Uncle Sam goes for a pricey “green & clean” image makeover – GSA Offers 5,600 Hybrids (Including 100 Plug-In Hybrids) To Federal Agencies
(Source: Edmunds.com, Green Car Congress & Federal Times)
Image Courtesy: via Apture
The US government’s General Services Administration (GSA) this summer took delivery of the first of more than 5,600 hybrid vehicles ordered earlier this year, and will make the vehicles—almost all of which are Ford Fusion hybrids—available to various federal agencies under GSA lease agreements as they are delivered.
GSA previously purchased 1,600 hybrid vehicles using revenue from the sale of older vehicles that agencies exchanged last year when they received funds for new vehicles through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009.
GSA director of Motor Vehicle Management Bill Toth noted, however, that each Fusion hybrid costs $11,214 more than the fleet’s “non-hybrid alternative” sedan, a 2010 Chrysler Avenger.
But due to the $11,214 hybrid premium of the fuel-efficient Fusion, Toth said, he doesn’t “know that we’ll see the numbers we’ve seen in the last two years continue at that pace without some sort of infusion of capital.
“They’re very expensive vehicles and when you look at meeting your mission … and one [vehicle] is $10,000 cheaper than the other, capital’s limited. It’s tough to make that jump,” he said.
Almost all of the hybrids the GSA purchased are 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrids , a mid-sized sedan that’s second in class in fuel efficiency only to the Toyota Prius. The Fusion get 39 mpg in combined city and highway driving and emits 4.8 tons of carbon dioxide annually, or 2.7 tons less than the nonhybrid version.
The vehicles will be placed in clusters near where manufacturers are delivering them to ensure that the vehicles can be serviced by mechanics trained in the new technology, Toth said.
Charging stations will be installed where the vehicles will be housed, and GSA is exploring the potential to partner with industry or other users to share the expense of installing the stations. GSA also hopes to pilot different energy sources for the stations, including solar and wind power in addition to standard electric power, he said.
Related articles by Zemanta
- GSA To Make 5,600 Hybrids Available To Federal Agencies, Including 100 Plug-In Hybrids; Cost Still An Issue (greencarcongress.com)
- Enova Secures United States General Services Administration (GSA) Exclusive Contract to Supply the Enova Ze: All-Electric, Walk-In Step Van (eon.businesswire.com)
- GSA Proposes Zero Environmental Footprint (greenbuildinglawupdate.com)
Toyota Prius Tops May Auto Sales in Japan; Hybrid Sales Soar in Japan, Despite Downturn
This post is sponsored by LemonFree.com
(Source: Wall Street Journal, Green Car Congress & Tree Hugger)
Image Courtesy: Green Car Congress - Prius sales in Japan by month since January 2007. Data: JADA.
Last month (May 2009), the Toyota Prius was the top selling model in the world’s second-largest economy; the rival Honda Insight hybrid came in third, according to new car sales rankings—excluding minicars with displacements of less than 660 cc—released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA).
In April Honda
was quite happy to report that its new Insight hybrid was both the best selling car in Japan for that month (outselling the Toyota Prius) and the first hybrid car to have that honor with 10,481 units. (Earlier post.) In May, the Insight dropped to third place with 8,183 units, behind the Prius and the Honda Fit, with 8,859 units.Toyota’s May performance was all the more surprising, since the third-generation Prius didn’t go on sale until May 18.
The Prius posted 10,915 units in May, in Japan more than twice the 5,079 units sold in May 2008 and compared to 1,952 units in April 2009, according to the JADA data. (In the US, Toyota reported 10,091 units of the Prius sold in May.)
Why are these fuel-sippers speeding out of Japanese dealer lots, when sales of the more-expensive hybrid cars are still in the doldrums in the U.S., Japan’s economy isn’t doing any better—indeed, its first-quarter contraction was the biggest since World War II.
There are several possible explanations—beyond the fact that both Toyota and Honda have cut prices to make hybrids a little less niche and a little more mass market. First, generous government incentives: Japan’s stimulus package included a range of tax breaks for buyers of hybrid (and electric) vehicles which can knock thousands of dollars off the price tag. Japan has tougher mileage standards—but that affects what kind of cars manufacturers turn out, not what kind of cars consumers flock to. One huge difference is the price of gasoline—which automatically makes the hybrids more attractive, especially in a recession. Japan, like many European countries, slaps a hefty national tax on gas. Right now, Japanese pump prices work out to $4.61 a gallon. That compares to a U.S. national average of about $2.50 a gallon.
Over 1.8 Million new and used cars
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 12, 2009
REPORT: GAZ confirms interest in Opel…GM is said to prefer a single bidder, in the guise of Fiat, while Germany was recently said to prefer Magna’s proposal because of promises to keep production in Germany. If, however, GAZ’s real desire is to increase its Russian production abilities, if it were to take a larger stake in Opel than Magna, there will undoubtedly be conflicts to reso…
…GM, LifestyleSinger, songwriter and actress Sarah Spiegel, who apparently worked as a national spokesperson for General Motors last summer, has taken the time amidst all the doom and gloom surrounding America’s largest automaker to write and record what could best be described as either a very short song or an oddly long jingle for Chevy’s upcom…
…According to GM‘s Britta Gross, future versions of the Chevy Volt are expected to have this capability.There are a few possibilities presented by Gross that GM could use to allow the Volt to communicate with utility companies, including its own OnStar technology and, in the future, embedded chips using the Zigbee protocol that could wirelessly c…
…According to GM, the smaller 1.4-liter turbo engine is capable of an 8 percent gain in fuel economy over the replaced 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines from the current Astra. Also available at launch is a range of diesel engines delivering added fuel efficiency through an optional 1.3-, 1.7 or 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Expect to also see an ecoFl…
…GM, GMCGeneral Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a suite of recalls for the Chevrolet Camaro, Traverse and various body-on-frame SUVs and pickups (Cadillac’s Escalade, Chevrolet’s Avalanche, Colorado, Suburban and Tahoe, along with GMC’s Canyon and Yukon). The Camaro recall has been discussed before, bu…
…GM-Volt.com | Image: SarahSpiegel.com]Continue reading Electric Entertainment: Sarah Spiegel records Chevy Volt JingleFiled under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, Green DailyElectric Entertainment: Sarah Spiegel records Chevy Volt Jingle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of fe…
…had a GM EV1 and “watched the emission-free car be wrested from my garage, towed away, and busted up into pieces of metal, glass, and rubber smaller than razor blades.” Well, that’s not the case. Hanks had, and still has, a Toyota RAV4 EV. More details below….
…back into GM‘s portfolio, and soon… it was one of the best cars they had.
…GM shares trading at a 76-year low. Basically, the lowest level since the last Depression.
Hydrogen fuel-cell development was delivered a blow when Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently cut government funds to support it.
…GM, Earnings/FinancialsYesterday’s media question-and-answer session with General Motors’ CEO Fritz Henderson didn’t reveal much in the way of actual news, but at least one question raised a few eyebrows: “Is GM considering moving its corporate headquarters?”While that’s an unlikely scenario, Henderson stopped short of denying the possibility, s…
…GM CEO Fritz Henderson acknowledged Monday the automaker’s open to moving from its RenCen world headquarters along the Detroit River to save millions in taxes. Can Detroit still be called the “Motor City” without automakers? The automaker is under pressure to cut costs by June 1st or face bankruptcy. To that end, GM‘s being courted by Warren May…
…company like GM could overcome their considerable shortcomings and come out with a reasonably priced world-beating sports sedan like the Pontiac G8 GXP. Whatever their recent successes, the company has history of taking careful aim at a performance target and hitting themselves squarely in the foot, so some skepticism is only natural. Yet there’…
…GM is hanging its corporate future on the Chevy Volt. That’s a great honor for a vehicle. So why does the eco-friendly would-be savior car look so incredibly pissed off? When the Volt’s fiercely peeved appearance was noted by commenter over at Jalopnik a few days ago, a fellow commenter pointed …
…GM, UAW/UnionsA planning document given to lawmakers by General Motors reportedly shows that the Detroit-based automaker plans to ship 17,335 autos from China for sale in the U.S. in 2011. If GM succeeds in importing vehicles to the U.S. from China, it could be the first automaker to do so.The document doesn’t show which vehicle would be brought…
…Six GM executives, including outgoing product czar “Maximum” Bob Lutz, disclosed Monday they sold almost $315,000 in stock and liquidated their remaining direct holdings in the automaker ahead of a probable stock-value-rendered-worthless bankruptcy. The five other executives, including Lutz’s successor, Thomas Stephens, GM North America Presiden…
…GM, Earnings/FinancialsAs General Motors teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, several major executives have just taken advantage of an opportunity to sell their stock shares just after the company’s quarterly earnings report came out in May. Among them, Bob Lutz, Troy Clarke, Thomas Stephens and several others decided that it was better to cash o…
…GM, Opel, FIATThe Opel brand may be churning out some solid-looking products of late, but the European brand isn’t long for theGM world. That isn’t news, but the fact that a buyer will be chosen before the end of May is. GM CEO Fritz Henderson promised the quick turnaround of Opel during a Monday news conference, saying “several bidders” are in…
…GM, Tesla MotorsVIDEO: Elon Musk misrepresents Chevy Volt performance, Tesla getting few new orders for Roadster originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 May 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds
…distinction between GM stock and casino gambling is at a casino, if the player loses, the dealer still wins. Nobody wins with GMstock.
…Chrysler, LLC., FIATAccording to Automotive News, twenty Fiat engineers have visited Chrysler headquarters to begin merging the companies’ product planning departments. The current Fiat cars that will soon go on sale as Chrysler models, though, will still need some 18 months in order to be homologated according to U.S. federal regulations. Inclu…
…Force cut Chrysler‘s planned bankruptcy marketing budget, $134 million for nine weeks of advertisements, in half. Apparently the Obama Administration’s like Bo Jackson from those old Nike “Bo knows” commercials. The overwhelmingly desperate state the automakers are in, essentially living on the dole, has put them into a position where they’re su…
…with Chrysler for plug-in vehicles under a DOE-funded project. (Earlier post.) Of the dual-battery concept, Glen Merfeld, lab manager for the Chemical Energy Systems Lab at GE Global Research wrote: Lithium-ion batteries, which are most often discussed for passenger cars, deliver a lot of power for acceleration but are less optimized in prov…
…home to Chrysler, GM was the lone holdout still located within the boundaries of the city of Detroit. Without GM, do we still call Detroit the “Motor City?” Yes, it’s still the “Motor City” but the fact that GM’s even looking to leave the city is just another example of how this once-proud industrial icon-of-a-city has gone from heroic “Arsenal …
…Chrysler doesn’t offer it to US civilian buyers. American Expedition Vehicles saw this opportunity and contracted with Chrysler to obtain up to 120 vehicle kits a year, which they assemble and sell as a rolling chassis to rabid Wrangler fans who will supply their own motivation, installed at an approved dealer. We just had to know what it could …
…Chrysler, LLC.Chrysler is nearly two weeks into its bankruptcy, and the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker is already getting an idea of just how engaged the Obama administration plans to be in the process. Chrysler planned to spend $134 million dollars on advertising during its supposed nine weeks of bankruptcy, but the Auto Task Force has …
…time with Chrysler‘s EV while getting the run-through on the Circuit’s technology from John Myers, the EV’s project lead and ENVI employee. The bumpy roads weren’t quite long and straight enough for our liking, but we did get the chance to learn a bit more aboutChrysler‘s EV strategy and why the automaker thinks its ENVI battery program is bett…
…would ape Chrysler‘s plan for the Dodge Viper’s production facilities, allowing another automaker to take control and continue building the niche model.The Delaware plant also produces the Opel GT, a rebadged variant of the U.S. market Solstice and Sky, for GM’s German arm, and it’s obvious that as the General rushes to restructure before its Ju…
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 11, 2009
Elon Musk, Tesla Motors’ CEO: Once The Electric Charge Dies, The Chevy Volt Is Like A Lawnmower…
GM Hires Search Firm for New Board GM has hired a search firm to help find replacements for at least half of its 12 directors, reflecting Obama’s increasing influence over the auto maker
Sakti3 Seeking $15 million DOE grant, Strikes GM Partnership…Engineers from GM and Sakti3 will collaborate to design new materials integral to future battery technologies. GM is not providing funding, and Sakti3 remains an independent company. Sakti3 is also becoming a client of Ricardo Inc. to further develop the battery technology.
Opel does a fan-dance with 2010 Astra teasers…with the GM global empire on the verge of disintegration, it’s hard to say at this point where the Astra might end up. We’ll have to wait for more over the course of the summer, but in the meantime, feast your eyes on the teasers in the gallery below.Gallery: 2010 Opel Astra teasers[Source: Opel via CarScoop]Opel does a fan-dance with 2010 Astra…
Transportation Headlines for Monday May 11, 2009…GM Stick to Fuel-Cell Plans as Obama Guts Hydrogen FundsBloombergImagine If People Really Drove the Speed LimitLA StreetsBlogI still believe in public transportationOC MetblogsPort proposed expansion expected to draw a crowd to the Long Beach councilPress TelegramSan Jose and LA Use Technology to Ease Downtown Parking CongestionPublic CEOSan Mar..
Experts call GM bankruptcy ‘almost inevitable’ [w/POLL]…GM, Earnings/FinancialsTo stave off bankruptcy, General Motors must rework its union contracts, drastically cut its capacity, workforce and dealer networks – and convince creditors to take 10 cents on the dollar on $27 billion in unsecured debt. In two months. That’s a herculean task for any company, much less for a monolith the size of The Gene…
Review: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 goes to Hell and back…just as GM reached the pinnacle of high performance cars, the world economy imploded. The global financial bubble got pierced from multiple sides and sales of cars at every price and performance level vaporized. Fortunately for us, GM is still hanging in there and Chevrolet let us have a few days of quality time with a ZR1 while the opportunity …
GM: Mascoma ethanol process works as promised in laboratory testing…GM: Mascoma ethanol process works as promised in laboratory testing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 May 2009 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
2010 Opel Astra Gets “Full Lutz” Skirt-Lift [Spy Photos]…on the GM‘s Delta II architecture, the same as the Chevy Volt. But don’t expect the Astra to come as a plug-in or standard hybrid, at least, not at first. Do expect to see a new 1.4-liter, turbocharged gasoline/petrol engine with various power outputs. Opel will likely be reserving its 2.0-liter engine for an OPC version (or the Astra VRX for Va…
Latest findings says cars more affordable now than they have been since study began in 1979…GMWhile tanking auto sales are bad for automakers, the customers buying cars and trucks are paying less for them than any time in the past 30 years. Comerica Bank’s Auto Affordability Index shows that a vehicle with a $26,000 MSRP takes the average family 21.5 weeks of median income to buy. That’s 1.3 weeks less than in December of 2008, as ince…
Rumormill: Suzuki to join Marchionne’s Fiat/Chrysler/Opel super-group…forces with Chrysler, Opel, Saab and General Motors Latin America, the Italian auto group is expanding its home base to the United States, Germany, Sweden and South America. So what’s it missing? Japan. The latest rumors out of Automotive News Europe could go a long way towards addressing that omission, as the trade organ is reporting that Fiat …
Fiat’s partnership with Chrysler could bring the Ford Ka to America…partnership with Chrysler could actually allow Ford to bring its small and super efficient Ka city car to the U.S. market. How so?The latest version of Ford’s diminutive Ka shares its basic underpinnings with the Fiat 500, which is one of the first small cars Fiat hopes to sell in the United States through Chrysler‘s under-utilized dealer networ…
Driving the Dodge Circuit, now with video…works for Chrysler‘s ENVI and was project lead on the Dodge Circuit EV, talk about the car. The bumpy roads weren’t quite long and straight enough for our liking, but at least we got to learn a little bit more about Chrysler‘s EV strategy and why the automaker thinks it’s ENVI battery strategy is better than Tesla’s. Having driven both the Circu…
LOOK: The Motorless City…or Chrysler’s; they move instead on Schwinns, BMX’s, and behind some of the 600 horses that pull the town’s quaint Victorian carriages. It’s a place that looks, in some respects, frozen in time. But…
Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka?…Chrysler, LLC., Ford, FIAT, Rumormill The 2009 Ford Ka – Click above for a high-res gallery It’s a long shot, but according to The Detroit Free Press, Chrysler‘s deal with Fiat could result in Ford offering the cutesy Ka for sale in North America. As you may recall, Ford co-developed the Ka’s platform with Fiat (it shares its chassis with the 5…
2011 Chrysler 300C Reveals Previously Unseen Clay Rump [Spy Photos]…Chrysler‘s Viability Plan earlier this year revealed the design direction for the 2011 Chrysler 300C. Now, thanks to Chrysler PR, we’ve got a partial view of the new Detroit gangsta-mobile’s rump. Also depicted is a quarter scale clay model just above the head oChrysler‘s Senior VP of Design Ralph Gilles. Seeing as it’s in quarter scale, it doe…
Dodge Pulls Plug On Circuit EV Electric Sports Car? [Over The Back Fence]…month after Chrysler ran a full page ad in our national newspapers and also finalizing a deal with A123 Systems to supply the battery packs, a heavy-handed rumor is coming down the stream that the whole project might be dead in the water causing at least one question to be raised: Was the Dodge Circuit EV ever intended for production or was it j…
Cummins not ready to give up on light duty diesel regardless of Chrysler‘s fate…standing was Chrysler, and even that company pushed back its new Cummins-developed light duty diesel until at least 2011. Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com spoke with Mark Land, director of public relations at Cummins, about the new light-duty diesel engine. Apparently, the diesel engine maker is very confident that its new engine will get adopt…
Chrysler’s sorry state revealed Bankruptcy court filings reveal the complications the auto business – and just how much trouble Chrysler is in.
GM, Chrysler Polish Dealer Cut List Thousands of GM and Chrysler dealerships could learn their fate within the next few days as auto makers choose which they will cut.
Chrysler Hedges on Dealer Cuts Chrysler has “no active plan” to drop any of its dealers in the U.S., although it is working on “contingencies” to do so as part of its restructuring in bankruptcy court, Vice Chairman Jim Press said.
Nascar Feels Chrysler’s Pain The fall of Chrysler is just the latest setback for Nascar, a once red-hot sports phenomenon.
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 8, 2009
White House Sees U.S. Holding GM Stake for At Least 2 Years The Obama administration is planning for the U.S. government to hold an ownership stake in a revamped General Motors for “at least two years,” a person briefed by the administration on its plans said Friday.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says GM in ‘good hands’ – The Detroit News…LaHood says GM in ‘good hands’The Detroit News, MIWashington — US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday endorsed General Motors Corp.’s new CEO as the right man to lead the Detroit automaker, saying, “GM is in very good hands.” Fritz Henderson took over as CEO on March 30 after the Obama …California in running for h…
More GM Cuts: Cadillac STS-V and Pontiac G6 GXP both gone for 2010…GM, Pontiac 2009 Pontiac G6 GXP Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery Pluto, the Roman god of Hades, is currently on a tour of the General Motors product garage and he’s taking a few cars with him from the land of the living. After sending the Impala SS and the Cobalt SS to the underworld, he has just added to his collection the Cadilla…
Toyota hammered with $7.7B loss in Q1 …than even GM‘s just-reported loss of $6 billion. Toyota now expects to lose $5.5 billion for the year ending March 2010, surpassing the $4.4 billion it lost in the just-concluded year.The reasons for Toyota’s reversal of fortune is well documented. Global sales were down 21.9% last year, with the most stark losses occurring in the U.S. and Europ…
Song remains the same: GM loses billions, Volt still on track…res gallery GM‘s announced yesterday that it lost $6 billion in the first quarter of 2009. That’s par for the course for the General these days. What’s also pretty standard was the immediate confirmation that work on the Chevy Volt is going A-OK and that, as GM‘s product development chief Tom Stephens said, “At this point in time, I know of no r…
Toyota First Quarter Losses Higher Than GM [Carpocalypse]…more than GM lost! That’s some pretty big news — especially considering GM dropped $6 billion during the first quarter. Jeez, if only Toyota were building some fuel-efficient, dependable appliance-type vehicles, right? [Reuters, WSJ]
GM and U of M create new institute for research …GMGeneral Motors and the University of Michigan have been working together on vehicle technology for 50 years, and a new institute will take the long-standing relationship to the next level. GM researchers will work with U of M faculty and students to develop new battery, engine, manufacturing, and smart materials technology to expedite the adva…
Sandia Successfully Completes Hydrogen Storage System for GM…designed for GM. To the right is the “SmartBed,” featuring a thermal management system with individual control of four identical modules, each of which is a shell and tube heat exchanger. The sodium alanate material used to store the hydrogen resides within the tubes. (Photo by Randy Wong) Click to enlarge.Researchers at Sandia National Laborato…
Nissan skipping SEMA this year, Mazda limiting presence Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Mazda, Nissan, Holden Troy Lee Designs Mazda6 from SEMA 2008 – Click above for a high-res image gallery Participation at last year’s SEMA show was notable for its absences, with the event’s organizers struggling at the last minute to fill vacated floor space with companies that would have normally been shunne…
Booo! GM also canceling Cobalt SS Sedan for 2010 …GM also canceling Cobalt SS Sedan for 2010
G.M. Suffers Big Loss. Is Bankruptcy Next?General Motors could be one step closer to bankruptcy, after posting a $6 billion loss for the first quarter. The Obama administration’s auto task force has given G.M. until June 1 to come up with a plan to prove its viability. After reporting a 40 percent loss in worldwide sales, G.M. doesn’t seem likely to do […]
Save the Cheerleader? GM creates Hero Edition Corvette ZR1 to benefit Kids Wish Network…GM‘s team of Corvette designers and engineers equipped this particular ‘Vette with a bespoke graphics package with red accents in lieu of the normal blue. Other special bits include “additional carbon fiber components,” though we’re left wondering what those composite pieces may be.You can’t actually go to your nearest Chevy dealership and order…
The Chrysler Building: Biggest Mopar Ever [Carpocalypse]…all know Chrysler‘s facing some rough times, but let’s turn back the clock to 1930 and talk about the biggest Chrysler ever built.Chrysler Corporation was growing and in desperate need for — something — to represent its achievements. What better place to shine than New York City. Designed by architect, William Van Alen, the Chrysler Building wa..
Rendered Speculation: Alfa Romeo Milano, the next 147…the next Chrysler Sebring. The versatile building block will offer various lengths and widths in FWD and 4-wheel-drive versions, and propulsion will be courtesy of MultiAir engines. Unveiling of the 5-door hatchback is expected at either Frankfurt later this year, or Geneva in 2010.[Source: Car]Rendered Speculation: Alfa Romeo Milano, the next 1…
Chrysler reveals more facets of “We Build” campaign…Chrysler, LLC. Click above to watch all five commercials after the jump Chrysler sales have been abysmal throughout 2009, and with the uncertainty of bankruptcy, the short-term sales outlook is decidedly bad. To get the word out to its customers that the Pentastar is alive and well (except for its idled plants), Chrysler is launching a new campa…
Classic Ad: Chrysler’s Promise of a Small Car…Chrysler‘s former chairman, Lee A. Iacocca, makes some lofty promises in this 1984 commercial, including the introduction of a small car. Will we hear the same from Fiat’s chief executive, Sergio Marchionne?
Greenlings: Can we build a better battery with lithium?…Chrysler ENVI battery packsGallery: Tesla smart mule and batteryContinue reading Greenlings: Can we build a better battery with lithium?Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GreenlingsGreenlings: Can we build a better battery with lithium? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 07 May 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see …
Nissan skipping SEMA this year, Mazda limiting presence…out on Chrysler, and Honda is currently evaluating their presence, although it may be reduced compared to previous years. No matter what automakers pull-out of this year’s show, expect less products on tables, fewer vendors on the floor and even fewer attendees as the aftermarket continues to struggle to keep its head above water.Gallery: SEMA 2…
Misery loves company: Throwing our wig into the ring at Reno-Fernley LeMons…onto any Chrysler product “competing” in Reno to honor the automaker’s latest union.Registration ended on March 14, so those of you who missed the deadline narrowly avoiding our cold steel scythe of justice. But if you want to come out and enjoy the madness, spectator tickets are available for either a single day or the entire wretched weekend. …
The 2011 Jeep Phoenix… why not?…gallery With Chrysler‘s proposed alliance with Fiat all but a done deal, people have begun turning their attention towards the Italian automaker’s vehicle line up and creating a wish list of which ones they’d like to see for sale over here in the U.S. Thing is, those people should keep in mind that any Fiat making the long trek overseas may not …
Chrysler Plan’s Foes Step BackA group of Chrysler lenders who opposed the government’s restructuring plan for the auto maker is disbanding after two of its five members backed out.
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 7, 2009
Booo! GM also canceling Cobalt SS Sedan for 2010…GM also canceling Cobalt SS Sedan for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Save the Cheerleader? GM creates Hero Edition Corvette ZR1 to benefit Kids Wish Network…GM‘s team of Corvette designers and engineers equipped this particular ‘Vette with a bespoke graphics package with red accents in lieu of the normal blue. Other special bits include “additional carbon fiber components,” though we’re left wondering what those composite pieces may be.You can’t actually go to your nearest Chevy dealership and order…
Image: ToolPool.com
Special “Hero Edition” Corvette ZR1 [Corvette Zr1]“Hero Edition” Corvette ZR1: Finally, a special edition we can get behind. [CorvetteBlogger]
GM Kills Chevy Impala SS… Again [Carpocalypse]…analysis of GM ordering guides by forum fan-boys at GMInsideNews, GM‘s killed both the Chevy Impala SS and Chevy Cobalt SS sedan for 2010. You’ll still be able to get a Cobalt SS as a coupe, but the Impala SS is dead… for the second time. When GM said they were putting their performance divisions on indefinite hold we knew to expect no new per…
GM, University of Michigan announce new Automotive Research Institute…Michigan and GM are already partners in the Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains (ABCD) and in helping to teach students to become alternative powertrain engineers. Today, GM and the school announced a new institute called the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education that will focus on “reinventing the automobile and developin…
GM posts $6B loss in Q1, burns through $10B…GM, Earnings/FinancialsGeneral Motors reported its first quarter earnings today, and the beleaguered U.S. automaker posted a $6 billion net loss compared to a net loss of $3.3 billion one year ago. At the same time, GM burned through $10.2 billion in cash during Q1, though still has $11.6 billion in cash reserves on hand thanks in large part to …
Royal College of Art students imagine mobility in 2050, see vehicles powered by waterfalls…months with GM Europe to “gain valuable work experience and insight through hands-on experience with future technologies such as electric vehicles.” One of the more dreamy ideas from an RCA student was for “eco-touring machines powered by waterfalls.” It’s a safe bet this means hydropower, but I can’t shake the feeling that unicorns should be in…
RIP: Chevy Impala SS, again…line for GM‘s 5.3L V8 engine in the midsize front-wheel drive Chevy sedan. That means the biggest available engine will be the 3.9L LGD pushrod 60-degree V6.We’ve long questioned whether the current W-body Impala does justice to the memory of Super Sports of yore, despite the presence of the V8 engine. Regardless, we’d prefer to keep the 303-hor…
GM Hosting Fleet Buyers At Pricey Spa, USA Today Waves Populist Banner [Carpocalypse]…outrage over GM hosting 500 fleet buyers at a luxury-spa-resort. The difference between banks-funded-by-the-government and automakers-funded-by-the-goverment? Automakers invite potential car buyers to resorts. Banks send themselves to resorts. [USAToday]
Fesler-Moss Builds A Corvette ZR1-Powered Camaro SS [Tuner Cars]…of GM Performance fame) teamed up to create this custom limited edition 2010 Camaro SS for the mesh-wife-beater-wearing, previously-Monte-Carlo-Dale-Earnhardt-Intimidator-Edition-driving, family-franchise-starting crowd. They’ll build your Camaro with a custom body kit with molded rear lip spoiler (how they do that is anybody’s guess) and any LS…
GM’s Renaissance Center HQ: View From The Top [Carpocalypse]…these days GM‘s Detroit Renaissance Center HQ’s a tough place to work. But the view sure is killer. Let’s take a look. This city-within-a-city was actually commissioned by Henry Ford II as the world’s largest private development at the time. As you can see from the promotional video to the left, the John Portman-designed complex began construc…
Vauxhall going after city car market with Trixx EV?…GM, Opel, VauxhallWay back in 2004, GM‘s European arm put a toe in the water of the rapidly expanding city-car market with its Opel Trixx concept. A few years later, GM‘s Carl-Peter Forster indicated that the automaker would not be entering that microcar market after all. Fast forward another couple of years and (surprise!) it looks as if GM may…
GM And University of Michigan Form GM/U-M Institute Of Automotive Research And Education; Focus On Fuel-Efficiency And Reinvention Of The Automobile…formed the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education, with a strategic focus on reinventing the automobile and developing the next generation of high-efficiency vehicles powered by diverse energy sources. The Institute, which builds on more than 50 years of collaboration between the organizations, supplements GM’s ongoing research a…
GM Posts First-Quarter Net Loss Of $5.9 Billion [Carpocalypse]…GM posts first-quarter net loss of $5.9 billion, revenue drops 47% to $22.4 billion. [Freep]
The 2011 Jeep Phoenix… why not?…gallery With Chrysler‘s proposed alliance with Fiat all but a done deal, people have begun turning their attention towards the Italian automaker’s vehicle line up and creating a wish list of which ones they’d like to see for sale over here in the U.S. Thing is, those people should keep in mind that any Fiat making the long trek overseas may not …
Look Who’s Talking: Automakers rated based on web conversation volume…Chrysler, LLC., Ford Justin Graves, the CEO of Infegy, which developed and offers a powerful research application for tracking online buzz, is a big Autoblog fan, particularly of our By the Numbers posts that detail sales figures for the entire U.S. auto industry. Graves makes his own monthly list of the Top 50 Social Brands, which ranks them ac…
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne To Take Over As CEO Of Chrysler [Carpocalypse]…will assume Chrysler‘s CEO title upon exit from bankruptcy. [Detroit News]
BREAKING: Marchionne confirmed as post-bankruptcy Chrysler CEO…Chrysler, LLC., FIATAfter weeks of speculation, Fiat confirmed today that its CEO, Sergio Marchionne, will assume the same role with Chrysler once it exits bankruptcy. According to statements from the Obama administration, Chrysler could emerge from “surgical bankruptcy” in as little as 30 to 60 days, after which Chrysler‘s current chief executi…
The Chrysler-Kia alliance that never was…Chrysler, LLC., GM, Hyundai, Kia, FIAT, RumormillChrysler has been trying to shack up with another automaker for quite a while now, and the trail of relationships that never got off the ground reads like a middle school diary. While Chrysler‘s deal with Fiat has all but gotten 500s rolling out of plants on this continent, a deal with Kia had bee…
Chrysler bankruptcy: what happens with the electric car plans? to A123 Systems?…about what Chrysler‘s bankruptcy and partnership with Fiat might mean for cars like the Circuit EV and companies like A123 Systems, which is slated to supply batteries for Chrysler‘s electric vehicle lineup.Reuters says that “the sum of Fiat and Chrysler‘s parts does not amount to the kind of electric vehicle powerhouse that Renault and Nissan a…
US Hybrid Vehicle Sales Down 45.5% in April
(Source: Green Car Congress)
This post is sponsored by LemonFree.com
Reported sales of hybrids in the US reported by Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Nissan dropped 45.5% year-on-year in April to 21,735, despite full month sales for the new Honda Insight and the Ford Fusion and Milan hybrids. Total LDV sales in the US were down 34.4%.
The reported sales represented a 2.65% hybrid new vehicle market share (based on Autodata’s total LDV sales figure)—the highest monthly new vehicle share for hybrids so far this year, but below the 3.2% high mark in April 2008. Year-to-date in 2009, hybrids are holding a 2.4% new vehicle market share.
Toyota. Overall, Toyota saw a 62.8% drop year-on-year in its combined hybrid sales in April 2009. Year-to-date US sales of Toyota hybrids through April are down 51% to 49,660 units from 101,334 for the same period last year.
In advance of the market introduction of the new 2010 Prius, Toyota Prius sales dropped 61.5% in April to 8,385 units from 21,757. Other results:
- Sales of the Camry Hybrid were down 67.1% to 2,198 units, representing 8.7% of Camry sales. Sales of conventional Camry models were down 31%.
- Sales of the Highlander Hybrid were down 63.8% to 933 units, representing 16.7% of Highlander sales. Sales of conventional Highlander models were down 37%.
- Sales of the RX 400h Hybrid were down 59.7% to 655 units, representing 10.5% of RX sales. Sales of conventional RX models were up 1%.
- Sales of the GS450h were down 59.8% to 33 units, representing 7.1% of GS sales. Sales of conventional GS models were down 71%.
- Sales of the LS 600h L were down 84.4% to 19 units, representing 2.5% of LS sales. Sales of the conventional LS models were down 60%
Honda. With the first full month of sales of the Insight, Honda moved up to the number two slot behind Toyota, with 5,457 units sold. The Insight sold 2,096 units in April, and pushed combined Honda hybrid sales up 25% year-on-year. In April 2008, Honda had the Civic Hybrid on sale as well as the low-selling Accord Hybrid (25 units in April 2008).
Honda sold 3,361 Civic Hybrids in April, down 22.3% year-on-year, and representing 12.8% of all Civics sold. Sales of conventional Civic models were down 23% in April.
Ford. The addition of the new Fusion and Milan hybrids pushed combined Ford hybrid sales to 2,299 units, up 21% compared to April 2008. Ford posted 1,134 units of the Escape and Mariner Hybrids, down 40.5% year-on-year, and representing 7.3% of Escape and Mariner sales. Sales of conventional Escape and Mariner models were down 13% year-on-year.
The new Fusion and Milan hybrid sedans sold a combined 1,165 units, representing 5.7% of all Fusion and Milan sales in April. Sales of conventional models of the Fusion and Milan climbed 3% year-on-year in April.
Click here to read the entire report.
Over 1.8 Million new and used cars
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 6, 2009
GM adds shift at Oshawa to keep up with Camaro demand…enough that GM has asked workers at the assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, to work through the week of June 29, which had previously been scheduled as mandatory time off. Furthermore, Camaro orders are expected to be strong enough to keep the Oshawa plant’s flex line humming along on Saturdays in June, July and August, and that means overtime fo…
Rumormill: Buick Astra coming in 2011?…products from GM‘s European Opel division are reports from GM Inside News indicating that a small car based on the Astra platform – initially planned for the now-defunct Saturn brand – has been transferred to Buick’s entry-level luxury division.Assuming these rumors are true, we can expect to see the new Buick in North America in late 2011 as a ..
REPORT: Renault after Saturn, Geely after Saab …deal with GM would allow Renault and its South Korean subsidiary, Samsung Motors, to sell its wares in the States though the existing retailers, possibly marketing the new vehicles as Saturns and building some of the vehicles using the General’s underutilized plants. How the deal would flesh out financially remains to be seen, but there’s a chan…
GM Oshawa Plant Adds Shift To Build More Presumably Non-Faulty Camaros [Chevy Camaro] …GM‘s adding one more shift at its Oshawa, Ontario plant due to high demand for the recently released Camaro. Does this mean we’ll be getting more electrically-faulty Camaro SS units? Presumably not. The Peterborough Examiner reports demand has been so high that GM has scheduled the week of June 29th as a work week instead of the previously plann…
REPORT: GM voluntarily recalling Camaro for battery cable issue …but GM is reportedly offering two options for owners: a temporary fix that requires a second visit to a dealer and a permanent fix. The temporary fix involves wrapping the battery cable with protective insulating tape and rerouting it to ensure enough clearance between it and the starter. The permanent fix involves the same thing, except will us…
What’s The All-Time Greatest FWD Car? [Question Of The Day] …GM wanted to compete with the Thunderbird and try out their newly-designed FWD platform. It just so happened a designer for the company put together a gorgeous coupe concept. One of the advantages of FWD is, theoretically, improved fuel economy. But this was the 1960s, so they stuffed a 7.0-liter “Super Rocket” V8 with 385 HP and 475 lb-ft of to…
REPORT: Renault A “Serious Suitor” For Saturn [Carpocalypse] …for GM‘s Saturn. Say that ten times fast. [WSJ]
GM trying to sell Opel, but will keep Ampera (the Opel Volt) …coming from GM troubles (Saturn hybrids? Say what?), there is one thing you can count on: GM is keeping the Volt. Of course they’re keeping the Chevy Volt – that was never in question – but things were just a tiny bit less clear regarding GM‘s possible sale of Opel. Whatever happens with the brand, the Opel Apmera, the European version of the Vo…
Camaro SS Recalled For Battery Cable Issue [Chevy Camaro] …now told GM‘s officially issuing a recall for the problem on the Camaro SS. UPDATE BELOW. Although we’re told it only takes about 30 minutes to fix, we’re being told GM‘s now issued a voluntary “official recall” on the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS over the battery cable issue that caused one Camaro5 member’s new Bumblebee-yellow mullet-mobile to die les…
Saab CEO Claims Not In Talks With Fiat [Carpocalypse]Saab CEO claims not in talks with Fiat. They’re the only brand that’s not. [Reuters]
GM pledges to use plug-in hybrid tech in only one brand …GM, SaturnThe Saturn Vue was supposed to be GM‘s first plug-in hybrid, but the pending loss of Saturn leaves the General’s upcoming plug-in tech without a vehicle or brand. The Vue plug-in was originally going to arrive in 2011 in a cooperative demonstration test fleet with the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) and nonprofit Electric Power Research Ins…
GM Plans To Wipe Out Current Shareholders [Carpocalypse]…GM plans to wipe out current shareholders. Wait, more than they already have? [Reuters]
Plug-In Hybrids: More Hype Than Hope?…automakers like GM and Nissan. In the meantime, drivers like Morrison say they ferret out electrical outlets in parking garages and behind buildings so they can plug in as often as possible. EV advocates are quick to note the Prius wasn’t designed to be a plug-in hybrid, and in fact makes a lousy one. The biggest problem is the electric motor i…
Gallery: Goin’ Down the Road in Defunct Car Brands …GM commissioned a young stylist named Harley Earl to design the car. What he came up with is widely considered the beginning of modern automotive styling. Photo: Flickr/Brian Toad Photography: Photo: Courtesy Nash MotorsNash may be the most innovative company only an auto geek has heard of. Wind-tunnel testing, flow-through ventilation systems,…
…post on GM’s FastLane blog, Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said that the company will apply plug-in hybrid technology to one of the four core brands remaining after the restructuring: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. Saturn currently sells two hybrid vehicles (VUE and Aura with GM Hybrid System) and was scheduled to begin initially offering a …
Plug-in Saturn Vue not dead, will be revived (sorta) by 2011 …now own GM, it turns out that AutoblogGreen readers and GM executives think alike. In a poll we ran yesterday, the most popular choice for what to do with the Saturn hybrid powertrains was “Move the powertrain to the Equinox.” A GM spokesperson said today that, although the brand itself will indeed be sold, the powertrain – both the standard and…
Saab denies talks with Fiat…to acquire GM Europe while working on its partnership with Chrysler, according to Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson, the Swedish automaker isn’t part of the deal.Jonsson said Saab is currently being courted by ten potential buyers, but Fiat isn’t one of them. Saab spokesman, Eric Geers went on to tell Reuters, “We now have ten very serious interested par…
Chrysler launches May incentives worth up to $6,000 …Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, JeepChrysler doesn’t have time for assurance programs and payment protection plans. So unlike General Motors and Ford, the Auburn Hills-based automaker has launched a new incentive program for May that gives consumers back what they want most: money, and lots of it. Beginning today, Chrysler is offering $4,000 Consumer Cas…
Chrysler Offering $4,000 In Incentives On 2009 Models [Carpocalypse] …Chrysler is offering up to $4,000 worth of incentives on 2009 model year vehicles in a bid to reduce inventory and counter its prolonged sales slump. One discarded sales idea? Building better passenger cars. The company says the incentives, which begin Wednesday, focus on the bottom-line price of the car as opposed to, you know, the interest con…
UAW will eventually sell Chrysler stock to keep VEBA going …New New Chrysler for very long. Outgoing UAW president Ron Gettelfinger confirmed in a press conference yesterday that the union’s Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) will likely sell part or all of its 55% stake in the newly formed automaker once its stock appreciates, that is, if its stock appreciates. And why would the UAW want …
Gallery: Goin’ Down the Road in Defunct Car Brands…least until Chrysler goes under. : Photo: Flickr/Wigwam JonesThe Checker Marathon may be second only to the original VW Beetle as the most recognizable car in the world. The cars were ubiquitous as taxis and, like the Beetle, the first one to roll off the line in 1962 looked pretty much like the last one to roll of the line in 1982.: Photo; Cour…
Chrysler Maybe Not Canceling Wrangler So Much [Carpocalypse]…post on Chrysler considering killing the Jeep Wrangler, we circled back and actually read the source material Edmunds InsideLine links to and decided maybe Chrysler wasn’t looking at killing the golden goose after all. After looking over the statements from Robert Manzo, the executive director of Capstone Advisory Group LLC who’s been hired to c…
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.5.09…What does Chrysler‘s restructuring plan have in store for the Viper?Long before bankruptcy and a Fiat partnership, Chrysler was looking to offload the Viper line. According to new bankruptcy documents, the Snake-badged stunner may finally face the axe. Rumormill: Nissan 370Z Hybrid for 2011?Reports ou…
Chrysler and Fiat: A merger of equally unreliable product?…Chrysler, LLC., FIAT Familiarizing ourselves with Fiat – Click above for a high-res image gallery Chrysler‘s reliability ratings from Consumer Reports have been less-than-stellar in recent years. In its 2008 survey, where CR tallied up its subscribers’ experience with some 1.4 million vehicles among 34 brands, Jeep came in 28th, Dodge took the 3…
Court documention reveals which Fiats and Alfas are destined for U.S.…Chrysler, LLC., Alfa Romeo, FIAT Fiat 500 – Click above for a high-res image gallery Curious which of its models Fiat plans to send over to the United States to sell through its planned partnership with Chrysler? Wonder no more. The most recent set of documents filed in Chrysler‘s Chapter 11 proceedings offer a number of intriguing clues as to w…
REPORT: Chrysler unlikely to pay back most recent $4.5 billion gov’t loan…Chrysler, LLC., UAW/UnionsRepayment of the $4.5 billion life-line in U.S. and Canadian loans that a federal bankruptcy court allowed yesterday is “highly unlikely,” according to Ron Manzo, a top company adviser. To Chrysler‘s bankruptcy legal team, that is not the issue. Urging the court “to let this company live,” automaker attorney Corinne Bal…
Saab denies talks with Fiat…partnership with Chrysler, according to Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson, the Swedish automaker isn’t part of the deal.Jonsson said Saab is currently being courted by ten potential buyers, but Fiat isn’t one of them. Saab spokesman, Eric Geers went on to tell Reuters, “We now have ten very serious interested parties which have visited us in Trollhattan …
REPORT: Next Chrysler CEO salary capped at $500,000…Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/FinancialsThe next chief executive of Chrysler will be tasked with bringing the company out of bankruptcy, restructuring into a profitable business, repaying government loans (if and when they do so at all), integrating Fiat technology and retaining jobs wherever possible. Oh, and he or she will have to do it all on no m…
REPORT: Chrysler pursuing clause to award Fiat $35 million if deal falls apart…Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials, FIATThink Fiat’s getting a pretty sweet deal with Chrysler? The Italian automaker is, after all, gaining a 20% stake in the troubled American automaker, plus local manufacturing capacity and access to its dealer networks, all without paying a thin dime. Not a bad deal, but Chrysler‘s hard at work trying to ma…
Scoopful of GM and Chrysler News – May 5, 2009
Rumormill: Vauxhall going after city car market with Trixx EV?…GM‘s European arm put a toe in the water of the rapidly expanding city car market with its Opel Trixx concept. A few years later, though, GM‘s Carl-Peter Forster indicated that the automaker would not be entering that microcar market after all. Fast forward another couple of years and (surprise!) it looks as if GM may be once again reversing tha…
REPORT: Penske lines up as potential Saturn suitor…GM, SaturnThe typical relationship between automakers and dealerships, of course, is for the dealers to sell the cars that the automaker produces. But with General Motors shedding like a dog in springtime, it’s the dealers who have been looking to buy the brands themselves. Following interest expressed by German dealers to acquire Opel and a gro…
GM updates state of Saturn, potential buyers being reviewed…GM, SaturnGeneral Motors is busy putting the finishing touches on its third (or is it fourth?) viability plan, part of which involves the sale or shut down of the Saturn division. While many were expecting GM to close down Saturn, GM has released a press release to tell the world that the fledgling marquee is on the block, and there are several …
…Internal GM testing of the new 2010 Equinox indicates that the front-wheel drive models with the direct-injected 2.4-liter I-4 engine will offer an EPA estimated 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg city. GM expects final official EPA estimates shortly. The 2010 Equinox will likely carry a 32 mpg highway rating. Click to enlarge.At 32 mp..
Magna Confirms Involvement in Potential Opel Transaction…acquisition of GM Europe.
…Chrysler and GM EuropeFiat’s alliance with Chrysler is only the beginning, as the Italian automaker makes a bid at acquiring General Motors’ European operations, including Opel, Vauxhall and Saab. Other news of import Chrysler begins “New Car Company” ad campaign in newspapers 2010 Chevy E…
…That GM would sell Saturn has been floating around for what seems like ages now, but the most recent word from GM on the fate of the brand was that the “resolution” had been bumped up in the schedule to the end of 2009. GM just released a statement about the Saturn sale, saying that, “A number of potential buyers have surfaced and expressed inte…
Chrysler Predicts Profit by 2012 Chrysler lost $16.8 billion last year and expects to lose another $4.7 billion this year before turning profitable in 2012, a court filing shows.
Saab denies talks with Fiat…partnership with Chrysler, according to Saab CEO Jan-Ake Jonsson, the Swedish automaker isn’t part of the deal.Jonsson said Saab is currently being courted by ten potential buyers, but Fiat isn’t one of them. Saab spokesman, Eric Geers went on to tell Reuters, “We now have ten very serious interested parties which have visited us in Trollhattan ..
REPORT: Next Chrysler CEO salary capped at $500,000…Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/FinancialsThe next chief executive of Chrysler will be tasked with bringing the company out of bankruptcy, restructuring into a profitable business, repaying government loans (if and when they do so at all), integrating Fiat technology and retaining jobs wherever possible. Oh, and he or she will have to do it all on no m…
Chrysler pursuing clause to award Fiat $35 million if deal falls apart…Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials, FIATThink Fiat’s getting a pretty sweet deal with Chrysler? The Italian automaker is, after all, gaining a 20% stake in the troubled American automaker, plus local manufacturing capacity and access to its dealer networks, all without paying a thin dime. Not a bad deal, but Chrysler‘s hard at work trying to ma…
One Thing Separating Chrysler HQ From Most Malls [Carpocalypse]…explained earlier Chrysler‘s Auburn Hills, MI Headquarters was designed to easily convert into a mall if it needed the dues. However, there’s one thing we neglected to mention separating Chrysler‘s HQ from most malls. As you see below, if you scroll your Google map a little bit to the right you’ll find the 1.8 mile-long test track that sits adja…
What does Chrysler’s restructuring plan have in store for the Viper?…Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, FIAT Dodge Viper SRT-10 – Click above for a high-res image gallery Long before factors like bankruptcy and Fiat’s involvement, Chrysler was looking to offload the Viper line. Several potential buyers were reportedly being considered, but months down the line no deal has been announced. In the meantime, of course, Chrysler …
Chrysler To Kill Jeep Wrangler? [Carpocalypse]…from the Chrysler bankruptcy cast doubt on the future of the Jeep Wrangler. Is somebody in Auburn Hills taking crazy-pills? Killing off weak models in order to save the strong is something Chrysler is going to have to do if it ever wants to be a profitable automaker again, but considering putting the Wrangler on such a sacrificial altar is somet…
Chrysler HQ designed for mall duty if automaker leaves…Chrysler, LLC., Humor Chrysler HQ a mall? Click above for high-res image gallery Leave it to our friends at Jalopnik to discover this most interesting fact about Chrysler‘s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The 500-acre site that’s crowned by a glass tower with a 35-foot tall Pentastar window visible from I-75 was reportedly designed in su…
Fiat Delivers Custom Ducato For Papal Service [Custom Cars]…of the Chrysler faithful, Fiat has delivered a customized Ducato van to the Papal motorpool for use in touring parts of the Italian countryside destroyed by the recent earthquake. From the outside, the Ducato appears to be any other run-of-the-mill Italian Civil Defense Force vehicle, wearing the proper paint job to fit right in, but inside it’s…
…Chrysler’s corporate headquarters in Auburn Hills appears to be a shopping mall. This is not an accident. BusinessWeek published an article two weeks ago about the value of Chrysler’s various assets in anticipation of its bankruptcy, which has since happened. Here’s the most interesting bit: The Chrysler headquarters building is a spectacular si…
…t want Chrysler either. [Reuters]
