| My Day at the Show | | Posted Friday, October 27, 2006 2:46:17 AM by Blog57 Team | | The Australian car industry has always walked the tightrope of political correctness with varying degrees of dexterity. This year's Sydney Motor Show media day marked the year where it finally toppled over and hit the circus floor at a rate of knots. The scene was set early with the arrival of the Harry's Cafe de Wheels girls, dressed in short white outfits one journalist described as halfway between naughty nurse and check-out girl. Yep, it seems that the presence of more and more female car industry executives has done nothing to challenge the conventional wisdom that cars and scantily clad girls go together like a meat pie and sauce. But more of that later. With the feminists' noses out of joint in record time, the environmentalists were next in the firing line as Holden proudly announced that America's tribute to global warming, the Hummer, was coming to Australia.... | |
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| | | Saab Sonett Celebrates 50 Years at Swedish Car Day | | Posted Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:45:54 AM by Blog57 Team | | BOSTON - October 2, 2006: The name sounds like a song. But in fact, the Saab Sonett sports car was originally named after the Swedish expression "s ntt", meaning "so neat".Now, half a century after the launch of the first generation, the Sonett is known the world over as Saab's quintessential two-seat sport car. On Sunday, October 15, Saab fans will be gathering on the Swedish Car Day at the Larz Anderson Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts to celebrate the brand and 50 years of Saab Sonett in particular. .... | |
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| | | GM Vehicle Sales Up Eight Percent Over 2005 | | Posted Sunday, September 03, 2006 8:46:03 AM by Blog57 Team | | General Motors' dealers in the United States sold 368,776 new cars and trucks in August. Retail sales were up 8 percent on a sales day adjusted basis, compared with August 2005. "August retail sales were up almost 30,000 units compared to last year. That's great news. This was one of the stronger retail months of 2006, with our performance led by such launch vehicles as the Pontiac Torrent and G6, Saturn Sky, Chevrolet Cobalt, Impala and Buick Lucerne," said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Importantly, we're capitalizing on the sale of fuel-efficient cars and trucks including such "30 mpg and Above Club" members as Pontiac G6 coupe and G5, Chevy HHR, Cobalt, Malibu and Impala, and Saab 9-3. Our large pickup retail sales for Chevrolet Silverado, Avalanche and GMC Sierra were up 27 percent compared with a year ago.... | |
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| | | (AFX UK Focus) 2006-08-31 16:05 GMT: Saab buy of LM Ericsson's Ericsson Microwave Systems cleared by EU | | Posted Friday, September 01, 2006 10:46:17 PM by Blog57 Team | | BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said it has cleared the proposed acquisition by Swedish defence, aviation and space technology group Saab AB of LM Ericsson AB's defence electronics and avionics company Ericsson Microwave Systems AB. The commission said the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area. It said there would be effective competition on the market for integrated radar systems, such as combat aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems. simon.zekaria@afxnews.com sz/cml COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.... | |
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| | | GM plans to slash spending on midsize cars by $1 billion | | Posted Friday, August 11, 2006 12:45:51 PM by Blog57 Team | | General Motors Corp., struggling to rebound from last year's multibillion-dollar loss, will reduce its annual costs to develop new midsize cars by $1 billion through sharing parts, designs and factories. Plants in North America, Europe and elsewhere will use the same chassis on models such as the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and Saab convertibles, said Jim Wiemels, who oversees GM's global production. He spoke Monday during a conference in Dearborn, Mich. The change will reduce spending on new midsize cars by a third, or $1 billion a year, GM spokesman Dave Roman said. "They have opened up everything to see what's available in the global parts bin," said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Mass., who forecasts vehicle sales. "There is a more cohesive environment now." The plan is part of GM chief executive Rick Wagoner's strategy for restoring profits after a $10.6 billion loss in 2005 and winning back buyers lost to competitors such as Japan's Toyota Motor Corp.... | |
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| | | Saab Aero X Concept Bows at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance | | Posted Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:45:58 AM by Blog57 Team | | Detroit, Mich. August 8, 2006; The striking 2006 Saab Aero X concept, voted 'Best of Show' at its world premiere in Geneva earlier this year, is scheduled to make its California debut at the 56 th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance during the weekend of August 18-20. It will mark the very first time a Saab concept car is featured at this prestigious event, which brings thousands of car aficionados from all over the globe to the Monterey peninsula on the American West Coast. "After its unveiling in Geneva and American debut in New York City earlier this year, we're honored to present the Aero X at Pebble Beach", said Jay Spenchian, Saab Automobile USA general manager. "This Concours is simply the world's premier automotive event when it comes to showing the ultimate classics from the past, present and future.... | |
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| | | Rex signs on for new Saab 340 | | Posted Wednesday, July 19, 2006 12:46:23 PM by Blog57 Team | | Regional Express has signed an agreement with Saab Aircraft Leasing for a five-year lease for one Saab 340B aircraft, as well as extending its existing four Saab 340B leases. The regional airline, which is trying to cut costs by turning itself into a single fleet Saab 340 operator, has already started phasing out its 19-seat Metro 23s and expects to have replaced them with Saab 340s by the end of the year. It is now one of the largest Saab 340 operators in the world with over 30 aircraft. AAP .... | |
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| | | Saab Sees 2Q Profit Rise 82 Percent | | Posted Tuesday, July 18, 2006 2:45:46 AM by Blog57 Team | | Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB said Friday its net profit for the second quarter rose by 82 percent, thanks mainly to a large order for a surveillance aircraft system to Pakistan. The company said net profit for the quarter was 293 million kronor ($40.5 million), or 2.68 kronor ($0.37) per share, compared to 161 million kronor, or 1.48 kronor per share, for the same period a year ago. Sales came in at 5.15 billion kronor ($710 million), up from 4.61 billion a year ago and in line with analyst forecasts. The results were boosted by an 8.3 billion kronor ($1.15 billion) agreement with Pakistan to deliver an airborne surveillance system. The system includes the Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft equipped with airborne radars from Ericsson Microwave Systems, which Saab bought from wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson on June 12.... | |
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