When it comes to the business of lightweighting vehicles, many people probably wouldn’t think that a company that is primarily focused on coatings would be one of your first stops. But PPG Industries executives say they are heavily involved helping automakers remove weight in their vehicles, primarily through two areas – coatings that allow automakers … Continue Reading →
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder highlighted a $15 million expansion of Hyundai’s Superior Township technical center as evidence of a sound job creation strategy in the state. The addition of an advanced hot/cold temperature testing facility at the Hyundai center near Ann Arbor will create 50 high tech R&D jobs over the next three years. Michigan … Continue Reading →
Via Motors today introduced three electrified light trucks at the North American International Auto Show. The year-old, Orem, Utah-based company plans to sell up to 2,000 of the plug-in electric light trucks to fleet customers in 2012. Via’s truck has a range of up to 40 miles on a charge and, with additional power generated … Continue Reading →
Falcon Motor Sports hails from Holly, Michigan, and it announced at the North American International Auto Show today that it wants to compete with the likes of Bugatti and Lamborghini with its Falcon F7 supercar. Falcon wants to sell 10 cars this year, and if that doesn’t sound much, remember prices start at about $225,000. … Continue Reading →
It’s more than a little irritating to watch the phalanx of Obama administration bureaucrats preening across the North American International Auto Show floor and reminding everyone with a microphone or notebook that this show wouldn’t be here if not for them. Energy Secretary Raymond LaHood, Commerce Sectretary John Bryson, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Energy … Continue Reading →
Detroit — Energy Secretary Steven Chu told reporters today on the sidelines of the North American International Auto Show that he had met with Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne about a government loan to allow the company to retool older plants. He denied that political pressure from Republicans in opposition to awarding Chrysler an estimated $3 … Continue Reading →
Maserati unveiled its Kubang SUV concept for the first time in North America at the Detroit Auto Show, just miles away from the factory that will build the production version. Harald J. Wester, president and CEO of Maserati, said that while the Kubang will be built in Detroit, based on the same platform that underpins … Continue Reading →
Buick is a year away from selling its new Encore ‘baby’ crossover vehicle but wants everyone to know it is making a big play for this emerging market segment. Unveiled at NAIAS by Mary Barra, General Motors’ vice president of global product development and Ed Welburn, design chief, the 2013 Encore is derived from the … Continue Reading →
General Motors chairman and CEO Dan Akerson passed up a chance to brag about the fact that the Detroit automaker is now expected to surpass Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG in 2011 as the world’s largest automaker. GM had held the title for more than seven decades only to lose it in 2008 to Toyota. “I’m more … Continue Reading →
Honda today unveiled a deep-red Accord coupe concept at the North American International Auto Show – a foretaste of the 2013 Accord sedan, which is slated to go on sale later this year. Like the concept, the 2013 Accord sedan will have a shorter wheelbase and lighter curb weight than the current generation of the … Continue Reading →