Monthly Archives: April 2012

April Auto Sales Continue Upward Trend

It is expected that automotive sales for the month of April will match the pace of March sales, meaning the first quarter high demand for new vehicles is not slowing. Jeffries & Company analyst Peter Nesvold’s research note states, “April … Continue reading

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Hybrid and EV Sales Soared During First Quarter

During the first quarter, U.S. sales of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles increased 44 percent, to 113,457 units, compared with the same quarter a year ago.  In March, sales of vehicles in with alternative powertrains were double what they … Continue reading

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Mitsubishi Considering Reintroducing Mirage Small Car in U.S.

Mitsubishi Motor Company plans to launch its new Mirage small car in the North American market sometime in early 2013, but is currently undecided whether or not the launch will include the U.S.  The announcement of its North American aspirations … Continue reading

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Chrysler Group Q1 Profits Quadruple to $473 Million

Chrysler Group LLC has set a full-year profit target of $1.5 billion based on Q1 earnings of $473 million, up from $116 million a year ago.  In a statement, Chrysler said first quarter Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said, “It’s fair … Continue reading

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Overseas Troubles Could Reduce Ford’s Q-1 Profits by Nearly Half

Losses in overseas markets may result in as much as a 50 percent loss in first quarter profits for Ford Motor Company. According to Bloomberg, analysts are predicting that net income may have slid to $1.34 billion, and profits could … Continue reading

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Is Politics Hurting Automakers Looking for Federal Loans?

Two years ago, electric carmaker Coda Automotive petitioned the U.S. Department of Energy for submitted a $334 million in loans to help fund the construction of an EV battery plant in Columbus, Ohio. According to Coda’s senior vice president of … Continue reading

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Poor Design by Automakers Makes Child Safety Seats Difficult to Install According to New Study

A full decade after federal regulators began requiring that all passenger vehicles accommodate the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, a new study finds that the majority of vehicles do not make it easy for parents concerned about … Continue reading

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China Reports Sluggish Passenger Vehicle Sales in March

Higher prices at the pump and a slowing economy are being blamed for the sluggish increase in new car sales in China last month. During the first quarter, new car sales declined 1.3 percent. The slump could well continue into … Continue reading

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NHTSA to Require Brake-Throttle Override Technology on All Light Vehicles

U.S. regulators on Thursday proposed that all light vehicles be equipped with an override mechanism that would give motorists the ability to stop a car or truck in the event the accelerator pedal becomes stuck or malfunctions. According to the … Continue reading

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Suppliers Warn of Possible Shortage of Automotive Fuel and Brake Components

The shortage of a special resin, PA-12, used in the manufacture of brake and fuel components could interrupt automotive production worldwide. In a letter to customers, TI Automotive Ltd. chairman William Kozyra warned, “The possibility of production interruptions at some … Continue reading

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