Ignition

(Apologies for not posting some of this sooner - was waiting to see what some of the fallout would be from the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies and neglected this as a result. Mea culpa.)

That being said, here's a quick summary of automotive news and notes from various print publications (predominantly Automotive News and Car and Driver) as well as other information of interest in as few words as I could manage:

- Advertising estimates? OEMs focused on TV and Internet over print and radio.
- Cash for guzzlers program? Side effect of messing up used-car prices.
- Chrysler dealer cuts? Fired ASAP.
- Future plans for cut Chrysler dealerships? 52% say used-car lot.
- GM dealer cuts? Cut contractually by not renewing in 2010.
- GM-Opel? Reins likely to pass to Magna International but product development ties stay for now.
- Hummer? Production stops in August barring buyer.
- MPG rules? Jump 10.2 mpg by 2016 (to 35.5).
- Saturn? Penske proposed purchasing to partner Saturn and Samsung Motors at sales locations.
- Suppliers in trouble too? Visteon, Metaldyne and Hayes Lemmerz all filed for bankruptcy in May.