by Ken Zino | Jul 13, 2009
Steven Rattner, the head of the Presidents’ Auto Task Force, has resigned, according to a statement just issued by Tim Geithner, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Taking over as the head of the Task Force is Ron Bloom a former employee of the United Steel Workers...
by Ken Zino | Jul 13, 2009
Honda Motor Company this morning in Tokyo confirmed plans to begin sales of a CR-Z hybrid model in February 2010, with a hybrid version of the Fit following before the end of the year. “We want to focus on how quickly we can widen our hybrid lineup,” said...
by Mike Davis | Jul 13, 2009
This is what’s known as a speculative story, an effort by a long-time automotive journalist to polish the dust off the crystal ball and look into the future. Everyone knows that crystal balls are notoriously fickle — ask any gambler — and I may look...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jul 13, 2009
The U.S. Postal Service plans to purchase 900 new hybrids as well as 1,000 E-85 ethanol-capable vehicles as it replaces some 6,500 vehicles this year. The balance of the Government Services Administration buy for the Postal Service will be fuel-efficient,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 13, 2009
There was a time, not that many decades ago, when General Motors controlled more than half the U.S. automotive market. Today, the company that has just re-emerged from bankruptcy is down to barely 20%, and the automaker expects to give up a few more points of share...
by Ken Zino | Jul 10, 2009
Late this afternoon Chrysler Group LLC announced that production of the Dodge Viper SRT10 and its V-10 engine will continue at the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant, where they have been built since 1995. In a bankruptcy court filing back in May the company said there was...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 10, 2009
It’s the biggest automotive brand in China. Here at home, it’s barely an asterisk on the sales charts. Do Chinese consumers know something that American auto buyers don’t? Buick is betting they do, and hopes to increase awareness in the U.S., a...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jul 10, 2009
Hyundai has stolen a march on competitors by becoming the first automaker to claim that it is honoring the U.S. government’s “Car Allowance Rebate System” better known as the cash for clunkers program. Cash for clunkers has accounted for 7% of...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 10, 2009
For all the financial wizardry, and the $50 billion in federal aid, that helped pull General Motors through bankruptcy, the company’s long-term success could come down to one word, “Chevrolet.” You can’t cost-cut your way to prosperity, GM CEO...
by Marty Bernstein | Jul 10, 2009
Jay Leno, car enthusiast and comic turned pitchman introduces new Jaguar As reported in The Detroit Bureau by Paul Eisenstein, Jaguar held a verrrrry fannnncy gala at London’s bastion of modern art, the Saatchi Museum to introduce the new Jaguar XJ. Jay Leno,...
by Ken Zino | Jul 10, 2009
General Motors Company, or the new GM, is abandoning the old way of doing business that drove it into bankruptcy, according to its CEO. He also will streamline its organization, focus on “best in class” products and attract enough customers to stop its...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 9, 2009
With General Motors set to emerge from bankruptcy, Friday, barely six weeks after filing for Chapter 11 protection, a familiar name also is set to return to the company: Bob Lutz. Sources tell TheDetroitBureau.com that “Maximum Bob” will take on a new role...
