Tag Archives: zino

Toyota Loses ¥33 Billion in First Half FY 2012. Scraps Forecast

In North America – Toyota’s second largest market – vehicle sales totaled 689,000 thousand units, a decrease of 352,000 units compared to the same period last fiscal year. Operating income decreased by ¥84.4 billion to ¥61.5 billion, including ¥15.6 billion of valuation gains/losses on interest rate swaps. Operating income, excluding the impact of valuation gains/losses on interest rate swaps, decreased by ¥109.8 billion to ¥45.9 billion. Continue reading

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GM China Sales Set October Record – Surpass U.S.

During October 2011, sales by GM in China surpassed 2 million, reaching 2,113,274 units – more than the 2,000,000 units it has sold in the U.S. ytd. Two of GM’s manufacturing joint ventures surpassed 1 million annual sales in China, with Shanghai GM’s sales totaling 1,009,536 units and SAIC-GM-Wuling’s sales coming in at 1,053,196 units. This was the earliest in their history that GM and its joint ventures reached these sales milestones. Continue reading

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Rolls Royce Recall Active for Engine Fires on Ghost Models

Rolls-Royce is recalling 2010 model year Ghost luxury cars equipped with turbocharged engines, because the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat.

At least two cases of engine compartment fires have been reported, Rolls said in a required National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing about the safety defect. More than one hundred cases of the failure of the German-made Pierburg pump have been reported globally. Continue reading

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GM Europe President Nick Reilly Retires in March 2012. Karl Stracke Assumes Role in January; Remains Opel/Vauxhall CEO

The moves come as the economy of Europe remains battered, with auto sales on track to decline for the fourth straight year. During the first nine months of 2011, only 10,121,423 new cars were registered in the region, or 1.1% less than in the same period a year ago. Fiat, the owner of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are all struggling to keep their European operations viable as all are losing market share. Results at Opel/Vauxhall and GM Europe are central to GM’s financial success, of course. Continue reading

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EPA to Study Hydraulic Fracturing Effects on Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final research plan on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique used to extract natural gas that critics maintain has a huge negative impact on the environment with costs passed on to the public by energy companies. Proponents of natural gas maintain that it is a cleaner fuel than oil, and the Federal government is subsidizing vehicles that use it. Continue reading

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U.S. Unemployment Epidemic Continues at 9% in October

This means that coupled with underemployed and those discouraged from looking for work, more than 25 million people are not contributing what they could and want to add to the economic prosperity of local, state and national communities. Continue reading

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Ford Taking Orders for 2012 Focus Electric at $39,995

No lease is available, so a typical payment to buy – with $4,000 down for 48 months – is almost $800 per month at Ford’s 7% interest rate. The gasoline Focus starts at just over $17,000. This means that the sales volume of the EV will likely be limited to a few enthusiasts. And Focus Electric also faces tough competition from the Nissan Leaf, which can be leased for about $400 a month. Continue reading

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Toyota to Export U.S.-Built Sienna to South Korea. FTA that UAW Supported, Also Helps Non-Union Plant Exports

The Korea FTA is opposed by all organized labor groups, except the United Auto Workers Union, which in the view of critics sold out organized labor for the promise that 75,000 UAW-built vehicles would be exported to Korea. Thus far Ford and General Motors, all with new four-year UAW contracts, have not announced plans to export to Korea. Continue reading

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Mixed U.S. October Sales Results for Japanese Three. Toyota Sales Down 8%. Honda Sales +3%. Nissan October Sales +18%

Acura, Honda’s luxury label, posted sales of 11,115, an increase of 4.8% versus October 2010, with year-to-date sales of 100,261, compared to Infiniti’s 79,000. This means that natural disaster battered Lexus with ytd sales of 153,739 of cars and light trucks – virtually all of which are made in Japan – easily retains the Japanese luxury vehicle sales crown, but it will displaced from luxury sales leadership for the first time in more than a decade by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company October Sales up 6% from Trucks, SUVs

Ford is now emphasizing truck sales and adding crossover sales with them. This is because Ford Motor Company car and retail sales are down in October compared to last year, hurt by bad results at Lincoln (-11% at 6,100 units), and the absence of 7,500 units from now defunct Mercury. With the strength of trucks, though, overall Ford Motor sales of 1,771,801 units is up 10.9%. Fleet sales are 33% of the total, which based on early numbers, appears to be leading the industry, ahead of GM’s 23% of October sales. Continue reading

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Chrysler Group October Sales Up 27%. Comeback Continues

Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 114,512, a 27% increase compared with sales in October 2010. It was the Number Three Detroit automaker’s best October since 2007. This wasn’t good enough to defend its recent Number Three U.S. sales position, as Toyota’s return to the market with better inventories moved it back into the Number Three spot by 20,000 units. Continue reading

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GM October Sales Up 2%. Three of Four Brands Down

Chevrolet was actually the only GM brand to increase sales year-over-year. Buick at -7%, Cadillac at -12% and GMC at -5% all posted sales declines during the model year changeover, which also saw Japanese makers return post earthquake with rebuilt inventories of news cars and trucks. Continue reading

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California Institutes $15,000 EV Subsidy from Taxpayers

This light commercial EV subsidy is part of a larger program – or folly, according to critics – which will it’s hoped speed the adaptation of commercial electric vehicles. Heretofore, fleet operators who keep stringent track of costs have not been willing to invest in EVs because of their absurdly high costs and limited range – in the EV Transit’s case, ~$50,000 and 50 miles. Continue reading

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EPA Tells Pennsylvania to Improve Air Quality in New Jersey

The EPA ruling potentially has broad implications for the future of electric vehicles in the U.S. since half of the electricity produced comes from burning coal – a notorious source of SO2. The two Portland generating units covered under this rule are large sources of SO2 emissions in the region since they are about 50 years old.

This is a national problem. Currently 44% of coal-fired units in the country do not have advanced pollution controls, such as scrubbers or catalysts, installed to limit emissions. Utilities and coal companies are and have been vigorously fighting efforts to solve the problem. Continue reading

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Honda Cuts Production at All North American Plants from Thailand Flooding! CRV Delayed in Latest Setback for Japanese Makers after March Earthquake

Honda will decrease automobile production by 50% at all six Honda automobile plants in the U.S. and Canada starting this Wednesday as a result of shortages of electrical parts caused by the ongoing floods in Thailand. A statement will be issued later today. Initially Honda maintained that North America would not be negatively affected by the natural disaster.

Insiders at Honda say it is anticipated that this interruption continue for the next several weeks. The proposed December on-sale date of the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V could potentially be delayed by several weeks. Continue reading

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