Auto Industry Archive

Ford Credit and Nissan Motor Acceptance are widely reported to be among the first auto lenders to benefit from a U.S. government program aimed at thawing out the market for asset-backed securities. That’s good news for the auto industry in the short run, if the ABS market starts to recover. Nissan’s deal was reported early today by Reuters, Bloomberg and other news outlets, but a...

More...

Nissan is widely reported to be among the first car companies to benefit from a U.S. government program aimed at thawing out the market for asset-backed securities. That’s good news for the auto industry in the short run, if the ABS market starts to recover. However, the news could also add fuel to political concerns about foreign corporations reaping the benefits of U.S. government aid,...

More...

The race is on to build lithium-ion battery factories in the U.S. Last week, I reported that the Norway-based Think Global, which makes the City electric car, was applying for funding from the Department of Energy’s $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. CEO Richard Canny said that he is in talks with eight states that want to host the plant. In addition to that $25...

More...

Ford of Europe announced production cuts, reflecting the ongoing auto sales downturn that is becoming  more or less global. Ford’s European sales were 107,800 units in February, down 18.5 percent from the year-ago month. Its January sales in Europe were down 24.6 percent.   “Cutting capacity, reducing costs and safeguarding our future product plans are essential actions for Ford of...

More...

(11min 47) The Australian government has promised $6.2 billion over 13 years to support the Australian car industry. The question is, of course, will the industry last that long? Holden could well be brought down with the collapse of its U.S. parent, General Motors. With the cash injection amounting to $100,000 for each job, Phil Dobbie asks Dr Hartwich, a research fellow at the Centre for...

More...

Americans love hybrid cars, but in a recession they don’t love hybrid car prices. The premium of $2,000 or more typically asked of hybrids is a factor in a steep drop-off of sales. A key to success in today’s economic tsunami may be smaller, more affordable hybrids. And that’s why the compact $19,800 Honda Insight (40 mpg city/43 highway) is so timely. Some 15,144 hybrids were sold in...

More...

MIAMI — Kia is the latest in a line of automotive brands to pitch its products to young, aspiring non-conformists. Kia’s upcoming ad campaign for the all-new Kia Soul features hamsters running in an exercise wheel, to symbolize the unfortunate people who don’t drive a Kia Soul. Computer-generated images show streets and interstate highways lined with hamsters running in their...

More...

The weirdness starts with the name, Aptera 2e, and the car itself looks like something out of The Jetsons. But the battery-powered Aptera achieves the equivalent of 200 miles per gallon. It can reach 90 miles per hour and go 100 miles on a charge. Did I mention that the Aptera only has three wheels? That last point is important, because it makes the aerodynamic car, which resembles an airplane...

More...

Fiat has made the ultimate “chick car,” if you’ll pardon the throwback expression. The chick car in question is a lipstick-pink Fiat 500, built for Mattel’s Barbie doll, in honor of Barbie’s 50th birthday this year. Fiat built an actual car for the occasion, which will appear at various Barbie birthday celebrations, starting with an appearance earlier this week in...

More...

Michael Sprague, marketing vice president for Irvine, Calif.-based Kia Motors America, has a full plate this year, launching two all-new, 2010 models: the Soul crossover, which resembles a small SUV, and the Forte, a small car that replaces Kia’s biggest seller in the U.S. market by far, the Spectra.  The Soul is on sale now. The Forte goes on sale in June. Before the present sharp downturn...

More...