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President Barack Obama has set an ambitious goal of putting at least 1 million battery-powered cars on the road by the middle of the coming decade.
For the many GM watchers who were expecting a quarterly loss north of $2 billion from the automaker, the $1.2 billion loss it actually reported for the third quarter came as a pleasant surprise.
“Safety doesn’t sell,” or so went the conventional wisdom of the auto industry. But don’t try telling that to Ford Motor Co.’s Sue Cischke, who thinks it may be a more important marketing tool than just about anything — including fuel economy.
The auto industry loves to find miracle workers. Thirty years ago, Lee Iacocca worked his magic by convincing Congress to deliver a package of loan guarantees that kept Chrysler from going broke. A decade ago, Carlos Ghosn was recruited to save struggling Nissan. Now Sergio Marchionne is being asked to pull together a miracle for the second time.
A California-based startup, Fisker Automotive, will spend nearly $200 million to purchase an abandoned General Motors assembly plant in Wilmington, Del., to produce a new line of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
It may be one of the world’s most unlikely theme parks, yet each year close to 2 million people pore through Autostadt, the German “auto city” that celebrates the achievement of Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen AG.
It can take years to build a reputation. Now Toyota has to wonder and worry how quickly an image can be shattered.
GM's Saturn division started out with high hopes a quarter-century ago, but nothing worked out quite as planned. The brand is being eliminated after a deal to sell it fell through.
The sharp decline in luxury auto sales in this recession has many observers wondering if there’s a radical reshaping of the market for brands such as Porsche, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz.
Industry officials may be quick to talk up the newest in electric transportation. They’ll also admit it’s not going to be easy abandoning the time-tested internal combustion engine.
With the advent of cheap digital cameras and the nearly ubiquitous camera phone, it’s almost impossible for a car manufacturer to keep a prototype under wraps.
Mazda believes hydrogen could help its its rotary engine move from a niche to mainstream source of power, beating rival approaches like fuel cell vehicles and battery cars.
South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motors is taking aim at some of the most lavish and costly segments of the automotive market.
Two weekend events, at opposite ends of the country, suggest that despite the recession-induced automotive slump, America’s love affair with the automobile is as strong as ever.
After a century of vain attempts, the race towards "electrification" is back on, and it's heating up among automakers large and small.
Now that the House has approved rushing an additional $2 billion to prop up the financially strapped “cash for clunkers” car purchase program, owners of the 1991 Dodge Caravan might be thinking of trading in their old boat of a vehicle for something newer.
On Friday, a visitor to McEleney Autocenter in Clinton, Iowa, turned in his old, rusty Ford truck and drove away with a brand new Hyundai Accent.
For 46 years, Wade Walker sold Jeeps at his dealership in Montpelier, Vt. Now that dealership is going to have to reinvent itself.
Chrysler may have sealed its alliance with Italy’s Fiat, but the automaker still faces the serious challenges, according to analysts. The automaker must integrate operations with its new owner and bridge a product gap until a new line of small cars is available late next year.
It’s an outcome that was nearly unthinkable just six months ago. General Motors, a company once synonymous with America’s industrial might, is following its smaller rival Chrysler into bankruptcy court for a government-forced reorganization.
Over the next few weeks, General Motors is expected to reach another milestone in its storied 101-year history: bankruptcy.
While General Motors and Chrysler make plans to eliminate hundreds of auto dealers around the country, Mike Breyfogle, general manager of Tempe Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Tempe, Ariz., considers himself one of the lucky ones.
Pontiac hits end of the road after 82 yearsThe last Pontiac has rolled off the line, marking the end of a century-old nameplate that fell victim to GM's bankruptcy, federal bailout and radical restructuring plan.
Nissan hatches plan to boost battery carsNissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is among those who believe the public may get charged up by the switch to electric power, if the new battery cars are affordable and fun to drive.
At GM, down looks like up, at least for nowDespite some uncertainties, GM's latest financial results provide a clear indication that the bailed-out automaker is doing better than even it had hoped for.
Fiat boss lays out ambitious Chrysler road mapChrysler's new chief executive, Sergio Marchionne of Italy's Fiat, says he is not "promising a miracle," but his ambitious turnaround plan for the automaker is raising eyebrows.
Plug-ins rev up, but are consumers ready?Automakers are putting a lot of time and effort into building the next generation of plug-ins. But they still have to convince car buyers that they are worth the hefty sticker.
Nissan's new crossover is a lovable RogueThe slick, comfortable, friendly Nissan Rogue is a strong contender in the battle for the driveways of suburbanites and secretaries who typically snap up Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s in droves. MotorHead, by Dan Carney.
As Toyota sputters, Volkswagen steers for topVolkswagen wants to be the world's largest automaker, toppling Toyota from its perch. To get there, it has to leap one large hurdle: the sluggish U.S. market.
Chrysler's new minivans demand respectSometimes a van is just a van, but with their new Town & Country and Grand Caravan minivans, Dodge and Chrysler want to change that perception. And they might succeed. MotorHead, by Dan Carney.
Battle of the ultrapremium automakersRolls and Bentley are about to face off in a direct battle for the car market's most prestigious and affluent buyers.
Saturn's sudden death marks end of GM dreamGM's Saturn division started out with high hopes a quarter-century ago, but nothing worked out quite as planned. The brand is being eliminated after a deal to sell it fell through.
Luxury car market may never look the sameThe sharp decline in luxury auto sales in this recession has many observers wondering if there's a radical reshaping of the market for brands such as Porsche, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz.
Automakers go 'camo' to thwart spy shotsWith the advent of cheap digital cameras and the nearly ubiquitous camera phone, it's almost impossible for a car manufacturer to keep a prototype under wraps.
Hyundai is taking the high road with EquusSouth Korean carmaker Hyundai Motors is taking aim at some of the most lavish and costly segments of the automotive market.
Americans' love affair with autos is still aliveTwo weekend events, at opposite ends of the country, suggest that despite the recession-induced automotive slump, America's love affair with the automobile is as strong as ever.
Automakers charged up over EVs ... againAfter a century of vain attempts, the race towards "electrification" is back on, and it's heating up among automakers large and small.
Not all 'clunker' trade-ins are created equalMore money has now been injected into the 'clunker' rebate program, but some car experts say the clunker deals on offer are throwing up some surprising anomalies.
As Chrysler moves on, dealers wrestle with fateAs a new Chrysler emerges from the wreckage of the automaker's bankruptcy filing, hundreds of former Chrysler dealers are left in limbo, and wrestling with their fates.
No guarantees for successful GM bankruptcyGM, the world's second-largest automaker, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday that the automaker and the U.S. government hope will be quick and painless.
Health deal for Detroit could spark moreAs the labor contract negotiations between the major U.S. automakers and the United Auto Workers reach a critical stage, a historic restructuring of the auto industry's benefit costs is now at the center of the complex talks.
Chrysler needs product (and a product guy)Commentary: Bob Nardelli may prove to be just the guy to run Chrysler, but he faces an uphill battle because the automaker's current problem lies in the area of Nardelli's weakness - automotive product. Driver's Seat, by Dan Carney.
Automakers put on a brave face in N.Y.In an industry where there is very little to be happy about right now, the world's top automakers will put on a cheerful face for visitors to this month's New York auto show.
The American wagon beats a retreatAn anticipated surge in station wagon sales has failed to materialize, so are they destined for the dustbin of history?
Is now the time to mention the 'B' word?With U.S. automakers asking for billions more dollars in aid from the U.S. government, it's worth asking: Shouldn't General Motors and Chrysler just file for bankruptcy?
SUVs are somewhat fuel efficient but SUVs are heavier and with the luxury features and other facilities. So how does that benefit the fuel consumption of a hybrid suv? Scientific research showed that HEV fuel consumption is significantly affected by both weight and power.
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