by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 26, 2009
After building a solid relationship with its suppliers that may have helped it, in turn, solidify its ties to American consumers, Toyota has slipped from the top spot in an annual study of carmaker supplier relations. The decline, which could add to the list of recent...
by Joseph Szczesny | May 26, 2009
Chrysler LLC is asking the U.S. Department of Energy for $224 million from the department’s Transportation Electrification Initiative to finance the development of electric vehicles (EVs). It joins a long list of competitors also seeking federal funds. The list...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 26, 2009
The United Auto Workers Union will take a 17.5% stake in General Motors, and receive a $2.5 billion payout, due in increments between now and 2017, as part of the settlement workers will vote on this week. An earlier proposal would have given the union as much as 39%...
by Ken Zino | May 26, 2009
Senior executives at Volkswagen AG and privately-held BYD have signed a memorandum of agreement to “explore the options for partnership in the area of hybrids and electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries.” BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, showed a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 26, 2009
The Toyota Prius is the world’s most popular hybrid-electric vehicle. It’s also the most distinctive. Indeed, it may be one of the easiest cars on the road to recognize, a factor that’s definitely played well to folks who like to make their...
by Marty Bernstein | May 25, 2009
You can understand why Ian Robertson, BMW AG’s board member for marketing and sales, might be charged up about the new Mini-E. In a Saturday night interview with Robertson during Mini’s 50th Anniversary gala at the Silverstone raceway in England, he...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 25, 2009
One of the first bits of business awaiting Washington lawmakers, after their week-long Memorial Day break, is the cash-for-clunkers debate. Hoping to kick-start the U.S. market, several proposed measures would offer big cash incentives to trade in older vehicles for...
by Ken Zino | May 24, 2009
President Obama defended Federal help for the auto industry in an interview with C-SPAN aired on Saturday morning. The aid has been under attack in various forms since it was establish by President Bush late last year when the U.S. financial system collapsed from its...
by Ken Zino | May 22, 2009
General Motors Corporation confirmed late today that it will draw an additional $4 billion in U.S. Treasury loans to maintain adequate liquidity as the company undergoes what it calls an “aggressive restructuring.” Today’s loan is $1.4 billion higher...
by Joseph Szczesny | May 22, 2009
The Michigan Congressional delegation is moving to lock up government money for building electric cars. Both Democrats and Republicans have joined together in pressing the U.S. Department of Energy for a large share of the $2 billion the DOE is preparing to distribute...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 22, 2009
The Obama Administration’s proposed bailout of General Motors and Chrysler is facing a growing chorus of criticism – and, significantly, it’s coming from both sides of the political aisle. Nearly 40 Senators, including both Republicans and Democrats,...
by Ken Zino | May 22, 2009
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has strengthened the weak balance sheet of GMAC Financial Services by adding $7.5 billion in capital to the ailing finance company and bank. The troubled lender had a first-quarter loss of $675 million, up from $599 million a year...
