Archives: February 2009

Ford Predicts 9 million Selling Rate for February. Where Is The Bottom?

Posted by: David Kiley on February 27

Ford Motor Co. said Friday that auto industry sales would be at an annualized selling rate of just around 9 million in February when it and other automakers report monthly...

Mr. Obama: Meet Mr. Benz, not Mr. Ford.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 25

When President Obama said in his February 24 speech, "And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it," I shouted, FACT CHECKER! FACT CHECKER! Dear...

Obama to Detroit: Government won't walk away

Posted by: David Welch on February 25

In President Obama’s address to Congress last night, he said he’s behind the auto industry and wants to save it. At least, that’s my interpretation. The new President said...

Auto Loan Debate: Will The Real Bond Holders Please Stand Up

Posted by: David Kiley on February 18

Will the real bondholders please stand up? There are two players at the negotiating table with General Motors, Chrysler and the White House who have a lot of chips to...

Protectionism or "Think Local" in the Stimulus Package

Posted by: David Kiley on February 17

Members of Congress were a bit ham-handed in their attempts to get "Buy American" provisions into the stimulus package such as requiring state governments completing infrastructure projects to buy American...

Not Wanted: Car Czar.

Posted by: David Kiley on February 16

The Obama Administration's decision not to appoint some tough, experienced "car czar" to oversee the restructuring and financial viability plans of GM and Chrysler was predictable and foretold by a...

A few things for Obama's auto task force

Posted by: David Welch on February 16

It appears now that there may not be a car czar after all. Instead the Obama Administration may set up a task force which reports to both Treasury Secretary...

Stimulus? What Stimulus?

Posted by: David Welch on February 13

Comedian Lewis Black once joked that the Republicans always come up with lousy ideas to bring to a vote. Not to be outdone, he went on, the Democrats will...

Hyundai Showing Itself To Be A Brand For The Times

Posted by: David Kiley on February 12

Hyundai Motor America is having as difficult a time as most automakers these days coping with the dramatic drop in demand in autos. But one has to admire how the...

Judging Lutz's Legacy

Posted by: David Welch on February 10

The boo birds are out. A day after General Motors announced that its car guy, Bob Lutz, is retiring the harsh comments lined up on our website like banks...

Lutz's Impact on GM: Great, but is it Lasting?

Posted by: David Kiley on February 10

Bob Lutz's impact on General Motors should not be underestimated despite the near-death experience the company is going through right now. Before he was invited to leave retirement and his...

Bad brands take a hit

Posted by: David Welch on February 05

Circumstantial evidence is a cheap way to draw a conclusion. But anyone who says that rumors of bankruptcy, sale or anything else that clouds the future of a car...

BMW's Chris Bangle Designs His Own Exit

Posted by: David Kiley on February 03

Chris Bangle, the head of design for the BMW Group since 1992 and one of the most controversial and well-known designers in the auto industry, resigned his post on...

Uncle Sam, are you helping GM or not?

Posted by: David Welch on February 02

As if the government’s bailout efforts haven’t been silly enough, now General Motors has something else to worry about. If GM can get its bondholders to swap debt for...