December 2010

Chrysler issues recall of 121,000 vehicles

(December 31, 2010) Chrysler is recalling more than 121,000 vehicles in two recalls involving the 2009 Dodge Journey crossover and the 2011 Ram 1500 pickup, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford recalling 20,000 vehicles over electrical short

(December 30, 2010) DETROIT — Ford is recalling about 20,000 new vehicles in North America, mainly its heavy duty pickup trucks, due to the chance that an electrical short could cause a fire, Ford and U.S. federal regulators said today.

Honda successfully completes test of business jet

(December 30, 2010) GREENSBORO, N.C. — Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., has successfully completed the first flight of its FAA-conforming HondaJet advanced light business jet. The event is a significant step in Honda's aerospace program leading to delivery of aircraft in 2012.

Focus gets high-end sports car feature that Ford calls 'torque vectoring control'

(December 30, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — The all-new 2012 Ford Focus is the first beneficiary of a new class-exclusive Ford technology that employs downhill skiing and snowboarding moves to increase vehicle stability in turns.

Volvo adding 200 workers in preparation for higher demand

(December 30, 2010) Expecting higher demand in 2011, Volvo will hire 200 workers in Sweden through March, a spokesman told Bloomberg News. Volvo was acquired from Ford in August by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.

New car sales expected to grow by 1.1 million in 2010

(December 29, 2010) Pent-up demand is driving new vehicle sales to their highest level since 2008, an auto dealers trade group said.  Sales of light vehicles, on the decline since at least 2006, have accelerated this year, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Chinese auto sales expected to grow despite the end of tax incentives

(December 29, 2010) Automotive tax incentives are ending in China, and that might stifle the world's biggest vehicle market.

Not so says executives of General Motors Co., Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. and BYD Co. The view from the three Chinese automotive giants is that the country's demand for cars will outweigh the impact from the elimination of incentives that have boosted sales, according to Bloomberg News.

2000-2002 Mercedes M-Class vehicles probed for faulty warning light

(December 29, 2010) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into concerns that 2000-2002 Mercedes Benz M Class vehicles have a defective warning light that could result in drivers being unable to disengage the cruise control, the Detroit News reported today.

New nameplates are many for 2011

(December 29, 2010) IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) — Kelley Blue Book today announced the Freshman Car Class: 10 New Names for 2011, listing brand-new vehicle nameplates shoppers should know in the New Year.

Even though well-known vehicle mainstays like the Honda Odyssey and Volkswagen Jetta are newly redesigned for 2011, there's a crop of even newer cars arriving this year, too.

Ford's MyKey technology allows parents to block radio content

(December 29, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is preparing to debut a new version of its breakthrough MyKey technology that — for the first time — will allow parents to block explicit satellite radio content in the vehicle, much like parents are able to prevent children from viewing certain types of television and Internet content.