2009 Automotive News World Congress

The UAW will sacrifice to help General Motors and Chrysler LLC get federal loans but doesn't expect to accept lower wages, President Ron Gettelfinger said. He cited several concessions the union has made to help the automakers become more... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Linamar CEO: Hundreds of suppliers could go belly-up

Hundreds of North American parts makers may fail within months as a weakening economy forces automakers to slash production, the CEO of Canada's second-largest supplier says. "We will see fewer OEMs and fewer suppliers either as a result of... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

GM: Future rests on Chevy, Cadillac, Buick and GMC

When General Motors submits its viability plan to Congress next month, it will outline what its future U.S. market share will need to be with just four core brands. GM plans eventually to go to market with just the four core brands: Chevrolet,... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

AutoNation CEO: Raise gas tax to cut oil use

The federal government needs to increase gasoline taxes gradually if it wants to decrease dependence on foreign oil and promote cleaner vehicles, the CEO of the nation's largest dealership group told the Automotive News World Congress last week. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Panel: To innovate, look outside your firm

Safety and green technologies will require vast amounts of auto innovation, but companies will have to work together to create products that can ensure their viability. "If the consumer wants green and you don't deliver it, you're in a competitive... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

2020 cars? Small, light, 'increasingly electrified'

Car shoppers in 2020 will find vehicles that are smaller, lighter and equipped with a wide range of powertrains and materials. Five industry executives offered their predictions for the 2020 model year at a panel on global product development for... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Mazda exec: Companies must know their brands

If automakers know their brands' core strengths and weaknesses and react quickly to events, they'll make it through the next 18 months, said the CEO of Mazda North American Operations. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Chevrolet will work to boost market share, sales per store in 2009

Chevrolet has two goals going forward: Boost U.S. retail market share and increase sales per store as consolidation continues in major markets. Ed Peper, General Motors' vice president of Chevrolet, listed those two goals last week at the Automotive... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Esmond: Plan now for the recovery

As the auto industry weathers the economic storm, it must prepare to take advantage of the opportunities that lie on the other side of the recession, Toyota sales executive Don Esmond told the Automotive News World Congress. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Panel: New media critical to marketing success

Auto marketers should look to the same range of new media that President Barack Obama used so successfully during the campaign to raise funds and votes, Bonita Stewart, industry director for automotive at Google Inc., said at the Automotive News... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Expert: Gaining a foothold in China is worth the effort

Foreign automakers face increasing competitive challenges in China, but the country's rapid growth makes the effort worthwhile, a veteran manufacturing expert says. Despite the current slowdown, sales of cars and trucks in China likely will surpass... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Ligocki: Expect Chinese-designed cars in 5 years

Chinese-designed cars assembled in Mexico will be sold in the United States within five years -- maybe through big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart -- industry veteran Kathleen Ligocki said. In August, Ligocki, 52, was named CEO of GS... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Leuliette: Use current crisis to promote auto industry

The industry crisis gives dealers, suppliers and auto executives a chance to show that automaking is vital to the nation, Tim Leuliette, CEO of parts maker Dura Automotive Systems Inc., told the Automotive News World Congress. "A good crisis is a... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Ford is trying to avoid needing federal cash

Ford Motor Co. is trying to remain the only U.S. automaker that doesn't need government loans to survive. While the shaky economy could make that difficult, the automaker is betting that fuel economy and quality gains will give it a leg up on its... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Chrysler, Fiat designers begin to shape product lineup

Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A. design executives were to begin meeting last week to determine a North American portfolio for their new alliance. "This week and the months following we will meet with the design studios at Fiat and figure out" what Fiat... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 26

Chrysler, Fiat designers begin to shape product portfolio

Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A. design executives will begin meeting this week to determine the North American portfolio created by their new alliance. “This week and the months following we will meet with the design studios at Fiat and figure out”... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 22

Gettelfinger: No wage concessions for bailout

The UAW will sacrifice to help General Motors and Chrysler LLC get their federal loans, but doesn't expect to take lower wages, President Ron Gettelfinger said Wednesday night at the Automotive News World Congress. He cited several concessions the... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 22 | UPDATED: 1/21/09 9:55 p.m.EST

Vehicles in the year 2020: smaller, lighter and electric

Consumers car-shopping in the 2020 model year will find vehicles that are smaller, lighter, and use a wide range of powertrains and materials. They may run on synthetic fuels. Five industry executives offered their predictions for the 2020 model... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 22

AutoNation CEO supports gas tax increases

The federal government needs to gradually increase gasoline taxes if it wants to decrease dependence on foreign oil and promote cleaner vehicles, the CEO of the nation's largest dealership group told the Automotive News World Congress today. Mike... 3:04 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Mazda CEO: 'Survival is the name of the game'

If automakers know their brand's core strengths and weaknesses and react quickly to events, they'll make it through the next 18 months, the CEO of Mazda North American Operations said today at the Automotive News World Congress. James O'Sullivan... 2:05 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Expert: China competition grows, but market still worth it

Foreign automakers face increasing competitive challenges in the Chinese market, but its rapid growth makes the effort worthwhile, a veteran manufacturing expert said. Despite a current slowdown, China sales of trucks and passenger vehicles will... 12:37 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Linamar CEO: Hundreds of suppliers may fail in months

Hundreds of North American auto-parts makers may fail within months as a weakening economy forces automakers to slash production, the CEO of Canada's second-largest supplier said. “We will see fewer OEMs and fewer suppliers either as a result of... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 21 | UPDATED: 1/20/09 10:45 p.m. EST

GM's Henderson: Future rests on Chevy, Cadillac, Buick and GMC

General Motors will go to market with four core brands in the future: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. Pontiac will be shrunk “significantly,” a senior GM executive told the Automotive News World Congress on Tuesday night. GM COO Fritz Henderson... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Toyota's Esmond: Sales 'tailspin' will wane later this year

As the auto industry weathers the current economic storm, it must prepare to take full advantage of the opportunities on the other side of the recession, Toyota sales executive Don Esmond told the Automotive News World Congress today. Esmond, senior... 10:31 am U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Automakers connect with consumers via social media

Consumers are wary about the advertising messages they get from traditional media sources such as television and newspapers, which makes new media all the more critical for successful marketing, a top GM advertising executive said Tuesday. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 21 | UPDATED: 1/20/09 8:25 p.m. EST

Panel: Tap innovation from everywhere

Automotive companies that wish to innovate their way into continued viability need to accept product ideas from all areas of their businesses -- and outside. “Invention may belong to r&d, but innovation does not,” Andrew Brown Jr., executive... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 21

AutoNation's Mike Jackson and his truth-serum speech

Somebody must have fed truth serum to Mike Jackson. At the Automotive News World Congress today, he delivered a speech that was funny, biting and very, very blunt. Perhaps it was the credit crisis that pushed him over the edge. Dealerships across... 4:33 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 21

Ford to trumpet fuel economy in 2009

Ford Motor Co. will trumpet fuel economy gains as it tries to win back customers in 2009. Fuel efficiency and technology offerings will be a main thrust of the company's marketing and public relations efforts this year, Ford marketing chief Jim... 11:50 am U.S. ET | Jan. 20

Peper: Chevy will gain U.S. retail share in '09

Chevrolet will increase its retail market share in the United States this year, Ed Peper, vice president of Chevrolet said in a speech at 2009 Automotive News World Congress today. But he said General Motors must do a better job at dispelling myths... 12:16 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 20 | UPDATED: 1/20/09 1:32 p.m.EST

Ligocki: U.S. to get Mexican-built Chinese cars in five years

Chinese-designed cars that are assembled in Mexico could be sold in the United States within five years, and Canada before then, industry veteran Kathleen Ligocki said today at the Automotive News World Congress. In August, Ligocki, 51, was named... 1:45 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 20

Chevrolet to offer sport package on 2009 Corvette

Chevrolet is offering a special options package this spring to Corvette buyers who want a tad more performance and some extra eye candy. The Competition Sport Package, offered on the '09 Corvette Coupe 1LT and Z06 models, includes gray racing... 2:26 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 20

Leuliette: Use crisis to promote industry

Dealers, suppliers and auto executives must use the crises at the Detroit 3 to communicate the industry's economic importance to the nation, Tim Leuliette, CEO of parts maker Dura Automotive Systems Inc., said today. In remarks prepared for the... 10:02 am U.S. ET | Jan. 20

Supply, product execs to be featured at congress

A global supply veteran and three top product development executives will be featured speakers at the Automotive News World Congress next week in Detroit. Supply expert Marcus Chao, founder and CEO of Shanghai-based Lean Enterprise China, will speak... 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 12