Monday, March 31, 2008
Chrysler cuts white-collar retiree life insurance
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
Chrysler LLC’s white collar retirees are losing free life insurance benefits but are eligible for an up to a $4,000 one-time pension boost, according to a letter retirees should receive this week.
Previously retirees were covered by a $50,000 life insurance policy at [...]
Monday, March 31, 2008
GM opens new truck plant in Qindao, China
Associated Press
DETROIT — General Motors Corp. has begun production at a new manufacturing plant in Qindao, China.
The plant is GM’s second manufacturing facility in the coastal city. Production began today.
The plant will make small work trucks for GM’s joint venture with Chinese automakers Wuling and [...]
UAW STRIKE AT AMERICAN AXLE
Axle strike threatens GM’s hot-selling Malibu
queryvar=”axle,strike,threatens,gm’s,hot-selling,malibu”;
David Barkholz
and Robert Sherefkin
Automotive News | March 31, 2008 - 5:24 pm EST
DETROIT — General Motors will have to shut production by mid-April of its hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu if supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. can’t end a strike by the UAW, a [...]
Saturday, March 29, 2008
UAW lost 73,500 members in 2007
Ranks hit lowest level since 1941
David Shepardson / The Detroit News
WASHINGTON — Membership in the United Auto Workers dropped sharply last year to a new post-World War II low, reflecting a dramatic retrenchment of the U.S. auto industry and widespread buyouts at Detroit’s Big Three automakers and [...]
UAW membership falls 13.6% in 2007
queryvar=”uaw,membership,falls,136%,in,2007″;
Philip Nussel
Automotive News | March 28, 2008 - 4:24 pm EST
DETROIT — The UAW’s membership, beset by a wave of automaker buyouts, last year fell by more than 73,000 workers to a new post-World War II low.
In its annual report to the U.S. Department of Labor, the UAW said [...]
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Buy American, get Chinese engine
In global supply era, old way of thinking on parts has become quaint.
Ian Austen / New York Times
OSHAWA, Ontario — General Motors car engines were once the stuff of American legend. The Beach Boys sang, "nothing can touch my 409," about a powerful Chevy V-8. Oldsmobile owners in [...]
Marketing giant Hal Riney dead at 75
‘Paul Bunyan’ of advertising created legendary Saturn campaign
queryvar=”marketing,giant,hal,riney,dead,at,75″;
Alice Z. Cuneo
Automotive News | March 26, 2008 - 11:39 am EST
SAN FRANCISCO — Hal Riney, the legendary adman whose work influenced presidential campaigns and whose vision helped shape auto marketing and many other aspects of the business, died Monday of [...]
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
No end in sight to strike against Axle
Eric Morath / The Detroit News
DETROIT — The longest automotive strike in a decade turns 1 month old today, leaving American Axle losing millions, striking workers scrimping on $200 weekly strike pay — and no end in sight.
But while both American Axle and the United [...]
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Dispute cited in top Chrysler engineer’s departure
Man leading midsize effort reportedly clashed with senior managers.
Dee-Ann Durbin / Associated Press
DETROIT — One of Chrysler LLC’s top engineers left the company Tuesday because of a dispute with senior managers, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.
Mike Donoughe was leading the company’s effort [...]
CAW says it won’t accept two-tier wages
Automotive News | March 25, 2008 - 5:30 pm EST
TORONTO (Reuters) — The Canadian Auto Workers will not accept a U.S.-style two-tier wage deal when it meets with the "Big Three" automakers this summer for contract negotiations, union President Buzz Hargrove said on Tuesday.
"We are not accepting second-class workers [...]
Key Chrysler product developer Donoughe quits
Company denies there was clash with senior management
queryvar=”key,chrysler,product,developer,donoughe,quits”;
Bradford Wernle
Automotive News | March 25, 2008 - 7:34 pm EST
DETROIT — Barely two months after being named to a key Chrysler product development post, one of Chrysler’s top vehicle engineers has left the company.
On Tuesday, Mike Donoughe resigned his position heading [...]
CAW seeks to organize three Dana plants
queryvar=”caw,seeks,to,organize,three,dana,plants”;
Ryan Beene
Automotive News | March 24, 2008 - 4:38 pm EST
Meetings are expected to be held on Thursday and Friday to decide if about 550 hourly workers at three Dana Canada Corp. plants will join the Canadian Auto Workers Union.
Tentative agreements for workers at Dana Canada plants in [...]
Authorities back XM-Sirius satellite radio tie
queryvar=”authorities,back,xm-sirius,satellite,radio,tie”;
Automotive News | March 24, 2008 - 3:24 pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. antitrust authorities today approved a proposed $4.38 billion purchase of XM Satellite Radio by Sirius Satellite Radio , the Justice Department said on Monday.
The deal is also being examined by the Federal Communications Commission, which is expected [...]
Monday, March 24, 2008
Bringing up the rear: Ford to revive rear-wheel drive in U.S.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. is bringing rear-wheel-drive development back to the United States from Australia. The automaker also has green-lighted a vehicle platform that will provide the basis for a new generation of rear-wheel-drive cars, according to [...]
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mileage at top of car buying list
Survey shows consumers also want tougher regulations on fuel economy.
Scott Burgess / The Detroit News
With the price of a fill-up hovering at record highs, gas mileage has become the number one consideration for American consumers in choosing a new vehicle, even topping which automaker produces the [...]
Chrysler sets new rules for discount
Workers’ friends, some relatives cut out of best deals
BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • March 21, 2008
Chrysler LLC has stopped allowing employees to share their employee discount price — typically around 5% below factory invoice on the purchase or lease of a new vehicle — with friends [...]
Friday, March 21, 2008
GM workers face hard sell on buyouts
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
General Motors Corp. next week will begin enticing thousands of veteran workers to leave the company for good by dangling the promise of a fresh start and maybe even a new car.
The automaker, which badly needs to trim its ranks to [...]
UAW STRIKE AT AMERICAN AXLE
American Axle fills some orders in Mexico
Chrysler continues to operate truck, SUV plants
queryvar=”american,axle,fills,some,orders,in,mexico”;
Robert Sherefkin
and Philip Nussel
Automotive News | March 20, 2008 - 3:25 pm EST
DETROIT — Strike-bound American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. has moved some of its parts production for Chrysler LLC from the United States to its [...]
GM may boost vehicle prices to offset rising costs
queryvar=”gm,may,boost,vehicle,prices,to,offset,rising,costs”;
Jamie LaReau
Automotive News | March 21, 2008 - 12:01 am EST
General Motors is studying ways to offset cost pressures, including possibly raising prices on some vehicles, CFO Ray Young says.
GM also has taken about $500 million in “management actions” to mitigate any potential downturn, Young said [...]
Chrysler reopens buyouts to UAW
Retirement-eligible workers are focus
BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • March 20, 2008
In a new effort to reduce its workforce, Chrysler LLC has targeted retirement-eligible UAW members at most of its factories by offering another chance at taking incentives to leave the company voluntarily, the Free Press has learned.
Just [...]
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Ford falls short of buyout target
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. appears to have fallen short of its goals in the latest — and Ford says last — round of company-wide buyouts for hourly workers, according to people familiar with the situation.
CEO Alan Mulally hinted as much during a [...]
Thursday, March 20, 2008
New York International Auto Show
GM hopes 3 new models will boost Pontiac
David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau
NEW YORK — General Motors Corp.’s vice chairman said the automaker was committed to fixing its Pontiac brand, showing off three new models here at the New York International Auto Show.
"We used to say, ‘We [...]
Thursday, March 20, 2008
GM prepared to take loss on Volt
Carmaker to stick with plug-in through initial sales; admits mistake in early hybrid strategy.
David Shepardson and Eric Morath / The Detroit News
NEW YORK — General Motors Corp. could some day sell more than 500,000 Chevrolet Volts annually worldwide, but the company is preparing to lose money [...]
Lutz: GM mulls 4-cylinder engine for new Camaro
queryvar=”lutz:,gm,mulls,4-cylinder,engine,for,new,camaro”;
Richard Truett
Automotive News
March 19, 2008 - 2:37 pm ET
NEW YORK — General Motors is considering a four-cylinder engine for the new Chevrolet Camaro as a response to rising fuel prices.
Speaking on the sidelines of the New York auto show, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the [...]
Machinists call off Toyota union vote
Organizers say campaign will continue
queryvar=”machinists,call,off,toyota,union,vote”;
Lindsay Chappell
Automotive News | March 19, 2008 - 6:39 pm EST
Organizers have called off their Thursday union election at Toyota Motor Corp.’s assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario, following Toyota’s complaint that the union incorrectly estimated the number of eligible voters.
A statement released Wednesday afternoon by [...]
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Solstice rolls out hardtop
General Motors will unveil a hardtop coupe version of its eye-catching Pontiac Solstice roadster at this week’s New York International Auto Show. The Pontiac Solstice coupe, based on a concept Pontiac revealed in 2002, is set to hit dealerships in early 2009. The roof panel is removable for drivers [...]
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Scott Burgess:
Dodge ponies up a Challenger: Muscle-car rival to Mustang makes appeal to young and old
It’s the muscle car for the masses, the people’s pony car. The first serious competitor to Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang: the 2009 Dodge Challenger.
The iconic Dodge makes its final debut today at the New York Auto Show.
We’ve [...]
Ford’s Transit Connect could become taxi
Ford to show concept in the nation’s largest taxi market
queryvar=”fords,transit,connect,could,become,taxi”;
Ryan Beene
Automotive News | March 19, 2008 - 12:15 am EST
Ford Motor Co. is expected to debut a taxi cab concept based on its Transit Connect van at the New York auto show today.
The Transit Connect Taxi concept can carry [...]
GMAC promotes COO De Molina to CEO
No changes seen in how GMAC runs auto lending business
queryvar=”gmac,promotes,coo,de,molina,to,ceo”;
Automotive News | March 18, 2008 - 10:10 am EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) — GMAC, in the midst of struggles with mortgage-related losses, on Tuesday named Alvaro de Molina CEO effective April 1.
De Molina, 50, will succeed Eric Feldstein, 48, who [...]
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Toyota fights Ontario union vote
Automaker will challenge Machinists, which filed an unfair labor practices claim against the company.
Alan Ohnsman / Bloomberg News
Toyota Motor Corp. engaged in unfair labor practices to sway workers at an Ontario plant where a representation election may be held this week, the Machinists union said in a [...]
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
On final day for buyout, Ford holds breath for last-minute retirees
Sources in automaker, UAW say there are few volunteers for early exit.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Today is the last day for Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. hourly workers to sign up for what the automaker is calling its last, best buyout [...]
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
GM stock falls amid investors’ worries
Shaky economy, American Axle strike contributes to market decline.
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
General Motors Corp. shares tumbled again on Monday, dragged down by a plethora of worries on Wall Street — from growing stress over the economy to the lingering strike at parts supplier American Axle.
GM [...]
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ford offers dealers buyouts
Automaker curtails program to support novice stores; some want more time
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. is offering to buy out 81 dealerships, most of them minority-owned, but some dealers say the company is not giving them enough time to decide.
The move is part of Ford’s [...]
Report: GM Europe to cut more jobs at Opel
queryvar=”report:,gm,europe,to,cut,more,jobs,at,opel”;
Automotive News | March 11, 2008 - 4:00 am EST
FRANKFURT (Reuters) — General Motors Europe plans to slash around 3,000 to 5,600 jobs at its Opel plants across Europe in a drive to improve profitability and streamline production, a German magazine reported on Monday.
GM Europe was in [...]
Ford hosts job fair to entice workers with offers
BY SARAH A. WEBSTER • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • March 7, 2008
Dozens of workers in canvas jackets, blue Ford-issued work shirts and ball caps strolled through a job fair hosted at UAW Local 600 in Dearborn early Friday, many stopping to get a soft drink and [...]
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Hot rods heat up Cobo: Classic, souped-up rides turn heads at Autorama
George Hunter / The Detroit News
DETROIT — Matthew Reibel stood in awe of a 2008 Chevy Impala SS race car, his mouth agape.
"I like all the cars," the 8-year-old Warren resident said. "But my favorite was the Mustang."
The 56th annual Autorama [...]
Chrysler to close Calif. design studio
queryvar=”chrysler,to,close,calif,design,studio”;
Richard Truett
Automotive News | March 8, 2008 - 10:11 am EST
DETROIT — Chrysler LLC is closing its Pacifica Advance Product Design Center, the studio near San Diego where several key vehicles — such as the 300 sedan, Dodge Challenger and Pacifica crossover — took shape in recent years.
All of [...]
Toyota chief says yen has strengthened too much
queryvar=”toyota,chief,says,yen,has,strengthened,too,much”;
Automotive News | March 7, 2008 - 6:05 am EST
TOKYO (Reuters) — The head of Toyota Motor Corp. said on Friday the yen had risen too far against the dollar and that current levels would hurt its earnings.
"The yen has strengthened too much and will have a big [...]
GM says 29 plants now affected by Axle strike
queryvar=”gm,says,29,plants,now,affected,by,axle,strike”;
Automotive News | March 7, 2008 - 12:01 am EST
DETROIT — General Motors said Friday that nine more parts plants are cutting shifts and reducing work because of the UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.
The list of affected GM plants now stands at 29, [...]
Friday, March 7, 2008
Impact of American Axle strike widens to 19 GM factories
Tom Krisher / Associated Press
DETROIT — The United Auto Workers and auto parts maker American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. went back to the bargaining table Friday, trying to end an 11-day strike that has affected factories in the U.S. and Canada.
Company [...]
