Chrysler Sebring Replacement May Have New Badge

Chrysler is releasing nine new models in the next year, and to iterate "new" to the consumer, Chrysler may be dropping the "Sebring" badge. The Sebring has had a long history of reliability issues and bad design cues. Chrysler is hoping that dropping the aged nameplate will give consumers a positive feeling about its new, redesigned, mid-size sedan. The new redesign is expected to be released in late in 2010.

-Anthony Alaniz
(Photo: 2008 Chrysler Sebring)
[Source: Ward's Auto]

Term of the Day

Stroke - The distance a piston in a cylinder moves from top dead center or bottom dead center, or vice versa.

-Anthony Alaniz

GM Halts Hummer Production

Selling only 325 units in December, GM feels confident enough in its inventories that the remaining 2,100 units will suffice demand until the sale of Hummer is finalized with with the Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industry Machinery Co. The sale is still pending approval from the Chinese government, though was finalized in October. Approval should be found in early 2010.

The Louisiana plant that builds the current Hummer H3 and H3T will continue to be open while it still produces the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado pick-up trucks. There are no plans to lay off the 1,200 employees at the plant.

-Anthony Alaniz

(Photo: 2006 Hummer H3)

[Source: egmCarTech]

GM Increases Presence in China

With China buying more cars than American consumers, GM's gap between sales in the U.S. and China are quickly closing. In 2009 GM sold 1.83 million vehicles in China compared to 2.07 million sold here in the U.S. GM needs to capitalize on China's new and prosperous market while the market in the U.S. regains its footing. GM's market share in China is now at 13.4 percent, an increase from 11.8 percent in 2008.

-Anthony Alaniz
[Source: egmCarTech]

Asian Automakers Close on Majority of U.S. Market

In 1999 U.S. Automakers held almost 70 percent of auto sales. As the new century began, Asian automakers slowly began to increase their presence in the U.S. In 2005 Asian automakers held 36.6 percent of the market, and by 2007 they held 41.9 percent of the American automotive pie. And in 2009, a disastrous year for U.S. automakers as whole, Asian companies held 47.9 percent of the market.

If this trend continues, 2010 will be the first year in U.S. history where companies like Toyota, Honda, and Kia will hold over 50 percent of the American market share. European car makers have also established a larger percentage in the U.S., taking even more market away from the Big Three. Ford, though had the biggest gains last year, also saw the biggest losses in the last decade. With GM and Chrysler still struggling to put new cars in consumer's driveways, the U.S. market may not be the same for some time.

-Anthony Alaniz
[Source: Ward's Auto]

Nissan's Next Titan Still 3 Years Away

Nissan's full-size pickup, the Titan, has a strong chance of seeing a new iteration by 2014. The next generation Titan was being designed in a joint program with Chrysler that allowed them access to the Dodge Ram 1500 platform. Once Fiat joined Chrysler, the projected ended, leaving Nissan without a redesign. With a declining market share, Nissan may not be able to survive without a redesign much longer.

-Anthony Alaniz

[Source: Left Lane News]