by Ken Zino | Apr 24, 2009
Starting this summer, BMW’s specialty car brand will aim way down market with two mini-Minis for tots or toddlers. This blatant commercial from Mini is getting past our normally flinty eyed editor because we wanted to run the pictures, as well as mini protest...
by Marty Bernstein | Apr 24, 2009
Country Music Video Dramatizes Plight of Detroit’s Auto Workers I’m not a big fan of country music, other than Willie Nelson, but there’s a recent country music video homage to the Detroit’s devastating automobile industry’s economic and...
by Ken Zino | Apr 23, 2009
General Motors Corporation has just confirmed as reported earlier today that it is scheduling multiple downtime at 13 assembly operations in North America. The closings will range from one to nine weeks in duration, depending on the plant. An unspecified number of ...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 23, 2009
Chrysler LLC’s creditors will have to make a judgment soon on whether they accept an offer to exchange their debt for equity in the company for pennies on the dollar or risk a political showdown over whether to force the company into bankruptcy. Michigan’s...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 23, 2009
The good news? The new car market appears to have bottomed out, in March, according to a report by J.D. Power and Associates. The bad news is that sales, during the first 16 days of April, were just holding pace with the dismal volumes of the first quarter. If the...
by Ken Zino | Apr 23, 2009
While the Auto Task Force of President Obama has endorsed a takeover of Chrysler LLC by Italian carmaker Fiat, the group’s own first quarter results call into question the health of one of Europe’s leading small car makers. Fiat SpA in Turin this morning...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 23, 2009
There’s a mystery to the news of the morning. What is so far known is that General Motors, facing the immediate threat of bankruptcy, and the more extended problems caused by the massive slump in car sales, plans to idle the majority of its U.S. assembly...
by Ken Zino | Apr 22, 2009
In the face of a 21% overall decline in global vehicle demand, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft still managed to make an operating profit and increase its liquidity during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. The VW Group’s operating profit amounted to €312...
by Henny Hemmes | Apr 22, 2009
It was great to see the new Nissan 370Z unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show, last November, but I was left with one nagging question: would it live up to its predecessor, a truly exciting and affordable sports car? To be honest, I was not instantly enchanted by the looks...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 22, 2009
It’s not easy getting 30 mpg. Especially not if you’re driving the new 2010 Toyota Prius, which is rated at a combined 50 miles to the gallon. But with my afternoon driving partner, that’s precisely what we set out to do, breaking just about every...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 22, 2009
“A more constructive position” is needed on the part of Chrysler LLC’s lenders, the U.S. Treasury Department is saying, in response to a proposal by banks, private equity firms and others who hold $6.9 billion in the automaker’s debt –...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 22, 2009
Audi, even though it’s optimistic about its future prospects, hasn’t made any decision yet on whether to build cars at the Volkswagen plant that’s under construction near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America, told...
