VnAutos.net: tháng 3 2012

Thứ Bảy, 31 tháng 3, 2012

Victory Judge 2012

Foto: Total Motorcycle e Ultimate Motorcycling

Video: YouTube

Yamaha SR 500 "B-Track" by JvB-Moto & Kedo

Foto: Kedo

Thứ Sáu, 30 tháng 3, 2012

Republicans Buy American, Democrats Don't

According to a new study by Strategic Vision, these are the top 5 vehicles most popular with Democrats:

Honda Civic Hybrid
Volvo C30
Nissan Leaf
Acura TSX Wagon
Ford Fiesta Sedan

Here are the top 5 vehicles most popular with Republicans:

Ford Mustang Convertible
Audi A8
Mercedes GL
Ford Expedition
Ford F150

Now, there is a very interesting trend here. Only one of the Democrat picks is built by an American automaker, and NONE of them are built in UAW plants (the Fiesta is built in Mexico).

On the Republican side, 3/5 are Fords, and all 3 are built by UAW run plants in MIchigan-Flat Rock MI, Rouge MI, and Wayne MI.

I think some re-evaluation of stereotypes may be in order here. Democrats will fight tooth and nail to increase union power--but don't necessarily buy the products they produce.

Another EV maker down. Azure Dynamics is filing for creditor protection after Canada's investment regulatory agency denied their request to issue new shares, which Azure needed to do to generate operating capital.

That's because Azure wasn't selling many electric vehicles, not enough to support operations.

I am somewhat disappointing, because Azure is a relatively mature player, and wasn't going after exotic 3-wheel cars or anything fancy, they are in what should be a solid business: retrofitting existing designs with electric powertrains.

The problem remains, that the EV conversions are so expensive (batteries!) that few businesses can afford to buy them in lean times, even though they do save a lot of money in the long run, in fuel savings.

I hope Azure survives, but the future for small EV players looks dim.