Chrysler, Nissan end joint ventures

The shake-out from Italian carmaker Fiat taking control of US carmaker Chrysler continues with the company announcing today that it has ended its plans to jointly produce vehicles with Japan’s Nissan, including a world car and a version of the Nissan Tiida.

Fiat now plans to supply Chrysler with European designed and engineered small cars to [...]

Chrysler to adopt Fiat’s Multiair technology

According to a report in Automotive News, Chrysler is set to benefit almost immediately from its ties with Fiat as the American manufacturer prepares to adopt the Italian company’s fuel saving Multiair technology.

Director of Fiat Powertrain Technologies, Lucio Bernard, said Fiat’s Multiair technology could be fitted rather easily to Chrysler’s current engine lineup while explaining [...]

Head of US Auto Task Force resigns

The head of the US Auto Task Force, Steve Rattner, has resigned today after following through on his commitment to oversee the bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors.

Mr Rattner resigned following growing concerns that he may have been involved in an investment scandal.
Although details remain scarce, Mr Rattner recently became the target of an investigation [...]

‘New GM’ exits bankruptcy – prepares for future

Leaner, meaner and a with a whole lot less debt than it had 40 days ago, a new General Motors Company has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States.

GM’s chief executive officer, Fritz Henderson, has described the new company as the “most public private company in the world” a reference to the [...]

Judge approves General Motors sale plan

A US judge has approved General Motors’ bankruptcy sale, in a move that will allow the company’s most profitable assets to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under government ownership.

Reuters Newsagency says Judge Robert Gerber of the US bankruptcy court in Manhattan said the sale would “prevent the death of the patient on the operating table.”

US car sales show positive trend

In the first positive sign that an economic turn around may be on the horizon for the global automotive market, US sales have shown their smallest decline in nine months.

American vehicle sales fell 27.7 per cent in June, marking the smallest drop for the industry in nine months, but dashing hopes that demand would rise [...]

Karmann shuts up shop

German-based coachbuilder Karmann, best known for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia,  has officially closed its doors after being forced to file for bankruptcy in April.

The company produced 3.3 million convertibles and more than 1 million coupes for larger car companies since 1949 but due to falling demand in the face of the recent economic downturn, Karmann [...]

Chrysler gets back into production

Just a week after it finalised the deal with Italian carmaker Fiat that allowed it to move out of bankruptcy, Chrysler Group LLC has said it will restart seven of its North American plants the week of June 29.

The plants, which have been closed since Chrysler filed for bankruptcy on April 30, will open to [...]

Chrysler’s first plant resumes production

Chrysler Group LLC has resumed production at its first factory since emerging from bankruptcy last week: a Detroit plant that makes the low-volume Dodge Viper sports car.

The re-opening will bring some life to the Conner Avenue plant, which Chrysler has been unable to sell.

Fiat closes Chrysler deal

Fiat SpA has closed its acquisition of Chrysler’s strongest assets, a key step in the Italian carmaker’s ambitious plan to create a global player to ride out the worldwide automotive sales downturn.

The deal, announced jointly by Fiat and Chrysler, revives the 84-year old US carmaker that had been down to its last dollars before government [...]

Chrysler sale to Fiat approved by courts

The US Supreme Court has today given the green light for a government-backed sale of bankrupt manufacturer Chrysler LLC to a group led by Italy’s Fiat. The losers in the ruling were Indiana pension funds and other opponents who fought to delay the deal while they challenge Chrysler’s sale.

Many in the industry believe the Chrysler [...]

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