Tag Archives: auto news

Vehicle Satisfaction Declines in Germany after Subsidies

Two years after a massive taxpayer subsidized scrappage program boosted the German new car market, customer vehicle satisfaction with their purchases declined from previous levels. Industry wide satisfaction in vehicle quality and reliability, vehicle appeal, and service declined as well. Continue reading

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Toyota North American Production Back to 100% in September

All of the Detroit Three automakers – GM, Ford and Chrysler – clearly outsold the Japanese Big Three – Toyota, Nissan and Honda – in May as a result of the marketplace chaos. The largest Japanese automaker Toyota – also the most dependent on imports to the U.S. – saw decreases of 33% across its brands to 108,387 vehicles compared to a year ago. Continue reading

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Chrysler Recalls More than 11,000 Vehicles for Missing Rivet

It turns out new employees on the second shift reintroduced into the assembly process steering columns that had previously been rejected as defective. The supplier was not specified in the required NHTSA safety defect filing. Continue reading

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Ford Breaks Ground on Second Engine Plant in China

China is now by far the world’s largest auto market, and Chinese industrial policy in effect requires that all profits earned there are reinvested in the country and its local partners. The U.S. remains alone among industrialized nations – with elected or totalitarian governments – without any such job and investment protecting policy. The $500 million (RMB 3.4 billion) investment will be funded entirely by CFMA and will be located in Chongqing’s so called New North Zone. Continue reading

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With BMW EV Due, Study Says Range Anxiety Not an Issue

One of the observations about the 80 to 100 mile range – that it’s acceptable – challenges conventional wisdom. This will be tested further when the all-electric BMW Active E becomes available in some U.S. markets beginning in late 2011. A two-year lease will be $499 a month with a $2,250 down payment. A series production BMW I3 follows in 2013. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Says 2012 Cruze Improves Fuel Economy 2 MPG

Popular versions of the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze will be rated 2 mpg higher on the EPA highway cycle when they go on sale later this year, Chevrolet said today. A lower axle ratio for the compact models enables about a 5% increase in highway fuel efficiency. Your mileage may vary. Continue reading

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Volkswagen – Stalking Toyota – Sets Record for Car Sales

Volkswagen wants to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018, which would require it to overtake Toyota and General Motors, the number one and number two global sales leaders respectively in 2010. VW brand deliveries in North America, 194,600 vehicles (162,600; +19.7%) in the first five months, were characterized as “very encouraging.”

Nonetheless VW remains a minor player in what remains a major global market. As part of the world dominance plan, Volkswagen Group said it will sell 800,000 VW models annually in the United States by 2018 – 1,000,000 with Bentley and Audi included. In the U.S., all VW Group brands delivered 360,300 units during 2010, corresponding to growth of 20.9% – a long way short of the goal. Continue reading

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Honda Motor Predicts $2.4 Billion Profit Drop from Earthquake

This represents a 63.5% decline for Japan’s third largest automaker compared to the previous year, the result of production disruptions caused by the Japan earthquake and tsunami, rebuilding costs, as well as a strong Yen at an unprecedented ¥80:$1. Continue reading

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India to be Third Largest Auto Market behind China and U.S.

India will become the world’s third largest light vehicle market by the end of the decade behind China and the U.S., according to a new study. However, India won’t be as profitable as the other two. That prediction comes after India eclipsed France, the United Kingdom and Italy to become the sixth-largest global auto market in the world last year. Continue reading

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Milestones: the BMW 328 Turns 75 Years Old

Henne set a lap record for all sports cars during the race, and won the non-supercharged class in the rain. It was the debut of what became one of the most successful sports cars on the track. The win was to be followed by more than 200 others with factory sponsored and privateers running 328s into the 1950s. Continue reading

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Ford to Appeal $2 Billion Ruling for Overcharging Dealers

Ford Motor Company says that it will appeal a $2 billion ruling against it by an Ohio judge in a class action lawsuit by Ford dealers. The judge found that Ford overcharged its truck dealers for 11 years on sales of almost 500,000 trucks. Ford apparently did not inform all dealers equally of discounts available. The judge called them hidden discounts. Continue reading

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General Motors Invests in a Small Maker of Electric Buses

Fledgling Proterra makes prototype battery electric buses that are averaging up to 24 mpg (diesel equivalent) in service, in what’s claimed to be a more than 600% improvement over a typical diesel engine bus. Continue reading

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Cadillac Recalls 2011 SRX SUVs for Defective Airbags

The SRX computer turns off the right roof-rail airbag if the passenger sensing system determines that the right front passenger seat is unoccupied. Therefore a right rear occupant may not be protected and suffer injuries in frontal and side crashes. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Volt Price Cut? Fully Loaded 2012 Now $46,265

Chevrolet has announced that the base price for the 2012 Volt will be $1,000 lower when it goes on sale later this year. Suggested retail asking price is $39,995. The price includes an $850 freight charge but excludes tax, title and license fees. A loaded Volt, with leather appointments, backup camera, navigation system and premium paint and wheels is now priced at $46,265 including delivery. Continue reading

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Renault-Nissan to Open Silicon Valley Office

Renault-Nissan will open a research office later this month in the heart of Silicon Valley, directly across from Google. Small teams will initially work on vehicle IT development, advanced engineering research and technology recruitment. Continue reading

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