Industry News
Carbon Motors calls Department of Energy loan rejection political fallout
Officials with an Indiana company intent on producing a vehicle solely for law enforcement reacted angrily this week to news that the U.S. Department of Energy rejected its request for a $310-million loan after more than two years of deliberations.
2013 Ram to get Pentastar V6 engine, 8-speed transmission
Both the engine and the transmission are expected to improve the fuel efficiency of the Ram pickup.
A123 Systems reports $85-million loss for 4Q of 2011
A123 Systems, the lithium-ion battery manufacturer with operations in Livonia and Romulus, reported a $85 million, or 65 cents per share, loss for the last three months of 2011, driven by reduced orders from Fisker Automotive.
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 …
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…
Toyota promotes North American manufacturing chief
Toyota promoted its North American manufacturing chief to lead all operations in the region as part of a push by Japan’s largest carmaker to tighten coordination in the company’s biggest market. Shigeki Terashi, president of Toyota Motor Engineering & …
Marchionne gets no Chrysler salary in 2011
In an era when investors, pundits and the Occupy Wall Street movement analyze, criticize and rant about excessive executive pay, Chrysler paid nothing to Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne for 2011, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission fil…
Phelan’s corner
What happens to a Malibu Eco’s lithium-ion battery if the car sits without being driven for a long time, say a year during an overseas job assignment? Does it drain completely and become useless? Reader Jim Harris asked this after reading my review of …
Honda eyes natural gas pumps
Honda, the only automaker selling compressed natural gas-powered cars to U.S. drivers, wants some of its dealers to also install pumps to sell the fuel as its seeks to double sales of CNG vehicles.
Evoque idea
So let’s say you have a gorgeous, personal-size, award-winning crossover SUV unlike anything you’ve ever sold, one that has exploded onto the market and fast become your best-selling U.S. model. What do you do for an encore, and when do you do it?