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Under the radar: Higher U.S. vehicle mpg standards -- better late than never

Posted May 26th 2009 6:20PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM)

Under the radar: Some trends are obvious enough and visible to all investors. Others are more subtle, but are just as potent, and these often slip "under the radar."

Case in point: the Obama administration's new, higher, fuel-efficiency requirement for vehicles. Basically, by 2016 it will cut auto emissions by one-third while increasing the average fuel economy requirement to 39 miles per gallon for cars and 30 miles per gallon for light trucks.

Continue reading Under the radar: Higher U.S. vehicle mpg standards -- better late than never

To gain traction in pickup market, GM goes hybrid

Posted Feb 3rd 2008 10:40AM by Douglas McIntyre (RSS feed)
Filed under: Products and services, Consumer experience, General Motors (GM)

Pickups and SUVs are among the most profitable vehicles that Detroit sells. They are built on truck platforms and carry relatively high margins.

The problem with pickup sales recently is that high gas prices hurt sales of cars and trucks that use a lot of gas. Sales of most light trucks fell over 15% last year, and the Big Three have not found a solution.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) thinks it may have found a way around the fuel issue -- hybrid pickups. It will offer a new Sierra, one of its larger light trucks, powered by the new technology. "GM says the 2009 GMC Sierra hybrid gets a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy without compromising performance," according to the Associated Press.

If the new truck sells well, GM may be able to step ahead of its rivals with a solution to get consumers back into the SUV market. For its profitability that would be a big deal.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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

Posted Dec 20th 2007 1:19PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Competitive strategy, General Motors (GM)

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

Bush, Congress still seen backing revised energy bill

Posted Dec 4th 2007 5:01PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Other issues, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Politics, Oil

The odds of a 2007 Energy Bill passing the Democratic Party-led U.S. Congress, with President Bush's blessing, "Are still likely," according to a Washington-based, public policy lobbyist with knowledge of the matter.

"The bill will need a few revisions, but I'd say it's a 70/30 go, in favor of the bill being signed by the president," the lobbyist told Bloggingstocks Tuesday, on condition he not be identified by name.

The lobbyist, who represents primarily Democratic Party-based constituencies, said the the bill's renewable energy component and potential tax increases remain the hangups in the bill.

Modification likely

"More than likely President Bush will get the renewable energy component modified, but the Democrats may gain extra footing with better solar/wind energy credits," he said.

The bill current would require utilities to generate more power from renewable energy. Lawmakers from the Southeast U.S. have said they're concerned that utilities in their states will not be able to meet the requirement, due to a lack of wind power, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Continue reading Bush, Congress still seen backing revised energy bill

Democratic-led Congress seen hiking mpg standards

Posted Nov 20th 2007 4:50PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Consumer experience, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Politics, Oil

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

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Last updated: November 10, 2009: 07:08 PM

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