Ford-UAW Deal Shows Detroit the Way Forward

Ford highest-ranked carmaker overall, Toyota falls

(NEWSER) - American automakers scored higher marks on quality than their foreign rivals for the first time since the JD Power survey began in 1986, the Detroit Free Press reports. A dozen Ford models ranked in the top three in their segments, making it the highest-ranked automaker overall. Ford's namesake brand ranked fifth, and General Motors had 10 brands in the top vehicle rankings. More»

Automaker nabs car, truck of the year

(NEWSER) - Ford vehicles won both car and truck of the year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, cementing the carmaker's dominance over its domestic competition. The Fusion Hybrid snagged car of the year, and the company copped truck of the year for the second consecutive year with the Transit Connect. Ford was the only American auto firm to gain market share in 2009, CNNMoney reports. More»

7-passenger 'people mover' on its way

(NEWSER) - Ford has announced its reentry into the please-don't-call-it-a-minivan category, USA Today reports. The carmaker has been out of the minivan business since 2007, and it plans to stay that way—at least in name—with the Grand C-Max, scheduled to be on US roads in two years. Built on a stretched version of Ford’s international small-car platform, the C-Max has sliding doors and 3 rows of seats. But don’t call it the m-word. More»

(AP) - United Auto Workers members have ratified a package of concessions designed to reduce General Motors' labor costs. Union president Ron Gettelfinger said today 74% of GM's production and skilled-trade workers voted in favor. The vote comes before the company's expected Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing Monday. Bankruptcy experts say having an agreement in place before the filing will help move the process through court more quickly. 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»