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[GM offering buyouts and bonuses to HUMMER dealers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-offering-buyouts-and-bonuses-to-hummer-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-offering-buyouts-and-bonuses-to-hummer-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-offering-buyouts-and-bonuses-to-hummer-dealers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the above image for our 2009 Hummer H3T high-res gallery

Taking heed of lessons learned when it shed the Oldsmobile brand, General Motors is quietly negotiating with HUMMER dealers to prevent lawsuits if the brand is sold or extinguished. Even though confidentiality agreements have been signed, HUMMER dealers are reporting heavy discussions with GM to buy back stores and compensate owners. GM has even paid second- and third-quarter bonuses (averaging six figures) in advance. June delivered gloom to HUMMER as the brand's sales fell 59.3 percent (to just 2,072 units) as near $5-per-gallon fuel prices began flowing through pumps. If that weren't bad enough, the rugged off-road brand was hit with another mass exodus of sales on GM's announcement that HUMMER might be sold. With sales falling, experienced dealership staff leaving, and fuel prices still up in the air, GM's Jeep-fighting brand has literally fallen off the road.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd, Photo by Scott Olson/Getty]

GM offering buyouts and bonuses to HUMMER dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusesbuy outBuyOutdealersHummerOut of businessOutOfBusinessretailersSaleSoldMon, 28 Jul 2008 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[XM and Sirius set to announce "merger of equals" today]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/xm-and-sirius-set-to-announce-merger-of-equals-today/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/xm-and-sirius-set-to-announce-merger-of-equals-today/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/xm-and-sirius-set-to-announce-merger-of-equals-today/#commentsFiled under:


UPDATE: It's official!


Both XM and Sirius have been dropping hints since last summer that the two could merge into one giant satellite radio provider with a subscriber base of 12 million. It appears after a marathon negotiation session last weekend, the two are finally ready to make it offiicial sometime today and start the long process of gaining SEC approval. Though approval will likely take over a year, we doubt the feds will break this one up. While XM and Sirius technically compete with each other for subscribers, satellite radio as an industry is in a fight for its life with other forms of audio distribution, like regular old terrestrial radio, internet radio and the 800 lb. gorilla, Apple's iPod. These two company's have a better shot at surviving by jumping in the same bunker.

Of course, auto interiors are the primary front in this war, which makes the merger interesting to us. Car owners subscribed to one of the two services will be the big winners, as Howard Stern and Oprah will now occupy the same dial. You'll be able to get all your satellite radio sports coverage with one subscription now, as well.

Trying to meld two established brands into one, however, is not an easy thing to do. Just ask DaimlerChrysler if you need a reference. We chuckled out loud while reading the linked article from the New York Post when the author describes the deal as a "merger of equals". Sure...

[Source: The New York Post]

XM and Sirius set to announce "merger of equals" today originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy outBuyOutmergerradiosatellitesatellite radioSatelliteRadioSiriusXMMon, 19 Feb 2007 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Automotive News insists GM and DCX talking buyout]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/16/automotive-news-insists-gm-and-dcx-talking-buyout/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/16/automotive-news-insists-gm-and-dcx-talking-buyout/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/16/automotive-news-insists-gm-and-dcx-talking-buyout/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Automotive News has filed yet another report that insists DaimlerChrysler is in talks with General Motors about the latter purchasing the Chrysler Group. This time the trade pub claims that sources from Germany, where the rumor originated, and the United States have confirmed that GM is interested in picking up the struggling U.S. division of DCX. The New York Times has already confirmed from inside sources that the two companies are talking, but the topic of conversation is sharing the GMT900 full-size SUV platform.

We've already talked about why GM purchasing the Chrysler Group would be the biggest bone-head move of all time. To recap, the two automakers have many products that compete directly with each other, the Chrysler Group's product portfolio is farther behind GM's with less to be optimistic about in the pipeline, the last thing GM needs is more production capacity in the U.S., and absorbing legacy costs and additional UAW workers would be a nightmare. As a point of fact, automakers talk to each other all the time. It's time media outlets quit screaming "Buy out!" every time Rick Wagoner says hello to someone.

[Source: Automotive News]

Automotive News insists GM and DCX talking buyout originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive newsAutomotiveNewsbuy outBuyOutChrysler GroupChryslerGroupDaimlerChryslerDCXGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsmergerFri, 16 Feb 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford expanding buyouts to include all North American factory workers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/ford-expanding-buyouts-to-include-all-north-american-factory-wor/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/ford-expanding-buyouts-to-include-all-north-american-factory-wor/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/ford-expanding-buyouts-to-include-all-north-american-factory-wor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As part of what we're calling the newly rechristened Accelerated Way Forward plan, Ford is reportedly opening up its buyout program to include all North American factory workers. Currently the buyouts are only being selectively offered at targeted plants. Apparently that's not getting the job done as effectively as GM's broader buyout program that saw over 30,000 workers accepting buy out offers.

We're likely to see an official announcement about the move soon with details like how many factory workers Ford will be able to buy out and whether or not the buyout package being made to workers will change.

Thanks Chris and kjoyt for the tip!

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Ford expanding buyouts to include all North American factory workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy outbuyoutMon, 21 Aug 2006 14:58:00 EST