The government has sold another piece of its stake in General Motors Co. The Treasury Department said in its March report to Congress that it sold $621 million worth of GM common stock last month.

DETROIT (AP) — The government has sold another piece of its stake in General Motors Co.

The Treasury Department said in its March report to Congress that it sold $621 million worth of GM common stock last month.

The report dated Wednesday says the government has recovered about $30.4 billion of the $49.5 billion bailout it gave the Detroit automaker. That means taxpayers are still $19.1 billion in the hole.

The Treasury says the price per share will be revealed at a later date.

GM stock sold in a range of $26.75 to $29.30 in March. At the midpoint of $28, the government would have sold roughly 22.2 million shares.

That would leave it with about 255 million shares. Those would have to sell for around $75 each for the government to break even, more than double the current trading price. GM shares closed up 84 cents, or 3 percent, at $28.37 amid a broad market rally on Wednesday.

In January, the Treasury announced a plan to sell the shares by early 2014 and said that it hired JPMorgan Securities and Citigroup Global Markets to conduct the sale. The banks will get one cent for every share they sell, for a fee of up to $3 million.

When the government finally sells all of its shares, it will end a sad chapter in GM's history. The company nearly ran out of cash in 2008 and needed government money to survive a trip through bankruptcy reorganization. Since then GM has posted 12 straight profitable quarters. Last year the company bought 200 million of its shares from the government for $5.5 billion.

GM shares sold for $33 each when they began publicly trading again in November, 2010. The shares rose shortly after the sale but fell dramatically early last year as the economy slowed and Europe headed toward recession. A strengthening U.S. economy and the stock buyback have pushed the shares higher.

Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. are recalling about 3.4 million vehicles sold around the world because airbags supplied by Takata Corp are at risk of catching fire or injuring passengers, according to numerous news outlets.

A Toyota logo is seen at a dealership in Kamp-Lintfort, western Germany on January 29, 2010.AP file photo

DETROIT- Four Japanese automakers are involved in a massive recall of millions of vehicles worldwide due to faulty airbags.

Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. are recalling about 3.4 million vehicles sold around the world because airbags supplied by Takata Corp. are at risk of catching fire or injuring passengers, according to numerous news outlets.

The recall is the largest since Toyota announced a recall of nearly 7.5 million vehicles for a faulty power-window switch in October.

No injuries have been reported related to the problem, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.

The involved vehicles are equipped with front passenger airbag inflators that could have been assembled improperly, according to a statement from Toyota. The improperly manufactured parts, propellant wafers, could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash.

Globally, Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles; Honda is recalling 1.1 million vehicles; Nissan is recalling 480,000 vehicles; and Mazda is recalling 45,000 vehicles, according to industry reports.

In the U.S., Toyota vehicles involved include certain Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Tundra, and Lexus SC 430 models manufactured from 2001 – 2003. More precise vehicle information, according to Toyota, is being developed, but about 510,000 vehicles may have to be inspected to locate the suspect inflators.

Honda said it will recall approximately 426,000 model-year 2001-2003 Civic vehicles, approximately 43,000 CR-V vehicles from the 2002-2003 model years and approximately 92,000 model-year 2002 Odyssey vehicles in the U.S. to replace the passenger front airbag inflator.

The recall remedy will involve inspection of the front passenger air bag, and, if it is equipped with an affected inflator, the inflator will be replaced with a newly manufactured one at no charge to the owner.

“Honda is aware of one crash in which a passenger front airbag deployed with too much pressure, causing the casing to rupture,” reads a statement from the company. “Honda is not aware of any injuries or deaths related to this issue.”

Here are links to each of the automaker's recall procedures:

- Toyota: toyota.com/recall

- Honda: owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls

- Nissan: nissanusa.com/apps/contactus/recall

- Mazda: mazda.com/csr/csr_vision/customer/recall.html

Click here for more on the recall.

Check back to MLive.com for more details.

Email Michael Wayland: MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MikeWayland

Even though motorcycle fatalities increased 18 percent in Michigan last year, industry experts say the new technologies, which primarily use radars and cameras to help avoid an accident, aren’t practical for motorcycles.

The state of Michigan this week released 2012 crash statistics, which included an 18 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities.MLive.com file photo

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.- An array of active safety technologies are being released by automakers, but consumers shouldn't expect to see many, if any, on motorcycles.

Even though motorcycle fatalities increased 18 percent in Michigan last year, industry experts say the new technologies, which primarily use radars and cameras to help avoid an accident, aren’t practical for motorcycles.

“It’s completely different driving,” said Amnon Shashua, co-founder of Mobileye, an Israeli software company, during a media event at one of TRW Automotive's facilities in Farmington Hills. “I can’t imagine a motorcyclist all of a sudden has automatic braking.

“It could create more damage than good.”

TRW, an international multibillion-dollar company, and its Farmington Hills-based global electronics group have worked with Mobileye since 2011 to develop next-generation safety systems like lane departure warning, vehicle detection for radar vision fusion, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, vision-only adaptive cruise control and more.

Shashua, a motorcyclist himself, also said the small number of motorcycles on the road compared to cars and trucks doesn't give motorcycle companies incentive to develop active safety technologies like emergency braking, lane centering and other systems to prevent crashes.

Testing of Radio Frequency (RF) systems and products at the newly renovated Farmington Hills Test Center – lab technicians utilize sophisticated test equipment to ensure product integrity, quality and ensure that the systems work free from interference from other electronic devices.TRW

There were 129 motorcycle deaths in 2012, according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), which tracks traffic statistics in the state.

The new active safety technologies can help protect motorcyclists from accidents by helping drivers not only detect a cyclist, but avoid hitting them, according to officials.

Active safety systems differ from passive systems, like seat belts and air bags, by actually taking control of the vehicle's steering and brakes. Passive safety features help reduce the effects of an accident.

“We help people keep safer by making the vehicles smarter,” said TRW Global Electronics Vice President Tolga Oal.

Livonia-based TRW expects usage of cameras in vehicles to increase from more than 2 million today to about 12 million in 2016.

TRW’s Scalable video camera (S-Cam) are used in safety functions including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, headlight control, traffic sign recognition and pedestrian detection. When integrated with other technologies, such as radars, the S-Cam can provide advanced active driver assist functions, including lane keeping and lane centering and automatic emergency braking.

By late 2013 the S-Cam will be available on vehicles from five major original equipment manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia.

Due to the demand for the new technologies, TRW on Wednesday announced 60 new positions at its global electronics headquarters in Farmington Hills to support the further development and application of camera technologies.

“It’s pretty significant for us right here,” said Kenneth N. Kaiser, vice president of engineering for TRW Global Electronics during a media event Wednesday. “If the growth continues on the trend that it is right now, I’m sure we’ll be doing more hiring.

“We’re expanding pretty rapidly.”

The Michigan announcement was in conjunction with TRW announcing investments and 25 jobs at its electronics facility in Marshall, Ill. The production facility employs about 700 people.

The 2014 Detroit auto show, held at Cobo Center, will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26.

DETROIT- Following nearly decade-high attendance figures, the 2014 North American International Auto Show will follow the same schedule as this year's show, officials announced Thursday.

The show, also referred to as the Detroit auto show, will be open to the public from Jan. 18-26 at Cobo Center, following Press Preview Jan. 13-14; Industry Preview Jan. 15-16; and the Charity Preview, which this year raised $3.92 million, Jan. 17.

The announced show dates, as they were this year, are about a week later than they have been in the past. Officials said the move helps the show be further from the holidays.

“We're extremely diligent about providing excellent customer service to patrons of the NAIAS," said NAIAS 2014 Chairman Bob Shuman in a statement. "The two week cushion between the holidays and our opening day is really appreciated by the thousands of people who cover, build and participate in the show."

Attendance at the 2013 Detroit auto show totaled 795,416 people, including nearly 217,000 in the final two days. The 2013 total was the highest since 2004, when 808,833 attended.

About 60 vehicles debuted at this year’s auto show during the Press Preview, which attracted more than 5,200 journalists from 60 countries.

Some of this year’s most-popular vehicles at the 2013 NAIAS include the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ford Atlas (F-150) concept, new Acura NSX concept, 2014 Cadillac ELR and a host of concepts.

Here’s a look at attendance at the show since 2007 (including Industry Preview and Charity Preview):

2007- 705,226

2008- 702,814

2009- 650,517

2010- 714,137

2011- 735,370

2012- 770,932

2013- 795,416

Follow all of MLive's coverage of the North American International Auto Show at mlive.com/naias.

Email Michael Wayland: MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MikeWayland

The new 1.5-liter engine debut in North America on the Dearborn-based automaker’s Fusion later this year, adding a fourth four-cylinder model option for the popular mid-size sedan.

DEARBORN- Ford Motor Co. is expanding its popular EcoBoost lineup with the addition of a new four-cylinder engine.

The new 1.5-liter engine debut in North America on the Dearborn-based automaker’s Fusion later this year, adding a fourth four-cylinder model option for the popular mid-size sedan.

“The new 1.5-liter unit further extends our EcoBoost promise of economical driving in terms of both fuel efficiency and – in some markets – tax savings,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, in a statement.

Production of engine will begin initially at Ford’s facility in Craiova, Romania, later this month. Ford said other manufacturing locations will be announced in the future. The new engine will be first introduced in China in the all-new Ford Mondeo, making its public debut later this month at Auto Shanghai 2013, with applications following in the Fusion sedan in North America this year, and later the new Mondeo in Europe.

With the launch of the new aluminum-block, twin-cam 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, Ford now has capacity to build 1.6 million on its five EcoBoost engines annually. By the end of this year, six plants across Europe, Asia and North America will be producing EcoBoost engines, triple the number that were doing so in 2010.

Ford's new 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine Ford

 Ford has sold more than 600,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles globally since the range was launched with the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost in 2009. Ford added the 2.0-liter EcoBoost in 2010, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost followed in 2011, and last year the 1.0-liter EcoBoost was launched.

“Ford EcoBoost technology has changed the way people look at gas engines and has enjoyed huge success with customers,” Bakaj said.

Ford says by the end of 2013, nearly 80 percent of the company’s global nameplates will be available with fuel-saving EcoBoost technology, which features turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing to achieve better fuel economy.

The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a gunman inside the facility. As of 7:30 a.m., police were reportedly on the scene negotiating with the unnamed employee.

The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a gunman inside the facility.GM

DETROIT- The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a reported gunman inside the facility.

The incident started at about 6 a.m. inside the facility, located about 25 miles southwest of Detroit at 36880 Ecorse Road in Romulus.

Initially, officials thought it was a real weapon, but Romulus Police Sgt. Corey Sadler said the man was threatening suicide with a "starter pistol," the equivalent of an adult cap gun.

Sadler said it was a .22-caliber weapon that "makes a loud noise" but doesn't fire bullets, often used for show or in sporting events.

Police entered the portion of the plant where the man was last seen, located him and took him into custody without issue.

The suspect is currently being detained at a hospital where he is receiving a mental evaluation.

Romulus police officials have not determined if he will be arrested and charged upon completion of the exam.

Fire crews and police from neighboring Van Buren Township assisted at the scene.

"They had a pretty good evacuation plan in place," said Sadler.

In a statement to MLive.com, GM officials said the situation was elevated to management who took the "right precautions by evacuating the facility and calling police."

GM said employees are safe and have returned to work at the 1.4 million-square-foot plant, which employs nearly 900 people. 

Hourly employees at the facility are represented by UAW Local 163. The plant, which opened in 1976, produces a variety of V6 and V8 engines that power GM's portfolio.

The incident comes about seven months after a Chrysler Group LLC employee was fatally stabbed at the Auburn Hills-based automaker's Jefferson North plant at 2010 Conner St. in Detroit on Sept. 20. The murder suspect, who fled the plant, was found dead on Belle Isle after allegedly committing suicide.

MLive Detroit reporter Gus Burns contributed to this article.

Email Michael Wayland: MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MikeWayland

Explorer was shipped to 64 countries including Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Ford said Explorer exports last year increased nearly 65 percent from 2011, to more than 24,000 vehicles.

DEARBORN- For the first time in its history, Ford Motor Co. is producing the Explorer sport utility vehicle outside of the U.S.

The first full-production non-domestic Explorer rolled off the assembly line Thursday at Ford Sollers Elabuga Assembly Plant in the Republic of Tatarstan for the Russian market.

Ford previously partially assembled Explorers outside of the U.S., but Ford Sollers, Ford’s joint venture in Russia, is the first to fully produce the SUV. Before Ford’s Explorer plant in Chicago -- along with the parts needed to complete them -- would send them to other facilities for final assembly for their local markets.

Ford spokeswoman Kristina Adamski told MLive.com that the facility in Russia building the Explorers will not negatively impact its Chicago Assembly, which opened in 1924.

“This allows Chicago to build more for our additional markets,” she said.

Along with the Explorer, the 2.8 million-square-foot Chicago plant's more than 4,000 employees also produce the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS.  

Explorer was shipped to 64 countries including Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Ford said Explorer exports last year increased nearly 65 percent from 2011, to more than 24,000 vehicles. 

As production at Elabuga ramps up, Ford Sollers plans to hire an additional 500 employees to supplement the plant’s existing 1,500 employees.

“Russia is on its way to being the largest market in Europe and presents an enormous opportunity for growth,” said Ted Cannis, president and CEO of Ford Sollers, in a statement.

In Russia, SUV sales accounted for 31 percent of the market in 2012, according to data from Russia’s AUTOSTAT market-research agency. Additionally, Explorer sales are scheduled to begin in China in the coming weeks.In February, Ford Sollers sold more than 400 Explorers, a record in Russia.

Chrysler's sponsorship of "Motown the Musical" on Broadway could be the last time it "emphasizes its relationship with the Motor City as foundational to its brand."

Chrysler is looking the adjust the focus of its "Imported from Detroit" marketing campaign.(Chrysler) 

Chrysler Group Chief Marketing Officer Olivier Francois told writer Dale Buss the Auburn Hills based automaker wants to compete more aggressively for buyers who normally go with Japanese or German cars.

And that could mean broadening the brand identity beyond its gritty connection with Detroit.

Buss suggests that Chrysler's sponsorship of "Motown the Musical" on Broadway could be the last time it "emphasizes its relationship with the Motor City as foundational to its brand."

Francois told him Chrylser wants a renewed focus on "quality, technology, fuel economy and style."

“Let’s take back the lead in these four things, and this is what ‘Imported From Detroit’ means," he said. "Detroit can ‘export’ quality and style and ‘even’ fuel efficiency...

"It’s all about having the substance to take on the imports."

Full Forbes article here.

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.

The Detroit-based automaker not only expects the new 10th-generation vehicle -- available at Chevrolet dealerships nationwide -- to grow its own sales, but the entire, dwindling large sedan segment.Watch video

DETROIT- General Motors Co. has high hopes for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.

The Detroit-based automaker not only expects the new 10th-generation vehicle -- available at Chevrolet dealerships -- to grow its own sales, but the entire, dwindling large sedan segment.

“We’ve seen it in the past, when you introduce such a great vehicle, that you can change the dynamics of the segment,” said Don Johnson, vice president of Chevrolet sales and service, during a media event Monday to launch production of the vehicle at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant.

A decade or so ago, many people wouldn’t have even batted an eye at that statement. Things were good. GM, like the Impala, appeared too big to fail. But nowadays, that is one lofty goal as large sedan sales have driven off a cliff, consumers are demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles and mid-size sedans are getting bigger.

In 2007, large sedan sales in the U.S. topped 1.1 million units and represented 7.1 percent of the more than 16 million vehicle market, according to Edmunds.com. In 2012, large sedan sales were around 560,000 units and represented only 4 percent of the 14.5 million vehicle market.

Through that time of large sedan sales being cut in half, the industry has evolved. GM particularly has changed its mindset and is arguably offering the best lineup of vehicles in the company’s history, and the Impala has continued to be the large sedan segment’s leader since 2004.

However, Impala’s dominance in the segment comes down to one thing: Fleet sales. Thanks heavily to rental, government and other business entities, the iconic vehicle has remained the number one seller in the large sedan segment for nearly a decade.

"The large car segment dumps a heavy proportion of their vehicles into fleet, and historically the Impala has sent massive quantities of vehicles into fleets; 71 percent & 77 percent in 2011 and 2012 respectively," said Edmunds.com analyst Jeremy Acevedo.

With the 2014 Impala, GM hopes to swap those rates. The new generation Impala features a more aggressive exterior design and overhauled interior with a host of Chevrolet-first safety and technology features, including Chevrolet's next-generation MyLink infotainment system.

The industry average over the last two years for fleet sales in the full-size segment is about 44 percent, according to Edmunds.com. GM hopes to not top 30 percent with its new Impala.

To meet the fleet demand, GM will offer a “Limited” model, which is essentially the last-generation Impala. Johnson said GM expects Impala sales to increase this year from 2012, as the Limited models continue to fill fleet demand and the new Impala attracts new buyers to Chevrolet dealerships.

View full sizeEdmunds.com

 “There’s still very good demand for an Impala like the Limited that is out there,” he said. “By having both vehicles, we’re going to maximize both our retail and our fleet opportunity.”

Since 2010, Impala sales have remained between about 169,000-172,000 units, including 169,351 last year. GM has built about 16 million Impalas since introducing the nameplate in 1958.

Jesse Toprak, TrueCar.com senior analyst, said GM’s ambitions to grow the segment, while admirable, just don’t seem realistic.

“It’s been one of the weakest segments in the entire industry,” he told MLive.com. “When you look at the prospects of potential growth in that segment, I don’t see any really because there’s so much competition from other segments.”

Toprak said it’s going to be an uphill battle for GM largely due to consumers wanting “a lot of car for their money,” and while full-size sedans, like the Impala, are large, the overall price is much larger compared to other car segments.

When factoring in gas mileage, initial pricing, maintenance and other ownership costs, large sedans tend to cost significantly more than crossovers and mid-size sedans, which are considered more fuel-efficient and trendy. “Even with the recovery now, consumers’ keyword in finding a car for the most part is value,” Toprak said. "The ownership costs of large sedans are generally speaking higher than cars that are smaller than them.”

But Johnson and other officials said they expect the 2014 Impala, which debuted last year during the New York Auto Show, to substantially increase retail customers, up leasing by about 35 percent, and bring in new, younger customers.

The vehicle will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, and three direct-injected engines: a 3.6-liter V6, new 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with eAssist. The starting prices for non-eAssist models range from just under $28,000 to $34,555. Pricing for the 2.4-liter engine with eAssist will be announced closer to its launch in the fourth quarter of this year.

Karl Brauer, editor in chief and CEO of TotalCarScore.com, said the 2014 Impala, thanks to its redesign and new options, is leaps and bounds over the previous generations, but so are its competitors.

In 2012, Impala captured 30 percent of the full-size sedan segment thanks to its fleet status. Through March of this year, the sedan’s percentage is down 1.5 percentage points, as its competitors gain ground.

“There’s been so much activity in that segment,” he said. “(Impala) is one important vehicle for the segment, but there’s like four others and they’ve all had something major happen to them in the last 24 months.”

Edmunds.com

The Impala’s top five competitors are Chrysler Group LLC’s Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300; Ford Motor Co.’s Taurus; Toyota Motor Corp.’s Toyota Avalon, which was redesigned last year; and the Nissan Altima, which went into production in July.

While the Impala’s market share of the large sedan segment has remained above 27 percent since 2007, its competitors have grown more in the same time period. In the last five years, the Avalon, Taurus and Charger have all grown at least 4.5 percentage points, including the Taurus increasing nearly 10 percentage points to 12.6 percent of the market.

To help bring attention to the vehicle, GM also launched a new Impala television spot as part of its “Find New Roads” advertising campaign, put one of the vehicles in center field at Comerica Park and launched a 36-month lease program for $279 a month on the Impala LT with a V6 engine.

GM expects to attract buyers from the Impala's direct large sedan competitors as well as other segments, such as crossovers and near-luxury brands, according to Johnson.

“We’re looking forward to grow segment share and really attract people from other segments into the large car segment,” he said.

The interior of the new vehicle also has been completely redesigned with Chevy’s dual-cockpit that features a new instrument panel with a standard 4.2-inch color display with reconfigurable features for the driver. An eight-inch touch screen with concealed storage, which resembles the automaker’s Cadillac CUE infotainment system, is available with the Chevrolet MyLink system.

If the 2014 Impala can live up to its iconic heritage is yet to be seen. But one thing is for sure, the vehicle’s design already shows that GM is serious about attempting to revive the nameplate and large sedan segment.

“Does it carry the old Impala soul in it? Not necessarily,” according to Toprak. “Is it more attractive for the times? Yes.

“It just sort of depends what your expectations are.”

For GM, the expectations are high.

General Motors Co. Friday named Steve Majoros, former managing director of Warren-based Campbell-Ewald, director of Global Cadillac Marketing. Majoros will assume responsibility for domestic and global marketing to ensure tight coordination between Cadillac’s marketing, advertising and sales field teams, officials said.

View full sizeGM

DETROIT- An executive at a well-known Metro Detroit advertising agency will now lead Cadillac’s global marketing.

General Motors Co. Friday named Steve Majoros, former managing director of Warren-based Campbell-Ewald, director of Global Cadillac Marketing. Majoros will assume responsibility for domestic and global marketing to ensure tight coordination between Cadillac’s marketing, advertising and sales field teams, officials said.

Majoros’ hiring was announced in conjunction with Cadillac U.S. Vice President of Marketing Don Butler being named global Cadillac strategic development vice president. Butler will drive the next phase of Cadillac growth internationally, including new market development and strategic global planning.

“Cadillac is continuing to expand in our home market and globally, which demands that we continually enhance our team’s focus and capabilities,” said Bob Ferguson, GM vice president of Global Cadillac, in a statement. “Don’s international experience and deep product knowledge will be major assets as we take our global growth to the next level.”

The move comes as Cadillac is in the midst of an “advertising agency review” that Campbell-Ewald was believed to be a front-runner for before the hiring.

The review, according to officials, is a result of Cadillac's global expansion plan that is driving the brand “to continually enhance” its marketing efforts. The review is expected to take place over the coming weeks.

The executive changes and agency review also come at a time when Cadillac is planning the most-extensive round of product launches and upgrades in its history, and is poised to enter new international markets.

Cadillac plans to introduce 10 all-new or significantly redesigned models in the next three years, starting with the recently released XTS full-size sedan and ATS compact.

Cadillac ended the first quarter of 2013 as the fastest growing full-line luxury brand in the United States, with sales increasing 38 percent. 

The Cadillac account for GM is believed to be valued at about $244 million annually, according to Adage.com.

Butler and Majoros will both report to Ferguson.

The Auburn Hills-based automaker over the weekend released pricing for the Fiat 500e, which includes a $700 destination fee, and a competitive leasing rate of $199 a month with $999 due at signing lease for 36 months, same as the current lease offer on a Fiat 500 Pop powered by a gas engine.

AUBURN HILLS- Chrysler Group LLC’s first all-electric vehicle will start at $32,500.

The Auburn Hills-based automaker over the weekend released pricing for the Fiat 500e, which includes a $700 destination fee, and a competitive leasing rate of $199 a month with $999 due at signing lease for 36 months, same as the current lease offer on a Fiat 500 Pop powered by a gas engine.

The vehicle will launch this summer in California. Eligible California residents may be able to purchase the 500e for as low as $20,500, after federal credits, state incentives and FIAT rebates are included. That’s about $200 less than the current starting price of a comparably-equipped Fiat 500 Lounge with a gas engine.

“With unique Italian style, industry-best highway MPGe rating and class-leading combined driving range, we know we have a great car in our hands,” said Tim Kuniskis head of Fiat Brand North America, in a statement.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rated the Fiat 500e to achieve more than 110 MPGe, according to Chrysler

The 500e is rated at a combined 116 miles per gallon equivalent with 122 MPGe city and 108 MPGe highway.

MPGe is the EPA-devised measure for determining how many miles an EV can travel on a quantity of battery-generated electricity that has same energy content as a gallon of gasoline.

EPA tests also determined the estimated cost to power the mini car is $500, compared with $600 for the all-electric Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus.

With tax incentives, the Fiat 500e is priced less than the all-electric Ford Focus Electric at just under $40,000, but more than the all-electric Nissan Leaf at $28,800.

Chrysler Group LLC announced numerous management changes Monday in wake of Ram Truck brand head Fred Diaz leaving to Nissan Motor Co.

Fred Diaz holds up the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year award for Chrysler Group LLC's Ram 150 at the North American International Auto Show Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

AUBURN HILLS- Chrysler Group LLC announced numerous management changes Monday in wake of  Ram Truck brand head Fred Diaz leaving to Nissan Motor Co.

Diaz, a 24-year veteran of Chrysler, was president and chief executive officer of Ram Truck, as well as president and chief executive officer of Chrysler de Mexico. Nissan announced Diaz’s appointment Friday to the newly formed position of divisional vice president of Nissan U.S. Sales & Marketing.

Replacing Diaz at Chrysler will be Reid Bigland, former Dodge president and CEO, as Ram president and CEO, and Bruno Cattori, former director for retail sales and fleet, as president and CEO of Chrysler de Mexico.

“These appointments are part of the Chrysler Group’s strategy to continuously reinforce its leadership ranks as we continue on our path to achieve our business targets,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chrsylser chairman and CEO, in a statement. “They are a further confirmation of the depth of our talent pool and of the exceptional opportunities that are available to our people as part of their career development.”

Here’s a look at all the management changes announced Monday by Chrysler:

- Reid Bigland is named president and CEO of the Ram Truck brand. He continues as head of U.S. Sales, and President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. Most recently, he was President and CEO of the Dodge Brand. Bigland came to Chrysler in July 2006 from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, a South Carolina-based company.

- Timothy Kuniskis is named President and CEO of the Dodge brand. He most recently served as Head of the FIAT Brand for North America. Kuniskis joined Chrysler in 1992 and has held a series of increasingly responsible positions in the Company’s business center operations and marketing organization.

- Jason Stoicevich is appointed Head of the Fiat Brand for North America. Stoicevich retains the position as director of the California Business Center. In his 10 years of service with Chrysler, Stoicevich has gained experience in a variety of assignments in the Company’s business center operations.

- Bruno Cattori is appointed President and CEO of Chrysler de México. Cattori most recently served as director for retail sales and fleet for all Chrysler Group brands in Mexico, a position which he retains. Prior to rejoining Chrysler Group in early 2012, he served as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Mexico. Cattori began his career at Chrysler in 1988 and has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility. 

Chrysler Group LLC’s Dodge brand has partnered with the Syfy television network and Trion Worlds video game developer for a new TV show and online video game.

Dodge Charger is '˜hero vehicle' in 'Defiance'€™ TV show debuting April 15 on Syfy Channel.Courtesy image

AUBURN HILLS- Chrysler Group LLC’s Dodge brand has partnered with the Syfy television network and Trion Worlds video game developer for a new TV show and online video game.

“Defiance,” which premieres at 9 p.m. tonight on Syfy, is the first-ever convergence of television and online gaming featuring an interconnected world and storylines that co-exist throughout a scripted drama television series and an online game, according to officials.

As part of the partnership, a futuristic Dodge Charger will be featured in the show and a special Challenger is showcased in the online video game, as well as custom co-branded advertising and promotions crossing multiple media platforms, including television, mobile, gaming and others.

“While ‘Defiance’ is set in the year 2046, the featured Dodge Charger stays true to its DNA,” said Tim Kuniskis, newly named Dodge president and CEO. “It has timeless performance & technological capabilities needed to survive in a futuristic world, while the Challenger video game integration allows enthusiasts to interact with the iconic muscle car in ways they might not have imagined possible.”

Two Dodge Chargers, with exterior modifications to fit the futuristic storyline, are the hero vehicles driven by main character Nolan (Grant Bowler), the city of Defiance “law-keeper.” The vehicles are integrated into the storylines beginning with the sixth episode, becoming main characters in the story.

Dodge Charger is 'hero vehicle' in 'Defiance' TV show debuting April 15 on Syfy Channel.Courtesy image

 Chrysler, which had the "Defiance" Charger on display during auto shows in Chicago and New York, said the partnership fit well with Dodge to reach a new audience of “socially engaged” customers.

In mid-May, coinciding with the first appearance of the Dodge Chargers in the TV program, Dodge will debut a new co-branded television spot and a social gaming experience and contest.

“As a forward thinking brand, Dodge was able to leverage the innovative opportunities with this groundbreaking experience to completely and organically engage our valuable consumers with their brand,” said Chris Czarkowski, Syfy’s VP of ad sales, in a statement.

“Defiance” stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Graham Greene and Mia Kirshner. It introduces an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races.

The partnership is the second between the brand and Syfy. The two previously partnered for the network’s“Ghost Hunters.”

The General Motors Foundation -- the Detroit-based automaker's charitable arm -- provided a $350,000 grant to the DSO for music education initiatives, including its involvement in the ''Spring for Music'' festival that showcases five symphony orchestras from across North America. The DSO is the first orchestra invited to perform two programs during the event, officials said.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra music director Leonard Slatkin leads the DSO during a rehearsal.AP File Photo

DETROIT- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will perform two shows at New York City’s iconic Carnegie Hall for the first time in 17 years with help from General Motors Co.

The General Motors Foundation – the Detroit-based automaker’s charitable arm -- provided a $350,000 grant to the DSO for music education initiatives, including its involvement in the“Spring for Music” festival that showcases five symphony orchestras from across North America. The DSO is the first orchestra invited to perform two programs during the event, officials said.

“Detroit’s revitalization can be seen in the strength of the DSO, which has long been a beacon and cultural pillar within the city’s arts community,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss, vice chairman of the GM Foundation, in a statement.

In addition to funding from the GM Foundation, Cadillac will transport the musicians and a number of special guests during the week-long festival. The DSO is scheduled to perform May 9-10

Prior to the DSO performances in New York City, the public is invited to attend a special sendoff concert on May 7 at the DSO’s Orchestra Hall in Detroit. All tickets are $25.

In New York City, the first performance will feature Kurt Weill’s ballet The Seven Deadly Sins, starring cabaret singer Storm Large on lead vocals. The second performance consists of all four Charles Ives symphonies, a debut for the DSO as well as for Carnegie Hall.

Each DSO concert will be broadcast live on Detroit’s WRCJ-FM (90.9).

For more details about the DSO performances at Carnegie Hall, or to reserve tickets, visit dso.org/carnegiehall.

Over the past decade, the GM Foundation has donated nearly $21.5 million to Detroit-based nonprofits and cultural institutions, including nearly $1.5 million to the DSO.

In total, GM said it posted sales of more than 2.36 million in the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 3.6 percent, outpacing the industry which was up 1.5 percent, compared with the same period in 2012.

DETROIT- Chevrolet vehicles accounted for about half of General Motors Co.'s sales during the first three months of 2013.  

The Detroit-based automaker Tuesday said it sold more than more than 2.36 million vehicles globally in the first quarter of 2013, including about 1.18 million Chevrolet vehicles.

The bow tie brand's 2013 first quarter sales marked its 10th consecutive quarter of record global sales, according to GM. In the U.S., Chevrolet sales totaled more than 469,000 units in the first quarter, up nearly 5 percent.

GM said its global sales during the first three months of this year outpaced the industry which was up 1.5 percent, compared with the same period in 2012.

Officials attributed the continued sales success to the strength of products like the Chevy Cruze compact car, which recently surpassed the 2 million mark in total global sales since its launch in 2009.

“Chevrolet is growing around the world by leveraging GM’s global engineering and design expertise to deliver the right products in the right markets,” said Mark Reuss, GM president of North America, in a statement.

Other markets posting sales increases include Brazil with sales of 141,000 up more than 3 percent primarily on the strength of the Onix, which accounted for nearly 24 percent of first quarter sales; China with sales of 165,000, up 2.5 percent; and Thailand with sales of 17,000, up 14 percent.

GM is scheduled to release its full first-quarter financial results in early-May. 

The new agreement marks the third time in the past decade that GM and Ford have collaborated on transmissions. The original collaboration served as a template for the new one, officials said. As before, each company will manufacture its own transmissions in its own plants with many common components.

In this combo made with file photos, logos for General Motors and Ford are shown.AP Photos

DETROIT- General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. jointly announced an agreement Monday to jointly develop an all-new generation of advanced 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions.

Officials said the collaboration enables the crosstown rivals to design, develop, engineer, test, validate and deliver these new transmissions for their vehicles faster and at lower cost than if each company worked independently.

The new agreement marks the third time in the past decade that GM and Ford have collaborated on transmissions. The original collaboration served as a template for the new one, officials said. As before, each company will manufacture its own transmissions in its own plants with many common components.

“The goal is to keep hardware identical in the Ford and GM transmissions,” said Craig Renneker, Ford’s chief engineer for transmission and driveline component and pre-program engineering. “This will maximize parts commonality and give both companies economy of scale.”

Each company will use its own control software to ensure that each transmission is carefully matched to the individual brand-specific vehicle DNA for each company.

Initial design and engineering work is already under way for the transmissions, which will be used for cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks. Neither company gave exact details of what vehicles.

The partnership is most likely an effort to ensure other rival automakers, such as Chrysler Group LLC, don’t get too far ahead with advanced transmissions. The Auburn Hills-based automaker has already announced eight- and nine-speed transmissions, while GM and Ford remained with six-speed transmissions.

“We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios,” said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering.

Vehicles with six-speed transmissions developed by both automakers include Ford's Fusion, Edge, Escape and Explorer. GM vehicles include the Chevrolet Malibu, Traverse, Equinox and Cruze.

Are small vehicles the next big thing in the U.S. automotive industry? Chrysler Group LLC Vice President of Product Design Ralph Gilles thinks so. Gilles, also CEO SRT & SRT Motorsport for Chrysler, said a shift is occurring in the U.S. automotive industry toward smaller, more practical vehicles.

DETROIT- Is the Millennial generation leading the U.S. automotive industry in a smaller direction?

Auto companies and suppliers have spent millions, if not billions, trying to determine what the Millennial generation -- generally categorized as a person born between the early-80s and mid-90s -- want from their vehicle. 

The challenging thing about Millennials is that they aren’t as interested in vehicles as previous generations. In general, studies have shown, they would rather spend money on a new smartphone than upgrades to a car.

But the Millennial generation will eventually need vehicles and automakers have to be ready, according to Chrysler Group LLC Vice President of Product Design Ralph Gilles.

"Their looking for something that reflects their intelligent choices,” Gilles said  during a presentation Tuesday at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress at Detroit’s Cobo Center. "We’re designing cars a little differently that have smart solutions, not necessarily sexy ones. 

"It’s a very different mindset."

Gilles, also CEO SRT & SRT Motorsport for Chrysler, said Millennials want "responsibility and smart" more than "zoomy" vehicles. The new needs of these buyers are helping shift the U.S. automotive industry toward smaller, more practical vehicles, according to Gilles.

“I think small is the next big thing,” he said Tuesday. "I think small cars are finally here. Their day has come."

The 2013 Dodge Dart, Gilles said, is one vehicle that was designed with the Millennial generation in mind, and Chrysler learned from it. He said the Auburn Hills-based automaker released a fleet of options for the vehicle that are now being refined.

Another example is Chrysler's Fiat brand. In 2012, Chrysler saw sales of its Fiat 500 city car more than double from 2011. And through March of this yearm sales are up 9 percent.

Gilles was part of a panel focused on predicting consumers’ future desires moderated by Sandy Stojkovski, Scenaria Inc. president. Other panelists included Peter Coffee, Salesforce.com Inc. vice president & head of Platform Research, CTO for automotive Industry; Michael O'Brien, Hyundai Motor America vice president of corporate planning & strategy; and John Waraniak, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) vice president of vehicle technology.

The panel discussed everything from social media’s impact on the industry to brand loyalty and consumers’ changing expectations.

The SAE 2013 World Congress started Tuesday at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. The annual three-day conference attracts thousands of automotive and technology experts and executives. 

This year’s conference and surrounding events features dozens of speakers, including California Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary D. Nicholas; George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic CEO and president; “car guy” and auto industry veteran Bob Lutz; and Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Check back to MLive.com for more details.

The trucks will replace the aging Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, said Tuesday that the trucks will be able to do 95 percent of the work that a big truck can do.

2011 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Crew CabGM

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors plans to roll out a line of completely revamped midsize pickup trucks, with gas mileage and features designed to take sales from Toyota's market-leading Tacoma.

The trucks will replace the aging Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, said Tuesday that the trucks will be able to do 95 percent of the work that a big truck can do.

Sales of midsize and small pickups slumped after the recession as businesses curtailed spending. Ford Motor Co. stopped selling its Ranger small pickup in the U.S. in December of 2011 to focus on sales of its full-size F-150.

Now truck sales are recovering as parts of the U.S. economy, particularly the housing sector, recover.

The new GM trucks are aimed at different audiences. The Canyon will go after more functional work buyers, while the Colorado will target younger "lifestyle" buyers who use trucks to haul recreation equipment and play outdoors, Reuss said. Both will have a list of options so people can customize them to their activities, he said.

The Colorado will "attack the West Coast with a lifestyle truck that's really beautiful and fun," Reuss said, without giving many details. "We're targeting a new generation of buyer with a new truck," he said.

The trucks, due out sometime next year, will be slightly larger than a Tacoma with engines and transmissions that get better mileage than GM's full-size trucks, he told reporters after a speech in Detroit. A V-8 version of GM's new big pickups gets 23 miles per gallon on the highway. Mileage for the six-cylinder engines in the big pickups hasn't been released yet.

Reuss said GM is evaluating whether to keep the Colorado and Canyon names.

The new trucks will be dramatically different from GM's newer midsize pickups already on sale in Asia, he said. They will be built at GM's factory in Wentzville, Mo., which now builds full-size vans. Adding the pickups will create 1,260 new jobs.

So far this year GM has sold only 2,200 Colorados and just over 600 Canyons. Sales of each are down nearly 80 percent as the aging trucks are phased out. Tacoma sales, however, are up almost 23 percent to just over 39,000 from January through March, according to Autodata Corp.

Overall pickup truck sales are up 11 percent so far this year to almost 499,000.

The Flint Engine Operations builds the 1.4-liter engine that goes into the Chevrolet Cruze.

Workers at the Flint Engine Operations plant produce the 1.4L engine for the Chevy Cruze.MLive file photo 

FLINT, MI – Good sales of the Chevy Cruze is translating into pride at Flint Engine Operations, where its 1.4-liter powerplant is made.

Sales of the Chevy Cruze helped General Motors achieve its 10th consecutive quarter of record global sales as the compact car recently surpassed 2 million units sold since its launch in 2009.

“The Cruze is a very important product for Flint and we produce the engine here for the car that’s produced in Lordstown, Ohio,” said Tom Wickham, local GM spokesperson.

“It’s a great car and the engine is very fuel efficient. Employees at Flint Engine are proud of what they produce.”

Flint Engine Operations builds the 1.4-liter engine that goes into the Chevrolet Cruze, as well as the engines for the Chevrolet’s Sonic and engine generator for the Volt.

Wickham said that the growth in sales of the Cruze doesn’t directly affect the amount of production needed at the GM plant in Flint because there are multiple engines produced for the vehicle.

“We don’t forecast what the production requirements will be. Everything is based on the market,” he said. “If (customers) select that 1.4 liter engine, we’ll build it for them. If it’s 1.8 (liter engine), we have another facility that supplies that, all a matter of what the customer.”

UAW Local 599 president Dan Reyes agreed with Wickham, saying that he’s proud of the employees at Flint Engine Operations and that they work hard to advance sales.

“We also are proud of the work that our members do. The engine is a big part of the success of any vehicle. If the engine performs well and the car rides well, people will keep buying it,” Reyes said.

“All of our members do a great job and it’s reflected in the sales numbers.”

The automaker announced Tuesday that it sold more than 1.18 million Chevrolet vehicles -- and 2.36 million total GM vehicles -- worldwide in the first quarter of 2013.

George Whitesides, who also serves as chairman of Virgin Galactic, is scheduled to speak any minute now at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress at Detroit’s Cobo Center.

YouTube: Virgin Galactic: Let The Journey Begin

DETROIT- The CEO of the world’s first commercial spaceline will speak Wednesday in Detroit.

George Whitesides, who also serves as chairman of Virgin Galactic, is scheduled to speak any minute now at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2013 World Congress at Detroit’s Cobo Center.

Virgin Galactic was founded by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson in 2004 to offer private trips to space for paying passengers. The company's SpaceShipTwo vehicles and their giant WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft were developed by the Mojave, Calif.-based company Scaled Composites.

The company has not released an expected date for a powered test flight.

A seat on board a SpaceShipTwo flight costs $200,000. More than 550 people have put down deposits to reserve a spot, company officials say.