Bob Lutz to Retire at the End of the Year
February 9, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
For motoring journalists the world over, the loss of Bob Lutz is a very sad day indeed. One of the most recognizable and charasmatic figures in the automobile world, he could add spice and an interesting angle to even the dullest stories. The PR staff may be happier, but I am sure even they will lament the the loss of one of the most quotable GM executives there has ever been. Lutz has been Vice Chairman for Global Product Development at GM since 2001. Over his 45-year automotive career, Lutz has worked at Opel, BMW, Ford and Chrysler as well as a stint running Exide batteries. Read more
Tesla Calls Town Hall Meetings to Calm Angry Buyers
January 23, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
It seems that even an email from CEO Elon Musk has had little calming effect on the anger felt by locked-in Tesla Roadster buyers at being told they will have to pay more for their cars. The company is turning to a previously-successful approach and has announced a set of town hall meetings to quell buyer fury.
Scheduled for the 26th and 27th at the Los Angeles and Menlo, CA stores respectively and hosted by Elon and other staff, the events can be attended in person or by phone. Read more
Fiat to Own 35% of Chrysler in Return for Small Car Platform
January 19, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Chrysler and Fiat are joining forces. Chrysler’s majority owner Cerberus will give thirty-five percent of its stake in Chrysler to Fiat. Fiat will will not pay Cerberus any cash in this deal. Instead Fiat will provide its small car platforms, powertrains and other systems to Chrysler with the hope that a small car model range will give it greater sales and profitability. Read more
$15 Billion to Keep Detroit Automakers Going Until January
December 7, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Democratic leaders and the White House reached a deal to provide billions of dollars in relief to the ailing U.S. auto industry. The package, which Democratic leaders hope to win passage of next week and send to President George W. Bush, totals between $15 billion and $17 billion.
The amount is far less than the $34 billion requested this week by General Motors, Ford Motor, and Chrysler, but Democratic leaders believe the money will keep them going until Barack Obama replaces Bush as president on January 20 and a new effort can be made for a rescue plan.
Darryl Siry Tesla SVP Resigns
December 5, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
The turmoil at Tesla Motors is continuing, as SVP for Marketing and Sales Darryl Siry has resigned. According to the post on Siry’s blog, he is leaving “due to some disagreements in strategy.”
Recently, Chairman Elon Musk took over direct control of the company when he replaced previous CEO Ze’ev Drori at the silicon valley startup.
Tesla has already found a replacement and Siry has been working to manage the transition in recent weeks. Siry has no immediate plans for where to go next, but promises to do more blogging on the alternative fuel vehicle industry.
Nissan EVs to be sold in China in 2012
November 19, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Nissan plans to begin sales of electric vehicles in China by 2012.
“The government is interested in our plan because the environmental issues are becoming a critical issue in China,” Yasuaki Hashimoto, president of Nissan Motor (China) Ltd., told reporters at the Guangzhou auto show today. “China is one of the most important markets for electric cars.”
China has cut taxes on fuel-efficient vehicles to boost sales of less-polluting cars and it also plans to support local automakers’ research into alternative-energy vehicles. Still, Chinese drivers have shunned hybrid vehicles so far, with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius, the bestselling model in China, racking up 616 sales nationwide in the first nine months of the year.
via bloomberg
New Mini E Powered by AC Propulsion not Tesla
October 29, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
BMW will be leasing 500 Mini Es from dealers in New York, New Jersey and Southern California starting some time early in 2009. To be considered for one of these cars, you have to go to http://www.minispace.com/en_us/projects/electric-mini-e/ and sign up, but remember, they are only going to consider you if you live in one of the regions cited above. Read more
Audi Announces All Electric City Car
October 8, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Image Credit - Volkswagen
Audi has said that it plans to launch a small electric city car, which will be based on the VW Up! concept (artists rendering above).
Audi management board member, Peter Schwarzenbauer, speaking at last weeks Paris Motor Show, said, “we will offer a pure electric car.” He also said that the electric Audi “will not be based on the A1,” the firm’s entry into the premium supermini class. Read more
Chrysler Plays Electric Vehicle Catchup
October 1, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Chrysler is now throwing it’s hat into the electric drive ‘ring’ and is rolling out three different vehicles that it’s working on. They are badged simply as Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep EV. Like the Dodge ZEO, the Dodge is a lithium battery powered sports car that begins with a Lotus Europa and ditches the 2.0L four cylinder engine and transmission in favor of a 268 hp electric motor. In much the same way as a certain Silicon Valley based start-up, the only way to fuel up the EV is with a plug. It will take 4 hours to charge up from a 220V outlet or twice that long if only half the voltage is available. Read more
Nashville Runs Out of Gas as Rumors Spread
September 22, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Rumors spread earlier on today that Nashville town was about to run out of gas, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy and the town nearly did run out of gas. About 75 percent of the gas stations in Nashville were gas-free Friday, but no one knows how the rumor started. Read more
