Automotive News

Sergio Marchionne Says He Can Help Build the Apple Car

Apple reported worldwide earnings of $233 billion during the fourth quarter of 2015 alone. But that fact didn’t stop FCA CEO and black sweater enthusiast Sergio Marchionne from offering his company’s assistance in developing the tech giant’s top-secret electric vehicle project, the Apple Car. As we say down South: Bless his heart. “I would assume that we have the credibility to be one of the play

Auto Groups: Fixing Ford's Folly

In the go-go 80s the only thing that garnered more prestige than owning one company was owning several. After a while, it was almost a taboo to be in the upper echelons and only own one company. Small business owner? More like a peasant with a loan. Thanks to corporate personhood (not really) even Ford as an entity wanted to become an Auto Group to be hip like all the others. That was a satirical

Auto Group Outlier: Volkswagen

Touching back on the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) effect, Volkswagen Auto Group (VW AG) was an outlier immune to their effects due their business model. VW AG was aware that in order to stay buoyant, they needed to balance their resources by building the base out before building up. Basically, Volkswagen embodied a pyramid. VW AG has Hitler to thank for their success. I know that is an awf

The Crapolla Effect

After a decade, the Corolla Effect and been corrupted into Crapolla affecting the essential essence of automotive inspiration. Automakers were no longer aspiring to create a product to outperform and outlast the competitors, instead they did the opposite. The concocted underhanded schemes (sometimes referred to as prudent business practices); asking themselves: how can we make people buy more Crap

Auto Groups: An M&A Effect

The 1980s were particularly unfortunate for automobile drivers, because against them was a dynamic duo of pure evil. It was not just the Crapolla Effect plaguing them; in the late seventies, KKR made M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) the national pastime. The Detroit three saw this as a perfect time to diversify their portfolio… in only one industry. In the eighties the coolest thing one could do

The Corolla Effect

At some point in the early 1980s, building a car was no longer an art form, instead it was broken down into a simple to follow cookie cutter process. Avoid these pitfalls and yours will be a malleable unremarkable box on profitable wheels. I (just started) call(ing) these two moments in automobile history; the Toyota Corolla (or Crapolla) effect which eventually evolved into the Audi (A4) effect i

Ford Set to Leave Operations in Japan and Indonesia Behind

It’s always sad when a long-term relationship comes to an end, regardless of whether the relationship is professional or personal. Just ask the Ford Motor Company, which says it’s breaking up with two companies that were once among the automaker’s most trusted partners. Ford announced that it’s shutting down its business operations in Japan and Indonesia this year due to declining sales. As repor

Volkswagen Sued in U.S. District Court on RICO Charges

According to The Wall Street Journal, a U.S. District Court in California will hear a civil case that charges Volkswagen with committing widespread fraud with its rigged diesel vehicles. In and of itself, that charge isn’t too shocking, as VW has already admitted to installing the emissions-cheating defeat devices. What makes the prosecution’s charges rise to a level above a garden-variety class-a

Happy Birthday to You, Enzo Ferrari!

Today would have been the 118th birthday of Enzo Ferrari (pictured). Of course, Ferrari himself isn’t here to celebrate the occasion, as he passed away nearly two decades ago. Still, while he may longer be with us, his legacy as the founder of Ferrari undoubtedly lives on to this day. To honor said legacy, the Italian luxury sports carmaker is naming February 18 Enzo Ferrari Day. Ferrari (the aut

Scandal at Volkswagen: It’s Always the Cover-Up

President Nixon once famously observed that it’s not the crime that gets you—it’s the cover up. Unfortunately, many have failed to heed Nixon’s lesson, or learn from his example, which is why people continue to get caught up in scandals that spiral out of control. To wit: the ongoing scandal at Volkswagen, which has devolved from a relatively harmless case of emissions rigging to a deliberate cove