Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – BMW is recalling 89,000 Mini brand cars in the United States over faulty water pumps that can malfunction and cause engine compartment fires. The recall comes some three months after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a defects investigation, citing 12 reports of fires in the vehicles. Five of the fires reportedly destroyed the cars, NHTSA reported. BMW said it is unaware of any injuries or accidents caused by pump malfunctions. The vehicles recalled include seven models of the Mini series, ranging in model years from 2007 to 2011. BMW is recalling 235,535 worldwide, including 88,911 cars in the U.S. BMW will notify car owners by mail in [...] Continue Reading…
Bad water pumps prompting recall of thousands of Mini autos
January 18th, 2012 
davidguide VW sells record 5.1 million cars in 2011
January 8th, 2012 davidguide Linda Young – AHN News Writer
Wolfsburg, Germany (AHN) – Volkswagen AG announced it had record sales of 5.1 million cars and sport-utility vehicles worldwide in 2011. Sales were up worldwide by 13.1 percent in 2011 from 2010, company officials said. Volkswagen is Europe’s largest carmaker. Although much of its growth came from gains in China, India, Russia and the United States, its two largest markets were Europe and China. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker sold 1.72 million vehicles in each of those markets. However, company officials said they expected challenges in the market environment for 2012. VW officials credited new versions of some models, such as the Passat, Jetta and Beetle for helping to boost sales in “difficult market conditions.” [...] Continue Reading…
Saab files for bankruptcy after Chinese deal fails
December 29th, 2011 davidguide Matthew Borghese – AHN News Contributor
Trollhattan, Sweden (AHN) – Swedish carmaker Saab is filing for bankruptcy after a deal to infuse Chinese funds fell through over technology licensing objections from American shareholders. The Chinese deal was the last hope for Saab, which has suspended work at its main factory and has failed to pay employees. Saab CEO Victor Muller personally filed the bankruptcy papers and admitted it was “the darkest day in my career, probably in the history of Saab.” “But we had no other alternatives,” Muller explained. Saab was in talks with Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. Ltd. (Youngman) and a bank in China about an equity interest in in Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan). However, General Motors (GM) opposed the [...] Continue Reading…
Nine months after halting production, Saab files for bankruptcy
December 19th, 2011 davidguide Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Zeewolde, Netherlands (AHN) – Cash strapped car maker Saab Automotive filed for bankruptcy Monday nine months after halting production due to lack of funds. The filing follows former owner General Motors’ objections to a substantial investment from China’s Zhejang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co., that could have saved the 74-year-old brand. In a press release the company said, “After having received the recent position of GM on the contemplated transaction with Saab Automobiles, Youngman informed Saab Automotive that the funding to continue and complete the reorganization of Saab Automotive could not be concluded. The Board of Saab subsequently decided that the company without further funding will be insolvent and that filing bankruptcy is in the best interest of [...] Continue Reading…
Chrysler to revive Dodge Dart as its new small car
December 9th, 2011 davidguide Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Detroit, MI, United States (AHN) – Chrysler’s Dodge Dart has found new life as a smart car. Chrysler Group LLC said its new smart car, the first vehicle to feature Fiat SpA technology, will be called the Dodge Dart. The vehicle, currently in production, will be highlighted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The debut of the new Dart will mark the first small-car offering from Chrysler in more than a decade. The car will also allow Fiat to increases its stake in Chrysler to 58.3 percent once the smart car is certified by the government as delivering 30 miles per gallon. The Dart was first introduced in 1960 [...] Continue Reading…
Toyota adding 1,500 jobs in United Kingdom
November 29th, 2011 davidguide Linda Young – AHN News Writer
Derbyshire, United Kingdom (AHN) – Toyota has announced plans to add up to 1,500 new jobs at its Burnaston factory in Derbyshire in the United Kingdom. Company officials say that Toyota will invest more than $155 million into making the factory its sole European plant for the next hatchback it introduces. Prime Minister David Cameron was touring the factory when news of the new production was announced and he hailed it as a vote of confidence for UK manufacturing. He also noted that it would be a huge boost for the economy. The new hatchback will be a small family vehicle similar in size to Toyota’s existing Auris model and cars by other manufacturers such as [...] Continue Reading…
Honda Civic natural gas car named 2012 Green Car of the Year
November 19th, 2011 davidguide Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – The all new 2012 Honda Civic Natural gas car was named Green Car of the Year Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Civic, the only factory built CNG powered car produced in America, was presented with the honors by editors of Green Car Journal, representing a diverse panel of environmental experts and automotive enthusiasts who annually select a single vehicle for its outstanding environmental performance. The Civic Natural Gas engine produces almost zero smog forming emissions, and it is the cleanest internal combustion vehicle certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The new car features new styling, enhanced feature content and increased fuel economy. The redesigned 2012 [...] Continue Reading…
GM refuses to supply technology if Saab sold to Chinese
November 9th, 2011 davidguide Linda Young – AHN News Writer
Detroit, MI, United States (AHN) – The sale of Saab to Chinese investors is going from a done deal to a deal undone by General Motors’ decision to stop supplying its technology to any potential buyers in China. GM’s sudden announcement puts the brakes on the sale of Saab by its current owner, Swedish Automobile, to Chinese investors Pang Da Automobile Trade and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile. Swedish Automobile purchased Saab from GM in 2010. GM was still supplying technology for the vehicles. In the meantime, Saab has had financial problems, and auto production shut down earlier this year after Swedish Automobile was unable to meet payroll for Saab workers. Pang Da Automobile Trade and [...] Continue Reading…
Chinese companies buying automaker Saab
October 30th, 2011 davidguide Linda Young – AHN News Writer
Stockholm, Sweden (AHN) – Struggling automotive icon Saab will change hands again in a proposed deal to save it from bankruptcy by selling it to two Chinese companies. Swedish Automotive will sell its Saab unit to Chinese distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade and auto manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile. The two will pay a mere $142 million for the 62-year old auto manufacturer. General Motors sold Saab to Swedish Automotive only 2 years ago as part of GM’s restructuring to avoid bankruptcy itself. Since that sale, Saab has had extreme economic woes that it has not manufactured a car since April and it has been in court trying to avoid bankruptcy. China has become the [...] Continue Reading…
Mini Cooper engine fires spark investigation
October 20th, 2011 davidguide Linda Young – AHN News Writer
Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Reports of a rising number of Mini Cooper engine fires have caused federal investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to begin an investigation. BMW manufactures the car. NHTSA says its Office of Defect Investigations is trying to determine if a recall is needed. No injuries were reported in the dozen complaints of engine fires in the Mini Cooper sport coupes. So far, the complaints report the fires were in the engine compartment of Mini Cooper S models from the 2007 and 2008 model years, including the Clubman and Convertible models. Five of the 12 fires resulted in a total loss of the car. Eight of [...] Continue Reading…
