Headlines for Thursday, March 21, 2013
Use the form on the right to select a specific day >>
Ford's European sales slide threatens revival plan
Ford's plan to cut jobs and close plants may not be enough to halt losses in Europe where moves to rein in margin-crushing discounts have sparked a further sales plunge. Ford's European slide reflects efforts to end a discount blowout, according to industry insiders. Read More »
Opel will close Bochum plant early after workers reject deal
GM's Opel unit said it would close down its factory in Bochum earlier than planned after the plant's employees turned down a deal that would have saved 1,200 jobs. Read More »
Opel turnaround plan faces union vote at Bochum plant
General Motors faces a test in its plans to restructure Opel as workers at its Bochum, Germany, assembly plant vote on a deal that would guarantee the jobs of more than 20,000 German workers in exchange for a wage freeze through 2015, and keep their plant running until 2016. Read More »
Volkswagen's Slovak factory doubles output on Up minicar launch
Volkswagen doubled output of its Slovak factory to a record level last year as the introduction of the Up minicar offset slowing demand for cars across Europe. Read More »
German union chief to VW Tennessee workers: Join UAW
The UAW has won the backing of the head of the German IG Metall union in its effort to represent the hourly workers at Volkswagen AG's Chattanooga, Tenn., assembly plant. Read More »
SUPPLIERS:Schaeffler sees N. America, Asia gains pushing revenue growth in 2013
German supplier Schaeffler said demand in North America and Asia will more than make up for a sales drop in Europe to allow volume growth in 2013. Read More »
Satellites control new Rolls' gearshifts
The Rolls-Royce Wraith, a fastback that debuts in the final quarter of 2013, will use satellite data that detect changing road conditions to help shift its ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Read More »
EU industry boss defies German pressure on car coolants
The European Union's Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani say he will enforce new rules that ban extremely potent greenhouse gases in car air-cooling systems, defying opposition from the German government and the country's automakers. Read More »
Bigger Toyota RAV4 aims to win back lost buyers
Toyota has made its latest RAV4 longer and wider to win back ground in the compact SUV segment. First launched in 1994, the RAV4 for many years led the segment in Europe, but last year slipped to sixth place. Read More »
