automobile industry
Hyundai/Kia and VW Top Latest Safety Ratings
Who makes the safest cars? Hyundai Motor and its sister make, Kia Motors, along with Volkswagen and its luxury brand, Audi, garnered the most awards in the recent vehicle crash tests conducted by an insurance industry testing group.
Ford Reenters Domestic Minivan Market After Four-Year Absence
Ford will reenter the U.S. minivan market when it debuts the new Ford C-Max at next month's Detroit auto show. Though new to North America, the C-Max is familiar to European drivers looking for a compact people mover.
Chrysler, VW Recalling 745,000 Vehicles to Fix Air Bags and Fuel Leaks
Volkswagen and Chrysler are recalling about 745,000 cars in separate actions to fix problems related to passenger side air bags and possible fuel leaks, according to federal safety officials.
Nissan, Mitsubishi Team Up to Build New Mini Vehicles
Nissan and Mitsubishi plan to work together to bring some new vehicles to market. The Japanese automakers will establish a joint venture to produce a minicar for the home market by 2012, while Nissan will produce a small van for Mitsubishi, which in turn will make an SUV for Nissan.
General Motors Offers Buyouts to Skilled Workers at 14 Plants
In a bid to reduce its numbers of skilled workers, General Motors is reportedly offering skilled-trades workers a $60,000 buyout to leave the automaker's payroll by March.
General Motors CEO to Seek Easing of Executive Pay Limits
Now that General Motors is on better financial footing and the automaker's initial public offering of stock is behind it, CEO Daniel Akerson is reportedly seeking to have government restrictions on executive pay eased.
Ford to Add 1,800 Jobs in Kentucky for Escape SUV
Ford plans to invest $600 million in a Kentucky plant to build the next-generation Escape SUV, creating an 1,800 additional jobs, the automaker said Thursday. The new jobs will be added incrementally after the Louisville Assembly plant is rehabbed and reopened late next year.
Hyundai Workers in South Korea Agree to End Monthlong Strike
Temporary workers at a Hyundai Motor manufacturing plant in South Korea reportedly have agreed to end a near-monthlong strike that was inhibiting domestic production of subcompact cars, such as the Hyundai Accent.
BMW's Sales Speed Past Its German Rivals' in November
BMW saw its sales jump 20% in November, driven by growth in Germany, China and the U.S. The German automaker sold more cars than the Mercedes-Benz or Audi brands. Its sales growth for the year so far also is outpacing that of its rivals.
Aloha Hydrogen: GM Joins a Fueling Station Project in Hawaii
GM is taking a big step toward making hydrogen-fueled cars and trucks a reality for consumers by partnering with a dozen companies to build more than two dozen fueling stations in Hawaii. The state is aiming to reduce oil to 70% of its needed energy supply.
Mazda Not Seeking New Partner Despite Ford's Reduction in Stake
Mazda Motor is not seeking a new alliance with another auto manufacturer following Ford's recent decision to reduce its stake in the Japanese automaker.
U.S. November Auto Sales Show Plenty of Zip
It's traditionally one of the slowest months of the year for vehicle sales, but most automakers reported higher U.S. sales in November compared to a year ago, despite continued consumer caution about the slow economic recovery.
Ford Sales Surge 24% in November
Sales at Ford Motor rose 24% in November compared to a year ago as demand surged for a wide range of the company's products, the automaker said Wednesday. For the month, Ford said it moved 147,338 vehicles off dealers' lots, up from 118,536 in November 2009.
General Motors Sales Climbed 11% in November
General Motors, fresh off its initial public offering, reported today that November sales rose 11.4% compared to the same month a year ago. Among its four core brands, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet, GM said sales rose nearly 21%.
GM Rolls Out Long-Anticipated Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid
Will the Chevy Volt -- General Motor's new plug-in hybrid unveiled today -- be a game changer, as CEO Daniel Akerson hopes? We'll soon find out as the car is scheduled to begin shipping to dealers next month.
Trucks and SUVs Should Fuel November Auto Sales
Year-over-year gains are again likely when automakers report November U.S. sales figures Wednesday. But a drop from this October's level is on tap. Detroit probably fared better than its foreign counterparts as sales rebounded further from last year's anemic levels.
Toyota Asks Court to Toss Unintended Acceleration Lawsuits
Toyota is asking a federal court in California to dismiss lawsuits claiming that electronics -- not floor mats or sticky gas pedals -- are the cause of unintended acceleration in its vehicles, saying plaintiffs have not proved there's a design defect in the vehicles' electronic systems.
Obama Praises GM Bailout as Shares Gain 4% in IPO
Following General Motors' historic return as a publicly traded company Thursday, President Obama said the U.S. government, despite the many critics, is on track to more than recoup the nearly $50 billion it invested in the Detroit automaker.
GM's IPO: Recovery -- Not the End of the Road
Considering where the iconic carmaker has been in recent years, the pending IPO -- and robust investor demand for shares -- is a remarkably positive step. But GM still has plenty of problem spots that will need fixing if this historic event is to have lasting meaning.
GM to Raise Its IPO Price Range
In its initial public offering Thursday, General Motors will raise its price range and offer more shares than previously expected, according to an Associated Press story citing an anonymous source.
Ford to Introduce Electric Focus in Key U.S. Markets in Late 2011
The automaker plans to roll out its first all-electric passenger car in 20 U.S. cities late next year.
GM IPO Isn't Closing Early, Goldman Sachs Says
Goldman Sachs Group won't stop taking orders for General Motor's initial public offering at noon Friday, the investment banking giant now says, despite an email sent by the bank to clients on Thursday that said it would, Dow Jones Newswires reports.
General Electric to Buy 25,000 Electric Cars Over Next Five Years
General Electric plans to purchase 25,000 battery-powered vehicles during the next five years for its own use and to lease to commercial customers.
General Motors Posts $2 Billion Profit in 3Q
With just days to go before its anticipated initial public offering of stock, General Motors reported Wednesday that it earned $2 billion in the third quarter, its most profitable this year.
GM Earnings Preview: A Third Straight Profit?
After reporting a $4.3 billion loss during the last half of 2009, General Motors saw two positive quarters during the first half of the the year and is expected to stay on course when it reports its latest earnings Wednesday.
Ford Shares Hit Six-Year High on Solid Sales Report
Stock in Ford hit levels not seen since the summer of 2004 Thursday, a day after the Dearborn, Mich., automaker reported solid sales for the month of October. The stock rose as much as 4.3% to $15.83 a share in morning trading on Wall Street.
October Car Sales Point to an Auto Rebound
Buoyed by consumers' increased confidence in the U.S. economy, most automakers reported higher sales of cars and trucks in the U.S. during October compared to a year ago -- making it the best October in three years for the auto industry.
General Motors Sales Rose 3.5% in October
Buoyed by stronger demand for pickups and crossover, GM said today that October sales increased 3.5% compared to a year ago. Excluding its discontinued brands, sales of Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet models rose 13% for the month.
Toyota Wants Lawsuits Thrown Out
Toyota has asked a federal court to dismiss lawsuits seeking damages related to the recall of millions of vehicles for possible unintended acceleration. The automaker has a simple argument: No one has ever demonstrated what is wrong with Toyota's cars, if anything.