Tag Archives: autoinformed

Ford China Sales Increase 18%

Thus the rocky road in China continues for Ford, one that started in the last century when it submitted a Taurus as a car to be built in China. GM proposed a more prestigious Buick model and got the approval form the Communist Party, thereby locking Ford out of what is now clearly the world’s largest auto market for years. It’s been playing catch-up ever since with GM and Volkswagen well ahead in the sales and profit races. Continue reading

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Toyota Expands Karawang Engine in North Jakarta, Indonesia

The plant will produce 1.3 and 1.5 liter NR engines, some of which will be for export. Continue reading

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NHTSA Investigating F-150 Brake Failures

This is potentially a huge brake failure recall for Ford Motor on its flagship vehicle because there are an estimated 420,000 units sold in the United States representing ~36% of 2013-2014 F-150 sales Continue reading

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Cadillac’s O’Connell, Cooper 1-2 at Circuit of the Americas

Johnny O’Connell, driver of the #3 Cadillac ATS-V.R, wins Sunday on 6 March 2016 during the second of two weekend Pirelli World Challenge GT Series Championship Continue reading

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Mazda Takes Three Class Wins at Circuit of the Americas

After the season opening double-header for the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, Mazda showed three class wins, eight podium finishes, and three pole positions. Continue reading

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Boom or Bubble as US February Auto Sales Soar?

So be careful, really careful what you wish for! Not first rate strategic thinking in our view. More like the old Detroit ‘Ten Day Sales’ mentality. The most delicious aspect here in AutoInformed’s view is that you now have Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, threatening to impose tariffs on Ford Motor Company for exporting jobs and importing vehicles back into the U.S. Politics is Job One over in Dearborn these days for the government affairs and corporate P.R. staffs, but you never know because they are not going to say much in public other than these plans were in place and they are rebalancing production. Good luck with that. Maybe Ford should build where they sell? Continue reading

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Volkswagen of America Appoints Ronald Stach as New VP of Sales as Drop Continues

Volkswagen of America (VWoA) today announced the appointment of Ronald Stach, 48, as Vice President, Sales for the Volkswagen brand, effective immediately as the diesel scandal continues. Continue reading

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Volkswagen CEO, other Execs Knew of Diesel Scandal Months – if Not Years – Before Public Exposure of the Fraud

The German defense appears weak to AutoInformed (caveat we know little about German law) because former CEO Martin Winterkorn on 27 July 2015 discussed with Volkswagen employees the diesel emissions problem at a regular meeting about “damage and product issues.” Herbert Diess, Volkswagen passenger car CEO, was also present. Memos were sent more than a year earlier. Continue reading

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US February Auto Sales Forecast as Best in 15 Years

An estimated 1,354,503 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in February for a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate, aka SAAR, of 17.7 million, according to a new forecast. The projected February auto sales sales – if accurate … Continue reading

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Ford Joins Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition

The electronics industry has had myriad problems with manufacturing conditions, exploitation of workers and suicides in offshore plants. Whether any significant changes occur in worker rights in an industry driven almost entirely by cost cutting remains to be seen. Continue reading

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GM Certified Used Vehicles Now include Carfax

Car shoppers now get a Carfax Vehicle History Report with every Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Certified car, truck and SUV at no-cost from the selling dealer. In addition, all Chevrolet, Buick and GMC Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are listed for sale on Carfax Used Car Listings. Notably absent is Cadillac. Continue reading

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Rotten Apple! Big Public Support for FBI, Justice on Unlocking San Bernardino Terrorist’s iPhone – Little Partisan Differences

The ongoing contentious terrorism issue has huge implications for the auto industry, which is rushing headlong into the connected car. Security versus privacy is now a concern as web connectivity and smartphone links spread across the virtually all vehicle line offerings. Continue reading

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Only Two Detroit Vehicles Make Consumer Reports Top Picks

The Chevrolet Impala ($39,110) repeated as the Top Pick in the Large Car category, and joins the Ford F-150 ($51,630-$57,565) as the only Detroit Three winners this year. Continue reading

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Chicago Finishes its 108th Auto Show

It was a good start in 2016 for what is billed as the “consumer auto show,” with some justification because Monroney sticker prices are on each vehicle, as opposed to automaker self-celebrations at other international shows. Continue reading

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FAA Fines R&R Conner Aviation for Safety Violations

The FAA alleges that beginning on 16 September 2013, RCA operated the chopper on at least four flights around Detroit, Oregon, when it did not comply with four airworthiness directives and with parts that were past their replacement dates. Continue reading

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