by Michael Strong | May 5, 2020
Like its Detroit-area rivals, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles took a massive first-quarter earnings hit due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, posting net loss of $1.84 billion for the period with more to come. The loss is in contrast to a $520 million profit for...
by Joseph Szczesny | May 5, 2020
Mercedes-Benz is giving its entry-level sport-utility vehicle, the GLA, a makeover that includes the integration of new technology and safety features. The GLA’s new contours, with reduced lines and accentuated planes, convey serene sportiness and modernity, according...
by Michael Strong | May 4, 2020
The compact sport-utility market is more competitive than ever, and Ford Motor Co. introduced its latest iteration of the Escape for 2020 and immediately became a top competitor — especially the automaker’s hybrid model. I spent a week behind the wheel of the 2020...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 4, 2020
In the “City that Never Sleeps,” the traditionally 24/7 New York subway system now will be shutting down each night for four hours so trains can be cleaned and disinfected to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. Ridership on the New York subways has collapsed...
by Michael Strong | May 4, 2020
New vehicle sales were down markedly in the U.S. in April, as much as 50% in some cases; however, GM’s sales in China are the flip side of the coin, rising 13.6% last month. GM and its joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp. sold 111,155 vehicles in April. The JV produces...
by Joseph Szczesny | May 4, 2020
With automakers looking for ways to restart production, the United Auto Workers said Thursday said it wants to see more proof that workers on the industry’s assembly lines will be protected before giving it approval to any kind of back-to-work order. “We continue to...
by Michael Strong | May 1, 2020
The relationship between Ford Motor Co. and startup electric vehicle maker Rivian just got a little tighter as Alexandra Ford English was announced as the newest member of Rivian’s board of directors. She is currently the director of corporate strategy at Ford — and...
by Joseph Szczesny | May 1, 2020
Sales figures from the handful of carmakers reporting April results reflected the expected sharp decline in new vehicle sales last month as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the U.S. economy. Subaru of America Inc. reported 30,620 vehicle sales for April 2020, a 47%...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | May 1, 2020
A mile off the coast of Los Angeles, the Jupiter Spirit sat anchored, the big cargo ship sitting in limbo after a three-week journey from Japan, unable for five days to unload the 2,000 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles onboard because there was simply nowhere to put them....
by Michael Strong | May 1, 2020
Automakers have been working overtime to provide incentives to encourage customers to buy new vehicles during the coronavirus pandemic, and one particular strategy seems to working: zero-percent financing. Zero percent finance deals hit a new high in April, according...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 30, 2020
In a bid to trim costs, consolidate data collection and boost efficiency, the Volkswagen Group is developing its own cloud computing platform with help from Amazon that could save hundreds of millions. The company initially launched its cloud server with Volkswagen...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 30, 2020
When Ford Motor Co. restarts its U.S. manufacturing operations on May 18, company officials expect what they’ve described as a “benchmark playbook” will ensure that workers can count on being safe despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Senior Ford officials...
