News By Topic: Automobile Manufacturers

BMW Donates Motorcycles for Pentagon's First Police Motorcycle Unit

Feb 25, 2003

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Feb. 25 -- BMW of North America, LLC has donated six R 1100 RT-P police motorcycles to the United States Department of Defense to assist the Pentagon Police in establishing its first motorcycle unit. The donation is part of the company's program to provide motorcycles to law enforcement agencies i ... Continue reading

Review: 2003 Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer

Feb 25, 2003

2003 Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer Base price: $42,780 Price as tested: $46,535 EPA mileage: Not rated By Des Toups The 19-foot-long, 7½-foot-wide, 7,100-pound Ford Excursion is a four-wheeled Flying Dutchman, doomed to circle the block endlessly but unable to park. The Excursion was too tall for the airport garage, too ... Continue reading

Mini One D - First Diesel Mini

Feb 25, 2003

The MINI One D will travel to Geneva to make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on 4 March 2003. It will be the fourth model to join the MINI range and is the first series production MINI ever to feature a diesel engine. Combining the fuel economy of a modern diesel engine, whilst maintaining the agile driving ... Continue reading

VW's Audi Aims To Lift A3 Sales To Around 120,000 In 2003

Feb 25, 2003

INGOLSTADT, Germany February 25, 2003; Dow Jones reported that Volkswagen AG unit Audi AG said Tuesday it aims to sell about 120,000 of its revamped A3 compact car this year, up from 115,051 in 2002. Audi is to launch a new version of the A3 this spring. ... Continue reading

Toyota Sees U.S. Minivan Market Growing in Next Few Years

Feb 25, 2003

DETROIT February 25, 2003; Dow Jones reported that even though the minivan market, overpowered by sport-utility vehicles, has been contracting in recent years, Toyota Motor Corp. predicts industry sales of family vans will grow as much as 18% over the next two years, The Wall Street Journal has learned. Don Esmond, a s ... Continue reading

Toyota Sues Small China Car Co In Trademark Spat

Feb 25, 2003

SHANGHAI February 25, 2003; Dow Jones reportes that Toyota Motors Corp. has sued a small private Chinese car company for alleged trademark infringement, a sign of how foreigners are taking actions by even the smallest rivals seriously in China's growing and competitive auto market. The Japanese auto giant asked Zhejian ... Continue reading

Ford settles suit in fatal E350 van crash. Carmaker was accused of hiding safety records

Feb 25, 2003

February 24, 2003; John Porretto writing for the AP reported that Ford Motor Co. has settled a lawsuit in which it was accused of hiding evidence regarding the safety of its 15-passenger vans and in which a federal judge said the automaker's conduct "almost borders on criminal." The world's second-largest automaker was ... Continue reading

Volkswagen Launches Convertible Beetles Next Week

Feb 25, 2003

MEXICO CITY February 24, 2003; Dow Jones reported that German car maker Volkswagen AG said Thursday it will begin distributing its new Beetle Cabrio, which is manufactured in Mexico, next week. The convertible, an adaptation of the New Beetle that Volkswagen launched with much fanfare five years ago, went on sale in th ... Continue reading

DaimlerChrysler workers strike at Ontario truck plant

Feb 24, 2003

St. Thomas February 24, 2003; Dan Hart writing for Bloomberg News reported that DaimlerChrysler AG workers at an Ontario heavy-truck factory went on strike last night after the company and the Canadian Auto Workers Union were unable to reach agreement on a new contract. About 1,100 production and maintenance workers at ... Continue reading

China's Auto Sales Shoot up 77 Percent in January

Feb 24, 2003

Beijing February 24, 2003; The Peoples Daily reported that sales of Chinese-made vehicles maintained robust growth in January, according to an industry association. Vehicle sales last month rose by 77.69 per cent year-on-year to 323,200 units, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said at the weekend. The f ... Continue reading

Monaco Coach Corporation Announces Appointment Of Dennis Oklak to Its Board of Directors

Feb 24, 2003

COBURG, Ore., Feb. 24 -- Monaco Coach Corporation today announced the appointment of Dennis D. "Denny" Oklak to its Board of Directors. Mr. Oklak is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Duke Realty Corporation, one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the United States. From 1986 through Januar ... Continue reading

Valeo Extends Wiper System Leadership with General Motors

Feb 24, 2003

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 24 -- Valeo, global leader in wiper systems, has been selected by General Motors to supply wiper systems and components for the next generation of GM full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and full-size passenger cars. "This is an extremely important contract for Valeo," sai ... Continue reading

Cummins Expands Cooperation With Dongfeng Automobile

Feb 24, 2003

COLUMBUS, Ind.--Feb. 24, 2003-- Cummins Inc. and Dongfeng Automobile Company Limited (DFAC), a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Company (DFM), announced on Saturday that DFAC's licensee plant, which produces Cummins B series engines, and Cummins cylinder block and head machining company will be integrated into the Cummins ... Continue reading

S&P Assigns Honda Auto Rec 2003-1 Owner Tr Prlim Rtgs

Feb 24, 2003

NEW YORK--Feb. 24, 2003--Standard & Poor's--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today assigned its preliminary ratings to Honda Auto Receivables 2003-1 Owner Trust's $1.54 billion asset-backed notes series 2003-1 (see list). The preliminary ratings are based on information as of Feb. 24, 2003. Subsequent information may ... Continue reading

First Pickup Truck Joins Ranks of AAA Auto Guide Award Winners; Mini Cooper Named Coolest Car

Feb 24, 2003

ORLANDO, Fla.--Feb. 24, 2003--AAA has selected 13 vehicles as best in their class, including the first pickup truck ever to make the list, naming them the 2003 AAA Auto Guide Award winners. AAA's team of evaluators chose Dodge Ram as its first truck winner for its "good looks, performance and creature comforts." The Mi ... Continue reading