by Joseph Szczesny | Jun 16, 2009
With the new Chrysler Group LLC on the road, the company’s old chairman and chief executive is officially out of job. He said he was heading back to wait in the bullpen at Cerberus Capital Management for another call. It might be a long wait, since...
by Ken Zino | Jun 15, 2009
Manufacturing is getting to be like the weather. Everybody is talking about it, but nobody is doing much to change a U.S. competitive environment that allows other countries to target industries and export their way to prosperity at the cost of U.S. jobs. To take just...
by Ken Zino | Jun 15, 2009
Lexus confirms that the hybrid version of its best selling RX350, the RX450h, will enter production this fall at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC), which also builds the Corolla and Matrix models. This decision, from the division of Toyota that leads the U.S....
by Mike Davis | Jun 15, 2009
The possibility of an active war on the Korean peninsula of Northeast Asia should be creating a lot more concern than it has in the United States. And, no, that’s not because it might become a meat-grinder of casualties for young American soldiers, sailors,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jun 15, 2009
The economic crisis that nearly eviscerated the South Korean economy, a decade ago, cost the independence of most of that country’s carmakers. The lone survivor, Hyundai Motors, snapped up its rival, Kia, and in the years since, the smaller marque has operated...
by Marty Bernstein | Jun 15, 2009
It was reminiscent of a ’60’s love fest. A fortnight or so ago, more than 25,000 Mini lovers and their 10,000+ Mini cars assembled at the famed Silverstone F1 Raceway, just a short drive from London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the quirky little...
by Mike Davis | Jun 12, 2009
Through all the turmoil in Detroit for the last year, there’s been one strong, articulate, well-recognized and (mostly) highly respected voice that hasn’t been heard from — that of Lee A. Iacocca, former president of Ford Motor Company and Chairman...
by Ken Zino | Jun 12, 2009
Critics of GM’s plan to cut new car dealerships that claim keeping them open is essentially free to auto companies were confronted today by GM CEO Fritz Henderson, who claimed a savings potential of $928,000 per closed dealer — if and when they are fully...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jun 12, 2009
In automotive circles, these days, it’s often said that “flat is the new up.” With most major automakers posting hefty double-digit declines, even a single-digit sales dip, is considered a huge success. So, with its volume off just 6.8 percent, Kia...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jun 12, 2009
The Exodus Has Begun. General Motors’ parts purchasing chief, Bo Andersson, has announced he’s leaving the bankrupt automaker to “pursue other career opportunities,” words that, in corporate-speak, usual mean someone has been pushed out of the...
by Marty Bernstein | Jun 12, 2009
Ford First Sponsor of New African-American Web Site Major causalities of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings of GM and Chrysler have been the loss of what is euphemistically called Minority Dealers and concurrently minority advertising budgets. A loss noted by many...
by Ken Zino | Jun 11, 2009
In a hearing yesterday with the usual, large, degree of political posturing, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee took senior members of the Obama Administration to task for its handling of the collapse of Chrysler LLC and General Motors...
