Paul A. Eisenstein

Although Detroit's auto dealers are in better shape than their counterparts across the country, the national credit crunch is putting a squeeze on prospective buyers.

The “merger of equals” had collapsed, unceremoniously, with Chrysler being sold, at a sizable loss, to Cerberus Capital Management.

The quest for the electric vehicle may come from a promising startup in Silicon Valley, with an assist from a design and engineering center in Rochester Hills.

Detroit native Dave Schembri has been given a challenge few folks ever face: launching an entirely new brand of automobiles into the crowded American market.