by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 12, 2011
Frank Weber, the talented engineer who guided the early development of the Chevrolet Volt, has elected to leave Opel and General Motors for a job with BMW. Weber has been Opel’s product planning chief since the autumn of 2009 but apparently left with little...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 11, 2011
Audi pulled off something of a surprise at last month’s Geneva Motor Show, introducing a new sedan version of the popular A3 line. Until now, most of the emphasis has been on the A3 wagon. Two-box sedans needn’t worry. As this sketch illustrates, the A3 Avant, as...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 11, 2011
Despite a painfully slow production launch designed to weed out potential defects Nissan has confirmed that at least some of the Leaf battery-electric vehicles it has sold experience occasional problems starting up. The maker says it is tracking the problem but still...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 11, 2011
A complex deal that would sell Saab assets to a Russian businessman then lease them back to the Swedish company could help save the cash-strapped automaker. Saab Automobile has been frantically searching for new sources of revenue in recent days as it has burned...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 11, 2011
The long-awaited return of Alfa Romeo to the U.S. market has apparently been delayed once again. The Italian maker, a subsidiary of the Italian auto giant Fiat S.p.A. was due to return to American shores late next year, but that has now been pushed back to 2013,...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 11, 2011
Gasoline prices, now pushing upwards towards and beyond $4 per gallon in most of the U.S., will remain volatile for the foreseeable future while trending upwards, predicts Peter Wells, an analyst with Boston Petroleum. Even if the U.S succeeded in pumping up its...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 11, 2011
The all-electric RAV4 isn’t officially due to plug into the U.S. market until the 2012 calendar-year but recently Toyota gave us a chance to take a spin in one of the 31 prototypes built by its partner, the California-based battery car start-up, Tesla Motors. Toyota...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 8, 2011
The steady rise in oil prices has apparently led Chrysler’s Jeep division to rethink the opportunities for fuel-stingy diesel engines. A senior executive says the brand could have a new diesel in its line-up within the next few years. Jeep has experimented with...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 8, 2011
More than a month after Japan was wracked by a series of natural disasters – and the subsequent crisis at a nuclear plant – Toyota Motor Co. is preparing to reopen its home market plants. The maker revealed today it will resume operations on April 18th through at...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 8, 2011
The shutdown of Saab’s main assembly plant, at its Trollhattan, Sweden headquarters, could drag on for some time as the maker struggles to raise additional cash to help cover what parts suppliers claim are millions of dollars in unpaid bills. The maker’s parent,...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 8, 2011
Seems like General Motors can’t run from labor unrest. Some 1,600 workers have struck at the GM Halol plant in India, which produces Cruze and Aveo vehicles. Workers paid 47 to 92 cents an hour are claiming they have been shortchanged on their overtime pay and that...
by Marty Bernstein | Apr 8, 2011
Ford’s New ‘Swap Your Ride’ Ad Campaign Sets Retail Benchmark For almost as long as auto manufacturers have sold to and through local dealers there have been significant differences of opinion – also known as shouting arguments — as to what makes a good dealer...
