Archives: November 2009

Contrasting fortunes for Toyota, Hyundai across the Sea of Japan

Posted by: Ian Rowley on November 30

Last month, I blogged about Toyota opening for business in Korea. A little over a month later, for all Toyota's woes elsewhere, sales are going well. In October, Toyota beat...

Why Renault's Latest Russia Deal Looks Smart

Posted by: Carol Matlack on November 27

Renault’s partnership with struggling Russian automaker Avtovaz got a fresh infusion of cash on Nov. 27 – and happily for Renault, Russian taxpayers will foot most of the bill. In...

Saab deal falls apart as the brand nears extinction

Posted by: David Welch on November 24

Swedish sports car maker Koenigsegg Group AB has come to its senses. The company decided to pull out of its earlier agreement to buy Saab from General Motors. Barring some...

Caddy tries to resurrect the wagon

Posted by: David Welch on November 19

Will Americans buy wagons? History says no. And by history I mean after 1980. Sure, Subaru sells wagons quite successfully to some outdoorsy types on the coasts. You also...

Mercedes Benz and its small-car dreams

Posted by: David Welch on November 13

American seems to be obsessed with small cars these days. Not American consumers, mind you, but policy makers and executives at the companies who must bend to their will....

Opel drama drags on. Forster out, Lutz in.

Posted by: David Welch on November 09

The drama in Germany between General Motors and Europe just keeps dragging on. Now, its top European executive, Carl-Peter Forster, is leaving the company and GM Vice Chairman Bob...

Marchionne speaks: Chrysler's financial woes are overblown.

Posted by: David Welch on November 04

Contrary to popular view, Chrysler isn’t flat broke. That was the first thing Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said when kicking off a six-hour presentation that seeks to convince the...

Now Toyota quits Formula One

Posted by: Ian Rowley on November 04

At a hastily arranged press conference this evening in Tokyo, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda announced that the carmaker is the latest big player to quit Formula One motorsport. Toyota, which...