Tag Archives: autoinformed

GM and GM Financial Now Investment Grade at Fitch

GM earnings have been pommeled during the last several years because of billions in charges taken for safety recalls. Moreover GM still potentially faces billions in charges for the legal liability and government fines in the ignition switch cover-up, including possible criminal charges from the Department of Justice. Continue reading

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Porsche Dominates Le Mans and sister Group Company Audi

Victory in the 83rd running of Le Mans was decided between Audi and Porsche on Sunday morning when things were wrong for Audi. This prevented it from taking its 14 victory at the La Sarthe circuit in front of 263,500 fans. Porsche basically led from the ninth hour on. Continue reading

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Honda Stops Sale, Recalls Acura MDX, RLX for Sudden Braking

American Honda Motor is recalling model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2wd and AWD, and 2014 RLX and RLX Hybrid vehicles. for sudden braking. In the latest example of bogus computer programming, a growing automaker safety defect problem, Honda’s so-called Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) can incorrectly interpret as obstacles roadside metal fences or guardrails and unexpectedly apply the brakes with full force. Continue reading

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To Betsy Ross on Flag Day

According to American legend via the Library of Congress, in June 1776, George Washington commissioned Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, to create a flag for a new nation in anticipation of the coming declaration of our independence. Continue reading

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Ford GT to Run in GTE Pro Next Year at Le Mans

Both the production car and racecar will appear in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT racecars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. That year Ford beat Ferrari in the far faster and more expensive unlimited class. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969 when the Europeans changed the rules to effectively ban the cars. Continue reading

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Akebono Knowingly Ships Defective Parts to GM

The long delayed recall is problematic since GM knew of the safety defect when its Wentzville assembly plant found brake fluid under a completed vehicle on October 9. Continue reading

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UK Steel Workers to Shut down Tata

First national steel strike in UK for 35 years starts on 22 June as 17,000 Tata Steel workers protest proposed pension cuts from the Indian conglomerate that owns Jaguar Land Rover. Continue reading

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70 Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicles Run 500,000 Miles in California

The fuel cell – at great expense – improves on some of the range and utility limitations of traditional battery electric vehicles. Continue reading

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Ford Selling Digital Images, 3D-printable Files for Private Use

When a buyer purchases a model or digital image, he or she must register with the site and agree that the item will not be used commercially. Continue reading

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445,000 Takata Airbag Inflators Recalled – Mazda6 and RX8

In the event of a crash with deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator send metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Continue reading

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Scott Dixon Wins in Texas

Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, takes a victory on Saturday 6 June 2015, at the IndyCar Series Firestone 600 race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Continue reading

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NHTSA Changing after Flubbing GM Ignition Switch Recall

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today released two internal reports from the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, that outline the changes NHTSA has adopted or will make in the wake of its embarrassing delayed handling of what became the deadly General Motors ignition switch recall. Continue reading

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Stefan Sielaff to Head Bentley Design. Donckerwolke Out

In April after Ford Motor unveiled the Lincoln Continental concept at the New York Auto Show, Donckerwolke in a post on his Facebook page calledout the 2016 Continental plagiarism. “I would have called it a Flying Spur concept and kept the four round lights,” he wrote. Continue reading

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More Taxpayer Subsidies for Rich Automakers Proposed

It is another raid on the U.S. Treasury sponsored by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), along with Lamar Alexander (R-TN), all from auto making states. Continue reading

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2016 Chevy Cruze Debuts end of June, on Sale this Winter

The current Cruze is a design hybrid since its engineering was done at Opel in Germany and Daewoo in Korea. North American versions went into production at Lordstown, Ohio during the summer of 2010. Unlike the last time around where Cruz after being on sale for years in 60 countries debuted in the U.S. last because of complications and delays caused by the GM bankruptcy. Now, Cruze will debut first here. Continue reading

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