Lowe's Earnings Fall Short of Estimates; Shares Slide
Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau
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Mercedes-Benz is digging in and putting more features into its redesigned flagship S-Class sedan. This is not just another ultra-luxury sedan.
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.160x105.jpg?v=1368558365 "Repossessions Rise as Carmakers Rebound")
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China Cars Raise Questions At Detroit Show
Posted By: Greg Levine
The Chery-DaimlerChrysler alliance and Changfeng's "Cheetah" brand are only two of the big China stories at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.
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On The Road To Cult Status
Posted By: Scott Reeves
Cult cars emerge regardless of marketing efforts and BMW's MINI is on the verge of joining the Ford Mustang and a select group of other autos that captured the imagination of car lovers.
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Rolls Rolls on Topless
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
In a few days, a slew of new models will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Some will blow us away. Some will make us yawn and say, "are you kidding me?" But one in particular will take your breath away. It's the new Rolls Royce Drophead Coupe. Stunning. Impressive. Yowza. I'd use those adjectives to describe the Drophead convertible I rode in and examined while visiting the Rolls Royce Motors headquarters in Goodwood, England.
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Ford's Honest Take on Toyota and its Future
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
When I walked in to dinner with Ford CEO Alan Mulally on Wednesday night, I knew the menu would include a tasty entree, a sweet dessert, and a healthy dose of candor. All courtesy of the "outsider" trying to turnaround the struggling automaker. I expected the honesty since that's what I found while covering Mulally as he turned around Boeing Commercial Airplanes. And at this dinner, he was forthright in his praise of Toyota.
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Auto Sales Run Out of Gas
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
As I'm reading the December auto sales numbers, it's clear 2006 will be remembered as a bleak one for the big 3. The healthiest of the trio, GM, is still not cash flow positive. And even though the company is in better shape today than a year ago, the fact remains, it's still in a turnaround. Look at their numbers for the final month of the year.
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One Last Race for Chevy and Ford
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
While most of us wrapped 2006 with holiday parties and hopefully a few days off - hey, at least that's what I did last week - Chevy and Ford dealers finished a pitched battle to see which brand would wrap up the year as number one in total sales. The winner gets bragging rights as being America's favorite nameplate for cars and trucks. The loser will claim it doesn't matter. The truth is...
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Japan's Surge: Giving Americans What They Want
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
While the big 3 continue to struggle with costly (both in dollars and human terms) plant closings, the Japanese auto plants are surging. And the reason for this is America's growing appetite for fuel efficient vehicles. Which reinforces the hangover GM, Ford and Chrysler are feeling from years of focusing on SUV's and pick-up trucks. The latest number from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association shows...
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Mulally Meets Toyota - Changing Ford's Mindset
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
When I heard that Ford CEO Alan Mulally met earlier this month in Tokyo with Toyota CEO Fujio Cho, I wasn't surprised. Nor should Ford investors and fans of the #2 American automaker. This is yet another sign, Mulally is bound and determined to move his company into a more competitive position - even if that means learning from a fierce competitor that is about to pass Ford.
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Toyota is #1 ... So What is Next?
Posted By: Philip LeBeau
As soon as I started reporting on Thursday that Toyota is likely to replace General Motors in 2007 as the world's #1 automaker, the question came up: What's next for the Japanese automaker? Yes, in general terms the company is likely to continue gaining market share in the U.S. It's currently #3 with 15.3% market share behind ford 17.6% and GM 24.7%. And next year as Ford pulls back fleet sales to rental companies, Toyota is likely to become #2 in the U.S.
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About Behind the Wheel
Welcome to Behind the Wheel with Phil LeBeau. This is the place where you'll hear the latest about what is happening in the auto industry, and the reason why that news is so important. This is not the place to come if you are looking for cheerleader for one automaker over another. Phil won't wave the flag for any company, but he will let you know when he thinks someone is making the right moves, and when they've screwed up.
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LeBeau is a CNBC auto and airline industry reporter based at the Chicago bureau and author of "Behind the Wheel" on CNBC.com.