Toyota renews calls to scrap tax
AUSTRALIA’S biggest car maker Toyota has repeated calls for an end to Luxury Car Tax – as new-car sales slow down for the sixth month in a row.
Manufacturing
Holden recalls Commodore again
THE Holden Commodore has been recalled for the fourth time in three months because the LPG fuel system may cut out or catch fire.
Get a V8 sound from your Alto
MISS the days of having a V8 growl as you start the family car? Lexus’ new SUV gives you a sound option and soon you can pick the noise coming from your car.
Toyota posts biggest-ever loss
TOYOTA Australia has recorded a massive financial loss — $437 million after tax — as it prepares to shut its car assembly line in 2017.
Cheapest cars to run and own
ONE of Australia’s cheapest cars on the market is also the most affordable to own and operate. So which is it?
Cheapest cars to run and own
ONE of Australia’s cheapest cars on the market is also the most affordable to own and operate. So which is it?
Final nail in coffin for Commodore
HOLDEN is set to kill off an Aussie icon by ditching the Commodore name — and the man in charge of the decision is the one who vowed to save it.
Final nail in coffin for Commodore
HOLDEN is set to kill off an Aussie icon by ditching the Commodore name — and the man in charge of the decision is the one who vowed to save it.
Holden Commodore avoids US recall
HOLDEN has narrowly avoided a massive car recall with local bosses saying an issue with the Chevrolet Camaro in the US isn’t replicated in the Commodore.
Ford to sack 250 factory workers
FORD Australia is preparing to sack hundreds of workers in Broadmeadows and Geelong due to falling demand for the Falcon sedan and Territory SUV.
The SUV shame file and honour list
THE price of a new car with a rear view camera has hit a new low of just $14,990. But why don’t all SUVs have them as a standard safety feature?
Toyota issues a recall on a recall
IT is Toyota’s most embarrassing recall so far: this is its seventh recall in six months, and it has doubled up on one from last year.
Toyota issues a recall on a recall
IT is Toyota’s most embarrassing recall so far: this is its seventh recall in six months, and it has doubled up on one from last year.
Ford unveils last ever Falcon GT
FORD says its Broadmeadows and Geelong factories in Victoria will make it to the October 2016 end date as the company unveils the last ever Falcon GT.
Holden’s driving force offers hope
HOLDEN has revealed more about the fate of its Australian factory after reviewing its sales results, while it continues to struggle against imported cars.
This is the best time to buy a car
STAND by for a car buying bonanza. Unprecedented discounts on new cars are on their way due to a massive oversupply. Here’s when to buy.
Holden recalls 42,000 Commodores
HOLDEN has instructed dealers to stop Commodore deliveries and will recall 42,000 cars to inspect a possible seatbelt fault.
Toyota recalls 300,000 cars and utes
IN one of the motor industry’s largest actions, Toyota has been forced to recall more than six million cars for steering and seat problems.
The car company you never want to buy from
ONE world famous company has recalled 13.6 million cars this year — more than the total sold in the US in five years. Here’s who you don’t want to buy from.
‘Deathtrap’ on company’s list of banned words
A CAR company fined a record $35 million for defects linked to deaths banned certain words in reports, including deathtrap, defect and dangerous.
Toyota workers’ redundancy vote
TOYOTA factory workers will vote on their redundancy packages next week, as the car maker vows to build Camrys until December 2017.
Delays worsen for biggest warship
THE delivery date for the navy’s biggest ever warship has slipped by a further six months due to “teething problems” and workplace issues.
Holden builds one millionth V6
HOLDEN has built its one millionth new-generation V6 engine two years before the historic Port Melbourne factory closes.
Holden builds one millionth V6
HOLDEN has built its one millionth new-generation V6 engine two years before the historic Port Melbourne factory closes.
Holden and Ford lose $820m
HOLDEN has announced its biggest ever financial loss — $553.8 million for 2013 — and Ford has reported its second-worst year in the red: $267 million.
Inside Lamborghini’s new supercar
IF you order it today, Lamborghini’s new Huracan will take a year to get to your doorstep. So we jumped the queue to discover how it drives.
Ford builds modern Falcon GT 351
IT was the most iconic Ford built in Australia. Now the car giant has built a modern day Falcon GT 351 — and they’ve already sold out.
Car recall notice was years overdue
GOVERNMENT documents reveal a car manufacturer waited years to issue a recall on a vehicle that had a potentially fatal steering defect.
What was named ‘World Car of Year’?
THIS small car – which owes much of its DNA to the Volkswagen Golf – has won the 2014 World Car of the Year. Does it deserve the title?
First look at last car to be made in Oz
TOYOTA has given the first look at the last car that will be made in Australia: the next generation Camry.
The 4WD giving you x-ray vision
A SYSTEM designed for hard-core four-wheel drivers could be the biggest breakthrough in driveway safety yet.
Collingwoodore to hit our roads
HOLDEN has released a special edition Commodore, dubbed to “Collingwoodore”, to celebrate its sponsorship of the Magpies football club.
Consumers flock to save SPC Ardmona
MAYBE consumers do care about saving Aussie companies. SPC Ardmona has reported a huge increase in sales since it revealed it was struggling.
The QR code to save your life
QR codes — the tiny scrambled square symbols that instantly link smartphone users to the internet — can now be used to save lives.
BMW launches luxury electric car
THE first BMW electric car went on sale in Australia today and the carmaker thinks it’s so good he wants free tolls for its drivers and $10,000 off the price tag from taxpayers.
Why new car prices won’t be cheaper
COMMENT: New car prices won’t suddenly come down by 5 per cent, but you may get more for your money, now that a FTA has been signed with Japan.
Car prices to fall under Tokyo deal
THE price of an imported Japanese car in Australia could fall by up to $1500 under an historic free-trade deal as Tony Abbott begins Tokyo talks.
Holden brand here to stay: Dorizas
THE new boss of Holden has boldly said the company will be the top-selling car brand by 2020 — three years after closing its factories.
GM throws Holden plant a lifeline
GENERAL Motors has thrown a lifeline to Holden’s design centre, securing its future and the jobs of 140 car designers once manufacturing ends in 2017.
Hard truth behind refinery closure
THE closure of BP’s refinery in Brisbane is a blow to staff — but the reality is that Australia is no longer a place to refine crude oil, writes Jessica Irvine.
Abbott blamed in $100M car delay
CAR industry figures are blaming Federal Government for delaying a $100 million assistance package for its workers when made redundant.
BP to close Bulwer refinery, 350 jobs to go
BP WILL close its Bulwer Island refinery in Brisbane, resulting in 350 job losses.
GM hires 9/11 lawyer over faulty switches
General Motors has hired a lawyer who handled compensation for victims of September 11 and the Boston bombing to address victims of faulty switches.
Cruze recalled twice for same fault
HOLDEN is recalling its Cruze small car for the seventh time in five years with the latest the second recall for a fault identified last year.
The fatal flaw linked to 13 deaths
A SINGLE switch in GM cars has led to a fatal flaw linked to at least 13 deaths. So why did it take the company a decade to own up to the problem?
Iconic Swiss industry under threat
ONE of Switzerland’s most famous industries is under threat after a recent vote to curtail immigration in the country.
Used car imports under fire
THE motoring industry is in uproar over a proposal that would see used cars dumped in the Australian market from overseas.
Auto industry set to boom
THE closure of car manufacturing plants will not kill Australia’s auto industry, according to a new report from Auto Skills Australia.
GM recalls 2.6M cars worldwide
GENERAL Motors is now recalling a total of 2.6 million small cars worldwide for a defective ignition switch linked to at least 12 deaths.
Million jars of peanut butter dumped
NEARLY a million jars of peanut butter are heading to landfill after Costco Wholesale declined requests to let it be donated to food banks.
Holden builds 50,000th VF Commodore
IT has taken 10 months to build the 50,000th version of the new Commodore — 10 years ago it took three months.
4WD that sips less than Prius
MITSUBISHI Outlander plug-in hybrid uses just 1.9L/100km: 50km on battery power before petrol motor takes you another 800km.
Insurance and smash repair probe
THE NSW Government will today launch a parliamentary inquiry into the relationship between insurance companies and smash repairers.
Crash test dummies learn safety
WANT to be a crash test dummy and live to tell the tale? A temporary showroom in Sydney is giving people the chance to crash a virtual car.
The great cheese snobbery
THE European Union wants to ban the use of parmesan, feta and gruyere in the US, saying the American-made versions are a “shadow” of European varieties.
Toyota and Ford now in family car war
TOYOTA has begun importing the Kluger SUV from North America, in an attempt to take sales away from the Australian made class leader, the Ford Territory.
Lifeline deal in the can for SPC
UPDATE: SPC Ardmona will supply fruit to supermarket giant Woolworths in a $70m deal, throwing a lifeline to hundreds of fruit growers across Shepparton.
Hope for struggling car parts sector
FORD has given a ray of hope to the struggling parts supply industry and university graduates who want to get into the car business.
Doubt cast on car sales figures
INDUSTRY analysts are questioning last year’s bumper car sales after a sharp decline in figures for the start of 2014.
Grey imports a threat to Aussie market
A PLAN to flood Australia with imported used cars could wipe millions off the value of the most popular cars on the roads and slam the brakes on new-car sales.
Cheap car imports fraught with danger
THE importation of cheap second-hand cars by the shipload would be a disaster — the equivalent to importing myna birds, cane toads and other pests.
There’s life in the Ford Falcon yet
RUMOURS of the death of the Ford Falcon and Territory SUV have been greatly exaggerated. Or at least mildly.
Wages blowout amid job losses, deficit
PUBLIC servants and manufacturing workers have enjoyed the biggest pay increases in the past six months, despite huge job losses and a soaring budget deficit.
Oops! Free trade deal trips Holden
ONE of Holden’s top selling family cars has unwittingly been disadvantaged by special conditions in the free trade agreement with South Korea.
Car cost goes up despite trade deal
THE Federal Trade Minister says free trade deals lead to cheaper cars for Australian buyers, but the example of the Toyota Corolla suggests otherwise.
Alcoa to shed nearly 1000 jobs
UPDATE: ALCOA has announced it will permanently close its Point Henry aluminium smelter near Geelong, shedding almost 1000 jobs.
Coca-Cola profit slumps on SPC drag
COCA-Cola Amatil has record a 82.5 per cent slump in profit due to $404 million in writedowns due to the SPC Ardmona drama.
There’s life after car manufacturing
WHEN Holden, Ford and Toyota close Australia won’t make cars anymore, but there’s life in Australian manufacturing yet.
Why the car industry conked out
WHY did Australia’s three car-makers — Toyota, Holden and Ford — announce shutdowns within nine months of each other?
Toyota recalls Prius hybrids
JAPANESE auto giant Toyota is recalling 1.9m of its Prius hybrid cars worldwide because of a fault that might cause the vehicle to slow suddenly.
Can you really just get another job?
THOUSANDS of auto workers will be left without a job due to Toyota, Ford and Holden pulling out of the country. How hard will it be to transition to a whole new career?
Hockey stands by Toyota claims
TREASURER Joe Hockey has stood by stood by his claims during Question Time about Toyota’s closure, as Labor failed to censure the PM.
No rush to axe tariffs on imported cars
THERE may be a silver lining to the shutdown of the vehicle industry — a fall in the price of imported cars. But the Government’s going to take its time making a decision.
Abbott attacked over job losses
BILL Shorten has tried unsuccessfully to censure the Prime Minister in Question Time for “failing to stand up and fight for Australian jobs”.
Is the car industry really worth it?
THE level of government support the automotive sector has received indicates it’s crucial to Aussie manufacturing but the numbers tell a different story.
Toyota shutdown to hit 50,000 jobs
TOYOTA’S decision to shut its Altona plant will leave up to 50,000 workers in supporting industries out of a job, in addition to the 2500 at the factory.
Toyota shutdown sad but inevitable
ANALYSIS: Toyota always wanted to be the last to turn out the lights. If it went first it would have been blamed for killing the entire industry.
Ford to cut 300 jobs at Victorian plants
BREAKING: FORD has confirmed it will cut 300 jobs in June with the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants both to be affected.
Wong: Helping SPC ‘value for money’
SENATOR Penny Wong has accused the Abbott government of taking a hard line on SPC Ardmona, and said assisting it would have been value for money.
SPC decision shows PM’s credentials
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott understands that job in an unprofitable company is a job already lost, writes Jessica Irvine.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/manufacturing/page/27