Tag Archives: zino

Toyota Announces a New Safety Research Center in Michigan

Posted on 9 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Toyota said in a statement that during the next five years about $50 million in funding will come from the Japanese company, roughly the same amount as the fines accessed against Toyota in 2010 by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its failure to promptly act on safety defects. Continue reading →

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Ford Shows 2012 Focus Electric Vehicle at Consumer Electronics Show. 2012 Debut for Magna Conversion

Posted on 7 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company unveiled in Las Vegas today its conversion of the Focus compact car to an electric vehicle. It was the first time a major automaker unveiled a new car at the Consumer Electronics Show. Ford claimed the Focus … Continue reading →

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U.S. Unemployment Remains Above 9% in December. Economy Adds Few Jobs. More than 14 Million People Out of Work

Posted on 7 January 2011 by Ken Zino

In spite of massive, multi-billion dollar deficit spending by the federal government, job growth is virtually non-existent and well below the rate of population growth of people entering the workforce, according to year end statistics.

In December, the unemployment rate fell by 0.4% of a percentage point to 9.4%, and nonfarm payroll employment increased by a mere 103,000. More than 14.5 million people are out of work. Official statistics drastically understate the actual number of unemployed or under employed people in the United States. It appears there is no end in sight to massive unemployment, decreased tax revenues and record breaking deficit spending.
Continue reading →

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Buick Returns to U.S. Compact Car Market with $25,000 Verano

Posted on 7 January 2011 by Ken Zino

The all-new 2012 Buick Verano compact sedan debuts at the North American International Auto Show next week. It’s Buick’s third new model in the past two years in North America, following the Enclave crossover, and the LaCrosse and Regal sedans.

Buick is attempting the same positioning it has used on those, as it reenters the small car segment. So no surprise that Buick is claiming Verano is a combination of luxury and technology that can compete with Audi and Lexus models, according to John Schwegman, vice president of Buick marketing. Continue reading →

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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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Camaro Sales Top Mustang for First Time Since 1991!

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

With a sales growth rate in 2010 of three times that of the Ford Mustang, the Chevy Camaro took the annual sales leadership for the first time since 1991. 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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