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LaSorda appears key in UAW talks

That Cerberus Capital Management is keeping Tom LaSorda in a leadership role at Chrysler is an indication of how important he is to the ongoing labor negotiations with the UAW, according to industry watchers cited by the Detroit Free Press.

Robert Nardelli being officially named Monday the No. 1 executive at Chrysler and LaSorda being demoted to the No. 2 position by the Auburn Hills automaker's new owner comes at a particularly awkward time for the company, which already is engaged in contract talks with the union to craft a new agreement. The agreement is to replace the current one, which expires in September.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:20 AM to Chrysler , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

50-cent gas tax intrigues Mulally, but market a worry

Ford CEO Alan Mulally created a stir in Traverse City yesterday among auto industry leaders and the news media by expressing interest in a 50-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax proposed a day earlier by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, according to the Detroit Free Press.
That's a headline-grabber, but may not really be the most important news out of his comments. He also voiced concern about a recent dip in total U.S. car and truck sales to levels not seen since 1998.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:17 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Automakers highlight low-CO2 vehicles

Automakers are putting a new emphasis on cars and trucks that excel at cutting carbon-dioxide emissions to reduce global warming, according to USA Today.

In the past, CO2 was treated as just a component of the noxious vapors spewing from tailpipes. Now, it's being singled out.

"Thanks to (former vice president) Al Gore, people are becoming aware of this extra factor," says Dominick Infante, spokesman for Subaru, which is looking to reduce its CO2 footprint. "It's becoming something people are wondering about."

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:09 AM to Alternative fuels , Design , Environment , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Buick, Lexus tie for top spot in vehicle dependability

Buick tied with Lexus as the highest-ranking brand in a closely watched study of vehicle dependability, marking the first time in 12 years that Lexus has shared the top award, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday, according to USA Today.

Cadillac, Mercury and Honda rounded out the top five brands in the annual survey, which measures problems experienced by the original owners of three-year-old vehicles. Both Buick and Lexus had 145 problems per 100 vehicles.

The worst-performing brand, Land Rover, had 398 problems. The industry average was 216 problems, down from 227 in last year's survey.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:06 AM to GM , Maintenance , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Importer recalls 255,000 Chinese-made tires

A tire importer said Thursday it would recall 255,000 Chinese-made tires it claims were defective because they lack a safety feature that prevents tread separation, according to USA Today.

The recall involves half the number of tires that the importer, Foreign Tire Sales, had identified in June as possibly posing a risk.

The models involved are steel-belted radial replacement tires for pickups, vans and sport-utility vehicles that consumers bought from early 2004 through mid-2006, Foreign Tire Sales said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:02 AM to China , Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Remain Near $72 a Barrel

Oil prices held near $72 a barrel Thursday despite a U.S. government report showing big declines in crude and gasoline stocks and an unexpected drop in refinery activity, according to the Associated Press.

Light, sweet crude for September delivery was down 16 cents to $71.99 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe. The contract moved between $71.66 and $72.40 during early trading.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 8:57 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0