Tag Archives: autoinformed

Chinese Junk Watch – ESL Smoke Detectors that Sleep

The latest Chinese Junk recall involves thirty-three models of the 400 and 500 series Edwards branded – ESL and Interlogix – smoke detectors Continue reading

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More GM Recalls Including Ignition Switches, Airbags, Brakes

The recall crisis at GM continued today with the announcement of six more serious safety defects covering a quarter of a million vehicles. This follows the revelation this week that almost 190,000 GM vehicles will have to be parked outside because they can self-immolate. The catch here is that redesigned power window switches that can prevent fires will not be available until October. Continue reading

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Chrysler Group Posts Q2 Net Income of $619 Million

Chrysler Group today reported preliminary financial results for Q2 and the first half of 2014, including net income of $619 million for the quarter, up 22% from $507 million in the year-ago quarter. Chrysler net revenue for the Q2 was $20.5 billion, up 14% from a year ago. Continue reading

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August Claimed Best Month to Buy a New Car

People looking to save on a new car or truck should do their shopping in August, according to a new study that says new car and truck prices during the past five years in August have averaged $29,296 – $169 lower than any other month. Continue reading

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Stronger New Vehicle Sales to Weaken Used Prices?

The continued recovery of new US vehicle sales might result in some price cuts in used rides for the first time since 2008 when the Bush Administration’s Great Recession took hold. The economy is still hurting and the US labor force participation rate and long term unemployment are disgraceful, no matter what the ‘no jobs’ Obama Administration claims. Continue reading

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Incentives, Closeouts Keeps US July Sales Hot

Incentives, cheap money and a recovering US light truck market kept July sales hot as 1.435 million light vehicles were peddled, an increase of 9.1%. All of the Detroit Three befitted, particularly Chrysler, but ironically, it was the Asian brands with growing truck and crossover sales that benefited the most. At a SAAR – Seasonally Adjusted Annual Selling rate of 16.48 million (July ’13 was 15.76m), there is enough business for all major makers. Overall incentives were up 8% from July 2013, averaging $2,774 per vehicle, according to AutoData. Continue reading

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Toyota Bests VW and GM as largest Automaker at 2014 Half

Toyota Motor Corporation retained its Number One global sales lead over a formidable and expanding Volkswagen Group by selling 5.1 million vehicles through the first two quarters of 2014. Continue reading

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Pork or Progress as FAA Funds Natural Gas Shuttles?

The grant gives money to purchase six compressed natural gas buses to transport airport passengers and employees from the terminal to parking and rental car facilities. This project is part of the airport’s program to minimize vehicle emissions within the airport footprint. Continue reading

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Gas-Powered Cars – CNG v LPG

There is an interesting technical argument about CNG and LPG powertrains that are apparently cheaper and arguably more eco-friendly in cars than diesel or gasoline engines. It starts with combustion that is cleaner, thereby reducing emissions of particulates and nitrogen … Continue reading

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Nissan Expands Takata Airbag Shrapnel Recall

Nissan North America is now recalling 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder and Infiniti I35 and QX4 models as well as 2002-2004 Nissan Sentra and 2003 Infiniti FX vehicles because a defective Takata supplied airbag inflator can send shrapnel into the passenger compartment. Continue reading

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Subaru TV Ads for Legacy Thoroughly Boring

It is a good thing the cars are so good, because Subaru’s latest Legacy ad campaign is boring. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Posts Q2 Pre-Tax Profit of $2.6 Billion

It was a solid quarter particularly when compared with Q1 results of a pre-tax profit of $1.4 billion, a decrease of $765 million compared Q1 of 2013. It’s possible that Ford moved charges into Q1 to pave the way for the CEO change that took place on 1 July with Mark Field replacing Alan Mulally. Continue reading

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GM Q2 Flops with $200 Million Net Income. Stockholders Whacked with $1.2 Billion in Recall Charges

GM is taking a $900 million non-cash pre-tax special charge in Q2 for the estimated costs of future possible recalls for up to the next 10 years on 30 million GM vehicles on the road today. A special charge of $400 million was taken for the GM ignition switch compensation program. GM said this is the best estimate of the amounts that may be paid to claimants. It guess-timated the total cost could increase by approximately $200 million. Continue reading

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More GM Recalls on 717,950 Newer Vehicles

GM has today recalled almost three quarters of a million late-model vehicles for various safety defects. If there is any good news in the latest safety defects, it is they do not involve deadly ignition switches. Instead, seats, turn signals, and power steering, suspension failures leading to steering loss, and defective airbags are the latest safety defects. Continue reading

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Auto Loan Subprime and Prime Losses Increase In May

Losses for U.S. prime auto loan asset backed securities and subprime ABS increased in May but strong used care values propped up the results. Continue reading

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