Industry
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It's easy to look at the bailouts and bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler as a big-government bonanza. Some even see tints of socialism in the loans and subsequent government ownership stakes. But as Ford points out today, there was more at stake than just two companies. The entire industry, and in some ways, the entire U.S. economy, was riding on the survival of GM and Chrysler, says Ford Motor Co executive chairman Bill Ford, Jr. "It would have been so catastrophic to have a supply-base meltdown because it would have brought down all the auto manufacturers and frankly some other...
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Hummer won't stop U.S. production, sale to new owners complete by OctoberPoor sales, growing public concern for the environment and the recession have all added up to weaken General Motors’ chances of finding many buyers for Hummer but the struggling automaker confirmed last week that at least one company was interested in the sale. That company was Chinese...
Ralph Hanson -
Report: Porsche’s controlling families back selling 25% stake to Qatar-based investorsA little over a week ago we reported on Porsche's financial troubles and the company’s attempts to seek a lifeline from both the German government and outside investors - namely in the form of an investment from the Gulf state of Qatar. More details have since emerged about Qatar's interest...
James Martinez -
House and Senate agree on Cash for Clunkers bill, mileage requirements revealedThe Cash for Clunkers bill is just one of the incentives the government is trying to implement to bring the U.S. auto industry back to its pre-recession levels. Now, the Cash for Clunkers scheme has garnered the approval of both House and Senate negotiation teams, with the two sides reaching an...
Jeremy Weber -
Tax break on new cars extends to all 50 statesNo one at this point doubts the country's, or the world's, economic woes, most especially those within the car industry. So the announcement today that the U.S. Treasury has expanded its offer of a tax break on new car sales to those bought in states without a sales tax comes as a welcome aid...
Ralph Hanson -
Dodge Viper business turned over to FiatChrysler has been trying to sell its Dodge Viper sports car business since late last year but according to the struggling automaker, the once prominent brand couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. In fact, Chrysler insisted that it had received only one bid of $5.5 million from Devon...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
With accusations and hyperbole that the U.S. government's bailout of the Detroit 3 is a clear step towards socialism, President Barack Obama's automotive task force that has been charged with overseeing the restructuring of GM and Chrysler has promised that the government will not be putting any more money into either automaker. In total, the U.S. government has given automakers and suppliers close to $80 billion, and while the government claims that this money has given the companies a good chance to succeed while preserving American jobs, there is also the question of whether taxpayers...
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Chrysler passed on multi-million dollar offers for Dodge Viper businessYou would think that an entity with as much cachet as the Dodge Viper business would have no trouble being sold during a fire sale but according to Chrysler the business couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. Reports last month that only one offer was made for the Viper business has...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lamborghini sees no recovery until 2011, sales down 30% so far this yearLast year was Lamborghini’s most successful year on record but even it cannot escape the effects of the world economic crisis. Lamborghini sales are down more than 30% for the first five months of the year and the company is expecting things to stay this way until at least 2011. Speaking with...
Kenneth Hall -
GM plans major changes for remaining dealershipsGeneral Motors already has plans to slash hundreds of its dealers late next year, but for the dealers who make it through the cuts it won't just be a case of 'business as usual'. Instead, the struggling automaker will be modifying its contracts with the remaining 4,100 or so dealers in its network...
James Martinez -
Supreme Court allows sale of Chrysler to FiatThe Supreme Court has approved the sale of substantially all of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, helping to finalize their alliance as well as the American automaker’s bankruptcy proceedings. Approval was given for the $2 billion sale of the assets to a new company that will be 68% controlled by a...
Ralph Hanson -
House approves revised Cash for Clunkers billEarlier this year the original ‘Cash for Clunkers’ bill was rejected by the Senate because of research that showed the program wouldn't have made much impact on auto sales or emissions. A revised version of that bill has since been presented to Congress and was approved by the House in...
James Martinez -
General Motors has already announced plans to slash hundreds of dealerships across its brand portfolio, and now it appears even high-end Cadillac dealers won’t be spared from the latest cull. Most of the cuts are expected to occur in metro areas and affected dealers will be informed by October 31, 2010 - the same day most franchise agreements between GM and its dealers expire. The reasoning behind GM's decision to cut back on Cadillac dealerships comes from examining the brand’s place in the luxury segment and comparing how its rivals sell their retail vehicles. Companies such as...
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Official: Penske Automotive agrees to buy SaturnGeneral Motors and Penske Automotive Group today confirmed details of a proposed transaction under which Penske would acquire the Saturn brand. If completed, the deal would save more than 350 dealerships and 13,000 jobs at Saturn and its retailers in the U.S., as well as preserving the brand...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Report: Penske most likely to acquire Saturn, announcement expected soonGM has picked Penske Automotive Group as the buyer for Saturn. Click here for all the details. GM's preparations for bankruptcy means the company is looking to sell as many of its 'bad' assets as possible in order to raise capital and streamline operations. One of these is the Saturn brand, which...
James Martinez -
GM has 16 suitors for Saturn, no final decision in sightGeneral Motors is proceeding to the next step with respect to the sale of Saturn, confirming this week that it’s in talks with up to 16 potential buyers and that it will look to secure an agreement with a specific group by the end of the year. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, GM...
Ralph Hanson -
Opel’s new owner won’t be able to sell cars in U.S. or ChinaEarlier this week Opel managed to secure a $2.1 billion bridge financing package from the German government to keep itself operating until ownership is transferred from GM to another investor. This new investor will be Canada’s Magna International, which together with Russian bank Sherbank...
Alex Kaufmann -
Brembo forms new joint-venture to bring carbon ceramic brakes to the massesSeek out any modern supercar and chances are you'll see some carbon ceramic brake discs behind its wheels, often with the Brembo logo emblazoned on them. Now, Brembo is announcing a new partnership with SGL Group, a company specializing in carbon-fiber production, and together the two will jointly...
Kenneth Hall -
Fiat's sudden interest in Chrysler and Opel highlight the Italian auto giant’s desire to build a large scale global manufacturing operation, but now that a deal with Opel appears to be far from certain there’s speculation as to where Fiat's interest will fall next. In top contention, it’s been revealed, is France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen group. With a freshly inked deal with Chrysler, many analysts are speculating that without the stability of Opel backing up the allaince, Fiat may find itself on shaky ground. Equity analysts have described Chrysler as the weakest link in...
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Judge allows sale of Chrysler assets to FiatA U.S. bankruptcy judge on Sunday approved the sale of substantially all of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, helping to finalize the two automaker’s alliance as well as the American company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Approval was given for the $2 billion sale of the assets to a new company...
Jeremy Weber -
Report: GM may announce Hummer sale tomorrowGeneral Motors confirmed the sale of its Hummer brand last August and followed up the announcement with the release of an official document for potential buyers just one month later. Poor sales, growing public concern for the environment and the recession have all added up to weaken Hummer's sales...
Nelson Ireson -
Another round of dealer cuts imminent at GMJust a couple of weeks ago General Motors revealed that it would be cutting ties with over 1,100 dealerships, and the bad news keeps coming for dealers as the struggling automaker is expected to cut a further 450 dealerships in the coming months. Many dealerships are under franchise agreements with...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat skips Opel talks, Chrysler deal to be finalized todayThe future of General Motors’ European division Opel will soon be a lot clearer as a buyer for the brand is expected to be announced within the next week. Up until now, one of the leading bidders for the brand was Fiat but today it has been revealed that the Italian auto giant has walked away...
Alex Kaufmann -
Bricklin proposes new plan to install ”hydrogen hybrid” drivetrains in GM and Chrysler carsThe collapse of GM and Chrysler in recent months has seen the manufacturing employees and the extensive dealer networks of both firms suffer heavily, but now there may be a new and revolutionary product in sight that not only gives flailing dealers a chance to pick themselves up but may also keep...
Kenneth Hall