News archive

April 2011

Buick sales in China surpass 3 million units since 1999

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(April 28, 2011) SHANGHAI — Shanghai GM announced today that sales of Buick products in China have surpassed 3 million units since the joint venture began offering its original vehicle brand in 1999.

Buick has become one of China’s fastest-growing passenger car brands. With Shanghai GM’s rollout of its new Buick brand strategy in 2008, sales have increased by more than 100,000 units annually.

Limited-edition Porsche packed with motorsport technology

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(April 28, 2011) ATLANTA — The 911 GT3 RS, one of Porsche's most popular and successful track-inspired production cars, has been given a thrilling injection of thoroughbred motorsport technology resulting in 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque.

Chrysler announces intention of paying off bailout loans

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(April 28, 2011) Chrysler announced toady that it will repay $6.6 billion in bailout loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments.

The announcement was made ahead of a planned visit later today by U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Small fuel-efficient cars stand out at the 2011 New York Auto Show

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(April 28, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — With gas prices soaring to record highs, redesigned models of smaller fuel-efficient new cars have set a tone of sensibility at the 2011 New York auto show, according to Edmunds' InsideLine.com.

Honda's three-month net income plunges 38 percent

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(April 28, 2011) TOKYO — Honda Motor Co. announced today that its fiscal fourth-quarter (January-March 2011) net income was $536 million, down 38.3 percent from the same period last year.

That was lower than the 93.8 billion yen ($1.1 billion) average of analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg News. Sales fell 2.9 percent.

EatOn restaurant app wins in student challenge

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(April 28, 2011) SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Four students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are grand prize winners of the OnStar Student Developer Challenge and a $10,000 Developer Dream Package. The winning team created an app called EatOn, a restaurant discovery experience within the vehicle.

Ram Truck launches Outdoorsman online 


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Karl Greenberg
MediaPost.com

(April 27, 2011) Chrysler's Ram Truck division has rolled out a new version of the pickup called the Outdoorsman, designed for people who hunt, fish, camp and are more likely to bring a bowie knife than a camera into the boonies. They are, therefore, likely to need storage bins, a good towing capacity, chargers and a rugged-looking vehicle.

Cayenne leads first-quarter gain by Porsche

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(April 27, 2011) STUTTGART, Germany — Porsche, renowned for building sports cars including the iconic 911, has reported a first-quarter profit gain thanks to a sport utility vehicle.

Sales of both the 911 and the two-year old Panamera sedan declined in the quarter with the 911 slipping 17 percent to 4,760 cars and the Panamera falling 5.5 percent to 4,715 vehicles.

Volkswagen reports strong first-quarter earnings

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(April 27, 2011) Volkswagen's much publicized push to become the world's largest automaker eclipsing Toyota and General Motors sometime in this decade, remained on track during the first quarter of 2011 based on earnings reports released by the German automaker today.

Homer Simpson's voice now available for TomTom App

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(April 27, 2011) Homer Simpson — one of the world’s favorite animated patriarchs — is now making his way onto your TomTom App for iPhone for the very first time, as the friendly and encouraging co-pilot to your journey.

Developed in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and Locutio Voice Technologies, the original Homer Simpson voice for TomTom’s range of personal navigation devices is now available for on the new TomTom iPhone app v1.7.