Posted in Automotive on May 21st, 2009
Earlier this week, President Obama officially moved the deadline for the new CAFE standards up from 2020 to 2016. The new standards will require each manufacturer to increase its fleet’s average fuel economy by 5% each year in order to meet the standards. That will really mean an average fuel economy of 23 mpg, not […]
Posted in Automotive on May 21st, 2009
A group of Chrysler dealers that Chrysler plans to close on June 9th has banded together and asked the bankruptcy court to delay Chrysler’s sale to Fiat. The group, called the Committee of Chrysler Affected dealers, is made up of about 300 Chrysler dealers from 45 states. Chrysler is planning to terminate 789 dealership franchise […]
Posted in Automotive on May 20th, 2009
Auto Pacific has released the results of their recent survey which asked 25,000 car, truck and SUV owners whether they would recommend their vehicle to a friend or family member. This is the best test of a car’s value. Most cars are very likeable, but in order for a person to put their reputation on […]
Posted in Automotive on May 20th, 2009
If General Motors is unable to restructure its debt and payroll expenses by June 1, the company will be forced into bankruptcy. If that happens, the U.S. government could buy parts of GM and create a new company with those parts. General Motors’ bankruptcy plan calls for a quick sale of the company’s healthy assets […]
Posted in Automotive on May 19th, 2009
In a press conference this morning, Daimler announced that it will be purchasing 10% of electric car maker Tesla Motors. As part of the deal, Tesla will provide battery packs to be used in electric Smart cars, according to Left Lane News. In turn, Daimler will agree to provide engineering support and possibly a platform […]
Posted in Bankruptcy, Chrysler, Dodge, Quality on May 19th, 2009
Chrysler customers who are owed money by Chrysler under lemon laws are finding that, even though they have reached an agreement with Chrysler, they can’t get a refund or settlement. Chrysler’s checks to lemon law customers are bouncing due to the company’s bankruptcy, the L.A. Times reports. Since Chrysler filed for bankruptcy, all of its […]
Posted in Automotive on May 18th, 2009
Speaking of automotive rivalries, there’s one going on right now (on the opposite end of the automotive spectrum from the pony-car battle between Chevy and Ford) between Toyota and Honda for #1 over the hybrid market. The Prius is the reigning hybrid champion, but Honda is hoping it can unseat the incumbent with the newly […]
Posted in Automotive on May 18th, 2009
Ford announced today that the 2011 Ford Mustang will once again have a 5.0 liter V8 engine. For Ford fans, the number 5.0 is a reminder of happier times, when the Mustang was the coolest car on the block. The new engine, codenamed Coyote, will be available in the F-150 next year and in the […]
Posted in Automotive on May 15th, 2009
More than 1/6th of GM’s 6,000 dealerships are finding out today that they will close by the end of 2010. GM says that it will not renew the franchise agreements it has with 1,100 dealerships when they expire in October 2010. Many of the closing dealerships will be ones that focused on Hummer, Saab, Saturn […]
Posted in Automotive on May 15th, 2009
Just one day after Chrysler announced that it would be forcing almost 800 dealerships to close in the beginning of June, ABC News is reporting that Fiat and Chrysler are working on finding a way to pay Chrysler executives more than the $500,000 per year salary limit imposed by the Government on any business that […]
{/literal}