DETROIT (AP) – A car that once was America's top-seller is about to die – for a second time.

Ford Taurus, may you rest in peace at the salvage yard.

Blame the full-size sedan's slow demise on the national obsession with SUVs and Ford Motor Co.'s need to slash costs and remake itself for a new era of self-driving cars and shuttles.

2. Toyota to Spend $170M to Expand Mississippi Plant, Hire 400 - Monday, April 30, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Toyota Motor Corp. plans to invest $170 million and add 400 jobs at its Mississippi assembly plant as it shifts some production of the Corolla sedan from Canada.

3. GOP's Regulatory Fight Goes to Another Level Over Car Loans - Thursday, April 19, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP-led Senate voted Wednesday to block Obama-era guidance a consumer protection agency issued five years ago to help ensure lenders don't charge blacks and Hispanics higher interest rates on car loans.

4. Signing Class Disappointing, But Groundwork Laid - Friday, February 16, 2018

Tennessee football fans are hoping for a better National Signing Day in 2019. This year’s was a relative dud.

New coach Jeremy Pruitt, hired on Dec. 7, signed six players on Feb. 7 but whiffed on several high-profile recruits he and his staff were pursuing. He had signed 14 players during the first-ever early signing period Dec. 20-22.

5. Toyota-Mazda Picks North Alabama for $1.6B Plant - Thursday, January 11, 2018

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a huge $1.6 billion joint-venture auto plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people.

6. Gubernatorial Candidate Bemoans Memphis Megasite Elimination - Monday, November 13, 2017

Diane Black, a Republican candidate for Tennessee governor from Gallatin, used a disappointing economic announcement from Toyota Motor Corp. Thursday to try and win some political points.

7. Toyota Tops Consumer Reports' Auto Reliability Rankings - Friday, October 20, 2017

DETROIT (AP) – Toyota Motor Co. is continuing its reign at the top of Consumer Reports' reliability rankings, a reward for its conservative approach to new technology.

8. Kentucky Governor Pursuing New Toyota, Mazda Plant - Wednesday, August 9, 2017

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky's Republican governor says he is trying to convince two Japanese automakers to build a $1.6 billion plant in the state.

Toyota and Mazda announced last week they planned to build a joint factory to build Corollas and a new cross-over model for Mazda. WDRB-TV reports Gov. Matt Bevin told an automotive industry group that he plans "to be on that like white on rice."

9. Haslam Wants Tennessee to Land New Toyota-Mazda Plant - Wednesday, August 9, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam says he is making the case for Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. to build a new assembly plant in Tennessee.

10. Toyota, Mazda Plan $1.6 Billion US Plant, to Partner in EVs - Monday, August 7, 2017

TOKYO (AP) – Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. plan to spend $1.6 billion to jointly build auto manufacturing plant in the U.S. – a move that will create up to 4,000 jobs, both sides said Friday.

11. Summertime Blues: Car Sales Head for 7th Straight Down Month - Wednesday, August 2, 2017

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. sales of new cars and trucks showed declines in July as automakers cut back on low-profit rental car sales and consumers waited for Labor Day deals.

July was likely the seventh straight month of lower sales. Analysts have been predicting lower U.S. sales this year as demand levels out after an unprecedented seven straight years of growth.

12. NASCAR Race Returns To Memphis on June 3 - Saturday, May 13, 2017

NASCAR driver Harrison Burton and other guests will hold a press conference Monday, May 15, at noon at Memphis International Raceway to mark the return of NASCAR to Memphis.

Burton, the 16-year-old driver of the No. 12 DEX Imaging Toyota, will test his No. 12 Toyota on the Memphis oval.

13. NASCAR Race Returns To Memphis on June 3 - Friday, May 12, 2017

NASCAR driver Harrison Burton and other guests will hold a press conference Monday, May 15, at noon at Memphis International Raceway to mark the return of NASCAR to Memphis.

Burton, the 16-year-old driver of the No. 12 DEX Imaging Toyota, will test his No. 12 Toyota on the Memphis oval.

14. Toyota Announces $1.33 Billion Investment in Kentucky Plant - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Toyota said Monday it is investing $1.33 billion to retool its sprawling factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, where the company's flagship Camry sedans are built.

No new factory jobs are being added, but Toyota says the upgrades amount to the biggest single investment ever at one of its existing plants in the United States. The retooling also will sustain the existing 8,200 jobs at Toyota's largest plant, where about one-fourth of all Toyota vehicles produced in North America are made, the automaker said.

15. Despite Scandal, VW in Running for Global Sales Crown - Wednesday, January 11, 2017

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – It's ironic: Volkswagen spent 2016 battling a huge scandal over cars it rigged to cheat on emissions tests.

And now stands a decent chance to pass Toyota for the title of world's biggest carmaker for the year.

16. US Auto Sales Near Record Highs in 2016 - Thursday, January 5, 2017

DETROIT (AP) – Demand may be slowing, but U.S. consumers still bought a whole lot of cars and trucks in 2016.

U.S. sales of new vehicles – which set a record of 17.47 million in 2015 – could hit a new high in 2016. Consulting firm LMC Automotive and car-buying site Edmunds.com each predict sales will squeak past the previous record and reach 17.5 million in 2016.

17. GM's Main China Venture Fined $29M in Anti-Monopoly Case - Monday, December 26, 2016

BEIJING (AP) – General Motors Co.'s main joint venture in China was fined $29 million on Friday on charges it suppressed competition by enforcing minimum sales prices for dealers, the latest in a string of penalties against foreign auto brands under the country's anti-monopoly law.

18. Black Friday Deals Helped Lift US Auto Sales in November - Friday, December 2, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – Black Friday deals and postelection confidence helped pull November U.S. auto sales out of their recent slump – and increased the chances that 2016 could set a record for new vehicle sales.

19. October US Sales Fall as Auto Boom Slows - Wednesday, November 2, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – It's a chilly autumn for U.S. auto sales. Sales of new cars and trucks were expected to fall in October as consumer demand wanes. J.D. Power and LMC Automotive expect total October sales to fall by just over 7 percent, with retail sales to individual customers dropping 8 percent.

20. Ford Cutting Production as US Demand Slows - Wednesday, October 19, 2016

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is cutting production as U.S. demand for new vehicles slows, but so far, its rivals aren't doing the same.

21. Meet Olli - Saturday, October 8, 2016

With deep and well-funded resources such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville region is no stranger to innovation in science and technology.

But a new kid on the block, Local Motors, has the potential to spark a whole new era of manufacturing innovation and make Knoxville a hotbed for a technology sector widely considered to be truly revolutionary – self-driving cars.

22. Automakers Report Mixed US Sales Results in September - Tuesday, October 4, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – Automakers reported mixed U.S. sales results in September as demand for new cars and trucks sputtered.

Nissan's sales rose 4.9 percent over last September and Toyota's were up 1.5 percent. General Motors' and Honda's sales were flat, Fiat Chrysler's fell 1 percent and Ford and Volkswagen both reported 8-percent declines.

23. Self-Driving Car Race Sees Flurry of Partnerships - Friday, August 19, 2016

Uber announced Thursday that it will partner with Volvo to make autonomous vehicles. The tie-up is the latest between automakers and tech companies hoping to speed driverless cars to market. Here's a rundown of who's working with whom:

24. US Auto Sales Expected to Hit Record in First 6 Months - Tuesday, July 5, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales may be slowing, but they're still expected to set a record in the first six months of this year.

Sales through June were expected to be up 2 percent over last year to 8.66 million, according to Kelley Blue Book.

25. March Is a Good Month to Find Deals on Japanese Cars - Thursday, March 24, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – If you're in the market for a Japanese car, March is a good time to buy.

Unlike U.S., European and Korean automakers, which end their financial year on Dec. 31, Japanese companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. close their books on March 31. In order to hit their annual sales targets, Japanese automakers usually ramp up the promotions and deals in March.

26. Congress Proposes Giveaways to Auto, Trucking Industries - Thursday, October 22, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — At a time of record auto recalls and rising highway deaths, safety advocates say the Republican-run Congress is snubbing their agenda and taking sides with the auto and trucking industries on legislation that they and the Obama administration contend could worsen matters.

27. Toyota Donates Camrys to Covington TCAT Center - Saturday, September 12, 2015

Toyota Motor Manufacturing has donated two Camry sedans to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Covington.

Students will use the cars as training tools to learn about servicing and maintaining automobiles.

28. Toyota Donates Camrys to Covington TCAT Center - Monday, September 7, 2015

Toyota Motor Manufacturing has donated two Camry sedans to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Covington.

Students will use the cars as training tools to learn about servicing and maintaining automobiles.

29. Toyota to Invest $50M in Car-Tech Research at Stanford, MIT - Monday, September 7, 2015

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Toyota is investing $50 million with Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in hopes of gaining an edge in an accelerating race to phase out human drivers.

30. High-Tech Cars Bring Detroit and Silicon Valley Face to Face - Thursday, August 20, 2015

PALO ALTO, California (AP) — The office has all the trappings of a high-tech startup. There's a giant beanbag in the foyer and erasable, white board walls for brainstorming. Someone's pet dog lounges happily on the sunny balcony.

31. Small, Midsize SUVs Drive April Auto Sales Gains - Monday, May 4, 2015

Hot sales of small and midsize SUVs drove auto sales higher last month as General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Nissan all reported U.S. sales gains.

Several of the companies reported their best April totals in years. Overall, sales were mostly in line with analysts’ predictions of a 6 percent increase compared with a year ago. All automakers were scheduled to report sales on Friday.

32. Mississippi Toyota Plant Reaches Milestone - Monday, February 16, 2015

A red Toyota Corolla LE – specifically Barcelona Red Metallic – assembled Thursday morning has one particular distinction: It’s the 500,000th car built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, the carmaker’s plant in Blue Springs, Miss.

33. Hitting the Accelerator - Saturday, January 17, 2015

Five years after the Great Recession rocked the nation and nearly destroyed auto manufacturing in Tennessee, the Midstate’s industry is booming again.

Nissan’s growth is no small part of that, largely because of the company’s confidence in the state of Tennessee and Gov. Bill Haslam, according to José Muñoz, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co. and chairman of Nissan North America, which is headquartered in Franklin.

34. Senators Ask Government for Nationwide Air Bag Recall - Friday, October 24, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — Two U.S. senators are calling on regulators to issue a nationwide recall of cars with faulty air bags made by Takata Corp., questioning why automakers have been allowed to limit recalls to only certain locations with high humidity.

35. VW Edges GM to Hold 2nd Place in Global Sales Race - Thursday, October 16, 2014

DETROIT (AP) – Volkswagen barely edged out General Motors for second place in the global auto sales race during the first three quarters of the year, but Toyota was expected to keep its lead to stay in first place.

36. Some Fear Auto Industry Returning to Bad Habits - Wednesday, September 3, 2014

DETROIT (AP) – Big discounts. Six- or seven-year loans, in some cases to buyers who would have been turned down in the past.

As the auto industry strives to sustain its post-recession comeback, car companies are resorting to tactics that some experts warn will lead to trouble down the road.

37. Google to Build Prototype of Truly Driverless Car - Thursday, May 29, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Google plans to build and launch onto city streets a small fleet of subcompact cars that could operate without a person at the wheel.

Actually, the cars wouldn't even have a wheel. Or gas and brake pedals. The company says the vehicles will use sensors and computing power, with no human needed.

38. Tracy Named IMC Chief Information Officer - Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Joel Tracy has been named the first chief information officer at IMC Cos., a national logistics company focused on international shipments. In his new role, Tracy will be responsible for delivering a broad range of IT initiatives in support of IMC’s logistics business.

39. Obama Admin Drives Ahead With New Cleaner Gas Rule - Tuesday, March 4, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is driving ahead with a dramatic reduction in sulfur in gasoline and tailpipe emissions, declaring that cleaner air will save thousands of lives per year at little cost to consumers.

40. Automotive Supplier Adds 180 Jobs in Northeast Mississippi - Monday, November 11, 2013

MANTACHIE, Miss. (AP) – Automotive supplier Toyota Boshoku is adding 180 jobs at its manufacturing plant in northeast Mississippi.

The company said Friday that it's investing $21 million at the plant it opened in 2011 in Mantachie, where it makes seat components and door panels for the Toyota Corolla.

41. Automakers Post Big October Gains - Saturday, November 9, 2013

Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota all posted October sales increases as the U.S. auto industry rebounded from a lackluster September.The gains signal that automakers made it through the 16-day partial government shutdown relatively unscathed. All automakers reported October sales on Friday.

42. Automakers Post Big October Gains - Monday, November 4, 2013

Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota all posted October sales increases as the U.S. auto industry rebounded from a lackluster September.

The gains signal that automakers made it through the 16-day partial government shutdown relatively unscathed. All automakers reported October sales on Friday.

43. US Businesses Worry About a Prolonged Shutdown - Thursday, October 3, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – As the government's partial shutdown enters a second day, most companies across the country are doing business as usual. Yet concern is rising that a prolonged shutdown would cause some work at private companies to dry up and consumers to lose faith in the U.S. economy.

44. US Auto Sales See Big Gains in May - Tuesday, June 4, 2013

DETROIT (AP) – Price cuts at Nissan and strong demand for pickup trucks helped U.S. auto sales rebound in May after a slight dip in April.

General Motors reported its strongest monthly sales since September of 2008. Chrysler, Ford, and Toyota also reported increases. Nissan Motor Co. notched its highest May sales ever after cutting prices on seven popular models early in the month. Only Volkswagen said sales fell compared with May of last year.

45. Tennessee Part of $29 Million Agreement With Toyota - Friday, February 15, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee has joined 29 other states in a $29 million agreement with Toyota Motor Corp. over allegations the company concealed safety issues related to unintended acceleration.

46. General Motors' Stock Rise Surprises Industry - Monday, October 1, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Surprise! The top-performing stock among automakers in the U.S. this quarter is General Motors.

The company, which endured management upheaval during the quarter and announced that it would lose substantial cash in Europe, saw its shares rise almost 18 percent from July through late September. The gain was the best since the first quarter of this year, when the stock climbed about 23 percent. GM posted strong profits in that period.

47. Carmakers Report Strong June Sales, Easing Worries - Wednesday, July 4, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – From mini cars to monster pickups, sales of vehicles charged higher in June and eased concerns that Americans would be turned off by slower hiring and other scary headlines.

48. Lean Supply Chain Process Taking Root - Friday, April 6, 2012

When Toyota Motor Corp. began making its cars and moving the parts for them as well as the cars to market in a different way than its rivals in the auto industry, it changed the concept of a supply chain.

49. Auto Sales Surge in March, Led by Small Cars - Wednesday, April 4, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Appealing small cars, low interest rates, truck deals and unseasonably warm weather helped the auto industry achieve its best monthly performance in almost four years in March.

50. Big Sales for Small Cars in February - Friday, March 2, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Small cars sold big in February.

With gasoline prices spiking 30 cents last month, demand soared for compact cars like the Focus and Civic. That lifted U.S. sales for Ford, Honda and other major automakers that reported February sales on Thursday.

51. US Auto Sales Rise in January, Led by Chrysler, VW - Thursday, February 2, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales are off to a strong start this year, continuing their brisk pace from late 2011.

Chrysler had its best January in four years while Toyota got a boost from its new Camry. Volkswagen, which wants to aggressively expand in the U.S., reported much higher sales. One sour note was GM, where sales fell compared to a strong January a year earlier.

52. Toyota Celebrates Production Start at New US Plant - Friday, November 18, 2011

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) – Toyota celebrated the start of Corolla production at its newest U.S. auto plant Thursday after a lengthy delay that the car maker blamed on a weak economy.

The ceremony formally marked the start of production last month, almost five years after Toyota Motor Corp. announced in February 2007 that it would build a sprawling facility in Blue Springs, a tiny town in the sparsely populated hills of north Mississippi.

53. US Auto Sales Up in September on Big Trucks - Tuesday, October 4, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Pickups and SUVs boosted U.S. autos sales in September as dealers offered promotions, gas prices fell and contractors replaced aging fleets of work trucks.

Truck sales at General Motors, Chrysler and Ford grew in the double digits, outpacing cars. The September increases built on a healthy performance in August, when new models, cheaper financing and pent-up demand lifted the industry after several disappointing months.

54. From Yellow to Green - Thursday, September 29, 2011

Yellow is the color traditionally associated with taxicabs, but in Memphis another cab color – albeit a metaphorical one – is gaining ground.

Local cab companies Yellow Cab and Checker Cab – both of which are sister companies – in addition to Metro/Advantage Cab Co. have all officially gone green, with new environmentally friendly rides having been added to each company’s fleet.

55. UAW, Automakers Continue Talks as Deadline Nears - Thursday, September 15, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – United Auto Workers negotiators say they made progress with General Motors Co. during contract talks Tuesday night, but both sides are quickly approaching a deadline to reach new deals with GM and Chrysler Group LLC.

56. Car Dealers Fear Economy Could Scare Off Buyers - Friday, August 19, 2011

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) – Jeff Swanson was in the market for a new car just a few weeks ago. Then the stock market went crazy.

So Swanson, 25, decided to keep his 10-year-old Pontiac Grand Prix for at least another year. Gyrations in stocks and talk of a weakening economy rattled Swanson's confidence about taking on another payment, even though his new job running a home for mentally disabled people seems to be secure.

57. US Auto Industry Uneasy After Weak July Sales - Wednesday, August 3, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Auto sales were expected to rise only slightly in July, adding to concerns in the industry that Americans are pulling back on car buying.

Analysts predicted a small increase in U.S. sales of new cars and trucks. A lack of discounts and lingering shortages of Japanese cars kept many buyers away. Americans also worried about the economy.

58. July Another Weak Month for US Auto Sales - Tuesday, August 2, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Car shoppers worried about the U.S. economy last month and that kept sales in a funk.

U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks are expected to rise only slightly in July. The weak economy and high sticker prices kept Americans from buying more. Automakers are scheduled to report last month's sales on Tuesday.

59. Factory Orders Increase - Wednesday, July 6, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses requested more airplanes, autos and oil drilling equipment in May. The jump in factory orders after a sluggish spring suggests supply disruptions stemming from the Japan crisis are fading.

60. GM, Ford June Sales Rise, Honda Falls - Monday, July 4, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – Gas prices have hit a sweet spot for U.S.-based automakers. They've fallen enough to spur pickup truck sales, yet remain so high that newer small cars are selling as well.

61. Electric Future - Friday, July 1, 2011

This week’s announcement that Memphis-based FedEx Express will double its fleet of all-electric vehicles to 43 is more than a new way of moving some of the wheels of the world’s largest express transportation company.

62. US Auto Sales Cooled in May Due to Shortages - Thursday, June 2, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales cooled off in May as dealers started running short on some popular, fuel-efficient models and buyers were turned off by sharply lower incentives.

Deals aren't likely to come back until the end of this summer. Some experts are advising people to delay their purchases if they can.

63. Fewer People Sought Unemployment Aid Last Week - Friday, April 22, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, resuming a downward trend that signals stronger job growth ahead.

Applications for unemployment benefits fell to a seasonally adjusted 403,000 in the week ending April 16, the Labor Department said Thursday. The decline partially reversed a jump in applications from the previous week, which economists said was largely the result of a seasonal quirk.

64. GM to Raise Car Prices Due to Oil, Metal Costs - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – General Motors Co. said Monday it will raise car and truck prices by an average of $123 per vehicle to make up for its increased oil and metal costs.

65. Service Sector Expanded in March at Slower Pace - Wednesday, April 6, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. service sector expanded in March for the 16th straight month, although growth slowed from the previous month's pace, which was the fastest in more than five years.

66. Auto Sales Up on Jobs Outlook, Fuel-Efficient Cars - Monday, April 4, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. sales of new cars and trucks rose in March, helped by a brighter jobs outlook and rising sales of fuel-efficient vehicles.

New vehicle sales rose 11 percent at General Motors, 16 percent at Ford, 23 percent at Honda and 27 percent at Nissan, all aided by sales of smaller, more efficient cars and crossovers, which look like truck-based SUVs but are more fuel efficient and nimble because they are built on car underpinnings.

67. GM Leads Auto Sales Jump With 49 Percent Increase - Wednesday, March 2, 2011

DETROIT (AP) – General Motors Co. led automakers with a 49 percent U.S. sales jump last month, aided by sweeter financing and lease deals and strong demand for newer models.

68. High Gear - Friday, February 18, 2011

The 2011 Memphis International Auto Show rolls into town Friday through Sunday, giving car enthusiasts a chance to check out more than 250 of the latest cars, trucks, SUVs and hybrids, along with many other special attractions at the automotive extravaganza.

69. US Auto Sales Rise in 2010, But Remain Below Highs - Wednesday, January 5, 2011

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto sales sputtered back to life in 2010 and car companies expect them to keep climbing this year as the economy recovers and buyers grow more confident.

With sales of around 11.5 million new cars and trucks, 2010 was still the second-worst year in almost three decades, after 2009. And car companies are starting to wonder if they will ever reach the heights they saw in the early 2000s, when credit was cheap, incentives were rampant and sales topped 17 million.

70. Toyota Event Comes to Memphis - Thursday, December 2, 2010

A four-day event, featuring test drives of some of the Toyota Motor Sales’s best-selling vehicles, is coming to Memphis this weekend.

The Toyota National Ride and Drive Tour – featuring the Corolla, Yaris, RAV4 and Tacoma – will be held at Malco Theatre, Wolfchase Galleria, 2760 N. Germantown Parkway Thursday through Sunday.

71. Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Up in 2009 Model Year - Thursday, November 18, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Environmental Protection Agency says new cars and trucks sold to U.S. consumers averaged 22.4 miles per gallon in the 2009 model year, an increase over the previous year.

72. Automakers Report Stronger October US Sales - Thursday, November 4, 2010

DETROIT (AP) – U.S. auto sales rose in October as buyers grew more confident in the economy and new models drew them into dealerships.

General Motors Co., which is preparing for an initial stock offering expected later this month, saw sales rise 3.5 percent in October. Last month is shaping up to one of the industry's best since August of 2009, when big government discounts spurred Americans to buy more cars and trucks.

73. Gov't Looking at 62 mpg Goal for 2025 Autos - Monday, October 4, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The new cars and trucks sold in 2025 may be required to average 62 miles per gallon as a group, far surpassing the fuel efficiency of current high-mileage stars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrids.

74. Toyota Starts Hiring for New MS Plant - Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi Inc. and Miss. Gov. Haley Barbour announced Monday the company is resuming hiring for its new plant northwest of Tupelo.

75. US Auto Sales Rise, Helped by Credit, Promotions - Wednesday, August 4, 2010

DETROIT (AP) – Automakers posted higher U.S. sales last month, a sign that Americans are still willing to buy big-ticket items even though concerns linger about the economy and hiring.

After a sluggish June, sales rose slightly for General Motors Co. and Chrysler. Foreign-based companies such as Toyota and Honda posted bigger gains. Ford, meanwhile, had flat sales.

76. Nissan Recalls 51,100 Hatchbacks Over Fuel Spills - Tuesday, July 27, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nissan is recalling 51,100 of its Cube hatchbacks in the United States and Canada because of possible problems with fuel spilling during rear end collisions.

In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan Motor Co. said Monday tests conducted by NHTSA safety regulators found more fuel spilled than federal standards allow. The spillage occurred during rear end crash tests at 50 miles per hour where the vehicle also spun onto its side.

77. Ole Miss to Teach Auto Plant Skills - Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The University of Mississippi this fall will begin teaching the business and engineering skills for running an automobile plant at its new Center for Manufacturing Excellence.

The center was established to prepare students for careers at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, where the company begin producing Corollas next year.

78. US Auto Sales Seen Slowing With Recovery in Doubt - Wednesday, June 30, 2010

DETROIT (AP) – When it comes to car shopping, Americans are tapping the brakes.

Forecasters expect U.S. sales of cars and light trucks to slow for June after months of improvement. It's another sign that people are beginning to doubt the economic recovery with unemployment still high.

79. Toyota's Mississippi Auto Plant Plan Draws UAW Ire - Monday, June 21, 2010

Toyota's announcement that it will resume construction of a car factory in Mississippi was a much-needed piece of good news for both the state struggling with persistent unemployment and the automaker trying to recover some goodwill after a recall crisis bruised its reputation.

80. Toyota Restarts Mississippi Plant - Friday, June 18, 2010

TOKYO (AP) – Toyota will resume construction of a dormant plant in Northeast Mississippi, hiring 2,000 workers with the goal of building compact Corolla sedans by the fall of 2011, the Japanese automaker said Thursday.

81. Toyota Restarts Mississippi Auto Plant - Thursday, June 17, 2010

TOKYO (AP) – Toyota will resume construction of a dormant plant in Northeast Mississippi, hiring 2,000 workers with the goal of building compact Corolla sedans by the fall of 2011, the Japanese automaker said Thursday.

82. House Committee Approves Auto Safety Bill - Thursday, May 27, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid partisan sparring, a House panel has advanced a sweeping U.S. auto safety bill that critics contend is too tough on the industry.

The legislation, approved 31-21 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the wake of the large Toyota Motor Corp. recalls, now goes to the full House, where lawmakers hope to pass it later this year.

83. CEO Sees Ford Continuing to Improve Into 2011 - Friday, May 14, 2010

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Ford's chief executive told shareholders that the second-largest U.S. automaker will see "continuing improvement" into 2011 but wouldn't say when the company might reinstate a dividend.

84. Auto Industry on Road to Recovery But Pace Slows - Tuesday, May 4, 2010

DETROIT (AP) - The U.S. auto industry stayed on the road to recovery in April, but it eased up on the gas pedal a bit.

Ford Motor Co. saw last month's sales rise 25 percent from a year earlier, while General Motors Co. climbed 6.4 percent. Hyundai, Subaru and others also continued to see gains from last year.

85. Toyota Apologizes for Handling of Safety Issues - Wednesday, February 24, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of Toyota's U.S. operations insisted Tuesday that electronic problems did not contribute to sudden acceleration of its cars, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers who said such a possibility should not be ruled out and from a tearful woman driver who could not stop her runaway Lexus.

86. Toyota Faces Federal, Congressional Probe - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Facing tough questions in Congress, Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday that federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the company's safety problems and the Securities and Exchange Commission was probing what the automaker told investors. Lawmakers pledged to ask executives about internal documents showing that Toyota visited with regulators who "laughed and rolled their eyes in disbelief" over safety claims.

87. Toyota May Lengthen Warranties to Keep Customers - Tuesday, February 16, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. may offer incentives or increase the length of its warranties as it tries to recover from an embarrassing string of safety-related recalls.

88. Stuck Gas Pedal Causes Second Major Toyota Recall - Monday, January 25, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Toyota Motor Corp. built its reputation in the U.S. as a maker of safe and dependable vehicles, but the quality of the Japanese automaker's fleet continues to be tarnished by serious safety recalls.

89. Miss. Legislators Getting Impatient with Toyota Delay - Friday, January 15, 2010

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Some Mississippi legislators are becoming impatient about the interest payments Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to make on money the state borrowed to bring a $1 billion car plant in Blue Springs.

90. Northeast Miss. Waits for Toyota to Deliver on Promises - Tuesday, December 1, 2009

TUPELO, Miss. – Oh, what a wait. This month marks a year since Toyota delayed the start of operations at its new $1.3 billion vehicle manufacturing plant off U.S. 78 in Blue Springs.

The delay has put on hold nearly 2,000 jobs and an expected economic boom for Northeast Mississippians, who are biding their time as Toyota continues to reaffirm its commitment.

91. Wholesale Inventories Drop in July - Monday, September 14, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses throughout the nation reduced inventories at the wholesale level for a record 11th consecutive month in July, although sales rose by the largest amount in more than a year, according to government data released Friday.

92. Dealers Should Get 'Clunkers' Money by Sept. 30 - Friday, September 4, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government has approved $500 million in reimbursements to car dealers for sales under the Cash for Clunkers program and dealers should be paid by late September, officials said Thursday.

93. Cash for Clunkers Generates 700,000 New Car Sales - Thursday, August 27, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) – Cash for Clunkers generated nearly 700,000 new car sales and ended under its $3 billion budget, the Transportation Department reported Wednesday.

Releasing final data, the government said dealers submitted 690,114 vouchers totaling $2.88 billion. New car sales through the program ended late Monday, and dealers were allowed to submit paperwork to the government until late Tuesday.

94. Survey Shows US Automakers Making Improvements - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - All three U.S.-based automakers are doing a better job of satisfying their customers than they were a year ago, according to a recent survey.

General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC all posted significant gains in this year's American Customer Satisfaction Index released Tuesday by the University of Michigan.

95. Ford to Boost Production of Focus, Escape - Friday, August 14, 2009

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford said Thursday it will build more of its popular Focus and Escape models and boost total vehicle production later this year to help dealers restock depleted showrooms.

96. GM Q2 Global Sales Fall 15 Pct Amid Weak Economy - Thursday, July 23, 2009

DETROIT (AP) - Although General Motors' North American sales dropped sharply last quarter as it headed into U.S. bankruptcy protection, strong growth in its Asia-Pacific region offset much of the decline, and the automaker ended up with global sales down 15 percent for the quarter.

97. Fiat Closes Deal to Take Bulk of Chrysler's Assets - Thursday, June 11, 2009

DETROIT (AP) - Italy's Fiat is the new owner of most of Chrysler's assets, closing a deal Wednesday that saves the troubled U.S. automaker from liquidation and places a new company in the hands of Fiat's chief executive.

98. Raynor Named VP of Marketing For Two Hilton Brands - Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Carla Raynor has been appointed vice president of marketing for Homewood Suites by Hilton and newly launched Home2 Suites by Hilton.

99. Chrysler Moves to Eliminate 789 of 3,200 Dealers - Friday, May 15, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Chrysler LLC wants to eliminate roughly a quarter of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships by early next month, saying in a bankruptcy court filing Thursday that the network is antiquated and has too many stores competing with each other.

100. GM Employees May Get Shutdown Details This Week - Friday, April 24, 2009

DETROIT (AP) - Thousands of GM workers could learn as early as Thursday that they will be idle for up to nine weeks this summer as the automaker's plants stop making all but its most popular cars and trucks.