Projo Cars Blog

August 2009 Archives


GM sees US auto sales growing by 2 million in 2010

2:06 PM Fri, Aug 28, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NOVI, Mich. -- An executive with General Motors said Friday the company sees U.S. auto sales growing by 2 million next year, according to The......

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Ford exec sees US auto sales rising in August

2:06 PM Fri, Aug 28, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK - A top Ford executive expects industrywide U.S. auto sales to rise for the first time in more than two years this month,......

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Analyst raises Ford estimate on increased sales

10:33 AM Thu, Aug 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK -- A Buckingham Research Group analyst upgraded shares of Ford Motor Co. Thursday, stating that the company's increased sales levels in North America......

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Backseat Driver: Another victim of drunk driving

10:33 AM Thu, Aug 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

My colleague Donita Naylor has already told the story of 28-year-old Joseph Hunt, a grill and sauté cook who was killed by an allegedly drunken......

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Backseat Driver: Museum of modified memories redux

10:33 AM Thu, Aug 27, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

First of all, let me officially apologise to Ric Mariscal whose name I misspelled in a recent article ("Museum of modified memories," Wed., Aug. 26)......

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Backseat Driver: Local film company looking for 1950s cars

10:33 AM Thu, Aug 27, 2009 | | Comments (3)
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

Here's a chance to get your 1950s wheels on the silver screen. A local film company is looking for classic cars for its film "Atomic......

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Cash for Clunkers generates 700,000 new car sales

9:07 AM Wed, Aug 26, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- Cash for Clunkers generated nearly 700,000 new car sales and ended under its $3 billion budget, the Transportation Department said Wednesday, according to......

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Chrysler sues Daimler over key 2010 vehicle parts

9:07 AM Wed, Aug 26, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK -- Chrysler Group has sued Daimler, saying the German automaker failed to uphold contracts for the delivery of crucial vehicle parts for its......

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Dealers hope for payment as Clunkers program ends

9:07 AM Wed, Aug 26, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The wildly successful $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program has generated more than half a million car sales, according to The Associated Press.......

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Cash for Clunkers a jolt for car sales, not a fix

9:01 AM Tue, Aug 25, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- Now comes the hard part for the auto industry - luring customers without big Cash for Clunkers discounts, according to The Associated Press.......

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Gov't extends deadline for clunkers paperwork

5:10 PM Mon, Aug 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The Transportation Department extended the deadline Monday for auto dealers to submit their Cash for Clunkers deals, giving them more time to make......

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Germany expects Opel talks with GM exec this week

10:39 AM Mon, Aug 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

BERLIN -- The German government anticipates a visit this week from a General Motors Co. executive as Berlin pushes for a quick decision on the......

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Cash for Clunkers program heads into final day

10:39 AM Mon, Aug 24, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

It was a race to the finish for dealers and customers alike as the government's Cash for Clunkers program headed into its final lap on......

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Obama admin. to end cash for clunkers on Monday

5:34 PM Thu, Aug 20, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will end the popular $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program on Monday, giving car shoppers a few more days to......

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Backseat Driver: Auto sales rebound in 2010?

9:19 AM Thu, Aug 20, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

J.D. Power sees U.S. auto sales rebounding by as much as 15 percent to 11.5 million vehicles next year, according to Automotive News. That's up......

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Toyota, Hybrid Innovator, Holds Back in Race to Go Electric

9:19 AM Thu, Aug 20, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

TOKYO -- Despite Toyota's image as the world's greenest automaker, the company that brought us the Prius -- totem of the environmentally conscious -- has......

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Administration plans to wind down clunkers program

9:19 AM Thu, Aug 20, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is developing plans to wind down the popular Cash for Clunkers program and could announce by Friday when the incentives......

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Backseat Driver: In the fast company of a race car driver

4:46 PM Wed, Aug 19, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

Following the NASCAR Camping World Series East Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park, Conn., track media man Rick Roso offered me a ride in......

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Oil prices jump on suprise draw down of US supply

12:49 PM Wed, Aug 19, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK -- Oil prices jumped above $70 a barrel Wednesday after the government reported a huge draw of crude oil from U.S. stockpiles, according......

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GM board to meet on Friday on Opel sale: sources

11:34 AM Wed, Aug 19, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

FRANKFURT - General Motors' board of directors will discuss on Friday the sale of its European business Opel, for which both Magna and RHJ are......

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Survey shows US automakers making improvements

1:27 PM Tue, Aug 18, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK -- All three U.S.-based automakers are doing a better job of satisfying their customers than they were a year ago, according to a......

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GM to boost output due to clunkers incentives

11:51 AM Tue, Aug 18, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT -- Higher sales from the government's Cash for Clunkers program have prompted General Motors Co. to boost production at several of its factories, according......

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Chrysler to make Fiat in Mexico: WSJ report

7:39 AM Mon, Aug 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

NEW YORK - Chrysler is planning to produce Fiat's 500 subcompact at a Chrysler plant in Mexico, according to The Wall Street Journal which cited......

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Volkswagen global July deliveries increase 6.7 percent

7:36 AM Mon, Aug 17, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen said Monday its worldwide deliveries increased by nearly 7 percent in July despite the global recession that has ravaged the sector this......

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Electric car future may power a charging industry

11:56 AM Thu, Aug 13, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

A big roll-out of charging stations could come in about six months said Kristen Helsel, director of electric vehicles at AeroVironment, according to Reuters. "What's......

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The palaver over the Chevrolet Volt's fuel rating

11:04 AM Thu, Aug 13, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

General Motors caused a stir Monday with the bold announcement that its gas-hybrid Chevrolet Volt, which is scheduled to hit the road in a couple......

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Backseat Driver: Can GM get the word out on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse?

11:04 AM Thu, Aug 13, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

General Motors is making a push to get on top of the quality curve with its new range of products and Pulitzer-prize winning Los Angeles......

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Ford Moves to Increase Production

10:24 AM Thu, Aug 13, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford will increase its production significantly in the fourth quarter to meet the higher demand from the government's "cash-for-clunkers" program, according to......

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GM says Volt to get 230 miles per gallon in city

9:04 AM Tue, Aug 11, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT -- General Motors said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving, more than......

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Backseat Driver: Drunk as a Skunk

11:24 AM Thu, Aug 06, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

We have now found out why Diane Schuler drove two miles the wrong way on New York's Taconic State Parkway before slamming into another vehicle......

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Backseat Driver: As the wind turns on I-95

10:38 AM Thu, Aug 06, 2009 | | Comments (1)
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

I was brought up short the other evening while driving south on I-95 by a sudden braking of the cars in front of me, the......

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Backseat Driver: Cell phones in car - the debate goes on

10:02 AM Thu, Aug 06, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

A number of readers have taken me to task for arguing that hands-free cellphones offer a "practical solution" to the dangers of cellphone use while......

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Senate to consider $2B 'clunkers' refill

8:55 AM Thu, Aug 06, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The Senate is poised to add $2 billion to the popular "cash-for-clunkers" program after lawmakers agreed to vote on the government car incentives......

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Rebates for 'Clunkers' Aid Ford Most as Car Sales Climb

4:14 PM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT -- The government's "cash for clunkers" program gave automakers a desperately needed sales boost in July, though their relief could be short-lived if the......

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GM buyout offers falls short of goal, layoffs loom

12:02 PM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT -- About 6,000 General Motors blue-collar workers have taken the latest round of early retirement and buyout offers, but it fell short of the......

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Obama administration presses Senate on 'clunkers'

12:00 PM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- The Senate came under increasing pressure Monday to refuel the stalling "cash-for-clunkers" initiative amid uncertainty over how much money, if any, is left......

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Cash for Clunkers boost Ford's July sales 1.6 percent

11:58 AM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT -- Ford says July sales rose nearly 1.6 percent over the same month last year as the government's wildly successful "cash-for-clunkers" program gave the......

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Car dealers applaud clunkers program as big shot in the arm

9:56 AM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

David Hersrud's small Chevrolet dealership in Sturgis, S.D., had shriveled so much from lack of customers this year that he was considering selling some of......

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Clunker trade-ins to boost July U.S. auto sales

9:56 AM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

DETROIT - The punishing four-year decline in U.S. auto sales may have reached a turning point this week -- just as Michael Papa handed over......

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Ball in Senate's court on 'cash for clunker' sales

9:52 AM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

WASHINGTON -- With the "cash for clunkers" program essentially running on fumes, the Obama administration served notice on the Senate that it must pour in......

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Oil jumps above $70 on optimism demand to recover

9:31 AM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 | | Write a comment
By Peter C. T. Elsworth    Email

SINGAPORE -- Oil prices leapt above $70 a barrel Monday in Asia on investor expectations a recovering global economy will boost crude demand, according to......

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