Toyota and General Motors have had a strong partnership via NUMMI. This seemingly odd relationship was responsible for the Pontiac Vibe, which was build alongside the similar Toyota Matrix in a joint manufacturing venture based in California. With the Pontiac Vibe now discontinued, the question now is what will come of the NUMMI partnership.
Rumors have suggested that another model will soon be shared by the two automakers, perhaps also based on the Toyota Matrix suggests Oklahoma City Used Cars. However, details on these discussions remain unconfirmed. Another possibility for NUMMI is that GM will license Toyota’s hybrid technology for GM cars and trucks. This rumor has since been denied from GM executives in the paged of their online blog, the GM Fastlane Blog.
Although GM would no doubt benefit from Toyota’s stellar Synergy Drive Hybrid System, the automaker has pointed out that they are very busy developing their own internal hybrid technology. Chevrolet Financing Peoria say this proprietary technology will be available soon enough in the upcoming Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. GM also has several other hybrid models under development, including a Buick hybrid crossover.
In discussing future hybrid technology plans, GM has singled out Buick as the main beneficiary of this new technology. A hybrid Enclave is currently in the works says Washington DC Buick, as well as a smaller hybrid crossover that will essentially fill the void in the GM lineup that will be left once the Vue Hybrid and the Saturn brand are sold. Continue reading ‘GM Dispels Rumors of Licensing Toyota Hybrid Technology’
With Chrysler’s bankruptcy problems, the automaker has been trying hard to unload its Dodge Viper business. Since late in 2008, Chrysler has been working to find a buyer for the Viper sports car brand, but unfortunately the only offers available went up to $10 million – far less than Chrysler was hoping.
As a result of the Viper brand being virtually unsellable, Chrysler will be holding onto it, meaning the brand will be handed over to Fiat to control. Reportedly, Chrysler had received offers of up to $35 million for the Dodge Viper business, but unfortunately used cars Connecticut dealers believe these offers were well before bankruptcy and needless to say have since fell through.
With Chrysler now emerging from bankruptcy as a new company, the Viper’s fate will now be decided by Italian automaker Fiat. This includes the control of all Viper assets says Texas Dodge. Fiat can continue to look for a potential buyer for the assets. However, the other option is for Fiat is to simply dissolve the brand, which one body shop Oklahoma City observes is a sure way to remove competition from Fiat’s own Ferrari and Maserati sports car brands.
The Dodge Viper brand began 17 years ago. The brand helped Chrysler add a performance pedigree to its image and has earned a cult following. After a mere 25,000 Vipers have been produced, there will still be plenty of disappointed enthusiasts should the brand cease to exist. Continue reading ‘Chrysler’s Viper Brand Moves To Fiat’
Following is bankruptcy filing, General Motors has confirmed that the Hummer brand has at last found a buyer. Based on information just released, the buyer has been identified as Chinese firm Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. The sales is certainly not soon enough for GM. The Hummer brand had seen ample popularity, but has more recently been handicapped by poor sales and poor consumer perception. GM said the sale was helped by the brand’s sales potential in emerging markets such as China and India.
The sale of Hummer to the Chinese company is expected to be wrapped up by the end of Q3 of this year. With the sale marks a big step for GM towards downsizing, and becoming one step closer to the company that it is supposed to emulate says one Pittsburgh used car dealer. In addition, the Hummer sale has also secured a number of jobs involving manufacturing and engineering personnel, not to mention jobs at Hummer dealerships. Auto Loans Detroit note that the deal also includes provisions for future product development by the new investor. This includes the potential for a new compact SUV.
Numerous details of the buyer and the transaction have yet to be released. Until that time, Oklahoma City Car Loans points out that Hummer will continue to manufacture and sell its vehicles. This includes production at GM’s Shreveport Assembly, which will produce the H3 model until 2010 at minimum.
Sales at Hummer are down over 60% compared with last year. This is a substantial decline that continues to hurt Hummer’s ailing parent company. Meanwhile, dealers have been unhappy by GM’s public bashing of the Hummer nameplate as they wished the pending sales could have been handed more discreetly. Continue reading ‘GM Officially Finds Buyer for Hummer’
