The value of communications
Chrysler’s moves are signs of trouble
December 16, 2007
BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
The new bosses at Chrysler LLC have made many good decisions so far — hiring Toyota executive Jim Press, signing a cost-cutting labor deal with the UAW and moving to trim slow-selling models.
It’s got a chance to make another wise choice [...]
Quick Read
GM adds incentives
Saturday, December 15, 2007
2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT, Z71 Crew Cab (GM / Chevrolet)
General Motors Corp., in the midst of a year-end sale, is adding incentives on large pickups and some SUVs, the company said on Friday. Discounts include $1,000 bonus cash for 2008 models of regular cab Chevrolet Silverado and GMC [...]
More GM layoffs in slow market
It’s temporary for 800 N.Y. workers
December 15, 2007
BY KATIE MERX
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Continued softening of the U.S. auto market led General Motors Corp. this week to announce more than 1,100 layoffs at plants in New York and Ohio.
The automaker said Friday that it plans a temporary layoff of 800 of [...]
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Tundra recall: Toyota’s new woe
Drive shaft issue with 16,000 pickups adds to recent quality concerns.
Christine Tierney / The Detroit News
Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that it would recall close to 16,000 new Tundra pickups in an announcement likely to generate fresh concern about lapses in the Japanese automaker’s vehicle quality.
Toyota’s standing has [...]
VIP tickets entice Patriot Led fans
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Here’s one way for Chrysler to perk up sales: Throw in VIP tickets to a hot concert.
That’s what a British vehicle branding company, RGVA, did in London. The company, looking to sell limited-edition Led Zeppelin Jeep Patriots, offered buyers after-show invites following the legendary group’s London concert [...]
Ford lifts merit pay raise ban
Average salaried employee will get a 2.7 percent increase in April.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. has lifted a freeze on merit raises for salaried employees and says the average white-collar worker will get a 2.7 percent pay increase in April.
However, salaried employees are [...]
UAW, International Truck contract up for vote Sunday
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Ryan Beene
Automotive News | December 14, 2007 - 5:26 pm EST
The UAW-International Truck and Engine Corp. Council approved a tentative labor contract between the union and truck maker, recommending it for ratification by UAW rank-and-file members.
Some 3,700 workers at 11 locals in six states will hold their [...]
Historic fuel deal is reached
Bill setting 35-m.p.g. standard means automakers will spend billions
December 14, 2007
BY JUSTIN HYDE
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF
WASHINGTON — Three decades of fighting over fuel economy ended Thursday, as the U.S. Senate approved a 40% increase in mileage standards for cars and trucks, giving a green light to rules that will force Detroit [...]
Ford’s sales fall short
Automaker’s own projections for November dip amid declining demand and a weakened economy.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Bryce G.Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co.’s November U.S. retail sales fell below the company’s own forecast, according to its latest internal report card, which was distributed to employees late Wednesday.
The worse-than-expected U.S. sales underscore the [...]
Chrysler, Nissan talk cooperation
Technical discussions in process
Friday, December 14, 2007
Christine Tierney and Eric Morath / The Detroit News
Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co., a Japanese automaker in search of an American partner, are in talks on possible ways to help each other develop new vehicles, people familiar with the situation said Thursday.
They said the discussions [...]
GM will cut 340 jobs next month in Moraine, Ohio
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Ryan Beene
Automotive News | December 13, 2007 - 11:00 am EST
DETROIT — General Motors plans to lay off about 340 hourly workers at its Moraine, Ohio, assembly plant beginning in January.
[...]
Stricter auto emission rules by states upheld
Thursday, December 13, 2007
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
The auto industry lost another court battle in its bid to stop California and at least 12 other states from imposing a 30 percent reduction in vehicle tailpipe emissions by 2016.
In a 57-page opinion issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Anthony [...]
2008 North American International Auto Show
GM leads race for car, truck of the year awards with 4 vehicles
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
Amid all the bleak news for Detroit’s automakers, General Motors Corp. can at least take solace that its revived vehicle lineup is resonating with critics.
The automaker on Wednesday snagged four [...]
Auto loan delinquencies take a huge jump
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Jeffrey McCracken and Gregory Zuckerman / Wall Street Journal
First came housing loans and the subprime-mortgage crisis.
Now, signs of stress are creeping into another key consumer area: auto loans.
Delinquencies in the auto-loan market are ticking up to their highest level in several years. Lenders are tightening terms [...]
Chrysler to idle 2 plants, cut shift
Jefferson North shift to end Feb. 4., memo states; buyouts in the works.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
The lingering slump in Chrysler LLC auto sales will give workers at two factories an unexpected break in January.
The Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit and Windsor Assembly Plant [...]
International Truck, UAW reach tentative contract
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Ryan Beene
Automotive News | December 12, 2007 - 3:00 pm EST
DETROIT — Negotiators from International Truck and Engine Corp. and the UAW reached a tentative agreement today on a new three-year labor contract.
[...]
GM places four of six finalists for North American car, truck of the year
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Automotive News | December 12, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
DETROIT – General Motors’ product revival continues to gain traction – at least among automotive journalists.
[...]
Lutz: ‘I am not thinking retirement’
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Jamie LaReau
Automotive News | 3:41 pm, December 12, 2007
DETROIT — So will Bob Lutz ever retire, or will they carry him out of his office?
The [...]
GM shows production shot of Chevy Volt
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Richard Truett
Automotive News | December 11, 2007 - 4:12 pm EST
General Motors is moving quickly to get the Chevrolet Volt ready for production.
The [...]
Watanabe: Toyota will save $2.7 billion a year
Automotive News | December 11, 2007 - 6:50 am EST
TOYOTA CITY, Japan (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp. expects to accelerate its cost-cutting efforts next year to save more than $2.7 billion annually, its president said today, [...]
Nissan to make pickups for Suzuki
Smyrna, Tenn., plant to make midsize pickup
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Ryan Beene
Automotive News | December 11, 2007 - 12:50 pm EST
Nissan North America said today it will produce a midsize pickup truck for Suzuki Motor Corp. in North America.
[...]
GLOBAL TERRAIN: Hummer to hit Japan, get new concept designs
Sharon Terlep and David Phillips / The Detroit News
Hummer is headed to Japan.
General Motors Corp., looking to find more buyers for its lineup of rugged, masculine SUVs, plans to launch the brand there by next spring, Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh said Monday.
Japan is the world’s [...]
Chrysler retools PR; chief goes
Automaker’s key spokesman resigns; some industry watchers expect company to become more tight-lipped.
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
Newly private Chrysler LLC is shifting gears again. The Auburn Hills automaker realigned its communications team so that it now will report to the head of human resources, rather than the chief executive.
The move [...]
Chrysler dealers speak up
Executive talks of consolidation
December 10, 2007
BY TIM HIGGINS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Jim Press, Chrysler’s new president in charge of sales, is on a multicity listening tour of the dealer body, which is facing a new year of lower sales and pressure to consolidate.
Already, Press, who had been Toyota Motor Corp.’s North American president, [...]
Ford will close Ontario plant
Monday, December 10, 2007
Bryce Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. has not officially announced it, but the Dearborn automaker plans to shutter its St. Thomas Assembly Plant in Ontario once production of the current generation of Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car concludes, probably by the [...]
Canada loses luster for Big 3
Weak dollar, UAW concessions raise possibility that Ontario woes could be silver lining for Mich.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
A weak U.S. dollar and new, cost-cutting labor contracts with the United Auto Workers have turned Canada from a low-cost alternative for Detroit’s Big Three automakers into [...]
Russians select Renault over GM
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Bill Vlasic and Christine Tierney / The Detroit News
General Motors Corp. has lost out to French rival Renault SA in the bidding to acquire a major stake in Russia’s largest automaker, OAO AvtoVAZ.
The deal gives Renault a boost in the rapidly growing Russian market and leaves GM on [...]
Chevy, Toyota, Audi suit up for Super Bowl
Audi returns after two decades
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Dave Kushma
Automotive News | December 7, 2007 - 2:02 pm EST
DETROIT — Chevrolet, Toyota brand and Audi will advertise during the Feb. 3 Super Bowl telecast, the companies said Friday.
[...]
Hogan stepping down as Magna president
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Automotive News | 9:39 am, December 7, 2007
DETROIT — Magna International Inc. said today that Mark Hogan is stepping down as president of the supplier at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities.
[...]
Lutz says 35 mpg CAFÉ will scuttle GM product plans
Automotive News | December 7, 2007 - 10:33 am EST
GM Vice Chairman
SAN DIEGO — A massive change to General Motors’ future product plans is expected if the 35 mpg CAFÉ fleet average favored [...]
Big CAFE hike stalls – for now – in Senate
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Automotive News | December 7, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
WASHINGTON – The Senate today slammed the brakes on a wide-ranging energy bill that would hike vehicle fuel economy standards 40 percent to 35 mpg [...]
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today approved a wide-ranging energy bill that includes a fuel economy standard of 35 mpg for cars and trucks by 2020 – about 40 percent higher than today.
[...]
Challenger revs up 6,000 orders — so far
Dealerships this week allow customers to place order for limited-edition Hemi muscle vehicle.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
While still months away from dealer lots, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is selling like a Hemi-powered hotcake.
More than 6,000 muscle car lovers placed orders at dealerships this [...]
Ford recalls 1.2 million trucks for engine system flaw
Automotive News | December 6, 2007 - 11:15 am EST
DETROIT, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. said today it recalled about 1.2 million vans, sport utility vehicles and heavy-duty pickup trucks because of a [...]
Chrysler CEO sees $1.6 billion loss this year
Automotive News | December 6, 2007 - 7:00 am EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli expects the automaker to lose $1.6 billion this year, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition, [...]
WASHINGTON – A top executive of Nissan North America Inc. declined today to claim a lobbying victory for the company even though a large, complex energy bill pending in Congress contains a provision that uniquely benefits the automaker.
[...]
IF THERE’S A RECESSION …
Auto production cuts likelier than incentives
Analysts look at possible strategy changes from ‘01
December 5, 2007
BY TIM HIGGINS and JEWEL GOPWANI
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS
If the United States slips into a recession next year, it could unfold very differently in Detroit than it did in 2001.
That time, automakers offered generous incentives to buyers [...]
Auto headlines
December 5, 2007
Mini to add an SUV
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of luxury cars, said Canada’s Magna International Inc. will make a Mini-brand sport-utility vehicle.
The new model will be built at Magna’s factory in Austria, BMW spokesman Mathias Schmidt said Tuesday.
Magna will build about 40,000 of the four-wheel-drive Mini SUVs annually, [...]
BRAINS OVER BRAWN: Daimler’s Smart car set to go on sale next month
1,800-pound two-seat vehicle gives consumers an alternative to gas-chugging SUVs.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Daimler AG’s Smart car will go on sale in the United States next month with orders for more of the gas-sipping minicars than [...]
In cars, white’s the new silver
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
Car buyers everywhere are waving the white flag.
White/white pearl ended silver’s streak of seven years as the world’s most popular color for automobiles, according to the DuPont 2007 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, released Tuesday.
In North America, as well, white is the [...]
