Automotive
Fiat Focusing On Premium Models
April 19, 2013 10:38 am | News | CommentsFiat Chairman John Elkann says the Italian carmaker's shift to premium models remains a valid strategy as European sales continue to plummet. Elkann said Friday that Fiat, which owns Chrysler, is proceeding with its plan to launch 17 higher-margin premium models for export by 2016 to revive stagnant Italian production lines.
Toyota To Build Lexus In Kentucky, Add 750 Jobs
April 19, 2013 10:25 am | News | CommentsToyota will start building the Lexus ES 350 at its Georgetown, Ky. plant in 2015, producing the luxury brand for the first time in the United States. The Japanese car company said Friday that the Georgetown plant will build about 50,000 of the vehicles each year, creating 750 new jobs.
Nissan Recalls SUVs To Fix Brake Problem
April 19, 2013 8:20 am | News | CommentsNissan is recalling more than 19,000 Nissan and Infiniti SUVs because a brake part can fail and make it harder for the driver to stop the car. The recall affects Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti JX SUVs from the 2013 model year. The automaker says an iron brake caliper part wasn't made properly and can crack or fail.
Grand Design RV Plans 500 Jobs In Indiana
April 19, 2013 8:01 am | News | CommentsA new recreational vehicle manufacturer announced plans Thursday to create 500 jobs in Elkhart County by 2016 in the second major jobs announcement for the industry in northern Indiana in nine days.Gov. Mike Pence joined executives of Grand Design RV as the company announced plans to locate its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Middlebury.
Honda Recalls Nearly 205K Vehicles To Fix Shifters
April 19, 2013 7:50 am | News | CommentsHonda is recalling nearly 205,000 minivans and SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the automatic shifters. The recall includes the Honda CR-V small SUV and Odyssey minivan from the 2012 and 2013 model years. Also covered is the 2013 Acura RDX SUV.
European Car Sales Plummet
April 18, 2013 1:51 pm | by Colleen Barry, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsNew car sales across Europe slid 10 percent in the first quarter of 2013 to 2.9 million, down from 3.3 million in 2012, the European automakers association ACEA reported from Brussels on Wednesday. Even in Germany, one of Europe's strongest economies, new car sales plunged 13 percent during the first three months of the year.
VW Dropping Third Shift At Chattanooga Plant
April 18, 2013 1:45 pm | News | CommentsThe company said the plant opened by creating a new product with new suppliers and a new workforce and extra workers were brought on through a staffing supplier temporarily. Volkswagen said increased efficiency is allowing the plant to return to two daily shifts in what the company calls a workforce adjustment.
Toyota Hopes To Produce New Vehicle Model In Ky.
April 18, 2013 9:06 am | by Roger Alford, Associated Press | News | CommentsToyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is in the running to produce an unspecified new vehicle model and add 570 permanent full-time workers at its Georgetown plant, according to details the carmaker provided to state officials to qualify for tax incentives.
Nissan To Recall 80,000 Minivans
April 18, 2013 8:03 am | News | CommentsNissan Motor Co. in a report to the government Thursday said it will recall a total of 85,220 minivans produced between November 2010 and February 2012 under its Serena and Suzuki Motor Corp.'s Landy brands. A component of an electricity generator attached to the engine could drop out due to a defective installment.
Chinese Automakers Struggle Against Global Rivals
April 18, 2013 7:59 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsTheir home market is the world's biggest and growing. But independent automakers such as Chery and Geely are being squeezed by bigger, richer global rivals including General Motors and Nissan that have moved into turf the Chinese makers considered their own: low-priced models for local tastes.
Opel: German Plant To End Production By End 2014
April 17, 2013 12:11 pm | News | CommentsGeneral Motors' loss-making Opel division has confirmed it plans to end production at a plant in Germany by the end of 2014. Adam Opel AG said Wednesday in a statement that the Bochum plant would wind down production as part of its plan to reduce costs and turn the division around. The plant's 3,200 workers make the Zafira compact.
Dubai Adds Ferrari To Police Bling Patrol
April 17, 2013 11:51 am | News | CommentsSeems Dubai police have a thing for Italian speed: They're making preparations to have a nearly $250,000 Ferrari join an even pricier Lamborghini as the flagship flash of its fleet. Photos carried Wednesday by the Emirates 24/7 online newspaper show the car getting the green-and-white colors of Dubai's police force.
No Helmets Required For Elio Vehicle Under Bill
April 17, 2013 8:31 am | by Littice Bacon-Blood, Associated Press | News | CommentsOfficials with Elio Motors, located in the former General Motors plant in Shreveport, said the helmet requirement could harm sales by sending a signal to consumers that the vehicle was unsafe. The bill by Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, would modify the definition of autocycle to include enclosed motorcycles with a roll cage.
Toyota's Hybrid Sales Pass 5 Million
April 17, 2013 7:46 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsToyota's global sales of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles have surpassed 5 million in a milestone for a technology that was initially greeted with skepticism. The Japanese automaker, which said Wednesday it had sold 5.125 million hybrid vehicles as of the end of March, started selling the Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid passenger car, in 1997.
Daimler Selling Rest Of EADS Stake
April 16, 2013 10:00 pm | News | CommentsAutomaker Daimler AG says it is selling its remaining 7.5 percent stake in EADS, the parent company of aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Daimler helped found EADS but now is cashing out to focus on its core business of making cars. It sold a 7.5 percent stake last year.
GM To Roll Out New Line Of Smaller Pickups
April 16, 2013 1:24 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsSales of midsize and small pickups slumped after the recession as businesses curtailed spending. Ford Motor Co. stopped selling its Ranger small pickup in the U.S. in December of 2011 to focus on sales of its full-size F-150. Now sales are recovering as parts of the U.S. economy, particularly the housing sector, recover.
Plex Systems Sponsors Automotive Videocast
April 16, 2013 12:09 pm | Products | CommentsThe “Technology in Automotive Manufacturing: Driving the Industry’s Future” videocast will feature Center for Automotive Research (CAR) President and CEO Jay Baron, Ph.D. The industry thought leader will discuss extended supply chains, globalization of standards and the need to maximize operational efficiency.
GM 1Q Global Sales Rise To Beat VW
April 16, 2013 9:11 am | News | CommentsGeneral Motors edged out fast-growing Volkswagen in first-quarter sales as both companies try to close the gap with Toyota for the global world sales crown. Toyota, which is scheduled to release first-quarter numbers next week, dethroned GM to retake the top spot in 2012.
Chrysler Moves Executives To Fill Vacant Ram Post
April 15, 2013 1:56 pm | News | CommentsThe company said Monday that Reid Bigland, presently CEO of the Dodge brand, will move to the top spot at Chrysler's Ram brand, which includes the company's key pickup trucks. Bigland will remain the head of U.S. sales as well as CEO of Chrysler Canada.
GM, Ford To Collaborate On New Transmissions
April 15, 2013 7:57 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsGeneral Motors and Ford are putting aside their longstanding rivalry to work together to develop a new generation of fuel-efficient automatic transmissions. The companies said Monday that their engineers will jointly design nine- and 10-speed transmissions that will go into many of their new cars and trucks.
Feds: $5.5M From GM For Pollution In Onondaga Lake
April 12, 2013 2:06 pm | News | CommentsFederal authorities say they've settled the last piece of claims against General Motors Co. for pollution in central New York's Onondaga Lake. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the $5.5 million agreement was reached this week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court with the trust handling the affairs of the automotive company, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2009.
Volkswagen March Sales Flat As Europe Struggles
April 12, 2013 8:53 am | News | CommentsGerman automaker Volkswagen AG says sales were flat in March and that global car markets outside North America and China "are becoming even more difficult." The Wolfsburg-based company delivered 864,400 vehicles during the month, 0.2 percent more than the same month a year ago.
Organizers Set Official Detroit Auto Show Dates
April 12, 2013 8:27 am | News | CommentsThe public show is scheduled to take place Jan. 18 to 26 at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit, nearly the same time period as this year's show. Press previews are Jan. 13 and 14; industry preview days are Jan. 15 and 16; and the charity preview is Jan. 17.
Nissan Increasing Pay At Tenn. And Miss. Plants
April 11, 2013 1:58 pm | by Jeff Amy, Associated Press | News | CommentsNissan Motor Co. will raise pay for its employees in Mississippi and Tennessee. The company has told its employees it will increase their wages starting in October at its Canton, Miss., and Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plants, as well as its Decherd, Tenn., engine plant.
German Leader Welcomes GM Investment
April 11, 2013 12:16 pm | News | CommentsGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed General Motors' decision to invest another 4 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in European subsidiary Opel by 2016 as part of an attempt to turn the money-losing division around. Merkel met with GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and other company officials Thursday in Berlin.
