Industry News

Trident announced it would finally show its production-ready car in public next month -- the Trident Iceni Grand Tourer, a diesel-powered machine that should hit 200 mph while returning 69 mpg on a variety of fuels. http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/diesel-powered-british-supercar-trident-icini-promises-200-200130777.html While very cool, the $119,000 price tag will keep this to the upper 5% of earners. Cool looking car.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 5, 2013 With the problems that Fisker Automotive is currently going through, one of companies that is somewhat effected is VL Productions? How so? Well, VL Productions showed off a vehicle called the Destino at the Detroit Auto Show this year that used Fisker Karma as a starting point, rips out the plug-in hybrid powertrain, and slips in the supercharged 6.2L LS9 V8 from the Corvette ZR1. Planned to go into production sometime in third quarter, is VL Productions worried about the future? Well not really according to one of the partners of VL Productions, Bob Lutz. Lutz tells Wards Auto that the company has already…

Wall Street Journal China-Made Tires Are Subject Of Lawsuit After Fatal Accident By TIMOTHY AEPPEL June 25, 2007 1:02 p.m. A recent lawsuit arising from a fatal auto accident in Pennsylvania is pointing toward another potentially hazardous Chinese import, this time tires. The accident occurred last August, when a steel-belted radial on a cargo van carrying four passengers allegedly experienced a tread separation -- the type of problem that prompted the big Firestone recall of 2000 -- causing the driver to loose control and crash. Two passengers were killed, the two others injured, one severely. The tire's U.S. distributor -- Foreign Tire Sales Inc. of Union, N.J., …

CNBC just posted this story that looks at facts gathered from quality studies and came to the conclusion that while Japan is not getting worse parse, they have fallen behind the competition in consumer surveys. Seems Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi and Subaru are not keeping pace with the industry and Korea has surpased them. According to the report, the average world wide is a 3% improvement in product quality. Japan has had a zero improvement rate for the last few years where as Korea had an 11% product quality improvement over last year leading the over all industry. Interesting is that Ford and Lincoln are mentioned for cutting the number of problems only and GM…

The 2017 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – introduces an updated powertrain lineup with the debut of its all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost® and Ford-built 10-speed automatic. The powertrain provides 50 lb.-ft. more peak torque, and features improvements across all three EPA fuel economy ratings – city, highway and combined – of 1 mpg over the 2016 model. Also new for the 2017 F-150 is the return of the STX Appearance Package bundling numerous exterior and interior features that aren’t normally available to give F-150 customers a great value truck. For comfort and convenience, BLIS® with cross-traffic alert now includes trailer coverage, while SY…

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/092810-texting-bans-dont-work.html As more states ban the practice – Massachusetts will become the 31st to do so on Thursday – new research from the insurance industry claims that the prohibition of texting while driving does not reduce auto crashes … and may actually increase them. The research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) builds upon similar results the organization offered in January regarding bans that address general cell-phone use while driving. HLDI president Adrian Lund was to present his organization’s findings at today’s gathering of the Governors Highway Safety Association in Kansas City. "Texting bans have…

Galileo Signals End of Liberty in Europe The first signals received from the oncoming swarm of Galileo satellites signal the end of liberty in Europe. Galileo offers consumers the promise of better and cheaper satellite navigation - this is how those behind the multi-billion (insert currency of choice) project sell it to the public. What they don't shout so loudly about is that it also offers governments the promise of easier satellite tracking. You'll soon be able to buy a mobile phone or watch that knows where you are. Indeed, the Japanese government have already passed a law that from 2007 onwards you won't be able to buy a new mobile phone in Japan without a s…

UAW Membership to Fall Below 500K UAW membership is expected to fall below 500,000 -- one-third its peak levels of three decades ago -- after Ford Motor Co. completes its buyouts of 38,000 hourly workers represented by the Detroit-based autoworkers union. The Ford buyouts, part of a sweeping restructuring plan, came months after 46,800 UAW members took early retirement or other buyouts from General Motors Corp. and Delphi Corp., its parts-making spin-off, which is in bankruptcy. Analysts speculate that the UAW, which must negotiate new deals with automakers next year, may need to merge with another union or at least drastically slash its own staff. But members say it n…

While Takata has agreed to declare its airbags in nearly 34 million vehicles defective yesterday, a new report from Bloomberg says the supplier changed the design to reduce the risk of abnormal deployment back in 2008. Sources tell Bloomberg that Takata changed the propellant mix to help reduce the effect of humidity - what many believe to be the cause of problem - around the same time that Honda announced that it would be replacing airbags in some of their models. This new information could shine a light on one of the biggest mysteries on Takata's airbags. The company has said time and time again that its current products are safe, but didn't say why. It should b…

It's an LS9 as opposed to an LT4, but you get the idea. Aaaaaaay. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/videos/a27718/chevrolet-corvette-ls9-v8-hand-assembled/

SAAB Files for Bankruptcy The first shoe has dropped, as Swedish automaker SAAB has filed for bankruptcy protection as GM tries to either sell it or spin it off. Click the link below to get the full scoop and discuss. SAAB Files for Bankruptcy

GM to Declare Bankruptcy 6/1/09 The day of reckoning is upon us as GM is expected to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection early Monday morning. Follow the jump for details. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=33709

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Drive First GM Sales Increase in 21 Months * Total GM sales increased 4 percent compared with October, 2008; retail sales were up 15 percent for the same period. * Year-over-year total sales increase is the first since January, 2008. * GM gains market share for the third straight month – estimated at 21 percent of the total light vehicle market. * Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac retail sales represented 95 percent of October retail sales vs. 85 percent in October, 2008. * Combined Buick / GMC retail sales were up 33 percent compared with last year, driving Buick-Pontiac-GMC retail sales up 12 percent. Find out all the …

_ Cheers and Jeers 2009 After a rollercoaster year for both Cheers & Gears and the auto industry, here's our list of Cheers and Jears for 2009 Cheers and Jeers for 2009

I'm not one to post bad news but I hate when head honchos steal money for personal use. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6329173.stm BBC NEWS Hyundai head faces trial verdict The chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, Chung Mong-koo, is to face the verdict in his corruption trial on Monday. On trial since June 2006, Mr Chung is accused of raising 103.4bn won ($110m;£56m) illegally for personal use and for paying lobbyists. Earlier this year, South Korean prosecutors recommended that he spend six years in prison for embezzlement. Analysts say if Mr Chung goes to prison it could harm both the country's car sector, and the wider economy. Suspended sentence His im…

NEW YORK (AP) - Major automakers are scheduled Tuesday to report August sales, which some analysts expect to decline because of sluggish consumer spending, higher gasoline prices and weakness in the housing market. Buckingham Research Group analyst Joseph C. Amaturo expects retail sales to come in weak for the third straight month in August, which could pressure auto-related stocks. "Weaker year-over-year retail sales reinforce our concerns about the weaker consumer, in particular, as it relates to high ticket discretionary items," Amaturo wrote in a note to clients. Amaturo expects Ford Motor Co.'s August overall sales to decline at least 10 percent from a year ago…

Forgot the link and the year 2015 in the title. Not sure how to change title, so if a mod would not mind changing it, I would be grateful. http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-us-initial-quality-study-iqs Fiat is consistently at the bottom. Have not followed them too closely, what is their problem. Or should I say, opportunity?

G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com According to the Today show this morning, Volkswagen has for the first 6 months of the 2015 year taken over Toyota and pushed GM to 3rd in worldwide sales. http://www.today.com/video/volkswagen-overtakes-toyota-in-worldwide-sales-493330499874 With that then VW follows it up with the normal financial reporting of earnings up 18% for the first 6 months, revenue grew 10.3% to $52.74 billion for the first half. This is on top of VW saying over all deliveries will be flat in 2015 compared to 2014 but due to efficiency and currency translations profits will grow. Yet with this positive info, VW s…

Feb 2017 Automotive Safety Recalls These start as of last month and go backwards, 198 current active recalls. Suprising is that Mazda has multiple recalls on every single product they make and some even on products no longer made. Crazy. Also latest Mercedes-benze sure seems to have a bunch of recalls too. Seems that Ford and GM has a bunch of airbag recalls now, same issue that has hit Honda and the rest of the asian OEMS. How is this still not resolved and still an issue even on 2016/2017 models? Auto NXT published the current list, nice job. http://autonxt.net/latest-automotive-safety-recalls/

How many times have you heard people say EVs are too expensive! Only the rich can afford an EV! Funded by Jeff Beso, SLATE set out to bring back the simple needs of the bulk of America by building a basic two-person electric truck that would do truck things basically and not much else. Yet if you wanted, you could expand later on to let the truck be so much more. SLATE set themselves a clear goal, build a truck that would be inexpensive, offer radical customizable and affordable options that would allow one to personalize their own transportation ending in a beautifully simplified means of transportation. SLATE CEO Chris Barman at their reveal tonight stated the…

America's Dirtiest Vehicles When it comes to pollution, these cars prove it's not just about fuel economy. Just because a car has low fuel efficiency doesn't mean it's the worst polluter on the road. The Chevrolet Suburban and Dodge Challenger are some of the biggest gas-gulpers available, but they don't cause quite the environmental harm other cars do. MORE AT FORBES.COM That title is reserved for vehicles that combine their poor gas mileage with high tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions. Think along the lines of some of the bulkiest cars on the road, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Dodge Dakota. While fuel economy is linked to emission…

_ Viper Laps Laguna Seca, Sets Track Record, Gets Updates for 2010, Clarification on Ferrari's Future Involvment. It's worth noting and commemorating that the Dodge Viper ACR took on Laguna Seca yesterday, and won by setting a new track record of 1.35.075. To commemorate this, Chrysler will be rolling out a special addition Viper ACR. In related news, Ralf Gills put rumors to rest about the possible Viper/Ferrari tie-up, and announced updates for the 2010 model. Viper Sets Leguna Seca track record Viper to get 2010 Updates, Gills puts rumors about Ferrari to rest

Auto-Sales Optimism Fades DETROIT—Just a few months ago, optimism was rising in the auto industry that new-vehicle sales would make a strong rebound this year after falling to historic lows in 2009. New data, however, suggest the recovery isn't as strong as it appeared earlier in the year. The increase in auto sales in the first five months of 2010 has been driven by higher sales to rental-car companies and other commercial fleets—not sales to consumers, who are now showing signs of more pessimism about the economy, as well as a halting interest in buying new cars. "The industry is on the mend but there are reasons for caution," said John Hoffecker, a managing directo…

Sorry if this was posted elsewhere and I missed it. _____________________________ WALKING THE LINE: Cadillac salesmen picket at Massey dealer after firings They joined Teamsters after commissions cut June 1, 2006 BY MICHAEL ELLIS FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Richard DeTata, left, Gary Hachigian, Matthew Sebastian and Bob Adas picket at Don Massey Cadillac in Plymouth on Wednesday. The four were fired days after salespeople voted to join the Teamsters union. Dealership group Sonic Automotive owns the chain. After 27 years of selling cars at Don Massey Cadillac, Bob Adas stood outside the dealership in Plymouth with a picket sign in his hands on Wednesday after he and…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 21, 2013 It has been a few months since we had any update from VL Automotive, the group who showed off a Fisker Karma with 6.2L LS9 V8 from the Corvette ZR1 called the Destino. Back in May, Bob Lutz said plans for the Destino were safe, despite the problems Fisker Automotive were having at the time. This past week, Lutz gave an update on where VL Automotive stands. Lutz tells Automotive News that VL currently has 25 Karmas on hand and that it has gotten over the hurdle of acquiring codes to access the Karma’s infotainment system. "Without getting those codes, it was close to impossible to get a working car," sai…

"That's right: Go on, take your Camaro to the track, the parking lot, the dragstrip. If you miss a shift weaving through the cones and a conrod punches through the hood at 14,000 RPM (unlikely), then you can luxuriate in the fact that you won't need to sell your firstborn for a moment of self-indulgence. But, there's that caveat—you must resist the temptation of adding more horsepower, swapping out parts, and your beautiful ride must remain factory stock. "The policy applies to all track-oriented Camaros: the V8 SS in particular, as well as the ZL1, the forthcoming Z/28, and the 1LE and both of its available engines. The last ZL1 and Z/28 were also track-covered, so th…

Source Car-Sales Rebound Seen for June Fewer Jobless Claims, Deep Discounts Spurring Demand; Ford to Raise Its Quarterly Production by 16% The beleaguered auto industry could see signs of strengthening demand when auto makers report U.S. sales for June on Wednesday, according to auto makers and analysts. Buoyed by fewer jobless claims and improved consumer confidence, annualized U.S. sales could hit 10 million this month for the first time in 2009, Ford Motor Co. analyst George Pipas said on Monday. The deep discounts that General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC have offered to boost sales are also likely to bolster June sales. Those factors suggest "the wo…

Tiger Woods has touched down in Melbourne and straight into a CAPRICE! Link: http://player.video.news.com.au/adelaideno...rce=AN_email_nl

_ Dodge Charger Spied Member Z-06 has caught a glimpse of what appears to be a Police Package Charger prototype. Hit the jump to see more.

Buick or Mercedes? Chevy or Audi? Lincoln or Volvo? Ford or Volkswagen? It's the American maker in every case, according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates durability study, an industry benchmark. The achievement reflects two trends that are largely hidden behind Detroit's spate of bad financial news and fire-sale discounts: The reliability of American cars, trucks and SUVs is up, and the reliability of European imports, especially German ones, is down. Consumer Reports, the influential nonprofit product-test magazine, sees the same trend. "Domestic manufacturers are now in second place behind the Japanese" when it comes to reliability, spo…

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Alpha Motor Corporation or AMC released for reservation the WOLF pickup truck March 11th 2021. The WOLF has the following projected specifications: MSRP $36,000 to $46,000 depending on configuration (does not include $7,500 federal EV tax credit) Battery range of 250 to 275 plus miles with rapid charging, battery heating/cooling for optimum performance Single motor FWD or Dual motor AWD 0 to 60 mph of 6.2 seconds acceleration 1360kg or 3000lbs towing capacity Length - 4765mm or 188 inches Width - 1930mm or 66 inches Truck bed - 1652mm or 65 inches (5ft 4 inches) length, 1490mm or 59 inches wide, 397mm or 16 inch…

. Chris Liddell Named GM Vice Chairman and CFO Former Microsoft CFO takes position at General Motors Chris Liddell Named GM Vice Chairman and CFO

CNN "But four Nissan cars -- the Nissan Quest, Armada and Titan and and Infiniti QX56 -- landed on the list of worst for predicted reliability" Now I know I made the right decision.

Analysts: Feb. Auto Sales Should Be Up By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Auto Writer Sat Feb 25, 12:20 AM ET Despite a blizzard, February auto sales should be higher than last year thanks to heavy advertising, a blitz of new products and the continued strength of Asian automakers, industry analysts said Friday. Several Wall Street analysts predicted U.S. sales will be up between 1 percent and 3 percent over last February when automakers report sales Wednesday. General Motors Corp. could be among the biggest beneficiaries after piquing customers' interest with advertising during the Super Bowl and the Olympics, Goldman Sachs auto analyst Robert Barry said in a note to investors. …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 28, 2012 To say Fisker Automotive has been living in interesting times could be an understatement. Their first vehicle, the Karma only starting arriving back in December, when it was actually due out months earlier. Then in February, the company halted work on the Nina family sedan at their Wilmington, Del plant. That was due to them and Department of Energy hashing out new terms of a $529 million loan. Now, Fisker has announced that board member and vice chairman Tom Lasorda will become their new CEO. Lasorda, a former CEO, President and Vice Chairman of the Chrysler Group joined Fisker last December. “I a…

WASHINGTON - The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel will have to go up if they go anywhere. Despite calls from the presidential campaign trail for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day tax freeze, lawmakers quickly concluded — with a prod from the construction industry — that having $9 billion less to spend on highways could create a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs. Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel. With gas prices setting records daily…

Bumblebee 2 and other Autobots to be show in Chicago GM has announced that it will being showing Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen vehicles at this year's Chicago Auto Show. Follow the jump to learn more and see some additional photos of the Camaro, Corvette concept, and Volt. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=28083

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By Warren Brown Sunday, July 20, 2008 WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Getting here on "the 405," that north-south stretch of interstate running through the greater Los Angeles area, is hell. But it's also instructive agony for anyone trying to understand the problems of General Motors in North America. My assessment is based on empirical observations made on a drive from the Los Angeles International Airport to this resort/bedroom community straddling the Ventura and Los Angeles County line. Did I say "drive"? Allow me to correct that. No one drives on the 405. They sit. They park. They creep. They attempt to make forward progress, only to be blocked by one obstruct…

Ed Peper: Chevrolet to gain market share in 2009 Ed Peper, VP at Chevrolet, predicts that the brand will gain market share in 2009. He sites the fact that despite the horrible year, the Bowtie brand's market share was up six tenths of a point in 2008. He also sites that the updated Equinox will help the Malibu lead the sales gains. Don't forget about the Camaro Ed! Follwo the jump to read the full story. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=27828

Original article: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle6067339.ece Sales of vehicles in China hit a record last month, underlining the country’s rise in the market as carmakers in the US scramble to avoid bankruptcy. Chinese people eager to leave behind the age of the bicycle bought 1.10 million vehicles in March, up some five per cent from the previous record of 1.06 million in March last year, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. The number cemented China in its position as the world’s largest car market, outstripping even the US. Sales have been buoyed by a desire among Chinese to have a car of their own – in many case…

Forget hybrids and fuel cells. Some scientists in the US think cars of the future could run on powdered-metal fuel, reports KURT KLEINER. If smog-choked streets test our love for petrol and diesel engines, rocketing fuel prices and global warming could end that relationship once and for all. But before you start saving for the fuel cell-powered electric car that industry experts keep promising, there's something you should know: the car of the future will run on metal. So reckons Dave Beach, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, who has come up with a plan to transform the way we fuel our engines. Chunks of metal such as iron, aluminium…

The recently announced alliance between Ford and Volkswagen will not bring any benefits to North America at the beginning. Both companies said that the partnership will focus on Africa, Europe, and South America beginning with commercial vans and the next-generation Ranger/Amarok pickup. Down the road, both Ford and Volkswagen said there could be a potential product for the U.S. While Ford is keeping quiet on what that product could be, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said that a commercial vehicle being jointly developed by the two could come over. "Some of those, yes, but it's not yet decided which vehicle comes to America," said Diess. Volkswagen's commerci…

VOLTEMPO is deploying in the UK first their scalable, modular hyperfast HyperCharging stations for both business and consumers. This 1,000kW or 1MW chargers is a game changer and is backwards compatible with all current EVs. This DC HyperCharging system can support up to 24 EVs at the same time delivering a full charge in approximately 6 minutes depending on your EVs onboard charging support. VOLTEMPO is working closely with government agencies, stakeholders and interested companies wanting to implement their charging system in commercial and retail solutions. According to VOLTEMPO, the first commercial installation will take place at …

Cadillac looking for new ad strategy Current agency Modernista! not interested in participating In a press release, Cadillac stated the desire to seek a new advertising strategy while current agency Modernista! is not interested in continuing their business with Cadillac. Discuss Cadillac's new advertisement strategy HERE

No Yankee Cars: The Anti-American Road Show From the desk of Paul Belien on Mon, 2005-11-28 16:06 Car dealers importing American cars in Belgium are on the brink of bankruptcy. For the past three months the Belgian government has been refusing to deliver the required safety certificates for the cars. Since 1 September companies importing non-European cars must be able to show European certificates guaranteeing the safety of the cars. The Belgian authorities are making no problems for Japanese, Korean or other non-American cars, but are refusing to give safety certificates for Dodges, GMCs, Chevrolets, Chryslers, Lincolns and other American car brands. Belgian deale…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 27, 2012 Everyday, I go through a number of stories that I will post on Cheers & Gears. However, a good number of stories that I have picked out don’t make it onto the page during the week and either get posted next week or never. That’s where the the Cheers & Gears’ Weekend Edtion comes in. Its where the stories that gotten forgotten about during the week get their due. In this second edition, we’ll be covering, Two New Honda Models Based On The Fit Ford's Flat Rock Plant Welcomes A New Vehicle Tesla's Trade-Up and More Next: Honda's Two Vehicles Based on Fit Rumorpile: Next-Generation H…

" The world of carbon emissions uses some unusual units of measure. Take, for example, 8.2 million megagrams. Who needs to know how much that is? Someone at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, that's who. FCA had to buy that many greenhouse-gas emissions credits from greener automakers, Reuters says, citing a report from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because its vehicles' collective fuel economy continues to trail the industry average, FCA purchased the emissions credits at of the end of 2014 in order to meet US emissions regulations. About two-thirds of those credits were acquired from Toyota, while the rest were purchased from Tesla and Honda. Daimler and Ferrar…

Small SUVs and crossovers are making huge gains in terms of sales. A key part of this success comes down to a single group of buyers, single women. Data from research company MaritzCX reveals that sales of small SUVs to women rose 34 percent between 2010 and 2015. In the same time, sales of these vehicles to single men only rose 22 percent. Sales of small luxury SUVs saw a large increase of 177 percent to women. Out of the total amount of women buyers, 40 percent are single. “There’s a group of single, professional females out there that need vehicles, and you need to be attentive to them,” said James Mulcrone, director of research services at MaritzCX to Bloomber…

GM confirms 9-3X, Next 9-5 for 2009 GM has confirmed that the Saab 9-3X and redesigned 9-5 are still set to debut for 2009. Follow the jump for full details and press release. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=27830

In car-related news that will further disappoint an already reeling city, the chairman of Detroit's North American International Auto Show has gone on record that he is exploring ways to move the event out of the city. The very public battle to expand the show's home, Motown's Cobo Center appears to have failed for good, after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Detroit City Council, in effect killing plans for a $288 million expansion, a plan voted down by council members in February. For his part, city mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. is evidently declining to go to the state Supreme Court to force the issue. So now, the search is on to take the show to a new v…

_ December/January/February COTM Winner! Congratulations CaminoLS6, for winning December/January/February Car of the Month! The stay tuned for next month's theme to be announced. Please be sure to check out the official rules below. COTM Official Rules

_ 2011 Dodge Charger Revealed The wait is over. After countless spy photographs an sightings, as well as a partial Police specific reveal, Dodge has finally unleashed the first photos of the 2011 Charger. Hit the jump for images and info. 2011 Dodge Charger

After finishing contract negotiations with the big three, the UAW is turning it’s focus back onto president Bob King’s goal of organizing at least one non-union plant by the end of the year. Foreign automakers have so far resisted the idea of unionizing. But the UAW believes they have a shot. King said to reporters on a conference call that the union has set aside $60 million to achieve their goal. The plan is for the UAW to have organizers at dealers hand out leaflets and other informational material, praising the benefits of union membership. The UAW hasn’t said which automaker or automakers it will target, when the push will begin or what exactly it will involved. Th…

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters Announces A Substantial Life-Saving Technology For All New Passenger Vehicles In a move that could ultimately save up to 10,000 lives each year on U.S. roadways, the nation's top transportation official today announced plans to make new crash prevention technology standard equipment on every new passenger vehicle sold in America by 2012. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Nicole R. Nason announced the final rule to require the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on all new passenger vehicles during a tour with auto makers at the New York International A…

. Spyker CEO Says GM Has Responded to New Bid for Saab Will GM Accept the Offer From a Company that Built 43 Cars Last Year? Spyker CEO Says GM Has Responded to New Bid for Saab

Sergio Marchionne isn't taking no for answer from General Motors over merging with FCA. Reuters reports the automakers have brought investment banks for help to deal with this mess. Sources say FCA has brought in UBS, while GM has brought in Goldman Sachs and possibly Morgan Stanley. In the case of GM, the company has signed a letter of engagement with Goldman Sachs on advice with dealing with FCA. "It would be inconceivable for General Motors not to be talking to any number of advisers about normal business operations, but I'm not going to list the issues one by one," said GM Senior Vice President Tony Cervone. Cervone didn't confirm if GM had brought in Goldman …

It has been hinted at and rumored for a few years. But today, PSA Peugeot Citroën announced they would be making a return to the U.S. During a presentation for analysts and investors at PSA's headquarters in Paris, CEO Carlos Tavares unveiled a ten-year plan that could result in the launch of Citroën, DS, and Peugeot vehicles to the U.S. The plan would be split up into three steps. Step one: Enter the U.S. as a mobility operator from 2017, possibly with Bollore,” said Tavares. Bollore is a French company that builds batteries and compact EVs that are mainly used by a French car-sharing service, Autolib. Citroën and Bollore are currently working together to bring a c…

I'm copying this straight from the thread in BON to save time, but it appears GM had the greatest fleet sale marketshare drop (7.66% points) and Toyota had the largest gain (2.06% points). Nissan increased and is almost poised to surpass Ford, which actually decreased its fleet share by 1.4%.

BREAKING NEWS: Bailout Update ~November 20, 2008~ The US government has postponed the vote on a potential aid package for GM, Ford and Chrysler, in order to give them enough time to come up with a plan for using the money. THe vote will occur sometime in December. Big 3 Bailout News --- GM Needs Your Help ~November 16, 2008 During World War II, when America needed all the help it could get building war machinery to help fight off the Axis Powers, GM stepped up to the plate and offered its factories and workers to support the war effort. When 9/11 occured and sent the American economy and consumer confidence into a tailspin, GM again answered the call, off…

FYI to those who care. Performance industry icon Crane Cams has reopened under the new ownership of S&S Cycle, and is actively engaged in manufacturing and sales operations of its ignition and motorcycle lines. The company, founded by Harvey J. Crane in 1953, is newly housed in a facility at 1640 Mason Ave. in Daytona Beach, and a number of long-term Crane employees have joined the revitalized company. S&S Cycle acquired Crane’s intellectual properties, patents, trademarks, camshaft masters, inventory and some equipment in April 2009. S&S is best known for its broad line of components for V-Twin motorcycle applications. The 50-year-old company boasts ext…

This article has some interesting info on fleet sales: http://www.nyse.com/interface/jsp/NHDetail...isdowjones=true There is a lot in the article, but I found this rather interesting:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/st...fe1bfeb&k=83316 Dave Hall, CanWest News Service; Windsor Star Published: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 WINDSOR, Ont. - Japanese automakers bumped a pair of North America's largest domestic producers out of the top three in Canadian sales last month for the first time. According to a report Tuesday from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc., September sales from Toyota Canada Inc. and Honda Canada Inc. put them second and third respectively behind General Motors of Canada. DaimlerChrysler Canada and Ford Motor Co. of Canada, meanwhile, posted modest gains to round out the top five.

Again the common thought that electrical devices are far more reliable gets a reality check. I also note that it Tesla didn't keep their chargers proprietary, thusly 'helping the industry go electric', hours could've been sliced off their ordeal. “We ran through the entire gamut of emotions in those nine hours – resignation, range anxiety, annoyance and disbelief that this was happening..." https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/28/electric-cars-porsche-charging-network

http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/27/markets/oil_eia/index.htm gas prices continue to drop--maybe theres still some hope. but but then again: so if 60 is "good" why the hell was it almost 80? supposed to go over 100? are we making a difference in some way with ethanol, conservation, boycotts, and prius' and hybrids in general. or does this have more to do with the usual seasonal changes in demand. which really werent so usual since the past couple of years. ive heard several "analysts" suggest months ago oil and gas prices would plummet at some point. i remember laughing at the time because one of the qualifiers was when things settle down in the mid east. lik…

No, I'm not making this up. And no, the dateline for the article isn't April 1. For your daily dose of "what the EFF," just click on the link. We look forward to your feedback: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/ford-patents-system-for-turning-your-cars-wheel-into-a-unicycle/