News archive

November 2010

Morgan still builds cars by hand

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For more than 100 years the Morgan Motor Company in England has been building roadsters by hand. And with a liberal use of wood.

The process is interesting and Morgan's craftsmen are still busy filling customer orders for the company's numerous offerings from classic to modern.

Toyota says it will fix coolant pump glitch in Prius models

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(November 30, 2010) Toyota has announced that it will pay to fix about 650,000 Prius models worldwide for a coolant pump glitch that could cause the top-selling hybrid to overheat and lose power.

The repair campaign covers Prius cars for the model years 2004 to 2007. The bulk of the cars — 378,000 units — are in the United States.

Recycled clothing found in new Ford Focus

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(November 30, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — Old clothes turn up in plenty of places — the hamper, the bottom of a closet, behind the washing machine. They’re also found in the next-generation Ford Focus, albeit in different and more useful forms.

The 2012 Focus, on sale early next year in North America and Europe, uses these cottons from recycled clothing in areas such as carpet backing and sound-absorption materials for interior quietness.

GM to add 1,000 engineers and researchers to develop electric vehicles

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(November 30, 2010) HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — Beginning today, General Motors will add 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan over the next two years to expand its development of electric vehicles.

The commitment by GM CEO Dan Akerson coincides with preparations for delivery of the first Chevrolet Volt electric vehicles with extended-range capability to customers in key states.

GM completes sale of global steering business to Chinese company

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(November 30, 2010) DETROIT — General Motors today confirmed the completion of the sale of Nexteer Automotive to Pacific Century Motors, effective today.

The sale of Nexteer’s business includes global steering and halfshaft operations including 22 manufacturing facilities, six engineering facilities and 14 customer support centers located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. 

Nissan Leaf named European Car of the Year

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(November 29, 2010) In an historic moment for Nissan Motor Company, the all-electric Nissan Leaf was named 2011 European Car of the Year.

This is the first time in the 47-year history of the annual competition that the award has gone to an electric vehicle.

Cadillac becomes a sponsor of World Golf Championsips

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(November 29, 2010) PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Cadillac and golf have reunited.

The PGA Tour and Cadillac today announced a multi-year agreement whereby Cadillac becomes title sponsor of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and an umbrella sponsor of the World Golf Championships.

Vehicle stability control standard equipment on 2011 Honda Fit

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(November 29, 2010) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda has endowed the 2011 Fit with more features without significantly raising the price.

Honda today said that all models of the sub-compact Fit all will get Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) as standard equipment, along with more comfort and convenience features.

All-new Buick GL8 Luxury MPV now available in China

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(November 29, 2010) Shanghai — The all-new Buick GL8 from Shanghai GM is now available. The luxury MPV builds on the heritage of the original GL8, China’s first family of executive wagons. Since the model’s debut in 1999, more than 330,000 have been sold across China.

Auto sales expected to hit 18 million in China in 2010

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(November 28, 2010) Auto sales in China will grow more than 30 percent to 18 million units this year, predicts J.D. Power and Associates. But in 2011 and beyond, the U.S.-based research firm expects China's auto market will grow at a somewhat lower rate than in 2009 and 2010.

In October, China's light vehicle sales reached 1.5 million units. The month's seasonally adjusted annualized rate equaled 19.2 million units, the first time annualized sales have topped 19 million units.