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]
