Not that we needed any more bad news on a mid-recession Tuesday morning, but it appears that things in Japan keep getting worse. First comes word from Honda that it's shelving plans for many new models for at least two years. That means many things--including no new, snazzy Acuras to compete in...Read More»
As bad as things may seem right now, we know they're likely to improve. America's economy will eventually rebound, Detroit will make itself presentable, and we'll find something new to worry about. Japan is facing a different problem--or at least its automakers are. Yeah, sure, they're dealing with...Read More»
In economics, a strong currency usually means good things for a nation's economy. When the dollar is strong, for example, the buying power of American businesses and individuals ramps up, making most of us pretty happy. The notable exception is with exports: when the dollar is doing well, it's...Read More»
In the grand tradition of C3PO, Hal, and Johnny 5, Nissan releases some whimsical, roboticized news by presenting us with its 'bot, BR23C. A "robotic micro-car that recreates bee characteristics with the goal of producing a system that prevents collisions altogether," the project studied, yes, the...Read More»
According to a new study by J.D. Power and Associates, shoppers reject most vehicles simply due to their experience while visiting a dealership. In its 2008 Escaped Shopper Study, released today, J.D. Power found that 80 percent of shoppers rejected a model they strongly considered based on dealer...Read More»
Safer, more efficient, more powerful--all terms bandied about in the auto industry as a new production year dawns. But applying these terms not just to its powertrains, a new development in airbag technology puts Honda at the forefront of the latest in active safety systems for automobiles. Honda...Read More»
Like most Western automakers, Ford Motor Co. has largely written off the Japanese market, where domestic-oriented consumers – and strict import laws – have largely limited the market potential for automotive imports. That said, Ford hasn’t given up entirely, as it demonstrated at this...Read More»
Carlos Ghosn’s the only CEO in the auto world to inspire his own comic book. But even the Brazilian with the yen for Japan can’t balance three car empires on his modest shoulders, it turns out — so Ghosn is giving up his role as operating chief of Nissan North America...Read More»
And the winner is…Tupelo, Miss. For all the states that missed on Toyota’s latest plant—don’t worry, they’re like trains, there’s another one coming in six months. Is Ford finally getting its act together? Some sales are getting stronger, and a subcompact is...Read More»
Winding Road says the Honda Civic Type R is coming to the U.S. Driving other Hondas on a backgrounder event, the online magazine’s man in Japan got lots of “heavy hints” that the 220-horsepower hot Civic would cross the Pacific in 2010. The U.S. version would likely be a four-door...Read More»
Nissan says it's offering buyouts to all its Tennessee hourly workers in a move announced today, proving that the pain in the auto-industry slump isn't being doled out entirely in Detroit. While GM, Ford and Chrysler have sliced large chunks out of their workforces, the Japanese brands have largely...Read More»
