VW to modify late-model diesels in N. America to prevent improper fuelingMay 22, 2013 06:01 CET  Volkswagen plans to refit more than a quarter million 2009-12 diesel cars to prevent North American customers from mistakenly pumping gasoline into the fuel tanks.... Read More »
Opel keeps Bochum logistics center open to fulfill contractMay 22, 2013 06:01 CET  Opel will keep a spare-parts distribution center open until 2016 at its plant in Bochum, Germany, as long as two years after car production ends at the site. The plant, which makes the Zafira minivan, is scheduled to close by the end of 2014 after workers rejected a restructuring plan in March that would have extended manufacturing there for another two years.... Read More »
NADA, automakers reach out with aid for tornado victims 7:23 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2013 The National Automobile Dealers Association and several automakers are reaching out with assistance to dealers and victims affected by Monday's tornado in Oklahoma.... Read More »
Lutz's VL Automotive, Chinese supplier bid $20 million for Fisker, report says 2:02 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  A boutique carmaker led by a former GM executive Bob Lutz and China's largest auto parts supplier submitted an offer of $20 million to buy cash-strapped automaker Fisker Automotive, people familiar with the matter told Reuters today.... Read More »
Marchionne apologizes for 'wop engine' comment 11:44 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has issued a written apology to an Italian-American anti-bias organization for saying at the Detroit auto show that an Alfa Romeo needed a "wop" engine.... Read More »
VW to modify late-model diesels to prevent improper fueling 4:36 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Volkswagen plans to refit more than a quarter million 2009-12 diesel cars to prevent North American customers from mistakenly pumping gasoline into the fuel tanks.... Read More »
Subaru Forester tops Honda CR-V in small SUV review 9:38 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  The Subaru Forester small SUV beat the Honda CR-V and other rivals in testing by Consumer Reports, which ranked the model as its top pick in that segment.... Read More »
Two Denso executives to plead guilty to price fixing, U.S. says 10:54 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Two executives at Toyota-affiliated supplier Denso have agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to fix prices and have agreed to cooperate with an ongoing criminal investigation, the federal Justice Department said today.... Read More »
Marchionne apologizes for 'wop engine' commentMay 21, 2013 17:44 CET  Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has issued a written apology to an Italian-American anti-bias organization for saying that an Alfa Romeo needed a "wop" engine.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI U.S. and Brazil bright spots for Fiat-Chrysler as Europe declines 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Global April sales for Fiat-Chrysler show how much the Americas, especially the U.S. and Brazil, are supporting the automaker as deliveries in Europe fall.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI U.S. and Brazil bright spots for Fiat-Chrysler as Europe declines 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Global April sales for Fiat-Chrysler show how much the Americas, especially the U.S. and Brazil, are supporting the automaker as deliveries in Europe fall.... Read More »
Ford to maintain Canadian factory footprint despite high labor costs 12:49 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2013  Ford is confident it can preserve its manufacturing profile in Canada despite uncompetitive operating costs tied to the high Canadian dollar, the company's top executive in the country said today.... Read More »
2 congressmen ask Treasury for details on 2008-09 dealership closures 2:36 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2013 Two congressmen -- one a former Ohio auto dealer and the other a Pennsylvania new- and used-car dealer -- have asked the U.S. Treasury Department to release materials detailing how General Motors and Chrysler dealerships were selected for closure during the 2008-09 restructuring.... Read More »
Former Saab CEO Jonsson, two other execs arrested on tax chargesMay 21, 2013 13:04 CET  Three former Saab executives, including former CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson and Chief Financial Officer Karl-Gustav Lindstroem, were arrested by Swedish prosecutors in an accounting-fraud probe.... Read More »
Mercedes workers end strike in S. AfricaMay 21, 2013 10:00 CET  A two-day strike at Mercedes-Benz's East London car plant in South Africa ended following crisis talks between management and a workers union.... Read More »
Magneti Marelli expands China production of lighting componentsMay 21, 2013 09:15 CET  Magneti Marelli has opened a plant in the southern China city of Foshan to produce rear lights, headlamps and other lighting components. The company aims to secure a 10 percent share of China's lighting market in the midterm.... Read More »
Schaeffler confirms 2013 outlook, net debtMay 21, 2013 11:14 CET German supplier Schaeffler has confirmed its annual forecast for revenue growth of about four percent and an operating profit margin of approximately 13 percent, despite a drop in first-quarter revenue of 3.6 percent to 2.8 billion euros ($3.6 billion).... Read More »
German brands enjoy sales boom in KoreaMay 21, 2013 06:01 CET  South Korea has become a growth market for BMW, Mercedes and Audi as lower tariffs make their cars cheaper and local buyers abandon a decades-long preference for domestic brands.... Read More »
Dongfeng-PSA sales rise 37% in April on new modelsMay 21, 2013 08:49 CET  PSA's China joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp. said it increased sales 37 percent last month to 45,303 units helped by strong demand for its stretched Citroen C4 and Peugeot 3008 models.... Read More »
WACKY, LIKE A FOX Goofy ads, variants help Mini rule its own little world 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  BMW, Mini's parent company, had forecast U.S. sales of 20,000 units of the original two-door in 2003, but 36,000 were sold. That was the beginning of Mini's surprising journey. And they quickly settled on an irreverent, even wacky, persona suited to buyers of what one dealership general manager calls "a happy car."... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: LUDWIG WILLISCH, CEO, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA BMW counts on new models to keep luxury sales crown 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Mercedes-Benz led the U.S. luxury-brand sales race through April of 2013, but BMW of North America CEO Ludwig Willisch expects BMW to repeat as No. 1 for the year. Willisch says help is on the way in the form of three models debuting this fall: the 3-series GT crossover, 4-series coupe and a redesigned X5 crossover.... Read More »
Again, Tokyo show a no-go for Detroit 3 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 The Detroit 3 will sit out the Tokyo Motor Show, no-shows for the third straight time.... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: JIM LENTZ, CEO, NORTH AMERICA REGION, TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. Toyota streamlines decision-making for North America 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Toyota President Akio Toyoda restructured the company's management this year to give more authority and autonomy to local regions. Nowhere was this more evident than in North America, where Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, was placed in charge of all Toyota sales and manufacturing for the region.... Read More »
Chrysler quality chief: Little difference now with Toyota 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 The quality gap between Chrysler Group's vehicles and those of Japanese automakers has become so small that it no longer should matter to consumers, Chrysler's quality chief says.... Read More »
Infiniti: Raise quality, sales will follow 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen, poached last summer from Audi, aims to push into new segments, restore profitability to Nissan's luxury marque and fix lackluster quality rankings. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has ordered de Nysschen to make the brand a top-tier premium player and boost global sales to 500,000 by 2016 from just 170,000 last year.... Read More »
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