Jim Hackett, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, speaks during their press preview at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2018. (Photo: JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/Getty Images) Ford CEO Jim Hackett earned total compensation of $16.7 million in 2017, his first calendar year at the company’s helm, the automaker said Thursday.… Continue reading Ford releases salary, pay ratio data for entire workforce
Author: Detroit Free Press Online
GM partner's self-driving car gets a ticket from San Francisco cop
CLOSE Ford Motor Co. is making Miami-Dade County its new test bed for self-driving vehicles. Ford Cruise Automation self-driving test vehicle navigates the urban streets of San Francisco, CA. (Photo: Karl Nielsen for Cruise Automation) It sounds like the setup for a joke: A self-driving car got a ticket last week in San Francisco, KPIX-TV… Continue reading GM partner's self-driving car gets a ticket from San Francisco cop
Could abandoned Detroit train station be Ford's millennials magnet?
Buy Photo Davide Martello of Germany plays his piano in front of Michigan Central Station during a two day stop in Detroit in May 2015. Martello travels the world playing his piano in public spaces. Within a city he pulls it behind a bicycle and when it is time to move to the next town… Continue reading Could abandoned Detroit train station be Ford's millennials magnet?
Communications exec Chris Preuss returns to Ford to coordinate public relations
Chris Preuss begins his role as executive vice president, global public affairs & marketing communications, in April 2018 at WPP. (Photo: WPP) Chris Preuss, a veteran automotive communications professional, has been hired to return to his role coordinating Ford’s public relations agency network with press affairs. “I was eager to return to where my heart has always been,”… Continue reading Communications exec Chris Preuss returns to Ford to coordinate public relations
VW's 'SUV offensive' means more work for Tennessee plant
Volkswagen released this image of a concept version of a new 5-passenger SUV based on its 7-passenger Atlas SUV. The vehicle will debut at the New York auto show in late March 2018. A production version will be manufactured at VW’s Chattanooga, Tenn. plant. (Photo: Volkswagen) CLOSE American brands need to step it up. Time… Continue reading VW's 'SUV offensive' means more work for Tennessee plant
NHTSA probes 4 deaths in Hyundai-Kia cars when air bags failed
Detroit Free Press Published 11:29 a.m. ET March 17, 2018 Air bag light (Photo: deepblue4you, Getty Images/iStockphoto) Air bags in some Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate in crashes and four people are dead. Now the U.S. government’s road safety agency wants to know why. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s investigating… Continue reading NHTSA probes 4 deaths in Hyundai-Kia cars when air bags failed
Case alleging Fiat Chrysler cheated on emissions tests can proceed
Buy Photo A case alleging Fiat Chrysler cheated on emissions tests is allowed to proceed in California. (Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)Buy Photo A federal judge in California will allow litigation to proceed against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and auto supplier Bosch related to alleged diesel emissions cheating. Judge Edward Chen of the U.S. District… Continue reading Case alleging Fiat Chrysler cheated on emissions tests can proceed
Could General Motors launch its own Airbnb for cars?
A smartphone displaying the Maven app, a GM car-sharing service is shown in Ann Arbor in April 2016. (Photo: Paul Sancya, AP) Airbnb for cars? Bloomberg reports that General Motors is planning something similar through its Maven car-sharing platform. The news service, citing unnamed sources, said GM will launch a pilot project this summer. “GM vehicle… Continue reading Could General Motors launch its own Airbnb for cars?
Supplier strike settled, production to resume at Fiat Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant
Buy Photo Workers have ended their strike at a supplier for the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ont. (Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)Buy Photo A contract settlement has been reached with striking workers at an auto supplier in Canada that had halted production at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Windsor Assembly Plant, which builds the Chrysler… Continue reading Supplier strike settled, production to resume at Fiat Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant
Hyundai recalls Sonatas; air bags may not inflate in crash
2011 Hyundai Sonata (Photo: Hyundai) DETROIT — Hyundai is recalling nearly 155,000 Sonata midsize cars in the U.S. because the air bags may not inflate in a crash. The recall covers cars from the 2011 model year. Hyundai says a short circuit in the air bag control computer can stop the seat belts from tightening before… Continue reading Hyundai recalls Sonatas; air bags may not inflate in crash