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[Up ahead: A hybrid in your near future, not a pure electric car]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/18/up-ahead-a-hybrid-in-your-near-future-not-a-pure-electric-car/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/18/up-ahead-a-hybrid-in-your-near-future-not-a-pure-electric-car/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/18/up-ahead-a-hybrid-in-your-near-future-not-a-pure-electric-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the oil and refining sectors providing evidence that $4 per gallon gasoline may represent a floor, auto makers are beefing-up efforts to improve and introduce electric cars, MarketWatch reported Wednesday.

While the new wave of hybrids and electric cars will emphasize plug-in technology (the ability to recharge the car's battery from a standard 110-volt outlet), industry executives and think tank analysts underscored that a series of government incentives and programs will be needed to enable large-scale production of plug-in hybrids and electric cars. Selected automakers have set the 2010 model year as a target for rolling out the new cars en masse.

Economist Glen Langan told BloggingStocks Wednesday the automakers' roll-out timetable may be a tad optimistic.

"What we're seeing now from General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford (NYSE: F) and others is that classic, delayed, rush-to-the-future response so typical of a sector that's behind," Langan said. "U.S. auto makers and others should have developed at least a hybrid that could compete with gas engines 10 years ago. But they chose not to and battery technology is behind as a result. I don't think we will see a cost-effective plug-in electric in 2010, and we'll be fortunate if a cost-effective, plug-in hybrid will be in mass production by 2012 or 2013."

Continue reading Up ahead: A hybrid in your near future, not a pure electric car

Up ahead: A hybrid in your near future, not a pure electric car originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoscarbon emissionsclimate changediesel priceselectric carsFfeaturedFordgasoline pricesGeneral MotorsGMhybridslithium ionlithium ion batteriesmpgnew carsoil pricesoil shockvehiclesWed, 18 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Kerkorian finds many willing sellers of Ford's shares]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/10/kerkorian-finds-many-willing-sellers-of-fords-shares/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/10/kerkorian-finds-many-willing-sellers-of-fords-shares/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/06/10/kerkorian-finds-many-willing-sellers-of-fords-shares/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shareholders tendered billionaire investor Kirk Kirkorian 1.02 billion shares -- almost half of Ford's shares outstanding -- on growing concern that CEO Alan Mulally's turnaround plan won't work, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.

Kerkorian is seeking and will buy an additional 20 million shares at $8.50 per share to add to his existing 100 million shares, held by his Tracinda Corp., The Associated Press reported Tuesday. Prior to the 20-million share tender, Kerkorian's average share cost was $6.91.

Shares of Ford (NYSE: F) fell 19 cents to $6.17 in Tuesday afternoon trading.

"I guess one can call Kerkorian's latest tender sufficiently oversubscribed," said C. Leonard Bauer, independent stock analyst. "Seriously, the flood of shareholders willing to sell is investors' statement regarding Ford's remake. It's a sign their's deep doubt regarding the near-term probability of a return on investment. A price of $8.50 looks like a pretty good price for Ford's shares right now." Bauer added that he does not have a rating on nor own shares in Ford.

Continue reading Kerkorian finds many willing sellers of Ford's shares

Kerkorian finds many willing sellers of Ford's shares originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto sectorautosdiesel pricesenergy crisisFfeaturedFordgasoline pricesKerkorianoil pricesoil shockvehiclesTue, 10 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cambridge Energy's Yergin: What is now unfolding is an oil shock]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/29/cambridge-energys-yergin-what-is-now-unfolding-is-an-oil-shock/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/29/cambridge-energys-yergin-what-is-now-unfolding-is-an-oil-shock/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/29/cambridge-energys-yergin-what-is-now-unfolding-is-an-oil-shock/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The world has endured (survived?) two of them.

They led to transformations in energy use and economic activity twice in the modern era, in 1973-74 and 1979-1980.

They are oil shocks, and right now Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, argues in a Financial Times column that what is unfolding before us is the world's third oil shock. (Oil traded Thursday at $128.60 per barrel.)

Further, Yergin argues that those who say the world could take $80 per barrel oil in stride amid strong economic growth should not feel emboldened about the world's ability to continue to grow with an oil price that's $60 higher in the near future. The contraction ripples have started. In the airline sector. In the auto sector. Note the lighter traffic at your local mall. And did you notice that last food bill for the same shopping cart of items you bought?

Bad news, good news

Yergin's bad news? (And short-term, it is bad news.) Supply, short-term, will not be able to prevent the shock, in other words, lower prices to levels that would maintain (restore?) adequate global economic growth. Engineering skills and oil equipment are in short supply, drilling costs are rising, and equally damaging, selected governments are restricting access or postponing decisions that would bring more oil to the market in the shortest possible time.

Yergin's good news? Demand is already responding to record-high oil (and in the U.S., gasoline) prices, except in those countries where prices are controlled or subsidized. The oil shock is propelling changes (finally) in public policy, corporate/consumer behavior, along with technological development and implementation. Hybrid cars/vehicles, once fringe, are now in demand. The U.S. Congress increased automobile fuel efficiency requirements for the first time in 32 years. And billions of dollars have been added to speed the development of battery technology.

Continue reading Cambridge Energy's Yergin: What is now unfolding is an oil shock

Cambridge Energy's Yergin: What is now unfolding is an oil shock originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 May 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate energy sourcesautosCambridge Energy Research AssociatescarsDaniel Yergindiesel priceselectric carsenergy crisisgasoline pricesinthenewsmpgoiloil pricesoil shockOPECSUVsYerginThu, 29 May 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GM's re-focus continues: sells mid-size truck unit]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/20/gm-s-re-focus-continues-sells-mid-size-truck-unit/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/20/gm-s-re-focus-continues-sells-mid-size-truck-unit/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/20/gm-s-re-focus-continues-sells-mid-size-truck-unit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said Thursday it will sell its mid-size truck unit, which built about 40,800 vehicles in 2006, to Navistar International. Financial terms were not disclosed.

GM's shares fell 20 cents to $26.46 in Thursday midday trading.

GM said the agreement constitutes another step in the company's plan to focus on designing, manufacturing and selling cars and light trucks around the world. GM added that the deal would leverage Navistar's strengths in commercial trucks and engines, enhance its economies of scale and lower costs.

Good decision

Analyst C. Leonard Bauer, formerly of Prudential, said he likes the sound of the Navistar deal.

"This will enable GM to allocate more resources on its core: cars and light trucks," Bauer said. "I like the sale to Navistar in that it gets GM out of a space that did not represent a big gainer. GM has seen the future, and for them it's not in manufacturing mid-size trucks."

Continue reading GM's re-focus continues: sells mid-size truck unit

GM's re-focus continues: sells mid-size truck unit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto sectorauto stockscarsdiesel pricesgasoline pricesGeneral MotorsGMinthenewslight trucksLightTrucksmedium trucksmid-size trucksmpgNavistarSUVstrucksThu, 20 Dec 2007 13:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Big Three to idle pickup truck plants in January on soft sales]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/07/big-3-to-idle-pickup-truck-plants-in-january-on-soft-sales/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/07/big-3-to-idle-pickup-truck-plants-in-january-on-soft-sales/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/07/big-3-to-idle-pickup-truck-plants-in-january-on-soft-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Big Three automakers General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford (NYSE: F) and Chrysler plan to decrease production of full-size pickups - - including curtailing production for all or part of January 2008, due to a slowing economy that's expected to decrease sales, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Earlier this week General Motors announced it will impose a two-week shutdown at its pickup truck plants in January 2008.

Ford said its truck plants would likely reduce overtime or impose temporary shutdowns in January 2008 as part of its Q1 production cutback.

Chrysler LLC said it will stop production at plants in Warren, Mich., and Fenton, Mo., right before Christmas through all of January 2008.

Continue reading Big Three to idle pickup truck plants in January on soft sales

Big Three to idle pickup truck plants in January on soft sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto sectorAutodataautosBig ThreeChryslerdieseldiesel pricesFFordgasolinegasoline pricesGeneral MotorsGMinthenewsoiloil pricespickup truckstrucksU.S. economyFri, 07 Dec 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Democratic-led Congress seen hiking mpg standards]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/20/democratic-led-congress-seen-hiking-mpg-standards/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/20/democratic-led-congress-seen-hiking-mpg-standards/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/20/democratic-led-congress-seen-hiking-mpg-standards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the U.S. Federal Appeals Court of San Francisco's ruling that threw out proposed fuel economy standards, look for a renewed effort by the current U.S. Congress to pass new, tougher standards, possibly by year's end, a source familiar with various lobbying groups told Bloggingstocks.

Based in Washington and familiar with Democratic Party and energy-issue constituencies, the source told Bloggingstocks that some legislation, albeit minor, was now likely.

"Don't expect miracles, but the public sentiment and Congressional support appears to be there for a modest increase in CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standard," he said, speaking on condition that he not be identified by name. He added that to-date the Bush Administration has resisted raising the CAFE; if the administration does so again, it's unclear whether Congress would have the votes to override the veto.

Continue reading Democratic-led Congress seen hiking mpg standards

Democratic-led Congress seen hiking mpg standards originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autosCAFEcarsChrylsercorporate average fuel economydieseldiesel pricesFFordfuel economygasoline pricesGeneral MotorsGMlight trucksMPGsport utility vehiclesSUVsvehiclesTue, 20 Nov 2007 16:50:00 EST