Posted on July 2, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Filed under: Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown | Divesting and Restructuring
Tagged: chrysler , general motors , NADA

Can auto dealers do anything to fight back against the mass closings ordered by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC, and the changes being required of those dealers who are retaining their franchises? Not a whole lot, according to National Automobile Dealer's Association chairman John McEleney, speaking on CNBC...  Continue reading

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Posted on July 2, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Filed under: Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown | Divesting and Restructuring
Tagged: cato institute , general motors corp.

The deadline is July 10. The Feds won't fund bankrupt General Motors Corp. past then, we learned Wednesday, so unless the court approves a 363 sale and the creation of the new GM by, let's see, a week from Friday, we're looking at liquidation. This and much more about what...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 30, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Filed under: Detroit Breakdown | Divesting and Restructuring | Joint Ventures and Alliances
Tagged: general motors corp. , NUMMI , Toyota Motor Corp.

General Motors Corp.'s decision to drop out of a California joint venture has created a difficult decision for partner Toyota Motor Corp.Bankrupt GM said Monday that its 50% stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., or Nummi, facility in Freemont would not be part of the revitalized company that...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 29, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown
Tagged: ArvinMeritor , Gabriel North America , OpenGate Capital

ArvinMeritor Inc. (NYSE:ARM) has sold auto parts supplier Gabriel North America to private equity firm OpenGate Capital for an undisclosed amount. Gabriel makes shock absorbers and strut assemblies for the after-market and original equipment manufacturer segments. The deal is part of ArvinMeritor's strategy to exit the light vehicle market and...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 29, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown | Integration
Tagged: jaguar land rover , tata motors ltd.

When India's Tata Motors Ltd. bought Jaguar Land Rover from Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) a little more than a year ago for $2.4 billion, the economic storm clouds were already gathering. So on Sunday, when chairman Ratan Tata and other executives officially launched the British brands in India, the hoopla...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 29, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Filed under: Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown | Growth Strategy

Yes, you read that headline right. Except the consultants making the argument -- Ronald Haddock and John Jullens of Booz & Co. -- published an article making that case without even using the question mark. The piece appears in the firm's Strategy+Business journal.To understand their sunny outlook, you have to...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 25, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Filed under: Detroit Breakdown | Divesting and Restructuring
Tagged: hertz

Good news for automakers: Someone is buying cars. The CEO of rental-car giant Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) on Thursday said (see video below) the company has seen demand for rentals stabilizing in the U.S. and Europe, predicting that after two quarters of losses the firm will return to profit...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 24, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Filed under: Detroit Breakdown | Divesting and Restructuring
Tagged: chrylser llc , fiat spa

Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured) has apparently wasted little time putting his stamp on Chrysler Group LLC.Marchionne, who took the top job at Chrysler earlier this month when the automaker emerged from Chapter 11 aligned with Fiat, has compressed eight layers of management into five and has begun making...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 23, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Filed under: Corporate Strategy | Detroit Breakdown | Sector Watch
Tagged: DoE , Ford Motor , Fusion Hybrid , hyrbrid cars , Mercury Milan , Nissan , President Obama , Tesla

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) had the foresight to secure credit when it was still available, keeping it off the dole while rivals Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. got government bailout money and went into bankruptcy. And staying out of bankruptcy has kept it eligible for a more dignified form...  Continue reading

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Posted on June 23, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Filed under: Corporate Strategy | Deal International | Detroit Breakdown | Growth Strategy | Joint Ventures and Alliances | Middle market | Sector Watch | Trends
Tagged: DoE , electric car , NEC Corp. , Nissan Motor , Renault SA , Toyota , zero-emission

Japan's Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:NSANY), slated to receive a piece of the $25 billion the U.S. Department of Energy set aside for makers of fuel-efficient cars, will debut its first electric vehicle in August. Nissan plans to sell the cars -- with a 100-mile battery life -- in Japan...  Continue reading

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