by Ken Zino | Oct 30, 2009
When a blog site declared that the CARS program, aka Cash For Clunkers, cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle sold and only 125,000 of the sales were incremental, it was too much for the newly aggressive Obama Administration to ignore publicly. In a witty and number...
by Ken Zino | Oct 30, 2009
Whatever happened to British reserve? And I don’t mean the pound as currency. Well, if you believe a recent survey, and it is not a p.r. hoax, almost half of the Brits surveyed have engaged in some form of car sex. While the sexual antics of the Royal Family are...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 30, 2009
Roger Penske has a way of turning things to his own advantage. And the recently-concluded Cash-for-Clunkers program provided him yet another opportunity to work that corporate magic. The Penske Automotive Group, run by the Detroit-based entrepreneur and motor sports...
by Ken Zino | Oct 30, 2009
Today, the Texas Department of Transportation Commission (TxDOT) approved pricing for the re-launch of the so called My Plates program. My Plates is a private program created by the state legislature to offer Texans more choices in the color and design of their...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 30, 2009
Roger Penske’s ill-fated bid for General Motors Saturn brand cost the Penske Automotive Group Inc. $2 million, according to PAG’s latest quarterly financial report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Penske called off the bid for Saturn when...
by Ken Zino | Oct 30, 2009
General Motors Company’s “May the Best Car Win” marketing campaign will be extended through January 4, 2009, said Jay Spenchian, executive director, Marketing Strategy. The program was originally due to expire in November. For potential buyers, the program allows them...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 29, 2009
No, we’re not saying the fix was in, but we somehow never really doubted the likely overcome of Bob Lutz’s “Winner Take All” challenge. The septuagenarian executive had, last month, issued a challenge to all comers that no production sedan could beat the Cadillac CTSv...
by Ken Zino | Oct 29, 2009
Volkswagen Group AG reported a third-quarter after tax profit decline of 86% compared to the year earlier period, as vehicle prices dropped and revenue fell 10%. Net income was €172 million ($255 million), or 43 cents a share, compared €1.21 billion or €3.02 a share a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 29, 2009
BMW has formed a joint venture with SGL Group aimed at developing and producing carbon fiber, a strong yet super-light material that the German automaker plans to use to build its so-called Megacity Vehicle. Key to the $133 million venture is transforming carbon fiber...
by Ken Zino | Oct 29, 2009
Chrysler Group’s Mopar parts and accessories brand will offer mobile TV broadcasts into Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles this year. Chrysler claims to be the first automaker in the United States to offer live mobile TV to consumers with the capacity...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 29, 2009
Detroit overwhelmingly dominated the choice of finalists for the International Car and Truck of the Year awards while Japanese brands were notably absent from the top six picks. The selection suggests that while the Big Three still have their struggles ahead, they’re...
by Ken Zino | Oct 29, 2009
Shanghai OnStar Telematics Company opens for business in China this December following an announcement more than two years ago by ousted General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner. Since then Toyota, Lexus, Nissan and Audi have offered telematics products to what is now an...
