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Car sales, 2008; even worse than we thought

Steve Parker | Posted 01.06.2009 | Business

Read More: World Rally, Pony Cars, Porsche, Automotive News, Chrysler, Ford Mustang, Hemi Engines, The Wizard of Oz, Isuzu, Obama Administration, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, New York Federal Reserve, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ford, Volkswagen, Maybach, Motor Trend, Nissan, Dodge Challenger, Cadillac Srx, Chevrolet Equinox, Scotland, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Timothy Geithner, Huffington Post, Buick Lacrosse, GMAC Bailout, Pickups, TV Pitchman Vince, FICO Score, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, Toyota, Gm, Minivan, Ford F-150, Detroit Three, Associated Press, Chicago Cubs, American Honda, Gmc, Smart Car, Wall Street, Colin Mcrae, Detroit Three Loans, Cadillac Cts Wagon, Subaru, Bmw, Car Czar, Daimler, Mitsubishi, Treasury Secretary, SUV Sales, Credit Unions, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Business News
Steve Parker

Monday brought three conference calls, each about an hour, with executives from each of the Detroit Three announcing, dissecting and, most of all, spi...

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Ten most significant import cars, 2008 and beyond

Steve Parker | Posted 12.31.2008 | Business

Read More: Turbochargers, WRX STI, Nissan Maxima, Tesla Motors, Cindy McCain, Kia Rio, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Civil Rights, Clean Diesel, Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan Versa, Germany, Toyota Yaris, California Air Resources Board, Carroll Shelby, Kei-Cars, Carly Fiorina, Porsche Cayman, Carb, Swatch Watch, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Porsche Cayenne Diesel, Colin Powell, Careers, Cnbc, All-Wheel Drive, Computers, Detroit Three, Kia, Honda Fit, Chaebol, South Korea, Renault/Nissan, Horizontal Opposed Engine, Colin Chapman, China, steve.parker.com, Porsche Boxster, Blue Line Hybrid, Ev, Congo, Subaru Impreza, Front-Wheel Drive, Audi Clean Diesel, Rear-Wheel Drive, Caroline Kennedy, Switzerland, Charlie Crist, Lotus Evora, Hyundai, Electric Cars, Climate Change, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Mid-Engine, Porsche Panamera, F1, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Venza, Afghanistan, Carlos Ghosn, Smart ForTwo, Ferrari, Japanese Carmakers, Smart Car, Direct Fuel Injection, Roger Penske, Bmw, Christianity, Mazda 3, Volkswagen Jetta Diesel, Citigroup, Doch, Brembo, Business News
Steve Parker

Happy New Year! We've had the pleasure of helping to create and now write and and moderate this automotive blog beginning in June, 2008, and so far i...

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Toyota Republicans Should Cut Their Own Pay

Leo W. Gerard | Posted 12.22.2008 | Business

Read More: National Review, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. John Cornyn, $700 Billion Bailout, Honda, Diet, Big Three, Toyota Republicans, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Aig, Auto Bailout, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Sen. Thad Cochran, Nissan, President Bush, Great Depression, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Germany, Washington Mutual, Gm, Sen. Richard Shelby, United Autoworkers, Ford, Fannie Mae, Toyota, Sen. Jim DeMint, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Sen. Bob Corker, House of Councillors, Japan, Economic Policy Institute, Chrysler, Bmw, Freddie Mac, Wall Street, Lehman Brothers, South Korea, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Sen. Johnny Isakson, New York Times, Bear Stearns, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Uaw, Business News
Leo W. Gerard

Clearly the allegiance of the Republicans who opposed the loan to save GM and Chrysler is not with the US, which would lose 900,000 jobs if just GM closed, and more than 2.1 million if the Big Three did.

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Motor Racing Reacts to Worldwide Recession

Steve Parker | Posted 12.15.2008 | Business

Read More: Porsche, White House, 24 Hours of LeMans, Daytona International Speedway, 12 Hours of Sebring, NASCAR Drivers, Bobby Labonte, Cars, Daytona Prototype, Xtrac, Soap Box Derby, Chip Ganassi, Petty Enterprises, Irs, Formula 1, Felix Sabates, Soap Box Derbies, Richard Petty, Indy Racing League, New Hampshire Speedway, Detroit Three, Nascar, Chevrolet, Gm, Washington DC, Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, Alms, Dodge, Monaco Grand Prix, NASCAR Money, Turbodiesel, Alfa Romeo, Tarp Bailout Bill, Gran-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, Joe Gibbs Racing, Chrysler, Honda, Ford, Audi Clean Diesel, Volkswagen, Mazda, General Motors, Indycar Racing, Detroit, Detroit Bailout, Indycar, Adam Petty, Uaw, Toyota, American Lemans Series, Ricardo, NASCAR Support, Cosworth, Porsche Rs Spyder, Sprint Cup, Ferrari, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Formula One, TARP and Auto Bailout, Daytona 500, Audi, Roger Penske, Bmw, New York Times, Super Bowl Commercials, Business News
Steve Parker

With car sales suffering worldwide, the marketing and advertising budgets, where many companies keep their racing dollars, are often the first budgets to be trimmed.

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"Transplant" Automakers Get Over $3.6 Billion in Subsidies; More Unions, Ralph Nader Comment

Steve Parker | Posted 12.13.2008 | Business

Read More: Change to Win, Herbert Hoover, Chrysler, Decherd, Buffalo, Honda, Blue Springs, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Montgomery, Ford, Volkswagen, Senators, Nissan, Infrastructure, Princeton, Benedict Arnold, General Motors, Hyundai, Greensburg Indiana, Essential Action, Ralph Nader, Uaw, Lafayette, Toyota, Canton, Detroit Three, Ohio, San Antonio, United Steelworkers, Kia, Huntsville, Democrats, Foreign-Owned, Good Jobs First, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Bush Administration, Chattanooga, Detroit Three Loans, Bmw, Subaru, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Transplant, Tax Exempt, Smyrna, Unions, Japanese Transplants, Spartanburg, Republicans, Detroit Bailout, Auto Industry, Business News
Steve Parker

This post has the latest news on the billions in subsidies which off-shore transplant carmakers have received from state and local governments.

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Republicans Kill any Help for Detroit

Steve Parker | Posted 12.12.2008 | Business

Read More: Tarp, Automotive News, Congress, Chrysler, Election Day, United Auto Workers, Honda, Federal Reserve, Mercedes-Benz, Cars, Ford, Trifecta, Nikkei, Nissan, General Motors, Troubled Asset Relief Plan, Hyundai, Christmas, US Senate, Bill Clinton, Uaw, Gm, Detroit Three, European Union, Democrats, Walkman, Barack Obama, Tokyo, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Bmw, Transplant, Harry Reid, NY Times, Southeast, Asian, China, Sony, Republicans, Business News
Steve Parker

Late last night, Senate Republicans derailed a bill, passed the day before by the House, to loan $15 billion to the Detroit Three, with 10 Republicans joining 40 Democrats and two Independents in favor.

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Five Sexist Trends the Advertising World Just Can't Shake

Alex Leo | Posted 12.08.2008 | Media

Read More: Ads, Girl on Girl Action, Bmw, Rape, Offensive Advertising, Sexism in Advertising, Bondage in Ads, Bondage, Advertising, Sexism, Dolce and Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Mitchum, Alex Leo, Sexist Ads, Sexsist Advertising, 5 Sexist Trends Advertising, Media News
Alex Leo

Here are the worst of them--the trends that won't die despite our cultural outrage, and personal boredom.

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It's the Products, Stupid!

Philip G. Baker | Posted 12.07.2008 | Business

Read More: Technology, Chrysler, GM Bailout, European Cars, Honda, Detroit, Bmw, Cars, Ford, Asian Cars, Business News
Philip G. Baker

I find it to be rare that cars from the Big Three excel in any way. They say they can't compete because it costs more to build a car that's encumbered with the extra costs of union wages and health benefits.

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Germany's Richest Woman Allegedly Blackmailed By Swiss Gigolo

ABC News | CHRISTEL KUCHARZ | Posted 12.05.2008 | World

Read More: Germany Scandal, Germany, Bmw, Susanne Klatten, Susanne Klatten BMW, World News

State prosecutors have indicted 43-year-old Swiss national Helg Sgarbi for allegedly blackmailing BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, Germany's richest woman...

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Car Sales Tank; Detroit Visits DC, Pt. II

Steve Parker | Posted 12.03.2008 | Business

Read More: Cars, George Bush, Roger and Me, Automotive News, Spring Hill, Wall Street Bailout, Congress, Australian, Saturn, Chrysler, Buick, Rick Wagoner, United Auto Workers, Russian Carmaker, Opel GT, $25 Billion Bailout, Honda, Ford, Volkswagen, Malibu Hybrid, Ev1, Bob Lutz, Indian Carmaker, Michael Moore, Saturn Vue, Washington, Tiger Woods, Detroit, Greenmail, Opel Kappa Platform, European Carmakers, Chrysler CEO, Pontiac Solstice Coupe, Bob Nardelli, Uaw, Toyota, Gm, Alan Mulally, AM General, Saturn Sky, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, American Honda, Deal or No Deal, Roger Smith, Gmc, Asian Carmakers, Escape Hybrid, Chinese Carmaker, Pontiac, Corvette, Saab, Wall Street, Detroit Three Loans, Bmw, Subaru, Republican, Hummer Sale, Henry Paulson, Europe, China, Cadillac, Holden, Auto Bailout, Business News
Steve Parker

Now that they have our attention, the Detroit Three, in plans submitted to Congress Tuesday, increased their appeals for federal loans from $25 billion to $34 billion.

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Los Angeles Auto Show -- Clean Diesels Clean Up

Steve Parker | Posted 11.27.2008 | Business

Read More: Saturn, Chrysler, Scion xB, Stick Shift, Cars, Ford, Clean Diesel, Nissan, Brad Pitt, Blue Drive Hybrid System, Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors, Touareg TDI, Hyundai, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Los Angeles Auto Show Green, Climate Change, Computers, Hydrogen-Powered Cars, Volkswagen CC, Nissan 370z, Energy, Corvette ZR1, Infiniti G37, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Gm, Afghanistan, Nissan Cube, Carlos Ghosn, Chevrolet, 2010 Camaro, Porsche, Jetta TDI Cup, Daewoo, Green Car of the Year, Smart ForTwo, Manual Transmission, Continuously Variable Transmission, Ferrari, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Volt, Q7, Smart Car, Dodge, Datsun, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Fuel Cells, Audi, Chevrolet Corvette, Bmw, Christianity, Jeep, Hyundai Genesis, Volkswagen Jetta Diesel, Brabus, q5, a3, Cvt, a4, Business News
Steve Parker

At this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, the 205-mile per hour, $100,000, 2009 Corvette ZR1 is relegated to the very rear of the Chevrolet exhibit, like the "adults only" section in video stores.

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Auto Industry Drops 32%; GM Plummets Over 45%

Steve Parker | Posted 11.03.2008 | Business

Read More: Automotive News, Suzuki, Chrysler, Epa, Thanksgiving, Honda, Cars, Atlanta, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Tennessee Valley Authority, General Motors, Ford Ecoboost Engine, Mini, Detroit Bailout, John McCain, Toyota, Gm, Opec, Detroit Three, Lexus, Chevrolet, GM Red Tag Sale, Porsche, Barack Obama, Mercury, Bush White House, Manhattan Project, Lincoln, Wpa, Sarah Palin, Bmw, Audi, Lincoln MKS, Isuzu, Business News
Steve Parker

Obama has consistently shown his support for an American car-making industry, a modern and green industry able to build the kinds of cars and trucks people will want to buy.

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Lewis Hamilton Wins F1 Championship; First Black Driver in Sport's History

Steve Parker | Posted 11.02.2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Renault, Lewis Hamilton, Australia, Oceania, Brad Daugherty, Honda, Robert Kubica, Abu Dhabi, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Wendell Scott, Formula 1, North America, Heikki Kovalainen, Asia, Energy, Nhra, McLaren Mercedes, Toyota, Ron Dennis, Michael Schumacher, Brazil, Nascar, Willy T. Ribbs, Sao Paulo, Top Fuel, Barack Obama, Ferrari, Force India, Formula One, Montreal, Richard Pryor, Funny Car, Bmw, Drive for Diversity, Kinetic Energy, Pro Stock, Europe, Nba, Kinetic Energy Recovery System, Interlagos, Kers, Melbourne, Cars, Sauber, Entertainment News
Steve Parker

Lewis Hamilton, 23 and the first Black driver in the history of Grand Prix racing, won the World Driving Championship on Sunday, the most coveted title in all of motorsports.

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EPA's 2009 Top Ten; Dodge's Hemi Hybrids Tout mpg; New Corvette "on Indefinite Hold"

Steve Parker | Posted 10.19.2008 | Green

Read More: Gas-Electric Hybrid Technology, 24 Hours of LeMans, Hemi Hybrids, 12 Hours of Sebring, Epa, Dodge Viper, Cars, Nurburgring, Gas/Electric Hybrid, CAFE Standards, Supercharger, Dodge Durango Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, General Motors, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Prius, Hybrid SUVs, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Chevrolet, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Gm, Detroit Three, Lamborghini Estoque Hyrbid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Green Car of the Year, Smart ForTwo, Chrysler Suv, Bmw, Jetta SportWagen Diesel, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta Diesel, Kumon, Murcielago, Green News
Steve Parker

How serious are the problems facing the Detroit Three? This serious: General Motors' Chevrolet Division has put the next-generation Corvette, the C7, on indefinite hold.

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Jaguar-Land Rover boss to PM Gordon Brown: Help!

Steve Parker | Posted 10.15.2008 | Business

Read More: David Smith, Sir William Lyon, JD Power, Castle Bromwich, Tata Motors, England, Jaguar Super V8 Vanden Plas, Ford Cars, Land Rover, Ford Contour, Halewood, Gordon Brown, Solihull, Cars, Jaguar XF, Jaguar S-Type, Bmw, Business News
Steve Parker

It was just this past May that Ford sold their prestigious Jaguar and Land Rover divisions to Indian carmaker Tata for USD$2.3 billion. And now, the b...

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They're green! All green! Well, almost - Mini, Peugeot, Ford, Pininfarina and more - Paris Car Show's green cars and concepts, part two

Steve Parker | Posted 10.04.2008 | Green

Read More: Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery, Lithium-Ion Battery, Pininfarina, Peugeot Prologue Concept, Peugeot, Gas/Electric Hybrid, EV, Front-Wheel Drive, Ferrari California, Ford, Rear-Wheel Drive, Super-Capacitors, Paris Car Show, Mini, Mechanical Flywheels, Monte Carlo Rally, Pininfarina B0, Solar Power, Ford Fiesta Econetic, Lithium-Polymer Battery, Diesel/Electric Hybrid, Electric Motors, All-Wheel Drive, Electric Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Mondeo Econetic, Ford Ka, Kinetic Energy, Turbodiesel, Mini Crossover Concept, Mini Clubman, Bmw, Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Concept, Focus Econetic, Solar Cells, Green News
Steve Parker

Here's the green wrap on the Paris Car Show, 2008 version. As in yesterday's posting, we're taking a look at some concepts which might have a chance t...

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Precipitous fifteen-year drop in US car sales; Need one? You probably can't get one

Steve Parker | Posted 10.02.2008 | Business

Read More: House of Representatives, Automotive News, GMC Truck, Americans, Saturn, Buick, Scion xB, Subprime Car Loans, Honda, Toyota Sales, Bentley, North Dallas Forty, Vw, Maybach, Palin, Original Equipment Manufacturer, General Motors, Bush/McCain, Bailout, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Peter Gent, US Senate, Nissan, Mini, Subprime Loans, Hummer, Hyundai, OEM, Saabs, Gm, Mazda, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, Acura, Volvo, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler Cars, Pontiac, Cars, Rolls-Royce, Mercury, Bmw, Smart Car, Subprime Mortgages, Lincoln, Infiniti, New York Times, Lexus, Audi, Southeast, Alaska, CNW Research, Cadillac, Business News
Steve Parker

They say "start out bad news with a joke," so: In Peter Gent's "North Dallas Forty," a football coach is talking with the team owner's son about his f...

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Car Industry Group to Public: It's Not All Our Fault, It's Yours Too

Steve Parker | Posted 08.24.2008 | Business

Read More: Gas-Electric Hybrid Technology, Gas Prices, Chevrolet, Chevy Volt, Andrew Card, Gm, American Automobile Industry, Mazda, Captive Imports, Detroit Three, Ford, Ecodriving, Cars, American Automobile Manufacturers Association, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Rube Goldberg, Bmw, Chevy, General Motors, Malibu, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Mitsubishi, Plug-in Hybrids, Corvette, Aama, Ecodriver, Aam, Business News
Steve Parker

It's the same story we've been hearing from car-makers, especially those in Detroit, for the past 30 years: "Just wait a little longer and we'll have those new cars and trucks you've been hoping for."

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BMW Recalling 200,000 Vehicles

AP | KEN THOMAS | Posted 08.13.2008 | Business

Read More: Bmw, Bmw Recall, Air Bags, Nhtsa, Bmw 3 Series, Bmw 5 Series, Bmw x3, Business News

WASHINGTON — BMW AG said Wednesday it was recalling 200,000 vehicles over concerns that the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash. ...

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Clean Diesels- The Line-Up So Far

Steve Parker | Posted 08.12.2008 | Green

Read More: Volkswagen, 24 Hours of LeMans, Cars, Peugeot, Grand Cherokees, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Honda, California, General Motors, Hybrid Cars, Nissan, Detroit, Americans, Dodge Ram, Gm, Detroit Three, Acura, Pontiac, Chrysler, Bmw, Turbodiesel, Jeep, Audi, Low Sulfur, Tdi, Maxima, Vw, Tsx, Touraeg, Bluetec, Q7, Green News
Steve Parker

Sometimes, it's the incongruities, not the new models, which make the auto industry so interesting.

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Is Your Car's Interior Killing You?

Steve Parker | Posted 08.11.2008 | Green

Read More: Chevrolet Aveo, Scion xB, Dodge Nitro SUVs, Acura, Cars, Volvo, Representative John Dingell, Bmw, Toxic Substance Control Act, Smart Car, General Motors, Motorhomes, Chevy Cobalt, Nissan, The Ecology Center, Mitsubishi, Senator Barbara Boxer, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Annual Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars and Children’s Car Seats, Hyundai, Suzuki, Versa, Odyssey, JD Power, Dave Power, Detroit, Green News
Steve Parker

Ever wondered about that dreary film which builds-up inside the windshield of your car or truck? Not outside, which can be taken care of easily enough; inside.

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First US-Built Chinese Vehicle Now On-Sale

Steve Parker | Posted 08.01.2008 | Business

Read More: Energy, Uaw, MG Rover, Toyota, Ford Mustang, Tiger Champ, Chinese, Scirocco, Volkswagen, Nissan GTR, Nissan, Saic, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Corvette, Roush, Bmw, British Aerospace Systems, Subaru, Shanghai Automotive Corporation, Mitsubishi, Oklahoma, CARB/EPA, China, Cars, Mg, Nanjing, Business News
Steve Parker

It should make headlines, but it won't. The news: the first major captive import vehicle-maker from China has opened its Oklahoma doors and started-up its assembly line.

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Hydrogen Is The Answer ... Uh, Isn't It?

Steve Parker | Posted 07.28.2008 | Green

Read More: Energy, Bmw, John McCain, Equinox, Gm, Internal Combustion Engine, Hydrogen Car, General Motors, Mazda, Greenhouse Gases, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Honda, FCX Clarity, Barack Obama, Shell Oil, Green Cars, Green News
Steve Parker

If Obama is sworn in, how can he best get us on the road to using hydrogen, along with wind and sea power, as a critical element in producing electricity for this country ... and for our cars?

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Can GM Survive?

Steve Parker | Posted 07.21.2008 | Business

Read More: Buick, Rick Wagoner, Detroit Auto Show, Home Depot, Bob Lutz, General Motors, Robert Nardelli, Toyota Prius, Pontiac GTO, Plug-in Hybrids, Paris Auto Show, Energy, John McCain, Gm, Alan Mulally, Chevrolet, Beat, Volt, Duke University, Harvard Business School, Detroit Automakers, Corvette, Chrysler, Chevrolet Volt, Bmw, Ford of Europe, Holden Commodore, Cadillac, Cruze, Pontiac, Camaro, Daewoo, Oldsmobile, Cobalt, Business News
Steve Parker

John McCain visited a GM factory and said if cars like the Volt, a plug-in gas/electric hybrid GM is developing, really do make it to market (still a question mark), "hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created." He's wrong.

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The Detroit Three --- Making Any Relevant Cars or Trucks?

Steve Parker | Posted 07.15.2008 | Business

Read More: Saturn, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, Malibu, Gas/Electric Hybrid, Honda, CAFE Standards, Dodge Ram, Plymouth, General Motors, Dodge Challenger, Ev1, Mercury Mariner, Crossfire, Bob Nardelli, Jeep Wrangler, Plug-in Hybrids, President Bush, Detroit, Energy, Dodge Sprinter, Dodge, Gasoline, Gm, Alan Mulally, Ford, Detroit Three, Burbank, Chevrolet, Honda Hybrid, Hybrid Hemi, Cerberus, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Corvette, Chrysler, Chevrolet Volt, Bmw, Bill Ford, Ford Escape, Hemi, Viper, Nhtsa, Volt, Jeep, Business News
Steve Parker

That the Detroit Three have to build cars and trucks which make sense now and in the future, and which Americans want to buy.

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