Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Has VP Joe Biden leaked Fisker's product plan?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/has-vp-joe-biden-leaked-fiskers-product-plan/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/has-vp-joe-biden-leaked-fiskers-product-plan/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/has-vp-joe-biden-leaked-fiskers-product-plan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Regardless of what side of the political fence you find yourself on, it's hard to dispute that vice president Joe Biden has a reputation for saying more than he should. That's not always a good thing when you're privy to some of the most important secrets of what is arguably the most powerful nation on earth. Happily for car fans, our veep's "gift" seems to apply to automakers as well.

When Biden addressed the media at Fisker's recently purchased Wilmington, Delaware plant, the VP reportedly got pretty glib with Fisker's future product plans. Among the tidbits that Biden spilled beans on was the planned production volume of Project Nina. We already knew that Fisker was gearing up to build Project Nina - a plug-in hybrid rumored to cost less than $40,000 - somewhere in the States, but we didn't know that the fledgling automaker planned to build up to 100,000 copies of the still unseen and unproven PHEV, and that's exactly what our VP indicates. Biden also reportedly described the new sedan's design, saying it looks like a 'four-door Ferrari.' After the press conference, company founder Henrik Fisker apparently told Fox News that Biden "definitely told what our product plans are." Oops.

We don't know if Biden actually spoke out of turn or not, but given the VP's reputation for doing so, we're wondering if Fisker intended to tip its product plans hand this early in the game. Fisker can't complain too much, though, since the U.S. government loaned his company $529 million in spite of the fact that it won't make a car in the U.S. until the middle of the next decade. The automaker's first offering, the Karma, doesn't arrive until late next year, and it will be made in Finland.

[Source: The Car Connection | Image: Jeff Fusco/Getty]

Has VP Joe Biden leaked Fisker's product plan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delawarefiskerfisker karmafisker product plansFiskerKarmaFiskerProductPlansjoe bidenJoeBidenproject ninaProjectNinavice presidentVicePresidentvp joe bidenVpJoeBidenwilmingtonWed, 28 Oct 2009 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[POLL: How will Jim Press affect the fortunes of Chrysler LLC?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/06/poll-how-will-jim-press-affect-the-fortunes-of-chrysler-llc/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/06/poll-how-will-jim-press-affect-the-fortunes-of-chrysler-llc/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/06/poll-how-will-jim-press-affect-the-fortunes-of-chrysler-llc/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Wow, we're still reeling a bit from this morning's news that Chrysler hired off Toyota North America's top executive, Jim Press. He now shares the title of Vice Chairman and President with Tom LaSorda, and the two will report directly to Chrysler's new CEO, Bob Nardelli. While LaSorda will handle the "Supply" side of things (Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply, Employee Relations and Global Business Development and Alliances), Press will handle "Demand" (North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service).

Press spent the last 37 years of his professional career at Toyota. What makes a man leave a company with that type of history? What makes a man leave a company like Toyota at the height of its success, and join an automaker that's about to begin yet another turnaround? We don't know, but we bet it's more than just the allure of a good challenge.

The real question is how the addition of Jim Press will affect Chrysler. Will his hire be an instant positive for the company, or will his presence be a distraction for the management team. Then there's the conspiracist theory angle. Perhaps Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe sent Press to Chrysler as a mole to learn why the Jeep Wrangler is so popular.

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POLL: How will Jim Press affect the fortunes of Chrysler LLC? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerchrysler llcChryslerLlcjim pressJimPresspresidenttom lasordaTomLasordavice presidentVicePresidentThu, 06 Sep 2007 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes replaces US sales veep]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/11/mercedes-replaces-us-sales-veep/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/11/mercedes-replaces-us-sales-veep/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/11/mercedes-replaces-us-sales-veep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mercedes-Benz USA has accepted the resignation of Keith May, Vice President of Sales since joining the company in 2000, who is leaving "to pursue other interests". May will be replaced by Mark McNabb, former Vice President of Marketing for MBUSA.

McNabb joined Mercedes-Benz as marketing chief last February, coming from Nissan's Tokyo office. Previous titles also include VP and GM of Nissan and Infiniti brands in the United States.

Until Mercedes names a successor to McNabb as VP of marketing, he will perform both jobs.

[Source: Automotive News (sub req'd)]

Mercedes replaces US sales veep originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Keith MayKeithMayMark McNabbMarketingMarkMcnabbMercedes-BenzSalesVice presidentVicePresidentThu, 11 Jan 2007 09:09:00 EST