Industry

It's no secret that the U.S. economy, and not least the automotive industry, are in the midst of some of the most difficult times in recent history, and the U.S. Congress is now considering additional aid to the industry to help preserve it in the face of sales at 25-year lows. Sales dropped to a...

Two new engines today joined Hyundai's growing range of in-house designed and built powerplants. This time around they're diesel-powered, in 2.0 and 2.2L displacements, promising power outputs of 181hp (135kW) and 197hp (147kW) respectively. The new engines will be headed into a range of vehicles...

On the back of weak financial results announced today, BMW has decided not to risk the launch of an expensive model like the production version of the Concept CS. The car had been conceived as a new range-topping super-sedan for the company, but its business case simply isn't convincing enough...

Bucking an industry trend toward outsourcing the construction of motors and hybrid assemblies to high-tech companies with similar experience in non-autmotive fields, a new report indicates Volkswagen will be building its own hybrid internals. The decision is based is the idea that the company will...

For many years Ford’s sales performance in the United States has been linked closely with its top-selling pickup truck and SUV lines, but with demand for such vehicles continuing to slide the Blue Oval has acknowledged that its future lineup will have to feature much more small cars...

With a number of reports claiming a formal announcement detailing a merger partner for Chrysler is expected within the next two weeks, all eyes are currently focused on the two most likely suitors – General Motors and Renault-Nissan. However, it appears more and more likely that GM will be...

The United States Treasury Department has put an end to any hope that additional federal money will be lent to either General Motors or Chrysler to help aid a merger. The Bush administration's decision not to fund the merger at this time effectively puts the question on hold until after the...

The European commission put forward a proposal on Wednesday to introduce a scheme to offer motorists incentives to scrap their old cars in order to boost sales of new fuel-efficient models. The latest proposal is just one of a number of government backed schemes being considered to help carmakers...

Sales of Toyota’s heavy SUV and pickups have been on the decline in the U.S. for the past several months with rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns shifting consumer demand towards smaller and more economical vehicles. The carmaker, which usually prides itself on productivity...

One of the more worrying scenarios resulting from a possible merger between General Motors and Chrysler is that the Auburn Hills carmaker could be absorbed entirely by GM, meaning most of its models, plants, dealers, and employees would be dropped. Chrysler, along with Dodge and Jeep, would then...

The Germans are embracing diesels wholeheartedly, and many of the Fiat Group's companies have a standing relationship with the oily fuel, but Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa has ruled out any move toward the technology, at least within the next five years, and probably beyond that. "Diesel is not a...

The Corvette ZR-1, any number of Ferraris, a and choice selection of the finest automobiles from Italy, Germany and elsewhere - these are fine company, and soon more affordable sports cars could be joining these ranks, at least in terms of brakes. Brembo has this week announced the purchase of the...

General Motors will reportedly postpone spending on product development in all of 2009 and 2010 in an effort to cut costs. The spending cuts will affect engineering, research and design, and is expected to lead to delays in the introduction of crucial models such as the Chevrolet Cruze compact...

As the potential merger between General Motors and Chrysler becomes clearer in detail, it is beginning to look less and less likely due to problems with the financing necessary for GM to complete the deal. Government aid could bridge the gap, and recently we saw reports that the Treasury was...

Tracinda Corp, led by billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, has sold another 26.4 million shares of Ford stock according to a new SEC filing. The shares were sold between October 21-28 at an average price of $2.01 per share, a drop of more than 20% over the smaller liquidation made last week...

General Motors will temporarily suspend matching payments into its employees’ 401(k) accounts as it struggles to raise liquid cash. The suspension of matching contributions will come into effect on November 1 this year, and will affect GM's entire North American workforce. Additionally, GM is...

A report over the weekend has linked talks between BMW and Ford to a potential sale of the Volvo brand. Despite consistent denials by Ford that it is shopping Volvo around, the rumors of such talks continue to crop up every few months. The strain of the current weak economy could be raising the...

The worsening global financial crisis has forced Fiat to postpone two major targets it had planned for its Alfa Romeo brand in 2010 – a U.S. relaunch and reaching 300,000 sales in China. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that Alfa Romeo won't return to American shores in 2010 as...

Ongoing merger negotiations, record financial losses and the worst sales figures in recent history have all been pointing to serious trouble for Chrysler, LLC, and today CEO Bob Nardelli said in a letter to employees that the company will cut 25% of its workforce - or about 4,300 salaried jobs -...

While most of its rivals all reported significant losses through the first half of 2008, Toyota managed to increase market share to 16.8% and post a $3.8 billion profit for the second quarter. Despite this, both analysts and the carmaker itself are predicting a drop in year-on-year sales volumes...