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[Autoblog Podcast #135]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoblog-podcast-135/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoblog-podcast-135/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/autoblog-podcast-135/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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Episode #135 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam and Dan took time out to chat about GM's fast-moving reorganization, Smart's dubious $99/month deal, raising gas taxes as a better way to increase fuel economy, and Shunk's new car dilemma. To wrap up, we hit a question, and that's it - a nice, tidy 65-minute affair. Tell us how we're doing by filling out our survey, if you haven't already, and we'll see you next week. In the meantime, you can drop us a note at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #135

Autoblog Podcast #135 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastautoblog podcast 135AutoblogPodcastAutoblogPodcast135featuredgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgm bankruptcyGmBankruptcypodcastpodcast 135Podcast135smartsmart carsmart fortwoSmartCarSmartFortwowall street journalwall street journal cafeWallStreetJournalWallStreetJournalCafewsjThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:41:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #135Autoblog65:00autoblog podcast, podcast, <![CDATA[EDITORIAL: Attention <i>Wall Street Journal</i> - Ford does <b>not</b> use Toyota's hybrid system!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/editorial-attention-i-wall-street-journal-i-ford-does-b-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/editorial-attention-i-wall-street-journal-i-ford-does-b-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/editorial-attention-i-wall-street-journal-i-ford-does-b-n/#commentsFiled under:


2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a recent op-ed piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute starts by making a few decent points about fuel taxation and fuel economy rules. Unfortunately, he undermines himself with some blatant errors and misinformation. In discussing how Detroit automakers will deal with new fuel efficiency requirements, he makes the all-too-common mistake of referring to Ford's hybrid system as licensed from Toyota ("Similarly, Ford has the Toyota-licensed hybrid Fusion and will soon produce the European Ford Fiesta in Mexico").

The reality is that Ford independently developed its own hybrid system at the same time Toyota was masterminding its own. The basic architecture of both systems is the same and both are based on the concepts developed and patented by TRW engineers in the late 1960s. When Ford introduced the Escape Hybrid, Toyota went after the Blue Oval for infringing on its patents. Ford had patents of its own on the technology that Toyota was using. Eventually, the two companies reached a cross-licensing agreement that gives both companies the right to build their own systems. Such cross-licensing agreements are common in these kinds of cases, but Ford did not use the Toyota hybrid system. The only other company that uses Toyota's system is Nissan for its Altima hybrid, and they actually buy hardware from Toyota. We continue deconstructing Reynolds' arguments after the jump


Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid


[Source: Wall Street Journal]
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading EDITORIAL: Attention Wall Street Journal - Ford does not use Toyota's hybrid system!

EDITORIAL: Attention Wall Street Journal - Ford does not use Toyota's hybrid system! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan reynoldsAlanReynoldscafecorporate average fuel economyCorporateAverageFuelEconomyeditorialfuel taxfuel taxesFuelTaxFuelTaxesgas taxgas taxesGasTaxGasTaxeshybridhybrid patenthybrid patentsHybridPatentHybridPatentshybridssmall carSmallCarwall street journalWallStreetJournalSun, 05 Jul 2009 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Does Washington's GMAC bailout hurt Ford?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/does-washingtons-gmac-bailout-hurt-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/does-washingtons-gmac-bailout-hurt-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/04/does-washingtons-gmac-bailout-hurt-ford/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Wall Street Journal puts forth the case that the government's $5 billion lifeline to GMAC has given GMAC a competitive advantage compared to its rivals. After the taxpayer cash was received, GMAC dropped the required credit score to get a loan and began offering 0% financing on several models, and rates from about 1% to 6% on a host of others. While doing so, it admitted that "without this [loan] . . . we would not be able to do this today."

The Journal cries foul, saying that because GMAC is essentially doing this with -- or at least, because of -- government money, "the feds have now put the muscle of the state behind one company's products." The Journal also considers that the government might do what it can to make sure the horses it bet on win the race, saying "the Washington temptation will be to take other steps to help the two companies gain market share at the expense of their private competitors."

As to the issue of granting the loan to GMAC at all, the government didn't have much choice unless it wanted its previous investment in GM to potentially get flushed by a GMAC bankruptcy. As to 0% fiancing, it's being offered on SUVs and Saabs, none of which are making the cash register overheat. A quick comparison between financing in Southern California through GMAC or Ford Credit found similar rates on other cars: the 2009 Malibu gets 4.9% APR, the same as the 2009 Ford Taurus SEL AWD.

Will the government try to otherwise help GM and Chrysler (beyond pushing more money their way)? The airlines got $15 billion after 9/11, yet would anyone accuse the government of otherwise aiding the industry? As to intervention in the free market... well, when was the last time the market was truly free? And Does GMAC's ability to offer the new incentives give it a competitive advantage over the other companies? It only lasted until January 5th, and some GM dealers did say they were moving metal -- but if the benefit really was that lopsided, we're sure those competitors will let us know about it soon enough.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading Does Washington's GMAC bailout hurt Ford?

Does Washington's GMAC bailout hurt Ford? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Toyota is in the process of scouting locations and performing feasibility studies on opening another plant in the U.S.

The addition of another manufacturing center within the States would make the total number of ToMoCo plants rise to eight, further shoring up production capacity in one of its most prosperous markets.

According to sources cited by the WSJ, Toyota has five locations in mind, all of which are in the southern U.S., and currently include Chattanooga, TN and Marion, AR. Back in mid-December, the SouthernAutoCorridor.com reported that sites in North Carolina and Southwest Virginia were being reconed as well.

There may be an announcement about Toyota's intentions later this month and according to the WSJ's sources, the plant will likely produce Highlander SUVs to the tune of about 200k per year, when the plant opens in 2009.

[Source: Drive.com.au, Wall Street Journal, SouthernAutoCorridor.com]

Toyota poised to build plant number eight in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The day after Standard & Poor's cut Ford Motor's debt rating deeper into the junk category, Bill Ford was quoted Thursday as saying that the company has no plans to seek bankruptcy protection, saying "it's not an option" in a Wall Street Journal interview.

S&P justified its latest ratings cut for Ford by saying that 2006 would be even tougher for the carmaker than anticipated, and we have to wonder if Ford still has a shot at making its "Way Forward" target of returning its North American operations to profitability by 2008.

Bill Ford admitted that the company's plans had not anticipated the magnitude of price increases in raw materials, or the rate of decline in SUV sales in the face of higher gas prices.

While rival General Motors' stock price has begun to recover as its restructuring program takes hold, Ford shareholders continue to head for the exits, fueling speculation that a possible strategy for the company could be to take itself private, although Bill Ford denies such a plan.

[Source: Reuters]

Ford: bankruptcy "not an option" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill fordbill ford jrford way forwardFordWayForwardwall street journalway forward planThu, 29 Jun 2006 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota's North American CEO sued for sexual harrassment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/toyotas-north-american-ceo-sued-for-sexual-harrassment/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/toyotas-north-american-ceo-sued-for-sexual-harrassment/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/03/toyotas-north-american-ceo-sued-for-sexual-harrassment/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hideaki Otaka, Toyota's North American president and CEO stands accused of sexual harrassment. His 42-year-old assistant, Sayaka Kobayashi filed a lawsuit late Monday in the New York Supreme Court against Otaka, 65, along with Toyota Motor and Toyota North America itself, etc.

Kobayashi is seeking $190 million in punitive and other damages, has is alleging that the married executive sexually assaulted her after she began working under him last summer, altering her schedule to create times where they were unaccompanied, groping her, and so on.

Kobayashi further maintains that upon reporting Otaka to Toyota officials last winter, she was transferred to another post within the company.

For its part, Toyota says it has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to sexual abuse, but it won't comment on the case as a matter of policy.

Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Otaka will move to an internal auditor position at Daihatsu in Japan, but the executive maintains that the change is unrelated to the suit.

[Source: TheStreet.com; MySanAntonio.com]

Toyota's North American CEO sued for sexual harrassment originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 May 2006 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Hideaki OtakaHideakiOtakaNew York Supreme CourtNewYorkSupremeCourtSayaka KobayashiSayakaKobayashiSexual HarrassmentSexualHarrassmentToyotaWall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWed, 03 May 2006 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[GM dealers stand by Wagoner]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/gm-dealers-stand-by-wagoner/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/gm-dealers-stand-by-wagoner/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/10/gm-dealers-stand-by-wagoner/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"Stand by your man" might be an appropriate theme song for General Motors these days. Just a few days after GM's board of directors expressed their support of CEO Rick Wagoner, GM dealers have come out to say that they, too, support the company's big cheese, taking out a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal last Friday. Investors aren't so happy, however, which has put Rick on the interview circuit to defend his record. Let's hope the "bold steps" the dealers see Wagoner taking start to appease investors and revitalize consumer confidence in the company.

[Detroit Free Press]

GM dealers stand by Wagoner originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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