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Some people may be on the lookout for flying pigs today.  Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the company turned a profit in the second quarter. Automotive News reports, "Chrysler Group posted its second straight operating profit as the automaker continues to recover from its 2009 bankruptcy. The announcement was made today by CEO Sergio Marchionne in a call with analysts. He didn't say how much Chrysler earned. Specific numbers will …

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When General Motors and Chrysler began closing dealerships last year, many dealers protested that the closings weren't made with enough consideration, and that there would be negative effects on local economies.  A new report says those dealers were right. The New York Times says, "President Obama’s auto task force pressed General Motors and Chrysler to close scores of dealerships without adequately considering the jobs that would be lost or having …

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President Obama heads to Michigan today to visit the plant that will be building batteries for the Chevrolet Volt and the Ford Focus Electric.  Most people have heard of the Volt, but the announcement of the battery supplier is the first confirmation that the electric Focus Electric will be hitting the market. The Focus electric isn't unheard of, however. "The redesigned Focus sedan and hatchback were shown at this year’s …

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It's always a little nerve-racking to buy a new car model. When it comes to buying a car with new technology, the stakes are even higher.  But, for buyers of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle, there should be some piece of mind. Kicking Tires writes, "When it finally goes on sale at the end of the year, Chevy’s extended-range electric Volt will come with a fully transferable eight-year, …

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Reports indicate that human error is to blame for many cases of unintended acceleration in top-selling Toyota vehicles — not a faulty acceleration pedal as originally believed. According to The Wall Street Journal,  “The U.S. Department of Transportation has analyzed dozens of data recorders from Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles involved in accidents blamed on sudden acceleration and found that the throttles were wide open and the brakes weren't engaged at …

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Interested in buying a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle, but not convinced it’s the right car for you? Now there’s no reason to worry — as Chrysler’s has expanded its 60 day risk-free program to include more than just minivans. Autoblog reports: “Back in February, Chrysler rolled out its ‘Minivan Pledge,’ which gave customers the choice of returning their vehicle within 60 days if they were unhappy in any way. The program …

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With the summer travel season in full swing, you may be jetting off to a new place and hopping into a rental car once you get there.  Experienced car renters know to give any rental the once over to avoid damage charges — but a closer look may be in order. "The country's biggest rent-a-car companies routinely rent out vehicles under safety recall before they have been fixed," reports ABC …

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If you've been holding out buying a new car, it appears that the wait has been worth it. Automotive News writes, "Automakers disappointed by June sales are extending discounts — and in some cases modestly increasing rebates and enhancing loan terms — on new cars and trucks to entice skittish shoppers." The deals come from some surprising sources.  Kicking Tires points out Toyota "is still recoiling from a massive public …

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