Industry

Speculation about the demise of Ford's Mercury brand has been rife for the past year, with many analysts convinced the struggling brand is in its death throes and will be axed soon. While Ford continues to deny such rumors, the Blue Oval's actions are speaking louder than its words - no new...

Volkswagen confirmed today that its new U.S. plant will be constructed in the southern state of Tennessee. The new Chattanooga site in Tennessee beat out rival bids from Alabama and Michigan because of its cost and logistical advantages, and production is scheduled to begin in early 2011. The...

Focused on finding a sweet spot in the balance between power and economy, Ford is working new plans to expand its EcoBoost system while also improving its existing naturally aspirated engines across its entire range. Diesel engines will play a role, as will smaller petrol mills, with help from a...

Update: Volvo today denied reports it was looking to cut 30% of its dealerships in the U.S. as weak sales push volumes further downward. Instead, the company says it is planning to 'persuade' some struggling dealers to voluntarily give up their franchises. Clearly, the difference is mostly one of...

Hybrids, plug-ins and electric vehicles are the current best bets for the future of the automobile industry, but Chrysler says its entry into the fray will take at least another 3-5 years to suss out. The carmaker's already woeful lack of small cars is hurting sales as fuel prices continue to rise...

Selling off all of its Premier Automotive Group (PAG) holdings except for Volvo left Ford with a handful of largely working-class brands, but that move may have been part of the bigger picture only being revealed now. Reduced to a closer core of nameplates, Ford is working to restore Lincoln to its...

Troubles at home aside, General Motors' Chevrolet brand has blazed a path to the top of Europe's biggest market - and it's not Germany. Russia's 2008 first-half sales surpassed Germany's, rising 41% to a total volume of 1.65 million cars. The incredible increase is driven directly by consumer...

The U.S. auto industry may be in turmoil, but both Chrysler and General Motors have denied any possibility of bankruptcy and have dismissed recent rumors to that effect as inaccurate. Both companies have been plagued by falling sales as consumer demand shifts towards smaller and more fuel-efficient...

They may be vintage rides with pristine paint jobs and immaculate interiors, or they may be beat-up jalopies held together with duct tape and hope, but the top 10 most stolen vehicles in the U.S. for 2007 include several cars that are 10, 15 and 20 years old. Older Toyota and Hondas are the prime...

Rising costs, shifting demand and a maturing market in North America, combined with high labor costs and tough union negotiations are pushing Ford to look for ways to improve its situation, and according the company's local CEO, Mexico is rising as an integral part of Ford's global future. The...

Update: The long-awaited return of Alfa Romeo to U.S. sales is finally beginning to make some tangible progress - today Fiat and BMW announced a possible partnership with BMW's Mini dealerships that will allow the German company to sell Alfas in its stores. The news means that Alfa could have at...

Despite the rapid pace of change in today's automobile market, the business of designing and building cars requires the adoption of a longer-range view. That includes anticipating periods of rapid change and technological developments. Though a bit behind the curve, the German maker is nonetheless...

Tata's Nano ultra-affordable microcar continues to make waves that its original target price of $2,500 set the automotive world alight, and its low price is still causing fear for the future of the used car market in India. News of rising materials costs driving up the price of the car itself are...

Mazda is one of the few carmakers to buck the trend of building bigger and heavier cars with every new model generation, with engineers managing to shave up to 100kg from the already small Mazda2 compact car when it released the second generation model last year. The carmaker is determined to...

Despite constant denials from Ford that its Volvo subsidiary is not up for sale comes new reports that China’s Chery Auto is considering bidding for the carmaker. Chery now joins a handful of other firms, including Renault, Shanghai Auto and Dongfeng Motors, as parties rumored to be bidding...

Whether it's 'Monica Missiles' or 'Economic Stimulus Packages' the political misdirection is a tried and true method of shifting the media's attention from something undesirable and toward another issue that's easier to deal with. General Motors is reported to be considering just such an action in...

Update: General Motors today issued a statement denying the Wall Street Journal's reports of more possible brand and salaried job cuts. The troubled automaker has seen sales plummet over the past several months as oil prices reach record highs, its large SUV and pickup-heavy lineup unsuited to the...

A joint effort between the energy departments of the United States and Sweden, through the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago and the Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg, will see the two countries work together under a $37 million program to develop new plug-in hybrid technology. Swedish...

The long-awaited and much anticipated Volkswagen Robust pickup truck has been canceled for European sale, according to the latest reports. The truck will still be sold in South America, but the U.S. is also off the table. New analysis of fuel prices and market demand show there is no logical place...

Founded in 1968 by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani, the Italian design firm Italdesign has been involved with some of the most iconic designs of the past four decades, including the Audi 80, Lancia Delta, Saab 9000 Turbo and the Fiat Panda. The Quaranta concept shown at this year's Geneva...