by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 19, 2010
A new report is harshly critical of the Obama Administration’s efforts to have General Motors and Chrysler sharply cull their distribution networks as part of their bankruptcy reorganization plans, last year. Together, the two troubled companies agreed to shed...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 19, 2010
With Chinese booming auto market spreading across the country, General Motors has launched a new joint venture aimed at capitalizing on demand for smaller low-cost cars. The new Baojun brand is a three-way joint venture established by GM and its partners SAIC and...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 19, 2010
Tap the “Start” button and an assortment of lights and gauges pop to life, but all in near silence. As we slip the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid into gear and slowly squeeze the throttle, the sedan begins to creep forward, the tires crunching on the tarmac at the maker’s...
by Ken Zino | Jul 16, 2010
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) said today it will build a new plant – its third – in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil for Toyota do Brasil Ltda. (TDB), its Brazilian sales and manufacturing company. TMC purchased land for the plant about 90 km west of the city...
by Ken Zino | Jul 16, 2010
The Volkswagen Group will build a new vehicle production plant in Jiangsu Province, China. The contracts were signed today by Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, and Dr. Winfried Vahland, President and CEO of...
by Ken Zino | Jul 16, 2010
Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that the two companies will start the development of an electric version of the RAV4, which will be available in the U.S. by 2012. The electric cute-ute will be made from the existing RAV4...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 16, 2010
It’s been the dream of automotive entrepreneurs since at least the days of Henry Ford, but now a Texas start-up made up mostly of aviation industry veterans is betting it can come up with the elusive combination of automobile and aircraft. Bearing a bit of a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 16, 2010
“Fascinating,” as Mr. Spock might say. Fascination, we’d correct him. Or, more precisely, the striking Concept Fascination prototype that drew admiring stares when it made its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. A somewhat less exotic version has already appeared in...
by Ken Zino | Jul 15, 2010
For the first time since 1997, domestic auto brands surpassed import brands as a whole in vehicle appeal, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study released today. (See the chart at the end of the story.) In...
by Ken Zino | Jul 15, 2010
While there is a clinically proven brain fitness-training tool that helps older adults reduce their likelihood of being in an auto accident, it is virtually unknown among drivers. According to a survey from The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), 74%...
by Ken Zino | Jul 15, 2010
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. today announced Li Shufu, its Chairman, will become Chairman of the Board at Volvo Car Corporation upon its acquisition of Volvo from Ford Motor Company. Geely also named Hans-Olov Olsson as Vice-Chairman at Volvo Cars. Olsson is...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jul 15, 2010
Ford has announced a number of senior management changes that, among other things, will give it a global sales, service and marketing czar, for the first time, and a new boss in Europe. A one-time rising star at Toyota, 48-year-old Jim Farley has been serving a...
