Archive for June, 2009

Thoughts on a Digital Life

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Several things have occurred lately to make me think of how changing technology has affected me personally in many ways.  I have been in semiconductors since 1984 and a market analyst since 1992.  Sometimes one has to stop and reflect on how the fast paced technology trends impact us.
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“Please don’t take my Kodachrome [...]

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Driving a Slow Sebring in the Bay Area

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Whoever is making product decisions about Chrysler models in the new Fiat/Chrysler company has a problem they need to fix.
On a recent trip to the Bay Area I drove a rental car, a Chrysler Sebring LX Convertible with a 2.4 liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.  It was underpowered.  It understeered badly [...]

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The Captain Buys a Car Company

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Is this the future of the automobile industry?  The Captain, Roger Penske, CEO of PAG (Penske Automotive Group), is buying a car company; but he is not buying the whole company.  Instead, he is buying only the Saturn distribution network and the rights to the Saturn brand.  Under the terms of the agreement GM would [...]

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April sales the best in 15 years

Monday, June 1st, 2009

At the Semico Summit in March my opening remarks covered the State-of-the-Industry and the unprecedented decline in the fourth quarter 2008. While many other market observers fell into the doom and gloom scenario predicting a 20-30% decline for 2009, Semico utilized it’s IPI, MAP Model and extensive industry experience to refute this conclusion.  Semico’s assertion  [...]

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