Tag Archives: autoinformed

Ford Motor Used Vehicle Sales Running at Record Levels

Posted on 3 September 2013 by Ken Zino

In general, automakers are setting record used car sales through their dealers as the U.S. economy slowly recovers – more than 80% of workers commute to work in vehicles – and interest rates remain at absurdly low rates as taxpayers continue to subsidize the bankers and Wall Street firms that caused the Great Recession. Record high new vehicle prices – more than $30,000 on average for a car, +$40,000 for a truck – are also forcing some buyers into used vehicles. Continue reading →

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Nissan Exports RHD Pathfinder SUVs from U.S.

Posted on 27 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Several factors are in play here. The weakness of the Japanese Yen during the past several years has forced Japanese production offshore. Even though the Japanese government is now manipulating the Yen to make it stronger, Japanese companies are still proceeding with plans to export from the U.S. that were put in place during the last decade. A built in the USA label can be positive especially for trucks. Continue reading →

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UMD Researchers Get $1 Million for EV Battery Research

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Lithium-ion batteries are problematic in electric vehicles due to short driving range, high cost, and low safety and reliability. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Recalls Fiat 500e Electric Vehicles

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler is recalling 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicles because the half shafts may loosen and separate causing noise and leading to a complete loss of power. The problem occurred because of an earlier repair on the new vehicles. The company says no accidents or injuries have been reported. Continue reading →

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Autonomous Vehicles by 2020. Legal Issues Slow Use

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The classic ‘who pays’ problem is the core issue. Automakers might assume responsibility for their vehicles, but it is improbable that they will assume responsibility for safely operating them. There remain significant technical barriers as well. Computing power, glitch free software development, high-end image processing and sensor cost and coordination are all issues. Continue reading →

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2.95 Trillion Miles Travelled on Interstate Highways During 2011

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Drivers tallied 2.95 trillion miles during 2011 on U.S. interstate highways, according to a new report from the Federal Highway Administration, or nearly double the number of highway miles traveled in 1980. Continue reading →

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Millennial Car Buyers Dream Big, Purchase Smaller

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Herein lies the problem with much consumer research, including automotive. What people say in a clinic is belied by their actual behavior. This has opened a completely new academic industry – behavioral economics – that shows people make emotional and non-rational decisions often with information “framed” by stereotypes and anecdotes, not anything approaching real data. This behavior – on view all the time on Fox “News” – results in marketplace inefficiencies that makes a mockery of traditional economics or in the case of Fox, rational discussions of public policy. Continue reading →

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Big West Oil Fined $18 Million for Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Big West Oil agreed to pay a $175,000 penalty and to spend $18 million to install emission controls at its refinery in North Salt Lake, Utah, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. Big West Oil will also invest $253,000 to improve the monitoring and management of potential releases of hydrofluoric acid at the facility. Continue reading →

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Chinese Government Approves Volvo Car Plants

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Chinese government approved the establishment Volvo Car Group plants in Daqing and Zhangjiakou. As a result, Zhejiang Geely-owned Volvo Cars will have a bigger Chinese industrial presence then it has in Sweden when you include Chengdu, which is already building prototype stretched versions of the S60 sedan. Continue reading →

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2014 Chevrolet Camaro on Sale in Europe at Year End

Posted on 22 August 2013 by Ken Zino

A refreshed 2014 Camaro Convertible will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, along with the coupe shown last spring in New York. Continue reading →

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August Auto Sales Forecast at a Robust 13.1 Million SAAR

Posted on 22 August 2013 by Ken Zino

U.S. new vehicle sales in August are projected at 1,270,400 units, a 12% increase from August 2012 and the highest monthly sales tally since 2006. Continue reading →

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Georgia Most Expensive State to Drive in, Oregon Cheapest

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Ken Zino

California ($3,966), Wyoming ($3,938), Rhode Island ($3,913) and Nevada ($3,886) round out the five most expensive states. Alaska ($2,227), South Dakota ($2,343), Montana ($2,660) and Indiana ($2,698) join Oregon among the five cheapest states. Continue reading →

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Audi A8 Flagship Coming to Frankfurt. German Fall Intro

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Ken Zino

A revised Audi A8 is due at German dealerships this November after its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Audi claims only a small increase is coming, with prices starting in Germany at €74,500 or $99,600. Continue reading →

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Ferrari 458 Speciale Debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Ferrari debuts the 458 Speciale, a performance version of its already fast and technically sophisticated V8 powered 458 Italia and Spider models at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Continue reading →

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Lexus, Acura, Nissan in 2014 Japanese Super GT500

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The new cars are built based on the same chassis and aerodynamics specifications as Europe’s popular racing series, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, aka DTM. With the Grand-Am in the United States planning to start a racing series aligned with the same specifications in the future, globalization of this motorsports series is about to occur by allowing inter-series racing with cars from different countries. Continue reading →

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