Auto Sector Stocks (Page 78)

In a major personnel change in BMW Motorrad sales, Hans Blesse, appointed Vice President BMW Motorrad USA, replaces Pieter de Waal as he goes into retirement.

While Bob Lutz writes ranting op-ed pieces at Forbes against so-called, right-wing Volt bashers, the auto industry sits there like a bump on a log, still behind in achieving the weight reductions via aluminum body structures necessary to make both EVs and IC engine cars fully efficient.

Mark Hulbert, founder of Hulbert Financial Digest, tracks more than 160 financial newsletters; and one of them involves Argus Research, which shows insiders selling at a ratio not seen since last summer’s sell-off. Should this be a cautionary note for auto sector stocks, too?

The recent announcement of the 2013 Tesla Model X did not shelter Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA) stock from today’s early morning downdraft, but a late morning recovery seems to be in process. Note the long bottoming tail on that latest price bar of the updated daily chart.

Revising upward its full-year earnings target, Toyota Motor Corp. (ADR: TM) demonstrated unexpected optimism about the remainder of the fiscal year; and the market’s reaction tends to agree.

If the recent article at Motley Fool is accurate, then look for lithium prices to rise; but you don’t have take their word for it. Simply look at the trend of the exchange traded fund for lithium stocks, which show the train has already left the station.

The third annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit will be held at the Gaylord Convention Center, February 27 - 29, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Included by invitation will be key players in the split-cycle engine technology.

Despite NADA's recent opposition to the proposed 54.5 mpg standards by 2025, Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told the NADA convention in Las Vegas that the auto industry will still need to meet it; and can do so, including using natural-gas as a fuel.

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) remains the No. 1 innovator for the fourth-consecutive quarter among 183 companies ranked by The Patent Board in its quarterly automotive and transportation industry scorecard.

In a TorqueNews exclusive interview, Steve Hellman, president of EOS Energy Storage, a fairly new entity in the grid storage arena with a viable zinc-air battery technology, is also proposing zinc-air as a viable solution to the four limitations that shackle today’s electrification of the automobile. Thus, the company is looking for strategic partners in 2012.

Axion Power International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AXPW) the developer of advanced lead­carbon PbC® batteries and energy storage systems, today announced that will offer shares of common stock for gross proceeds up to $10 million.

The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) today announced the launch of the Coalition of Automotive Lightweighting Materials (CALM) to support efforts by auto manufacturers to aggressively down-weight vehicles to improve performance, fuel economy and safety.

With a double bottom already in place at the $19 area, General Motors (NYSE: GM) stock broke above a key technical downtrend line, but barely. It now seems GM stock needs a boost to higher ground to make traders believe that double bottom won’t get tested again.

Lithium battery maker Ener1 inconveniently declared bankruptcy the day after President Obama's State of the Union declared support for the domestic advanced battery industry.

The public has spoken and the message is clear: an innovative and cost-effective approach to energy storage is required to enable the transformation from IC engine cars to cleaner, long-range, full electric vehicles. Lithium-ion, although viable, has a competitor on the horizon - Zinc-air. Question is: When?

Estimates show that nearly 90 percent of all crashes are caused by driver error, making advanced safety systems an important focus for automakers and governing agencies. Bosch offers a plethora of active and passive safety technologies, including driver-assistance functions that can help reduce the number of accidents and save lives.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) made money in 2011, but did it mostly with a large tax credit. So, the market tried all day to decide if that qualifies sufficiently for Ford stock to rise. The stock still closed down.

Last time I wrote, Toyota Motors (ADR: TM) stock was sitting just above a down-trend line, and had a great showing in play at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit. Now the stock has confirmed the trend line breakout is for real.

Toyota Prius C continues the buzz about green technologies and making the world a healthier place to live in, but the bottom line is that we still have to manufacture its technology which in and of itself pollutes.

News of the Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) space has been dominated with China and companies like Molycorp. However, Stans Energy (OTN: HREEF) appears to be making a move after confirming a double bottom at the end of 2011.

Every automobile is the result of work by teams of designers and engineers, but not always noticed by the public. To help the NAIAS 2012 crowd understand the difference, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) once again held its leading position as one of the best auto tech displays.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statement today regarding the conclusion of its safety defect investigation into the post-crash fire risk of Chevy Volts.

SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) today announced that the company will donate a customized 2012 Ford Mustang GT to be auctioned off at the 2012 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Toyota has been in a good place with its Prius line and now with its new Camry Hybrid. Question: Why is the Camry Hybrid cheaper than the Prius Plug-In?

With the NAIAS 2012 in its public viewing stage, Polk’s analysis of national vehicle registration data shows the average age of light vehicles has steadily increased since 1995, though more rapidly in the past five years. Question: Besides government political pressure and marketing self deception, is there a list of criteria by the public that the automakers need to take more seriously?

Last time I wrote on Toyota Motors (ADR:TM) stock, it had traded barely up to Moody’s downgrade of Toyota’s financial arm in the US. However, that was then, and this is now, as the stock is sitting just above a down-trend line, and has a great showing in play at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit.

With a double bottom already in place at the $19 area, General Motors (NYSE: GM) stock is breaking above a key technical downtrend line. Question is, can GM stock ride the wave of NAIAS 2012 to higher ground?

Despite the recent departure of two key developers which inspired recent stock selloff, Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA) assured investors that it is on schedule to meet the deliveries for its new Model S; and the display at NAIAS 2012 shows details that are no longer concept, but pre-production level in time for delivery by mid-2012 .

If the stock market is supposed to be a forward-looking entity, then judging from the display at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit, one has to wonder what are the factors that are keeping Ford stock from moving significantly higher.

The North American International Auto Show is entering its 24th year as an international event, and an entourage of national and state elected government officials will visit on various days throughout the preview events, including four members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet.