Chrysler buys out engine plant in Dundee

Chrysler Group LLC, the automaker run by Fiat SpA since exiting bankruptcy in June, said Thursday it bought out Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. stakes in a Michigan engine factory.--...More

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GM rolls past 1 million miles in fuel cell demo

Buffalo, N.Y. -- General Motors Co. is now 1 million miles into its fuel cell experiment and company officials say having everyday people drive a test fleet of pollution-free cars has convinced them they are on the right track.---
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President Obama to make first auto plant visit

Washington -- President Barack Obama plans to make a speech at General Motors Co.'s assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, next week, his first visit to a U.S. auto plant as president.--...More

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GM to lay off about 1,000

General Motors Co. needs to lay off about 1,000 white-collar workers this month because only 1,900 accepted early retirement and buyout offers, the automaker said Wednesday.--...More

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Gov to shift its stakes in GM and Chrysler to independent trust

By Silla Brush - 09/09/09 The federal government should consider shifting its massive stakes in General Motors and Chrysler into an independent trust to provide better oversight and transparency, a government watchdog panel will report on Wednesday.

The government has supported the U.S. auto industry with more than $70 billion in bailout aid and has taken large stakes in both companies as they try to dramatically revamp their operations.---...More

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Chrysler: Dodge Ram No. 1 in vehicle accessories

The Dodge Ram full-size pickup boasts the most accessories of any vehicle in Chrysler Group LLC's lineup, the automaker said Tuesday.

The Jeep Wrangler is a close second, followed by the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, the automaker said.

Chrysler, which is partnered with Fiat SpA, wants to bump up awareness of the Mopar brand of accessories. Under new Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, who is also CEO of Fiat, Chrysler has restructured its management team to support four brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Mopar.

Ram owners spend an average of $389 on Mopar accessories, with more than 70 items to choose from, the automaker said. ..More

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Chryslers New Ram Plan Poses Brand Jam

Chrysler is potentially headed for a brand problem that will rival the pickle that GM is trying to extricate itself from.

Here is the deal. Chrysler has three main brands at the moment: Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. But it has made it clear to the ad agencies pitching its ad account that it is splitting off its pickup truck and commercial vehicle business off to a new brand?Ram.

That?s right. Going forward, and as soon as Chrysler has the idea to run with, the pickup it sells now won?t be sold as Dodge Ram, but rather?.Ram. Other vehicles that will come from the Fiat-Chrysler tie up in the commercial segment will also be called Ram.

So, now we are up to four brands to support. Now, add the Fiat 500, which will be sold as a Fiat when it arrives in Chrysler showrooms in 2011. And, don?t forget Alfa Romeo, which Fiat will sell through Chrysler distribution in key markets that make sense for the Italian sport car maker.

This seems like a lot of brand differentiation to manage and support by a company that has been poor at both.

As I look at auto sales numbers through August, I see a 9.2% market share for Chrysler spread among the three brands it has. That share is inevitably going to go down as the company pares models. Indeed, Merrill Lynch projects that Chrysler loses a whopping five to six points of share in the next four years unless it comes up with some product surprises from the Fiat alliance.---...More

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GM: Fleet airbags required

General Motors Co. will not allow fleet purchasers to skip buying side airbags on 2010 models, the company said Friday.---More

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GM plant restarts production in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela -- General Motors Co.'s Venezuela affiliate says it has restarted an auto assembly plant that was idled for two and a half months.--More

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Old Chrysler defaults on loan payment

The portion of Chrysler LLC that remains in bankruptcy had costs of $10.2 billion in June, which is more money than the company was left with to cover the costs of liquidation.--< a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20090905/AUTO01/909050313/1148/rss25">More

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Old Chrysler's costs outstrip assets

The portion of Chrysler LLC that remains in bankruptcy had costs of $10.2 billion in June, which is more than the amount the company was left with to cover the costs of liquidation.
The June operating report for Old Carco LLC, the name for the bankrupt pieces of the automaker, was filed with the New York bankruptcy court Friday. Chrysler LLC filed for bankruptcy April 30, and the choice assets were sold to a new entity, Chrysler Group LLC, which was formed in partnership with Fiat SpA on June 10.

Former Chief Financial Officer Ron Kolka was put in charge of winding down the assets of Old Carco, which contain seven assembly plants, almost 3,000 vehicles valued at $51 million and contracts with dealers and suppliers that were not transferred to the new Chrysler.--...More

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Big Three get image boost

An overwhelming percentage of new-car buyers said they would consider a vehicle made by Detroits Big Three, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.--...More

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