Tag Archives: automotive news

Chevrolet Spark EV $25,000 after Federal Subsidy of $7,500

Posted on 29 November 2012 by Ken Zino

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will be priced under $25,000 with tax incentives when it goes on sale starting next summer in California, Oregon, Canada and South Korea. Spark EV will be eligible for controversial high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in California. The price is roughly twice that of a gasoline powered minicar, and that’s with incentives. Continue reading →

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Food Fight over Ethanol as Special Interest Groups Trade Charges

Posted on 29 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Two special interest groups are sparing in public over the cost implications of a long-standing federal energy policy that mandates the use of ethanol and ever increasing amounts of bio-fuels in an attempt to free the United States from importing oil sold by terrorist supporting nations. In 2012 about 9% of all transportation fuel used will be from so-called renewable sources. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Volt Leads New Owner Satisfaction Report. Again

Posted on 29 November 2012 by Ken Zino

For the second straight year, virtually all owners of the Chevrolet Volt hybrid said they would buy one again. Fully 92% of respondents who own GM’s Volt – much decried by anti-government extremists – said they would definitely buy it again. This earned the $40,000 four-seat car the distinction of being the top-scoring model in the latest Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction Survey. Continue reading →

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Honda Opens Advanced Design Studio in Downtown Los Angeles

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Honda R&D Americas today opened an Advanced Design Studio in downtown Los Angeles for the creation of future Honda and Acura “automobile and mobility design concepts.” Continue reading →

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Lexus and Mini Lead in New U.S. Sales Satisfaction Survey

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Whether it is possible to draw meaningful conclusions from closely ranked sales satisfaction numbers remains an open question among industry marketing executives and observers. Power maintains, not without considerable economic self-interest, that its study is a “comprehensive analysis” of the new-vehicle purchase experience. Continue reading →

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Bankrupt Saab Automobile Car Auction Now Underway

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

The receivers of bankrupt Saab Automobile AB are conducting an action of 68 cars, some of them rare models, in order to raise funds. These include cars where only a few examples were ever made, as well as a number of the models Saab began to produce, but were never sold. Continue reading →

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Melbourne Airport Caught Stealing from Taxpayers in NASA Scam

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

The misuse of NASA funding by two airport entities has resulted in millions of dollars of fines under the False Claims Act, which is used to look after taxpayer funded government grants. The Technological Research and Development Authority will pay $15 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Act in connection with grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce, the Justice Department said Continue reading →

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SAIC-GM-Wuling to Build Third China Complex in Ford’s Chongqing

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Chongqing of course is the original home of Ford China and now contains a sprawling manufacturing center. Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) last August broke ground for a third assembly plant, Chongqing 3, in China. CFMA has also signed a letter of intent with the Municipality of Chongqing to explore expanding its research and engineering capability in Chongqing. Continue reading →

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BP Barred from Federal Contracts as Oil Spill Costs Mount

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has “temporarily suspended” BP Exploration and Production, BP PLC and affiliated companies from new contracts with the federal government. In a statement EPA said, “BP’s lack of business integrity as demonstrated … Continue reading →

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GM to Increase Electric Vehicle Development in China

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors is increasing the development of electrified vehicles in China, the company’s senior technology leader said during a speech at the FISITA 2012 World Automotive Congress in Beijing. In September 2011, GM China opened the Advanced Materials Lab in Shanghai. The facility, which is part of the GM China’s sprawling Advanced Technical Center, is engaged in research on battery technology and lightweight materials.

This is the result of a deal between SAIC Motor Corporation and GM for the co-development of a new electric vehicle architecture in China. Communist Chinese industrial policy requires local partners as a condition of access to the market. Continue reading →

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Global Light Vehicle Sales Flat in October at 80.6 Million SAAR

Posted on 27 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Global sales of light vehicles were flat in October as declines in the EU offset modest gains elsewhere. Nonetheless, on a seasonally adjusted annual basis or SAAR, 2012 is tracking at a rate of 80.6 million units a year, with 68 million vehicles sold year-to-date. This means that the trend line of ever increasing global sales is now restored to a pre-2008 slope, before the global collapse of the financial and real estate markets created a Grand Canyon-sized dip from more than 70 million units in 2007 to a trough of ~55 million in 2008 and 2009. Continue reading →

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Louisiana Generating to Pay $14 Million for Clean Air Act Violations

Posted on 27 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Louisiana Generating has agreed to a settlement under the Clean Air Act at its Big Cajun II coal-fired power plant in New Roads, which will result in the elimination of more than 27,300 tons of harmful emissions per year Continue reading →

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Chinese Qoros Defends Name against Kia Quoris in EU

Posted on 26 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Upstart Chinese automaker Qoros Automotive Company has successfully defended it brand name against South Korean Kia in a German Court. A district court in Hamburg granted Qoros’ motion for a preliminary injunction against Kia Motors Corporation that bars Kia from using the name “Quoris motor vehicles in the European Union. The court found that coexistence of “Qoros and “Quoris” in a car market would cause consumer confusion. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Recalls Mexican Built Beetles for Defective Airbags

Posted on 26 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen is recalling model year 2012-2013 Beetles equipped with leather seats because the airbags may not deploy properly in an accident. Continue reading →

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GM Buys Overseas Finance Business from Ally for $4.2 Billion

Posted on 23 November 2012 by Ken Zino

GM said that with addition of Ally’s international operations, GM Financial will be able to provide credit for customers and dealers in markets that make up about 80% of GM’s global sales. In essence, GM is recreating GMAC. Continue reading →

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