Archives: October 2009

UAW workers stiff arm Ford

Posted by: David Welch on October 30

Just when you figured that the United Auto Workers have been hammered into submission, union workers are flexing their muscles. Ford union workers at 11 plants have voted against...

Alfa Romeo coming to the U.S.?

Posted by: David Welch on October 28

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will soon deliver his fix-it strategy for Chrysler. One big piece appears to be the return of Fiat’s upscale Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S....

Resilient Honda triples earnings forecast

Posted by: Ian Rowley on October 27

There are more signs that Japanese automakers are getting to grips with the recession. Honda, which has weathered the storm far better than rivals, today posted better-than-expected interim earnings result...

Fisker to convert a GM plant in Delaware to build plug-in hybrid cars

Posted by: David Welch on October 26

Out with the old, in with the new. California electric-car startup Fisker Automotive will announce plans tomorrow to turn an old General Motors plant in Wilmington (Dell.) into a...

Former Task Force Chief Rattner Slams Wagoner

Posted by: David Welch on October 22

Former Treasury Department auto task force chief Steve Rattner took off the gloves in his assessment of fired General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. In a speech at...

Lexus launches $375k LFA

Posted by: Ian Rowley on October 21

Toyota chief Akio Toyoda did his best to liven up proceedings, but even the unveiling of a production version of the $375,000 Lexus LFA supercar couldn't help this year's...

Toyota takes on Hyundai—in Korea

Posted by: Ian Rowley on October 20

Whichever way you look at it, Hyundai Motor is a supremely powerful operator in its home market. In Korea, Hyundai controlled 51% of the market between January and September and...

Opel sale hits a snag. German government could be in a bind.

Posted by: David Welch on October 19

If the European Union sticks to its guns, General Motors may be able to sell its German Adam Opel AG unit in a more competitive auction or keep the...

Recession Drives Speeding Tix, "Escort" Business

Posted by: David Kiley on October 16

The recession and economic woes of the automakers has created a lot of discounting of new cars and trucks for those who are in the market for new wheels....

Ford Spending 25% of Marketing on Digital and Social Media

Posted by: David Kiley on October 16

Ford Motor Co. this year will spend 25% of its marketing dollars on digital media, more than twice the amount spent by the industry. According to J.D. Power, about 9%...

GM Looking At New Ad Agencies For Chevrolet

Posted by: David Kiley on October 15

General Motors, facing criticism that it may not be moving fast enough to stir new conversations around its brands, is about to start hearing new pitches from new ad agencies....

GM's 60-day guarantee seems to be working

Posted by: David Welch on October 14

General Motors encountered plenty of skepticism when the company launched a 60-day buy back guarantee on its new cars in September. Some critics said it wouldn’t get many shoppers...

Cadillac Seeking New Ad Agency To Deliver

Posted by: David Kiley on October 12

GM has put its Cadillac ad account in review. I wonder what Mad Men’s Don Draper would do? As a fan of AMC’s "Mad Men", show, I would love to...

GM's LaNeve heads to the insurance biz

Posted by: David Welch on October 09

This is a bit of inside baseball. In Detroit circles, when a sales boss leaves a company, it’s big news. To the average reader, not so much. But the...

GM Sells Hummer. Good Riddance.

Posted by: David Welch on October 08

General Motors it will unload its Hummer brand to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery. GM said on Oct. 9 that it agreed to sell the brand. The deal...

Advertising: Ford Turns Back To Owners To Tell Its Story

Posted by: David Kiley on October 08

Ford Motor Co. is sticking with its “Drive One” ad campaign launched in 2007, but infusing a little more emotion into the effort. But don’t expect to see people gushing...

Toyota, Honda to add some much-needed fun

Posted by: Ian Rowley on October 07

For much of the year, this month's Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public on October 23, has been shaping up to be a dreary affair. Most foreign...

Sergio speaks: Chrysler's future will be better

Posted by: David Welch on October 02

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...