by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 21, 2009
“Why would I even consider buying a car from Detroit,” says Leslie Hamilton, a successful author living in Seattle, “when I’ve been completely happy with my Toyota – and the one I had before and the one before that?” It’s the...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jul 21, 2009
As Toyota Motor Corporation ponders the fate of New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, the United Auto Workers is fighting to protect is last foothold in manufacturing on the West Coast. UAW officials have confirmed...
by Ken Zino | Jul 21, 2009
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released the latest results from its ongoing safety tests, which exceed the standards imposed by the U.S. government. In the latest side-impact tests, five 2009 coupes were crunched, including the Chevrolet Cobalt,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 20, 2009
It seems like every automaker is trying to find a way to stand out in a crowded market – often by following the latest trend. In Acura’s case, that means the luxury arm of Honda will be rolling out an all-new four-door sports coupe this fall. This is the...
by Ken Zino | Jul 20, 2009
California has just completed hearings on a proposal to have insurance companies sell “pay as you drive” plans that will offer a greater spread in rates than currently. Potential big winners are those who drive relatively fewer miles, while people with...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 20, 2009
Is the man responsible for Porsche’s dramatic success, over the last decade, about to take the fall for the German maker’s bold but seemingly futile David-v-Goliath bid to acquire rival Volkswagen? But from a financial standpoint, at least, Wendelin...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 20, 2009
Anyone who travels around the country is likely to discover that there are some very distinct differences from one city to the next. And that means more than just regional accents and tastes in food. Conventional wisdom would suggest that Boston has some of the most...
by Mike Davis | Jul 20, 2009
Here’s your old safety nag at it again…yak, yak, yak, safety belts, drinkin’ n’ drivin’, yak, yak, yak. Still, the mainstream media doesn’t pay much attention to automotive safety, except for occasional blasts about purportedly...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 17, 2009
A one-time Toyota executive with even deeper family ties to Detroit is watching his star rise at the Ford Motor Co. Jim Farley, who returned to the Motor City, two years ago, to take on global marketing operations, at Ford, has now been given the added duties of...
by Marty Bernstein | Jul 17, 2009
Bob Lutz’s gigantic job: Unasked for advice for GM’s new advertising arbiter The news of Bob Lutz’s new job responsibilities was, to use that overused and becoming increasingly trite word — awesome. The shock waves, tremors and angst...
by Ken Zino | Jul 17, 2009
Late yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed spending bill that included a section, H.R. 2743, intended to reverse the closing of almost 3,000 dealers, which is key to the restructuring plans of Chrysler Group and General Motors Company. The White House had...
by Ken Zino | Jul 16, 2009
A little over 50 years ago a handful of Honda associates led by 39-year-old Kihachiro Kawashima began signing up U.S. motorcycle dealers, working out of a small storefront office in Los Angeles, California. The Honda Super Cub (50), Dream and Benly motor scooters were...
