Main page | May 17, 2007 »

Nice doggy! (Or: What's in a name?)

Maybe it's that no one in my extended family works for Chrysler or that until Monday's announcement that it had purchased a controlling stake in the automaker, I'd never even heard of Cerberus Capital Management, writes Detroit Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson.But my first reaction -- before I stopped to consider the impact on Michigan's economy or the U.S. auto industry or Chrysler workers -- was to wonder why a company with $60 billion would name itself after a three-headed monster, he writes.

Posted by   at 11:07 AM to Analysis | Permalink | Comments 0

The rise, fall, rise and fall of Chrysler

Check out this timeline of the history of Chrysler from asap's Stephanie Hoo and Peter Hamlin who trace the roller coaster ride of the venerated brand. Be sure to click on the interactive section.

Posted by   at 10:45 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Experts say oil refineries stretched too thin

Record gasoline prices have exposed the shortcomings of the aging U.S. refining system, but there are no quick fixes, a panel of energy experts told lawmakers Tuesday, according to USA Today.
That suggests gas prices will be vulnerable to refinery outages through the summer and one expert said gas shortages are possible, the paper reports.

Posted by   at 10:38 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Chevy Sequel Fuel-Cell Goes 300 Miles

General Motors claims to have the first electrically driven fuel-cell vehicle capable of going 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen - on public roads, according to thecarconnection.com.
Sequel's 300-mile route acrossNew York State began at GM's Fuel Cell Activity Center in Honeoye Falls, near Rochester, and finished in Tarrytown, just north of New York City, where a GM assembly facility was closed more than a decade ago.

Posted by   at 10:35 AM to Alternative fuels , Companies , Design , Fuel economy , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Board Clears Way for Chrysler Sale

DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board today formally cleared the way for the sale of most of the company's money-losing U.S. unit, Chrysler Group, to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by   at 10:32 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Congress Urged to Ease Pain of Gas Prices

The average U.S. household is already spending $1,000 more per year on gasoline than it did five years ago, two consumer groups say in testimony they plan to present to a House Judiciary Committee task force today, according to the Associated Press.
That's an increase of 85 percent, and rural households have been hardest hit because they spend about 20 percent more on gas than urban residents, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union said, citing Labor Department figures, AP reports.

Posted by   at 10:27 AM to Consumer rights , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Boston near top of cities with rude drivers

For the second consecutive year, rude Miami drivers have earned the city the title of worst road rage in a survey released Tuesday, according to CNN.
Other cities near the top of the rude drivers list were New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.Miami motorists said they saw other drivers slam on their brakes, run red lights and talk on cell phones, according to AutoVantage, a Connecticut-based automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance, CNN reports

Posted by   at 10:13 AM to Traffic | Permalink | Comments 0