by Mike Davis | Aug 13, 2009
Volvo hardly deserves all the credit for its admirable frosting on the safety cake. Thursday, August 13, 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of Volvo obtaining a patent, presumably in Sweden, for the three-point safety belt it pioneered. But they’ve gone overboard in...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 13, 2009
Within automotive circles, you’ll often hear a debate over the role of “car guys” and “bean counters,” those who come from the product and engineering side and those with financial backgrounds. But the chimneys get narrower when you start talking about those who...
by Mike Davis | Aug 13, 2009
Generally, Detroiters have heaved sighs of relief from July sales reports, as they respond to hope of improved economy on one hand and the effect of Cash for Clunkers on the other. But when you analyze the results carefully, especially by models, July sales compared...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 13, 2009
Jerry Milgram had long been hoping to get rid of his beat-up ’92 Ford Explorer, but with the money he was due on a trade-in, he couldn’t make the numbers work on a trade-in. That all changed when the Cash-for-Clunker program was launched, last month. Suddenly, the...
by Ken Zino | Aug 12, 2009
Two hundred thirty miles a gallon – 230! That’s what the EPA figures an owner will get behind the wheel of the new Chevrolet Volt. It’s a mind-boggling number, and one you’ll likely hear repeated often enough from General Motors as it tries to...
by Joseph Szczesny | Aug 12, 2009
The United Auto Workers has extended its deadline in talks with Toyota Motor Corporation over the fate of the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, California. The UAW’s existing contract with NUMMI expired at midnight August 9th, but the five-day extension,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 12, 2009
Once known for its cheap-and-cheerful little sedans and coupes, the South Korean carmaker Hyundai will continue its recent move up-market with the launch of an all-new flagship sedan. Codenamed “VI,” and recently introduced in the Asian home market as Equus, the new...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 11, 2009
It’s time to ban the word, “competitive,” from the General Motors vocabulary, says CEO Fritz Henderson. That’s simply not good enough, he admits. But can GM really “meet or exceed” the best competitors like Honda, Toyota, BMW and Mercedes-Benz can throw at it?...
by Ken Zino | Aug 11, 2009
A month and a day after General Motors Company was launched its new executive corps were out in force in a product preview and update session led by CEO Fritz Henderson. The difference from the old GM was noted by Henderson, who said the product portion of the program...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 11, 2009
“It’s all about product,” or so goes the old auto industry maxim. But that’s no longer good enough, admits General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. To make its comeback, the post-bankruptcy automaker will have to produce vehicles that are no only better than its...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 11, 2009
Cadillac officials have confirmed plans to add a pair of new products that will expand the brand at its extremes. The news came at an unusual background briefing as General Motors officials pulled the wraps off a wide variety of future product programs going out to...
by Ken Zino | Aug 11, 2009
A large majority of drivers over the age of 55 are taking one or more medications, yet most are unaware of the potential negative impact on driving performance that can be accompany their use, according to a study released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic...
