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Troubled Canadian plastics supplier winding down
Another Canadian auto supplier has hit hard times, and Progressive Moulded Products Ltd.'s situation has grown even worse. [REG] 9:23 am U.S. ET | July 4
Top 30 European suppliers |
Market close ends a brutal week for industry
Thursday's early holiday close of the stock market brought an end to one of the most tumultuous weeks for the auto industry in recent memory, as the price of oil rose and the value of auto stocks fell. [REG] 4:27 pm U.S. ET | July 3
Report: Potential Chrysler cash crisis in '09
Chrysler LLC is the weakest of the Detroit 3 and could face a cash crisis during the second half of 2009, a Wall Street auto analyst warned today in a conference call. [REG] 1:21 pm U.S. ET | July 3
Analyst: GM could borrow from UAW health care fund
DETROIT -- Could General Motors tap the prospective UAW retiree health care fund for cash? JPMorgan analyst Himanshu Patel thinks so. In a report and conference call today, Patel said GM could raise $3 billion to $6 billion in cash by withdrawing the money from a $14. [REG] 1:52 pm U.S. ET | July 3
Fifth generation BMW 7 series breaks coverIt looks a lot like the outgoing model, but BMW says the fifth-generation 7 Series is all new. [REG] 10:18 am U.S. ET | July 3 |
Takata purchase to aid vision business
DETROIT -- TK Holdings Inc., a suburban Detroit unit of Japan's Takata Corp., has purchased the assets of the former Assistware division of Cognex Corp. for an undisclosed sum. [REG] 9:36 am U.S. ET | July 3
Penske Automotive buys limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing
Automotive retailer Penske Automotive Group Inc. announced Tuesday that it had paid GE Capital $219 million for a 9 percent limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co. L.P. , formerly a joint venture between GE and the Penske Corp. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 3
Lear's vice chairman retires
DETROIT -- James Vandenberghe, 58, vice chairman of Lear Corp. since 1998, has retired after 35 years with the auto supplier. He will spend a year as a consultant to the company. [REG] 9:40 am U.S. ET | July 3
Chrysler, China's Great Wall sign MoU to study cooperation
Chrysler said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Great Wall Motor to assess the feasibility of developing a long-term, strategic relationship. [REG] 3:39 am U.S. ET | July 3 | UPDATED: 07/03/08 14:44 CET
2009 Nissan GT-R sports 480HPNissan's newest GT-R has an information display that allows users to choose which gauges to view. It also can go 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. The price is about $70,000, which will make it hard to find. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 3 |
Chrysler names Nancy Rae chief of human resources, communications
DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC will realign its human resources, employee relations and communications functions under one executive. [REG] 4:41 pm U.S. ET | July 2
GM, Ford stock prices tumble
DETROIT -- Banks cut automaker ratings, oil climbed to a record high, and stock prices in the auto industry plummeted today. General Motors shares closed at $9. [REG] 4:32 pm U.S. ET | July 2
JCI: Plastech joint venture should break even in '09
DETROIT -- Johnson Controls Inc. said it expects the joint venture it formed to buy the interiors business of Plastech Engineered Products Inc. will break even in 2009 and turn a profit by fiscal 2010. JCI owns 70 percent of the joint venture, and some of Plastech's term lenders own the rest. [REG] 2:06 pm U.S. ET | July 2
It worked so well, GM extends financing incentive
DETROIT (AdAge.com) -- General Motors said its latest incentives on 2008 models will be extended because the promotion worked so well driving traffic in the final days of June. GM will extend 0 percent financing for 72 months through the July 4 weekend. [REG] 12:25 pm U.S. ET | July 2
J.D. Power study: More buyers use online TV
Marketers should turn to online TV to reach new-car buyers who are fast-forwarding past commercials by using digital video recorders, according to a J.D. Power and Associates study. [REG] 3:42 pm U.S. ET | July 2
Tata Motors' chairman sees challenging year
India's Tata Motors expects its launch of the Nano, the world's cheapest car, and its purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover to offset some of the pain of a challenging 2008-09 that has knocked its shares to their lowest in more than three years. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 2
Merrill Lynch downgrades GM
DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors will need to raise about $15 billion in cash to shore up liquidity and bankruptcy is “not impossible” if the U.S. auto market continues to slump, Merrill Lynch said on Wednesday. [REG] 11:00 am U.S. ET | July 2
ArvinMeritor forecast: 20% sales increase in 3rd quarter
DETROIT -- Auto supplier ArvinMeritor Inc. today said it expects third-quarter sales to increase 20 percent from a year earlier to $2 billion despite weaker than anticipated sales in North America. [REG] 10:36 am U.S. ET | July 2
Dealix to provide sales leads to MSN Autos
Dealix Corp. said today that it has partnered with Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Web portal to become the site's sales provider of leads. MSN Autos will begin using Dealix's new- and used-vehicle quote system in the third quarter. [REG] 2:54 pm U.S. ET | July 2
Which is more dangerous, a cell phone or a Shih Tzu?Will someone please explain to me why a driver talking with a cell phone to his ear is any more distracted than a driver putting a hamburger in his mouth? Or eyeliner to her eyes? Or a Shih Tzu on his lap? And, yet, on July 1, the state of California began enforcing Vehicle Code 23123, which... [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 2 |
Engineers are born to ruleNot long ago, a friend asked whether I knew how many of the industry's top execs have engineering or manufacturing experience. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 2 |
The 2009 Nissan Maxima is shorter with a new shape |
Automakers post major drops in sales
With gasoline prices at record highs and consumer confidence at record lows, U.S. auto sales declined sharply in June. But General Motors still managed to outsell Toyota during the month. Total June U.S. light vehicle sales were down 18.3 percent from a year ago. [REG] 11:06 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/08 9:22 p.m. EDT
JUNE U.S. SALES
GM says June sales decline 18.5%
Despite strong retail sales for some of its cars, General Motors said today that June sales fell 18.5 percent from the same month a year ago. GM sold 265,937 vehicles in June, down from 326,300 last year. For the first half of 2008, GM's U.S. sales totaled 1,604,942, down 16. [REG] 11:24 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/08 2:05 p.m. EDT
JUNE U.S. SALES
Chrysler sales plummet 36% in June
Chrysler LLC posted the biggest sales decline in the U.S. auto industry last month among the major automakers. The privately owned automaker sold 117,457 cars and trucks in June, down 36 percent from June a year ago. “The June results reflect the industrywide impact of U.S. [REG] 11:16 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/08 3:38 p.m. EDT
JUNE U.S. SALES
Toyota sales fall 21.4 percent in June
Toyota Motor Corp. ran aground in June, with U.S. sales down 21.4 percent, the biggest drop of the year for the world's No. 2 automaker. For the first half, Toyota said it sold 1,240,086 vehicles, down 6.8 percent from the first half of 2007. [REG] 11:12 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/07 2:50 p.m. EDT
GM, Ford stocks recover from early losses
The stock market's assault on General Motors and Ford Motor Co. stock prices eased Tuesday, as each company's shares recovered from earlier drops. Ford shares closed at $4.71, down 10 cents or 2.08 percent. GM shares closed at 11.75, up 25 cents, or 2.17 percent. [REG] 1:14 pm U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/07 4:37 p.m. EDT
Southeast Toyota's Czubay named Ford U.S. sales, marketing chief
Ford Motor Co. today named Ken Czubay, president of Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC, its vice president of U.S. sales and marketing. Czubay, 59, also heads the world's top-selling Lexus dealership. [REG] 4:27 pm U.S. ET | July 1
JUNE U.S. SALES
Nissan says U.S. sales decline 17.7% in June
Nissan North America said today that June sales of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles totaled 75,847 versus 92,213 sold last June, a 17.7 percent decrease. [REG] 11:22 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/07 3:23 p.m. EDT
NADA: New VIN database helps combat title washing, but not enough
A new insurance industry service provides some -- but not all -- of the information needed to end title-washing of vehicles severely damaged by crashes or floods, the National Automobile Dealers Association said today. [REG] 4:40 pm U.S. ET | July 1
JUNE U.S. SALES
Hyundai sets new monthly U.S. sales mark
Hyundai Motor America cracked the 50,000 sales mark in June, the first time in company history. With strong sales of its Accent, Sonata and Elantra cars, dealers sold 50,033 units last month. That is up 1.3 percent or 665 units from June 2007, the automaker's previous best month at 49,368. [REG] 4:31 pm U.S. ET | July 1
JUNE U.S. SALES
Honda bucks U.S. downturn, sales up 1.1% in June
American Honda Motor Co. bucked the downturn in U.S. sales in June and posted a 1.1 percent gain over June 2007. Honda sold 142,539 vehicles in June, a new monthly record. For the first half of 2008, Honda sales rose 4.1 percent from last year to 798,358. [REG] 11:19 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/08 3:05 p.m. EDT
Roof rule deadline reset for Oct. 1
The Bush administration is taking Congress up on its offer of more time to write a new roof strength rule for vehicles. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters notified chairmen of key congressional committees that the July 1 deadline for the new rule, set by law in 2005, will not be met. [REG] 3:55 pm U.S. ET | July 1
CAFE demands too much for 'stressed' industry, automakers say
The Bush administration's proposed fuel economy standards for 2011-15 are far too high given the “economic stress” the auto industry faces, a key industry lobby said today. [REG] 2:00 pm U.S. ET | July 1
GM extends 0% financing deals
General Motors notified its dealers this morning that it will be extending its 0 percent financing sale through Monday, July 7. “As you'll hear later in our sales call today, it turned out to be a successful program. [REG] 11:05 am U.S. ET | July 1 | UPDATED: 7/1/08 12:30 p.m. EDT
Trucks need car-like bumpers, insurers say
Light trucks should be equipped with bumpers like those that the government requires cars to have, according to safety researchers for auto insurers. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 1
Union at Hyundai to stage 2-hour walkout
The labor union at Hyundai Motor Co. plans to strike for two hours Wednesday, July 2, as part of anti-government protests sparked by a resumption of U.S. beef imports to South Korea. [REG] 9:54 am U.S. ET | July 1
VW appoints new purchasing chief in MexicoRudiger Koch today becomes Volkswagen AG's purchasing director in Mexico. Koch, 50, has been Volkswagen Group China's head of procurement since 2004. He replaces Rafael Pinero, 59, who is returning to Germany after eight years in the job. [REG] 9:58 am U.S. ET | July 1 |
The doomsayer business is booming againIt helps to look at history to understand the present. On the reopening of the BMW Museum in Munich on June 19, Eberhard von Kuenheim, the automaker's legendary former CEO, helped visitors take that look. Guido Reinking is editor of Automobilwoche. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 1 |
Chrysler plans production cuts, idles St. Louis plant
Chrysler LLC plans to idle its St. Louis South minivan plant indefinitely, effective Oct. 31. Chrysler is also cutting production at its St. Louis North truck plant to one shift, effective Sept. 2. St. Louis South, in Fenton, Mo. [REG] 3:25 pm U.S. ET | June 30 | UPDATED: 6/30/08 4:30 p.m. EDT
JUNE U.S. SALES
Major sales declines expected for June
Tuesday, July 1, is shaping up to be one of the darkest days in decades for the U.S. auto industry. [REG] 3:45 pm U.S. ET | June 30
Report: Ford has had talks with Renault to sell Volvo
Ford Motor Co. has had exploratory talks with French automaker Renault SA to sell Volvo, but the initial talks broke down due to price differences, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. [REG] 3:00 pm U.S. ET | June 30
GM seeks to seize tooling from bankrupt supplier
General Motors has asked for court approval to seize tools from bankrupt auto parts maker Progressive Molded Products Inc., citing a potential for supply disruptions that could force the carmaker to shut its assembly lines. [REG] 5:30 pm U.S. ET | June 30
BMW calls CAFE plan 'not feasible'
BMW of North America is calling on the Bush administration to create an alternative fuel economy program for companies that would be hardest hit by proposed new standards in the 2011-15 model years. [REG] 5:30 pm U.S. ET | June 30
Document: VW favors Southeast for U.S. factoryVolkswagen AG says Michigan is in the running for its proposed new U.S. assembly factory. An announcement of the plant site could come as early as next week. But a VW document obtained by Automotive News shows the German automaker has favored a Southeastern location all along. [REG] 3:51 pm U.S. ET | June 30 |
Chrysler looks to alliances to get through turbulent timesWhen Automotive News ran its last Chrysler future product forecast on Oct. 22, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.82. Now, eight months later, the average price per gallon exceeds $4. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Paris dealer group exec to head VW brand salesA key Porsche-affiliated dealer group executive, Christian Klingler, will become the new head of Volkswagen brand marketing, sales and after sales effective August 1. [REG] 1:19 pm U.S. ET | June 30 |
GMAC plans unified marketing campaign
DETROIT -- GMAC Financial Services plans to launch by year end a broad-based corporate marketing campaign aimed at consumers. [REG] 4:16 pm U.S. ET | June 30
Tesla plans mass-market electric sedan
Tesla Motors plans to produce its mass-market $60,000 electric sedan in the San Francisco Bay Area by the end of 2010. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori announced the decision at a press conference at Tesla's Silicon Valley facility today. [REG] 4:22 pm U.S. ET | June 30
American Axle's Dauch lands $8.5 million bonusAmerican Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. has paid CEO Richard E. Dauch an $8.5 million cash bonus for his "leadership role" through an acrimonious three-month union strike that ended with a concessionary contract that slashed factory wages. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Desperate times, desperate measuresStagflation -- perhaps the worst-case scenario for automakers and suppliers -- is roiling the auto industry. Suppliers of raw materials such as oil, rubber, steel and plastic resins are imposing huge price increases as vehicle sales collapse. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
The Detroit 3 cash crunch: How bad is it?
Can the Detroit 3 hang on? The startling collapse in sales since April means the three automakers are burning through cash reserves at a terrifying rate. Suddenly they have far more urgent deadlines for fixing their businesses. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
New-car losses soar; dealers' 3rd year of red inkThe average U.S. auto dealer has lost money on new-vehicle sales for two years and is headed for another, much deeper loss in 2008. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Chinese automaker cuts ties to Chamco
Tired of dealing with the New Jersey company tied up in a tangle of lawsuits, Chinese automaker Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co. has terminated its contract to supply Chamco Auto with vehicles. Would-be importer Chamco was put into the hands of a legal custodian in April by a New Jersey court. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
In U.S. tour, Mr. Tata gives Jaguar and Rover dealers a hugWho was that elegant stranger sipping tea and poking around in the service shop of Allen Aron's Chicago area Jaguar dealership this month? None other than the man who now owns Jaguar, Indian industrialist and billionaire Ratan Tata. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Navistar says U.S. pickup market in 'stranglehold'
U.S. truck and engine maker Navistar International Corp. said on Monday the U.S. pickup truck market was in a "stranglehold," squeezed by both economic weakness and high diesel fuel prices. [REG] 11:45 am U.S. ET | June 30
Mazda goal: Get 30% better mileage in 7 years
Mazda Motor Corp. aims to boost average fuel efficiency 30 percent in the next seven years with new and reworked engines. The company will upgrade almost all its gasoline engines by 2015 and roll out a stop-start idle system, a gasoline rotary engine and new diesel engines. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Chevy to launch Traverse ads during OlympicsChevrolet plans to launch its new Traverse crossover in a TV commercial during the summer Olympic Games in August. Chevrolet's marketing plan for the Traverse bucks tradition. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Mercedes sees 15% share for diesel SUVs, crossoversAlthough diesel fuel tops $5 a gallon in some areas, Mercedes-Benz USA is confident that its new clean Bluetec 50-state diesels will account for at least 15 percent of its SUV and cross-over sales. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
VW to decide July 8 on new U.S. production siteVolkswagen's management board is set to decide July 8 on the site of its new 500 million euros ($788.2 million) production site in the United States, auto motor und sport reported, citing management sources. [REG] 3:58 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Ghosn: U.S. outlook bleakNissan CEO Carlos Ghosn offers a grim outlook for the United States in 2008. Vehicle sales are poised to plunge below 15 million units, he says. And sticker price increases are a question of when, not if, as steel prices soar. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
GM ends employee discount on Saab 9-3General Motors, citing the weak U.S. dollar, is ending its 7 percent employee discount on the Saab 9-3 sedan for the 2009 model year. "Our business is under quite a bit of pressure," says Saab spokesman Jan-Willem Vester. "A big part of that is the euro against the U.S. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
1st Kia coupe to debut in '09Kia will get its first coupe when the replacement for the Spectra goes on sale next summer. A version of the Koup Concept, shown at this year's New York auto show, will replace the compact Spectra, said Lee Hyun-soon, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors' r&d division. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
How GM kept America rolling in 2001If you want to touch off a lively debate among auto people, just mention the word incentives. You'll get as many points of view as there are people in the room. General Motors considered all those opinions after Sept. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Few Mahindra dealers add U.S. showroomsFew dealers who have signed to sell Mahindra vehicles in the United States have built showrooms or dealerships for the Indian brand. But William Goetze, president of Mahindra's U.S. importer -- Global Vehicles U.S.A. Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Andersson: 'We may need to replace things'Bo Andersson, the chief of General Motors' global purchasing operations, traditionally has taken a hard line against suppliers' price increases. In an interview last week, he acknowledged the inexorable rise in raw material prices and noted some strategies to ease their impact. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
JCI sues suppliers seeking price boost
Johnson Controls Inc. is suing three suppliers that want to raise prices to compensate for the rising cost of steel. The companies must absorb higher raw material costs because their purchasing contracts require them to do so, according to lawsuits filed in May by Johnson Controls with the U.S. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
The only thing permanent is changeFor as long as most of us can remember, the U.S. automobile business has had cycles. Whenever there was a down cycle, you knew you had to hang in there, and before long, things would come back to normal. And then you would see the cycle head upward again. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Beware of bad energy ideas in election years
The election year run-up in gasoline prices and the concern over carbon dioxide emissions have focused attention on the need for a national energy policy. But the political silly season already is generating bad public policy ideas. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Need is great, but energy policy lackingFor 30 years, three public policy issues have dominated auto industry debate: trade, health care and energy. Trade wars of old are over as international companies have become part of the American political landscape with their investments in the United States. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Nissan to expand, upgrade training centers
Nissan North America Inc. will upgrade and enlarge its dealership training centers around the United States to make up for more than a decade of little investment. The automaker has created a $1 million prototype training center in Franklin, Tenn. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Lincoln launches MKS with mini-movieLincoln is introducing its new MKS sedan to black consumers with what it calls a three-minute "movie commercial." The spot, called MadCrazyLove, premiered this month. It depicts a black couple's romantic journey in a 2009 MKS. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Consumers like hybrids, balk at price
Almost three-quarters of U.S. consumers are interested in hybrid technology for their next vehicle, but the added cost seems too high for many, a study has found. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Lobbyists for blind cite dangers of too-quiet carsThe government doesn't have "a body count" of pedestrians hit by hybrids and other quiet vehicles, but the vehicles represent a safety risk that officials "are trying to get out in front of," a top federal regulator says. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Auctions, not dealers, will pay for better accessOperators of a service that enhances dealers' access to auto auctions have dropped a plan to charge dealerships and individual buyers for the system. Instead, auction companies will pay to maintain the service. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Survey: Concerns about mpg reduce owners' happiness with new autosAmericans found their new vehicles slightly less gratifying this year than last year. That decline was caused in large part by declining consumer gratification with the fuel economy of their new vehicles, according to this year's J.D. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Mexican suppliers now see a downturn
In a sign of the downturn facing the North American auto industry, Mexico's suppliers association is backing away from an optimistic forecast issued less than a month ago. It now expects sales to contract this year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
2008 Model Car Specifications
2008 Model Truck Specifications
Chung Mong-koo gets diaper dutyStrange things can result when you combine a flexible justice system, very deep pockets and a corporate publicity machine. Like a photo of Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-koo bottle-feeding a baby. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
After 20 months, Dura departs Chapter 11
Auto supplier Dura Automotive Systems Inc. on Friday confirmed it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 20 months. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Wilmington, Del. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
FUTURE PRODUCTS -- CHRYSLER
Impact of new CAFE rules: 40% mpg increase
Product planners at Chrysler LLC and other automakers always say they need regulatory certainty. Now, on fuel economy, they've got it -- probably more than they want. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Used prices rise for small cars, plunge for trucksWhile wholesale prices of big used trucks continued their free fall last month, prices of smaller cars increased, the nation's two largest auction companies report. But those boosts were not enough to prevent overall used-vehicle prices from dropping 5.7 percent in May from year-ago levels. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Mexico light-vehicle sales decline slightly in May
Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico fell 1.5 percent to 83,503 in May from May 2007. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel is subsidized in Mexico. So Mexicans, unlike Americans, are not reeling from expensive fuel. A gallon of gasoline in Mexico costs $2.66. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Obituary
Information about Dave Fleming. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Acura's family resemblanceDespite heavy masking on this 2009 Acura TL prototype, the grille's shape is clear and shows its close resemblance to the Acura MDX's grille. The redesigned TL goes on sale this fall, available with front- and all-wheel drive. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
GM selects Arkona to replace Reynolds
General Motors said Friday that it has chosen Arkona Inc., a DealerTrack Holdings Inc. company, to join its Integrated Dealer Management System program. More than 1,000 dealers use Arkona's management system to run their daily operations. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
SAIC source: No contact with Ford on Volvo
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. is not talking to Ford Motor Co. about buying Volvo, an SAIC source said Friday, June 27. "As far as I know, our company has never contacted Ford on the purchase of Volvo Cars," said the source, who declined to be identified. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
'Appalachia' ditched for alphanumerica
Mahindra & Mahindra's U.S. importer has dropped plans to call its pickup the Appalachia. American sales and marketing officials now want to use alphanumeric names. Instead, Mahindra plans to sell an SUV, called the Scorpio in India, and a pickup. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
New Denso chief sees flat '08 salesThe new CEO of Denso Corp. is warning that flat sales in North America will keep sales similarly flat this year at the Japanese auto parts maker. Nobuaki Katoh, 59, former head of thermal systems at Denso, took office Wednesday, June 25, saying business will be "historically harsh." [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Chrysler launches Sync competitor
Chrysler LLC last week launched technology for vehicles, called uconnect, meant to compete with Ford Motor Co.'s Sync system. One feature transforms vehicles into Internet hot spots [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Toyota replaces 2 N.A. execs
Toyota Motor Corp. is replacing two top North American executives. It named Tetsuo Agata, 55, head of European r&d, as president and COO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
GM settlement hearings set
General Motors could owe millions of dollars in repair claims and other fees if settlements of two class-action lawsuits are approved. The suits involve Dex-Cool engine coolant. GM has used Dex-Cool since the 1995 model year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Auto industry likely to play key role in Obama's courtship dance with businessAs part of the quadrennial courtship dance of an election year, presidential hopeful Barack Obama last week notched high-level face time with top business execs, including two auto CEOs. And the Illinois Democrat is likely to become a more familiar face in Autoland in coming weeks. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
COMMENT: U.S. designers play catch-up on cool small carsWith most product planners in Detroit scrambling to get smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles out of the studios and into their pipelines, you wonder which product development discipline can make the biggest impact with impatient consumers clamoring for immediate gratification. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
McCain's battery bonus? Don't expect a 'eureka!'
John McCain's proposed $300 million prize for a breakthrough battery for electric vehicles has generated a little bit of juice for his presidential campaign. The battery prize, one of several new and recycled energy ideas the Arizona Republican floated last week, created a spoonful of media buzz. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Report envisions 3 billion vehiclesRemember your worst traffic jam. Multiply it by four and think globally. That's the future suggested in a report by consulting firm Global Insight, unless the car culture as we know it undergoes a major transformation. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
The Final Say: Jim Cramer=Jim Cramer, host of "Mad Money" on CNBC, was quoted by the Detroit Free Press on whether investors should buy GM and Ford stock: [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Customer and Dealers Incentives |
Certified-used vehicle sales, May & YTD |
Average wholesale used-vehicle prices, May |
Mexico car and truck sales, May & YTD |
North America car and truck production - 06-30-2008 |
End vehicle title washing
Some estimates say that as many as 500,000 cars and trucks will be damaged by this spring's flooding across the Midwest. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Drastic price cut hurts bottom line
Regarding the letter "Suppliers cut prices, and quality suffers" (June 16), I agree with the theme with one significant exception: The bottom line will suffer with a rapid drop in prices. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Canada to Chrysler: Give us small cars
I have been working for a Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealership for 21 years and as general manager for 12. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
There's nothing like a Hummer
You guys have never hidden your complete disdain for the Hummer brand, and your arrogant, fact-challenged editorial "GM should dump Hummer now; its time has passed" was a shining example (June 16). [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A hybrid Hummer? It can't be done
With their sales battered by rising fuel costs, Hummer dealers are clamoring for a hybrid Hummer ("Hummer Bummer: A death sentence?" June 9). A hybrid Hummer? Isn't that a contradiction in terms? [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Chrysler abandons Powerway system
Chrysler LLC is pulling the plug today, June 30, on the Powerway system, which it had been using with its Tier 1 suppliers since 2000. The automaker used Powerway to communicate with suppliers developing parts for new vehicles. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Toyota to build Miss. manufacturing center
Toyota Motor Corp. is joining with the University of Mississippi to build a $22 million center to train students in manufacturing. The cost for the Center for Manufacturing Excellence was included in a $293.9 million incentive package Toyota accepted from the state when it agreed to build a $1. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Dealers
Upscale Ram reaches for bigger share of a smaller marketDodge planners know higher gasoline prices mean lower pickup truck sales, so they are banking on an upscale-looking interior, new features, a new crew cab version and even an unconventional rear suspension to help the Dodge Ram grab a larger share of a shrinking market. Sales begin this fall. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
After dropping models, Chrysler needs lineupChrysler is a brand in need of a model line. The Crossfire, Pacifica and PT Cruiser convertible were dropped during the 2008 model year. And with Chrysler LLC looking to eliminate duplicate models, the Sebring sedan, Aspen SUV and Town & Country minivan are vulnerable. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Jeep seeks to get back on the road to its rootsThe jewel in Chrysler LLC's crown is Jeep, the brand that analysts say Cerberus Capital Management LP could sell separately if it so desires. Jeep has something other automakers covet -- global recognition and a simple, straightforward, rugged image. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Most product developments for '09 coming from DodgeDodge has the lion's share of Chrysler LLC's exciting product news for the 2009 model year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Hughes' telematics part of interior upgrades
Chrysler LLC will join the telematics business next year, offering features inspired by Ford Motor Co.'s Sync and General Motors' OnStar. Chrysler will be the first customer for Hughes Telematics Inc., which created the system that will be standard on some 2010 vehicles sold in North America. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
FUTURE PRODUCTS -- CHRYSLER
3-year powertrain overhaul begins with Two Mode hybrid
This summer, Chrysler LLC begins a three-year powertrain overhaul. First to debut: Chrysler's gasoline-electric Two Mode hybrid. Next comes a family of high-tech V-6s. And in 2010, two powerful Cummins diesel engines will debut in the Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
GM, Chrysler, Lexus turn to eBayGeneral Motors, Chrysler LLC and Lexus Division are using a new feature of the online auction eBay to promote their dealers' certified used vehicles. The eBay Motors Certified Pre-Owned Showroom launched this month. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
