Mary Barra Heads GM Stockholders Meeting
Today, Mary Barra addressed the company’s stockholders during the annual GM stockholders meeting. “In every market, consumers have more and better automotive choices than ever before,” Barra said. “And the competition is only going to get tougher. This is a reality. Another reality is that GM is positioned to be stronger, leaner and more responsive […]
Ford Recalls 1.3 Million SUVS, Cars
There must be something in the water in Detroit. Following in the very loud and miscalculated footsteps of its biggest American competitor, General Motors, Ford has recalled 1.3 million vehicles, mostly SUVs, for a number of issues. The SUV power steering defects alone have been responsible for at least 20 accidents and eight injuries. In […]
Jim Federico, GM Global Head of Subcompact Vehicles, Announces Retirement
Jim Federico has been with General Motors for 36 years but formally announced his retirement just two days ago. Federico served as the Executive Chief Engineer of Subcompact and Electric Vehicles. Most recently, he reported to Mark Reuss, GM Head of Product Development, though he used to report to Mary Barra before her promotion to […]
Somehow, GM Profits Reach $125M in Q1 2014
Despite $1.3 billion for repairs to recalled vehicles, a $400 million loss in Venezuela, and a $284 million loss in Europe, GM still managed to turn some kind of profit in the first quarter.
General Motors is paying to the tune of $1.3 billion to repair the immense catalog of vehicles affected by recalls—including $700 million toward fixing 2.59 million vehicles with ignition switch issues similar to those that have killed at least a dozen people. Despite all of this, and despite taking a $284 million loss in Europe, […]
Two GM Engineers on Paid Leave After Valukas Reports Findings
GM CEO Mary Barra calls the decision "difficult." You know what else is difficult? Burying your child because of something that could have been easily avoided if someone else had taken responsibility. That's difficult.
Heads have begun to roll at General Motors after Anton Valukas’ independent investigation into just how deep the incompetency that led to 2.6 million recalls and at least a dozen deaths runs. As a result of the investigation, Mary Barra is pulling out her CEO scythe and going headhunting. None shall be spared, and no […]
Toyota Recalls 6.4 Million Vehicles Worldwide
Apparently, Toyota wasn’t cool with General Motors hogging the recall spotlight anymore. The automaker was already in a close second for “Wow, sucks to be that car company right now” after their $1.2 billion payout last month following an unintended acceleration issue , but as Toyota recalls 6.4 million vehicles around the world for various […]
Latest GM Recall: 490K Trucks and SUVs, 172K Cruzes
The latest recall of a combined 662,000 GM-made vehicle brings the total number of vehicles recalled in March to 4.8 million.
To General Motors, vehicle recalls for safety-related issues may well be the equivalent of Pringles: “Once you pop, you can’t stop.” Except in this case, their reward is not the salty goodness of potato chips, but rather the confidence that the survival of their empire may well depend on how they handle the mess that […]
Nissan Recalls 990,000 Vehicles: Is Anyone Even Surprised Anymore?
Nissan and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just recently issued a recall for 989,701 vehicles here in the United States for an airbag malfunction issue. While General Motors has been hogging the spotlight these days with recalls, other automakers have clearly not been immune: Porsche, Volkswagen, Honda, Fiat, and others have all issued recalls […]
Did GM Set Mary Barra Up for a Fall with Ignition Switch Recall?
Mary Barra has stepped up and taken ownership of GM's disastrous recall where her male counterparts would have no doubt shriveled.
Back in December, Mary Barra made history when she took over for the outgoing Dan Akerson and became the first female CEO of an American automaker. What should have been a momentous occasion—with early projections of success at NAIAS and plenty to be excited about in 2014—quickly turned disastrous when a recall was issued for […]
1.5 Million More GM Vehicles Have Been Recalled
When it rains, it pours. And when it pours, an umbrella really isn’t going to help much anyway. After General Motors recalled 1.37 million vehicles here in the United States and came under fire from the media and government alike, 1.5 million more GM vehicles have been recalled. The automaker will also take on a […]
GM Recall for 2014 Chevy Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL
General Motors has announced a recall for a small contingent of its 2014 model year Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs to repair a potential issue involving loose rear brake caliper bolts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report states that up to ten vehicles may be affected by […]
The Supply of Recession-Era Used Cars Is Dwindling
As drivers hang onto their cars for longer periods of time, car dealerships are struggling to keep up with the current demand for used vehicles
The automotive industry took a pretty big hit during the global recession that began in 2008. As a result, automotive production was greatly decreased, from 53.2 million units in 2007 to 47.77 million units in 2009. Now, that reduction in production is having a profound effect on the used car market. Indeed, many used car […]
Don’t Leave Us, Mary Barra!
As a woman in the auto industry, there are few highly-visible women I can look up to when writing articles. I am fortunate enough to be covering General Motors, which means that every day when I look up new topics to write about I usually end up searching the web for Mary Barra. Imagine my shock […]
Chevy to (Probably) Bring Back Cavalier Name
It seems we hear about every new General Motors vehicle ahead of time when GM applies for a trademark on the name. It’s something that we report on all the time, with GM most recently patenting the name “Corvette E-Ray,” hinting at an electric Corvette. Well, it’s that time again: GM has filed a trademark […]
Mary Barra Sets Example for Women Beyond the Auto Industry
As one of the writers who covers Chevrolet and General Motors news here at The News Wheel, I read an awful lot about Mary Barra. In case you haven’t heard, Ms. Barra is the CEO of General Motors who got her start as an engineer at a Pontiac plant. CEO is an impressive enough job title, […]
Mary Barra Joins Amy Poehler’s #SmartGirlsAsk Twitter Campaign
General Motors prides itself on being pretty social media savvy (to a fault), and the American automaker’s CEO is no slouch herself. Not only did Mary Barra master Facebook earlier this month, but she’s also using her Twitter account to tackle the most viral trending topics of this day and age. At last year’s Emmy […]
Mary Barra to be Doron Levin’s First Guest on New SiriusXM Show
Author and former Detroit Free Press columnist Doron Levin will soon be hosting an hour-long SiriusXM radio show called “In the Driver’s Seat,” which he describes as “an automotive variety show.” The debut episode will air at noon on Saturday, and Levin’s first guest will be none other than GM CEO Mary Barra. “She’s a […]
Forbes Names Mary Barra Fifth Most Powerful Woman in the World
Mary Barra may have had a rough start when she assumed the role of General Motors CEO, but she’s shown a tenacity that could help her outlast some of her predecessors. And industry watchers are taking note—including the folks at Forbes, who just placed Barra fifth on their list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful […]