Ford Motor Company along with its brands Lincoln and Mercury move into top spots as the most improved brands of 2009 according to a BrandIndex poll. Ford ranked #1; Facebook ranked #2; Lincoln ranked #3; and Mercury ranked #4. (See article from BrandWeek.) Why has the Ford increased so dramatically?
In 1996, GM discontinued its full-size, body-on-frame car architecture – ending the Caprice Police Car production. But 15 years later, GM plans to emerge as a leading provider of vehicles to law enforcement centers. The all new 2011 Chevy Caprice Police Car has the following special features: • Powerful 6.0L
How do you save 20,000 trees each year? Go digital with owner’s manuals. Chrysler will provide DVD user guides with all of its 2010 line. The DVD will not only be an owner’s manual, but also a user’s guide for vehicle features. Think about it…the DVD will visually show a
How is Ford doing? According to Doug Scott, Ford’s Truck Marketing Manager even though they are being considerably outspent by GM and Chrysler, the new F150 has gained 5-6 points of market share since its debut last fall. Mike Gray, AutoUpkeep.com As the marketing manager, do you find it is
How many of you in the United States have heard of Mahindra? I don’t see many virtual hands. Did you know that Mahindra started assembling Willys Jeeps in 1949? I recently learned about Mahindra when I was completing research on compact tractors. Some of the major players are John Deere,
With all the mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, and restructuring, is there a true difference between foreign and domestic automakers? Not really. In the past the big three in the United States were Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Chrysler is now 20% owned by Fiat. The Japanese big three automakers are Honda,
So who owns Chrysler now? According the CNN, the division is as follows. 55% United Auto Workers‘ Retiree Medical Benefits Trust 20% Fiat (This could grow to 35%) 8% United States Government 2% Canadian Government Who owns the last 15% of Chrysler? I guess the newly formed company itself…Chrysler Group
Yesterday Chrysler released a list of 789 dealerships that will be closing due to their Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. General Motors (GM), not yet in bankruptcy court, said today that they will begin notifying 1,100 “underperforming and low sales volume” dealerships “about their long term plans”. See the official press
Chrysler released a list of 789 Chrysler dealerships that it plans to close due to it’s “Chrysler Restructuring”. You can find the official document at ChryslerRestructuring.com, click on “Docket”, go to Docket #780, click on images, and then Exhibit A. A direct link to the pdf document can also be
According to a recent Consumer Reports survey, more people are satisfied with independent repair facilities than with dealerships – although both scored relatively high on maintenance procedures. When searching for a quality repair facility you basically have three choices: Independents (locally owned and operated shops) Chains (e.g., AAMCO Transmissions, Car-X,
One day has passed since America’s 3rd largest automaker, Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Lawmakers have been working for months to nail down a bill that would help stimulate auto sales. Timeline: January 14, 2009 – “Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009” – S. 247 Here
As you most likely know by now, America’s 3rd largest automaker Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today. You can read the email from outgoing CEO Robert Nardelli. In quick fashion, a new website appeared – www.ChryslerRestructuring.com. Instead of regurgitating what was said on the networks, cable channels, Twitter,
As money is being bled by General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford in Michigan, will new start-up companies in California emerge as major players in auto manufacturing? Electric and plug-in hybrids are the driving force…along with President Barack Obama and the Federal Government waving $2.4 billion to get the ball rolling.
Yesterday the White House announced that the US federal government is going to purchase about 17,600 fuel efficient cars by June 1st, 2009. See the official press release. The federal government will purchase all of the vehicles from two companies they already bailed out, Chrysler and GM, and Ford which
America no longer has the greatest number of automotive buyers. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, reported through the Xinhua News Agency that sales exceeded 1 million vehicles in March. Small passenger cars make up the majority of the sales in China. According to the Autodata Corporation, sales in the United
As I watch the news and read the blogs I wonder if in five years if there will be even one of the big Detroit three still standing…and more importantly, profitable. I wonder how big icons that transformed this country since the early 1900s can be in such dire condition.
