How Opel caught the eye of Ferrari's former boss

Opel has earned high praise from Ferrari's former chairman. 'I am impressed with Opel. They have a clear position and good products. They are German but also European,' Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said. http://europe.autonews.com/article/20160229/BLOG15/160229868/how-opel-caught-the-eye-of-ferraris-former-boss http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Politically speaking, you are what you drive

We all think we can tell a person's voting preference by the vehicle he or she drives, right? A survey by car-shopping site BestRide and nationally syndicated radio program 'Car Talk" provides some answers. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160229/OEM/302299960/politically-speaking-you-are-what-you-drive http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

2 tales of Cadillac's Trump limos

In 'The Art of the Deal,' Donald Trump's 1987 best-seller, he wrote that then-Cadillac general manager John Grettenberger approached him with the idea of developing a superstretch, superluxe Caddy bearing the Trump name. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160229/OEM02/302299961/2-tales-of-cadillacs-trump-limos http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Cars "freakishly expensive,' Gilles warns

Ralph Gilles, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles global design chief, has an urgent message for suppliers: The cost of designing and manufacturing vehicles is spiraling out of control. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160228/OEM/302299964/cars-freakishly-expensive-gilles-warns http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Ford's Nair: Sensors, software are self-driving cars' main obstacles

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Raj Nair says he will be first in line when autonomous vehicles go on sale.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160227/OEM02/302299994/fords-nair-sensors-software-are-self-driving-cars-main-obstacles

Ford plans $145 million upgrade at Cleveland plant for new truck engine

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford is investing $145 million in its Cleveland engine plant to support the production of an 'all-new second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine family.'

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160226/OEM01/160229897/ford-plans-145-million-upgrade-at-cleveland-plant-for-new-truck

Ford recalls 51,500 Transit wagons for rear seat-belt glitch

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford is recalling 51,470 Ford Transit wagons in North America for a potential problem with rear seat-belt buckles.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160225/RETAIL05/160229910/ford-recalls-51500-transit-wagons-for-rear-seat-belt-glitch

Ford recalls 51,500 Transit wagons for rear seat-beat glitch

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford is recalling 51,470 Ford Transit wagons in North America for a potential problem with rear seat-belt buckles.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160225/RETAIL05/160229910/ford-recalls-51500-transit-wagons-for-rear-seat-beat-glitch

GM, Ford have underestimated vulnerability to recession, analyst warns

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA A Morgan Stanley analyst says profits at General Motors and Ford are more at risk in a recession than the automakers have estimated.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160224/OEM01/160229923/gm-ford-have-underestimated-vulnerability-to-recession-analyst-warns

Dealership group, staff split costs of tablets

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA By splitting the cost of tablets with sales staff, Hyundai of Kirkland and Ford of Kirkland, Wash., boosted lead response time and close ratios, improved employee retention and lowered IT costs.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160222/RETAIL/302229994/dealership-group-staff-split-costs-of-tablets

Ola Kaellenius rises in race to replace Zetsche at Daimler

Daimler AG executive Ola Kaellenius has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Dieter Zetsche as the company's next CEO, but it wouldn't happen before 2019. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160222/OEM02/302229978/ola-kaellenius-rises-in-race-to-replace-zetsche-at-daimler http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Hyundai taps Raphael as first Genesis chief

Hyundai has turned to a former Chrysler and Toyota plant manager to head its new Genesis luxury brand in the U.S. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160222/OEM02/302229972/hyundai-taps-raphael-as-first-genesis-chief http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Ford gets credit rating boost from Moody's, shares rise

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Moody's has upgraded Ford's s credit rating for the first time since 2012, citing the automaker's strong financial results and 'positive momentum.'

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160217/OEM01/160219877/ford-gets-credit-rating-boost-from-moodys-shares-rise

Ford gets credit rating boost from Moody's

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Moody's has upgraded Ford's s credit rating for the first time since 2012, citing the automaker's strong financial results and 'positive momentum.'

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160217/OEM01/160219877/ford-gets-credit-rating-boost-from-moodys

Moreno builds an empire by rocking the boat

Bernie Moreno is not your typical auto dealer. In just 10 years, he's built a growing empire of 18 dealerships in three states that generate more than $900 million in annual revenue. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160215/RETAIL07/302159921/moreno-builds-an-empire-by-rocking-the-boat http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Bob Rossiter helped build, rebuild Lear

Former Lear Corp. CEO Bob Rossiter, who worked with the company for 40 years and led it through bankruptcy in 2009, died Sunday, Feb. 7. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160215/OEM02/302159898/bob-rossiter-helped-build-rebuild-lear http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Ford's LaNeve stops short of confirming Bronco's expected return

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA The Bronco, one of Ford's storied nameplates, seems likely to be one of the four new utility vehicles coming to the Ford lineup in the next four years. But Ford's Mark LaNeve stopped just short of confirming it today.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160211/OEM02/160219957/fords-laneve-stops-short-of-confirming-broncos-expected-return

Ford EcoSport inches closer to U.S. shores

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford appears to be getting closer to selling the tiny EcoSport crossover in the U.S. Spy photos show the EcoSport, a subcompact crossover based on the same platform as the Fiesta, being tested near Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160209/OEM04/160209849/ford-ecosport-inches-closer-to-u-s-shores

Ford plans to double Mexico vehicle production, report says

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford plans to double vehicle production capacity in Mexico as the automaker focuses its U.S. assembly plants on more profitable pickups and utility vehicles, according to a report published Sunday.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160208/OEM01/160209848/ford-plans-to-double-mexico-vehicle-production-report-says

Detroit 3's share of rental fleet declined in 2015

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler accounted for 60.1 percent -- their lowest collective share ever -- of the 1.78 million new cars and light trucks sold to rental fleets in 2015.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160208/RETAIL/160209868/detroit-3s-share-of-rental-fleet-declined-in-2015

Countering Chevy's Silverado surge

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA General Motors gained a chunk of share in the full-sized pickup segment last year. But it faces stiffer competition from Ford and Ram in 2016.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160208/OEM/302089949/countering-chevys-silverado-surge

Chicago auto show preview

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Expected this week at the show are an updated Ram heavy-duty pickup, a freshened Hyundai Santa Fe crossover, a special-edition Ford Explorer Sport crossover and a new version of the Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160208/OEM/302089960/chicago-auto-show-preview

Ford slips; rising fleets fail to offset retail decline

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford Motor said its retail sales fell 11 percent in January, and a rise in deliveries to car-rental companies wasn't able to fully offset the decline.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160202/RETAIL01/302029949/ford-slips-rising-fleets-fail-to-offset-retail-decline

Ford slips; rising fleet sales fail to offset retail decline

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford Motor said its retail sales fell 11 percent in January, and a rise in deliveries to car-rental companies wasn't able to fully offset the decline.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160202/RETAIL01/302029949/ford-slips-rising-fleet-sales-fail-to-offset-retail-decline

Ford's rising fleet sales fail to offset 11% decline in retail

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Ford Motor said its retail sales fell 11 percent in January, and a rise in deliveries to car-rental companies wasn't able to fully offset the decline.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160202/RETAIL01/302029949/fords-rising-fleet-sales-fail-to-offset-11-decline-in-retail

FCA survives storm to post 6.9% monthly gain; GM flat, Ford falls 2.8%

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA Fiat Chrysler, Nissan and Hyundai managed to increase sales last month in spite of a big snowstorm on the East Coast, while General Motors sales were essentially flat and Ford posted a 2.8 percent decline.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160202/RETAIL01/160209973/fca-survives-storm-to-post-6-9-monthly-gain-gm-flat-ford-falls-2-8

GM lines up urban mobility deals, while Ford experiments 'everywhere'

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA GM and its competitors are determined to get on board with changes in technology and demographics that are bringing people back to cities and thrusting car-sharing and ride-sharing into the mainstream. The question is how.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160201/OEM/302019963/gm-lines-up-urban-mobility-deals-while-ford-experiments-everywhere

International operations help Ford's bottom line

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/autonews/BreakingNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA In addition to the billions of dollars earned from surging pickups and SUVs in North America, Ford posted its first European profit in five years and record results in Asia.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160201/OEM/302019965/international-operations-help-fords-bottom-line

Obituary

Marc Lockhart, a second-generation auto dealer, died Jan. 16. He was 63. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160201/OEM02/302019967/obituary http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

BMW's top tuner relishes his new role at Hyundai

Hyundai, which began building its own engines only in 1991, has laid out a full-fledged product plan for its new Genesis luxury brand, with help from a cadre of executives poached from Bentley, BMW and Lamborghini. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160201/OEM02/302019984/bmws-top-tuner-relishes-his-new-role-at-hyundai http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png