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Lifan's Russian plant adds 3rd sedan, now builds complete line

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

Lifan is now building its complete lineup of sedans at its assembly plant in Russia after adding output of the Lifan 320 small car earlier this month. The Lifan 320 is a hatchback that resembles the BMW Mini.

Toyota plaintiffs challenge NASA report on unintended acceleration

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

Lawyers representing hundreds of people suing Toyota Motor Corp. over incidents of unintended acceleration challenged a NASA report that found electronic flaws weren't the cause of problems that resulted in the recall of thousands of vehicles.

UAW ratifies contract with auto supplier Dana

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

About 2,500 members of the UAW ratified a new three-year labor contract with auto parts maker Dana Holding Corp., providing workers with pay raises and a profit-sharing plan.

Earthquake stalls output of many best-selling cars from Japan

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

Factory shutdowns in Japan have hammered the country's best-selling export models to the United States, with 17 of the top 20 nameplates still offline more than a week after the earthquake. Hardest hit is Toyota Motor Corp.

Quake hits Korean car industry; Hyundai Mobis sees opportunity

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

Fallout from the Japan earthquake is hitting neighboring South Korea, leading General Motors and other carmakers to reassess production schedules amid supply worries.

King: UAW building alliances to bolster organizing drive at transplants

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:54 +0200

UAW President Bob King told delegates at a bargaining convention today that the union is building alliances with other unions and groups to strengthen its organizing drive at Asian and German automakers operating in the United States.

Will Ammann stop GM's revolving door in the CFO office?

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:53 +0200

It's been a couple of weeks since Dan Ammann was named General Motors' CFO-to-be, but I'm still admiring his deft stab at securing some modicum of job security. He's moving into a hot seat.

Ford takes first European order for Transit Connect EV

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:53 +0200

Ford has taken the first European order for 20 of its Transit Connect electric vans from the Norwegian postal service.

Vehicles pile up at Chrysler minivan plant in wake of hauler dispute

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:53 +0200

Minivans have been piling up at Chrysler Group LLC's Windsor assembly plant after the automaker could not reach an agreement with one of its primary vehicle-hauling contractors.

Is a front-wheel-drive-based pickup in Chevy's future?

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:53 +0200

The Chevrolet Colorado pickup concept unveiled this week reminds me of a conversation I had this year with a General Motors executive. But there was one surprise with the unveiling.

VW's 2010 output in Slovakia rises 36% on demand for SUVs

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

VW's Slovakian unit said its car production jumped 36.3 percent in 2010 on rising demand for its SUV models in Germany and emerging markets. VW Slovakia made 144,510 vehicles last year, up from 106,000 cars in 2009, with revenues rising by 37.

Honda says UK plant monitoring supplies carefully

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Honda Motor Co. said the earthquake in Japan had not had any immediate impact on UK operations but that it was monitoring the supply of parts closely and had set up an emergency coordination center in Swindon.

Feds may make noise about sound shut-offs

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

On-off buttons for noise-making devices in electric and hybrid vehicles may be banned under rules federal regulators are developing. Under a law President Obama signed Jan. 4, EVs and hybrids must have sound-emitting devices in a few years.

Paris prosecutor's strengthen case for fraud not espionage

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

The Paris prosecutor is leaning towards the theory that Renault was the victim of a fraud that prompted it to fire three executives in a probe into suspected industrial espionage."

Honeywell, others to invest in Slovakia, minister says

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Honeywell International Inc. will invest 38.3 million euros ($53.4 million) in Slovakia to build a turbocharger plant, creating some 450 jobs, the economy ministry said on Monday.

Renault board to meet as spy case unravels

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Renault's board will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday, a source said, as French authorities prepared to brief the media on the now-unravelling industrial spying case that has gripped France.

Renault spy setback puts pressure on Ghosn

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Renault mishandling of an espionage investigation has weakened CEO Carlos Ghosn in a tussle with the French state, four people familiar with the matter said.

Renault exonerates 3 ousted execs, admits errors in spy claim case

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Renault SA said it wrongfully dismissed three executives accused of spying after French prosecutors found no substance in a complaint by the carmaker against the former employees.

Ghosn, Pelata apologize to sacked spy-claim execs; Renault admits it was wrong over dismissals

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Renault said it wrongfully dismissed three executives accused of spying after French prosecutors found no substance in a complaint by the carmaker against the former employees.

Renault board to meet as spy case unravels

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:33:03 +0200

Renault's board will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday, a source said, as French authorities prepared to brief the media on the now-unravelling industrial spying case that has gripped France.

E-Type concept to be built

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:44 +0200

Jaguar‘Growler’ rendering to become supercharged, 5.0-litre V8-powered reality

Bristol Cars goes bust

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:29 +0200

Eccentric British car maker is placed into administration. Paul Horrell asks: 'where did it all go wrong?'

Bristol Cars goes bust after 65 years

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:29 +0200

Eccentric British car maker is placed into administration. Paul Horrell asks:‘Where did it all go wrong?’

New BMW M5 on video

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:29 +0200

German car maker releases teaser footage of slidey new M5 on some ice…

Former Honda zone manager to lead Saab's North American sales

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:17 +0200

A former Honda zone sales manager will head U.S. sales for Saab Cars North America. James Sweeting has been named the company's executive national sales director, effective March 15.

Renault's Pelata set to take a fall for Ghosn in EV spy debacle

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:17 +0200

Judo enthusiast Patrick Pelata knows all about falls, and he looks almost certain to take one to protect his boss Carlos Ghosn as an embarrassing spying debacle engulfs Renault's boardroom.

Ford, Ferrari settle lawsuit over F-150 name

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:17 +0200

Ford Motor Co has settled a federal lawsuit in which it accused Italian automaker Ferrari of infringing its trademark for the popular F-150 truck. Ford dropped the case on Thursday, according to a filing in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

GM, Mazda cancel more production in wake of Magna plant fire

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:17 +0200

General Motors Co. has canceled shifts at six of its assembly plants and Mazda has idled production of its Mazda6 sedan following parts shortages caused by a fire at one of Magna International Inc.'s key interior parts factories.

Toyota counts on hybrids to restore European profits

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

Toyota Motor Europe is counting on an expanded lineup of gasoline-electric hybrids to return to profitability in the region. Over the next two years, Toyota and its Lexus luxury brand will launch 10 new hybrids in Europe.

Fisker aims to sell 7,000 Karma electric sports cars this year

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

Fisker Automotive this year expects to sell 'at least 7,000 units' of its first car, the $87,900 Karma hybrid sports car, Chief Operating Officer Bernhard Koehler said.

SsangYong mulls U.S. launch; targets Europe as biggest export market

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

SsangYong plans to launch sales in the U.S. as part of its ambitious global growth plans. The company also expects Europe to be its largest export market in 2011, company chairman Yoo Lee said.

U.S. consortium awards $15.6 million in contracts to 3 battery makers

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium has awarded $15.6 million in contracts to three battery makers to develop and test hybrid-electric and electric vehicle energy storage systems. The companies are Cobasys LLC, Maxwell Technologies Inc.

Carlos Ghosn, under fire at Renault, seeks new story for Nissan alliance

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

Although the 12-year Renault-Nissan partnership is often viewed as a success story in an industry littered with botched tie-ups, Renault investors seem less than thrilled about it lately. On Feb.

Carlos Ghosn, under fire at Renault, seeks new story for Nissan alliance

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:31:16 +0200

Although the 12-year Renault-Nissan partnership is often viewed as a success story in an industry littered with botched tie-ups, Renault investors seem less than thrilled about it lately. On Feb.

Geneva 2011: new Maser GranCabrio Sport