German Euro Germany European License Plate Frame Tag Volkswagen Vw Bug Beetle on 2040-parts.com

Crunch watch Mar 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Ben Pulman and Tim Pollard Motor Industry 31 March 2009 13:48 Tuesday 31 March 2009• Porsche said that its earnings before tax rose to €7.3 billion in the six months to the end of January – including a €6.8bn windfall from its VW share options (Financial Times)• Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, will step up to replace Rick Wagoner, who was ousted on Sunday as CEO of General Motors (Financial Times)• President Obama is essentially CEO-in-chief of GM – despite not owning a single cent of stock, says Detroit News commentator (Detroit News)• German chancellor Angela Merkel gives assurances that any would-be investors in GM's European arm will be given state support. Opel is asking for €3.3 billion in aid – and up to 25,000 jobs in Germany depend on it, with up to 300,000 jobs across Europe including Saab and Vauxhall (BBC News)Monday 30 March 2009• General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner has been ordered to resign by US president Barack Obama with immediate effect. It's part of Obama's administration's critique of GM and Chrysler's turnaround plans – he's understood to be unhappy with the plans submitted (BBC News)• New GM non-executive chairman Kent Kresa has admitted that at the company's next general meeting it will have 'a majority of new directors' (General Motors)• Chrysler will receive US government aid for the next 30 days, but the Obama administration has said that if the company cannot secure a tie-up with the Fiat Group within that time period it will not receive any more money from the taxpayers and could go into liquidation.

Ford previews 2014 Transit and redesigned Transit Connect

Ford introduced its family of Transit vans on Friday. The full-size, futuristic Transit will join the smaller Transit Connect to fulfill all your hauling needs. The Transit will arrive with a choice of three body lengths, two wheelbases and three roof heights.

Midsize 2015 Chevy Colorado coming fall 2014

Chevy introduced the 2015 Colorado pickup on Monday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The midsize truck is expected to deliver class-leading power, payload and trailering rating when it goes on sale in fall 2014, at least according to the Bowtie. Chevy hopes the Colorado will be the most powerful midsize truck (in an admittedly small segment) thanks to its three-engine lineup.