Magna
-
Fiat and Magna are still working with the German government on the takeover of Opel from General Motors' European operations, but Fiat is already being forced to quell concerns that it might shut down European Fiat plants if it does acquire Opel. Today Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola made it clear that Fiat has no such plans. A majority stake of Opel is up for sale due to GM's need for cash and Opel's need for assistance. Magna is thought to be seeking only a minority stake, while Fiat is expected to go after a controlling interest. Plans from both Fiat and Magna will go before the...
-
Report: Magna considers using Opel to build cars for other brands
Bidding for General Motors’ Opel division has intensified recently, with the German government revealing late last week that only two parties remain in the bidding war – Fiat and Magna International (together with Russia’s GAZ Group). While it’s been speculated that Fiat is...
Jeremy Weber -
Russia’s GAZ emerges as potential bidder for Opel
Less than 24 hours after GM CEO Fritz Henderson announced that a new buyer for Opel would be picked by the end of this month, Russia’s GAZ Group has confirmed that it would be interested in creating a joint venture with Magna International and Opel. Magna, as previously reported, is competing...
Jeremy Weber -
Ford hopes to sell 5,000 to 10,000 Focus electric cars per year
Electric cars may be all the rage these days but making the technology cheap enough for mass-market will take some time. One of the leaders in this field is Ford, which is expected to have one of the first mass-produced all-electric cars on the market with its battery-powered Focus. Arriving in...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford working on next-generation lithium-ion batteries
One of the biggest things holding back the mass embrace of the electric car is their supposedly short driving range compared to conventionally powered cars, as well as their relatively expensive nature considering the youth of the technology and low production volumes. To combat this, Ford claims...
James Martinez -
Spy shots: Undisguised Aston Martin Rapide
The long awaited four-door Aston Martin Rapide has been spotted, completely undisguised, undergoing testing in Northern Europe. Previous prototypes were last spotted near the carmaker's headquarters, and since then Aston Martin has released two official images of the car - albeit computer generated...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
One of the unseen forces of the automotive industry, Magna Steyr is a contract manufacturer that produces some of the best cars in the world, including the Aston Martin Rapide, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman from 2012, the Mini crossover and more. Their automotive prowess is without question, then, and so their concept vehicles carry a lot of weight. That only serves to make the MILA EV Concept headed to the 2009 Geneva Motor Show all the more exciting. An attractive, futuristic yet still realistic design combines with a powertrain that will have many taking notice. Combining a lithium-ion...
-
Mercedes Benz G-Class will keep on truckin’ through 2015
Thirty years is a long time in the automotive industry, but the more things change, the more they stay the same - in 1979, the second oil crisis was in full swing, Detroit was smack in the midst of its malaise-era madness and the Mercedes Benz G-Class was born. Despite its age, there are plans to...
Jeremy Weber -
More details emerge on Ford’s upcoming electric compact
Ford confirmed at last month’s Detroit Auto Show that it would launch an all-electric compact car in 2011, co-developed with automotive parts supplier and independent vehicle manufacturer Magna International. Today new details on Ford's efforts to but electric wheels on the ground have...
James Martinez -
Chrysler's LaSorda denies sale of brands
One of the biggest criticisms for struggling Detroit carmakers General Motors and Chrysler is the number of brands they have under the one roof and the associated problem of selling models that often compete with one another in the same segments. In its efforts to secure its share of a federal...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford reveals electric future, confirms electric compact car for 2011
Ford has used the opening day for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show to announce plans for its future electric vehicle (EV) program, confirming several zero-emissions vehicles for the North American market as well as next-generation hybrid and new plug-in hybrid models. Ford will call on its global...
Ralph Hanson