Auto Sector Stocks (Page 84)

Toyota Motor Company (ADR: TM) stock may have traded above 84 just a few weeks ago, but that was then and this is now; as the stock has plummeted to the low 70 range, adding pressure on the upcoming 2012 Toyota Camry to be a hit among auto buyers.

Investors in General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) stock wondered whether the price appreciation on Tuesday (08/08) was from the general market or the news from the 2011 Global Business Conference that the company would reduce vehicle platforms from 30 in 2010 to 14 by 2018.

In a private interview with Torque News at the CAR Management Business Seminars 2011, David Johnson, President and CEO of Achates Power, discussed the role that its engine technologies using opposed pistons will contribute toward lower emissions and better fuel economy for commercial trucks.

In a private interview with Torque News correspondent, Frank Sherosky, at CAR Management Briefing Seminars 2011, Jeffrey Brennan, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Global Markets for Altair Engineering, Inc. discussed the role that Altair’s simulation software, materials optimization and mass reduction plays in light-weight, structural parts for vehicles which results in better fuel economy for automakers.

As the only entity even close to an automotive index, the weekly chart of the Dow Jones US Autos and Parts ($DWCAUP) plummeted on the open today with a lower low due to the U.S. bond rating drop late Friday.

As the Center for Automotive’s Management Briefing Seminar for 2011 is now officially closed, few analysts will peer into the words that were not said as much as what was stated. One area is the Advanced Powertrains, and the uncertainty of auto management teams to choose a best technical direction when it comes to the IC engine.

Six speakers from the auto industry will address the 2011 CAR Seminars with a key session call
ed Advanced Powertrains Forum.

The afternoon session of the 2011 CAR Management Briefing Seminars truly represents the major safety issue of the modern driving age: distracted driving.

Despite all the rhetoric to cut defense budgets, there is still good news for Pompano Beach, Florida. Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW), developer of the all-fuel, clean-tech Cyclone Engine, and its licensee, Advent Power Systems, Inc. announced that they have been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army / TACOM (Tank Automotive Command) valued at $1.4 million.

Monday's sessions begin the four-day event with two seminars: World Class Manufacturing; Connected Vehicles: Are they already here?

As leaders of the auto industry share their vision of the industry’s future and its connection to success at the start of the CAR Business Seminars in Traverse City tomorrow, running from August 1 - 4, many wonder if President Obama's new mileage proposal is being drowned in the news by the debt plan, or lack of it.

Who knew that a 1.7 mpg change in CAFÉ standard proposal could make such a difference in attitude and acceptance by the auto industry?

AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) announced that it is expanding its relationship with Nissan internationally into Canada as its official home EV charging station and installation provider for the Nissan LEAF. AeroVironment was selected as a result of its leadership in EV infrastructure.

New technology oftentimes experiences a decrease in initial quality and reliability. Not so with Ford's hybrid technology, which is good news for Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) stock holders.

Energy Conversion Devices (Nasdaq: ENER), a pioneer in battery technology in the automotive industry since 1982 and a leading global maker of thin-film flexible solar laminate products and systems, is making plans to sell its Ovonic Battery Co. subsidiary.

It was just a few weeks ago that Toyota Motor (ADR: TM) showed signs of filling past overhead resistance on the weekly chart, the early March price gap of 84.76 to 84.28 which was tested and failed in May. While that event in a way extended the gap in time, the stock closed Thursday above the gap at 85.47, a significant technical event. [Friday Market Close Update: TM closed at 85.01, still above the gap, but barely.]

Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq: GNTX) recently held its earnings call with stock analysts for the second quarter, revealing information about the RCD (Rear View Camera Devices) and the upcoming NHSTA decision to make them required by law.

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) and ABB Group (NYSE: ABB) demonstrated what might happen to the Volt battery systems after they reach the end of their useful life in the vehicle.

Good news is, it is the backlog of Clean-Tech Engines which forces Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW) to expand in both manufacturing area and manpower.

In an email sent to customers and potential customers, 3D Systems Inc. (NYSE: DDD), which formerly traded at Nasdaq under the symbol ticker TDSC, announced it had just acquired Alibre, Inc., a leading provider of affordable 3D design productivity solutions based in Richardson, Texas.

With the general market reacting to news of a potential breach of U.S. debt confidence, General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) stock, which is nearly nine months old since its IPO, is once again making lower lows and lower highs on the daily chart. The price chart also indicates the stock may be attempting a retest of the June low of 28.165.

3D rapid prototyping has been fast tracking General Motors (NYSE: GM) design development for years. Now the process is being extended to produce parts vital to the global base of GM designers, aerodynamicists and engineers.

Despite the high tech electric propulsion and the lightweight of the aluminum body of the Tesla S Model, Tesla Motors stock is under plenty of pressure by short sellers. Question is, what does this mean for investors?

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) already reported 35 year supply of shale gas alone, based on the 2010-consumption rate. But that isn't the only reason why a company like Chesapeake Energy (Nasdaq: CHK) isn’t waiting for Congress to pass the Natural Gas Act (H.R. 1835 and S. 1408).

Automobiles waste more than two-thirds of the energy of the gasoline they burn; and most of that goes out the tail pipe as hot gas. The Department of Energy (DOE) sees the potential to recapture waste heat energy using thermoelectric semiconductors.

Despite the hype and the growth surrounding electric vehicles and energy storage devices like batteries and ultra-capacitors, the sheer number of competitors in this already crowded market may force companies to consolidate or create new partnerships in order to compete and make a profit.

The CAR Management Briefing Seminars have been flagship events for more than 45 years, and one of the critical connection points for North American automotive participants and, by extension, the global industry. Leaders this year will share their vision of the industry’s future and its connection to success in Traverse City from August 1 - 4.

This is a significant milestone for AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) and the EV industry as it is the first within the industry to receive certification and listing from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for six groundbreaking EV charging systems.

Considering over 50 percent of electric power plants in America are run with coal, electric vehicles are heavily dependent on them to complete their green equation far more than admitted by green car advocates. Enter the solution to aid the equation: Clean Coal Technology.

Talk about testing a price gap. It was just a few days ago that Toyota Motor (ADR: TM) showed signs of a breakout past overhead resistance on the weekly chart, which some believe was based on the 2012 Camry news. Then it filled the early May price gap 84.76 to 84.28 on the weekly chart with a Friday high of 84.90, but fell back.