Challenger SRT8 cost: $37,995
Friday, November 30, 2007
Joel J. Smith / The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS — The sticker price of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, Chrysler’s new limited-edition muscle car, will be $37,995.
The company will begin accepting orders for the limited-edition Challenger on Monday, with a delivery sometime in the spring. The cars will come with [...]
Court rules Toyota employee worked to death
Automotive News | November 30, 2007 - 5:55 am EST
TOKYO (Reuters) — A Toyota Motor Corp. employee died of overwork after logging more than 106 hours of overtime in a month, a judge ruled today, reversing a [...]
Former GM CEO Roger B. Smith dead at 82
Smith presided over GM from 1981 to 1990
queryvar=”former,gm,ceo,roger,b,smith,dead,at,82″;
Jamie LaReau
Automotive News | 10:48 am, November 30, 2007
DETROIT — Former General Motors CEO Roger Smith died here Thursday, Nov. 29, after a brief illness. He was [...]
Ford settles Explorer suits
Deal puts to rest all outstanding litigation stemming from Firestone tire scandal that dealt blow to image.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. agreed Wednesday to settle a series of class-action lawsuits filed by customers who claim its Explorer sport utility vehicles were prone to rollover accidents.
The [...]
Chrysler weighs deal to build cars in Russia
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Christine Tierney / The Detroit News
Top Chrysler LLC executives, eager to boost overseas sales, will meet today with the president of Russian automaker GAZ to discuss a deal to build Chrysler vehicles in Russia’s booming market.
Such a project would allow Chrysler to tap into the [...]
Tesla names CEO ahead of electric Roadster launch
Automotive News | November 29, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) — Tesla Motors named a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur and car enthusiast as its new CEO on Wednesday as the company starts production next [...]
GM to build hybrid cars in China in 2008
queryvar=”gm,to,build,hybrid,cars,in,china,in,2008″;
Alysha Webb
Automotive News | November 28, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
SHANGHAI — General Motors will produce a hybrid car in China beginning in 2008. The model will be available for the Beijing Olympics in [...]
Chrysler could cut beyond buyouts
November 28, 2007
BY TIM HIGGINS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Chrysler officials have not ruled out the possibility of layoffs at the Auburn Hills automaker if they fail to get enough salaried workers to leave with voluntary buyouts over the next month.
Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Bob Nardelli has warned employees to expect a tough [...]
Ethanol issue clogs fuel bill
Industry credits emerge as key sticking point in congressional talks
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Ethanol mileage credits have become a key sticking point as negotiators from the House and Senate work to craft a 35-mpg energy bill acceptable to both houses of Congress, the White [...]
First wave of Chrysler workers taking buyouts exit Friday
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
Friday will be the final day at work for hundreds of Chrysler LLC employees, as the first group of white-collar workers taking buyouts under the automaker’s latest downsizing plan exits the company.
Their departures are part of a plan Chrysler [...]
Toyota to recall 215,020 Lexus, other cars in Japan
Some cars in U.S., Canada and Britain included
queryvar=”toyota,to,recall,215,020,lexus,other,cars,in,japan”;
Automotive News | November 28, 2007 - 1:15 am EST
TOKYO (Reuters) — Toyota Motor Corp said today it would recall 215,020 units of the Lexus GS, Crown and [...]
Fuel economy deal near
By 2020: Automakers would get help, retain jobs
November 27, 2007
BY JUSTIN HYDE
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF
WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators are close to agreement on an increase in fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, with some caveats to satisfy U.S. automakers, people familiar with the talks told the Free Press [...]
Toyota’s global production up 14.4%
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Kozo Mizoguchi / Associated Press
TOKYO — Japan’s top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. said today its global production climbed 14.4 percent in October, moving it closer to overtaking General Motors of the United States as the world’s biggest automaker.
Four other major Japanese automakers also reported overall production gains for [...]
France: NASCAR won’t sell stake in company
Automotive News | November 27, 2007 - 2:02 pm EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - NASCAR Chairman Brian France on Tuesday dismissed the idea that his family would sell any part of their racing company.
[...]
Retooling life on the line: 2-tier wages, new work rules transform factory floor
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
LANSING — A window in Doug Rademacher’s office at UAW Local 602 overlooks acres of rubble and twisted steel where General Motors Corp.’s massive Fisher Body plant once stood.
The local president peers out the dusty [...]
Ford beefs up chassis for RVs
Leading frame maker for motor homes to unveil biggest, most adaptable product
Monday, November 26, 2007
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. may be struggling to hold onto its share of the U.S. car market, but there is one vehicle segment where the Dearborn automaker is not just holding [...]
Nissan recalls 650,000 cars
queryvar=”nissan,recalls,650,000,cars”;
Harry Stoffer
Automotive News | November 21, 2007 - 1:38 pm EST
WASHINGTON — Nissan North America Inc. is recalling more than 650,000 cars because their engines may suddenly stop running.
[...]
Big 3, UAW fight dialysis costs bill
Senators urged to reject extending firms’ coverage of kidney treatments.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Major companies and unions, including Detroit’s Big Three automakers and the United Auto Workers, sent a letter to U.S. senators urging them to drop a tax provision that could [...]
GM says no ResCap contingent liabilities
queryvar=”gm,says,no,rescap,contingent,liabilities”;
Bob Lutz
Automotive News | November 21, 2007 - 9:00 am EST
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors has no contingent liabilities through the GMAC finance company, which has been damaged by the subprime crisis, but could face more losses because [...]
NUMMI inspector alleges defect cover-ups
queryvar=”nummi,inspector,alleges,defect,cover-ups”;
Lindsay Chappell
Automotive News | November 20, 2007 - 6:20 pm EST
A former U.S. quality inspector is suing Toyota Motor Corp.’s joint venture with General Motors, claiming her managers harassed and demoted her for reporting production defects.
[...]
Lutz: GM’s November sales at expectations
Automotive News | November 20, 2007 - 3:00 pm EST
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors’ November U.S. sales, on average, were on track with its expectations, a top GM executive told Reuters today.
[...]
Chrysler plans three hybrid concepts for Detroit show
queryvar=”chrysler,plans,three,hybrid,concepts,for,detroit,show”;
Dale Jewett
Automotive News | November 20, 2007 - 3:32 pm EST
Chrysler will reveal three concept vehicles at the Detroit auto show in January that will display long-range, clean-running powertrains.
[...]
UAW to set up strict controls on health fund
Gettelfinger concerned about GMAC liability
Automotive News | November 20, 2007 - 10:47 am EST
DETROIT (Reuters) - The UAW is establishing clear rules for a massive new health-care trust intended to guarantee the independence and solvency [...]
UAW chief expects buyout talks in 2008
By Kevin Krolicki
Reuters
updated 12:58 p.m. CT, Tues., Nov. 20, 2007
function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) {
var n = document.getElementById(”udtD”);
if(pdt != ” && n && window.DateTime) {
var dt = new DateTime();
pdt = dt.T2D(pdt);
if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((’false’.toLowerCase()==’false’)?false:true));}
}
}
UpdateTimeStamp(’633311819030000000′);
DETROIT - United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger on Tuesday said the union expects to begin talks with the [...]
Housing woes slam GM stock
GMAC losses, slump in homebuilding, new fuel regulations erase gains in shares.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sharon Terlep and Brian J. O’Connor / The Detroit News
Shares of General Motors Corp. plunged to a 17-month low on Monday, more than erasing the automaker’s substantial gains of the last year.
Just a month ago, GM’s share [...]
Criticism shadows Toyota’s success
New U.S. boss seeks to learn from critics
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Interview: Jim Lentz
Christine Tierney / The Detroit News
Toyota Motor Corp., which has climbed to second place in the U.S. auto market this year, expects to increase its share of sales in 2008 and is steeling itself to deal with the scrutiny and [...]
LOONIE PRICING: Market variables make the difference, experts say, but Canadians aren’t buying that
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Scott Burgess / The Detroit News
Why does a Dodge Grand Caravan start at $22,470 in Buffalo but a similar van costs $25,912 in Toronto? How can a Ford F-150 in Windsor have a sticker price of $22,562, but the [...]
Gettelfinger concerned about GMAC liability
UAW chief says Chrysler cuts wern’t a suprise
queryvar=”gettelfinger,concerned,about,gmac,liability”;
Automotive News | November 20, 2007 - 10:47 am EST
DETROIT (Reuters) - UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said today he is concerned by General Motors’ exposure to the mortgage lending arm of former [...]
GM offers year-end Red Tag sale to clear ‘07 inventory
Automotive News | November 19, 2007 - 2:00 pm EST
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors is offering zero-percent financing for five years to clear out 2007 inventory, while also giving dealers incentives for 2008 models [...]
Robotic Tahoe takes the wheel
Continental AG, university join to win competition
November 19, 2007
BY JEWEL GOPWANI
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
It can think for itself. It moves by itself. It has a laser sensor that spins around, and flashing lights on its roof.
It’s like the R2-D2 of SUVs.
(WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press)
Michael Darms, project engineer for Continental Automotive System [...]
Irving Bluestone, Brookline, Mass.
Key aide to UAW’s Reuther had ‘amazing respect’ for others
Monday, November 19, 2007
Mike Wilkinson / The Detroit News
Irving Bluestone, a top lieutenant to one-time UAW president Walter Reuther who later was vice president of the union’s General Motors department, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007, at his home in Brookline, Mass. He was [...]
GM maverick manager John Rock dies
queryvar=”gm,maverick,manager,john,rock,dies”;
Richard Truett
Automotive News | November 19, 2007 - 10:56 am EST
DETROIT — John Rock, one of General Motors’ true maverick managers, died from cancer on Friday, Nov. 16, at his ranch in Hot Springs, S.D. He was [...]
Report: Chrysler considers major branding changes
Plan would cut up to 1,000 dealers
queryvar=”report:,chrysler,considers,major,branding,changes”;
Automotive News | November 18, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC is considering massive branding changes that would further simplify its product portfolio, while helping cut as many [...]
Dodge Viper: A magnificent dinosaur
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Review
Richard Williamson / Scripps Howard News Service
There’s a tragic beauty about the 2008 Dodge Viper that makes it virtually the perfect collector car.
Like Ted Williams in his last time at bat.
Like Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President."
Like the last saber-toothed tiger, roaring at its own imminent extinction.
Massively [...]
Groovy! The GM Beat goes on
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Business Insider
When GM’s Vice Chairman Bob Lutz announced the carmaker would begin production of the Chevy Beat mini car, he noted that more than 1.8 million people voted on which vehicle was their favorite.
The Beat, he told journalists at the Los Angeles Auto Show, pulled out a [...]
Problems at GMAC, Ford Credit afflict automakers
queryvar=”problems,at,gmac,ford,credit,afflict,automakers”;
Jim Henry
Automotive News | November 16, 2007 - 11:59 am EST
DETROIT — Earnings for GMAC Financial Services and Ford Motor Credit Co. remain in a downturn this year. Their performance reflects not only lower sales by [...]
Tarnished armor
Toyota Highlander has good fuel economy but shows flaws in legendary quality
November 15, 2007
BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
If coincidences didn’t happen, we wouldn’t have a word for them.
OK, maybe not. Still, I was surprised when a 2-foot piece of plastic trim came tumbling out of the 2008 Toyota Highlander SUV I was testing just [...]
UAW’s new role: Shareholder
Health trust could own key chunks of Ford, GM
November 16, 2007
BY KATIE MERX and TIM HIGGINS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS
The UAW, traditionally a mighty force in the struggle of Labor against Capital, could be on the brink of a new role: Detroit’s biggest stockholder.
New 4-year labor agreements that UAW members ratified with the [...]
Big 3 take hit over fuel rules
Court strikes down hikes to SUV, truck standards, says they don’t go far enough.
Friday, November 16, 2007
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court Thursday threw out the Bush administration’s standards to improve the fuel efficiency of pickups, vans and SUVs, saying the rules didn’t [...]
Historic UAW contracts forged from angry words, picket lines, harsh reality
Friday, November 16, 2007
Detroit News special report
Bill Vlasic and Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
After 10 straight days of hard bargaining, the team from General Motors Corp. felt confident on Sunday, Sept. 23, that a deal was nearly done on a new, four-year contract with [...]
