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[So Cold in the D: Motown student pleads for auto aid in documentary]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/kids-for-car-industry-student-pleads-for-auto-aid-in-documentar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/kids-for-car-industry-student-pleads-for-auto-aid-in-documentar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/25/kids-for-car-industry-student-pleads-for-auto-aid-in-documentar/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Nicole Pentis is a high school junior in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan who has been making videos for five years. When C-SPAN sent out a call for students to make a video address to President Obama and tell him what they thought were the most pressing issues facing the U.S., Pentis grabbed her camera. Her subject: the turmoil in her own home - the imploding auto industry.

In her eight-minute vid entitled "Auto Industry for America's Past, Present, and Future," Pentis lists the numbers and makes her case for what the auto industry means for America, and uses a history lesson and interviews with several industry workers to back it up. Admittedly, the numbers she uses are debatable, but it can't be argued that the vid is heartfelt. Click the link to have a watch.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

So Cold in the D: Motown student pleads for auto aid in documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industryAutoIndustryautomakersc spanc-spanCSpanmichiganmotownpresident obamaPresidentObamatask forceTaskForcevideoWed, 25 Mar 2009 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit CEOs and UAW chief summoned to Washington]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/detroit-ceos-and-uaw-chief-summoned-to-washington/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/detroit-ceos-and-uaw-chief-summoned-to-washington/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/detroit-ceos-and-uaw-chief-summoned-to-washington/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When Congress wants to hand out money, it apparently wants to include everybody. Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is likely to propose a measure that lets automakers tap into the $700 billion vein of rescue dollars that's ostensibly intended for financial institutions, yet is being hungrily eyed by everyone.

CEOs from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler will make the trek to Washington, DC, as will UAW chief Ron Gettelfinger. All will be pleading their collective case for an estimated $100 billion-plus vitamin pill. Many, not the least of whom is Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, think that automakers should not be allowed to snag some of the cash that's intended for financial institutions. Things look bleak for all three of the brands, but can Congress be moved to offer up some money and prolong the jobs of so many Americans? Even if the automakers get the $100 billion they're seeking, when nobody's buying, it will merely turn into taxpayers funding an increasing glut of product nobody can afford to buy. Even those consumers with money and good credit are holding back as the economy delves into recession, emotional purchases are way down, and most vehicle purchases are driven by wants versus needs. Things will undoubtedly sort themselves out, but not before more pain for Detroit.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Detroit CEOs and UAW chief summoned to Washington originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automaker bailoutAutomakerBailoutautomakersbailoutbarney frankBarneyFrankcongressdetroitdetroit bailoutDetroitBailoutThu, 13 Nov 2008 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Onion interviews automaker execs, flying cars are out]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/08/video-onion-interviews-automaker-execs-flying-cars-are-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/08/video-onion-interviews-automaker-execs-flying-cars-are-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/08/video-onion-interviews-automaker-execs-flying-cars-are-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Try as they might, The Onion got the typical stonewall response from GM, Ford, and Toyota when pressing the automakers about their flying car programs. All these companies do is deny, deny, deny. Even when the Onion called them out, pointing to their secret labs where engineers fly around gleefully like Charlie Bucket and his grandfather all hopped up on hotrod soda, flat denial was the order of the day. We can expect these programs to be pushed further underground, now that their cover was nearly blown by The Onion, so we'll have to deal with more talk of hybrids and wheel motors instead of airspeed and tailrotors. Please note: The Onion is pure satire. Usually screamingly hilarious. Satire doesn't tend to work unless the presentation is dry. They really aren't serious.

Hit the jump for the embedded video.

Continue reading VIDEO: Onion interviews automaker execs, flying cars are out

VIDEO: Onion interviews automaker execs, flying cars are out originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersflying carsFlyingCarsfordgmgm ford toyotaGmFordToyotaonionspoofthe onionTheOniontoyotavideoThu, 08 Nov 2007 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Automakers to face $2B class-action for Canadian price discrepancies]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/26/automakers-to-face-2b-class-action-for-canadian-price-discrepan/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/26/automakers-to-face-2b-class-action-for-canadian-price-discrepan/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/26/automakers-to-face-2b-class-action-for-canadian-price-discrepan/#commentsFiled under: ,



A few days ago we posted on the price discrepancy between identical vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada. The discrepancy was always there, but became apparent when the value of the Canadian Loonie reached parity with the U.S. dollar recently. It was then that consumers couldn't ignore the fact that they were paying more for vehicles than their U.S. neighbors, up to 38% in some cases.

The Toronto-based class-action lawsuit firm Juroviesky and Ricci is taking up the case and expected to file a $2 billion class-action suit on behalf of four Canadians who feel that they paid more for their cars than they would have in the U.S. The class-action suit is open to any Canadian consumer who bought a new vehicle between August, 2005 and August, 2007 when the Canadian dollar was rapidly appreciating, but the prices of Canadian cars weren't adjusting.

Thanks for the tip, SS3!

[Source: Canada.com, photo by KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading Automakers to face $2B class-action for Canadian price discrepancies

Automakers to face $2B class-action for Canadian price discrepancies originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersCanada U.S. price discrepancyCanadaU.s.PriceDiscrepancyclass-actionclass-action lawsuitClass-actionLawsuitloonieprice discrepancyPriceDiscrepancyWed, 26 Sep 2007 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[BREAKING: California judge throws out lawsuit against automakers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/breaking-california-judge-throws-out-lawsuit-against-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/breaking-california-judge-throws-out-lawsuit-against-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/breaking-california-judge-throws-out-lawsuit-against-automakers/#commentsFiled under:



You might recall about this time last year, California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed a lawsuit in Northern California's U.S. District Court asserting that automakers selling vehicles in the Golden State were liable for the hundreds of millions of dollars of damages its products cause. That lawsuit, which named GM, Ford, Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, Honda and Nissan as the defendants, was thrown out today by a federal judge.

Martin Jenkins, the U.S. District Judge presiding on the case, said that it was impossible to assess how much responsibility automakers had in contributing to the damage caused by global warming in California. Furthermore, he went on to say that lawmakers - not judges - should be the ones responsible for determining if automakers should be held accountable.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

BREAKING: California judge throws out lawsuit against automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakerscaliforniacalifornia lawsuitCaliforniaLawsuitchryslerdaimlerchryslerfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmhondalawsuitnissantoyotaMon, 17 Sep 2007 20:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes goes digging for ten brands you haven't heard of (unless you read Autoblog)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/forbes-goes-digging-for-ten-brands-you-haven-t-heard-of-unless/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/forbes-goes-digging-for-ten-brands-you-haven-t-heard-of-unless/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/forbes-goes-digging-for-ten-brands-you-haven-t-heard-of-unless/#commentsFiled under:



There are more automakers in the world than the members of the Big 3, Big 6 and Exotic 8. There are cottage automakers, niche builders and boutique brands hiding in the world's every nook and cranny. Forbes recently compiled a list of the Top Ten Auto Brands You've Never Heard Of. Clearly Forbes and Autoblog do not share the same audience of readers, as you should be well aware of more than half the companies on the list if you read this site. There were a few that caught us by surprise, like Automotive Industries, an Israeli-based manufacturer that mainly produces military vehicles, and ZIL, a Russian limousine builder that supplied Stalin with wheels. We swear the LeBlanc Mirabeau has been seen on Autoblog before, but a search revealed no trace, and Autoblog Chinese has thoroughly covered Asian brands like Hongqi. (Click on a linked automaker in the list to see Autoblog's coverage of the brand.)
[Source: Forbes]

Forbes goes digging for ten brands you haven't heard of (unless you read Autoblog) originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersbig 3big 6big sixBig3Big6BigSixexotic 8Exotic8top 10Top10Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:07:00 EST<![CDATA[By The Numbers: June 2006 - UPDATE 2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/by-the-numbers-june-2006/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/by-the-numbers-june-2006/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/by-the-numbers-june-2006/#commentsFiled under:

Most of the numbers for the month of June are in, and as you can see the red arrows outnumber the green ones yet again. Eighteen out of the 39 automakers below are reporting a rise in June sales over the same period last year. The 25.9% drop in sales by General Motors has attracted the most attention so far, but the General's performance, along with FoMoCo falling 6.9% and the Chrysler Group dropping 15%, can largely be attributed to the successful summer sales drive of 2005 that artificially inflated sales during that period. We should expect all three domestic producers to show a drop in sales throughout the summer because of this anomaly.

Toyota, meanwhile, keeps on chugging with a 14.41% increase in sales last month compared to the year prior. Honda was also up, but only negligibly, and Nissan has yet to report.

Mad props go to Suzuki for picking up the pace with a 28% rise in sales last month. Credit for the big jump goes to the new Grand Vitara, the sales of which jumped 606% since last year to 2,514 units thanks to the all-new model. At the other end of the spectrum, Saab sales have been reduced to a trickle, falling 50.2% to just 3,295 units during the month of June. Another note of interest, all of the Germans saw a rise in sales, with Mercedes-Benz gaining the most ground on itself by posting a 14% rise in sales.

Big Winner:
Suzuki28%

Big Loser:
Saab50.2%

BRANDS
Acura-19.4% at 15,107 (June 2005: 18,744)
Audi11.3% at 8,039 (June 2005: 7,209)
BMW3.4% at 24,179 (June 2005: 23,392)
Buick-36.6% at 23,738 (June 2005: 37,446)
Cadillac-21% at 23,265 (June 2005: 29,444)
Chevrolet-25.5% at 243,353 (June 2005: 326,632)
Chrysler-21% at 51,986 (June 2005: 65,594)
Dodge-11% at 96,485 (June 2005: 107,997)
Ford-7.2% at 226,250 (June 2005: 243,678)
GMC-46.5% at 47,604 (June 2005: 88,971)
Honda3.4% at 111,342 (June 2005: 107,672)
HUMMER-16.2% at 5,661 (June 2005: 6,754)
Hyundai4.3% at 44,508 (June 2005: 43,051)
Infiniti20% at 9,300 (June 2005: 11,623)
Isuzu-8.4% at 1,652 (June 2005: 1,803)
Jaguar-25.2% at 2,160 (June 2005: 2,888)
Jeep-19% at 37,475 (June 2005: 46,441)
Kia1.3% at 27,443 (June 2005: 27,095)
Land Rover12.7% at 3,847 (June 2005: 3,414)
Lexus6.3% at 27,686 (June 2005: 26,043)
Lincoln-11.1% at 9,610 (June 2005: 10,808)
Mazda8% at 23,727 (June 2005: 22,063)
Mercedes-Benz14% at 20,802 (June 2005: ~18,247)
Mercury1.7% at 16,670 (June 2005: 16,395)
MINI-1.4%  at 3,556 (June 2005: 3,607)
Mitsubishi-.04% at 10,004 (June 2005: 10,621)
Nissan18.9% at 65,854 (June 2005: 81,158)
Pontiac12.1 at 41,115 (June 2005: 36,665)
Porsche10.4% at 3,058 (June 2005: 2,770)
Saab-50.2% at 3,295 (June 2005: 6,614)
Saturn.70% at 23,790 (June 2005: 23,618)
Subaru3% at 18,476 (June 2005: 17,946)
Suzuki28% at 9,516 (June 2005: 7,449)
Toyota15.71% at 195,332 (June 2005: 168,832)
Volkswagen5.5% at 20,121 (June 2005: 19,071)
Volvo-11.4% at 10,867 (June 2005: 12,266)

COMPANIES
Chrysler Group-15% at 185,946 (June 2005: 220,032)
Ford Motor Co -6.9% at 269,404 (June 2005: 289,449)
General Motors-25.9% at 413,473 (June 2005: 558,092)
Honda America 0% at 126,449 (June 2005: 126,416)
Toyota Motor Co.14.41% at 223,018 (June 2005: 194,875)


UPDATE - Added Nissan, Infiniti, Porsche, Kia and corrected error in Audi's numbers.
UPDATE 2 - Finally found Hyundai's Junes sales and reorganized listing for simplification.

By The Numbers: June 2006 - UPDATE 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 02:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersearningsfinancialfinancial reportsFinancialReportsJuneJune 2006June2006monthly salesMonthlySalessalesThu, 06 Jul 2006 02:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Bush and automakers delay meeting]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bigwigs from DiamlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors will have to wait for their date with the President. The expected meeting between the Big Three and President George W. Bush is now slated for June 2, moved back from the May 18 date as previously reported. The CEO deligates and the White House would have readers believe that the change in date isn't actually a 'postponement,' but rather the first time a firm date has been set. Regardless of any calendar semantics, the auto summit is expected to cover energy issues, health care and trade.

[Sources: Crain's Business Detroit; The Associated Press]

Bush and automakers delay meeting originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AutomakersBig 3Big ThreeBig3BigThreechryslerenergy crisisEnergyCrisisfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgeorge bushGeorgeBushPresident BushPresidentBushTue, 16 May 2006 08:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Jerry Flint: Do Ford and GM know how to build 'American' vehicles anymore?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/20/do-ford-gm-know-what-an-american-car-is-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/20/do-ford-gm-know-what-an-american-car-is-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/20/do-ford-gm-know-what-an-american-car-is-anymore/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

In his latest rant, Forbes columnist Jerry Flint questions the design strategies of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors.  He thinks their global-strategies for new models will fail, as much of it is based on slapping domestic badges on their European models... not unlike what the companies did with the Contour/Mystique and Catera. This philosophy even extends to trucks, usually considered the last bastion for the domestic automakers: GM developed the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon from one of its trucks marketed in Thailand.

But Americans don't want European cars from American automakers, according to Flint... they want 'American' cars. And they're getting them from foreign automakers. The blatantly big and bold Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum were developed by German-owned Chrysler. The Tacoma pickup had been developed by Toyota for the American market from scratch and, Flint points out, currently outsells the above trucks two to one.

With all the new vehicles rolling out of Detroit in the coming years, though, does Flint's still have merit? Or is he right on target?

[Source: The Car Connection]

Jerry Flint: Do Ford and GM know how to build 'American' vehicles anymore? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersDaimlerChryslerdesignForbesFordGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsJerry FlintMon, 20 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How automakers are arming the Chinese car invasion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/18/how-todays-automakers-are-arming-the-chinese-car-invasion/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/18/how-todays-automakers-are-arming-the-chinese-car-invasion/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/18/how-todays-automakers-are-arming-the-chinese-car-invasion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

How important is the Chinese market to such automakers as Volkswagen, Honda and General Motors? Important enough that virtually every major automaker is not only building modern plants in the Middle Kingdom but sharing their proprietary technologies. The Toyota Prius, for example, is assembled in China as well as Japan.

And the Chinese automakers are just not learning technology. In the past, most Chinese automakers would stockpile parts for their vehicles. Now they are learning just-in-time techniques from their foreign partners, becoming more efficient while maintaining quality products.

"I've seen the Chinese vehicles in China from various, various brands," said Tom LaSorda, CEO of Chrysler, "and I've said it's a threat that will come to the U.S., I think, by the end of the decade."

Specific details, such as how the Chinese Lifan Group is trying to buy an advanced factory by DaimlerChrysler and BMW, or how Shanghai Automotive started their own brand while in partnership with General Motors and Volkswagen, can be found at the link.

[Source: The New York Times via CRIEnglish]

How automakers are arming the Chinese car invasion originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automakersBrazilChineseChryslerDaimlerChryslerGeneral MotorsHondaJapanmanufacturingPriusToyotaVolkswagenSat, 18 Mar 2006 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Auto parts make a significant contribution to trade deficit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/auto-parts-make-a-significant-contribution-to-trade-deficit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/auto-parts-make-a-significant-contribution-to-trade-deficit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/auto-parts-make-a-significant-contribution-to-trade-deficit/#commentsFiled under:

OK, so maybe that's a contender for "Most Obvious Headline of the Year", but unfortunately, this simply points to how true it is. In 2005, auto parts contributed over $37B to the United States' trade deficit, which was up 20% from one year ago. On behalf of all of those in this country's auto industry, we say "ouch!"

Disappointingly, the increasing production of vehicles in the US by "transplants" (foreign manufacturers) resulted in a spike in the number of parts purchased from Japan during the past two years. To no one's surprise, there was also a substantial increase in the dollar value of components obtained from China, Korea, and Mexico... and it would appear that we blame for that trend should be spread pretty evenly among all the OEMs that manufacture cars in the US.

Barriers to entry in foreign markets - primarily tariffs - are said to be significant contributors to this particular problem. There's certainly a huge difference between so-called "free trade" and what any sane person would consider as "fair trade" when it comes to America's trade policy with some of the countries that contribute to this gap.

[Source: Automotive News]

Auto parts make a significant contribution to trade deficit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AutomakersTrade DeficitTradeDeficitWed, 08 Mar 2006 09:00:00 EST