Archive for March, 2012
Expanded alternative-fuel tax credits proposed
President Barack Obama on Wednesday proposed bigger tax credits for advanced-technology vehicles whether they are powered by electricity, natural gas or other alternative fuels and announced a $1-billion initiative to help a dozen or so communities acr…
European crisis sheds light on automakers’ excess capacity
Americans attending this year’s news media preview at the Geneva auto show could be forgiven for thinking they were time-traveling to the austere days of the 2009 Detroit auto show when the U.S. economy and the very survival of the nation’s automakers …
Obama announces $1-billion plan to increase infastructure for alternative energy vehicles
Speaking at Daimler Trucks’s plant in Mt. Holly, N.C., Obama also announced a proposal to increase the current tax credit for the purchase of advanced vehicles running on alternative fuel from $7,500 to $10,000, while extending it to additional types o…
Toyota recalling 495,00 Tacoma trucks for airbag issue
The automaker says friction in their steering wheel spiral cable assemblies could eventually cut the connection to the driver’s air bag and keep it from deploying in a crash.
Chrysler recalling about 200,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that the recall affects certain 2004 and 2005 model year Jeeps that were manufactured between July 2003 and July 2005.
CEO Marchionne received no salary or stock awards from Chrysler in 2011
Marchionne, who also is CEO of Fiat, does, however, receive compensation and stock from the Italian automaker. In 2010, Marchionne received about $4.5 million in fees from Fiat, according to the company’s annual report. Fiat owns 58.5% of Chrysler.
Mercedes A-Class’ new look debuts
Mercedes-Benz unveiled a radical redesign of its A-Class vehicles Tuesday, the first in a series of facelifts for the German luxury automaker’s fleet. The sleek, sporty look of the new A-Class contrasts sharply with its dowdy predecessor, favored by th…
Dodge Dart launch to wait?
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, that Chrysler may push back the production launch of the Dodge Dart from April 1 “to avoid being jinxed” by an April Fool’s Day launch. The Dodge Dart is the first Chrysler mo…
Chrysler stock sale to wait until time is right
Chrysler is prepared to issue stock to the public when the time is right, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Tuesday, indicating such an IPO could happen sooner than he has suggested previously.
Ford launches its B-Max family car
Ford launched its new B-Max family car at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday, amid concerns that faltering demand in Europe may require automakers to close plants. Ford CEO Alan Mulally insisted the company still considers Europe an important market, desp…