CLOSE Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide Plexiglass sneeze guards separate the work stations, carts hold cleaning supplies and signs seemingly everywhere remind workers to social distance. But Mark Bennett, who works in operations at the Lear seating plant in Flint, said the biggest change for workers when they return on Monday will likely… Continue reading Lear plant in Flint had ‘every square inch’ adapted in response to coronavirus
Author: Detroit Free Press Online
FCA, PSA Group ditch dividend distribution over COVID-19
CLOSE The boards of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group have nixed a planned dividend distribution in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but they say plans for their 50/50 merger remain on track. As part of their merger announcement last year, FCA and PSA Group had said each company would issue a $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) ordinary… Continue reading FCA, PSA Group ditch dividend distribution over COVID-19
GM predicts it will be back to full production in about 4 weeks
CLOSE Cadillac reinvents driving with system that steers car for long distances on highways The automaker brutalized by a 40-day UAW strike plans to take its sharpened rapid response skills and go from total shutdown to total production by mid-June, a top General Motors official acknowledged this week. “Not every facility will ramp up as fast as possible … Ideally,… Continue reading GM predicts it will be back to full production in about 4 weeks
FCA’s restart plan includes thermal cameras, 2,000 hand-sanitizing stations
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles workers will see some changes in light of the coronavirus pandemic when they return to their facilities, with most manufacturing plants reopening on Monday. The company early Tuesday laid out its health and safety plans for reopening its North American plants, noting that it had cleaned and disinfected more than 57 million square… Continue reading FCA’s restart plan includes thermal cameras, 2,000 hand-sanitizing stations
COVID-19 impact on rental car companies also hurts automakers
CLOSE Hertz and other rental car companies are being hammered by a loss of business connected to COVID-19. That also hurts automakers. (Photo: David Goldman, AP) The rental car business is a mess because of COVID-19, and it’s putting an extra dose of pressure on the auto industry, which provides the vehicles. The coronavirus pandemic has… Continue reading COVID-19 impact on rental car companies also hurts automakers
Ford announces a restart date, plans for workers to return in waves
CLOSE Assembly line production in 2018 at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant. (Photo: Ford Motor Co.) Ford Motor Co. is joining its crosstown rivals to restart its North American assembly plants beginning May 18. As part of a phased restart, Ford’s North American parts depots will resume full operations Monday. Employees who can work remotely will continue to do… Continue reading Ford announces a restart date, plans for workers to return in waves
Fiat Chrysler files for trademark on ‘Dakota,’ raising prospect of new midsize truck
CLOSE Fiat Chrysler has filed for a trademark for “Dakota,” raising the prospect that the company could be relaunching its midsize truck model. It likely would be a Ram, however, rather than a Dodge like this 2009 Dodge Dakota Sport Extended Cab. (Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) Is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ready to pull the trigger… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler files for trademark on ‘Dakota,’ raising prospect of new midsize truck
General Motors made $294 million net income in first quarter, down 87%
CLOSE The logo for the General Motors Corporation (Photo: STAN HONDA, AFP/Getty Images) Hit by the coronavirus crisis, General Motors is the latest of the Detroit Three automakers to have a rough quarter. The automaker reported a net profit of just $294 million, down 86.7% from $2.1 billion for the first quarter a year ago. Its earnings before… Continue reading General Motors made $294 million net income in first quarter, down 87%
Ford COO makes second largest exec purchase of Ford stock in 10 years
CLOSE Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion loss in the first quarter is no deterrent to its COO Jim Farley. Farley, 57, paid about $1 million to buy 194,950 shares of Ford stock Thursday at about $5.13 a share, Ford said in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. Farley now owns 828,922 Ford shares. The purchase… Continue reading Ford COO makes second largest exec purchase of Ford stock in 10 years
Cadillac Super Cruise gets new features that let it take over more of the driving
CLOSE Cadillac reinvents driving with system that steers car for long distances on highways Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system will add several welcome functions this year, increasing conditions in which drivers can let their Caddies essentially drive themselves, like when passing and switching highways at interchanges. I’ve logged more than 3,000 miles with Super Cruise. It’s amazing,… Continue reading Cadillac Super Cruise gets new features that let it take over more of the driving