kscarbel2

FCA was foolish not to bring the Iveco Powerstar and/or Strator to the US and market it under the Dodge brand.

This is a sad and mistaken development. I knew many of Iveco's truck engineers. Their engineering prowess was world class. I would have liked to see the Italian government give greater support to their home team truckmaker. It's convoluted when a third world country's conglomerate is in a position to takeover successful light vehicle (Land Rover) and commercial truck (Iveco) brands of the west. Just as the DoJ was all too happy to hand over the majority of American truckmakers to foreign aggressors. Very puzzling why they sell off the home team, stabbing the country in the back. Not to mention that commercial truck manufacturing is a matter of national security.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-08-13/bessent-says-fed-rates-should-be-150-175-bps-lower-video

The real thing now to think about is should we get a 50 basis-point rate cut in September. Scott Bessent (Two days after the Fed left rates unchanged July 30, revised data showed weaker job growth for May and June than official figures had previously indicated.)

Agreed! Ford Pro is not focused on "real" commercial trucks.

https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/08/07/trump-wants-to-exclude-illegal-migrants-from-next-census/

A 30% probability of a US recession might sound like a red flag, yet global stocks remain buoyant as betting against the market momentum feels almost irrational. The key point is that the market can’t look far enough. This is why it will ignore the recession risk. Goldman Sachs

Just drove back from the west coast. I saw late model Ford mediums everywhere. I even inspected a new F-650 at a Ford Pro location. They have that truck's engineering down to a science. Best bang for the buck in medium.

JPMorgan and Bank of America “debanked” President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol Hill melee following pressure from the Biden administration’s banking regulators and the Federal Reserve. The exact reason for Trump and his tens of millions of dollars in holdings being kicked off the JPMorgan banking platform, and then denied access to Bank of America’s services has yet to be reported. But sources at the banks, the two largest in the US in terms of assets, confirmed the cause stemmed from the controversy surrounding Trump’s actions that day, and threats from Biden’s bank regulators that banking the former president’s money put them at in danger of falling afoul of rule that prohibit financial institution from doing business with individuals and companies that present a “reputational risk.” They said Biden’s banking cops at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve used the nebulous nature of the edict to go beyond debanking money launderers and drug kingpins. They were pressured to include people who have heterodox political and business ties that often included conservatives and anyone who participated in the January 6 protests.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/36024-the-autocar-gas-turbine-coe/#comment-248956 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31891-the-gas-turbine-general-motors-bison-iii/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31898-the-gas-turbine-chevrolet-turbo-titan-iii/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32110-where-was-cummins-during-the-gas-turbine-truck-race/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32038-fords-futuristic-gas-turbine-big-red/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32060-the-ford-w-1000-gas-turbine/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31978-freightliners-turboliners/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31951-the-gmc-astro-95-and-astro-ss-gas-turbine-tractors/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32139-the-turbostar-from-international/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/32014-the-gt-601-gas-turbine-powered-macks/ http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/31883-paul-berliet-and-his-t100s/ .

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14974037/donald-trump-federal-takeover-washington-dc-doge-beaten.html https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-publishes-list-sanctuary-jurisdictions

. . . I want to hear that VAT on US products will be terminated. https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/07/27/america-first-eurocrats-lament-trump-rolled-over-brussels-in-disaster-trade-deal/

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2025/07/25/these-wargames-explored-drone-attacks-on-us-military-bases/

The plot thickens.................. .

Back in March, the president gave vehicle manufacturers a one month exemption if they were in compliance with the USMCA. From there.....25%. Around 15% of US-sold Toyota models are assembled in Japan. About 10% for Honda. Most Lexus are produced in Japan. Over half of Mazda cars are built in Japan.

Back in February, there was much noise about the president and Elon Musk traveling to Fort Knox to see if the gold was actually still there. Rand Paul also stated serious doubts. And then............nothing. After weeks of noise, then not another word about it.

Ford and GM are justifiably upset, as the trade deal with Japan serves to buoy Japanese carmakers while putting American carmakers at a disadvantage. The administration imposed a 25% tariff on foreign auto manufacturers in April, which also applies to cars made by American automakers from parts imported from Mexico and Canada. Now, the administration is lowering the tariff for Japanese autos and auto parts to just 15%, meaning US automakers will face higher tariffs than Japanese automakers. US automakers feel that any deal which charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no US content than it does North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for the US industry and US auto workers. I support reasonable protectionism. The US government should look out for the home teams. Period. I would like to bring the production of all cars and trucks made in Mexico and sold in the US.......to the US. If you sell it here, you build it here. The exceptions being very low volume models. To be more clear, all Freightliner, International and Volvo trucks sold in the US must be produced in the US. All trucks produced in that lawless abyss called Mexico must remain south of the border. Period. If the Europeans can't digest that, then they should sell the former US-owned truckmakers. I know some interested American investors.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14933957/Hillary-Clinton-tranquilizers-obama-trump-russia-probe.html

These guys and their Detroit 2-stroke adventures.......it's never boring. . https://www.youtube.com/@OL2STROKER/videos