Detroit Resists MPG Rules

Demographic key to rebuilding for US automakers

(NEWSER) - Detroit automakers face a hard road when it comes to Generation Y—consumers aged 22-32 whose business is crucial to securing the firms' futures, BusinessWeek reports. Their boomer parents broke from tradition by shifting to Japanese cars, and Gen Y is following in those footsteps. Detroit “simply must do much better with Gen Y than they did with their parents, or the comeback we keep hearing about may not happen,” says an analyst. More»

Helps pay off their loans, trains dealers in 'conquests'

(NEWSER) - With General Motors and Chrysler struggling, Ford is moving to pick off some of its rivals’ customers, the Detroit News reports. The firm is passing cash to its dealers to ease Chrysler owners’ loan payments—so they can pick up Fords. Ford may soon do the same for GM owners. “We’re going to be aggressive, but we’re not going to be predatory,” said an exec. More»

Package of low-interest loans aims to prop up staggering auto industry

(NEWSER) - The House has approved a $25 billion lifeline to Detroit's battered auto industry, the Detroit Free Press reports. The package of low-interest loans to help automakers switch to manufacturing more fuel-efficient vehicles is expected to be approved by the Senate today and signed by the president soon after. Michigan lawmakers cheered the news, saying it would save thousands of jobs. More»

(NEWSER) - Automakers are predicting a mildly soft sales year for 2008, but analysts warn a “poverty effect” caused by an imploding housing market could send US light auto sales skidding as much as 9.4% to their worst year since 1993, Reuters reports. “I’m just not sure how bad it could be,” said one. “We all know housing is a debacle.” More»

Agreement reached on shifting health costs to union-run trust

(NEWSER) - After bogging down for several days, talks between General Motors and the UAW got back on track yesterday as automaker and union reps closed in on a historic agreement to shift health-care costs to a union-controlled trust, the Wall Street Journal reports. The two sides are said to have a greed on how much money GM will put into the trust, and on "triggers" to protect both the UAW and GM in case of spiraling health care costs or a downturn in sales. More»