News From the Auto Industry

General Motors has announced a new business group called e-GM that will offer GM customers a range of GM products and integrated services through electronic malls.

The war years made GM rich, but its wealth became unprecedented in the 1950s with a combination of pent-up demand, the need for a car for suburban living, and the coming of the interstate highway system. In addition to lobbying for the automobile as the mode of transportation for Americans, GM also did its best to destroy the competition. In 1949, GM, Standard Oil, Firestone, and other companies were convicted of criminal conspiracy to replace electric transit lines with gasoline or diesel buses. GM had replaced more than one hundred electric transit systems in forty-five cities with GM buses. Despite a fine and the court ruling, GM would, with the aid of urban planners like Robert Moses, block efforts at mass transit.

If Ford created modern manufacturing techniques (Fordism) to conquer the massive scale of making automobiles, then Sloan created management techniques (Sloanism) to master the managing of a large-scale firm. Sloan's management ideas on hierarchical line authority became the model for all large corporations for years. Sloan also became the first GM president to engage in collective bargaining when the United Auto Workers staged a series of successful sit-down strikes in GM plants in Flint, Michigan, in 1937. But Sloan's greatest triumph was his creation of a styling and color department under the direction of designer Harley Earl in 1927. From this concentration on styling, thus on marketing, GM cemented in the American psyche the fact that, according to David Halberstam, “the car was not merely transportation, but a reflection of status, a concept to which most Americans responded enthusiastically as they strove to move up into the middle class, and then the upper middle class.” With the annual model changes–which were often only cosmetically different from the previous year–new car buyers were hooked. It was Sloan and Durant's vision of a car for every market niche: new car buyers could start cheap with a Chevy and then, as they earned more, work their way up to an Olds, and everyone would dream of owning a Cadillac.

Swapalease.com Search - 2007 Toyota Corolla
. Chevrolet has stopped production of its Corolla clone, the Prizm, which did not carry over to the ‘03

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:30:55 GMT
Audi 5000s, 5000cs Official Factory Repair Manual–1984-1988: Gasoline, Turbo, and Turbo Diesel, Including Wagon and Quattro… - on sale from $79.25
Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Recon 26411 60″ Red Hyperlite “Line of Fire” LED Tailgate Light Bar - fits most full-sized trucks & SUVs

RECON, the premiere manufacturer of aftermarket lighting and accessories for the Truck and SUV market is proud to announce the RECON Line of Fire HyperLite Tailgate LED Light Bars for nearly every make and model of truck & SUV including: Nissan, Toyota, Dodge, Chevy/GMC, Ford, and Hummer. All RECON Tailgate Light Bars use our new cutting-edge 3mm diode LED technology unlike the small dim SMD-type LEDs found on all the inferior competitive knock-off’s currently available in the market. We are the only tailgate light bar manufacturer that utilizes these new, brighter, longer lasting, & more durable 3mm LEDs. We put our money where our mouth is…our tailgate bars are the best quality, brightest, & longest lasting on the market & THAT’S GUARANTEED!!! RECON LED tailgate light bars take just minutes to install and are street legal and have been approved for use by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). Functions with Running Lights, Brake Lights, Turn Signals, & Hazard Lights. Do you want to be seen on the scene? Add style and safety to your truck or SUV with RECON’s LED Line of Fire Tailgate Light Bar.
Misc.: 
49 inches in length, Fits most flare side and smaller trucks and SUVs, LED lights are sealed in a clear weatherproof covering, Functions: Running Lights, Parking Lights, Hazard Lights, Turn Signals, Brake Lights, Also available in a 60 inch size for full-sized trucks and SUVs

Company: Recon 
(2007-01-29)

List Price: $84.00
Amazon Price: $64.95

Still Waiting on Repairs, New Orleans Hosts ‘Godot’>
Your Podscope hit is at 0:49
When he visited New Orleans’ abandoned neighborhoods in 2006, artist Paul Chan was reminded of the setting for the legendary play Waiting for Godot. With help from community organizations, Chan will stage the play in the city’s hardest-hit areas.

Sat, 3 Nov 2007 21:06:04 -0500
VIDEO: It\’s the production BMW X6 and it\’s a diesel!
At September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW showed off a concept version of their new X6 crossover. The X6 is expected to launch in 2009 and will be built at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina assembly plant alongside the X5 and X3. …

The war years made GM rich, but its wealth became unprecedented in the 1950s with a combination of pent-up demand, the need for a car for suburban living, and the coming of the interstate highway system. In addition to lobbying for the automobile as the mode of transportation for Americans, GM also did its best to destroy the competition. In 1949, GM, Standard Oil, Firestone, and other companies were convicted of criminal conspiracy to replace electric transit lines with gasoline or diesel buses. GM had replaced more than one hundred electric transit systems in forty-five cities with GM buses. Despite a fine and the court ruling, GM would, with the aid of urban planners like Robert Moses, block efforts at mass transit.

If Ford created modern manufacturing techniques (Fordism) to conquer the massive scale of making automobiles, then Sloan created management techniques (Sloanism) to master the managing of a large-scale firm. Sloan's management ideas on hierarchical line authority became the model for all large corporations for years. Sloan also became the first GM president to engage in collective bargaining when the United Auto Workers staged a series of successful sit-down strikes in GM plants in Flint, Michigan, in 1937. But Sloan's greatest triumph was his creation of a styling and color department under the direction of designer Harley Earl in 1927. From this concentration on styling, thus on marketing, GM cemented in the American psyche the fact that, according to David Halberstam, “the car was not merely transportation, but a reflection of status, a concept to which most Americans responded enthusiastically as they strove to move up into the middle class, and then the upper middle class.” With the annual model changes–which were often only cosmetically different from the previous year–new car buyers were hooked. It was Sloan and Durant's vision of a car for every market niche: new car buyers could start cheap with a Chevy and then, as they earned more, work their way up to an Olds, and everyone would dream of owning a Cadillac.

While Henry Ford staked his claim on manufacturing genius, the “father” of General Motors, Billy Durant, brought to the industry “the art of the deal.” Durant was not just an entrepreneur, he was an expert dealmaker who merged companies and formed GM as a large holding company. GM started with Olds and Buick in 1908, then added Cadillac a year later. Durant, however, expanded too quickly and was forced out by bankers. Undeterred, Durant hired a racecar driver named Louis Chevrolet to design a new car, and in 1915, Durant merged the two companies and regained control. Durant continued to buy not only auto companies, but also suppliers (Fisher Body) and related companies (Frigidaire, which was sold in 1979). Yet, again, Durant overextended and was forced out in 1920, his place soon taken by Alfred Sloan.

With Earl's love of the “jet engine look” GM cars came to resemble planes, loaded with chrome and fins. Advances in engineering could have made cars more fuel efficient; instead, GM opted to make cars more powerful and loaded with expensive options like air-conditioning. GM showed off its cars with road shows called Motoramas, which annually drew more than one million spectators. The Motoramas ended in 1961 as GM concentrated its advertising dollars on television. During the 1960s, GM divisions sponsored hundreds of TV shows. With famous ads like “See the USA in the Chevrolet,” GM created a national car culture, made even more attractive with the coming of color television.

Report: Nissan Chrysler in talks to jointly produce vehicles for North America
Nissan Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC are in talks to form an alliance to supply cars to the North American market according to a Japanese newspaper Saturday. Nissan is seeking to supply small cars while Chrysler wants to supply medium and large vehicles including pickup trucks the Nikkei said.

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST
Roadfly.com - 2007 Toyota Highlander Car Review
Roadfly.com - 2007 Toyota Highlander Car Review5 min - May 8, 2007Video car review of the new 2007 Toyota Highlander.

Tue, 08 May 2007 09:16:20 PDT
Porsche sleigh (AutoExpress)
New Porsche set to ?sleigh ?em! Here?s one Porsche with very little grip. In fact, it is actually designed to skid ? because it?s a bobsleigh!

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:27:08 GMT