Tag Archives: autoinformed

NHTSA Warns Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Owners of Sudden Door Openings

NHTSA is taking the unusual step off issuing a public warning after Ford Motor recall of almost 400,00 cars where the doors can suddenly pop open during driving. Continue reading

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Volvo picks Union Hostile South Carolina for First US Plant

Volvo began importing cars to the U.S. in 1955. Ford Motor, after a stormy relationship with the Swedish automaker, sold loss-making Volvo in 2010 to Geely. Continue reading

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Automakers Boosting Power of Onboard Chargers for EVs

While high-end PHEVs are contributing to this trend, lower-end models in this segment are still using 3.7 kW onboard chargers. Consequently, onboard chargers with power ratings between 3 to 3.7 kW are expected to remain dominant, accounting for 62% of sales even in 2020. Charging time is important of course as a customer convenience factor in the struggling EV segment. Continue reading

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Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Car Dealers Announced

Toyota said that these initial dealers were selected based on vehicle sales and proximity to hydrogen infrastructure. Mirai U.S. sales volume is planned for approximately 3,000 units through 2017. Continue reading

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US April Sales Stall. Some Makers Keep on Trucking

CA, General Motors and Ford Motor all increased share, almost entirely from the sales of truck and crossover vehicles. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen all declined. Continue reading

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FCA Posts €92 million in Q1 Profit Due to North American Sales

FCA said that profit margins would increase during 2015. “We feel confident that a 7% profit margin rate in the fourth quarter is absolutely doable,” said CFO Richard Palmer. Continue reading

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GM Announces $5.4 Billion in U.S. Plant Investments

Since June 2009, GM has announced U.S. facility spending of ~$16.8 billion. About $11.4 billion of that has come since the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement that is up for renewal, with the two-tier wage system a major potential point of contention. In total, GM said these investments have created 3,650 new jobs and secured the positions of approximately 20,700 others. Continue reading

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Latest Ford Motor Safety Defect Recalls affect 600,000 Vehicles

Ford Motor Company announced this morning that it is conducting safety defect recalls on Fiesta, Focus, Edge, Escape, F-Series, and Lincoln MKZ, models with ~600,000 vehicles involved. Ford claimed it is aware of one accident, but no injuries or fires because of the latest quality lapses. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Q1 Disappoints with Sales, Revenue, Share Drops

This was the latest setback for Ford Motor CEO Mark Fields, who has been playing defense with declining performance since he took over from Alan Mulally in July of 2014. Sales volume and Company revenue were down in Ford’s view because of product launches and the strong U.S. dollar on international revenue. Continue reading

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April US Light Vehicle Sales Forecast at +6% YOY

In April 2005, the last time sales for the month were close to this April’s projected range, light-trucks, including crossovers, sport-utility vehicles and pickups, made up 52% of the market, while cars accounted for 48%. Light-trucks have since increased to about 56% of the new light vehicle market. Continue reading

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Recall Mania Continues. Newly Revealed Safety Defects at Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jeep, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen

Safety defect recalls are now active for Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Nissan, and Volkswagen in what has become an ongoing industry wide scramble since NHTSA – embarrassed by its lack of regulatory oversight on the Toyota unintended acceleration and GM ignition switch debacles – started enforcing U.S. safety regulations and assessing fines and penalties on automakers. Continue reading

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How Not to Fix Crumbling Roads. Proposal 1, Largest Michigan Tax Increase in Decades, is Pork Ridden Debacle

If you want a case study of our dysfunctional and irresponsible elected leaders then look to Michigan Proposal 1 that is on the ballot this May. Continue reading

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General Motors Financial Net Income Up slightly in Q1

GM has now rebuilt its former GMAC Financial empire as a separate business after GMAC (aka Ally) one that went bankrupt over demonstrably and fraudulently bad home loans during the Great Recession. Continue reading

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Driverless Vehicle Technology – Not All Good?

California SB 1298, which directed the DMV to write rules covering driverless vehicles, required the department to have regulations for the public use of the robot vehicles in place by Jan. 1, 2015. DMV – dealing with complicated new technologies – missed that deadline and is still working on driverless car public use regulations. Continue reading

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US Mazda MX-5 Miata Production Begins in Japan

In the usual automaker attempt to boost revenues on a new model, the Launch Edition roadsters sold in the U.S. have different badging and an MSRP of $30,495. Continue reading

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