New car sales in overdrive
SALES of new cars are at record levels, thanks to buyer-friendly interest rates, but market trends are proving to be a headache for Ford and Holden.
Manufacturing
Whopping fine for carbon tax lie
A COMPANY which jacked up its prices and blamed the increase on the carbon tax has been ordered to pay more than half a million dollars in fines.
Australia’s biggest corporate scandal?
THE Australian head of major fleet management company Orix has reportedly been charged with paying corrupt commissions to an employee of Coca-Cola Amatil.
Is this the next Holden Commodore?
THE covers have come off a new Chevrolet sedan at the New York Auto Show and it reveals a glimpse of the 2018 Holden Commodore.
Local car industry to go distance
THE Federal Government says Ford, Toyota and Holden will not shut its factories early despite new lows for sales of locally-made cars.
Is this the end of petrol cars?
THE future of motoring is a step closer, with Australia’s first hydrogen refuelling point for cars. Now the industry is trying to create a network.
Sushi rolls hide a shocking secret
CHAINED up in ships, whipped with toxic stingray tails and fed only a few mouthfuls of rice. These are the pictures one industry doesn’t want the world to see.
Australia’s next big export is … surprising
FORGET coal and iron ore. Australia’s next big export market is here, and it’s not the sort of product you’d expect. Here’s why it could be our great leap forward.
Can you name our top 10 companies?
THE list is out for Australia’s biggest retail earners of 2014. Can you guess which company topped the list?
Ford Australia boss quits
DETROITER Bob Graziano said he would stay to oversee the Ford Australia factory closures. But today he announced his retirement from the company he served for 32 years.
Why your ice cream is bad for monkeys
IT’S a jungle out there. But you won’t believe how your run-of-the-mill ice-cream is creating a threat to the animal world — in more ways than one.
French yoghurt bosses in conspiracy
FRANTIC text messages between CEOs about cottage cheese prices. Clandestine smoke breaks to collude on yoghurt strategy. Yoplait: it’s French for ‘crime’.
The dirty secret behind your clothes
GROPING, sexual harassment and pressure to have abortions. These are the dirty secrets sewn into some of our favourite big brand clothing. And we are literally wearing the blame.
‘Miracle’ comeback in tsunami-wrecked Japan
JAPAN’S devastating tsunami in 2011 destroyed a 200-year old company, leaving a patch of dirt where the building once stood. But now it’s back after a fluke discovery.
Baby formula poison threat exposed
POLICE are investigating a threat to contaminate infant and other formula in an apparent protest over the use of 1080 poison for pest control.
Car sales accelerate with a twist
AUSTRALIANS continue to treat themselves to new cars as they cash in on low interest rates and sharp deals. But our taste in cars is changing.
Smart car brand axed in Australia
THE tiny city cars made by Mercedes-Benz started out as a novelty. But in the end not enough people were prepared to pay a premium for a “four-wheel scooter”.
Ford Mustang’s Aussie price tag revealed
THE Ford Mustang arrives in local showrooms this year. The starting price is much less than it used to be, but is still thousands of dollars more than US customers pay.
Are jetpacks set to fly at last?
A NEW Zealand-based jetpack maker is putting its strap-on flying machine on the Australian share market. Has our Jetsons future finally arrived?
‘KKK Wednesday’ promotion backfires
OH DEAR. Krispy Kreme has been forced to apologise after upsetting customers over launching a ‘KKK Wednesday’ promotion aimed at children.
You’d better stock up on undies
STOP! Don’t throw out that ragged pair of boxers or briefs just yet. Australia is on the verge of a full-blown cost-of-undies crisis.
Ford recalls faulty Falcons, Territories
FORD is recalling almost a year’s worth of Falcon sedans and utes and Territory SUVs due to an ignition fault which could cause the engine to stall.
Holden appoints Aussie as boss
HOLDEN has appointed its sixth boss in six years — and its first Australian-born boss since 1990.
The carseat covers that could kill
THE humble car seat cover could be a hidden danger inside modern cars with side airbags, which has forced Kmart to issue a national recall.
Suzuki slams brakes on its new small car
THE brakes failed on two Suzuki Celerios during a magazine test in the UK and now the company has halted deliveries in Australia.
New-car sales slow in January
INTEREST rates are at record lows, prices have been cut due to axing import tariffs, but the new-car market was off to a slow start in January.
Shots fired in Nespresso court battle
A COFFEE company is suing Nestle over its bid to keep competitors’ capsules out of its popular Nespresso machines.
‘Sad day’ for Aussie chocolate maker
IT’S a sad day for workers at Australia’s oldest chocolate maker, Victoria’s acting premier says, after Hillier’s was placed into voluntary administration.
Australian designs Ford’s Ferrari fighter
AND you thought Australians were taking over Hollywood. Now they’re taking over Detroit. Hobart man designs Detroit’s fastest ever Ford GT supercar.
Holden electric car wows Detroit
THE Chevrolet Bolt is General Motors’ first pure electric vehicle since the failed EV1 of the 1990s. Now look who’s reviving the electric car.
Holden designs Buick luxury car for China
HOLDEN may be closing its car factory and engine plant but its design team is working on cars for China and beyond.
Ford’s 48-year low sales shocker
WE know Australian-made cars are near the end of the road but Ford as an entire brand has just recorded its lowest sales in almost half a century.
Mambo sold to US clothing group
ICONIC Australian surfwear brand Mambo has been snapped up by a US-based clothing group, Saban Brands.
Aussie car industry slams on brakes
PRODUCTION of Australian-made cars hit a 61-year low in 2014 as the market experienced its biggest slowdown since the GFC in 2009 and tsunami in 2011.
Toyota Corolla is our top selling car
FORGET Holden versus Ford. The new battle is Toyota Corolla versus Mazda3 — and now the score is two-all.
Why your Coke tastes bittersweet today
BOTTLING company Coca-Cola Amatil will axe 260 jobs as it undertakes a $100 million cost-cutting campaign.
Defence Minister cops a pasting
EMBATTLED Defence Minister David Johnston is under heavy fire on social media over his expensive dining habits, denigration of shipbuilders and the defence force pay cut.
Toyota announces more job cuts
MORE than 300 white-collar workers could be out of a job after Toyota announced the closure of its Sydney office.
The world’s oldest monopoly ends
FOR more than 2600 years, one government has controlled the salt supply for an entire country. So why is it coming to an end?
Iconic shoes on the other foot
PACIFIC Brands has sold three of its iconic shoe brands, Dunlop Volley, Clarks and Hush Puppies, to a private equity firm.
Look, first Aussie car made in China
AS the Australian car manufacturing industry ends by 2018, here’s a glimpse of the future. A car designed, engineered in Australia is built in China.
Sweden bids to build our $20bn sub
SWEDEN’S defence giant is to launch an audacious bid to build the navy’s future submarine, which if successful, will bring thousands of local jobs.
Holden set to appoint Aussie boss
HOLDEN could soon have its first Australian-born boss in almost a quarter of a century — and its sixth boss in six years.
World’s fastest motorcycle unveiled
THE world’s fastest motorcycle is unveiled. It is expected to go from 0 to 100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds and will cost about $30K.
Drivers win from car industry overhaul
CAR companies will be forced to provide the latest service information to independent repair operators under changes being pushed by the federal government.
SodaStream finally gives in to critics
AFTER punishing boycotts, drinks maker Sodastream, which has Scarlett Johansson for an ambassador, has finally flown the white flag.
Female car boss tore down naked pics
THE first Australian woman to run a car company — she oversaw record sales and tore down naked women posters in workshops — quits.
Coca-Cola Amatil to axe 57 jobs
FIFTY-SEVEN jobs will be lost when beverages supplier Coca-Cola Amatil closes its production facility at Bayswater in Melbourne.
Whopping $8.3m fine for gas cartel
TWO suppliers of forklift LPG gas have been slapped with a massive $8.3 million fine by the Federal Court for engaging in cartel conduct.
U-turn on car servicing code
THE car industry may be forced to back down from its controversial new code of practice for vehicle servicing as early as next week.
Why motorbikes are getting cheaper
MOTORBIKES are set to drop in price as PM Tony Abbott launches legislation to scrap almost 1000 acts and regulations.
Toyota gives mechanics a fair go
TOYOTA has broken ranks with the industry’s new vehicle servicing code of practice and will make data and recall information available to mechanics.
Is this the end of the local mechanic?
LOCAL mechanics could soon become extinct and motorists may be forced to pay more for servicing after a controversial move by the car industry.
Aussie car safety standards to drop
AUSTRALIAN drivers are about to become real-life crash-test dummies — from next year it will be easier for less safe cars to earn a five-star rating.
Lexus Australia recalls 10,000 cars
LEXUS Australia has announced a recall of 10,800 cars, built between 2005 and 2010, as part of a global recall of 1.75 million vehicles.
Holden in another recall shocker
TALK about a false start. Holden has issued more recalls this year than any other time in Australian automotive history — now including the ‘bunny-hop’ Barina.
The company profiting from Ebola
BELIEVE it or not, there are some winners from the Ebola outbreak. One company has seen its value skyrocket by 90 per cent since the start of the year.
Who bought the last Ford Falcon GT?
THE last ever Ford Falcon GT has rolled off the production line, farewelled by 600 emotional workers. And the bloke who bought it paid a small fortune.
Aussie car buyers spoilt for choice
THE end of Australian car manufacturing in 2017 has led to fears that prices will rise. But a perfect storm could mean Aussie car buyers will be laughing.
Australia’s most powerful police car
EXCLUSIVE: Australia’s most powerful police car has been tuned by racing legend Dick Johnson and can detect stolen cars in milliseconds, and spot speeding drivers a kilometre away.
Want a seven-year car warranty?
THE gloves are off in Australia’s new car war — and buyers are the big winners. One car maker is about to unleash the longest warranty in the industry’s history.
ISIS the building company mistaken for terrorists
A NATIONAL construction company could be forced to change its name of 25 years — which is ISIS — because staff members are being abused as “terrorists”. No, really.
New Mustang fires on four cylinders
THE Ford Mustang has long been renowned for its sheer grunt, but will its new four-cylinder version still let you be king of the road? We take it for a spin.
Ute slammed for poor safety
AN INDIAN-made ute has scored just two stars out of a possible five for crash safety, joining two Chinese-made Great Wall utes for score.
Is this why so many Scots have voted ‘No’?
WE’VE found it. This could be the one massive reason why the Scottish people chose to reject the prospect of independence.
Holden poised to sack 300 workers
HOLDEN is preparing to sack 300 vehicle engineers — half its engineering workforce — by the end of this year, three years ahead of the factory closures.
World’s fastest ute: Holden making more
THE world’s fastest ute, the HSV GTS Maloo, has finally been confirmed. Holden will make 100 more due to the overwhelming demand.
Ford’s $200 test drive throwdown
FORD Australia drives new business with a world-first offer: buy a rival’s car after taking one of their own for a test drive, and they’ll give you $200.
Stars pocket $39m from Packer
JAMES Packer and business partner Lawrence Ho have reportedly paid $13 million each to three Hollywood stars for two days’ work.
Online cars: clicking can be a drag
AUSSIES will soon be able to buy a bargain new car online from overseas, but experts warn it carries risks. Here’s what you need to know before you start clicking.
Germany to build Commodore
THE car replacing the homegrown Holden Commodore in 2018 will not be made in China as originally thought.
The new darling of the auto world
WHILE the Australian car manufacturing industry is all but gone, Mexico has been cutting our grass. The country has had billion-dollar investments from major car makers.
World’s safest soccer mum car
The new Volvo XC90 is so safe the Swedish car maker says no-one will die or be injured in one by 2020.
Clunker cars banned from Australia
SAFETY experts have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to stop Australia becoming a “dumping ground” for used cars.
New Ford Falcon could save your life
AIRBAGS? So last century. Ford’s new Falcon ups the safety standards by automatically dialling 000 in the event of a crash.
Petrol giants ‘ripping off’ motorists
THE ACCC has launched legal action against most of the nation’s petrol retailers and a fuel market data company, alleging they have been sharing pricing information.
Coke profits slump 16 per cent
COCA-COLA Amatil has warned that post-budget weak consumer sentiment is set to mean tough trading conditions for the rest of the year.
Arnott’s to cut 120 Adelaide jobs
IN ANOTHER blow to Australian workers, biscuit maker Arnott’s will slash 120 jobs from its Marleston bakery in Adelaide.
Sold out: Holden’s fastest ute
HOLDEN is scrambling to build more of its supercharged HSV GTS Maloo ute after it sold out within 24 hours.
Car industry closure to hurt all
THE shutdown of the Australian car industry is likely to lead to job losses across all areas of the economy, experts warn.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/manufacturing/page/24