy in their design. UCS is apparently unaware of the long standing performance marketing positioning of German brands. Continue reading →

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BMW Group Sales at Record for June and Six months

Posted on 7 July 2011 by Ken Zino

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

Posted on 7 July 2011 by Ken Zino

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

Posted on 7 July 2011 by Ken Zino

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

Posted on 7 July 2011 by Ken Zino

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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