Automotive News articles from March 2009

Automotive News archives from March 2009

AUTO NEWS digest.(NEWS)(loss to Magna International Inc.)(loss to Visteon Corp.)(bankruptcy approval for Delphi Corp.)
March 2, 2009... Magna posts another loss TORONTO Magna International Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss last week its second straight three-month period in the red after 17 years without a quarterly loss. About half of the $148 million (U.S.) loss...

No new GM engine plant.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Richard Truett Last week, General Motors scrapped plans for a plant in Flint, Mich., that would have built 1.4-liter engines for the Chevrolet Volt hybrid and Cruze compact. Instead, the engines will be built in an existing...

Bentley offers its first bio-fuel car.(NEWS)(Bentley Motors Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: April Wortham Bentley's first biofuel car, scheduled to debut at the Geneva auto show this week, will be a powerful two-seater called the Continental Supersports. Its six-liter, W12 twin-turbocharged engine delivers 621 hp, goes...

Official: Advisers review bankruptcy funds.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Harry Stoffer The Obama administration confirmed last week that outside advisers are looking into debtor-in-possession financing for General Motors and Chrysler LLC in case one or both need to reorganize in bankruptcy. An...

Daihatsu, Nissan to skip Frankfurt.(NEWS)(Daihatsu Motor Company Ltd.)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Klaus-Dieter Floerecke Following the example of Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Daihatsu Motor Co. are turning their backs on the Frankfurt auto show in September, says VDA, the German auto industry association. ...

CORRECTION.(NEWS)(Correction notice)
March 2, 2009... A story on Page 1 of the Feb. 23 issue incorrectly identified Kimberly Rodriguez. Rodriguez, co-leader of Grant Thornton's global automotive practice, is a turnaround specialist.

GM plans 26 hybrids by "14 - if it can get parts.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Richard Truett In General Motors' viability plan given to the Treasury Department, company executives pledge to boost the number of gasoline-electric hybrids in GM's lineup to 26 models by 2014, from eight today. The...

Transitions.(NEWS)(Automotive Trade Association Executives has appointed Tim Doran)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Tim Doran, president of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association, was elected chairman of the Automotive Trade Association Executives. ATAE represents the leaders of 114 state and metropolitan dealer associations in the United States and...

End of an era: Honda's CVCC engine of success for 4 CEOs.(NEWS)(Honda Motor Company Ltd. has appointed Takanori Ito as chief executive officer)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Takanori Ito will mark the rise of a new generation of Honda leadership when he takes over as top man in June. The 55-year-old will be the first CEO in over a quarter of a century who was not part of the legendary team that developed the...

AUTO NEWS DIGEST.(NEWS)(AutoSoft Inc's new software)(Penske Automotive Group's donation to nonprofit foundation )(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... AutoSoft offers sales software WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. AutoSoft International Inc. is rolling out its GM Sales Workbench integration software to General Motors dealers. The product gives dealers access to GM sales tools, such as price...

Lexus regains happy-customer crown; Brand unseats Jaguar in J.D. Power service survey.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Dave Versical Lexus overtook Jaguar to regain its title as the brand that does the best job of pleasing customers in the service department. Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury division ranked atop the J.D. Power and Associates 2009...

DCH at a glance.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Owner: Shau-Wai Lam CEO: Susan Scarola Headquarters: South Amboy, N.J. Dealerships: 25, in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and California Franchises: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge and Audi 2008...

Dealer: Expand service so profits don't stall.(NEWS)(Hitchcock Automotive Resources Inc.)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Alysha Webb Despite or because of the industry's tough times, California megadealer Fritz Hitchcock is expanding the service departments at most of his dealerships. "In order to stay profitable, in 2009 we have to have...

Detroit must pay (cash) for past manufacturing sins.(NEWS)(Harbour and Associates Inc's Jim Harbour )(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Manufacturing guru Jim Harbour was the guy who in 1981 shocked the U.S. auto industry by asserting that Toyota could build a car for $1,500 to $1,700 less than Detroit automakers then about a 30 percent cost advantage. Now he says Ford...

GM: Opel spinoff won't end product partnership.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Dave Guilford General Motors vows that its tightly knit product development partnership with Adam Opel AG will continue, despite GM's plans to sell a minority stake in the German automaker. "Opel remains an integral and...

Two types of alternative-powetrain vehicles.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Automotive News' Hybrid Guide explains the powertrains of the future hybrids, electrics and others as well as the fuels each uses. Here is a sampling. 1. Electric A battery pack powers an electric motor that drives the wheels. The...

AUTO NEWS digest.(NEWS)(Chrysler L.L.C's restructure plans)(Navistar International Corp. wants to buy General Motors Corp's unit)(fall in Nissan Motor Company Ltd's international credit rating )
March 2, 2009... GM, Chrysler seek up to $8 billion in Canadian aid TORONTO The Canadian units of General Motors and Chrysler LLC want as much as $10 billion Canadian ($8 billion) in aid from the Canadian and Ontario governments, Reuters reported last...

Honda names new leaders in Canada, Alabama.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Hiroshi Sasamoto will become CEO of Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario. He had been CEO of Honda's manufacturing operations in Lincoln, Ala. Nobuyuki Sanui, president of Honda Transmission...

Takanobu Ito.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Age: 55 New job: President, Honda Motor Co. Challenge: Keeping Honda in the black, rolling out new eco-cars Why he joined Honda in 1978: "The person handling personnel affairs said to me, "We might make airplanes.' And then I...

Larry Miller: "Always a teacher'; His legacy: 6-state dealer group that's growing, thanks to succession plan.(NEWS)(In memoriam)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Jesse Snyder In life, Larry Miller was a hands-on empire builder renowned for his attention to the smallest detail. After his death Feb. 20 at age 64 from complications related to type 2 diabetes, Miller's most enduring legacy...

Ford gets 10 bucks and a tip.(NEWS)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Ford would have a bit more breathing room if every American followed the lead of Sally Gibbs. The Charleston, S.C., woman is so impressed by Ford's pledge to avoid emergency loans from the U.S. government that she sent a $10 donation to Ford...

AUTO NEWS digest.(NEWS)(Saab AB's negotiations with Swedish government)(General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC needs more federal loans)(BorgWarner Inc. has appointed John Sanderson)
March 2, 2009... Saab, Sweden talk bailout FRANKFURT u Saab is negotiating with the Swedish government about a loan guarantee of 500 million euros, or about $640.7 million, Saab Chairman Jan-Ake Jonsson said last week. And a "handful of partieso are...

As losses mount, no bold plan at Toyota.(NEWS)(Toyota Motor Corp.)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Hans Greimel Toyota Motor Corp. is famed for its advance planning, obsessive attention to "what if scenarios and continuous improvement. Yet with the market collapsing, the world's top automaker is stunned to a near standstill...

Ford may resume making seats.(NEWS)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: David Barkholz The UAW is trying to get Ford Motor Co. to bring seat production back in-house as a sweetener to a concessionary tentative labor agreement reached last week. Ford's Rawsonville parts plant near Ypsilanti, Mich.,...

GM struggles to reduce cash burn.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Jesse Snyder Here's the scary thing about General Motors' fourth-quarter operating loss of $5.9 billion: There's little reason to expect much improvement in the first three months of 2009. Despite drastic cuts in production,...

Mahindra rebuffs Saturn hookup.(NEWS)(Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The planned importer of Indian-made pickups says he turned down an overture from General Motors to sell the trucks at Saturn dealerships. John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles U.S.A. Inc., said he was contacted in...

As profits shrink, Honda picks tough new boss.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Hans Greimel Takanobu Ito, the next president of Honda Motor Co., exudes the quirky gearhead persona of his predecessors in the automaker's executive suite. He loves the research lab and the racetrack. He harbors a secret...

Plug-ins get jump from stimulus law; Diesel supporters: New tax credits play favorites.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Harry Stoffer The federal government is turning up the juice on tax breaks for plug-in vehicles. The new economic stimulus law will make hundreds of thousands of additional buyers of plug-ins eligible for tax credits of as much...

On the Web.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... This week at autonews.com Tuesday: News and photos from the debuts at the Geneva auto show, including ItalDesign's Namir, billed as the world's fastest hybrid concept. Automakers release U.S. auto sales results for February. The...

Opinion.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... It's not too late: GM, its dealers must talk now General Motors executives have been wringing their hands about how to make dealership cuts without actually tackling the problem. But the time for Hamlet-like indecision is over because the...

Get a meal, get a charge: Nissan plans EV network.(NEWS)(Nissan North America Inc.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Burger, fries and a few kilowatts. That could be a typical fast-food order if Nissan North America Inc. has its way. To make the country a friendly place for electric vehicles, Nissan will ask fast-food...

Floorplan financing squeeze takes its toll on dealerships.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Harry Stoffer For decades, the two dealerships operated by Bob Smith Automotive Group were vital parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore. They sold nearly all General Motors brands at locations in Easton and Federalsburg until the stores...

Toyota's plan, so far.(NEWS)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Toyota's revival plan focuses narrowly on cost cuts. It says it is Reviewing products for cost cuts Slashing $5.11 billion in fixed costs by next year Lowering labor costs through reduced hours, pay freezes, voluntary...

Credit crunch crushes Kahn group.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Alysha Webb Mike Kahn ran the fastest-growing U.S. dealership group in 2007, rocketing up Automotive News' annual ranking of the country's largest auto retailers. But last week Kahn shut down the last of his former seven-store...

Ford cuts 1st-quarter output.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is slashing first-quarter production by another 25,000 vehicles in North America. The company now plans to produce 375,000 vehicles at its North American plants during the first three months of 2009,...

Rolls will add U.S. dealers.(NEWS)(Rolls-Royce Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Rolls-Royce plans to add a handful of dealers this year as it prepares for next year's launch of a smaller car that it expects to double U.S. sales, says Paul Ferraiolo, president of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North...

Mini chief: "09 sales will top 2008 record.(NEWS)(BMW of North America L.L.C.)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko With new dealerships opening and a redesigned convertible coming, Mini USA chief Jim McDowell says he expects sales to increase in 2009. That comes on the heels of Mini's record 2008 U.S. sales: up 28.6 percent...

Hybrids 101; Perplexed by plug-ins? Lost when it comes to lithium ion? Start with this sample from our extensive online guide.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Richard Truett Nearly every major automaker plans to roll out environmentally friendly vehicles or add to its current fleet of hybrids or hydrogen-powered cars. If these plans come to fruition, by around 2012 consumers will be...

When times are tough, the ads get rough.(NEWS)(Chevrolet Motor Co.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: David Sedgwick In the marketing world, Chevrolet sales chief Ed Peper has joined the ranks of the Junkyard Dogs. We're not talking about a new rock band. With U.S. industry sales stuck under 10 million units, automotive...

Now they'll rule by committee.(NEWS)(Viewpoint essay)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Keith Crain The "car czar is dead. Long live the committee. I am not sure which will be more difficult to deal with: Congress or the new executive branch task force charged with oversight of the automobile industry. But...

Rewriting an auto biography?(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... President Barack Obama created a flap among automotive historians last week in a speech to Congress about the nation's economic woes. Showing support for the struggling industry, he said: "And I believe the nation that invented the automobile...

Contractors are losers in Chrysler's battle with Getrag.(NEWS)(Getrag Transmission Manufacturing LLC)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Bradford Wernle Chrysler LLC is pointing the finger at former partner Getrag Transmission Manufacturing LLC in a dispute over $100 million in unpaid contractor bills at an unfinished plant in Indiana. And Getrag is pointing back....

Dealers barely in black; 1% profit is worst in nearly 20 years - and could slide more.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Donna Harris U.S. auto dealer profits slid to a nearly two-decade low in 2008 and could fall even more this year. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average dealership made a net pretax profit last...

More off-lease vehicles head to the used market.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Arlena Sawyers About 2.6 million cars and trucks are projected to come off lease and enter the used-vehicle market this year 8.3 percent more than in 2008. But instead of glutting the market, the boost in off-lease vehicles...

Ford tech lab works to cut car repair bills.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is pairing safety engineers with repair experts to help trim vehicle repair costs and lower insurance premiums for consumers. At a new technology center in suburban Detroit, Ford is grouping product...

Personnel.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... DEALERTRACK HOLDINGS INC. Raj Sundaram, 41, to top manager of the Automotive Lease Guide unit. Sundaram succeeds John Blair, 47, who has left the company. Blair had been CEO of Automotive Lease Guide for 10 years. Sundaram, former president of...

Mulally: Ford will do what it takes to skip fed loans.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. says it has enough cash to survive even if U.S. sales plummet to 9 million units this year. It's a bold statement of confidence from the No. 2 U.S. automaker even as sales and consumer confidence...

Heads up - the Japanese are shuffling chairs.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Edward Lapham We've become conditioned to view certain events as indicators. For example: Media days at the Geneva auto show mean spring is near. Media days at the New York auto show mean it's the week of Passover...

The trials and tribulations of teamwork; The giant DCH dealership group turned to its Asian heritage, but not everyone bought in.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Alysha Webb In January 2007, the general managers of DCH Auto Group's 33 dealerships gathered at two hotels one here and one in Woodbridge, N.J. for 11/2 days of indoctrination. They were called in to hear about a concept...

Sign of desperation.(NEWS)(Dave Capps)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Talk about a sign of the times. Dave Capps, who operates vehicle rental outlets in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah, has taken his desperate need for inventory financing to the streets. He placed a huge "Lender Wanted billboard in front of...

Honda aims to boost certified used sales.(NEWS)(American Honda Motor Company Inc.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Alysha Webb Honda dealers may get more advertising support for used vehicles in 2009. American Honda wants dealers to sell about 8 percent more certified used vehicles in 2009 than in 2008, says Dan Crowe, national remarketing...

Daimler exec: No interest in Opel, Volvo, Saab.(NEWS)(Daimler-Benz AG)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... With all those American-owned brands in Europe on the block or at least potentially available are the European auto giants ready to go shopping? Well, you can rule out Daimler. The Mercedes-Benz maker says it has no interest in...

GM's solvency doubts cast a shadow on suppliers.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: David Barkholz and Ryan Beene If, as expected, General Motors' auditors question the automaker's ability to remain viable, that could set off a chain reaction resulting in banks' canceling loan agreements with GM's suppliers,...

Group 1: We're not shopping for more stores.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Alysha Webb Group 1 Automotive Inc. won't buy any dealerships this year, says CEO Earl Hesterberg. "Right now we are all conserving cash because we just don't know how long this downturn is going to last, he says. Group 1,...

Cheap online parts cut into dealers' profits.(NEWS)(Viewpoint essay)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Richard Truett Several times a year I come across high-mileage used cars that need minor repairs. They are too good to pass up, so I buy them, make them roadworthy and send them to new homes. Along the way, I learn firsthand...

Supply Line.(NEWS)(Tenneco Inc's contract with GE Transportation Systems)(Dongfeng Motor Corp's contract with Dongfeng Motor Corp.)(decrease in sales of machine tools )
March 2, 2009... Tenneco, GE join in treating diesel emissions LAKE FOREST, Ill. Tenneco Inc. has an agreement with GE Transportation to help develop and produce GE's hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment to reduce diesel engine...

Crisis at GM.(NEWS)
March 2, 2009... In the aftermath of its $30.9 billion loss last year, is General Motors undergoing a final breakup or a dramatic rebirth? See our package of stories on | PAGE 3 | GM plans to sell a share of Opel to investors. Despite deep...

FEV will begin testing transmissions.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Richard Truett FEV Inc. is beefing up its hybrid development and testing capabilities to include transmissions. The goal is to support automakers' work on alternative powertrains that will meet stiffer fuel-economy rules. The...

Analysts: ArvinMeritor could break debt covenants.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Ryan Beene ArvinMeritor Inc.'s cash burn and depressed vehicle production volumes could push the company to breach its debt covenants by year end, Wall Street analysts say. Debt covenants are agreements between a company and...

Duerr predicts revenue drop.(NEWS)(Financial report)
March 2, 2009... Byline: Matthias Krust The ongoing economic crisis has caught up with German paint systems supplier Duerr AG. CEO Ralf Dieter predicts a 15 to 20 percent decline in revenue and operating profit for this year, but he does not expect...

Kia concept seeks to stand out clearly.(Kia Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... Byline: AutoWeek Small multipurpose vehicles are big business in Europe. With a hoard of multipurpose options available, Kia injects some style into its latest creation to stand out from the crowd. Set to debut at the Geneva auto show this...

DETROIT.(General Motors rolling out a payment-assurance program )
March 9, 2009... Byline: Robert Sherefkin and David Barkholz General Motors has revealed to its parts suppliers a plan for rolling out a payment-assurance program that it hopes the federal auto task force will approve this month. GM would like to see...

Dealers: "For sale' signs scare off buyers.(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Jamie LaReau Saab, Saturn, Hummer and Volvo posted dismal February sales. Dealers blamed the lousy results on the uncertainty surrounding the brands' futures. Ford Motor Co. is selling Volvo. General Motors wants to unload...

Once matchless Detroit 3 lose auto finance lead; Better-funded imports, banks surpass domestics on top lender list.
March 9, 2009... Byline: Donna Harris The domestic automakers' finance companies have lost their long-held lead in the auto finance business to better-funded import affiliates and banks. GMAC Financial Services slid to No. 2 last year, nudged out by...

How they rank.(NEWS)
March 9, 2009... The top 10 auto lenders for 2008 based on market share 1.Toyota Financial Services6.5% 2.GMAC Financial Services5.2% 3.American Honda Finance5.2% 4.Ford Motor Credit4.7% 5.Chase Auto Finance4.5% 6.Wachovia Dealer...

GM is cutting off fingers and toes.(General Motors acquires Adam Opel)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... It's was 80 years ago that General Motors acquired the assets of Adam Opel, a powerful German automobile company. Now some or all of Opel is for sale. Cash only, however, no owner financing. First, GM sold a controlling interest in...

Dealers look for lenders as preferred sources dwindle.(dealership software usage for customer finance management)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Dealerships and dealership groups are losing some preferred lenders, forcing dealers to seek new lenders to get customer financing in this oppressive climate of tight credit. "It's the only way to cover the...

Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe.(luxury coupe)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Vehicle type: Luxury coupe Seats: 2+2 Base engine: 1.8-liter, 184-hp turbocharged direct-injection 4-cylinder On sale: June in Europe; fall in the United States Base price: About $55,000 What's cool: Elegant aerodynamic...

Opel Ampera.(NEWS)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Vehicle type: Plug-in hybrid sedan Seats: 2+2 Base engine: Electric motor with gasoline engine to charge batteries On sale: Late 2011 in most of Europe; right-hand-drive Vauxhall version in United Kingdom in 2012 Base price:...

Auto News Digest.(Hyundai first full-hybrid vehicle launching)(Zhejiang Geely Automobile Group acquired Volvo Car Corp)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Hyundai: Hybrid will get distinctive look GENEVA - Hyundai's first full-hybrid vehicle, a Sonata-based car scheduled for the United States in October 2010, will get distinctive styling and may not be called a Sonata. Woong-chul Yang,...

briefs.(Ford Motor Co. wants to reduce its debt)(Jamie Auffenberg of O'Fallon and Belleville acquitted of criminal charges)(JM Family Enterprises Inc has dismissed 500 employees )
March 9, 2009... Ford seeks to reduce $10.4 billion in debt DETROIT Ford Motor Co. wants to reduce as much as $10.4 billion in debt by swapping company stock and cash with debt holders. The terms, announced last week, are consistent with those that the...

Hyundai piles on incentives.(Hyundai division provides successful incentice program for buyers )(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Kathy Jackson Hyundai division is adding incentives to its successful program that lets buyers return cars if they lose their jobs. In March, Hyundai is offering 4.9 percent loans on the Accent, Elantra and Sonata. Hyundai...

Despite setbacks, Chrysler stays in China.(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Steven Ribet Chrysler LLC is staying in China, says a spokeswoman for the company, although local production has slowed to a trickle and its top executive here left in December. "Our licensing agreements remain in force, and we...

Mahindra seeks tax exemption for pickups.(NEWS)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The U.S. distributor for Mahindra & Mahindra of India is asking Washington to cancel a large tax on its pickups. The Mahindra pickups, scheduled to go on sale at U.S. dealerships in October or November, face...

Buick pins hopes on LaCrosse sedan.(Goodman Buick Pontiac GMC Trucks Inc.)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Jamie LaReau Buick has had sales success with the Enclave. But the brand is pinning its hopes for a long-awaited renaissance on the LaCrosse sedan, which goes on sale in the second quarter. "Even though we have this great...

Mexico sales fall 27.8% in January.(NEWS)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Chrissie Thompson Mexico light-vehicle sales fell 27.8 percent to 69,954 in January, a drop nearly eight percentage points steeper than last year's largest monthly decline. Cars and light trucks shared the losses. Car sales...

Growing Concern.(RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive Partnership)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... RLJ-McLarty-Landers Automotive Partnership * Owns 16 dealerships in 7 states * Has reopened a Chevrolet dealership in Huntsville, Ala., formerly owned by bankrupt Bill Heard Enterprises * Plans to open 4 dealerships 2...

On the Web.(NEWS)
March 9, 2009... This week at autonews.com: Monday: The U.S. auto task force, led by advisers Steven Rattner and Ron Bloom, meet auto and labor leaders in Detroit.

Pa. dealer dies while torching his vehicles.(auto dealer Gregory Graham )(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Chrissie Thompson Pennsylvania auto dealer Gregory Graham died of a heart attack while torching new vehicles at his struggling dealership, police said last week. Four flaming cars drew firefighters to Graham Colonial Motors at...

Fear drives down auto asset-backed securities; Recovery hinges in part on Fed plan, carmaker viability.(Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility)
March 9, 2009... Byline: Chrissie Thompson A frightened public is hurting auto sales. And that fear extends to investors leery of buying the securities backed by the auto loans that help finance auto credit companies. A recovery could come soon for...

Avoiding pain on the Great Plains.
March 9, 2009... While car dealers across the United States are hurting, some in the rural Great Plains say they're better off today than 3 years ago. Here's why. * High crop prices have padded farm incomes. * Years of hard times taught them to hold...

AN Europe ends print edition.(Automotive News Europe halts it publication)(Brief article)
March 9, 2009... Automotive News Europe, a sister publication of Automotive News, is halting publication of its twice-monthly print edition. Automotive News will maintain an online European newsletter and a European Web site. European readers will be served...

Beefy Lagonda concept is flayed - but noticed.(Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd auto show )
March 9, 2009... Byline: Richard Johnson Aston Martin's Lagonda SUV was easily the top attention-getter at the auto show here. Few were neutral. Many were outraged. But Aston design director Marek Reichman says that's what he expected when the concept...

Beneath all the glitz, panic prevailed; Nice cars, sure - but when will the buyers be back?(Geneva auto show )
March 9, 2009... Byline: Richard Johnson At first glance it looked like any other Geneva auto show the industry's annual feel-good festival and luxury-car cabaret. Rolls-Royce makes its big splashes here and did so again with the 200EX. Aston Martin...