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Top 10 vehicles for older drivers

Edmunds.com has developed a top 10 list of vehicles for older drivers. Included are hybrids for those who think green and a minivan for those who need the room to haul grandchildren, full-size sedans as well as a couple of smaller sedans for those who like the ease of a compact. There's a fun-to-drive SUV, as well as high-end luxury sedans for those seniors with the means to afford the very latest in technology.

Posted by   at 11:04 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler could see further job cuts

Even if DaimlerChrysler AG sells its Chrysler unit to a labor-friendly private equity buyer, it may still cut 25,000 jobs, a leading brokerage told the Detroit Free Press.
Chrysler Group, which lost $1.5 billion last year, already has announced plans to cut 13,000 jobs in the next three years in hopes of returning to profitability.
Lehman Brothers analyst Brian Johnson said that number could grow to 25,000 and the plan could include health care concessions from U.S. autoworkers.

Posted by   at 10:56 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Toyota contiunues playing catchup with GM

Toyota continues to close in on General Motors as the world’s biggest vehicle maker as its global production climbed in February for the 28th straight month, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Toyota reported worldwide output totaled 680,968 vehicles in February, up 0.9 percent from the same month last year. Last year, Toyota’s global output surged 10% to 9.018 million vehicles, bringing it closer to Detroit-based GM, which produced 9.18 million vehicles worldwide in 2006.
Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, said its global production rose 5.6% to 301,897 units in February.

Posted by   at 10:50 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Mich. Gov. seeks support of UAW

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm urged UAW members at its bargaining convention today to support her efforts to prevent massive cuts in the state budget, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Granholm also commended UAW leadership for continuing to fight for worker rights, wages and benefits, the paper said. State and federal officials should be working to “level up” the playing field by requiring other nations to raise their standards, Granholm told more than 1,500 UAW delegates.

Posted by   at 10:47 AM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW head takes stand against more concessions

The head of the United Automobile Workers union says auto workers are done making sacrifices,according to the New York Times. Ron Gettelfinger opened the U.A.W.’s two-day bargaining convention yesterday by saying that he would take a hard line against more concessions, even if it meant calling a strike.
Gettelfinger has been criticized by some members for not taking a firm enough stance against wage and benefit cuts, made clear Tuesday that workers are done making sacrifices.

Posted by   at 10:43 AM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

KPMG to announce world car at N.Y. Auto Show

Accounting firm KPMG said today the three finalists for its 2007 World Car of the Year are the Audi TT, Lexus LS460 and MINI, according to PR Newswire
The winners of the 2007 WCOTY will be unveiled during Press Preview at the upcoming New York International Auto Show Thursday, April 5. To be eligible for a World Car award, the contender had to be in production, and sold, in at least five countries on two continents during 2006. Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 44 top-level automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world.

Posted by   at 10:31 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0