Designer layoffs set at Chrysler
More buyouts on way, carmaker says
January 31, 2008
By TIM HIGGINS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Chrysler LLC plans to lay off 119 salaried UAW design workers today at the technology center in Auburn Hills and at the Plymouth Road Office Complex in Detroit.
This is part of the group that was expected to be laid [...]
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Ford plans to pump up incentives
In new twist, it will target regions and older vehicles, and will give dealers more say.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. will sharply increase incentive spending this year to counter aggressive pricing by competitors and ensure that demand for older vehicles like the Ford [...]
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
Suzuki launches first pickup truck
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Automotive News | January 29, 2008 – 10:28 pm EST
Suzuki’s first pickup truck — the Equator — goes on sales the fourth quarter of this year. It will be shown for the first time at the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 6. The small truck is a version of [...]
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Rebound progress still lags for GM
"We’ve got to get the job done in the United States," says vice chairman.
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
DETROIT – General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Fritz Henderson, in a blunt assessment of the automaker’s standing, said on Tuesday that the company is still falling well short of [...]
GM case cited in hearing on discrimination bill
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Harry Stoffer
Automotive News | January 29, 2008 – 2:38 pm EST
WASHINGTON — Carey McClure, an electrician, told a congressional committee today that General Motors rescinded a job offer to him in 2000 because he has a form of muscular dystrophy.
McClure testified that he sued GM for discrimination [...]
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW
Hummer adds pickup truck traits to H3T
Vehicle to roll out in Chicago next week
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Jonathan Wong
Automotive News | January 28, 2008 – 8:08 pm EST
DETROIT — As it did with the H2, Hummer is adding pickup traits to its smallest sport/utility.
The H3T will roll out next week at the Chicago auto show and [...]
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Chrysler offering more buyouts
Carmaker to pitch packages to all UAW workers at Metro plants as it moves to cut 10,000 hourly jobs.
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
All UAW workers at Chrysler LLC’s Metro Detroit area plants are expected to be offered buyout or early retirement packages as the company moves to cut [...]
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Delphi trims $85 million from execs’ bonus fund
Company still plans to distribute $132 million to 560 top executives when it exits bankruptcy.
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Delphi Corp. again has shrunk the bonuses it will pay its executives when the parts supplier emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, [...]
Is ‘The General’ on the Move?
Former giant GM uses product to get back in car battle.
By Lawrence Ulrich
View pictures
Cadillac’s new CTS, a great improvement over the past generation, is one of several impressive new products from General Motors.
Economically speaking, you could call this the winter of our discontent, especially if you’re a Detroit automaker. [...]
AUTO INDUSTRY DOWNSIZING
Workers who retire unlikely to hurt state
January 27, 2008
By KATIE MERX
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
With all three Detroit automakers beginning the process of offering widespread buyouts again this year, more than 130,000 U.S. autoworkers are or will soon face the decision: Should I stay or should I go?
While the choice is a tough one [...]
Chevy Beat: Nice looking microcar
The Chevy Beat is one of those concepts that might have a shot at niche market. A 1.2 leter engine is hooked to an automatic transmission.
If that sounds familiar, you’re right. The now defunct Chevy Metro had a 1.0 liter engine in the three cyclinder model, and a full 1.3 [...]
Photo finish: GM still No. 1
Carmaker sold only about 3,000 more vehicles worldwide than Toyota in 2007.
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
General Motors Corp., after 76 years as the undisputed leader of global auto sales, finished 2007 with a razor-thin lead over Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp.
The Detroit automaker said Wednesday that it sold 9,369,524 [...]
GM to report record annual loss on Feb. 12
January 25, 2008
By KATIE MERX
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
General Motors Corp. will announce its 2007 earnings on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 12.
The automaker is expected to announce its worst annual loss in history, due to a $39-billion paper loss in the third quarter, primarily because of a [...]
CAW threatens to strike GM in Oshawa, Ontario
Contract expires Sept. 17
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Rick Kranz
Automotive News | January 25, 2008 – 3:29 pm EST
DETROIT — The Canadian Auto Workers union local representing employees at General Motors’ Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant is threatening to strike this fall unless the automaker confirms additional products and jobs.
CAW Local 222 warned [...]
Lutz: U.S. won’t embrace small cars at today’s gas prices
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Jamie LaReau
Automotive News | January 24, 2008 – 12:01 am EST
DETROIT — General Motors sees E-85 and biofuels as the best near-term solution to lowering U.S. usage of petroleum.
But new federal fuel regulations will only mean higher vehicle prices, slower new vehicle sales and [...]
