Tag Archives: auto news

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy – Pensions Threatened?

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

American Airlines has four traditional pension plans that cover almost 130,000 participants. As of today, the plans collectively had only about $8.3 billion in assets to cover about $18.5 billion in benefits, according to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. If American Airlines were to end their plans, the agency would be responsible for paying about $17 billion in benefits; about $1 billion in benefits would be lost. Continue reading →

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Milestones: GM Builds 100 Million Small Block V8 Engines

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

GM also announced Tuesday that the fifth-generation small-block under development will feature a new direct-injection combustion system that will help enhance efficiency over the current-generation engine. Chevrolet now sells more four-cylinder engines than V8s, and the traditional powerplant of Detroit cars and trucks is threatened with extinction as fuel economy and emission regulations become more stringent. Continue reading →

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Toyota Moves East out of Euro Zone to Build Next Corolla

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Neither country uses the Euro, which is crumbling in value as Eurozone crisis continues to increase, while EU leaders bicker over what steps to take about unsustainable, Greek, Italian and Spanish debt. So far the Greek and Italian governments have fallen, and serious questions are being raised about the political stability of the Spanish and French Governments. Continue reading →

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GM Will Lend Cars to Concerned Chevrolet Volt Owners as NHTSA Volt Battery Fire Investigation Continues

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

General Motors announced Monday that any Volt owner concerned about safety can contact his or her Volt advisor to arrange for a free GM vehicle loan until resolution of the issue. A letter to Volt owners will go out today. The aggressive customer satisfaction move came after the National Highway traffic safety Administration announced on Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test. Continue reading →

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Honda Production Returns to Normal in December. Resourcing Components Helps Ongoing Thailand Flood Disruptions

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Honda automobile production in Japan and North America will resume Normal levels by the end of the first week of December, Japan’s third largest automaker said this morning. All of Honda’s North American plants will resume normal production by December 1, 2011, with some plants resuming normal production in late November. A combination of re-sourcing parts outside of Thailand and aiding suppliers in Thailand after the worst floods in decades is responsible for easing the crisis. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Volt Earns 5 Stars in Euro NCAP with No Battery Fires. GM Announces Volt Export Plans to China Next Year

Posted on 28 November 2011 by Ken Zino

At the same time the National Highway Traffic safety Administration was preparing to announce that a formal investigation had begun over Chevrolet Volt battery fires, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) released its latest results, which gave the Opel Ampera a top 5-star rating. The Ampera is a virtual clone of the Chevrolet Volt.

Continue reading →

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NHTSA Opens a Formal Defect Investigation into Chevrolet Volt Battery Fires When a Second Fire Occurs After a Crash Test

Posted on 26 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – is opening a formal safety defect investigation to assess the risk posed by Chevrolet Volt battery fires after a serious accident. The formal investigation came after NHTSA observed two post-crash testing fires emanating from Volt’s lithium ion batteries, the latest occurring last Thursday. Since July, GM has implemented a post crash procedure that includes the depowering of the battery after a severe crash, returning the battery to what it calls a safe and low-powered state. Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving for Democracy Now, Noting Battles Past, Girding Ourselves for Coming Political, Economic and Military Wars

Posted on 24 November 2011 by Ken Zino

What’s called the most American of holidays, Thanksgiving, had its roots in pilgrim and other colonial celebrations going back to the early 17th century. It was President George Washington who first designated the celebration of Thanksgiving by our national government … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year – BMW Ups U.S. Prices and Delivery Fees

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Year-to-date, U.S. sales of the BMW brand are up 12.9% at 199,552 compared to 176,736 sold in the first ten months of 2010. BMW is on track to displace Lexus as the number one Luxury brand in the U.S. because of Toyota’s earthquake induced production disruptions. Continue reading →

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DOT Distracted Driving Rule Bans Hand-Held Phone use by Commercial Drivers, but Allows Hands-Free Cell Phones

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The latest DOT rule falls far short of a recommendation in September from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ban the use of all cell phones – hand-held and hands-free – by commercial drivers except in emergencies. NTSB made the recommendation after a horrific crash in Kentucky between an 18-wheeler and a van killed 11 people. Continue reading →

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MaxiGuard Super Premium Motor Oil Consumer Alert Issued

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

PQIA says there are labeling issues, as e well. The label claims API service SA, SC. These are obsolete Service Categories the API cautions can cause harm to engines built after 1967. The label does not warn consumers of this limited use. Continue reading →

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Daimler Employee Arrested, Detained Under Controversial Alabama Immigration Law

Posted on 22 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The controversial Alabama immigration law requires the proper papers be carried by foreigners, including employees of firms investing in the state. Daimler, of course, is one of the largest employers in Alabama, with billions invested thus far and recently announced millions more will be added to increase production. Continue reading →

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General Motors Spring Hill Assembly To Be a Full Flex Plant capable of Building any Car or Crossover With New Investment

Posted on 21 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Neither timing, nor product line was announced, but GM claimed that an additional 1,090 hourly and 106 salaried positions. Furthermore, GM claimed that the Spring Hill flex plant would be capable of building any GM car or crossover vehicle, a potential manufacturing breakthrough that AutoInformed is attempting to clarify. Continue reading →

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Toyota Camry Hybrid Prices Cut $850 to $1,150 for 2012

Posted on 21 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The revised hybrid-electric powertrain, like other 2012 Camry models has a newly-developed 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Toyota says that improved electric motor-voltage control, optimized regenerative braking, and reduce parasitic losses in the transaxle are key to the ratings. Reduced vehicle weight and improved aerodynamics are also factors in the class-leading fuel economy ratings. Continue reading →

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General Motors Revises Opel Supervisory Board. European Reorganization, Layoffs and Plant Closures Imminent?

Posted on 21 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The Opel Board, as well as GM’s Board of Directors, has the task of returning GM’s European Operations to sustainable profitability, after years of stopgap measures by previous GM management teams that did not accomplish this. Further cost cutting is needed, which likely means politically contentious plant closures. On a Q3 earnings phone call with reporters earlier this month, CFO Amman said that nothing would be ruled out to return Opel to profitability. Continue reading →

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