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VW tops in Corporate Trust Index only a few years after sex and bribery scandal?

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Volkswagen

VW chrome emblems in factory bin

No one could ever accuse the auto industry of having a sturdy long-term memory. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen Group has just been named the most trustworthy company in the German DAX stock index. Sure, Max, that adorable talking Beetle seems like a stand-up guy and all, but it wasn’t so long ago that VW ran into some serious legal trouble over its business dealings. Most notably, in 2008, Klaus Volkert, the former head of the company’s works council, was sentenced to three years in prison for breach of trust. The courts found that Volkert had received close to $3 million in order to influence votes on significant company decisions. Nothing like good old fashioned bribery to get things done.

Bad? Sure, but it gets worse. Another executive, Klaus-Joachim Gebauer, was found guilty of 40 counts of breach of trust after organizing pleasure cruises for members of the works council. Aside from the usual wining and dining, the cruises featured a full stable of prostitutes with orders to treat the council members “generously.” But hey, that was at least two years ago… right?

[Source: Automotive News | Image: Fabian Bimmer/AP]

VW tops in Corporate Trust Index only a few years after sex and bribery scandal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept marks 75 years of The Cat [w/Video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Videos, Jaguar, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style, Luxury

Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery. Follow the jump to watch video.

The Jaguar XKR175 isn’t the only special kitty making its debut out in Monterey. Jag’s new limited-production coupe is joined by the one-off XJ75 Platinum concept created to honor of the brand’s 75th anniversary. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance attendees will find it parked on the Concept Car Lawn.

Pearlescent white paint provides a stark contrast to the big saloon’s blacked-out grille, D-pillar, and custom 22-inch wheels. Inside, black leather seats get quilted, diamond-stitch suede inserts. The same material also adorns the headliner. Additional glitz comes courtesy of the Bremont Watch Company, which is responsible for the bespoke clock installed in the XJ75’s console.

If the 470-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 doesn’t provide enough entertainment, the XJ75 Platinum also features a 1,200-watt, 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Check out both the official photos and live pictures in high-res galleries below or follow the jump for video walkaround by Jaguar design Boss Ian Callum.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept

Gallery: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Jaguar]

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Monterey 2010: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum concept marks 75 years of The Cat [w/Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harley-Davidson reportedly threatening to leave Wisconsin after 107 years

Filed under: UAW/Unions, Motorcycle

2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight – Click above for high-res image gallery

Harley-Davidson is looking to cut its labor costs any way it can, even if it takes leaving Wisconsin. The Associated Press is reporting that the 107-year-old company has gone as far as to scout out other (likely southern) states in an effort to reduce its labor costs. Company CEO Keith Wandell says that the company will likely come to a decision in the next month or two, adding that Harley is open to tax incentives that will help keep the motorcycle facilities in the state of Wisconsin. Among the chief concerns of Harley-Davidson executives is the production schedules at its factories. Harley corporate wants to align production with seasonal demand, but as of yet, the union isn’t too keen on the idea, so it’s possible that the threat to move is posturing.

Meanwhile, the city of Milwaukee is already struggling to keep jobs in a down economy and the loss of 1,630 high-paying jobs would be a monumental blow to the community. The city already lost the headquarters of Miller Beer back in 2008, and Schlitz left the city in the 1980s due in part to labor strife. Harley-Davidson also brings tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, bolstering the local tourist economy. But although management is looking into moving its factories, it will reportedly keep its headquarters in the beleaguered city.

Gallery: 2010 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight

[Source: Associated Press]

Harley-Davidson reportedly threatening to leave Wisconsin after 107 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Toyota Prius to be built in U.S… in six years

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery

It wasn’t so long ago that Toyota was making big waves over plans to build the hybrid Prius here in the U.S. The company had originally planned to start cranking out the battery-powered people mover at its Mississippi manufacturing facility, but after GM pulled the NUMMI plug, Toyota was forced to move Corolla production to plant instead. That doesn’t mean there won’t be room for the Prius down that way in the future, though.

According to Reuters, Atsushi Niimi, the company’s executive vice president, said that production of the hybrid could shift to the Mississippi plant when the car undergoes its next revision. Thing is, that won’t be for another six years.

Niimi said that the car’s production isn’t likely to move until the fourth-generation Prius hits the assembly line, which is expected to be somewhere around 2016. Why the delay? Toyota doesn’t see the American auto market – or even the economy as a whole – recovering any time soon. While some analysts have said that buyers in the land of the free would snap up 12 million cars and trucks next year and 14-15 million the year after, Toyota says it’s not so convinced.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Next Toyota Prius to be built in U.S… in six years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Russia’s AvtoVAZ finally turns a profit after many years

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, Renault, Russia

During the first quarter of 2010, Russian automaker Avtovaz lost 2.6 billion rubles ($85M U.S.). In the second quarter it made almost a third of that back when it posted a net profit of one billion rubles ($32.7M U.S). The spike came courtesy of Russia’s cash-for-clunkers program, which more than doubled the firm’s sales over Q1 numbers to 149,100 cars.

The cars that sold were reported to be mainly “older and cheaper models.” In response, Russian Prime MInister Vladimir Putin advised Avtovaz CEO Igor Komarov to modernize the company, rather than flogging ancient Lada designs even if the flogging is good. Komarov said Avtovaz is sending a team of 500 to study Renault’s manufacturing methods, which could mean they’re finally getting around to that technology sharing broached almost a year ago. Now if we could just get that Lada C concept built…

[Source: BBC]

Report: Russia’s AvtoVAZ finally turns a profit after many years originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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