by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 30, 2010
An outside panel, comprised of a variety of experts from the safety, aviation, business and technology fields, will be empowered to advise Toyota how to deal with ongoing safety problems and what to do to prevent similar problems in the future. The 7-member group will...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 30, 2010
The recent rash of recalls at Toyota has federal regulators and lawmakers racing to find ways to improve safety oversight, and a new proposal could stick buyers, rather than consumers, in general, with the costs of the expanded effort. A new draft bill, sponsored by...
by Ken Zino | Apr 30, 2010
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is interpreting a new General Accounting Office study of the “Cash for Clunkers” program as saying it met key goals of stimulating the economy and improving vehicle fuel economy. If only it were that simple. The press release...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 29, 2010
The California-based electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla Motors, is edging closer to an initial public offering, according to founder Elon Musk. Musk also confirmed that Tesla is working on a replacement for its current 2-seat sports car, the Roadster, which will go...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 29, 2010
The “new” Chrysler is likely to look but sound a lot different from the old version of the automaker. Indications of the grand transformation conceived by Chrysler’s new and secretive CEO Sergio Marchionne will start coming into view later this year. In the months to...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 29, 2010
With consumers increasingly soured by the maker’s ongoing safety scandal, Toyota has been toppled as the most valuable automotive brand in the world, according to a new study, replaced in the top spot, by Germany’s BMW. Ford and Volkswagen both gained ground in the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 29, 2010
Porsche is recalling all 11,300 of the Panamera sports cars it has so far sold due a potentially faulty seatbelt tensioner. The problem with the maker’s first-ever four-door comes as an embarrassing stutter in the launch of the long-awaited Panamera – and an even more...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 28, 2010
Seemingly unable to stay out of the headlines, Toyota has announced yet another recall, this one involving 50,000 of its Sequoia sport-utility vehicles due to concerns about potential rollover problems. The move comes just weeks after Toyota was slammed by influential...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 28, 2010
Daimler expects to post a substantial profit this year, following the announcement by the German automaker that it earned net income of $816 million for the first quarter of 2010. “This very good result for the first quarter shows that we did our homework in the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 28, 2010
Looking to buy a piece of history? Here’s a chance to buy a rather macabre one: the 1968 Volkswagen van used by “Dr. Death,” Jack Kevorkian, in several of his controversial assisted suicides. Preliminary bidding reached $3,400, but you’ll have to work a little harder...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 27, 2010
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc., supplier of the hybrid-drive system for the Fisker plug-in hybrid has closed on a Department of Energy loan for $528.7 million. The DOE loan to Fisker will be used for the development and production of two models of...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 27, 2010
Intent on showing last year’s positive numbers weren’t a fluke, Ford Motor Co. weighed in with another solid earnings report, this time going $2.08 billion into the black for the first quarter of 2010. The profit, which amounted to 50 cents a share, comes as a...
