GM to release plan for European units in December AP (November 20, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - General Motors Co. said it expects to release a full restructuring plan for its Opel and Vauxhall operations in mid December, but did not specify the amount of cuts to capacity and jobs it would seek.
America's Car-Mart fiscal 2Q profit rises AP (November 20, 2009) BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Auto retailer America's Car-Mart Inc. reported on Friday a 61 percent higher fiscal second-quarter profit, as consumers turned to the used car market amid tighter credit restrictions.
Miley Cyrus tour bus overturns in Va., killing 1 AP (November 20, 2009) DINWIDDIE, Va. (AP) - The driver of a Miley Cyrus tour bus was killed Friday when the bus overturned, but the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star wasn't on board, Virginia State Police said.
Volkswagen board moves closer to Porsche merger AP (November 20, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - German carmaker Volkswagen AG said Friday its supervisory board had approved certain agreement contracts for the planned merger with German sportscar builder Porsche, taking the companies one step closer to completing the deal.
2010 BMW 650i convertible is a grand tourer AP (November 18, 2009) (AP) - The model year on the BMW 650i is 2010, but this lengthy, smooth-riding, luxury coupe and convertible feel a bit like yesteryear.
Auto repair shops win $15 million from insurer AP (November 18, 2009) STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut jury has awarded $15 million to automobile repair shop owners in their lawsuit accusing an affiliate of The Hartford Financial Services Group of unfair trade practices.
SPIN METER: Feds buy green cars, auction rejects AP (November 18, 2009) (AP) - If you missed out on Washington's cash incentive program to trade in your old clunker, Uncle Sam still has a deal for you: The government will sell you rejects from its own fleet, even as it makes dealers scrap all those old cars that were collected from the public.
Ford, Subaru, VW win insurance industry picks AP (November 18, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.
Group urges gov't to invest in electric cars AP (November 16, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - A group of automakers, utilities and battery makers is urging the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation.
Henderson: GM to begin repaying aid by year-end AP (November 16, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - General Motors Co. will begin paying back $6.7 billion in U.S. government loans by the end of 2009 and could pay off that full amount as early as 2010, five years ahead of schedule, CEO Fritz Henderson said Monday.
TRW Automotive to offer $225M in senior notes AP (November 16, 2009) LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) - Car parts maker TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. said Monday that subsidiary TRW Automotive Inc. will offer $225 million in senior notes due 2015.
GM reports $1.2B loss, says it shows progress AP (November 16, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - General Motors Co. says it lost $1.2 billion from the time it left bankruptcy protection through Sept. 30, far better than it has reported in previous quarters and a sign that the auto giant is starting to turn around its business.
GM offers moves to soon-to-be idled UAW workers AP (November 13, 2009) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - General Motors has offered union workers at the automaker's soon-to-be idled Spring Hill assembly plant 840 jobs at Lansing Delta Township, Mich., where GM is relocating production of the Chevrolet Traverse.
Navistar gets $48.6 million Army order for trucks AP (November 13, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Navistar International Corp. recently received a $48.6 million contract from the Army for 181 recovery trucks, the Pentagon said late Thursday.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber shares rise after upgrade AP (November 13, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. rose Friday after an analyst upgraded the stock based on a sharp decline in the stock's value.
Ford analyst sees small car segment growing AP (November 13, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co.'s top sales analyst says demand for small cars will keep growing and become the biggest segment of the U.S. market by 2013.
Volkswagen group October sales up 11 percent AP (November 13, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - German car maker Volkswagen AG said Friday that its group deliveries were up 11 percent on the year in October, helped by strong increases in China and Brazil and a smaller rise in the U.S.
Auto parts supplier Lear issues 2009 sales outlook AP (November 11, 2009) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) - Auto parts supplier Lear Corp., which emerged from bankruptcy protection two days ago, said Wednesday it expects sales this year will total $9.5 billion, well below last year's results.
Researcher: `Clunkers' program boosted auto sales AP (November 11, 2009) MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A Ball State University researcher who analyzed the federal government's Cash for Clunkers program says it fueled a spike in auto sales over the summer.
Merkel presses GM for Opel concept AP (November 10, 2009) BERLIN (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed General Motors Co. on Tuesday to present a "reliable concept" for the future of its European unit Opel, adding that GM should produce most of the funding.
China October auto sales up 72 percent on stimulus AP (November 09, 2009) BEIJING (AP) - Powered by tax cuts and stimulus spending, China's October auto sales soared 72 percent from a year earlier, outpacing U.S. sales for another month, according to data reported Monday.
BMW October sales up 2 pct; Audi up 0.4 pct AP (November 09, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - German carmakers BMW AG and Audi AG said Monday their October sales improved as the global downturn showed signs of waning and demand for luxury cars improved.
Ford to put air bags into back seat belts of SUV AP (November 05, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they're in the seat belts.
Toyota returns to profit in latest quarter AP (November 05, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Toyota said Thursday it returned to a profit in the latest quarter as government incentives boosted sales, leading the world's largest automaker to trim its projected red ink for the year.
GM boss: Opel to pay for most of its restructuring AP (November 05, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - General Motors Co. CEO Fritz Henderson said Thursday its European Opel unit will pay for most of the $3 billion it needs to restructure.
Opel workers across Germany protest GM move AP (November 05, 2009) RUESSELSHEIM, Germany (AP) - Fearing widespread layoffs, thousands of Opel workers walked off the job across Germany on Thursday to protest General Motors Co.'s decision to abandon the unit's sale to new owners.
Toyota surprises with profit, boosts forecast AP (November 05, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. announced Thursday a surprise profit last quarter and trimmed its projected red ink for the year, underlining the gradual recovery under way for Japan's giant automakers.
Ford to put air bags into back seat belts AP (November 05, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they're in the seat belts.
'Clunker' data show pickup-for-pickup trades AP (November 05, 2009) WASHINGTON (AP) - Billed as a way for the government to put more fuel-efficient vehicles on highways, the popular $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program mostly involved swaps of old Ford or Chevrolet pickups for new ones that got only marginally better gas mileage, according to an analysis of new federal data by The Associated Press.
Delphi Automotive creates new board of directors AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Delphi Automotive LLP, which exited bankruptcy protection last month, said Wednesday that it has created a new board that will be led by former DuPont Chairman John Krol.
Germany fumes over GM ditching Opel sale to Magna AP (November 04, 2009) BERLIN (AP) - Germany's politicians fumed with anger and Opel workers cancelled cost concessions and readied walkouts after General Motors Co. abandoned the sale of its European subsidiary to parts maker Magna International and Russian bank Sberbank.
Nissan returns to quarterly profit on China sales AP (November 04, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. climbed into the black last quarter and forecast a smaller yearly loss as surging sales in China helped offset sluggish demand in the West.
Audi's performance S4 drops its V-8 for 2010 AP (November 04, 2009) (AP) - You don't see this very often: a car company dropping a V-8 engine from a performance car and replacing it with a V-6. But German automaker Audi does it in its 2010 S4 compact sedan.
Delphi Automotive creates new board of directors AP (November 04, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - Delphi Automotive LLP, which exited bankruptcy protection last month, said Wednesday that it has created a new board that will be led by former DuPont Chairman John Krol.
Chrysler aims to revamp Dodge cars under new plan AP (November 04, 2009) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Chrysler plans to revamp its struggling Dodge car brand under a new turnaround plan and says the company's cash has grown by nearly $2 billion since it exited bankruptcy protection in June.
TRW Automotive turns 3Q profit on lower costs AP (November 04, 2009) LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) - TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. posted a third-quarter profit of $56 million on Wednesday, as cost cuts helped the auto parts supplier recover from a loss a year earlier. It also raised its full-year sales forecast.
2 Ford Motor senior executives to retire AP (November 03, 2009) DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co., which surprised the market by posting a third-quarter profit, said Tuesday that two of its senior executives are retiring.
GM posts 1st monthly sales gain in almost 2 years AP (November 03, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - GM reported its first monthly gain in U.S. sales in almost two years while Toyota and Ford also improved, a sign the auto industry it starting to crawl back from a yearlong slump.
BMW 3Q net income falls 74 percent to euro78 million AP (November 03, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - German carmaker BMW AG said Tuesday its net income fell 74 percent in the third quarter as it continued to be affected by the global economic downturn.
Ford surprises with $1B profit; sees profit in '11 AP (November 02, 2009) DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford, the only Detroit automaker to dodge direct government aid and bankruptcy court, surprised investors with net income of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and forecast a "solidly profitable" 2011.
VW 3Q net income falls 86 percent to euro172 million AP (October 29, 2009) FRANKFURT (AP) - German carmaker Volkswagen AG said Thursday net income for the third quarter plunged 86 percent as the global downturn affected demand for its cars and trucks.
China confirms probe of US auto imports AP (October 29, 2009) HANGZHOU, China (AP) - China's commerce minister says Beijing is carrying out a probe of some imports of American-made autos.
Mazda, Mitsubishi slide into red in first half AP (October 29, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Mazda and Mitsubishi Motors - Japan's No. 4 and No. 5 automakers - reported half-year net losses Thursday, battered by plunging sales and the strong yen.
Oprah on the road? Chrysler offers live TV service AP (October 29, 2009) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Chrysler Group LLC says it will begin offering customers a television service in their vehicles featuring up to 20 channels of live TV.
Treasury, GMAC in talks for 3rd round of US aid AP (October 28, 2009) NEW YORK (AP) - GMAC, the former lending arm of General Motors Co., is in talks with the Treasury Department for a third injection of taxpayer aid, a further sign of the U.S. government's entrenchment in the U.S. auto industry.
Goodyear profit more than doubles in 3Q AP (October 28, 2009) CLEVELAND (AP) - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s profit more than doubled in the third quarter, helped by cost-cutting, new products and lower raw-material costs, the largest U.S. tiremaker said Wednesday.
Japan's automakers set production records in China AP (October 28, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Japanese automakers are experiencing a production boom in China with Toyota, Honda and Nissan setting records for September - the latest signs of an emerging recovery for Japan's auto industry.
Ford: China's Geely preferred bidder for Volvo AP (October 28, 2009) DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. has picked a consortium led by China's Geely Group as the preferred bidder to buy its Swedish Volvo Cars unit, the U.S. automaker said Wednesday.
Fisker to build hybrid cars at idled Del. GM plant AP (October 27, 2009) WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - California luxury automaker Fisker Automotive is buying an idled General Motors assembly plant in Delaware to produce plug-in hybrid electric cars.
Johnson Controls posts 4Q profit, backs guidance AP (October 27, 2009) MILWAUKEE (AP) - Johnson Controls Inc. said Tuesday that cost cuts and operational improvements bolstered its profit in the fourth quarter, helping to offset the effects of the continued weak economy on its sales.
Honda raises forecast, avoids loss for first half AP (October 27, 2009) TOKYO (AP) - Japanese government incentives for green cars and strong sales in China helped Honda Motor Co. avoid red ink for the first half and raise its full year profit forecast.
Wis.: No one taking blame for higher car insurance AP (October 26, 2009) MADISON, Wis. (AP) - As insurance companies begin mailing notices to Wisconsin customers telling them that their auto premiums are likely to increase soon, state politicians are scrambling to avoid the blame.