News archive

August 2010

Honda recalling more than 380,000 vehicles for ignition interlock problem

Tags:

(August 9, 2010) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda will recall approximately 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic vehicles from the 2003 model year and roughly 69,000 Element vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years in the U.S. to prevent a malfunction of the ignition interlock feature of these vehicles.

Honda has received several complaints about such failures in these vehicles and is aware of a small number of related incidents, including one that resulted in a minor injury.

Chrysler posts $183 million operating profit

Tags:

(August 9, 2010) Chrysler today posted a second-quarter net loss, but reported an operating gain of $183 million — a $40 million improvement over the first quarter's operating profit.

The increase in the operating profit for the second quarter over the first three months of 2010 came mainly from production increases and was met by pressure from "moderate" incentives increases and vehicle introduction costs, Chrysler said.

Suzuki to take Kizashi on incredible 10,000-mile road trip

Tags:

(August 8, 2010) Road trip anyone?

Suzuki is sponsoring the "ultimate" trip — an endurance run from Tokyo to Los Angenes, via Russia, Alaska and Canada. It was developed to put the spotlight on Suzuki's new mid-sized sedan, the Kizashi.

Chrysler has best July in Canada since 1997

Tags:

(August 8, 2010) WINDSOR, Ontario — Chrysler Canada on Friday announced total sales of 22,319 for July, an increase of 40 per cent compared with July 2009 (15,958). This figure represents the best results for July since 1997.

James Brown featured on Ford ALL IN ad campaign

Tags:

(August 8, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is launching a new corporate advertising campaign targeting the African American community that centers on the company’s strengths as it relates to quality, technology, the environment and the community.

The fully integrated marketing ALL-IN campaign provides an opportunity for Ford to tell its turnaround story through the eyes of individuals who play a key role in shaping Ford Motor Company.

Harley-Davidson sells Italian motorcycle MV Agusta

Tags:

(Augsut 8, 2010) Harley-Davidson Inc. said Friday it finished its sale of Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta to Claudio Castiglioni.

Castiglioni is the company's former owner and had served as MV Agusta's chairman since Harley-Davidson purchased it in 2008. Harley-Davidson has been focused on cutting costs and streamlining its business. It said last October it planned to sell MV Agusta.

Toyota begins production of Tacomas at San Antonio plant

Tags:

(August 7, 2010) SAN ANTONIO — Toyota added 1,000 workers to build Tacoma pickups at its San Antonio truck plant and is using the factory's full capacity for the first time after a rocky start.

The company this week marked the start of compact Tacoma production in the plant built to make only larger Tundra pickups when it opened in late 2006. Lower demand for Tundras than Toyota expected and the closing of its former California joint-venture plant this year led it to move Tacoma output to Texas at a cost of $100 million.

Honda recalling 2010 Elements over shift cable problem

Tags:

(August 7, 2010) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda will recall 585 Element vehicles from the 2010 model year in the U.S. to reset the automatic transmission shift cable.

Honda has received a small number of customer complaints related to the gear selector mechanism, but no incidents or injuries have been reported.

Toyota hybrid sales in Japan top 1 million

Tags:

(August 6, 2010) Toyota announced Thursday that cumulative sales in Japan of its hybrid vehicles have topped the 1-million mark, while more than 2.68 million of the fuel-efficient vehicles have been sold globally as of July 31.

Toyota launched its first hybrid vehicle in August 1997 in Japan, but it' wasn't the Prius. The world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, wasn't launched until December of that year.

GM will end up with about 4,500 stores in U.S.

Tags:

(August 6, 2010) General Motors goal last year was to trim its dealer network from 6,049 stores to about 3,600. But as arbitration concludes, GM's final total will be about 4,500 stores.

In November, there will be about 3,100 Chevrolet franchises, 2,100 Buick franchises, 1,750 GMC franchises and 925 Cadillac franchises.