Toyota to cut Japanese production in half originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tata Nano

Raze 1,000-acres of farmland to build an automobile factory, and somebody is going to protest. Even in India. The automaker is Tata, and the protesters numbered at least 1,000 strong as they went head-to-head against police in eastern India yesterday at the future manufacturing site of the Tata Nano (rumored to be the world's cheapest car at just $2,380). The protests are rooted deeper than just "open space" issues. In fact, the real tension is between India's ruling party, and the communist-run government in West Bengal where the plant is to be located. The farmers are unwilling to part with their agricultural livelihood, while the government continues to promote industry. After blocking a highway for a few hours, the stick-wielding protesters were dispersed without injuries. Once again, progress wins out over pastures.

Gallery: Tata Nano

Police and protestors clash at future site of Tata Nano plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Porsche didn't win... this round. The German cabinet approved amendments to the Volkswagen Law yesterday, but lawmakers left Porsche's key clause untouched. For those of you who haven't been following this saga, "Volkswagen Law" is the legislation that includes a provision to allow the federal state of Lower Saxony to keep a blocking minority vote in Volkswagen. That minority position is just 20 percent, exactly the amount currently held by Lower Saxony. With Porsche gobbling up shares in VW, intent on capturing a majority position so they can control plant closures, and Lower Saxony determined to protect thousands of jobs in their state... rest assured we haven't heard the last of this.

[Source: Automotive News]

Germany approves new Volkswagen Law originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 May 2008 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high-res gallery of Fiat's Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

As the dollar weakens, European manufacturers continue to scramble for manufacturing opportunities offshore to salvage profits. Fiat is the latest to jump into the fray. Company sources are saying the Italian automaker is currently considering Mexico as a production site -- with their eyes on an existing plant that could be tooled up for 150,000 cars a year. With their Alfa Romeo brand launching in the United States next year, and Fiat sales up significantly in South America, a plant in centrally-located Mexico could easily supply demand for both markets. If approved, the Mexican plant would start building Alfa Romeos and Fiats in 2011.

Gallery: 2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Fiat considering plant in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 May 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GM announces plan to close Windsor transmission plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alfa may buy closed factory from Big 3 for U.S. production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. Volkswagen plant to source 80% of parts locally originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While repeatedly denying the existence of an upcoming entry-level Ferrari, company executives have stated that the real entry-level Ferrari is a used Ferrari. To back that up, the company's outfit in the UK has established the Ferrari Approved program to certify second-hand Prancing Horses.

The program covers the 360, 430, 465M, 612, 550, 575 and 599 models, in all their derivations, with the oldest stretching back no earlier than 1998. As part of the process, factory-trained technicians put the cars through a 190-point inspection, replacing or repairing defective parts; an independent investigation is conducted into the car's history ensuring there are no outstanding debts on the car; and the service record is verified. Only non-modified cars, dealer-serviced throughout, are eligible for the program, and once the cars come out, they're backed by a 12-month factory warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance.

Although Ferrari North America offers a pre-owned vehicle program, it does not appear to be nearly as extensive in its certification process as the one Ferrari GB Ltd has just launched. Maybe the British program will serve as a pilot before it comes stateside.

[Source: Ferrari GB]

Ferrari Approved program launches in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alfa Romeo isn't kidding around about its return to the US market: Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed that Alfa is planning to open a factory in the United States.

Citing the drop in the US dollar against the Euro as a principal motivating factor, Marchionne said that manufacturing cars in America was vital to the profitability of Alfa's stateside venture. The Canadian-Italian industrialist anticipated that Alfa would only begin making a profit after three or four years in the US.

This won't be the first time a Fiat division has manufactured in the United States. In 1909 the Italian automaker inaugurated a plant in Poughkeepsie in upstate New York which it closed a decade later.

Meanwhile, industry sources indicate that Alfa's main factory at Pomigliano d'Arco in southern Italy will close for two months beginning in January as a last-ditch effort to get Alfa Romeo build quality up to spec or else face complete closure.

[Source: Automotive News (sub. req.) via Italiaspeed]

Alfa Romeo to open new plant in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Ferrari F430 Scuderia

Pics Aplenty! Ferrari 430 Scuderia - inside, out and upside down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mercedes' AMG tuning house coming with factory tour originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fiat's new diminutive retromobile is selling like proverbial hot-cakes, proving right early indications of the car's initial market popularity. With an initial run of 58,000 planned for this year, the Italian automaker has already received orders for 51,000 units from its dealers in Italy alone, and another 6,000 from France... just three weeks after the car's Italian launch and one week after debuting in France. Geez, does thing emit iPhones out its tailpipe?

To meet the surging demand, this year's production will increase from 58,000 to between 65 and 67,000 units, while subsequent years' production, originally earmarked at 120,000, will be increased to 140,000. In order to support the increased output, Fiat's plant in Tychy, Poland - where Fiat also produces the Panda supermini and upcoming Ford Ka following its launch next fall - will be considerably expanded, leapfrogging Fiat's largest Italian plant in Melfi to become the conglomorate's second largest worldwide, behind the Belo Horizonte plant in Brazil.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Gallery: Fiat 500

Fiat ramps up 500 production to meet surging demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Volvo says it won't be building in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Thousands apply every year to get an American passport, and likely just as many pursue European Union documents. The Swiss passport is said to be one of the most sought-after in the world, but we've come across a different passport that we'd rather have. It's more exclusive, gives you access to the best places and gets you around fast. It's not issued by an independent country, but might as well be: the Rosso Passport, only from Ferrari.

Our friend Carlos Cristofalo at the Argentina Auto Blog (no relation, although the resemblance is uncanny, we know) was interviewing former F1 driving ace José Froilán Gonzalez, who during his 1950's racing career drove five seasons for Scuderia Ferrari, another three for Officine Alfieri Maserati, scored 13 grand prix podium finishes, including two checkered flags, and drove to victory in 1954 at Le Mans. During the course of the interview, Gonzalez pulled out a small, scarlet-covered booklet which was presented to him by Ferrari upon his retirement.

According to Gonzalez, Maranello doesn't give these away very freely, and with good reason. The Ferrari passport gives its bearer entrance to the factory, unrestricted access to all the restricted areas, and no-questions-asked carte blanche to borrow any of the cars in the factory's fleet. Just, er...bring it back in one piece, please?

The one question lingering on our minds now is, who do we have to marry to get one of these?

[Source: Argentina Auto Blog]

All Access: the Ferrari Passport originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2007 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Darn, we're outta that! Ford of Australia halts work due to supply problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As Toyota continues its quest for world domination, they've chosen a location in northeastern Mississippi to build a new $800 million plant. The location, known as the Wellspring Project Megasite, is situated well for heavy manufacturing and was surely shopped hard to big industry like automotive manufacturing. The plant is likely to build SUVs, and we'll know for sure when all the politicians, local officials and Toyota representatives formally announce the plant today. Tupelo High School will be left reeling from the hullabaloo that will ensue, we're sure.

At a time of uncertainty and job cuts, It bodes well that Toyota is adding more jobs for US workers. Target production is 150,000 vehicles yearly when the plant is up and running in 2009. Say what you will about Toyota "invading" the US and dethroning our auto industry, we're happy to see US workers getting offered some relief. So many other industries have moved to other countries, taking good blue-collar opportunities with them. Mississippi also just recently attracted Nissan to build a plant in Canton, MS, so at least it looks like some of those laid off GM, Ford, and DCX workers will have someplace to go. We hear there's less snow than in Detroit, too.

Toyota to build plant in Mississippi originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Honda plant confirmed in Alabama originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta is one of the most sought-after collector's cars of all time. It was the first true Ferrari; only 25 of them were built and only a handful remain in existence - these cars were raced, and raced hard. It was an especially big deal to classic automobile aficionados and Ferrari historians when s/n 0052 M was found after nearly fifty years in obscurity, stored by a collector in Arizona.

As exciting as it was to find a 166, nobody had any idea just how unique this car was until Ferrari expert Marcel Massini got it back to his workshop. Massini brokered the purchase of the car from the late owner's estate after his passing, and was commissioned for a full mechanical rebuild. The exterior was to be left as-is in reverence to the car's extensive racing history, but when Massini started disassembling the engine he found the car was actually fitted with a two-liter Formula 2-spec competition engine, with a gear-driven camshaft instead of the conventional chain drive. When the numbers were found to match, it became apparent that this was a factory prototype, built that way from the start, and not retrofitted somewhere down the line.

166 MM Touring Barchetta Speciale s/n 0052 M has a deep racing history, having competed at Le Mans, the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia and took the chequered flag at the 12 Hours of Paris. The restored machine, which appeared on the September/October '06 cover of Cavallino Magazine, re-emerged to the public at the 2007 Cavalinno Classic, and the guys at Ultimatecarpage.com were there to snap some photos. Check it out.

[Source: Ultimatecarpage.com]

Molto Speciale: Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta factory prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a demonstration of support and thanks, TVR owners and enthusiasts from across the UK rallied together to show the workers at the TVR assembly plant on Bristol Avenue that their efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

As the workers left the plant, a long line of owners and admirers parked outside the gates greeted them with cheering, applause, revving engines and blaring horns. The workers were also invited to join the enthusiasts at the Red Lion Pub in Devonshire, who agreed to block off part of the parking lot for them and have extra staff on hand. The cheering group also took up a collection to cover the bar tab for the displaced workers.

Hmm. I don't remember any stories about people rallying around any Ford, GM or Chrysler workers as their plants closed. Maybe it would take a closing at Bowling Green or Flat Rock to generate this kind of public display? Well, it certainly didn't happen at Dearborn. In this day and age it is great to see people actually show some appreciation for something that they are passionate about. Demonstrations like these, regardless of size or scope are too few and far between.

[Source: www.pistonheads.com]

TVR enthusiasts unite to honor idled Bispham factory workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Audi has been investing heavily into "the Audi experience", creating a brand identity revolving around and beyond its products. Now the company has joined the league of luxury automakers that offers a European delivery program.

European delivery programs offered by German and Swedish carmakers allow North American customers to fly to the factory in Europe to take delivery of their car personally. The option can save several thousand dollars off the price of the car, more than enough to pay for the trip. While there, customers can tour the factory, then drive their car around Europe before having it shipped back to North America. You get a cheap vacation in Europe and a cheaper car. In launching their own program, Audi joins Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Saab and Volvo in offering their customers the package.

Audi delivery starts at the Audi Forum showroom near the factory in Ingolstadt, Germany. In addition to receiving their new wheels in person directly from the factory, customers can tour the assembly line, the factory museum and other attractions at Audi HQ. The best part is you get to see what your new wheels can do flat out on the Autobahn!

Want to read more about European delivery? Try this article from About.com.

[Source: Audi USA via the German Car Blog]

Audi offers US customers European Delivery in Ingolstadt originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.