Amid growing reports of cars with sticky gas pedals and malfunctioning electronic modules that pose a safety risk, Toyota announced today that they will voluntarily stop selling the following cars:



2009-2010 RAV4,

2009-2010 Corolla

2009-2010 Matrix

2005-2010 Avalon

Certain 2007-2010 Camry

2010 Highlander

2007-2010 Tundra

2008-2010 Sequoia



…and Toyota will also be temporarily halting production at some facilities. The sales shut… Continue

Reuters is reporting today that PSA Peugeot-Citroen may take a 30 to 50 percent equity stake in Mitsubishi.



The two manufacturers already have an SUV partnership that gave birth to the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 – versions of Mitsubishi’s Outlander, and they have been collaborating on engine technology. Both manufacturers are relatively isolated players, with just three brands between them – and both are weak in markets where the other is strong, Mitsubishi in… Continue

Audi announced this week that 2008 was the marque’s best ever year in sales and profit. For the first time in Audi’s 110-year history, the linked rings sold over 1 million cars in a single year, and recorded a €3.2 billion pre-tax profit. Last month at NADA, Tom Doll of Subaru announced that the starred brand had recorded an 8% growth in sales in January – a fantastic number considering the circumstances. Subaru also posted a gain for 2008 as a whole. Hyundai’s January numbers were up by… Continue

Today Saab becomes the first major auto manufacturer to file for bankruptcy since the 1970’s. The move comes in the wake of GM essentially preparing to sever all ties (outlined in its viability plan) with Saab and the Swedish Government’s decision not to give GM any more money to keep the relationship going. Sweden’s Industry Minister Maud Olofsson has been heavily critical of GM and also no fan of nationalizing what is seen by many as a money pit of a carmaker.



Bankruptcy… Continue

The media has generally portrayed the "big three" as one monolithic entity. In actuality, they’re each in vastly different positions. Blanket assumptions about the big three are almost invariably incorrect, because of the great differences in where each company stands.



In the last few days there has been better information reaching the public about these differences, but in general all three makers and their requests are being lumped together by people on the left (Michael Moore) and… Continue