News archive

June 2010

Mini line-up to expand

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(June 9, 2010) EL SEGUNDO, Calif.  — James McDowell, vice-president of Mini, on Tuesday all but confirmed to an expansion of the Mini line-up during a meeting before the Motor Press Guild (MPG) here.

GM recalling 1.5 million vehicles over washer fluid system

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(June 8, 2010) DETROIT — General Motors is recalling 1.5 million 2007-2009 model cars, trucks and crossovers to disable a heated washer fluid system module that could pose a fire risk. Because the feature will be disabled, GM will make a voluntary payment of $100 to the owner or lessee of each vehicle.

There are no known injuries or crashes related to the condition.

GM has record sales in China in May

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(June 8, 2010) SHANGHAI — General Motors and its joint ventures had record sales in China in May. Buoyed by strong demand for the Chevrolet brand and ongoing positive demand for its other brands, GM sales totaled 196,004 units.

With sales of its Chevrolet lineup jumping 103.6 percent, sales of its Cadillac products growing 98.1 percent and sales of Buicks rising 22.0 percent on an annual basis, Shanghai GM sales reached 83,302 units in May. This represented an increase of 48.7 percent from May 2009.

Ford adds Google Maps to SYNC system

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(June 8, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich — Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNC with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.

"Send to SYNC" is a new capability added to the Ford Service Delivery Network, the company’s cloud-based architecture, which provides a suite of voice-activated services accessible through a customer’s mobile phone.

China's auto sales slow, but growth continues

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(June 8, 2010) China's passenger-car sales in May rose 26 percent from a year earlier, the slowest pace this year, setting the stage for more moderate but solid growth in the coming months after fast-paced expansion in 2009, news agency Reuters reported Monday.

The growth in the world's biggest auto market started tapering off in April when car sales rose 33 percent, about half of the pace in March, which analysts attributed to a higher comparative base a year earlier.

Chrysler recalling nearly 600,000 minivans and Jeep Wranglers

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(June 8, 2010) Chrysler is recalling almost 575,000 Jeep sport-utility vehicles and Dodge and Chrysler minivans for brake line and wiring defects, U.S. safety regulators said.

The company has recalled 288,968 Jeep Wranglers for 2001 through 2010 to repair a defect caused when liners inside the fenders touch right-front and left-rear brake lines, leading to wear that may cause fluid to leak and raising the risk of a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement on its Web site Monday.

California cab company orders 25 Transit Connect taxis

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(June 7, 2010) When Tim Conlon, president of California Yellow Cab, first laid eyes on the new Ford Transit Connect, he wondered if it had a future in taxi service. Now, having seen the award-winning small commercial van in person, he says it has potential to be "the iconic taxi of the future."

Spyker to start selling its $200,000 sports car in Saab showrooms

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(June 5, 2010) STOCKHOLM — Spyker Cars, Saab's new owner, plans to almost double the number of dealers selling its high-end sports cars this year by offering them through Saab outlets, CEO Victor Muller said, according to Bloomberg News.

“We are signing up Spyker dealerships left, right and center,” Muller said in an interview at Saab's headquarters in Trollhaettan, Sweden.

Chrysler recalling 25,000 vehicles for potential gas pedal problem

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(June 5, 2010) Chrysler Group is recalling more than 25,000 Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass vehicles to address the risk that accelerator pedals could become stuck and cause unintended acceleration, the automaker said Friday.

The recall comes five weeks after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into potentially sticky accelerator pedals in Chrysler vehicles, based on five consumer complaints.

GM puts starting price of compact Chevrolet Cruze at $16,995

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(June 4, 2010) The all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will begin arriving in U.S. dealerships this September, starting at $16,995, including destination. Priced to compete in the compact-car segment, the Cruze offers more interior room, more miles per gallon in the Eco model, and more standard safety features than any of its competitors.

The Cruze starting price is several hundred dollars more than its targeted import competitors.