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AUTOMAKERS NEWS * USA
* Michigan / USA - 2013 Pathfinder sheds heavy pickup truck underpinnings
Farmington Hills,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Doug Guthrie -August 4, 2012: -- Another sport utility vehicle has crossed over with Nissan's unveiling Friday of the 2013 Pathfinder. Among the last of the truck-based SUVs with its body mounted on a rugged steel frame, the completely redesigned Pathfinder is being built on the same lightweight unibody platform as the Nissan crossover vehicles Murano and Infinity JX 35... The new Pathfinder closely resembles the aerodynamically sleek concept introduced in January at Detroit's North American International Auto Show... Without a frame, the new Pathfinder cut 500 pounds from the 2012 model and improved its fuel consumption by 30 percent...
* Virginia / USA - Cheaper, redesigned VW Jetta deserves a 2nd look
Herndon,VA,USA -The Detroit News, by Larry Printz -August 4, 2012: -- Since its introduction in 1980, the Jetta has quickly become a top-seller for Volkswagen in the United States... The VW faithful were satisfied by the car's performance. The company was not... It was clear that consumers wouldn't pay a premium for VW's premium compact... So Volkswagen decided to meet the competition by producing a cheaper Jetta. When it made its debut for 2011, the Jetta's price started at $16,495, a substantial $1,740 less than the 2010 model...
* Michigan - Ford Van Dyke plant adds jobs, hybrid transmissions
Dearborn,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -August 3, 2012: -- Ford Motor Co.'s Van Dyke Transmission plant has officially added hybrid transmission capacity, adding 225 jobs... About 130 of those jobs are already filled and the rest will be filled as the plant ramps up production on transmissions for the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid... The plant employs about 1,350 workers... The Dearborn automaker says it is the only front-wheel drive hybrid transmission to be made in North America...
* Michigan - Caparo to close 2 Novi plants
Novi,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -August 4, 2012: -- A Metro Detroit auto supplier says it will permanently close both of its Novi plants this month... Caparo Vehicle Components Inc. says it was in the process of selling the company to an unnamed buyer, which recently backed out of a sale agreement because of a "lack of commitment" by customers... Caparo produces metal stampings, welded assemblies and other components for original equipment manufacturers and major auto suppliers. The division of London-based Caparo PLC has two manufacturing locations in Novi and another in San Luis Potosi, Mexico...
* New Jersey - Avis is said to pass on new merger talks with Dollar Thrifty
Parsippany,NJ,USA -Bloomberg News/The Detroit News, by Jeffrey McCracken and Mark Clothier -August 3, 2012: -- Avis Budget Group Inc. has decided against renewing its bid for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. after meeting with the company in the past month, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting... Dollar Thrifty, which is the target of a stalled takeover attempt by Hertz Global Holdings Inc., contacted Avis to solicit a new offer. Avis ended a previous formal pursuit of Dollar Thrifty in September 2011...
* DC - Legislation would end renting of recalled cars
Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -August 3, 2012: -- Democrats in the House and Senate introduced legislation this week to force rental car companies to stop renting unrepaired recalled vehicles... U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, and Dianne Feinstein, both D-Calif., introduced legislation that would prevent rental car firms from renting or selling cars or trucks that are under recall... Three of the nation's four major rental car companies refused to agree to a blanket pledge not to rent or sell unrepaired recalled vehicles... Boxer said in June that Hertz Global Holdings Inc., with 8,500 locations in 150 countries, had agreed to the pledge... She urged the other three major companies to follow suit...
- AUTO SALES -
* USA - New car, truck sales rise 9%
* Michigan - Sales of electric Focus dip sharply
Dearborn,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -August 3, 2012: -- Ford Motor Co. sold 38 electric Ford Focus cars in July — the latest sign of slow EV sales in the United States... The Dearborn automaker said sales of Focus EVs fell by more than half from the 89 sold in June... In seven months, Ford has sold 135 Focus EVs — including none in February, March or April... Ford built 121 Focus EVs in July and now has assembled 884 this year, up from 763 through the end of June...
Labels: automakers news USA
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