by Joseph Szczesny | Dec 17, 2009
Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that Chrysler Group LLC will not repay all the money it got from the U.S. Treasury. The $4 billion was granted to Chrysler in early January by the Treasury before filed for Chapter 11 protection. The money was used by Chrysler’s...
by Ken Zino | Dec 17, 2009
GMC is extending its Denali package to include the Acadia crossover, borrowing it from the larger, more expensive Yukon sport utility model. When the new 2011 Acadia Denali goes on sale in the third quarter of 2010, it will be available in front-wheel drive and...
by Ken Zino | Dec 17, 2009
North Dakota continues to have the nation’s most cost-effective state-owned highway system, according to a study released today. However, not every state resident is getting their money’s worth. Taxpayers in New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, California, Rhode Island...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 17, 2009
At first glance, the challenge seems daunting. Going into bankruptcy court, earlier this year, General Motors ran eight unique North American brands. Today it has just four, yet it’s hoping to maintain most of its sales and market share and even build momentum in...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 17, 2009
Reports of Bob Lutz’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Just ask the septuagenarian General Motors vice chairman. It’s been a chaotic month at GM, with a CEO fired, a new Buick boss quitting after just eight days, and enough other personnel changes to require a...
by Joseph Szczesny | Dec 16, 2009
After a secretive conclave in Detroit, Bob King, a well-known figure around the Detroit Three auto industry has secured the nod of a majority of the executive board of United Auto Workers union during a member’s only caucus to become the next president. King, 63, has...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 16, 2009
Domestic models dominate the list of finalists for the coveted titles of North American Car and Truck of the year. A jury of 49 veteran U.S. and Canadian journalists has selected the following finalists: North American Car of the Year Buick LaCrosse Ford Fusion Hybrid...
by Ken Zino | Dec 16, 2009
The revised labor contracts that were the result of the Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcies are still not competitive with non-unionized transplants in U.S., particularly those run by Hyundai and Kia that pay as little as $12 an hour, according to the Chief...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 16, 2009
We’re always intrigued when e-mail comes in from the quirky Swiss design house, Rinspeed. Over the years, they’ve come up with flying cars, floating cars, and even a vehicle that can reconfigure its interior layout depending on how many passengers it’s carrying. But...
by Ken Zino | Dec 16, 2009
Renault is in the process of selling most of its Formula One team to Genii Capital, a Luxemburg based firm specialized in new technologies, brand management and motor sport. The letter of intent signed by the two companies calls for the deal to close in early 2010. At...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 16, 2009
Automaker’s often talk about their DNA, the defining characteristics of a brand, which might be quality, design, performance or price. Say the name, Aston Martin, and sleekly elegant high-performance sports cars immediately come to mind. So a first look at these, the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Dec 15, 2009
Few buyers expect to get the mileage that automakers advertise. The figures printed in ads and on so-called Monroney window stickers are calculated using a strict government test process that traditionally didn’t seem to have much bearing on real-world performance....
