GM head to donate $1M to Habitat

General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Daniel Akerson is expected today to announce a $1 million personal gift to Habitat for Humanity Detroit, according to people familiar with his plans.

Honda recalling 46,000 Odyssey minivans to fix rear doors

Washington —Honda Motor Co. is recalling more than 45,000 Odyssey minivans to repair power liftgates that could unexpectedly close and cause injuries.

Ford board members’ compensation rises 25%

Ford Motor Co. boosted annual compensation for board members by 25 percent and will pay 29 percent more to Edsel Ford II, its founder’s great-grandson, for his work as a director and consultant.

GM to Gingrich: You can put a gun rack in a Volt

Washington — General Motors Co. launched a new blog Tuesday, and responded to Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s suggestion the Chevrolet Volt is an “Obama car.”

Ford opens up on Tourneo commercial van

Ford Motor Co. has released details about a new commercial van that the automaker says gives passengers a more luxurious car-like experience.

Senators to Obama: OK fuel rules

Washington — Thirty U.S. senators called on the Obama administration to finalize new rules nearly doubling fuel efficiency standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025.

Ford to add $3.8B to pension plans this year

Detroit— Ford Motor Co. will pump $3.8 billion into its global pension plans this year as it tries to get them closer to fully funding their obligations.

GM appoints veteran engineer to head research

Detroit— General Motors said veteran engineer Jon Lauckner will head the company's research and development efforts.

U.S. motorists drive fewer miles in 2011

Washington— Americans hit the brakes on travel in 2011, as travel on U.S. roads fell to its lowest level since 2003, government data shows.

Fact Check: Artful swerves on the auto bailout

Washington — Michigan has become squirm central for Republican presidential candidates who are trying to explain their opposition to the auto bailout before the big primary in the home of automakers. Their tale is terribly tangled, and President Barack Obama isn't telling it straight either.

Auto bailout back to haunt Romney or help him

As Congress and the White House scrambled in the fall of 2008 to confront the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression, Mitt Romney felt compelled to say what many in his native Michigan would consider heresy: Do not bail out the troubled U.S. automakers.

Electric cars still a hard sell for most consumers

If there’s a full-blown revolution coming, it isn’t here yet. While the hybrid market is growing, in 2012 it comprises just 2.46% of the overall market. Electric vehicle sales represent less than 1%.

Five tiny cars we almost forgot

Today’s small cars are so good, you may not need a larger one. After all, they offer all of the technology — such as Bluetooth and GPS navigation — and comfort — such as leather seats — that larger cars do. It wasn’t always that way.

Profits don’t blind GM to tests ahead

For cold, hard dollars-and-cents evidence that the new General Motors Co. isn’t like the old one, look no further than the past 24 hours.

GM’s Akerson: $7.6B profit a ‘solid performance’

General Motors Co. may have posted a record profit of $7.6 billion for 2011 Thursday, but the Detroit automaker acknowledges that its turnaround is far from ...

DOT issues guidelines to limit dashboard distractions

Washington — Safety regulators are urging automakers to design dashboard technology with a view to limiting the amount of time that drivers take their eyes off ...

Chrysler ends bid for U.S. loans

Chrysler Group LLC has abandoned its long-languishing application for billions of dollars in federal energy loans.

Visteon said to be nearing sale of lighting unit to Varroc Group

Visteon Corp., the auto parts maker shopping two of its four units, is in talks with India's Varroc Group about a sale of its lighting unit, said three people ...

Ford free to offer proposal for blast-proof trucks, army says

Ford Motor Co. can submit an unsolicited proposal for $54 billion in work replacing U.S. military Humvees with blast-proof, all-terrain vehicles, the U.S. Army ...

Analysts: GM Europe revamp to cost at least $1B

General Motors Co., facing mounting losses in Europe, will have to spend at least $1 billion to revive its operations in the region, according to estimates ...

GM to move all salaried workers to 401(k) plans

General Motors Co. is ending traditional pensions for all U.S. salaried employees and replacing them with more common defined-contribution, or 401(k), plans.

Upgrades make you forget the 2012 Ford F-150 is still a truck

Interstate 94 was the perfect place to test the top-of-the-line 2012 Ford F-150. The highway starts out relatively flat on Michigan’s east side and then moves ...

Ford cited for backing female-owned suppliers

A national women’s entrepreneur advocacy organization has recognized a Detroit automaker for its efforts to support women-owned suppliers, a first for any ...

Gadgets raise car hacking concerns

Washington — Drivers can talk with each other via Bluetooth phone connections, ask their cars for directions and dial up satellite radio. The same cars use ...

In owners’ eyes, cars wage own battle of the sexes

Two garage attendants are talking about the svelte Mini Cooper coupe I’ve just parked. One says he likes it, the other laughs. “Are you kidding? That’s a chick ...

Latin America favoring Chinese cars

Lima, Peru — At first, Lima taxi driver Mario Segura was disgusted by the thought of buying a Chinese-made car. He had doubts about the vehicles’ durability, ...

New tires aim to enhance performance

Looking for the aftermarket product that will enhance your vehicle’s performance faster and easier than any other? Look no further than bolting on four new ...

Lexus tops J.D. Power list; Cadillac is No. 3 as Ford's Lincoln drops to No. 7

American automakers continue to make strides in terms of vehicle dependability, according to the J.D. Power & Associates 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study ...