Automotive News

GM's New TV Commercials -- Do They Grab You?

Steve Parker | Posted 11.23.2009 | Business

Read More: Lee Iacocca, Automotive News, White House, Bob Lutz, Ed Whitacre, General Motors, Hyundai, Honda, Detroit, Lexus-es350, Cars, Cadillac SRX Crossover, Buick Lacrosse, Business News
Steve Parker

I like the fact that GM, having suffered from a terrible inferiority complex for the past 20 years (often based, in truth, on some pretty bad product) seems, at least for its latest commercial, to have gotten some guts back.

Read Post

Bulletin - Clunker Program May Already Be Over!

Steve Parker | Posted 08.30.2009 | Business

Read More: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, National Automobile Dealers Association, White House, Automotive News, Fred Upton, Congress, Chrysler, Cars, Obama Administration, Car Allowance Rebate System, Ray Lahood, Susan Collins, Cash for Guzzlers, General Motors, Cash for Clunkers, Detroit, Michigan, Department of Transportation, Business News
Steve Parker

I've said when program was first announced that the slated $1 billion would run out well before the time limit. But I don't think anyone expected this!

Read Post

Tell Bob Lutz What GM Must Do Now

Steve Parker | Posted 08.15.2009 | Business

Read More: Lee Iacocca, Automotive News, Chrysler, Buick, Dodge Viper, Merkur, Fiat, Cars, Lh Cars, Ford, Bob Lutz, General Motors, Pontiac GTO, Washington, Detroit, BMW 3-Series, Buick Lacrosse, JD Power, Plymouth Prowler, Chevrolet, Chevy Malibu, Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, Bruce Mccall, Gmc, Ford Explorer, Bmw, Core Four, Buick Y-Job, Pontiac G8, Cadillac, Fitz and Van, Harley Earl, Business News
Steve Parker

GM doesn't have the kind of partnership and help which Chrysler will be getting from Fiat and Washington is on-hand only to protect the public's huge investment in the company.

Read Post

Will Detroit Budget Cuts Doom US in World EV Market?

Steve Parker | Posted 05.06.2009 | Business

Read More: Sonoma County, Audi R8, Lithium-Ion Battery, Automotive News, San Diego, Beijing, Oregon, Yokohama, Cars, Gas/Electric Hybrid, Detroit News, Clean Diesel, Audi Q7 TDI, General Motors, Ireland, Portugal, Douglas MacArthur, Keith Bradsher, Chery, Biofuels, Detroit Three, Ford, Starbucks Coffee, Tucson, Eamon Ryan, Renault Nissan Electric Cars, Japan, Chrysler, Israel, Tennessee, Mitsubishi -MiEV, NY Times, Yuasa Battery, Denmark, Monaco, Kanagawa, Auto Bailout, Detroit-Michigan, Business News
Steve Parker

The perfect financial storm decimating the US auto sector could result in the nation's largest manufacturing industry falling even farther behind overseas competitors when it comes to EVs.

Read Post

January Car Sales -- a Final Reckoning Begins in Earnest ?

Steve Parker | Posted 03.06.2009 | Business

Read More: Big Pharma, Porsche, Scion, Automotive News, Chrysler, President Obama, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Fiat, Ford, Gmac, Buy American, Chevy Silverado, Cerberus Capital Management, General Motors, Maybach, Stimulus Package, Hyundai, Hertz, Barbara Mikulski, Toyota, Detroit Three, Chevy Malibu, Lexus, Mexico, Xerox, Smart Car, Automotive Fleet, Subaru, Daimler, Japan, Europe, China, Business News
Steve Parker

Until the travel business picks up and businesses in general start replacing their vehicle fleets, Detroit will be outside looking in.

Read Post

Even After $14 Billion in TARP Money, Detroit's on Life-Support

Steve Parker | Posted 02.07.2009 | Business

Read More: Treasury Department, Automotive News, FICO Score, Chrysler, Detroit Three, Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Ford, Jeep Patriot, Dodge Ram, Nissan, TARP and Auto Bailout, Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors, Infiniti, Paul Krugman, Chrysler Financial, NY Times, Detroit Bailout, GMAC Bailout, Business News
Steve Parker

With economists predicting a rough 2009, 2010 and maybe even 2011, there's not much chance of '09 and '10 car sales reaching even 2008's miserable 13.1 million.

Read Post

Car sales, 2008; even worse than we thought

Steve Parker | Posted 02.06.2009 | Business

Read More: World Rally, Pony Cars, Porsche, Automotive News, Chrysler, Ford Mustang, Hemi Engines, The Wizard of Oz, Isuzu, Obama Administration, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, New York Federal Reserve, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ford, Volkswagen, Maybach, Motor Trend, Nissan, Dodge Challenger, Cadillac Srx, Chevrolet Equinox, Scotland, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Timothy Geithner, Huffington Post, Buick Lacrosse, GMAC Bailout, Pickups, TV Pitchman Vince, FICO Score, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, Toyota, Gm, Minivan, Ford F-150, Detroit Three, Associated Press, Chicago Cubs, American Honda, Gmc, Smart Car, Wall Street, Colin Mcrae, Detroit Three Loans, Cadillac Cts Wagon, Subaru, Bmw, Car Czar, Daimler, Mitsubishi, Treasury Secretary, SUV Sales, Credit Unions, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Business News
Steve Parker

Monday brought three conference calls, each about an hour, with executives from each of the Detroit Three announcing, dissecting and, most of all, spi...

Read Post

Bottom Line: 2008 Car/Truck Sales Probably Worst Since 1974

Steve Parker | Posted 02.03.2009 | Business

Read More: Ebay, Treasury Department, Porsche, Automotive News, Paris Dakar Rally, Wall Street Bailout, Congress, Hank Paulson, Troubled Assets Relief Program, Chrysler, Ford Mustang, Detroit Lions, Cars, Detroit News, Ford, Highland Park, Supercharger, Dodge Durango Hybrid, General Motors, Chad Hall, Dodge Challenger, Chrysler EVs, Chevy Cobalt, 1974 Oil Embargo, Detroit, Carroll Shelby, Off-Road, Baja 1000, Porsche Panamera, Detroit Bailout, Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Pickups, FICO Score, Chevy Cruze, Minivan, Hilton Hotels, Nascar, Detroit Three, Gm, Robby Gordon, Mexico, Washington DC, Daewoo, Rod Hall, Tokyo, Gmac, TARP and Auto Bailout, Seoul, Detroit Three Loans, San Jose Del Cabo, Hummer Sale, gt500, Darpa, Stuttgart, SUV Sales, Detroit Auto Show, Business News
Steve Parker

The only other time the industry has seen a 3-million (or more) unit plunge was following the 1974 oil shortage.

Read Post

Some Good -- and Fun -- Automotive News for the Holidaze

Steve Parker | Posted 01.24.2009 | Business

Read More: Cell Phones, Tarp, Automotive News, Good Sam Club, Chevy Volt, Troubled Assets Relief Program, Tata Motors, Honda Accord, Rose Parade Committee, Chrysler, Rick Wagoner, Honda, Federal Reserve, Cars, F1, The Oscars, Ford, FCX Clarity, General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Gmac, Representative Sandy Levin, Senator Carl Levin, Jean Shepherd, General Motors, Japanese Cars, Suburban, Hyundai, Christmas, Pasadena Rose Parade, Nobuhiko Kawamoto, GMAC Bailout, Jaguar, Hyundai Excel, Toyota, Chevrolet, Washington DC, American Honda, Land Rover, Red Ryder Bb Gun, Floorplanning, Formula One, Chevrolet Cruze, Asimo, Daisy Red Ryder Bb Gun, Landline Phones, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Honda Super Cub, Pasadena, Santa Claus, Subaru, Hawaii, Business News
Steve Parker

Really wish there were better news to post about, but the auto industry is reeling worldwide, and there's no better example than Toyota.

Read Post

Toyota Projects First-Ever Annual Loss; Congress Disses Detroit

Steve Parker | Posted 01.23.2009 | Business

Read More: Simon Boag, John Campi, White House, Congress, Australia, Trd, Buick, United Auto Workers, Suvs, Phil Murtaugh, Crossfire, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Detroit News, Detroit Auto Show, Hardtop Convertible, Daimler, Toyota Motor Corp, Moraine, Masters of the Universe, Mongolia, Bankruptcy, Detroit Three, Gm, Washington DC, Land Rover, Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe, Floorplanning, Cnn, Banks, Japan, China, Corporate Jets, Automotive News, Roger and Me, Wall Street Bailout, Suzuki, Chrysler, Jim Press, GM Bankruptcy, Federal Reserve Board, President Obama, Ford, Katsuaki Watanabe, General Motors, Dayton, CNN/Opinion Research Poll, President Bush, Michigan, Detroit Bailout, Uaw, Automaker Bailout, Associated Press, Tokyo, Private Planes, g4 Challenge, North American International Auto Show, Nyc, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Deborah Meyer, Vice President Cheney, Toyota Racing Development, Republicans, Slk, Business News
Steve Parker

Congress took a perverse pleasure in giving Detroit's CEOs and the UAW president the third degree -- unnecessary theater while our country suffers this economic decline.

Read Post

Bush Punts Auto Industry to Team Obama; UAW Concedes Even More

Steve Parker | Posted 01.19.2009 | Business

Read More: Tarp, Automotive News, Msnbc, Wall Street Bailout, Union-Busting, Troubled Assets Relief Program, Chrysler, Right to Work, United Auto Workers, Rick Wagoner, Honda, Cars, Detroit News, Ford, Automaker Viability Plan, Auto Bailout, GM VP CFO Ray Young, General Motors, Richard Shelby, Two-Tier Pay, Chrysler Viability Plan, President Bush, Foreign Transplant Factories, Ford Viability Plan, Detroit Bailout, Bob Nardelli, Automaker Bailout, Uaw, Robert Reich, Managed Bankruptcy, Default Car Czar, Alan Mulally, Detroit Three, GM Viability Plan, Clinton Administration, Barack Obama, Rachel Maddow Show, Alabama, Asimo, Bush Administration, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Auto Supplier Companies, Big Three Viability Plan, Secretary of Labor Reich, Henry Paulson, Car Czar, Treasury Secretary, Jobs, Unemployment, Labor Unions, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Unions, Business News
Steve Parker

This "agreement" is just another part of the recent "Bush/Cheney Revisionist History Farewell Tour." It was created to fail, just as long as that failure didn't happen while Bush was still president.

Read Post

Republicans Kill any Help for Detroit

Steve Parker | Posted 01.12.2009 | Business

Read More: Tarp, Automotive News, Congress, Chrysler, Election Day, United Auto Workers, Honda, Federal Reserve, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Ford, Trifecta, Nikkei, Nissan, General Motors, Troubled Asset Relief Plan, Hyundai, Christmas, US Senate, Bill Clinton, Uaw, Gm, Detroit Three, European Union, Democrats, Walkman, Barack Obama, Tokyo, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Bmw, Transplant, Harry Reid, NY Times, Southeast, Asian, China, Sony, Republicans, Business News
Steve Parker

Late last night, Senate Republicans derailed a bill, passed the day before by the House, to loan $15 billion to the Detroit Three, with 10 Republicans joining 40 Democrats and two Independents in favor.

Read Post

Car Sales Tank; Detroit Visits DC, Pt. II

Steve Parker | Posted 01.02.2009 | Business

Read More: Cars, George Bush, Roger and Me, Automotive News, Spring Hill, Wall Street Bailout, Congress, Australian, Saturn, Chrysler, Buick, Rick Wagoner, United Auto Workers, Russian Carmaker, Opel GT, $25 Billion Bailout, Honda, Ford, Volkswagen, Malibu Hybrid, Ev1, Bob Lutz, Indian Carmaker, Michael Moore, Saturn Vue, Washington, Tiger Woods, Detroit, Greenmail, Opel Kappa Platform, European Carmakers, Chrysler CEO, Pontiac Solstice Coupe, Bob Nardelli, Uaw, Toyota, Gm, Alan Mulally, AM General, Saturn Sky, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, American Honda, Deal or No Deal, Roger Smith, Gmc, Asian Carmakers, Escape Hybrid, Chinese Carmaker, Pontiac, Corvette, Saab, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Bmw, Subaru, Republican, Hummer Sale, Henry Paulson, Europe, China, Cadillac, Holden, Auto Bailout, Business News
Steve Parker

Now that they have our attention, the Detroit Three, in plans submitted to Congress Tuesday, increased their appeals for federal loans from $25 billion to $34 billion.

Read Post

Seeing Our Future In The American Car

Jeffrey Feldman | Posted 12.12.2008 | Business

Read More: Detroit Automakers, Automotive News, Cars, Big Three Automakers, Automotive Industry, General Motors, Reframing, Framing, Economy, Detroit Three, Business News
Jeffrey Feldman

The car as the dominant form of transportation is here to stay in American life -- and here to stay for some time to come. The American cars of the past, however, will not be a part of our future.

Read Post

Auto Industry Drops 32%; GM Plummets Over 45%

Steve Parker | Posted 12.04.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Suzuki, Chrysler, Epa, Thanksgiving, Honda, Cars, Atlanta, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Tennessee Valley Authority, General Motors, Ford Ecoboost Engine, Mini, Detroit Bailout, John McCain, Toyota, Gm, Opec, Detroit Three, Lexus, Chevrolet, GM Red Tag Sale, Porsche, Barack Obama, Mercury, Bush White House, Manhattan Project, Lincoln, Wpa, Sarah Palin, Bmw, Audi, Lincoln MKS, Isuzu, Business News
Steve Parker

Obama has consistently shown his support for an American car-making industry, a modern and green industry able to build the kinds of cars and trucks people will want to buy.

Read Post

GM/Chrysler merger: 200,000 unemployed, most Chrysler vehicles gone

Steve Parker | Posted 11.30.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Cerberus Capital Management, General Motors, Grant Thornton, Detroit Three, GM Chrysler Merger, Washington DC, Cars, Ford, Reuters, Business News
Steve Parker

Yesterday we posted our analysis of the much-hyped GM/Chrysler merger, quoting sources which said as many as 70,000 Americans would be thrown out of w...

Read Post

Lay-offs at Tesla; Repo's to hit record; GM hawks "finance options" and 25% of new-car market may be lost

Steve Parker | Posted 11.15.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Gmac, Tesla Model S, Tesla Roadster, Tesla Motors, JD Power, Gm, Cars, Repossession, Business News
Steve Parker

Two more pieces of bad news today facing carmakers, dealers and us ... car-buyers and owners: Repossessions are set to break records, while industry a...

Read Post

Notes on Europe - Chrysler's troubles, Nardelli speaks, VW buys-out dealers, death of a neo-fascist

Steve Parker | Posted 11.12.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Europe, John McCain, Chrysler, Cars, Volkswagen AG, Highland Park, Austria, Daimler, Daimlerchrysler, Joerg Haider, Kurt Waldheim, Wall Street Crisis, Cerberus Capital Management, Nissan Sentra, Brilliance Jinbei Automotive, Dodge, Robert Nardelli, Germany, Jeep, Brilliance, Autobahn, China, BS4, Business News
Steve Parker

Chrysler's CEO, Robert Nardelli, who has been running the company for just 14 months, fears the collapse of an "extremely fragile" auto industry amid ...

Read Post

Late Car Payments Now Total $25 Billion; US May Lose 700 Dealerships This Year

Steve Parker | Posted 11.08.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Toyota, Chrysler, Gm, Detroit Three, $25 Billion Bailout, Home Mortgages, Home Mortgage Crisis, Experian, Cars, $700 Billion Bailout, Italy, Santa Monica, National Association of Automobile Dealers, Ford, Car Payments, Santa Monica Daily Press, General Motors, Japanese Cars, South Korea, Germany, Great Britain, Detroit, Vietnam, Foreclosure, Japan, Repossession, China, Nada, Business News
Steve Parker

The number of people late on their monthly car and truck payments is huge, represented by nearly $25 billion worth of consumer auto loans that are delinquent.

Read Post

Lamborghini hybrids, Citroen diesel/electrics, Honda's Prius-fighter, budget Ferraris and more from the Paris Car Show

Steve Parker | Posted 11.02.2008 | Green

Read More: Lithium-Ion Battery, Russia, Automotive News, Lamborghini Hybrid, Nissan Nuvu EV Concept, Cars, Gas/Electric Hybrid, Ferrari California, Stop-Start System, Paris, Nubira, St. Petersburg, Lamborghini Estoque Hybrid Photos, VW Group, A1 Sportback, Dual-Clutch Transmission, Lamborghini Estoque, Paris Car Show, Automatic Hardtop, Toyota Prius, Chevy Cobalt, Silicon Valley CEOs, Nissan, Porte De Versailles, Tokyo, Honda Insight, Renault, Nashville, Diesel/Electric Hybrid, Citroen Hypnos, Carlos Ghosn, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Prius-Fighter, Daewoo, Renault Nissan Electric Cars, Los Angeles, Hybrid Honda Insight, Toyota Europe, Formula One, Chevrolet Cruze, Smart Car, Renault Megane, Lamborghini Gallardo, South Korea, Turbodiesel, Audi, Europe, Citroen C3 Picasso Minivan, Lordstown, Green News
Steve Parker

Opening in the shadow of the worst auto sales in the US in over 15 years, the biennial Paris Car Show begins welcoming the public this Saturday and ru...

Read Post

Precipitous fifteen-year drop in US car sales; Need one? You probably can't get one

Steve Parker | Posted 11.02.2008 | Business

Read More: House of Representatives, Automotive News, GMC Truck, Americans, Saturn, Buick, Scion xB, Subprime Car Loans, Honda, Toyota Sales, Bentley, North Dallas Forty, Vw, Maybach, Palin, Original Equipment Manufacturer, General Motors, Bush/McCain, Bailout, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Peter Gent, US Senate, Nissan, Mini, Subprime Loans, Hummer, Hyundai, OEM, Saabs, Gm, Mazda, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, Acura, Volvo, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler Cars, Pontiac, Cars, Rolls-Royce, Mercury, Bmw, Smart Car, Subprime Mortgages, Lincoln, Infiniti, New York Times, Lexus, Audi, Southeast, Alaska, CNW Research, Cadillac, Business News
Steve Parker

They say "start out bad news with a joke," so: In Peter Gent's "North Dallas Forty," a football coach is talking with the team owner's son about his f...

Read Post

Major car-maker haps: Detroit gets their bailout, Daimler selling their last 20% of Chrysler, world's largest Chevrolet dealer group closes

Steve Parker | Posted 10.26.2008 | Business

Read More: Lee Iacocca, House of Representatives, Automotive News, Plymouth Prowler, Detroit Three, Dodge Viper, Chevrolet, Cars, Indian Carmakers, Ford Motor Co, Just in Time Manufacturing, Camaro, Chevrolet Volt, Chrysler, GMAC, Kanban, Daimler, Cerberus Capital Management, General Motors, Bailout, Electric Cars, Chinese Carmakers, President Bush, Business News
Steve Parker

Three major events involving the world of cars, politics and finance, both in the US and abroad. First, Automotive News reports, "Automakers and supp...

Read Post

Detroit Three Expect $25 Billion -- So Who Bails Out Americans' Missing Car Payments?

Steve Parker | Posted 10.25.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, San Diego, Portland, Detroit Three, Mortgage Crisis, AIG Bailout, Cars, Washington DC, Gas/Electric Hybrid, Los Angeles, Denver, America, Ford Motor Co, Dallas, American Financial Services Association, Chrysler, Chevrolet Volt, Aig, Seattle, Sen. Carl Levin, General Motors, Wall Street, Phoenix, Michigan, Home Foreclosures, San Francisco, Plug-in Hybrids, Us, Repossession, Wall Street Bailout, Business News
Steve Parker

It used to be said that a house was the largest expenditure in any person's lifetime; but if someone buys five or more new cars over 40 or 50 years, those purchases could easily cost more, in total, than their home.

Read Post

THE LATEST: $25 BILLION FOR DETROIT; PRODUCTION CHEVY VOLT PLUG-IN HYBRID UNVEILED

Steve Parker | Posted 10.18.2008 | Green

Read More: Turbochargers, Boeing, Gas-Electric Hybrid Technology, Automotive News, General Electric, Hemi Hybrids, Saturn, Chrysler, Rick Wagoner, Honda, Detroit News, FCX Clarity, Ford, Home Depot, Goldman Sachs, Equinox, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles, General Motors, Robert Nardelli, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Charlie Rose, Flex, Gm, Alan Mulally, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, Volvo, Washington DC, Cars, Chevrolet Volt, JPMorgan Chase, Chrysler Jeep, Ford Escape, Wall Street, Opel, Focus, Green News
Steve Parker

Today's Detroit News newspaper reports that, because big investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase own huge amounts of GM and Ford cor...

Read Post