GM Chrysler News

Chrysler revamps electric program

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Chrysler Group LLC is restructuring its electric program as it works to develop hybrids and electric vehicles for its own brands as well as for partner Fiat SpA---...More

GM's Reilly to manage Opel/Vauxhall until CEO is found

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:48:00 +0000

General Motors' head of international operations, Nick Reilly, will assume responsibility immediately for GMs Opel and Vauxhall operations in Europe until a new CEO is appointed.---...More

GM to put electric Cadillac Converj into production

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:48:00 +0000

General Motors Co. will expand its electric vehicle lineup by building the Cadillac Converj, a luxury car some feared would never move beyond the concept stage because of GMs financial troubles.--...More

GM hourly workers face permanent layoffs

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Detroit -- While General Motors Co. does not plan any deep job cuts, the automaker still has too many hourly workers and could permanently eliminate some of the 6,000 to 7,000 workers currently on layoff---...More

GM will cut jobs in Opel strategy

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Washington -- General Motors Co. said Wednesday some 10,000 European jobs will be sacrificed at its money-losing Adam Opel GmbH unit, which the automaker decided this week to keep, rather than sell to Canadas Magna International Inc. and its Russian partner, Sberbank.----...More

Chrysler lays out lofty revival plan

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Auburn Hills -- Chrysler Group LLC Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne laid out an ambitious, detailed plan Wednesday to revive the struggling Auburn Hills automaker by replenishing its lineup with high-quality and attractive models to more than double sales within five years and start generating profit in 2011.---...More

Marchionne: Man with the plan to rescue Chrysler

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0000

CEO to unveil his 5-year strategy Wednesday

From the dark rumpled sweaters he wears most days to his modest, fourth-floor command post at the Chrysler Tech Center in Auburn Hills, Sergio Marchionne has said that he is intent on debunking the "Great Man" theory of leadership.
"At Fiat, we have created a culture where everyone is expected to lead," he wrote last December in the Harvard Business Review....More

Toyota Designs Fuel Efficient Cars, but can't design a floor mat- 3.8 Million Recalled

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:15:00 +0000

3.8 Million Toyota cars recalled for floor mats. They have balled up under brakes and caused accelerators to stick.

Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp. began mailing notices this week to 3.8 million vehicle owners, urging them to remove their floor mats while it seeks a remedy for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration.....More

$5.6 billion in new capital in GMAC

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:13:00 +0000

The Treasury Department plans to inject up to $5.6 billion in new capital in GMAC -- the latest effort to help the auto finance giant, a government official confirmed late Tuesday....More

2010 Dodge Ram truck intro to be well financed

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Scott Burgess / The Detroit News
The 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy pickup will hit dealerships in a few weeks with a new look and the same powerful engines, but with a well-financed marketing campaign in tow, Chrysler LLC executives said Tuesday.

"There is pent-up demand in all of the markets, especially the truck market," said Mark Heber, director of Dodge Ram marketing. "All we need is a little bit of an uptick in the economy and things could take off."

Heber said the automaker, which emerged from bankruptcy in July, remains committed to the truck and will have a substantial marketing budget. He declined to give figures or say how soon the campaign will begin....More

Chrysler's product plans to be shown in 'six-hour extravaganza'

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:24:00 +0000

WINDSOR, Ont. — Some industry analysts are calling it "a six-hour extravaganza." That's the length of time Chrysler Group LLC has allotted for the public unveiling of its long-awaited, five-year product and business plan.

Journalists and auto analysts will gather at the Technology Centre at the automaker's Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters Nov. 4 to hear CEO Sergio Marchionne finally release details of how he intends to integrate Fiat and Chrysler in a way that ensures the No. 3 automaker's survival.

Although his revival efforts face an avalanche of skepticism, the Italian-Canadian CEO is being compared to industry icon Lee Iacocca. Following a speech recently to the Detroit Economic Club, U.S. Transportation SecretaryRay Lahood said Marchionne is "the next generation of Lee Iacocca....More

Europe's politics hold up GM's Opel sale

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:16:00 +0000

The Germans aren't the only ones hoping to hurdle European Union objections to General Motors Co.'s plans to sell a majority stake in its Adam Opel GmbH unit.

GM is pushing to close "open issues" in a binding deal, perhaps as early as this week, that would convey 55 percent of GM's German automaker to Magna International Inc. of Canada and Sberbank, a Russian financial player with close ties to Vladimir Putin's Kremlin and the automaker GAZ.

GM's board, which vetted proposals for Opel at meetings in late August and September, is not expected to reconsider the transactions unless emerging EU questions force a reappraisal. GM management, I'm told, is using the holdup simultaneously to reassess the logic of its complex Opel deal and to press to get it done, politics or not....More

GMAC: Most Chrysler dealers to qualify for new loans

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:04:00 +0000

GMAC Financial Services President Bill Muir said Sunday that the number of Chrysler dealers expected to close because they dont qualify for new loans through the lender is likely to be small----...More

GM OKs Hummer deal

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:21:00 +0000

General Motors Co. has reached a sales agreement for its Hummer brand with a Chinese company that plans to keep the rugged auto company's headquarters in the Detroit area.--...More

Chrysler Has Electric Vehicle As Part Of 5 Year Plan

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

VERRONE, Italy -- Auto makers Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat SpA are working together on developing an electric car, a Chrysler board member confirmed Thursday. Alfredo Altavilla said the development process is "going very well" with Chrysler contributing its electric propulsion technology to the alliance. Mr. Altavilla made the comments at the opening of a gearbox plant in Verrone. This is the first time a Chrysler or Fiat executive has publicly confirmed Chrysler's electrification plans since Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne took control of Chrysler's assets in June after the U.S.-based company filed for bankruptcy protection.....More

Chrysler Top Seller In Mexico

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Boosted by year-over-year sales increases of Dodge Journey, Dodge Ram, Jeep® Patriot and Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Mexico achieved an 11.8 percent market share in September—its best share performance in the past 18 months, beating Ford for the first time this year.

“We are thrilled by our market share achievement in September and outstanding sales growth for the past three months as this reinforces the continued confidence the Mexican consumer has in our company, our products, and our outstanding dealer body,” said Joe ChamaSrour, President—Chrysler de Mexico.

The Dodge Journey continued as the No. 1-selling crossover-utility vehicle in the market with a sales increase of 33 percent compared with September 2008, selling more than double its nearest competitor. The Dodge Ram also reported year-over-year sales increases with the Laramie Crew Cab continuing as the best-selling luxury pickup truck in the market. The Jeep Patriot had its best sales performance of the year, and the Chrysler Town & Country 25th Anniversary Edition helped boost minivan sales to levels exceeding September 2008.

Chrysler to outline 5-year business plan

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:24:00 +0000

Chrysler Group LLC will unveil its five-year business and product plan Nov. 4, the company said today.

The briefing by CEO Sergio Marchionne for media and analysts will be held at the Auburn Hills headquarters.

Chrysler and Fiat SpA formed a new company June 10 and Marchionne has been working with his management team on a strategy to better differentiate the brands in a business structure where each is responsible for its own profits and losses.----
...More

Feds probe Toyota Tundras

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:20:00 +0000

2000-01 models face inquiry into corrosion, brake, spare tire issues
Washington -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday opened a preliminary investigation into corrosion on 218,000 Toyota Tundra pickups -- the latest safety issue to dog the Japanese automaker.

In a notice on its Web site, NHTSA said its Office of Defects Investigation had opened a preliminary probe into corrosion linked to spare tires and brake lines on 2000 and 2001 model year Tundras.

The government said it has "received 20 reports on the subject vehicles that relate to spare tire separation and brake system failures as a result of severe frame corrosion."----...More

Chrysler seeks luxury market, but analysts see tough sell

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Chrysler Group LLC wants to push its namesake Chrysler brand upscale

The automaker is eyeing a position "a notch above Lincoln, a notch above Cadillac," Chrysler brand chief Peter Fong told reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month.

The Auburn Hills automaker declined to comment further as it prepares an overall business and product plan expected to be made public in November---...More

Chrysler vehicle launches at risk in feud with Daimler AG

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +0000

The launch of key Chrysler Group LLC vehicles next year is being threatened once again by a new parts dispute between the automaker and former owner Daimler AG.

At risk are the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles and the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger full-size sedans. The products are Chrysler's most important launches in 2010 and the only completely redone passenger vehicles the Auburn Hills-based automaker is introducing in two model years.

To safeguard these crucial launches, Chrysler on Thursday amended a lawsuit filed in August asking a U.S. bankruptcy court to settle any lingering and future parts disputes between the companies once and for all....More

GM, dealers begin the end to Saturn

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:33:00 +0000

A day after a Saturn deal with Roger Penske fell through, General Motors Co. proceeded with plans to shutter 350 dealerships and there was little indication a deal could be salvaged or another suitor found.--...More

Sergio speaks: Chrysler's future will be better

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:17:00 +0000

New Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne hasn’t been talking much since the company emerged from bankruptcy on June 2. While rival General Motors has come out with an aggressive advertising campaign that attempts to get skeptics to look at its new cars, Chrysler has stayed under wraps. But Marchionne did take the microphone after sales came out on Oct. 1 and showed that he has a realistic view of Chrysler’s place in the world.

Chyrsler 200c

The question is, what will built that future? The company has only the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300 sedan coming in the near future. Both look good but neither of them are game changers. In 18 months or so, Fiat will have some of its cars coming. We’ll see how those cars do. Americans know little about Fiat cars and too few consumers shop Chrysler and Dodge dealerships for compact cars and family sedans. To show a better tomorrow, Marchionne will have to reveal some real surprises with his November plan.....More

GM to close Saturn after Penske pulls out of deal

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:47:00 +0000

The last-minute collapse of a deal for the Saturn brand between General Motors Co. and Roger Penske dooms about 350 dealers, 13,000 employees and a brand created as a counterpunch to Japanese compact carmakers.---...More

GM's top electric car exec quits

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Bob Kruse, who recently led a critical Chevrolet Volt team and devised the automaker's long-term electric vehicle strategy, has resigned months before the vehicle's debut, The Detroit News has learned.---...More

Toyota to Issue Largest-Ever Recall - Killer floor mats

sfacomedysites@comcast.net (Staff) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:48:00 +0000

USA - Toyota says it will recall 3.8 million vehicles in the United States to address problems with a removable floor mat that could interfere with the vehicle?s accelerator and cause a crash. The company says it will be the largest recall in its history. Owners could learn about the safety campaign as early as next week. Toyota and the government warned owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles about safety problems tied to the removable floor mats. They say the mats could interfere with the vehicle?s accelerator and cause a crash.---...More