Blog Category Results

 AR Index     714.19  -57.01  (-7.39%)  Stocks of individual interest Toyota  94.00  -3.85 GM        11.50   -1.41 Ford      4.81     -0.47 Dow 11350.01  --492.35  (-4.16%) Toyota could overtake GM in US sales in June Automakers report June sales today. An Edmunds.com analyst predicts June sales will be down 13% -- to 1.26 million, or an annual rate of 14.9 million. For an explanation of the AR Index, click here

 AR Index     771.21  -129.09  (-14.34%)  Stocks of individual interest Toyota  97.85  -5.95 GM        12.91   --3.32 Ford      5.28     -1.22 Dow 11842.36  --426.72  (-3.48%) GM, Ford shares tumble on auto sales worries Shares of General Motors Corp tumbled on Monday to their lowest level in 33 years while rival Ford Motor Co fell to a three-month low on concerns about weak U.S. auto demand in June and the rest of the year. Toyota to still build SUVs in Mississippi A consultant for Toyota Motor Corp...

 AR Index     900.30  +14.65  (+1.65%)  Stocks of individual interest Toyota  103.80  +2.21 GM        16.23   -0.58 Ford      6.50     +0.38 Dow 12269.08  --20.68  (-0.17%) The industry continues to scramble to adjust to the sea change that has taken place as consumers run from SUVs and trucks towards smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. While I'm not going to say that oil prices have peaked since the commodities markets seem insane at the moment, it's sure starting to feel like the bubble might be getting ready to deflate a bit. Gas price in my area are all kinds of squirrely with several different prices in an area that's normally in lockstep.

I've added the price of regular unleaded from the closest gas station to my home to the chart this week, just to see any correlation between the prices at the pump and performance of auto sector stocks.    AR Index     885.65  -36.72  (-3.98%)  Stocks of individual interest Toyota  101.59  -0.92 GM        16.81   -0.63 Ford      6.12     -0.52 Dow 12289.76  -214.06  (-1.71%)

The effects of rising fuel prices would seem to be the major factor affecting the index as the buying public continues to trend towards smaller vehicles and the manufacturers struggle to get in front of the crowd.   Toyota considers cutting US sales forecast Even Toyota was unable to avoid the effects of the economic crack of the success of its pickups and SUVs. GM's US market share may fall Live by the SUV, die by the SUV. GM might be reporting May sales that will pull their US market share below 20%...

The AR Index is up about 5% since its creation a month ago, so despite the way the news likes to focus on things negative, things may be starting to look like to turn around for the automakers. Now on to the news. Ford to Lower Volvo Production to Cut Costs  Ford  is cutting production at its Volvo unit as a way to trim the costs and losses at the upscale Swedish brand...

Toyota Loses Bid to Overturn $4.3 Million Prius Patent Award The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a $4.3 million award against Toyota for using another company's patented technology in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, including the top-selling Prius. GM Announces Canadian Plant Closing In the latest blow to the country's struggling auto industry, General Motors said Monday it will close its transmission plant in Windsor, Ont., by mid-2010 in a move that will affect 1,400 people...

Highlander Recall Problems with seat belts attached to the child safety seats in Toyota Motor's Highlander and Highlander hybrid sport utility vehicles from the model year 2008 has forced the carmaker to recall almost 90,000 vehicles. A long strike at GM's Fairfax plant could hurt sales of Chevy Malibu The landscape continues the change for the UAW.They wou;dn't strike eslewhere to try and influence negotiations at American Axle, would they? Ford workers quick to OK deal Meanwhile, north of the border, Canadian autoworkers swiftly ratify a new contract that freezes wages, gives up one week of vacation and delays the closing an assembly plant...

Time again for my weekly look at some Big Three news and to check on the Alternate Route Automotive Index. 'Toyota way' inspires lean practices Toyota and other Japanese companies search for new management styles to bring Japan's economy back to life. General Motors May Post Loss as Kerkorian Signals Ford Support Three years ago Kirk Kerkorian was buying GM stock...

There are all sorts of economic indicators out there and everybody and his uncle tries to use them to interpret our economic health. Since we're centered on the automotive universe here, the idea popped into my head that we need a way to gauge the health of the automotive market. What I've come up with I've modestly named the Alternate Route Index...