Tag Archives: automotive news

Ford China Sets Sales Record 2010. Still Lags General Motors

Posted on 7 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company has posted a record year in China, selling 582,467 units in 2010, a 40% increase compared to 2009. Nonetheless the Number Two U.S. automaker still lags far behind cross town rival Genera Motors, which sold a record 2,351,610 units in 2010 in China. GM has been the Number One automaker in China since 2005 when GM surpassed the Volkswagen group.

Ford had a late start gaining access to the auto market in China, the result of a Chinese government decision that chose a Buick sedan from GM over a Ford Taurus as the vehicle that would enter production at a joint venture in Shanghai. Since 1999, Chinese versions of the Buick Century and Regal sedan have established Buick as one of the top brands in China. Continue reading →

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General Motors Licenses Argonne Developed Battery Technology. Taxpayers Are Also Subsidizing the Koreans!

Posted on 6 January 2011 by Ken Zino

General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory said today they have reached a worldwide licensing agreement to use a battery technology that lasts longer and can accept higher charging voltages. The U.S. Government also announced that … Continue reading →

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Toyota Prevails Against Former In-House Attorney Biller. Self Proclaimed Whistle Blower Ordered to Pay Toyota Millions

Posted on 6 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S. has won a key legal battle against its former in-house attorney, Dimitrios P. Biller, who accused Toyota of withholding evidence in product liability cases. An arbitrator has found in Toyota’s favor on all of … Continue reading →

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Buy American in 2010? Not Really

Posted on 5 January 2011 by Ken Zino

As the U.S. automobile market recovered somewhat in 2010 and increased truck sales particularly helped Ford, General Motors and Chrysler record above average sale gains compared to the industry, there was speculation that “Buy American” was a factor. Now that … Continue reading →

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OnStar Expands Beyond GM Cars. Will offer Aftermarket Mirror

Posted on 5 January 2011 by Ken Zino

OnStar will offer its telematics services in the aftermarket for older General Motors cars and the most popular non-GM vehicles for $299 this spring.

A standalone rearview mirror containing OnStar’s core technology will be available through consumer electronics retailers, starting with Best Buy, and is compatible with most top-selling vehicles from major manufacturers. Installation is expected to cost between $75 and $100. A range of service plans will be available, starting at $18.95 a month or $199 a year. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group 2010 Sales Up 16%. Breaks 1 Million Unit Level

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 1,085,211 units, an increase of 17% in 2010 when compared with 2009 sales at the Fiat controlled automaker. On average light-vehicle retail sales in the U.S. rose 11% during 2010 to 11.6 million units.

Particularly strong were truck sales at Jeep, plus 26% at 291,000, and Ram truck, up 9% at 213,000. On average U.S. light truck sales were up 18% to more than 5.8 million units during 2010. At almost 75% of sales, Chrysler Group remains at heart a truck company, making it vulnerable to rising fuel prices this year. Continue reading →

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Toyota U.S. Sales Troubles Continue as 2010 Sales Results are the Same as a Depressed 2009. Overall the Market Grew 11%

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. today reported annual sales of 1,763,595 vehicles – the same as Toyota posted during 2009 in an auto market that grew at double digit rates for most other major makers, including 19% at Ford Motor … Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Company U.S. Vehicle Sales Up 19% in 2010

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company full-year sales in the U.S. totaled 1.935 million, up 19% compared to a year ago, the largest in any year since 1984. Ford claimed it was the largest increase of any full-line manufacturer last year. When Toyota … Continue reading →

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U.S. Sales to Jump to 13 Million in 2011, GM Predicts

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

GM predicts that the total U.S. vehicle market in 2011 will be in the 13-13.5 million range, including medium and heavy duty trucks, up from a projected 11.8 million in 2010. Don Johnson, vice president of U.S. sales operations provided … Continue reading →

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General Motors Sets China Sales Record. U.S. also up in 2010

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

General Motors vehicle sales in China rose 28.8% to a record 2,351,610 units in 2010. GM’s manufacturing joint ventures and major brands all set new annual sales marks, allowing GM to remain the leader among global automakers in the world’s … Continue reading →

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Oil Refiners Sue Environmental Protection Agency to Stop E15 Ethanol Fuel Sales. Attack on EPA Broadens.

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association filed suit on Monday, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review and overturn an Environmental Protection Agency decision last fall to allow the sale of E15 fuel in cars and light trucks.

Organizations joining NPRA against EPA are the International Liquid Terminals Association and the Western States Petroleum Association. The suits contend EPA violated the Clean Air Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Board Extends Contract of CEO Martin Winterkorn

Posted on 3 January 2011 by Ken Zino

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG unanimously extended the contract of Management Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn for another five years until the end of 2016, the VW said yesterday in a statement. Continue reading →

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Ford to Expand Start-Stop Systems in U.S. by 2012

Posted on 29 December 2010 by Ken Zino

A Start-Stop system will be available for Ford’s North American cars and sport utility vehicles and crossovers starting in 2012, the maker said in a release, claiming improved city driving fuel economy between 4% and 10%. Continue reading →

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First Drive – the 2010 Cadillac SRX

Posted on 27 November 2010 by Ken Zino

Cadillac, once the uncontested U.S. luxury vehicle leader, is coming off a disastrous rear-drive SRX model built from an aging truck platform. It’s finally seeing things the way Lexus envisioned. The new 2010 SRX crossover is built from a GM front-wheel-drive architecture that offers relative efficiency in a mid-size package for five adults. Continue reading →

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Ford to Build a Second Engine Plant in China

Posted on 2 November 2010 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company and its government dictated partners are building new engine plant in China that is due to open in 2013. With the additional capacity of 400,000 units at the new facility, Ford’s joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Ltd (CFMA) is more than doubling its existing engine capacity of 350,000, to 750,000 engines annually.

China is now by far the world’s largest auto market, and Chinese industrial policy in effect requires that all profits earned there are reinvested in the country and its local partners. The U.S. remains alone among industrialized nations – with elected or totalitarian governments – without any such job and investment protecting policy.    Continue reading →

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