by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 31, 2009
The global slump may have taken a toll on Audi’s sales and profits, but the automaker insists the downturn could play to its advantage, longer-term. The German maker, a semi-autonomous arm of giant Volkswagen AG, reported that it was able to stay in the black,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 31, 2009
If there’s a chance it’s broke, fix it. That seems to be the preemptive mantra of federal lawmakers, responding to word that the Cash-for-Clunkers program is ready to run out of gas, or, more accurately, cash. The program, conceived as a way to kick-start...
by Marty Bernstein | Jul 31, 2009
Ford’s Tempting Taurus Advertising Thursday’s reveal of the new advertising for the new 2010 Taurus was held in the vast space of Ford’s digital design studio with stunning video capabilities that were utilized to the fullest. The presentation of...
by Brenda Priddy | Jul 31, 2009
The Sonata, codenamed “YF,” was penned at Hyundai’s design studio in Irvine, CA. We were told there was heated debate in the boardroom over the styling direction of the new Sonata. The final design sports a much sleeker, coupe-like roofline....
by Joseph Szczesny | Jul 31, 2009
Ford has to show people that while the Taurus nameplate remains, there is a whole new car behind it. Matt Van Dyke, Ford marketing director, says good news about Taurus is that it has very high name recognition, something like 87%. The bad news is that a lot of the...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jul 31, 2009
Nissan Motor Company has signed a contract with EnerDel and its parent company Ener1, an Indiana company that has been working on advanced lithium-ion automotive batteries. The research is targeted specifically at developing a new generation of electrical conductive...
by Ken Zino | Jul 31, 2009
When the BMW Group for the first time displays all three of its brands under one roof the Frankfurt Motor Show opens this September, the BMW Group for the first time displays all three of its brands under one roof in Hall 11. The highlight of BMW’s 2009 motor...
by Ken Zino | Jul 30, 2009
Nissan Motor Company Ltd announced a net loss after tax of ¥16.5 billion ($170 million, euro €120 million) in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, which ends March 31, 2010, compared to net income of ¥52.8 billion yen ($540 million) from the same period a year ago....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 30, 2009
Anyone who wondered whether the cash-for-clunkers program would actually spur demand in the moribund U.S. auto market no longer need worry. The $1 billion federal pot designed to get motorists to trade in their old, inefficient vehicles for newer, high-mileage models...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 30, 2009
Few products have been asked to play such a significant role, but American Suzuki has a lot riding on the upcoming launch of its 2010 Kizashi sedan. The Japanese maker has long been little more than a niche player in the critical U.S. market – even though it is...
by Ken Zino | Jul 30, 2009
Volkswagen AG, the biggest carmaker in Europe and soon to be owner of Porsche, rung up second quarter results that look like the worst of the Great Recession is over for it, according to our reading of its latest financial statement issued this morning. The...
by Ken Zino | Jul 30, 2009
The chief negotiator for General Motors on the sale of Opel/Vauxhall in Europe published a blog post yesterday that in my view foreshadowed what GM thinks is a desirable outcome for the impending decision. It is a canny piece of communication in the midst of a...
