News By Topic: Automobile Manufacturers

Johnson Controls Awarded Seat Systems Contract For Ford and Lincoln Models Produced in Michigan

Mar 6, 2003

PLYMOUTH, Mich., March 5 -- Automotive interior supplier Johnson Controls has been selected by Ford Motor Company to build and supply complete seat systems for a number of Ford and Lincoln models that are manufactured at the automaker's southeast Michigan plants. The supplier will provide seating systems for the Ford F ... Continue reading

Spherical Rotary Valve Diesel Engine Developed

Mar 6, 2003

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 5 -- Jeff England, CEO of McLean, England & Associates, LLC of Little Rock, Arkansas states, "We believe the spherical rotary valve combustion engine will be the 'bridge' technology that will take this country and the rest of the world from the inherently inefficient tappet valve engines we dri ... Continue reading

Sean Neall Rejoins JWT Detroit as Global Business Director, Ford

Mar 6, 2003

DETROIT, March 5 -- Peter A. Schweitzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of J. Walter Thompson Company, today announced that Sean Neall, 51, is returning to the company as Executive Vice President, Global Business Director on the Ford Motor Company account, based at JWT Detroit. Mr. Neall previously spent 13 year ... Continue reading

Ducati Motor Holding Confirms 2002 Results

Mar 6, 2003

Wins Double Victory with 999 at First World Superbike Race in Valencia BOLOGNA, Italy, March 5 -- Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. , a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today confirmed its consolidated results for 2002. Preliminary results, announced on February 14, 2003, remain unchanged after final app ... Continue reading

Ducati CEO Di Biagio Steps Down

Mar 6, 2003

Chairman Federico Minoli to Assume Chief Executive Responsibilities BOLOGNA, Italy, March 5 -- Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. , a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, announced that Carlo Di Biagio, Chief Executive Officer, has resigned from the company for personal reasons. Federico Minoli, Chairman of t ... Continue reading

Nissan North America Reports February Sales

Mar 5, 2003

GARDENA, Calif.--March 3, 2003--Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) reported February total sales of 51,225 units for its Nissan and Infiniti divisions, a 12.2 percent decrease versus February of last year. <p>INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS <ul><li>Infiniti, the luxury division of NNA, saw its best February ever with sales of 7,933 ... Continue reading

GM, Shell to Offer Hydrogen Fuel at Gas Station

Mar 5, 2003

DETROIT March 5, 2003; Sharon Silke Carty writing for Dow Jones reports that drivers in the Washington area will soon be able to get hydrogen at a local Shell gas station. General Motors Corp. and Shell Hydrogen are planning to give legislators the opportunity to kick the tires on the developing hydrogen-powered fuel-c ... Continue reading

Audi Reports Best Ever February Sales

Mar 5, 2003

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 4 -- Audi of America, Inc. reported February new car sales of 6,156, an increase over last February's sales of 6,125. This was Audi's best ever February selling month. ... Continue reading

Volkswagen Reports U.S. Sales for February

Mar 5, 2003

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 4 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. reported U.S. sales of 22,803 new cars for the month of February, a three percent increase over last year's sales of 22,122. ... Continue reading

BMW Group Sales Increase 6.5 Percent in February; Year-to-Date Sales Increase 15 Percent

Mar 5, 2003

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 4 -- The BMW Group (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported year-to-date sales increases of 15 percent for 38,950 compared to the 33,879 in the first two months last year. February sales for the BMW Group were up 6.5 percent to 19,127, compared to 17,956 for the same month in 2002. BMW Brand ... Continue reading

Car and Driver Magazine'5 Best Trucks' Luxury SUV Award to Volkswagen Top Management for the All-New Touareg at Geneva Auto Show

Mar 5, 2003

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 4 -- Car and Driver magazine has selected the all-new 2004 Volkswagen Touareg V8 as winner of the Luxury Sport- Utility Vehicle category in this year's "5Best Trucks" competition. The award was presented today to Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder, Volkswagen AG chief executive officer, and Dr. Jens Ne ... Continue reading

Review - 2003 VW Beetle Convertible GLS

Mar 5, 2003

THE AUTO PAGE By JOHN HEILIG SPECIFICATIONS MODEL: Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible GLS ENGINE: 2.0-liter inline four HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 115 hp @ 5,200 rpm/122 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic WHEELBASE: 98.7 in. LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 161.1 x 67.9 x 59.0 in. STICKER PRICE: $25,355 The world is defi ... Continue reading

Skoda Auto Shows Off New Sports Models At Geneva Show

Mar 5, 2003

PRAGUE March 4, 2003; Dow Jones reported that Czech carmaker Skoda Auto AS is introducing new sports versions of its Fabia model at the Geneva International Auto Show. The company, a unit of Germany's Volkswagen AG , is presenting a new rally car for use in the World Rally Championships and Fabia sports models incorpor ... Continue reading

Ferrari Sees '02 Sales Up 14%

Mar 5, 2003

MILAN March 4, 2003; Christopher Emsden writing for Dow Jones reported that Italian sports car maker Ferrari SpA will report 2002 sales of EUR1.28 billion, up 14% from the year before, Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said Tuesday. Earnings will rise by around 12%, di Montezemolo said at the Geneva motor show, a Fe ... Continue reading

Porsche Confirms Production Cuts on Boxster, 911

Mar 5, 2003

FRANKFURT March 4, 2003; Dow Jones reported that Porsche AG confirmed Tuesday it was cutting production by several thousand of its two sports car series, Boxster and 911. "We've said that sports car unit sales will not reach the level of the previous (fiscal) year," spokesman Manfred Ayasse said, "and this means logica ... Continue reading