December 2006
Former Chrysler exec booted from Wal-mart
By Michelle Krebs December 8, 2006In the âwe called that oneâ department, Julie Roehm, who had been a rising star at Chrysler when she jumped ship to Wal-mart, has been fired from the nation's largest retailer, according to reports in The New York Times today. Roehm, 35, gained fame at Chrysler for buying Dodge the sponsorship in the controversial Lingerie Bowl, a television spectacle of women in lingerie playing football. The sponsorship proved so controversial, Chrysler withdrew. On the heels of that fiasco, Roehm landed Dodge a sponsorship at pre-Super Bowl party hosted by one of the lad magazines. The party reportedly had women dressed more
Ford ships Edge, MKX
By Michelle Krebs December 8, 2006And finally, Ford has begun shipping to dealers its critically important Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers. The vehicles had been delayed by manufacturing problems. Ford wouldn't detail the problems; they are rumored to be a parts supply issue or manufacturing problems at the company's Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant. Ford has touted the Edge, in particular, as the most important vehicle launch of the year. more
And another one bites the dust
By Michelle Krebs December 8, 2006Ford announced another top executive is leaving the company. Mark Schulz, 54, Ford executive vice president and president of international operations, will retire early next year. His imminent departure was suspected when he failed to show up at the important Beijing motor show in November, with a full schedule of events and press interviews planned. Schulz was responsible for Ford business in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific as well as global activities of the Premier Automotive Group, which consists of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. He was also in charge of the partnership with Mazda. Of late, there more
Would you buy a Ford built by temps?
By Michelle Krebs December 1, 2006Temporary workers will help build the Lincoln Town Car since so many Ford employees took buyouts this week With nearly half of its workforce accepting buyouts, Ford is recruiting temporary workers to help build cars at its Wixom, Mich., assembly, something it is likely to have to do at its other plants as well. Ford announced this week that 38,000 hourly workers, or 46 percent of its U.S. hourly workforce, had accepted early retirement or buyouts of $35,000-$140,000 by the Nov. 27 deadline. That puts Ford ahead of its goal of cutting 30,000 hours jobs by the end of more
GM's Got Some Explaining to Do
By Michelle Krebs December 1, 2006And, on the subject of plug-in hybrids, GM's got some explaining to doâat least to one 15-year-old car enthusiast I know in Michigan. When he read about GM's plan for the plug-in hybrid, his immediate reaction was: will its performance be comparable to gas-powered cars? how much will it cost in electric bills to re-charge it? how long will recharging take? how will it be re-charged on a cross-country trip? and where's the electricity to charge it coming from; that is, what kind of power-generation plant? I suspect many others have these same questions. more
Saturn: GM's environmental division
By Michelle Krebs December 1, 2006Image: General Motors Photo/Steve Fecht Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak introduces the new Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show Wednesday. The Aura Green Line will deliver at least a 25-percent fuel economy improvement over the non-hybrid Aura XE, for a premium of less than $2,500. General Motors is smartly positioning Saturn as its environmental division, an appropriate position many of us outsiders (and some Saturn/GM insiders) have been advocating. At this week's Los Angeles show, Saturn/GM took another step toward establishing Saturn as the GM environmental brand with the introduction of the Aura. more
Saturn Hybrid debuts as NYC taxi
By Michelle Krebs December 28, 2006A Saturn VUE Green Line recently was put into service as a taxi in New York City. This is the first GM vehicle to be approved by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission since 1996 when GM discontinued the rear wheel drive Caprice. GM's goal is to show other taxi operators that the VUE Green Line is an affordable hybrid taxi vehicle. The VUE Hybrid vehicle , now in service, has received very favorable comments from the driver and customers, according to owner/operator Placida Robinson. The Hybrid VUE has a sunroof and premium stereo system. It also the lowest more