REUTERS AUTO SUMMIT
Slowdown pressures entire auto sector

The global meltdown and resulting implosion in vehicle sales over the past year have pressured everyone in the automotive sector, creating opportunities for some players while leaving others subject to bankruptcy, consolidation or concessions. Nov. 4 06:01 CET

Up to 140 Chrysler dealers still need floorplan financing

About 130 to 140 Chrysler Group dealers have not been approved for permanent floorplan financing because of lingering issues with Chrysler Financial, Peter Grady, the automaker's vice president of network development and fleet, said today. 2:20 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 4 | UPDATED: 11/4/09 5:33 p.m. ET  

Dodge planning seven-passenger crossover

For the fourth quarter of 2010, the Dodge car brand is planning a seven-passenger crossover. Dodge also plans updates next year for the Avenger sedan, Journey crossover, ...

Fiat, Chrysler will share more than two-thirds of suppliers

Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group will share more than two-thirds of their suppliers by 2014, up from about half currently, Chrysler purchasing chief Daniel Knott said today ...

Fiat dual-clutch transmissions coming to N.A.

DETROIT -- During the next five years, Chrysler Group's powertrain lineup will be transformed from one dominated by larger-displacement engines to one dominated by Fiat-d ...

Chrysler expects to break even in 2010, then make profits

Chrysler Group says it will break even on operations next year on its way to generating a net profit of $3 billion in 2014. The advances will be driven by the launch of 2 ...

Chrysler chairman wants ‘compelling' brand, products

Chrysler Group's top priority is to create a compelling brand and product offering, Chairman Bob Kidder said during Chrysler's five-year plan presentation today. ...

Germany regrets GM's Opel decision, wants money back

The German government regrets a decision by the board of General Motors Co. to retain Opel, a government spokesman said. Germany expected GM to repay 1.5 billion euros in ...

German Opel workers upset at GM; union promises protests

Bitterness, anger and disbelief mixed with betrayal and even resignation are just some of the emotions boiling within Germany following Tuesday's news that General Motors ...

GM will return Opel loan to Germany, economy minister says

GM will return the money it was loaned by Germany to help Opel, German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said on Wednesday after the U.S. carmaker decided to keep its Eur ...

Chrysler will be American on outside, lots of 'Fiat' on inside

Chrysler Group's new vehicles will be American on the outside with a lot of Fiat on the inside. In a wide-ranging presentation today, Chrysler executives unveiled a two-p ...

Nissan boosts forecast after profitable quarter

Nissan Motor Co., Japan's third-largest automaker, revised its annual outlook to a profit from a loss today as soaring sales in China helped drive quarterly earnings beyo ...

REUTERS AUTOS SUMMIT
Auto execs tout higher fuel taxes

There's a simple way to get Americans to drive fuel-efficient cars, but they are not going to like it -- sharply hike the gasoline tax. ...

In Japan, foreign brands lead in satisfaction

Foreign brands are losing market share in Japan, but as a group they still outclass the far larger local automakers when it comes to customers' satisfaction with the serv ...

What GM's move means for Opel

General Motors Co. has abandoned a deal to sell its European operations to a group led by auto supplier Magna International Inc. GM's decision to keep Opel and UK-based s ...

REUTERS AUTOS SUMMIT
AutoNation's Jackson says Chrysler products key

Chrysler's turnaround plan, being announced today, needs to show long-term product development and financial stability for the largest U.S. auto dealership group to even ...

Chrysler sees Fiat aiding gains in Canada, Mexico

Chrysler Group expects steady growth in Canada and Mexico over the next five years as the influence of Fiat S.p.A. helps produce cars that are better suited to consumers ...

Chrysler's cash on hand has grown, Marchionne says

Contrary to what some might think, Chrysler Group is not burning cash and has improved its cash position since the Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A. took the company over in ...

Chrysler puts motorsports program under review

Chrysler has put its motorsports program, which includes NASCAR, under review as part of a restructuring announced today, but does not plan to cut spending at this time. ...

Lear seeking court's OK to replace 6 directors

A crew of auto industry veterans and financial executives will replace six of Lear Corp.'s nine board current members when the world's second-largest seat supplier emerge ...

Lawmaker asks GMAC to extend Chrysler dealer floorplans

GMAC Financial Services should extend a six-month program of interim floorplan financing for Chrysler Group dealerships to help keep many of them from going out of busin ...

GMAC narrows losses in Q3; auto operations profitable

GMAC Financial Services reduced its third-quarter net loss to $767 million from $2.5 billion for the same period last year and from $3.9 billion in the previous quarter t ...

NEWS ANALYSIS
Chrysler gives Marchionne chance to prove skeptics wrong again

Tell most analysts that Chrysler Group's sales are going to rise to about 3 million in 2014 from roughly 1.5 million this year and here is the reaction you will get: No c ...

Chrysler using Fiat manufacturing system, Garberding says

To improve quality, Chrysler Group is adopting the same manufacturing system that Fiat S.p.A. has used since 2005. “We are taking a totally different view of how we ...

REUTERS AUTOS SUMMIT
Auto market will stabilize in 2010, Moody's says

The worst of the automotive industry crisis is over, and world sales are set to stabilize next year, a Moody's analyst told the Reuters Auto Summit today. ...

Chrysler collapse signals need for product

On the eve of CEO Sergio Marchionne's unveiling of his five-year turnaround plan for Chrysler, the U.S. automaker did something it had done for each of the past 22 months ...

GM’s plan for Opel will be similar to Magna’s

General Motors Co.’s restructuring plan for Opel will be similar to the plan Canadian supplier Magna International Inc. had for the company, a top GM executive said ...

Ram brand may expand into heavy trucks

The new Ram truck brand, which will operate separately from Dodge cars, might expand into the heavy-truck, 18-wheel segment, said Ram CEO Fred Diaz. The brand will add Fi ...

New Chrysler logo gets patent approval

The U. S. Patent and Trademark Office this week approved a new winged logo for the Chrysler brand, according to the Detroit Free Press. As reported last month by ...

Jeep will rely on Fiat platforms starting in 2013

Jeep’s small SUVs will use Fiat-supplied platforms starting in 2013, Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley said today. Jeep will eliminate the Patriot and Compass crossovers a ...

Chrysler will align engineering with Fiat

Chrysler will more closely align its engineering organization to Fiat Group to take advantage of common architectures, systems and components, said Scott Kunselman, senio ...

Chrysler vows better quality at launch, adds 200 to staff

Chrysler Group’s efforts toward quick improvements in quality include adding 200 engineers to its quality division, said Doug Betts, Chrysler’s quality chief. ...

GM right to keep Opel, German politician says

General Motors Co. is right keep Opel, Dirk Pfeil, a member of the trust overseeing the German-based GM division, said. "I consider it to be the right move," Pfeil said. ...

Russia's Putin signals battle for Opel not over

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin hinted the battle for carmaker Opel was not over, saying it was the trust overseeing Opel, not the board of General Motors Co., its ...

UK's Mandelson wants meeting with GM

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said on Wednesday he wanted talks soon with General Motors Co. after the U.S. automaker scrapped plans to sell its European Ope ...

Daimler to cut 1,000 jobs at Mercedes-Benz

Daimler plans to cut 1,000 jobs at its Mercedes-Benz Cars premium division by offering a variety of buyout packages to staff, the German carmaker said on Wednesday. ...

Toyota, in a race to cut costs, quits Formula One

Toyota Motor Corp. pulled out of Formal One racing today, as it battles a second straight year of red ink and races to cut more than $9 billion in costs this year. Toyota ...

Supplier Hayes Lemmerz wins bankruptcy plan OK

Hayes Lemmerz International Inc., a century-old maker of aluminum and steel wheels for cars and trucks, said it won approval of its bankruptcy reorganization plan on Tues ...

Opel puts best face on GM decision to keep unit

General Motors Co.'s Opel unit put the best face on its parent's decision to reverse course and keep its European arm rather than sell it to a group led by Magna Interna ...

Delphi forms new board led by ex-DuPont chairman

Delphi Automotive LLP, the U.S. auto-parts maker that emerged from a four-year bankruptcy in October, said it is forming a new board of managers that will be led by forme ...

AUTOMOBILWOCHE CONGRESS
Skoda to launch Logan fighter, CEO says

Skoda plans to build a low-cost family sedan, CEO Reinhard Jung said. The car would compete with the successful Logan, which is produced by Renault's Dacia subsidiary. ...

UK union welcomes GM's decision

Britain's Unite union on Wednesday welcomed the decision by General Motors Co. not to sell its European Vauxhall unit, saying it was a "far better deal" and that it expec ...

Toyota pulls out of Formula One

Toyota Motor Corp. said on Wednesday it will pull out of Formula One racing. Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, was the last Japanese team left in the sport following ...

GM Europe expects countries to help finance Opel

General Motors Europe said it plans to secure the bulk of financing to secure Opel's future from European loan guarantees after GM decided not to sell the European unit t ...