Auto Bailout “Progress” Defined: “Only” $28b in TARP Losses
Last week’s announcement that had Chrysler turned a Q1 profit and GM had “repaid” taxpayer loans brought a flurry of political posturing about the success or lack thereof of the auto bailout. With...
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Florida Governor Urged To Veto Red Light Camera Bill
A surprisingly vigorous effort is being made to urge Florida Governor Charlie Crist to veto the red light camera authorization bill passed by the legislature last month (view bill). The normally...
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Corn Ethanol Advocates Trash Dems
At least one of the institutions financing ads damning Democratic candidates this election season wants to put ethanol in your gas tank. The American Future Fund was founded by one Bruce Rastetter,...
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The Politics Of Car: Has Mike Jackson Defined The Car Guy Consensus?
AutoNation boss Mike Jackson has long been the front runner to inherit Bob Lutz’s mantle as the most opinionated guy in the car business, and recently he’s been moving to lock up the distinction....
View ArticleQuote Of The Day: Who Wants To See Gas Under $2 Per Gallon? Edition
Who’s ready for some politics? With the presidential election still over 14 months away, recent Iowa straw poll winner Michelle Bachmann is upping the campaign promise ante by telling a Greenville, SC...
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Texas: Top State Senator Says Red Light Cameras About Money
The most senior Texas state lawmaker admitted last week that he voted to save red light camera programs even though he knew they had no effect on public safety. State Senator John Whitmire...
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Canadian Condo Won’t Let Chevrolet Volt Owner Charge His Car
A Chevrolet Volt owner in Ottawa, Ontario has been blocked by his condominium board from charging his Chevrolet Volt – even though he has offered to reimburse the board for the $1 (approximately) in...
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UAW: Romney Trying To “Rewrite History” Over Bailout
Days after Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney penned an op-ed in the Detroit News over his thoughts on the bailout, UAW President Bob King is firing back. In a statement released to the...
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Blind Spot: Electric Cars And “The Freedom Thing”
Editor’s note: While our erstwhile Editor-in-Chief, Edward Niedermeyer, is on sabbatical, he will continue to weigh in on automotive issues in a (hopefully) weekly column entitled Blind Spot. This is...
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Sanctions Cause PSA To Suspend Iran Khodro Shipments
Sanctions imposed on Iran by the EU and the United States have compelled PSA to delay parts shipments to Iran Khodro until September at the earliest. Iran Khodro needs parts to build cars like the 206...
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Romney Would Sell GM Stock, Look For CAFE Alternatives
The Detroit News interviewed presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Tuesday, and the Republican candidate-to-be shared his thoughts on government ownership of GM stock and the future of CAFE. Romney told...
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California Congressman Alleges CAFE Benefits Bailout Recipients
Bloomberg is reporting that House Republicans, led by California Congressman Darrell Issa, are set to produce a report that heavily criticizes CAFE as a politicized move designed to curry favor with...
View ArticleGM, Chrysler To Political Candidates: GTFO
Click here to view the embedded video. Auto plant visits, long a staple of election-year vote-courting for politicians, are now banned at both GM and Chrysler plants until after the votes have been...
View ArticleConsumers in Tampa and Charlotte to Miss Out on Courtesy Car Deals as GM...
Click here to view the embedded video. Overlooked in the announcements by General Motors and Chrysler that their factories will not be hosting any presidential campaign events such as photo ops or...
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GM Bumps Up Q3 Results Prior To Election Day
General Motors hasn’t announced their Q3 financial results prior to November in six years, but they intend to announce them on October 31st, 2012 – just prior to the U.S. general election on November...
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Never Mind The McLaren: Why The Dacia Sandero Is The Star Of The Paris Motor...
The Paris Auto Show is about to kick off tomorrow, and some of the product set to debut has me cursing myself for not maxing out my Visa on a flight and a room at the lovely hotel that’s walking...
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Former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca Endorses Mitt Romney
Retired Chrysler CEO and former Ford president Lee Iacocca has endorsed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Iacocca is a political independent with a record of endorsing both Republicans...
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Did Government Meddling Cripple The Dodge Dart?
As we come to yet another hiccup in the launch of the Dodge Dart, it’s worth taking a look backwards to examine how we got to this point; the elimination of a second shift at the Dundee, Michigan...
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1 Million EV Goal Absent From State Of The Union
Those who watched the State of the Union address last night and have an interest in autos may have noticed a conspicuous absence; Barack Obama failed to mention his goal of putting 1 million EVs on...
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Obama Nominates Anthony Foxx As Next DOT Head
President Obama announced the nomination of Anthony Foxx, the current mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, as his choice to succeed Ray LaHood as the next head of the Department of Transportation....
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