March 2013

GM transforms customer call centers

(March 10, 2013) DETROIT — In another effort to provide the best customer experience in the industry, General Motors is changing the way its customer call centers operate, staffing Customer Engagement Centers with expert advisors who reach out to new owners to answer questions and are empowered to resolve most issues on the spot.

Mopar launches new line of greasable U-joints for Jeep vehicles

(March 10, 2013) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Mopar has announced the launch of a new line of Greasable U-Joints for Jeep vehicles and Ram trucks. The competitively priced Mopar Greasable U-Joints are the most recent addition to a long line of Authentic Mopar Parts introduced by Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care brand.

Nissan, Mitsubishi show jointly developed minicar for Japanese market

(March 10, 2013) Nissan and Mitsubishi have announced the model names and displayed the exterior designs of their jointly-developed new minicars for the Japanese market. Sales of the new minicars will begin in June under the Nissan DAYZ and DAYZ Highway STAR, and the Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Custom, model names.

GM Canada to Invest $250 million in assembly plant

(March 10, 2013) TORONTO — General Motors will invest $250 million in the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, to install flexible body shop equipment and tooling for future vehicle production. “Conversion of the CAMI Assembly Plant to a flexible manufacturing facility will provide CAMI with the ability to produce multiple global architectures and body styles,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director, General Motors of Canada.

Ferrari Testarossa once owned by Elton John goes to auction

(March 10, 2013) LONDON — A 1991 Ferrari Testarossa formerly owned by Elton John with only 2,100 miles on the clock is to be sold by international auction house COYS at their Spring Classics sale in London, this week. The 512 Testarossa, which was purchased new by Elton John, is one of 40 cars that will go under the hammer at the Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Hall, on Tuesday, March 12.

Growing the Grid: Nissan looks back at the developing infrastructure

(March 9, 2013) Nissan looks at automobile infrastructure in a series of video reports under the heading of "Growing the Grid." It examines what is happening today with the U.S. plug-in charging infrastructure that will lead to mass market acceptance of EV technology.

Here is the first of the series discussing what it was like in the early days through the eyes of a 97-year-old driver.

Chevrolet grows GM infotainment team

(March 9, 2013) AUSTIN, Texas — Chevrolet is doubling its investment in the General Motors Connected Customer Specialists team by adding 25 young, tech savvy technology experts, bringing to 50 the number of individuals working with dealers and customers across the United States. The team helps train and certify dealership employees, who demonstrate infotainment and OnStar to customers before, during and after their purchase of a GM vehicle.

Special exhibition opens at Ferrari Museum

(March 9, 2013) MARANELLO, Italy — The official inauguration at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello of the "Ferrari Supercar was held March 8 with the "Ferrari Supercar. Technology. Design. Myth" exhibition. It includes the new LaFerrari, unveiled just a couple of days ago at the Geneva Motor Show, as well as all of the other limited edition special series cars that helped establish the Prancing Horse legend.

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid set for world debut at New York Auto Show

(March 9, 2012) FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Infiniti has announced that a new gasoline electric hybrid model will join the 2014 Infiniti QX60  — now known as the JX35 — lineup in the United States this summer, following its world debut at the upcoming New York International Auto Show.

Mini Plant leads celebration of a century of car making in Oxford

(March 8, 2013) OXFORD, England — The Mini Plant will lead the celebrations of a centenary of car-making in Oxford, on March 28 — 100 years to the day when the first “Bullnose” Morris Oxford was built by William Morris, a few hundred yards from where the modern plant stands today. Twenty cars were built each week at the start, but the business grew rapidly and over the century —11.65 million cars have been produced.