Tag Archives: zino

Gasoline Prices Rising. Another Roller Coaster Ride Underway?

At the end of December 2010 gasoline prices in the United States rose above $3 a gallon for the first time since October of 2008. The difference this time around is that in 2008 the pricing trend was downward, having … Continue reading

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GM to Add Back 750 Jobs at Flint Assembly for Pickup Trucks

General Motors today announced plans to start a third shift at Flint Assembly, adding back 750 jobs in the plant that makes Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups.
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EPA Grants E15 Fuel Waiver for Some Older Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today waived a its regulation preventing the sale of gasoline that contains more than 10% ethanol for model year 2001- 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks.

EPA also announced that no waiver is being granted this year for E15 use in any motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or non-road engines because current testing data does not support such a waiver. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible to Pace Indianapolis 500

A Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will serve as the pace car of the 2011 Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials made the announcement at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale classic auto auction yesterday, where a bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the first of 50 Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee cars this Saturday night.

The 2011 Camaro Convertible is the 22nd Chevrolet chosen to pace the race, and the seventh Camaro. Both the 100th anniversary of the first Indianapolis 500 and Chevrolet occur in 2011. Chevrolet. Arthur, Louis and Gaston Chevrolet all competed at the Brickyard. Continue reading

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FocusDriven Distracted Driving PSA: 5,500; How Many More?

FocusDriven, the first national non-profit organization advocating for victims of distracted driving has released new Public Service Announcement or PSA titled, “5,500; How Many More?”

The PSA highlights that nearly 5,500 people are killed and half a million more are injured in distraction-related crashes annually. The auto industry and electronics makers whose devices are enabling distracted driving thus far show no interest in helping to curb this growing safety problem. And the U.S. Congress has forbidden federal safety regulators form promulgating national standards or rules. Continue reading

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January New Vehicle Sales up 23% from 2010. Slow Recovery?

January new-vehicle retail sales are forecast to come in at 632,100 units, which means a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 10.0 million units, nearly 2 million units higher than January 2010. Continue reading

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DOT Secretary LaHood Blasts Distracted Driving Yet Again

Congress has prohibited DOT from enacting national regulations governing driving behavior, so LaHood can do little about it except use his “bully pulpit” to address the growing issue, which has been called repeatedly an epidemic by safety advocates. Continue reading

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Chrysler and U.S. EPA Research Hydraulic Hybrid Minivan

Since Chrysler Group’s U.S. sales are comprised of more than 70% of vehicles rated as trucks, the company remains vulnerable to rising fuel prices. The E.P.A. claimed that a hydraulic hybrid could provide +35% in fuel efficiency gains, and possibly as much as a 60% improvement is city driving, compared to traditional powertrains in the same type of vehicles. Continue reading

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General Motors Appoints Mary Barra, a GM Human Resources Executive, to Head Global Product Development

General Motors today named Mary Barra, 49, senior vice president, Global Product Development, to lead the design, engineering, program management and quality of vehicles for GM’s 11 brands around the world.

Barra comes to the high visibility position once occupied by formidable car guys, including Tom Stephens and Bob Lutz from her position as vice president, Global Human Resources. Prior to this appointment, Barra had been vice president, Global Human Resources since 2009. Both Lutz and Stephens carried the title of vice chairman, so Barra’s job has been downgraded in the latest GM reorganization. Continue reading

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Akerson Reorganizing GM Again! Product Development Split. Vice Chairman Stephens Moved to Chief Technology Officer

The new CTO position was said to be a “major element of Akerson’s goal to make the company more customer driven and technology focused.”

However, the previous GM technology position occupied by Larry Burns was in practicality more of academic exercise that produce reams of press releases extolling the virtues of fuel cells and other advanced technologies that had no immediate production prospects, and did not connect GM to customers or advance sales as the company sped toward bankruptcy. Continue reading

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China Will Lead Electric Vehicles as U.S. Remains Conflicted

China could lead the race to roll out electric vehicles and will deploy new transport technologies more quickly than the United States, according to a report by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). However, the U.S. could lead a global biotechnology-based agricultural revolution that will generate more biofuel breakthroughs.

The report, “The US and China: the race to disruptive transport technologies,” claims that China’s state-backed focus on electric vehicles (EVs), its domestic supplies of lithium and current battery production capacity will give it a competitive advantage over the U.S. in EVs. Continue reading

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Laser Attacks on Airplanes Double in 2010

The Federal Aviation Administration announced today that the number of laser strikes on airplanes in 2010 nearly doubled from the previous year to more than 2,800. This is the highest number of incidents since the FAA first began keeping track of this new safety threat in 2005. Continue reading

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OnStar Presidential Shakeup. Preuss Out. Marshall In

As a lifelong public relations professional, Preuss was likely much more sensitive to the growing distracted driving problem than Wall Street and other executives who emphasize growth with little or no concern for the social problems that the growth might cause. Continue reading

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Ford will invest $400 million in its Kansas City Assembly Plant

Ford Motor Company announced today that it will build a new vehicle at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri after Ford Escape production moves to Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant. Continue reading

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GM Donates First LSX454R Crate Engine to Charity

GM Performance Parts (GMPP) will auction the first production LSX454R crate engine at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event this Friday, with the proceeds going to the American Heart Association. Over the years, GM and the GM Foundation have contributed more than $1 … Continue reading

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