– Chrysler Group is extending its seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The free warranty was to expire at the end of 2001 but will be available through March 31 on any new 2001 or 2002 Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle. Chrysler said the promotion increased showroom traffic and sales.
– Sears has agreed to pay $62.6 million to settle allegations it knowingly sold defective DieHard auto batteries in 1994 and 1995. The settlement ends a more than two-year investigation into batteries made by Sears supplier Exide Technologies. Sears became aware in 1994 that some batteries had defects but continued selling them, prosecutors said.
– Japan’s output of cars, trucks and buses fell for the third straight month in November. Auto production fell 5.1 percent for the year, to 820,841 vehicles, through November, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Japanese exports of cars, trucks and buses fell 2.5 percent for the year, to 362,238 vehicles. Exports to the U.S. rose for the fifth straight month, partly because of interest-free financing, but shipments to Asia and Europe remained weak.
