BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Cash for Clunkers program to end on Monday]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/20/cash-for-clunkers-program-to-end-on-monday/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/20/cash-for-clunkers-program-to-end-on-monday/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/20/cash-for-clunkers-program-to-end-on-monday/#commentsFiled under: , ,

cash for clunkersIf you are getting tired of reading all the news on the government's "cash for clunkers" program, don't worry... the Obama administration announced this afternoon that the popular incentive program will come to an end this Monday.

There has been a lot of controversy over the program as of late, but one thing is for sure, car buyers have definitely been taking advantage of the program since it launched last month.

Continue reading Cash for Clunkers program to end on Monday

Cash for Clunkers program to end on Monday originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoscarscash for clunkersCashForClunkersfeaturedfuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygasincentivesObamapoliticstransportationThu, 20 Aug 2009 19:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/23/ford-nissan-and-tesla-may-receive-u-s-auto-loans/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/23/ford-nissan-and-tesla-may-receive-u-s-auto-loans/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/23/ford-nissan-and-tesla-may-receive-u-s-auto-loans/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Energy Department is set to lend money to Ford (NYSE: F), Tesla, and Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY), according to the Associated Press. The report cites anonymous sources, with the official announcement set for today in Dearborn, Michigan.

Reportedly, Ford has asked to receive $5 billion in loans by 2011, although the sources were not certain on how much money the automaker would receive. Nissan's requested amount was undisclosed and Tesla has reportedly asked for $450 million. The loan program the automakers are trying to tap into was approved by Congress last year in order to help car companies and suppliers develop green vehicles and components (such as the advanced battery) and help automakers meet the new fuel-efficiency standards of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Continue reading Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans

Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automaker loansAutomakerLoansautomakersefficiency standardsEfficiencyStandardsffordfuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygovernmentgovernment standardsGovernmentStandardsinthenewsnissannsanyteslaTue, 23 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Will Congress' 'cash for clunkers' boost U.S. GDP?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/11/will-congress-cash-for-clunkers-boost-u-s-gdp/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/11/will-congress-cash-for-clunkers-boost-u-s-gdp/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/11/will-congress-cash-for-clunkers-boost-u-s-gdp/#commentsFiled under:

The 'cash for-clunkers' cash payment is now likely to receive Congressional approval, something yours truly didn't think would occur six months ago.

Dueling versions of the bill that would grant a voucher worth $3,500-$4,500 to consumers who trade-in their gas-guzzling cars and trucks for more fuel-efficient vehicles are winding themselves through Congress. The House version passed 298-119, Bloomberg News reported. A vote on the Senate version is expected soon. In a nutshell, car purchases get $4,500 for a vehicle that improves mileage by at least 10 miles per gallon, $3,500 if the new vehicle ups mileage by at least four miles per gallon.

Continue reading Will Congress' 'cash for clunkers' boost U.S. GDP?

Will Congress' 'cash for clunkers' boost U.S. GDP? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autosFuelEfficiencyinthenewsmpgThu, 11 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GM's new Cruze set to fetch higher price than the competition]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/16/gms-new-cruze-set-to-fetch-higher-price-than-the-competition/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/16/gms-new-cruze-set-to-fetch-higher-price-than-the-competition/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/16/gms-new-cruze-set-to-fetch-higher-price-than-the-competition/#commentsFiled under: ,

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) has said its new global small car that will compete with Japanese automakers like Honda Motor Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) and Toyota Motor Co. (NYSE: TM) will be able to sell for more than the competition, as it will have better gas mileage than small cars do now. The new Chevrolet Cruze was announced Monday as GM prepared to celebrate its 100th anniversary, and at a precarious time for the storied automaker.

The new Cruze, set to be unveiled for sale in the summer of 2010, will be a much larger car than what it replaces -- the Chevy Cobalt -- but will have up to 40 miles per gallon, beating almost all the fuel efficiency figures of cars much smaller like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Therefore, GM believes it will be able to charge more for the Cruze. It's a risky but calculated move made necessary as the profit margins from SUVs and large trucks are evaporating as consumers move away from those products and into smaller vehicles. At some point, automakers will have to up the prices on smaller and mid-size vehicles to ensure they remain profitable. That is, unless gas prices fall back down and the more profitable, gas-guzzling SUVs fall back into style.

It's no secret that GM needs to make more money per vehicle than its Japanese competition, and GM general manager Ep Peper said as much yesterday. Peper pointed out that more features in newer cars will justify higher prices, but consumers won't really care or be swayed by the argument. When prices rise, everyone gripes. When they fall, shopping sprees happen. Note to GM: consumers are very fickle -- get used to it.

GM's new Cruze set to fetch higher price than the competition originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencyGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMGM CruzeGmCruzeinthenewsTue, 16 Sep 2008 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Automakers see potential in cars with smaller engines, but more amenities]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/07/automakers-see-potential-in-smaller-engines-cars-with-more-ameni/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/07/automakers-see-potential-in-smaller-engines-cars-with-more-ameni/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/07/automakers-see-potential-in-smaller-engines-cars-with-more-ameni/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With gasoline prices sitting at record highs, and the auto industry struggling to deal with the situation, there is a new shift in the design of cars. Historically, when you bought a smaller engine car, that engine came in a vehicle that had far less in the way of comfort and amenities... well, that is changing.

Think back a few years. You went to your local auto lot to pick up a new car, and your first choice was what size engine you wanted, the heavy duty 8-cylinder, 6, or 4-cylinder car? Suppose you decided the 8-cylinder was for you, can you picture the car that supported this engine? Typically these cars had all the bells and whistles you could imagine: the sunroof, the leather seating, fancy radios, power windows, etc. Basically, the bigger the engine, the better the "packaging" that it came along with.

Now, picture the 4-cylinder car from the past. Not much to picture here. Power windows? Doubtful. Yes, the 4-cylinder cars of the past were typically your bare bones vehicle with few fewer amenities than those coming with the 8-cylinder alternatives. If you were lucky, you would at least get some power steering in the car, but that was not always the case either.

Continue reading Automakers see potential in cars with smaller engines, but more amenities

Automakers see potential in cars with smaller engines, but more amenities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autosconsumersFFordfuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygas pricesgasonlineGasPricesHMCHondaMon, 07 Jul 2008 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford planning more fuel-efficient 6-speed engines]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/08/ford-planning-more-fuel-efficient-6-speed-engines/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/08/ford-planning-more-fuel-efficient-6-speed-engines/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/08/ford-planning-more-fuel-efficient-6-speed-engines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gasoline prices continue to increase along with crude prices, and the latter seem to find a new record every single day. Wasn't it just a few months ago that the media was going crazy about oil reaching the $100 per barrel mark? It hit $122 this week. Now, that's not a year later; that's less than half a year later. It's not surprising then that automakers with an inflexible SUV-selling strategy are getting pummeled, while automakers with a decent offering of gas-efficient vehicles are seeing product mix changes in retail sales.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), which showed a surprising profit in its most recent quarter, said that it plans to really up the presence of gas-efficient six-speed transmissions by the end of 2009, and wants to have these transmissions in 98% of its North American vehicles by 2012. If Ford follows through with this commitment, it'll be a game-changer for the industry. And, it will force General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) to do the same thing. Ford stated that the newer 6-speed automatics will get 4% to 6% better gas mileage than the standard 4-speed and 5-speed automatic transmissions.

GM is not sitting idly by at the same time, though. It debuted a 6-speed automatic transmission in the popular 2008 Chevy Malibu, which it is pitting as a strong competitor to market leaders Honda Motor (NYSE: HMC) Accord and Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) Camry. Will the new trend in the consumer vehicle market be smaller 4-cylinder engines with advanced, fuel-efficient 6-speed automatic transmissions? You can count on it until oil prices fall to $50 a barrel. And, that'll be when pigs fly.

Ford planning more fuel-efficient 6-speed engines originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 May 2008 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accordcamryFFordFord MotorFord Motor Corp.FordMotorFordMotorCorp.Fuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmhmchondatmtoyotaThu, 08 May 2008 10:44:00 EST<![CDATA[GM and others rally against new fuel efficiency standards]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/22/gm-and-others-rally-against-new-fuel-efficiency-standards/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/22/gm-and-others-rally-against-new-fuel-efficiency-standards/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/22/gm-and-others-rally-against-new-fuel-efficiency-standards/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the passage of a new energy bill that requires a drastic increase in the average fuel efficiency of automobiles sold in the U.S., automakers are feeling a bit steamed right now. Mandating significant increases in gas efficiency for vehicles even within a little more than a decade is an enormous task for automakers. New designs, manufacturing processes and probably a hundred more things become necessary.

At the same time, the financial pressure the big three automakers are under make large changes like this hard to swallow. But this doesn't only affect domestic manufacturers ---- all automakers selling vehicles in the U.S. have to conform. The trick is that other automakers like Honda and Toyota started reacting to the market's need for more fuel-efficient cars (and the marketing of them) long before domestic automakers did. Now, those automakers are sitting in a much prettier setting than General Motors (NYSE:GM) or the Ford Motor Co.(NYSE:F). It's estimated that the fuel economy changes mandated for the future will cost GM $40 billion alone. Yikes.

The just-passed energy bill required a fuel economy increase of about 40% (to 35 miles per gallon) by 2020 -- just over 12-and-a-half years from now. Is that even technically possible? Most global automakers, who are united on this front (with the curious absence of Nissan), say that this expectation is way out of whack. The bill was passed late last night in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 65-27, and a vote by the U.S. House is probably coming next week. President Bush also added his opinion, stating that Congress must be "realistic" about this kind of legislation, and that he opposes much of it (while still supporting alternative methods like ethanol use).

GM and others rally against new fuel efficiency standards originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Energy BillEnergyBillFFord MotorFordMotorFuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencyGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMFri, 22 Jun 2007 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Auto industry CAFE whining falling on deaf ears]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/auto-industry-cafe-whining-falling-on-deaf-ears/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/auto-industry-cafe-whining-falling-on-deaf-ears/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/06/06/auto-industry-cafe-whining-falling-on-deaf-ears/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE: DCX) and the United Auto Workers just can't stop complaining about new, tougher fuel-efficiency standards that the U.S. Congress likely will pass.

The companies and union are taking their case to Capital Hill today at a private luncheon with leaders of the U.S. Senate to convince them to reconsider an overhaul of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards, according to the Associated Press.

Let's hope that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed has the guts to tell them to pound sand. The public is fed up with high gas prices and the growing problem caused by global warming. Even GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner has acknowleged this reality, though the AP quotes him cryptically saying "let's make sure that we also fix the real problems while we're doing that."

Continue reading Auto industry CAFE whining falling on deaf ears

Auto industry CAFE whining falling on deaf ears originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industryAutoIndustryCAFE standardsCafeStandardsdcxffuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencyglobal warmingGlobalWarminggmHarry ReedHarryReedhondahybrid vehiclesHybridVehiclesRick WagonerRickWagonertoyotaWed, 06 Jun 2007 14:43:00 EST