The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

October 2008

Select Another Month

Friday, October 10, 2008

Warren Buffett looks to electric car in BYD stake

Warren Buffett looks to electric car in BYD stake

By Chris Oliver, MarketWatch HONG KONG Oct. 10, 2008 - Warren Buffett's recent purchase of a $232 million stake in China's BYD Co. represents an unusual move for the value investor who professes to favor companies with simple business models. Based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, BYD Co. has risen from obscur ... Continue reading

AAA Offers Consumer Checklist For Getting Quality Auto Repair

AAA Offers Consumer Checklist For Getting Quality Auto Repair

Checklist helps head off vehicle repair problems before they start ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Auto repair questions create major headaches for consumers, often causing motorists to dread taking their vehicle in for service. Which shop should I go to? Can I trust them? Will the repairs be done rig ... Continue reading

MANHEIM LOCATIONS RECEIVE TOP HONORS FROM CUSTOMERS AT NAAA CONVENTION

MANHEIM LOCATIONS RECEIVE TOP HONORS FROM CUSTOMERS AT NAAA CONVENTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lois Rossi October 10, 2008 Manheim (678) 645-2028 MANHEIM LOCATIONS RECEIVE TOP HONORS FROM CUSTOMERS AT NATIONAL AUTO AUCTION ASSOCIATION CONVENTION Manheim Dallas-Fort Worth Named NIADA Auction of the Year ATLANTA - Manheim operating locations from coast to coast received numerous awar ... Continue reading

Fleetwood Announces Motor Home Production Consolidation

Fleetwood Announces Motor Home Production Consolidation

- Production of motor homes in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, will be relocated to plants in Decatur, Indiana - RIVERSIDE, Calif., Oct. 10 -- Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. announced today that it is relocating motor home production from its plant in Paxinos, Pa., to its plants in Decatur, Ind. The Paxinos manufacturing facility, ... Continue reading

LA Times: 12 Vehicle Designs that Most Influence Today's Cars

LA Times: 12 Vehicle Designs that Most Influence Today's Cars

Washington DC October 10. 2008; Have you ever noticed that many new cars look suspiciously alike? On closer examination, you may be able to differentiate one from another – the badge, a grille, the unique hood design, etc. The L.A. Times has compiled a list of 12 vehicles that have had the greatest influence on mo ... Continue reading

Touring 3 National Championship Goes to Runoffs Rookie Spaude

Touring 3 National Championship Goes to Runoffs Rookie Spaude

TOPEKA, Kan. Oct. 10, 2008 – In his first visit to the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Bret Spaude, of Bushnell, Fla., earned the Touring 3 title, following a race-long battle with Kevin Fandozzi, of St. Joseph, Mo. Fandozzi would finish second followed by Bob Boileau, of Monument, Colo. ... Continue reading

New Audi A4 Earns Highest Federal Crash Test Rating

New Audi A4 Earns Highest Federal Crash Test Rating

- The redesigned 2009 A4 gains the coveted U.S. government 5-Star safety label for frontal, side and rollover crashes - Results affirm the strong commitment to safety at Audi - Top crash safety marks add to A4's segment-leading benefits, including fuel-economy, performance and interior roominess HERNDON, Va., Oct. 10 - ... Continue reading

President of GM Europe Calls for More Government Support for CNG; To Which We Say, "Hey GM, How About Selling Some of Your CNG Cars in the U.S.!"

President of GM Europe Calls for More Government Support for CNG; To Which We Say, "Hey GM, How About Selling Some of Your CNG Cars in the U.S.!"

A solution to General Motors' North American woes may be staring them right in the face By Marc J. Rauch Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher General Motors' Europe President Carl-Peter Forster made an ironic cry for government help during his 2008 Paris Motor Show presentation. In discussing carbon emission requirements ... Continue reading

Audi Selects Alcoa Wheel's Dura-Bright Technology for New A6

Audi Selects Alcoa Wheel's Dura-Bright Technology for New A6

CLEVELAND--Audi AG has selected Alcoa to supply forged aluminum wheels with Dura-Bright® technology surface treatment for the new 2009 Audi A6 recently debuting at the Paris International Motor Show. Dura-Bright® technology enhances the image of the vehicle and the ownership experience by making the wheels easy t ... Continue reading

Ziegler Wins Wild Touring 2 National Championship

Ziegler Wins Wild Touring 2 National Championship

TOPEKA, Kan. Oct. 10, 2008 – William Ziegler, of Stamford, Conn., won his first SCCA National Championship in dramatic fashion, as contact on the last lap sent then-leader Don Knowles, of Pittsboro, N.C., spinning across Ziegler’s nose and into the wall. Ziegler kept his cool to take the checkered flag, follo ... Continue reading

Premier Power Installs New Jersey's First Solar Parking Structure and Hybrid Charging Station

Premier Power Installs New Jersey's First Solar Parking Structure and Hybrid Charging Station

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif.--Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc. (OTCBB:PPRW), a leading solar integrator with operations in US and Europe, announced today that it has completed the first of two 201kW solar canopies which will total 402Kw, on the rooftops of two large six-story parking garages on each side of the new Tren ... Continue reading

China sees gasoline prices rise higher than U.S.

China sees gasoline prices rise higher than U.S.

China sees gasoline prices rise higher than U.S. http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007986/China-sees-gasoline-prices-rise -high er-than-U-S.html Shanghai, October 10 (Gasgoo.com) Following Beijing's recent rise in gasoline prices, China now claims a higher gasoline prices than the U.S., local Chinese media said today. C ... Continue reading

Dongfeng Yueda Kia miss sales target by Q3

Dongfeng Yueda Kia miss sales target by Q3

Dongfeng Yueda Kia miss sales target by Q3 http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007989/Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia-miss-sales-t arget -by-Q3.html Shanghai, October 10 (Gasgoo.com) To reverse the sales slide, South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group has decided to replace the general manager of its joint venture company Dongfeng Yueda Kia ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz sedan marked up by 630,000 yuan

Mercedes-Benz sedan marked up by 630,000 yuan

Mercedes-Benz sedan marked up by 630,000 yuan http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007987/Mercedes-Benz-sedan-marked-up-b y-630 -000-yuan.html Shanghai, October 10 (Gasgoo.com) Following the sales tax hike on big cars as of September 1, Mercedes-Benz China has recently announced the price markup of its 3.0L-plus models. Th ... Continue reading

Deal In The Net As Hearts Signs Up For Citroen

Deal In The Net As Hearts Signs Up For Citroen

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) has just signed a vehicle deal with Citroën Fleet to supply a range of cars for players, coaching staff and management. ... Continue reading

Farmers Skoda Sponsors Nottingham Panthers

Farmers Skoda Sponsors Nottingham Panthers

Farmers Skoda Nottingham has signed a sponsorship deal with the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team. The retailer is supplying three of the team's players with Skodas for a year. ... Continue reading

Big Thinking Brings The Ultimate Small Motorhome

Big Thinking Brings The Ultimate Small Motorhome

The company, based at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, is launching its new R10 Solo at International Caravan and Motorhome 2008, at the NEC between October 14 and 19 and it brings fresh and innovative thinking for those who love their motorhome to be compact rather than colossal. ... Continue reading

REVA Plans European Expansion

REVA Plans European Expansion

Following REVA's appointment of Keith Johnston as president of European operations, the Bangalore-based company is now pressing ahead with its planned European-wide distribution drive for its REVA electric car. ... Continue reading

Superb Greenline Goes On Sale

Superb Greenline Goes On Sale

Skoda is releasing the New Superb GreenLine on Monday 13th October bringing more choice to the range of low CO2 emitting vehicles in the UK. ... Continue reading

Land Rover Broadens Offsetting And Unveils New Green Technologies

Land Rover Broadens Offsetting And Unveils New Green Technologies

Land Rover today confirmed the extension of its industry leading CO2 offset initiative to the company's fast growing Middle East market. The programme, which started on 1 October, will balance emissions from the first 72,000 km of customer use on vehicles sold in the Gulf and Levant region and the CO2 generated by Land ... Continue reading

GM Powertrain Europe And AVL Announce New Ownership For Södertälje Powertrain

GM Powertrain Europe And AVL Announce New Ownership For Södertälje Powertrain

General Motors Powertrain Europe today announced the consolidation of its Swedish Powertrain Engineering operations in Trollhättan and the sale of its Södertälje Powertrain operation to AVL, a global engineering organization based in Graz, Austria. ... Continue reading

The Cleanest Diesel Is Also Ultra-Efficient

The Cleanest Diesel Is Also Ultra-Efficient

The new Audi Q7 3.0 TDI with ultra low emission system is the cleanest diesel in the world, and an extremely economical form of propulsion. This was demonstrated on the very first leg of the Audi Mileage Marathon which commenced on 06 October, from New York to Washington. ... Continue reading

Patrick Pélata Appointed Renault Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Pélata Appointed Renault Chief Operating Officer

Renault SA has today announced that Patrick Pélata is appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) responsible for operations, reporting to President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn. The appointment is effective October 13th 2008. The change was announced consistent with a long-term pre-determined strategy and the desire of the Pres ... Continue reading

Internet Auto Award 2008: The Mercedes-Benz SL is Europe's Most Popular Roadster

Internet Auto Award 2008: The Mercedes-Benz SL is Europe's Most Popular Roadster

The new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster has won the Internet Auto Award 2008. Voted top in the Convertibles & Roadsters category, it received the prestigious CAROLINA award. ... Continue reading

Audi the Clear Victor at 7th Internet Auto Awards

Audi the Clear Victor at 7th Internet Auto Awards

Five first-place finishes and a special award for Audi at the 7th Internet Auto Awards: a truly impressive achievement for the brand with the four rings. In the automotive industry's largest online poll, the Audi A3, A4, A6, A8 and R8 models all finished at the top of their respective classes, which earned them 'Caroli ... Continue reading

Continental Land Opening Ceremony for New Tire Plant in Hefei, China

Continental Land Opening Ceremony for New Tire Plant in Hefei, China

Continental, one of the top five global leading automotive suppliers, convened the land opening ceremony for its new plant in Hefei on October 10, 2008. Located in Hefei New and High Technology Industrial Development Zone, this new plant features the first phase project of around 70,000 square meters of constructional ... Continue reading

GOOD NEWS: Americans are Drivng 62 Billion Miles Less - BAD NEWS: They're Ignoring Important Service - VIDEO STORY

GOOD NEWS: Americans are Drivng 62 Billion Miles Less - BAD NEWS: They're Ignoring Important Service - VIDEO STORY

DETROIT - October 10, 2008: While the U.S. Department of Transportation reports Americans have driven an estimated 62.6 billion miles less since November 2007, car manufacturers say it does not mean maintenance check-ups should also decrease. General Motors reports vehicles driven less still need basic care to maintain ... Continue reading

Endurance Race in Mexico City, Season Finale at Miami Among Highlights on 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series Schedule

Endurance Race in Mexico City, Season Finale at Miami Among Highlights on 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Oct. 9, 2008 - A featured endurance race in Mexico City and a new home in South Florida for the season finale join the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona as highlights on the 2009 schedule for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The 2009 schedule will feature 1 ... Continue reading

GOODYEAR-NASCAR PRESS CONFERENCE

GOODYEAR-NASCAR PRESS CONFERENCE

Stu Grant, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Robin Pemberton<br> Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, Indianapolis Motor Speedway<br> <p> MODERATOR: We appreciate everyone coming in today for the Goodyear tire test. It's always good to be back here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but we thought we'd give you all an update on the hard work t ... Continue reading

Unification Spurred Ultra-Competitive Season

Unification Spurred Ultra-Competitive Season

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 - The quest for the 2008 IndyCar Series championship was one of the most difficult in series history. Drivers such as Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon, who had previously won IndyCar Series championships, learned in late February that they would be competing against the like ... Continue reading

Final Day of Runoffs Qualifying Ends with Nine Grids Set for Friday

Final Day of Runoffs Qualifying Ends with Nine Grids Set for Friday

TOPEKA, Kan. Oct. 9, 2008 – As the final day of qualifying at the 45th Annual SCCA National Championship Runoffs came to a close, several familiar names topped their respective qualifying grids, nine of which will take the green flag on Friday. The first race of the day on Friday will be the Touring 2 class with d ... Continue reading

SPECIAL EDITION TAG HEUER SUNGLASSES DESIGNED BY F1 CHAMP

SPECIAL EDITION TAG HEUER SUNGLASSES DESIGNED BY F1 CHAMP

For those looking to speed up their holiday gift shopping, TAG Heuer Eyewear introduces Speedway sunwear – sporty sunglasses created in consultation with 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Räikkönen. Speedway sunglasses feature a lightweight titanium alloy frame, shock-resistant polycarbonate lenses and super-adhe ... Continue reading

Royal Dutch Shell Signs Global Framework Agreement With Astrata for Worldwide, In-vehicle Monitoring System

Royal Dutch Shell Signs Global Framework Agreement With Astrata for Worldwide, In-vehicle Monitoring System

Astrata to supply real-time vehicle tracking to Shell COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 9 -- Astrata Group (OTC Bulletin Board: ATTG) today announced it has agreed to provide Royal Dutch Shell plc with a worldwide In-vehicle Monitoring system (IVMS). Astrata's IVMS will be installed in Shell's 'high risk vehicles' in order to i ... Continue reading

Navistar Expands Military Applications by Leveraging Commercial Vehicle Platforms

Navistar Expands Military Applications by Leveraging Commercial Vehicle Platforms

WARRENVILLE, Ill.--Navistar Defense, LLC continues to expand its defense products by leveraging its expertise to convert commercial vehicles for military applications in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two contracts totaling $60.4 million were awarded to Navistar Defense today. The contracts were awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM L ... Continue reading

BorgWarner Dual-Clutch Technology Shifts Into High Gear on BMW M3

BorgWarner Dual-Clutch Technology Shifts Into High Gear on BMW M3

BorgWarner's DualTronic(R) Technology Shifts Quickly and Smoothly, Improves Acceleration and Fuel Economy AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 9 -- BorgWarner will supply its DualTronic(R) clutch module for the 7-speed "M double-clutch transmission (DCT) Drivelogic" in the BMW M3, recently launched in Europe, the United States an ... Continue reading

Titan International Inc. Announces the Retirement of Chief Operating Officer

Titan International Inc. Announces the Retirement of Chief Operating Officer

QUINCY, Ill.--Ernest Rodia will retire as Titan’s chief operating officer on October 31, 2008. Rodia came to Titan in 2005 after a 37-year career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where he retired as vice president of global engineering and manufacturing technology. “Ernie led Titan’s team on the de ... Continue reading

SuperShuttle International Inc. Acquires Shamrock Transportation in Fort Collins, Colo.

SuperShuttle International Inc. Acquires Shamrock Transportation in Fort Collins, Colo.

Acquisition creates largest ground transportation service in Northern Colorado PHOENIX, Oct. 9 -- SuperShuttle International, Inc. announced today it has acquired Shamrock Taxi and Shamrock Airport Express in Ft. Collins, Colo. creating the largest on-demand transportation company in Colorado. This will increase SuperS ... Continue reading

Titan International Inc. Board of Directors Extends Chairman/CEO Contract

Titan International Inc. Board of Directors Extends Chairman/CEO Contract

QUINCY, Ill.--Titan International Inc. announces that the employment contract for Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Maurice M. Taylor Jr. has been extended two years, to 2012. “The Board of Directors proposed a two-year addition to my contract, but before I agreed, I had my doctor, Dan Megler, give me a physica ... Continue reading

Navistar Financial on Path for Early Renewal of $800 Million Wholesale Funding Facility

Navistar Financial on Path for Early Renewal of $800 Million Wholesale Funding Facility

WARRENVILLE, Ill.--Navistar International Corporation announced today that its wholly owned finance subsidiary, Navistar Financial Corporation, consistent with previous guidance, has reached agreement with its bank counterparties on the key terms and conditions for an early renewal of its $800 million dealer floor plan ... Continue reading

Search The Auto Channel

The Auto Channel content library (since 1996) has grown to become the world’s most extensive and complete interactive archive of automotive centric news, articles, reviews and intense event coverage, presented to viewers as Text, Video and Images.

The Auto Channel Content by Topic

Vehicle manufacturers and alt fuels.