Government/Legal


GM begins repayment to U.S. and Canadian governments

Good news, the check is in the mail! General Motors issued a (very) brief press release this afternoon stating that the automaker had delivered on its promise to issue its first reimbursement checks to the U.S. and Canadian governments by the end of the year. GM sent $1 billion to the feds and $192 million to the Canadian government, and GM reiterated in the statement that it would complete payments totaling $6.7 billion (to the U.S. government) by June 2010. Beyond the $6.7 billion GM owes the federal government is a 60 percent ... Read more →

Cut It Out: Toyota's recalled pedal modification remedy detailed step-by-step Chris Paukert

Late last month, Toyota announced that it would begin its biggest recall action ever, summoning 3.8 million cars and trucks back to its dealers to combat "pedal entrapment" by cutting down the ...

Christmas List 2010: Rattner's book to debut in time for next Christmas Dan Roth

Planning for the future is perhaps an alien concept to big business – even automakers, with their protracted product development cycles. Take a cue of what not to do from them, then, and start ...

Chrysler announces $179 million investment in Dundee plant to build Fiat Multiair engines Jeremy Korzeniewski

In a none-too-shocking announcement, Chrysler announced plans to invest $179 million to convert its engine plant in Dundee, MI, from building the so-called World Engine to Fiat's 1.4-liter Fully ...

REPORT: Old Carco (read: "Bad Chrysler") to not repay $4B in TARP loans Chris Shunk

Before Fiat and prior to bankruptcy, the old Chrysler, LLC needed $4 billion just to keep the doors open. The Bush Administration came through with the company-saving cash at the 11th hour, ...

REPORT: Honda plans to settle Civic Hybrid mileage suit out of court. Is it a fair deal? 2 days ago on Autoblog

If you buy a hybrid, you'll be rewarded with excellent fuel economy, right? Well, that's the idea, but sometimes things don't turn out exactly as we had hoped. Such is apparently the case with a number of Honda Civic Hybrid owners who claim that their vehicles don't even come close to achieving ...

How They Roll: NYT investigates the wheels of Mexican drug cartels 2 days ago on Autoblog

The Mexican drug trade business is booming. Drugs are flowing between Mexico and the U.S. on a daily basis, overwhelming the Mexican military and U.S. border patrol officers. Most of the drugs arrive stateside via cars and trucks, and the vehicles transporting contraband range from a Rolls Royce ...

REPORT: Detroit Three call Japan's cash-for-clunkers program unfair 7 days ago on Autoblog

The U.S. Car Allowance Rebate System (a.k.a. 'cash-for-clunkers') program was a short-term boon for automakers participating in our market. Sales went up, inventory went down and nearly 700,000 vehicles that would likely have otherwise ended up on used car lots were destroyed. And since the U.S. ...

REPORT: Fed predicts it will lose $30B on auto industry bailout 8 days ago on Autoblog

2009 isn't quite over yet, but we're pretty sure most automakers would rather forget that it ever happened. And while General Motors and Chrysler suffered the pain and humiliation of bankruptcy and workers lost thousands of jobs and many plants and dealerships closed, the good news is that the ...

Consumer Reports: Over 40 percent of 'sudden acceleration' claims involve Toyota 10 days ago on Autoblog

We're guessing you've heard about Toyota's massive 3.8 million vehicle recall for unintended acceleration. It appears to be an issue that could have potentially resulted in several deaths and reports of hundreds of accidents. Consumer Reports wanted to dig deeper on the matter, studying National ...

REPORT: U.S. customs agents seize a very familiar gray-market Cizeta V16t 10 days ago on Autoblog

Whenever we've mentioned the Cizeta V16t supercar here on the pages of Autoblog in the past, we have always received mixed reactions. With its love-it-or-hate-it, Diablo-prototype looks and its unique transverse V16 engine, the car was a stunning achievement by former Lamborghini engineer, ...

NHTSA investigating claims of stalling on 2006 Toyota Corolla, Matrix 11 days ago on Autoblog

When it rains, it pours. With recalls on the books for Toyota floor mats and corrosion problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now investigating reports that Toyota's Corolla and Matrix vehicles may have engines susceptible to stalling. Owners of the 2006 model ...

VIDEO: TN Senator Corker's daughter carjacked, suspects apprehended via OnStar 11 days ago on Autoblog

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker had this opinion of OnStar a month ago: "Each month I get the bill for OnStar and [I think], 'I don't want to pay this again.'" Then his daughter Julia was carjacked in Washington D.C. last week driving his Chevrolet Tahoe, and having been yanked out of the car by ...

Bogus car hauler stealing luxury autos from dealers in several states? 12 days ago on Autoblog

Luxury cars are nice. Most people would consider some kind of sacrifice to own one, while others plant their behinds in Corinthian Leather through ill-gotten gains. When something is desirable, there's no end to the scheming. The latest tactic for driving luxe without earning it is pretty ...

Here's the Plan: GM reveals how it will deal with shuttered dealers' complaints 14 days ago on Autoblog

Back in May, General Motors announced plans to close down a large portion of its dealership network. Since then, a number of those franchisees have lodged complaints to both the automaker itself and appropriate policymakers, leading to possible legislation on how GM is allowed to handle the ...

LA 2009: Lawsuit-happy U.S. kills chances for Lotus Exige Scura, but we'll get something similar 15 days ago on Autoblog

We had a chance to chat with Lotus USA spokesman Kevin Smith at the LA Auto Show and he shared a bit of news with us. He confirmed that while we unfortunately won't be getting the limited edition Exige Scura/Stealth that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show, we will will get something close. The ...

REPORT: NHTSA proposing new side airbag standards expected to cost $54 per car 15 days ago on Autoblog

Naturally, safety is a top priority for both automakers and consumers alike. It's also of paramount concern to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, which is the government body that sets standards for automobile safety here in the States. According to The Detroit News, NHTSA ...

A Game of Chicken: Mitsubishi wants to import Triton pickup and Delica van - but can it afford to? 15 days ago on Autoblog

According to a report from Automotive News, Mitsubishi's North American CEO Shin Kurihara would like to bring over the Japanese automaker's funky little Delica van (right) and Triton pickup (above), believing that the two work-ready models may fill a desirable niche here in the States. So, why not ...

GM confirms Chevrolet Volt to be introduced in California before nationwide rollout 16 days ago on Autoblog

If environmentally-friendly transportation is your thing, there's no place like California. Not only is the state home base to Tesla – the first company to genuinely demonstrate that hugging a tree and hugging the road needn't be mutually exclusive – it was also chosen by General ...

Feds punt on E15 waiver decision, want to test ethanol's effect on more cars 17 days ago on Autoblog

There is some ethanol in almost all of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Usually, this amount is no more than 10 percent of the total and, if it's more than that, it jumps all the way to 85 percent and is sold as E85. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to come down on one side or ...

REPORT: Ford loses appeal in rollover case, must pay $55M 17 days ago on Autoblog

According to The Detroit News, the Supreme Court has let stand a ruling that Ford Motor Company is at fault for a 2002 rollover crash involving a 1997 Ford Explorer and the Dearborn, MI-based automaker must pay $55 million in punitive damages. Benetta Buell-Wilson's Explorer rolled over ...

REPORT: Lamborghini Gallardo cop car crashes in Italy thanks to careless driver 17 days ago on Autoblog

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia is a very capable police cruiser that just happens to also be an extremely desirable Italian exotic. How many police cruisers can go 200 mph while toting a vital organ in its specially made refrigerated storage? While Lambo and the Italian State Police ...

Saab, Swedish gov't in Detroit to discuss brand's future 18 days ago on Autoblog

Don't write off Saab just yet. While last week's announcement that Koenigsegg Automotive AB had pulled its offer for the homeless brand was a painful kick to the gut, it seems there are still a few companies interested in taking the automaker under its wings. With that in mind, and interested in ...

Bring the Noise: Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps reportedly safe... for now 20 days ago on Autoblog

Following earlier news that the Donington track, which was supposed to take over the British Grand Prix in lieu of Silverstone, had to declare bankruptcy comes a reversal of fortune for the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The longtime host of the Belgian Grand Prix looked to be in serious trouble ...

Texas unveils new vanity plates to raise money for state 22 days ago on Autoblog

Every state in the union is facing huge budget deficits and a number have turned to license plates as a way to raise some fast cash. First was New York, which recently unveiled a new "Empire Gold" license plate. The catch? Any citizen who wants to legally drive is required to buy one when his ...

BREAKING: Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles to reshape and replace pedals 23 days ago on Autoblog

Toyota has announced that it will recall some 3.8 million cars and trucks to reshape and/or replace their accelerator pedals. The action is the result of fears that loose floormats may cause the accelerator pedal to stick, increasing the risk of an accident. The recall will be the largest in the ...

NHTSA opening probe into Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey transmission defect 24 days ago on Autoblog

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating hundreds of reports that 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans are fitted with defective transmissions that could dangerously fail without warning. Most alarming is that many of the transmissions ...

Flash Mob: Police reportedly bust illegal night race on Hockenheim circuit 25 days ago on Autoblog

We don't condone illegal behavior here at Autoblog. Heaven forbid. But if you are going to break the law, this strikes us as a good way to go about it. Reports out of Germany indicate that a group of some 100 people in 43 cars descended upon the Hockenheimring (host of the German Grand Prix) ...

British GP track Donington Park declares bankruptcy 28 days ago on Autoblog

It's been one heck of a rollercoaster ride for Donington Park this year. The British racing circuit hosted a Formula One race back in 1993, and was set to take over the British Grand Prix from Silverstone until the race promoter fell on hard times. Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd signed a ...

Government reportedly encouraged by Fiat's plan for Chrysler, sees "huge sense of urgency" 29 days ago on Autoblog

Two weeks ago Fiat and Chrysler unleashed an ambitious five-year plan to return Detroit's number three automaker to financial and product health. The plan called for 14 all-new models based mostly on Fiat platforms and ten more vehicles which will receive much-needed attention. While Senator ...

Pole Dance: NHTSA to add new side-impact crash test? [w/VIDEO] 1 month ago on Autoblog

Not satisfied with cars that manage crash forces well enough to avoid spilling your drink, and engines that run so clean they'll barely asphyxiate ants, a new crash test is reportedly coming in the works from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Along with the test will come new ...

GM's RenCen headquarters in Detroit 'at risk' without tax credits? 1 month ago on Autoblog

According to The Detroit News, General Motors has gone on record as suggesting that without state tax credits designed to keep 2,500 employees ensconced at its Detroit Renaissance Center headquarters, the automaker could pull out of Motown's skyline and into the suburbs and surrounding areas. ...

Mitsubishi recalls nearly 30k 2008-2009 Lancer/Lancer EVO models over airbag sensors 1 month ago on Autoblog

Potential corrosion of the front impact airbag sensor has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall up to 29,353 2008-2009 Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution models. NHTSA is concerned that long-term exposure to a mixture of melted snow and salt thrown up by ...

REPORT: January's Detroit Auto Show to be loaded up with political VIPs 1 month ago on Autoblog

After General Motors and Chrysler required a combined $80 billion in government assistance to keep their doors open, many speculated that Uncle Sam would want to keep a hand in the carmaking cookie jar. While it is debatable how much control (a lot) the White House and Congress have over the ...

REPORT: Michigan legislature pondering eco-friendly motoring tips in driving school 1 month ago on Autoblog

There's always a mouthful of teeth gnashing whenever lax US driver's ed standards are brought up. Yes, we need sixteen-year-olds on the road so they can get to their part time jobs at Taco Bell, but most are really lousy drivers. Or are they just uneducated drivers? Remember, even though 9 and 3 ...

REPORT: Senator John McCain doesn't believe Chrysler will make it 1 month ago on Autoblog

It looks like everyone is thinking about Chrysler these days. First it was former DaimlerChrysler CEO (and current Daimler CEO) Dieter Zetsche offering advice to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. Now it looks like former presidential contender and current Arizona Senator John McCain not only thinks that ...

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Autoblog Podcast #157: Mike Levine trucks along with us.

Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com joins Chris, Sam, and Dan this week and gets a chance to talk about cars, too! 

 
 

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