Automakers & Suppliers

Opel CEO Stracke will unveil restructuring plan on June 28

6:18 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
The future of Opel's factory in Bochum, Germany, remains uncertain after CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke gave no guarantees that the plant will escape closure under restructuring plans to be unveiled June 28 for GM's European division.... Read More »
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Ford salaried pensioners face choice: lump-sum payout or monthly checks

1:52 pm U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
About 90,000 white-collar Ford retirees and the financial advisers who help them are facing a major decision: Continue to receive a monthly check from the defined-benefit pension plan, or leave the plan by taking a lump sum that the automaker will offer over the next 30 to 60 days.... Read More »
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CARS & CONCEPTS

Porsche drops 2-seater plan

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Porsche has dropped plans to build a two-seat sports car that would have been smaller and cheaper than the Boxster, CEO Matthias Mueller told a German newspaper.... Read More »
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Fiat's Tata troubles could pave way for closer ties with Suzuki in India

4:04 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
The partnership between Fiat and Tata Motors in India may be headed for a split after the two carmakers ended a distribution deal that had allowed Fiat to sell cars via Tata's dealerships.The move could pave the way for Fiat to strengthen its ties with Suzuki in Asia's third-largest auto market, according to analysts.... Read More »
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Suppliers had a great 2011, if they didn't sell to Toyota or Honda

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Suppliers to the North American auto industry enjoyed an excellent year in 2011 -- unless they were major suppliers to Toyota Motor Corp. or Honda Motor Co. Only 10 of the 100 biggest suppliers to automakers in North America had sales drop last year, and eight of those are headquartered in Japan.... Read More »
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Suppliers ride the mpg wave

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Gasoline at $4 a gallon and government-mandated fuel economy targets are creating vast opportunities for many big global suppliers. In North America, those suppliers are selling turbochargers, direct injection, stop-start equipment, eight-speed transmissions and many other systems that save fuel.... Read More »
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ManufacturingMore »

2 small? Not anymore

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
BMW and other automakers are trying to break through the long-held notion that small engines are only for wimpy econoboxes and drivers who find comfort in the far right lane of the freeway. Four-cylinder powertrains are showing up under the hoods of a growing number of mid-sized cars, SUVs and premium sedans where nothing less than a brawny V-6 or V-8 would do in the past.... Read More »
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DesignMore »
Cadillac says it minimized weight in the ATS by us

Engineers keep an eye on ATS' weight

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
As they developed the new Cadillac ATS sedan that goes on sale this summer, General Motors engineers paid special attention to curb weight. They also paid close attention to the weight of the car's German rivals.... Read More »
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Future ProductMore »
CARS & CONCEPTS

Chevy SS takes on Chrysler rwd sedans

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Chrysler Group is about to get some competition from a Detroit rival in the market for big, rear-wheel-drive performance sedans. Last week, General Motors said it would add a four-door, rwd performance car called SS to its lineup by late 2013 as a 2014 model.... Read More »
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Green CarsMore »

Ford is shipping Focus Electric to dealers

8:23 am U.S. ET | May 19 2012
Ford will start shipping its first electric passenger car to dealers this weekend, people familiar with the matter said. About 350 Focus Electric cars will be sent to 67 dealers in California, New Jersey and New York over the next couple weeks. Manufacturing executives signed off on the decision on Friday.... Read More »
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TechnologyMore »
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

More clicks, lower cost

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Prices for Google paid search -- a powerful digital marketing tool for auto dealers -- have moderated in recent months after a big run-up in the previous two years, dealers say. Part of the reason is that dealerships have become smarter in choosing different, lower-cost key word combinations that drive traffic, and staying away from words and phrases that don't work.... Read More »
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Talk from the TopMore »
ROBERT YOUNG -- VICE PRESIDENT OF PURCHASING, TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA

Beyond crises, Toyota purchasing chief sees growth

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Since becoming vice president of purchasing for Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American operations early last year, Robert Young has been tested repeatedly by world events. That year brought the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan and, months later, the floods in Thailand.... Read More »
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Car CutawaysMore »
CAR CUTAWAY

Federal-Mogul, Bosch win big with the new Hyundai ix35.

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 8 2012
Federal-Mogul and Robert Bosch have a number of key parts in the new Hyundai ix35. Along with the pistons, rings and bearings, Federal-Mogul provides bushings for the SUV's new six-speed automatic transmission. Bosch supplies the control unit and injectors for ix35's gasoline engines.... Read More »
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Final AssemblyMore »
FINAL ASSEMBLY

Fiat's Google gotcha: A 500 shows up at VW's front door

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Score one for Fiat in the sometimes whimsical, sometimes not, rivalry between the Italian automaker and Volkswagen. The two companies seem to taunt and tease each other like kids on a playground, especially in Europe. Check out Volkswagen's Swedish headquarters in suburban Stockholm on Google Earth and you'll see a Fiat 500 parked at the front door of the building.... Read More »
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