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Archive for December 3rd, 2009
BREAKING: GM CEO Fritz Henderson steps down
Author: adminFiled under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM
Well, that was quick. Fritz Henderson, the recently appointed CEO of General Motors, is stepping down. Company chairman of the board Ed Whitacre (remember the “Satisfaction Guaranteed” commercials, that’s the guy) is set to act as the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found.
This marks the second CEO that beleaguered automaker General Motors has lost this year, the first being Rick Wagoner, who was asked to resign by the Obama Administration’s Task Force for Autos. Over the last few months, deals that GM had made to offload Opel, Saturn and Saab have all fallen through, and some have reported on clashing styles between Whitacre and Henderson.
General Motors has just confirmed the news via a press conference being held as we speak. Stay tuned for more as we learn it.
UPDATE: Official Statement from Ed Whitacre, GM’s new interim CEO, added after the jump.
[Source: Free Press, GM | Image: Philippe Lopez/Getty]
Continue reading BREAKING: GM CEO Fritz Henderson steps down
BREAKING: GM CEO Fritz Henderson steps down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsPX-MiEV Plug-in hybrid concept
Author: admin
A whole new take on the MiEV
The PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid concept
Mitsubishi’s first electric vehicles will hit the American market in 2011. Hopefully, that will include the very interesting PX-MiEV plug-in hybrid.
The PX is a plug-in series hybrid, or a plug-in parallel hybrid; a two-wheel drive hybrid or a four-wheel drive hybrid. It’s all about your current driving conditions.Smart, very smart. Now, can it be cost-effective?
Audi e-tron
Author: admin
Cool car that most can't afford
What can you say? Luxury vehicles aren't for most of us, regardless of their powertrain. Still, any automaker's green efforts should be embraced to some extent, right?
Honda cracks open the p-nut concept
Author: admin
Honda's urban vision
The Honda P-NUT concept is one of those concepts that seems both ahead of its time, and just in time.
The P-NUT is an urban commuting vehicle with an usual seating configuration – a perfect vehicle for those regular single person commutes, but with the ability to transport three.
Ready for a conventional powertrain, a hybrid drive, or an all battery configuration, the P-NUT seems a pretty crazy idea. But if gas prices keep rising and cities become even more congested, it just my work.
Hyundai Sonata hybrid confirmed
Author: admin
Still on track
Despite a few rumors to the contrary, the Sonata hybrid is still proceeding according to plans.
Is Toyota hybrid complacent?
Author: admin
All about the Sienna today
Well, the new Sienna minivan will offer a fuel efficient 4-cylinder version next year. That's good news, but how about some new hybrid hype?
Rumors of new Prius-based hybrids, for instance, have been floating around for years. Why not step it up? This the LA Auto Show, the green showcase, for crying out loud.
Early next year Toyota will put 500 plug in Prius hybrids on the road, months before GM begins production. That's not news?
Is Toyota afraid? Embarrassed? Why so hybrid complacent?
Can GM take it to the next level?
Author: admin
Unprecedented green movement
GM showed off, of course, the Chevy Volt and the Chevy Cruze today. Not a lot of new, groundbreaking info regarding the Volt, although yesterday I learned that the Volt is more aerodynamic than both the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.
The Chevy Cruze looks like a real winner.
Overall GM's big message was its commitment to green technologies. Sounds great in theory, but can GM turn this theory into reality? For instance, can GM become a fleet fuel economy leader, rather than pulling up the rear as it does today?
VW Up Lite clean diesel hybrid
Author: admin
70 mpg
Pretty hot looking diesel hybrid concept from VW. Unfortunately, if this hybrid goes into production, it won't be until at least 2012.
I cannot help but ask, what is VW waiting for?
The need for global performance based standards
Author: admin
And the LA Auto Show opens
Pretty interesting opening remarks by the Auto Alliance and GM’s Bob Lutz.
While claiming that no US industry is doing more than the auto industry on global warming, a performance-based global standard is now required that is not technologically-based as technology is too unpredictable.
Like the new CAFE standards, this sounds smart, but will the standard be robust enough? Or is this need for a global standard more of a delay tactic?
GM’s hybrid story still developingSure, the Chevy Volt is the poster child for GM’s clean and green efforts. And, even though GM doesn’t like to call the Volt a hybrid, the Volt is also GM’s marquee hybrid. But that doesn’t mean GM’s hybrid story is anywhere near the end.
Yesterday, I learned that GM isn’t just redeveloping its upcoming lithium-powered BAS hybrid drive, nor just downsizing its dual mode hybrid powertrain for small SUVs, such as the phased out Saturn Vue. In fact, according to sources inside the General, GM is also working on a new hybrid drive derived from the dual mode drive, but redeveloped for small vehicles, including 4 cylinder cars.
Of course, it’s possible that such a hybrid drive will never hit the market. Still, the possibility of small GM hybrid cars that could directly compete with the Toyota Prius is a positive sign. Always good to have your eggs in a few different baskets.
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