Past Programs
Automotive - 2008
US auto crisis
12/11/2008
US auto giant General Motors has only 100 days left before it completely runs out of cash, according to the company's North American vice-president.
US auto crisis
21/10/2008
The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, has called for a second economic stimulus package to avoid a possible 'protracted slowdown'. Ben Bernanke's comments come into sharp focus when you look at the country's car industry.
The financial crisis has helped deliver the sector its worst car sales in almost 20 years. There is speculation that General Motors is looking at a merger with Chrysler, as the company tries to stop the financial bleeding; it has suffered multi-billion dollar losses over the past 18 months.
Car industry furious about luxury car tax
18/09/2008
The federal government's second bid to have its planned increase to the luxury car tax looks likely to succeed, after a deal was struck with the minor parties in the Senate. The government appears to have granted all requests, including exemptions for farmers and tourism operators, and for fuel efficient vehicles. But the car industry is furious, and has called on the government to abandon the bill and refer the plan to the Henry Tax Review.
Transport roundtable on carbon scheme
28/08/2008
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese meets with key stakeholders from the transport industry in Canberra today. Representatives from the maritime, rail, road and aviation sectors are the first cab off the rank in a series of roundtable discussions that will help shape the implementation of the government's proposed carbon emissions trading scheme.
What future for GM Holden after 60 years?
20/08/2008
At a time when the future of the Australian car industry is on the line, it's a big week, and indeed a big year for General Motors Holden. The company is celebrating its 60th anniversary in Australia. Our first locally made car, the 48-215, was produced at Holden's Fishermens Bend plant in Melbourne in 1948. And on Monday this week, the seven millionth Holden rolled off the line at GM Holden's Adelaide plant. So what is the future for one of Australia's most trusted brands?
ACF unveils green budget
09/04/2008
What would a 'green budget' look like -- a year of federal spending that didn't promote environmentally destructive behaviour? We'll find out later today at the National Press Club, when Australian Conservation Foundation executive director Don Henry identifies more than $6 billion worth of 'unfair ... senseless' tax breaks that he says are bad environmental policy and should be dumped. He'll also outline three big investments that Australia must make to abandon what he calls 'our old polluting ways'.
Australians want more subsidies for renewable energy
18/03/2008
A new poll to be released later today reveals that 90% of Australians want to see renewable energy given the same or greater government subsidies than carbon intensive fossil fuels. The poll, commissioned by Greenpeace, will be used to back the environmental group's campaign for the abolition of the diesel fuel subsidy to the coal industry, which is currently worth more than $300 million a year.
Mitsubishi Factory Closure
06/02/2008
A 50 million dollar package has been announced to help Mitsubishi workers affected by the closure of its South Australian plant next month. $35 million will be provided by the federal government, $10 million will come from the South Australian government and Mitsubishi will contribute $5 million.
But it may not be the end of the road for the two hundred or so car parts manufacturers which supply the Mitsubishi plant. That's according to Damon Cantwell, an automotive and manufacturing partner at accountancy firm Deloittes in Melbourne.
Damon spoke with our business editor Sheryle Bagwell.
Mitsubishi's 380 and factory
05/02/2008
The wrong car, for the wrong market, at the wrong time; that's what's being said about the Mitsubishi 380. The Australian made model has a V-6 engine and is not selling as well as was hoped. Now the fate of one thousand Adelaide workers hangs in the balance and is to be determined later today in a Tokyo boardroom.
Ged Bulmer is the editor of Wheels magazine, and he joined us on Breakfast.
