Automotive News articles from December 2008

Automotive News archives from December 2008

The glitz is gone.(NEWS)(automobile industry)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... From auto shows to TV advertising, marketing budgets are getting chopped. GM has parted with Tiger Woods, top left. Nissan pulled out of the Detroit auto show, so we won't see design chief Shiro Nakamura introducing an Infiniti concept as he...

A face of the fallout; Montana Ford dealer faces same dilemma as Detroit 3: She needs money now.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau Through October, about 700 automobile dealers in the United States have gone out of business this year. Ford dealer Donna Todd is desperately hoping she won't be next. Todd is fighting to keep her and her late...

Bentley boom is over - for now.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko The global sales slump finally has caught up with high-flying Bentley Motors. Volkswagen AG's British superluxury brand has enjoyed a terrific decade, but its rapid growth has come to a screeching halt this...

Despite cuts, Chevy gives Traverse big ad launch; Campaign pushes crossover's styling, 8-passenger seating.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Laura Clark Geist Even as General Motors cuts its marketing budget, Chevrolet is spending nearly as much to launch its new Traverse crossover as it did last year to introduce the redesigned Malibu sedan. "It's slightly less...

New cheap-car champ: Hyundai Accent, by $20.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kathy Jackson The Hyundai Accent has backward-leapfrogged Nissan's Versa to become the cheapest car sold in the United States by $20. Both recently limboed under the symbolic $10,000 bar if you don't count shipping in search...

Chrysler: New sedans will surpass tougher CAFE rules.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Rick Kranz The next generation of Chrysler's full-sized, rear-drive cars will exceed tougher fuel economy standards that take effect in two years, says the company's product development chief. The restyled and re-engineered...

Chrysler: Product plans are a go - if ...(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Rick Kranz Has financially strapped Chrysler put its product spending on hold in the current economic storm? No way, says the company's product development chief. Chrysler's new-vehicle plans are on track through the beginning...

Tick, tick, tick.(NEWS)(Calendar)
December 1, 2008... Timetable for congressional action on Detroit 3's plea for $25 billion in emergency loans Tuesday, Dec. 2: Deadline for automakers to file viability plans Wednesday, Dec. 3: Senate Banking Committee hearing on plans Friday, Dec....

CORRECTIONS.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2008... A story on Page 16 of the Nov. 24 issue reported an incorrect number of lithium ion battery cells that GS Yuasa Corp. will have the capacity to produce. GS Yuasa plans to increase capacity to 1 million a year from 200,000.

New GM worry: What if suppliers want faster pay?(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Sherefkin General Motors purchasing chief Bo Andersson frets about his suppliers' loss of an obscure form of insurance a loss that threatens GM's precarious cash flow. GM pays suppliers 35 to 45 days after parts are...

In the cross-hairs: UAW contract; GOP will demand workers' sacrifice: End of Jobs Bank?(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Harry Stoffer Before voting on aid to ailing automakers, Republicans in the Senate will take aim at the UAW and some benefits that many Americans find excessive. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., a moderate hoping to help Detroit, told...

Milestones.(NEWS)(John Ourisman of Ourisman Mitsubishi honored)(Feldpausch of Bee's Motors honored)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... John Ourisman of Ourisman Mitsubishi in Marlow Heights, Md., received a 25-year award for Mitsubishi from Mitsubishi Motors North America. Jeff Feldpausch of Bee's Motors in St. Johns, Mich., received a 25-year award for Dodge from...

What the Detroit 3 will tell Washington.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau Democratic leaders of Congress are talking tough about the need for the Detroit 3 to cut costs, eliminate perks and shake things up. But demands issued by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority...

AUTO NEWS digest.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.'s meetings with its dealers)(Shinichi Kurihara appointed at Mitsubishi Motors North America)(Ford Motor Co. offers insurance services)
December 1, 2008... GM cancels make meetings at NADA DETROIT General Motors is canceling its franchise make meetings at the 2009 National Automobile Dealers Association convention in New Orleans. Instead, GM will hold one general company meeting Sunday,...

Detroit 3 loans: There's a template for success.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Some people in Detroit were offended by the way Republican and Democratic lawmakers treated the Detroit 3 CEOs during last month's congressional hearings on emergency aid to the companies. With typical congressional flair, much of the criticism...

Key facts.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... What: An online conference When: May 6-7, 2009 Where: Your computer Sponsors: Automotive News, Association of F&I Professionals Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Cost: $49 Info and registration:...

Online conference tracks F&I trends.(NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Automotive News and the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals are hosting a two-day conference May 6 and 7 and delivering it to your computer. F&I Connections is a virtual event that will cover trends in F&I funding regulation...

Daimler, Cerberus brawl over Chrysler.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... As Chrysler approaches the bottom of its cash drawer, its two owners have started brawling publicly. Last week Daimler and Cerberus sent out dueling press releases accusing each other, in murky legalese, of nasty behavior. This summer,...

Follow Lee's lead in D.C.: Yuk it up.(NEWS)(approval for Chrysler L.L.C.'s federal loan)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Detroiters have been wistful of late, recalling how Lee Iacocca charmed Congress three decades ago and won approval for Chrysler's federal loan guarantee. But things didn't start out well for Chrysler then. The first guy it sent to...

Saab's almost there - heard that before?(NEWS)(General Motors bought 50 percent of Saab Automobile AB. )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Edward Lapham In these unsettling times, when giant automakers face bankruptcy and the automotive world seems to be turned inside out, it's nice to have at least one benchmark that doesn't move. That's why it's reassuring when...

Auto collapse? How about the whole country?(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... OK, it was the "Drudge Report. Quoting Izvestia. Still, the headline "Russian analyst predicts decline and breakup of USA suggests an interesting worst-case scenario for the current difficulties in the auto industry and overall economy. ...

Economic Rx: A huge government plug-in.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... You've got an auto company that needs sales. You've got a government that wants to stimulate the economy. You've got a nation that needs an energy policy. To Lyle Dennis, it's a no-brainer: The government ought to buy tens of...

GM tells dealers: To earn more, order more; Some call remedy for inventories fair; others see risk.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors is asking dealers to order more vehicles to earn incentive cash but with a provision the automaker says is designed to balance dealer inventories. Under the program, dealers with high inventory don't...

Without Getrag deal, Chrysler will refine its 6-speed.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Rick Kranz Chrysler LLC will make due with its front-drive automatic transmission now that its deal with Getrag Corporate Group has collapsed. Getrag's transmission had been expected to give Chrysler's vehicles potentially a 6...

GM's Andersson: Suppliers aren't demanding cash; Push for speedy payment would intensify cash burn.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Sherefkin General Motors' purchasing chief says his suppliers are not demanding shorter payment terms or cash on delivery in light of the automaker's shaky finances. "Our suppliers are behind us, Bo Andersson, GM group...

Credit cutoff sent Minn. megadealer into tailspin.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kathy Jackson Tim Sunburg could see that things were coming undone at Denny Hecker Automotive Group back in mid-October. Sunburg, a service adviser at Hecker's Ford dealership in Monticello, Minn., said Chrysler Financial...

Hyundai taps technology to boost mileage.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kathy Jackson Hyundai wants to be the fuel economy leader in the United States and is taking steps to reach that goal by 2015. The brand will achieve a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2015, said John Krafcik, who was product...

VW bucks downtrend, sees "09 growth.(NEWS)(Volkswagen AG)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Despite the U.S. market's sharp downturn, Volkswagen hopes for flat sales this year and looks for an increase in 2009. "We're remaining stable and plan to grow and invest in production to the United States,...

O'Driscoll goal: Rev Jaguar sales to Porsche level.(NEWS)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... In the long run, a repositioned Jaguar selling only premium cars could achieve the same sales levels as Porsche, says Mike O'Driscoll, managing director of Jaguar Cars Ltd. That would mean annual global sales of between 100,000 and 120,000...

Pretend it's December 2009.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Keith Crain It's a year from now. Back in 2008, Congress decided to let the auto companies fend for themselves. General Motors filed for Chapter 11 in early 2009. Floor traffic stopped in showrooms. GM factories shut down,...

Ford will tease global design at Detroit show.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Rick Kranz The Ford brand will unveil the next step toward its global design language next month at the Detroit auto show. Ford has refused to identify the vehicle, but industry sources expect it will be the 2010 Taurus. ...

Krafcik takes his turn on Hyundai's hot seat.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Richard Truett John Krafcik says he isn't worried about stepping into the revolving door that regularly leaves Hyundai's top U.S. executive on the outside looking in. The former Ford engineer, who joined Hyundai Motor America...

New look for Lincoln's MKZ.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The Lincoln MKZ was restyled and re-engineered for the 2010 model year. The most striking change is the large split grille with tall vertical fins, key elements of Lincoln's new design language. Richer-looking materials and a higher level of...

October sales plunge 14.3% in Mexico.(NEWS)(Market share report)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Stephen Downer Mexico's dealers sold 83,277 new vehicles in October, down 14.3 percent from October 2007. It was the worst tumble for domestic sales in a decade. The last time year-over-year sales fell more was in October 1998,...

Marketing budgets collapse; Cash-starved companies slash ads, events and other spending.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Chappell and Mary Connelly Automakers are whacking TV commercials, events and other spending as they urgently cut marketing costs to conserve cash. "We are looking at a distressed industry, said Andrew Capone, senior...

NADA Lifeline.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... NADA officials recommend that dealers facing financial difficulties seek counseling on the group's Lifeline hotline. To set up an appointment, call 1-888-672-5147 or go to www.nada.org/lifeline. The free service offers an analysis of dealership...

Imports invest in U.S.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... As the Detroit 3 struggle, import competitors are investing in the U.S. Here's the current schedule. Kia: New plant in Georgia for small cars in 2009 Toyota: New plant in Mississippi to produce Prius hybrids in 2010 Nissan:...

Porsche will hang tough on no-incentive strategy.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Porsche's longtime policy of no incentives will stand despite a nosedive in sales and a 118-day supply of vehicles on Nov. 1. Porsche sales, which fell 22.8 percent through October, were hit by a triple whammy...

Transplant expansions: Onward ho! As they've done before, imports build up despite U.S. downturn.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Chappell As the Detroit 3 plead for federal loans, Asian and European competitors continue investing in the United States. Even in another market downturn, they are building assembly plants in a relentless search for new...

BMW's expansionof Spartanburgplant is on track.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: April Wortham BMW AG is forging ahead with a $750 million expansion of its U.S. factory even as it makes deeper cuts to worldwide production. The expansion of the Spartanburg, S.C., factory is "proceeding on time and on budget...

Audi CEO: We're on track for record year.(NEWS)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... Despite the global financial crisis, Audi remains on track to top 1 million sales worldwide this year. That would be the 13th consecutive record for Volkswagen Group's luxury unit. The company's goal to become the world's most successful...

On the Web.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... This week at www.autonews.com: * Tuesday: Deadline for Detroit 3 to submit detailed business plans to Congress * Wednesday: U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing to discuss aid to the auto industry * Thursday: Hayes-Lemmerz...

Big problems.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Bill Heard Enterprises failed when the credit crunch and economic slowdown exposed the following flaws in its business plan. High property mortgage and lease payments Big inventories Plummeting light-truck and Chevrolet sales...

Trying - again - to rehabilitate Heard's Nashville store.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: April Wortham In show business, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Ben Freeland is betting that's true in the car business, too. Freeland is the latest person to buy Bill Heard Enterprises Inc.'s former Chevrolet...

How big turned bad for Heard empire.(NEWS)(Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. turns bankrupt)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Chrissie Thompson "Do you have good credit? Where's your light bill? Where's your gas bill? Sales staff at Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. stores greeted shoppers with those questions, a former Heard manager recalls. Poor credit?...

1 year, 3 owners, 4 names.(NEWS)(Calendar)
December 1, 2008... Bill Heard Enterprises' former Nashville dealership has changed hands 3 times and changed names 4 times in just over a year. June 2007: Heard Enterprises sells the store to New Hampshire dealer Mark Schols, who changes the name to AutoFair...

AutoNation, UAW chiefs are on World Congress speaker roster.(NEWS)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
December 1, 2008... AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger will be featured speakers at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. Jackson will speak Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, and Gettelfinger will speak that evening after dinner....

What the Democrats want.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Democratic leaders laid out what the Detroit 3 must do to seek loans. Here are key points. Assess cash-flow needs, short- and long-term Estimate the impact of auto sales at current rates, if they improve slightly and if they decline...

Credit unions slow slide to longer loans.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The creep toward longer-term auto financing by the nation's credit unions appears to be slowing down or at least pausing. Whether the trend will reignite once the industry sales pace picks up remains to be...

Some dealers capitalize on below-subprime sector.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Chrissie Thompson The below-subprime sector is the fastest-growing credit tier, according to the financial research group Experian Automotive. And some dealers are taking advantage of the growth, despite tight credit markets. ...

Raising cash.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Amount of commercial paper sold to the Fed by Detroit automaker finance companies as of Nov. 7 under the Commercial Paper Funding Facility program. GMAC Financial: $5 billion Ford Credit: $4 billion Chrysler Financial: $900...

Through D.C. din, Fed hears captives' call; Program has lent $10 billion to Detroit 3 units.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Jim Henry The Federal Reserve in effect has lent GMAC Financial Services LLC, Ford Motor Credit Co. and Chrysler Financial around $10 billion since late October. And it likely will lend billions more so far, without the furor...

Different approach.(NEWS)(credit unions)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Credit unions traditionally are more flexible in lending practices than national banks or captive finance companies. Smaller credit unions are more willing than other lenders to modify loans as needed. Credit unions seek ongoing...

Charging up.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... ELECTRIC CARS WILL MEAN Less dependence on oil companies New business models for calculating and billing energy costs Competition among utility companies and battery suppliers Harmonization of electric- vehicle plugs and...

Lenders to car buyers: Better lay more money down.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Rosland B. Gammon "Don't walk in empty-handed is the new message that lenders have for consumers heading to dealerships. "Lenders want you to have a financial stake, says George Ponko, general manager of Russ Darrow Honda in...

Hard sell; In a difficult credit market, dealers do what it takes to get subprime loans done.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Alysha Webb Financing for credit-challenged customers is much harder to find in today's credit-starved market, but determined dealerships are still getting financing for some subprime customers. The key, dealers say, is...

Large subprime lender Triad works to reinvent itself.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Donna Harris Triad Financial once could boast that it ranked among the nation's top 10 subprime auto lenders. But in May, Triad stopped accepting new applications for auto loans through 6,000 dealers, and in October it ceased...

Credit crisis divides captives into 2 tiers.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Jim Henry The credit crisis has created a two-tier landscape of automaker finance companies. GMAC and Chrysler Financial, in particular, have cut back on loans and leases while they themselves scramble for financing. At the...

BMW purchasing chief: Cost cuts are on track.(NEWS)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... In his first year as BMW's head of purchasing, Herbert Diess asked suppliers to improve their performance. Yet, as the year closed, he said BMW's relationship with suppliers is on solid ground. "I am very pleased with what we achieved in the...

Companies in Europe plan electric car infrastructure.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Automakers in Europe plan new business models for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids before 2011. The business models will eliminate the need for gasoline stations. Energy will be supplied by utility...

U.S. yarn maker opens China plant; Factory produces nylon essential for airbags, seat belts.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Namrita Chow SHANGHAI Seeking a larger foothold in Asia, fiber manufacturer Invista, of Wichita, Kan., has begun producing nylon yarn for airbags at a plant in China. Invista's share of the global airbag yarn market is a...

Personnel.(NEWS)(Louis Lavorata has been appointed at Citation Corp.)(Fred Olson has been named at Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik)(Mark Wallace has also been appointed at Dana Holdings Ltd.)
December 1, 2008... CITATION CORP. Louis Lavorata, 48, to senior vice president and CFO. He replaces Robert Sawyer, who has left the company. Lavorata had been CFO of LD Holdings Inc., a privately held distributor of commercial and industrial petroleum products....

Supply line.(NEWS)(fuel cell cathode blower)(Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... SAIC vehicle uses Eaton blower DETROIT An electrically driven supercharger produced by Eaton Corp. will be used in a fuel cell vehicle made by Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp. for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The small-scale...

Gun-shy.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Chinese suppliers are losing interest in U.S. acquisitions. Other markets, such as Russia, offer better prospects. Chinese executives lack experience in mature markets. Some Chinese companies were burned by recent acquisitions.

Suppliers brace for tough 2009, prepare for upturn.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Arjen Bongard and Bettina Mayer Automakers are temporarily halting production. More shutdowns may be announced soon. And car companies' volume projections for 2009 are anybody's guess. But suppliers say they aren't panicking....

U.S. suppliers lose luster among Chinese buyers.(NEWS)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Steven Ribet As the crisis in the U.S. auto industry deepens, the assets of many American suppliers have for-sale signs out front. But Chinese suppliers are less interested than they once were in making acquisitions in the...

Saturn: A different kind of franchise agreement.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau Saturn's franchise agreement is different from those of General Motors' other brands. The Saturn agreement required dealers to sign the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Disclosure document, says Mark Johnson,...

Saturn: Not dead yet? GM cuts off new product funds as execs mull brand's future.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau As General Motors executives weigh the future of the disappointing Saturn division, GM is not allocating new money toward future Saturn products, according to a source familiar with GM's budget. In a plan submitted...

TL campaign is important for Acura's ad shop, too.(NEWS)(TL mid-sized sedan)(American Honda Motor Company Inc. Acura appointed RPA to handle its creative duties)(advertising)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Alysha Webb Acura has a lot riding on the launch of its redesigned TL mid-sized sedan. So does the brand's advertising agency, RPA. The suburban Los Angeles agency, which also handles U.S. advertising for the Honda brand,...

Chrysler's case.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Chrysler's unique problems may discourage Congress and potential partners. $7 billion may not save the company if Chrysler Financial doesn't get help, too Simmering dispute with Daimler clouds ownership Cerberus' unwillingness...

Acura aims to deliver big-league luxury.(NEWS)(American Honda Motor Company Inc. Acura)(Acura TL sedan)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Alysha Webb Honda's U.S. executives have pledged for years to make Acura a top-tier luxury brand, on par with Lexus, Mercedes and BMW. Dealer Dave Conant is gambling $20 million that this time Honda will succeed. That's how...

Capitol quandary: Can Chrysler survive?(NEWS)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Bradford Wernle Sen. Bob Corker, R.-Tenn., drove right to the heart of what makes Chrysler LLC's predicament different from those of General Motors and Ford Motor Co. as it pleads for a $7 billion federal loan to survive the first...

Strings attached.(NEWS)
December 8, 2008... Congress could set tough bailout conditions. Here are some possibilities. Appoint a "car czar to oversee automakers' restructuring Force companies to file for bankruptcy if they don't meet loan terms Require GM and Chrysler to...

Dealers back Detroit 3 aid, want spiffs.(NEWS)(Christopher Dodd)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Harry Stoffer Sen. Christopher Dodd is one of Congress' financial experts. But last week, he conceded that he's just now learning how auto dealer floorplans work. The admission by Dodd, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Banking...

Obama must steer clear of state fuel standards.(NEWS)
December 8, 2008... One thing the incoming Obama administration must do to help automakers retool and build sustainable business models is bring clarity and continuity to U.S. fuel economy standards. There can be only one, national standard. Although the Bush...

Feds tighten strings on Detroit 3; Bailout terms could include oversight board, bankruptcy deadline; GM-Chrysler tie-up?(NEWS)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Harry Stoffer If the Detroit 3 win approval of $34 billion in emergency government loans this week, they also will get painful conditions. Members of Congress are suggesting a head-spinning array of strings on the loans ranging...

Ford to add a shift, OT for F-150.(NEWS)(Ford Motor Co.)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Against a backdrop of plunging fuel prices, Ford is restoring two shifts and overtime production of its re-engineered 2009 F-150 pickup. With gasoline under $2 a gallon, demand for Ford's big pickup is up. Dealers in...

Auto blowout sends Andrettis to the pits.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Sure, auto racing was dangerous. But selling cars? That's really risky these days. So the black flag has come down on the Andretti family's auto retailing venture. Mario and Michael Andretti, the legendary father and son racing duo,...

Saturn founder Neil DeKoker still believes.(NEWS)(Neil DeKoker)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Edward Lapham News that General Motors may sell or close Saturn seems such a small part of the ongoing apocalyptic drama except to Saturn dealers and people like Neil DeKoker. DeKoker, founding president of the Original...

And then there were . . . 6?(NEWS)(Fiat S.p.A's Sergio Marchionne )(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... The global auto shakeout is likely to leave only six major automakers standing two years from now, according to Fiat's CEO. "By the time we finish with this in the next 24 months, as far as mass-producers are concerned, we're going to end...

Detroit 3 road trip: Quiznos and humble pie.(NEWS)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... With multibillion-dollar issues on the table and thousands of jobs on the line, there was still time last week for a little Kabuki theater. In separate caravans, the Detroit 3 CEOs made 525-mile road trips to Washington to avoid a repeat of...

LaNeve: Death talk keeps the showrooms empty.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp's Mark LaNeve)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Is the smell of death keeping customers away from General Motors showrooms? "There's not a doubt in my mind, Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president for North American sales, said last week. That's consistent with analysts who say a Chapter...

Toyota cuts bonuses in bid to stay in the black.(NEWS)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... For the first time in a decade, Toyota is trimming year-end bonuses for middle and senior managers as it races to rein in costs. But unlike its deep-in-the-red Detroit 3 competitors, Toyota is cutting in an effort to keep the company in the...

Dealers, factories battle over Fla. warranty law.(NEWS)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Donna Harris A closely watched battle over warranty repair rates in Florida is moving from the statehouse to the courthouse. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is suing in a Florida court to challenge a dealer-backed law...