After crash, Mass. transit chief to ban train and bus operators from bringing cells on board

BOSTON — The head of the Boston-area transit authority says he’ll ban all operators of trains and buses from even carrying a cell phone on board.

Report: German minister says Fiat, Magna bids for Opel both leave questions open

BERLIN — Germany’s economy minister was quoted as saying Saturday that questions remain over plans by both Fiat SpA and auto parts maker Magna International Inc. to invest in General Motors’ main European unit, Opel, and stressed that he is equally open to both suitors.

Auto suppliers want Congress, Obama to protect supply base amid summer factory shutdowns

WASHINGTON — Auto suppliers say the auto industry’s supply base could be threatened by factory shutdowns by General Motors and Chrysler.

Fiat doubts about future of GM’s German operations

MAINZ - Italian carmaker Fiat appeared to raise fresh doubts Friday about its plans for parts of the German operations of crisis-hit US carmaker General Motors if the group’s bid to buy GM’s European auto offshoots succeeds.

Analysts say a government-run GMAC could give GM, Chrysler a big leg up on competitors

DETROIT — With the federal government almost certain to take control of GMAC Financial Services, analysts suggest it could become a loan machine that gives General Motors and Chrysler a huge advantage over their competitors.

Stock futures extend gains after drop in jobless claims; Wal-Mart says April sales rise

NEW YORK — Stock futures are extending early gains following government data showing that new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly dropped last week to their lowest level since January.

Unexpected drop in new jobless claims, upbeat retail sales reports push stocks higher

NEW YORK — Stocks are higher following upbeat readings on the job market and sales at major retailers.

Fiat: Marchionne to replace Nardelli as Chrysler CEO when automaker emerges from bankruptcy

MILAN — Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne will become the chief executive of Chrysler after the U.S. automaker emerges from bankruptcy, a Fiat spokesman confirmed Thursday.

GM, Bank of America, Lincoln National, Federal-Mogul among big market movers Wednesday

NEW YORK — Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:

Wall Street heads for higher open as investors await stress test results, economic data

NEW YORK — Wall Street headed to a higher open Thursday as investors anticipate the formal release of the government’s stress tests of banks and fresh economic data on retail sales and unemployment claims.

General Motors draws closer to bankruptcy, loses $6B in first 3 months of 2009

DETROIT — General Motors drew closer to bankruptcy Thursday, acknowledging that its revenue fell by nearly half as car buyers worldwide steered away from showrooms for fear that the auto giant would not be around to honor its warranties.

GM to temporarily shut parts plants due to closures of vehicle-making factories

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. will temporarily close all or portions of 23 engine, transmission and parts factories across the U.S. for several weeks because vehicle-making plants also will be idled.

China’s Geely in bid for GM’s Saab, as rumors of other potential takeovers swirl

SHANGHAI — Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings said Thursday it is bidding for General Motors Corp.’s Saab brand, a move that would boost the company’s ability to compete overseas.

Companies that once relied heavily on auto industry now a big presence at wind energy show

CHICAGO — Pete Ostrander and the manufacturer he works for took a hard look at the auto industry four years ago, and neither liked what they saw.

Bankruptcy court documents show Delphi now has a few more weeks to negotiate steering sale

NEW YORK — Auto parts supplier Delphi Corp. has a few more weeks to work out a deal to sell its steering business to General Motors Corp., according to documents filed Wednesday in bankruptcy court in New York.

China’s Geely denies planning bids for Saab, Volvo, as rumors of other potential offers swirl

SHANGHAI — Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings denied reports Thursday it is bidding for General Motors Corp.’s Saab brand or Ford Motor Co.’s Swedish unit Volvo — despite growing speculation that a move for either brand could be in the offing.

Companies that once relied heavily on auto industry jobs a big presence at wind energy show

CHICAGO — Pete Ostrander and the manufacturer he works for took a hard look at the auto industry four years ago, and neither liked what they saw.

General Motors posts $6B 1Q loss, CFO says bankruptcy fears seemed to scare customers

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. lost $6 billion in the first quarter and its revenue fell by nearly half as car buyers worldwide steered clear of showrooms out of fear that the wounded auto giant may go bankrupt and stop honoring its warranties.

GM posts $6B 1Q loss, spends $10.2B more cash than it took in as bankruptcy deadline looms

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. says it lost $6 billion in the first quarter and spent $10.2 billion more cash than it took in, as a sales slump cut revenue by $20 billion.

Meltdown 101: Reverse stock split a rare corporate maneuver that reflects depth of GM’s woes

It sounds like a football play or a wardrobe malfunction. But when General Motors Corp. said it may execute a “reverse split,” what that really signaled was a new level of desperation for the troubled automaker.

Union leader says Canada governments pushing CAW, GM Canada to renegotiate contract

TORONTO — The head of the Canadian Auto Workers says the Canadian and Ontario governments are pressing the union to resume labor negotiations with General Motors Canada or risk losing government financial assistance.

General Motors posts quarterly loss of $6 bn

DETROIT - Threatened US carmaker General Motors posted a quarterly net loss of $6 billion Thursday, its eighth quarterly loss in a row.

Citigroup, Bank of America could all need more cash

NEW YORK - Some of the largest banks in the US will be forced to raise billions of dollars more in cash to survive the ongoing financial crisis, according to the findings of government regulators to be released later Thursday.

Ford invests $550 million to convert SUV facility to build new Focus for small-car market

WAYNE, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. stripped “truck” from the name of one its Detroit-area plants Wednesday as it announced plans to build its next-generation Focus here, including a battery-electric version Ford expects will run up to 100 miles without using gas or emitting greenhouse gas.

Report: GM Canada schedules extra shifts at Oshawa plant meet demand for Camaro

OSHAWA, Ontario — A newspaper says demand for the Camaro reportedly has prompted General Motors Corp. to add the week of June 29 as a scheduled work week at the Oshawa, Ontario, plant instead of a week off.

General Motors plans reverse stock split,

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. notified shareholders Tuesday it is planning a reverse stock split that would give them one share of new stock for every 100 shares they currently own.

GMAC says 1st-qtr loss widens to $675M as credit markets weigh on auto, mortgage businesses

NEW YORK — GMAC Financial Services said Tuesday that it will not be automatically be forced to file for bankruptcy protection if General Motors Corp. is unable to restructure itself by its government imposed deadline.

GM’s Henderson says some parts of Chrysler deal with UAW could help his company

WASHINGTON — General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson says some elements of a labor agreement between the United Auto Workers and Chrysler could benefit GM as it tries to stave off bankruptcy.

General Motors may seek reverse stock split, swapping 1 share for every 100 from stockholders

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. says it may offer current shareholders a reverse stock split that would give them one share of new stock for every 100 shares they currently own.

AK Steel trims second-quarter outlook on GM, Chrysler production shutdowns

PITTSBURGH — Production cuts at General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC will leave AK Steel with a larger-than-expected loss in the second-quarter, the steel maker said Tuesday.