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Back Seat Driver: Guilty of Dangerous Driving

I was out walking with my 5-year-old son Charlie in the dense fog that enveloped Jamestown last night when a couple of teenage nitwits hurtled by on roller blades while holding onto the door handles of a car driven by another nitwit teenager.

Fair enough. I was a nitwit teenager once upon a time. Just hope they wise up before they hurt themselves.

But I am no longer a nitwit teenager and as I was heading home from work earlier in the evening, I finally came to the conclusion that I had allowed myself to get into some pretty bad driving habits of late. And I bet that I am not the only one.

These habits are driven by a couple of devices most of us now own: the cell phone and the iPod.

Making phone calls on the cell phone is bad enough, but at least most of the numbers we call - family, friends, doctors, colleagues, etc - are already entered and all it takes is the click of a couple of buttons to locate them.

But when it comes to text messaging, it is impossible not to take one's eyes off the road for extended periods of time. Not only one's eyes but one's whole concentration. Yes, I have text messaged many times without incident. But I cannot help thinking it's only a matter of time.

And I also cannot help thinking that if everyone else is texting, when is one going to hit me?

And then there is the iPod. Some months ago I bought one with 30G of memory at the same time I was buying a new Apple MacBook. (I am a Mac man going back to the early 1980s.) I confess that it sat on my desk for a couple of months before my 14-year-old stepson Patrick showed me how to turn it on!

But once he did, I was sold and have uploaded a substantial portion of my eclectic CD collection which ranges from the sublime Mr. Handel to Van Morrison (40 albums) to the Soukous dance music of Kanda Bongo Man of the Congo.

All very well. But then I bought a connection to my car stereo through the tape player and found myself dithering around selecting music when I should have had my eyes on the road.

So I am officially swearing off texting and changing music on my iPod while driving.

Talking on the cell phone? Well, I am not so sure about that. Three nights ago, Charlie fell off his bike and broke his elbow. I bundled him into the car and set off for South County Hospital and was mighty glad to be able to set up an appointment with Dr. Dan Coghlin of Narragansett Bay Pediatrics on the way down there.

- Peter C. T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:31 AM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

GM could get labor pay savings from UAW deal: report

NEW YORK - General Motors Corp would be able to buy out as many as 24,000 UAW workers and replace them with lower-paid hires under a tentative contract agreement, according to Reuters citing a Wall Street Journal report on its Web site.

Such a potential buyout stems from a move by the union to expand the definition of non-production job classifications, the article said, citing management and union officials briefed on the pact.

GM will be able to hire at a much lower pay package janitors, landscape workers and material handlers, the report said.

It will also be allowed to define some entry-level production work and skilled-trade positions as a "non-core position," whereby they get paid about half or less of the $70-to-$75 an hour wage-and-benefit package traditionally given UAW members, the report said.

Those workers would have the opportunity later to transfer to the higher-paying production jobs, the report said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:27 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW locals to hear details

UAW local leaders are expected to meet in Detroit this morning to learn the much-awaited official details of the tentative agreement reached early Wednesday between the union and General Motors Corp., as UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and other union officials work to get the deal ratified, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Today is the first time the union will broadly distribute the specifics of a landmark deal that restructures retiree health care, introduces a two-tier wage system and eliminates wage increases for the duration of the 4-year contract. And the union's more than 73,000 GM workers are anxious to see the hard facts.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:23 AM to Auto industry , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford to give HD Radio a huge boost

Ford's decision to make HD Radio receivers a standard dealer-installed option across all of its models has finally given the technology the boost it needs to be more than a niche for audio fans, according to the Detroit Free Press's Mike Wendland

I remember the first time I heard HD Radio. It was at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2002. It blew me away. AM stations sounded like FM stations. Music playing on FM stations sounded like a CD.

But what has stalled widespread HD Radio's adoption up to now has been the hassle of having to yank out the old radio receiver from the dashboard and replace it with a new one.

With radio controls embedded in the steering wheel on some models, that just became too painful for many consumers. The HD receivers have also been expensive, as much as $700.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 3:32 PM to Ford , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Dingell unveils draft of gas tax

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. John Dingell says his proposed plan for curbing greenhouse gases through higher taxes will likely include a "cap and trade" system for controlling carbon dioxide favored by several other lawmakers, and could give Detroit automakers an opening to sell more diesel-powered vehicles, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Dearborn Democrat unveiled a draft outline of his proposal on his Web site today calling for a 50-cent-per-gallon increase in gasoline taxes and a $50-per-ton levy on carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 3:29 PM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Surges on Supply, Iran Worries

NEW YORK -- Oil and other petroleum futures surged Thursday amid supply concerns sparked by a decline in crude inventories at a key Oklahoma terminal and the confrontation between the West and Iran, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. is trying to raise support for new U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programs. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the nuclear issue is "closed," and has vowed to defy any U.N. sanctions.

Many traders are betting the West will take action against Iran before the end of the year, and worry that economic sanctions or a military strike will result in the disruption of oil supplies from the Middle East, Gheit said.

November light, sweet crude jumped $2.58 to settle at $82.88 a barrel Thursday on the Nymex, while October gasoline rose 6.65 cents to settle at $2.0939 a gallon.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 3:24 PM to Crude oil market , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler, Ford deals may mirror GM accord

With a tentative agreement in hand with General Motors, the UAW expects to move quickly to lock in similar labor contracts with Chrysler and Ford, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"I think the pattern bargaining is still very much in play," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said shortly after announcing the GM deal. "We expect this will basically be the same agreement."

Gettelfinger suggested that the UAW may try to finish up talks with Chrysler and Ford simultaneously.

During the past two contract talks, it took the UAW between 20 and 40 days from the day the first tentative agreement was reached until deals with all three automakers were ratified. If that holds true, a deal with all three of Detroit's automakers could be wrapped up in a month.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:35 AM to Auto industry , Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

A new U.S. auto industry emerges

General Motors and the UAW bet their futures on a dramatic new labor agreement Wednesday that could ensure the survival of both -- making GM more competitive against its foreign rivals and helping the union stanch the loss of members, according to the Detroit Free Press.

More broadly, the proposed labor contract has the potential to shape a new Detroit auto industry that can compete on a more-level playing field with Toyota Motor Corp. and other foreign rivals not burdened by huge retiree legacy costs built up over the 20th Century. Also, the agreement has the potential to recast the UAW -- often dismissed as an industrial relic -- and give it more clout in the national health care debate.

The landmark feature of the UAW's tentative deal with GM is a controversial retiree health care trust that would shift tens of billions of dollars of retiree medical, hospital and prescription costs to the UAW and off GM's books.

The agreement, which ended the first national strike against GM in 37 years, will serve as the template for new agreements at Chrysler LLC and Ford Motor Co.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:32 AM to Auto industry , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Chevron Approves $15 billion Buyback Program

SAN FRANCISCO -- Enriched by high oil prices, Chevron Corp. will spend up to $15 billion buying back its own stock - a commitment that pleased shareholders and rankled critics clamoring for bigger investments in projects that might help lower energy costs, according to the Associated Press.

The three-year repurchase program announced Wednesday served as yet another reminder of the cash cascading into the oil industry while motorists have been trying to cope with higher gasoline bills.

The dichotomy has triggered Congressional threats to repeal some of the industry's tax breaks or impose a special tax on profits above a certain threshold.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:25 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Least Fuel-Efficient Hybrids

Interested in an energy-efficient auto? You're in luck. That's because nearly every major car company has a hybrid line, or has plans to introduce one soon.

But enter the showroom, and instead of seeing green, you may be seeing red. Many of the market's hybrids--cars which combine gasoline engines with battery-powered electric motors--forsake fuel-efficiency in the name of power and performance, according to Forbes.com

The average gas mileage of hybrid models available in the U.S. is 33 miles per gallon (combined city and highway). But Chevy's newest Silverado hybrid truck gets only 16 mpg. The newest Lexus LS 600h L hybrid sedan clocks in at 21 mpg, the 2007 Saturn Vue hybrid at 26 mpg.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 8:09 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

And Now, the Carship Enterprise?

Here's a concept with a difference. This is a new prototype center console from German supplier Preh Automotive, which has production cabin components for the all-new Audi A4, according to thecarconnection.com

Looking like something off the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, it's called the PrehCon. It's made entirely from what's known in the interiors industry as black panel display technology.

It means that when the driver gets behind the wheel he sees no buttons or lights - there's only a flat black surface and the chrome detailing around the edge. But as soon as he touches the starter button everything comes to life, illuminated in smart ice-blue neon.

That includes the icons on the switches which reveal what each one does. Note also the vibrant coloring on the side of the console, which could be programmed only to light up at night.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 8:04 AM to Design , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

OnStar Data Used to Study Auto Crashes

WASHINGTON -- General Motors and the University of Michigan Medical School are working on a new study that will try to guide emergency workers and doctors who respond to car accidents - and develop safer vehicles along the way, according to the Associated Press.

Researchers are using crash and injury data from GM's OnStar service to learn more about the links between certain types of crashes and injuries. The in-vehicle system alerts emergency rescue officials when an air bag deploys or the vehicle is involved in a crash.

The study could help emergency room doctors know what to expect before the victim of a car accident arrives at the hospital. It also may help rescue workers determine when they need heavy equipment to extricate passengers or should send injured motorists to trauma centers.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 7:43 AM to GM , Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

Gettelfinger indicates simultaneous Ford, Chrysler talks

With a tentative agreement in hand with General Motors, the UAW expects to move quickly to lock in similar labor contracts with Chrysler and Ford, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“I think the pattern bargaining is still very much in play,” UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said this morning on WJR-AM radio. “We expect this will basically be the same agreement.” He said there could be some modifications for the individual automakers but “for the most part it will be a pattern agreement.”

Gettelfinger suggested that the UAW may try to finish up talks with Chrysler and Ford simultaneously.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 7:40 AM to Auto industry , Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Highlights of the GM-UAW deal

According to the Detroit Free Press, the tentative agreement between the UAW and General Motors Corp., a person briefed on the deal said, is expected to include:

• A retiree health-care trust, known as a voluntary employee beneficiary trust, or VEBA. While neither party would officially comment on the amount GM will pay into the VEBA, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said financial analysis of the plan indicates it should be solvent for 80 years. GM has pushed for the trust to relieve itself of the responsibility for more than $50 billion in retiree health care cost liability. People familiar with GM’s position have said they believe the automaker will pay less than $35 billion into the trust.

A two-tier wage and benefits scale under which new hires will make a lower hourly wage and receive a different package of benefits than current workers.

• A second tier of compensation for jobs that GM and the UAW have agreed are “non-core” production jobs. This is expected to include many positions in which workers do not have their hands on a vehicle in the assembly process.

• To relieve the pain of the wage reductions for the workers currently assigned to jobs defined as “non-core” in the tentative deal, the automaker is expected to offer a targeted special attrition program.

• No wage increases.

• A $3,000 signing bonus.

• A lump-sum bonus in the last three years of the four-year contract.

• The possibility of the automaker maintaining the same level of its U.S. manufacturing workforce.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 7:38 AM to Auto industry , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

G.M. and Union Reach Tentative Agreement

DETROIT — The United Automobile Workers union and General Motors reached a landmark agreement early today, ending a two-day strike, according to the New York Times.

The key provision of the historic new contract is a health care trust that would get G.M.’s massive liability off its books.

The deal was announced by the company and the union in separate statements. The U.A.W. had walked out on G.M. on Monday morning, but production will resume this afternoon.

G.M. said the tentative agreement was reached at 3:05 a.m. Eastern. The U.A.W. recessed the strike and said if the contract was not ratified, workers could return to picket lines. The agreement included a memorandum of understanding to establish an independent health care trust, as well as other changes to the national agreement.

G.M. said implementation of the trust would be subject to court approval, as well as a review by G.M.’s accounting for the trust by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The memorandum apparently establishes the principle of the trust, and allows the two sides to complete its details later. Analysts had predicted the union and the company might have to take that step, because of the complexity of such a trust.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 7:31 AM to Auto industry , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

GM-UAW talks continue as strike enters second day

DETROIT - Negotiators for the United Auto Workers union and General Motors Corp have resumed bargaining on Tuesday while more than 73,000 factory workers participated in the second day of the first national strike against the automaker in more than 30 years, according to Reuters.

GM workers walked off the job on Monday after 10 weeks of contract talks seen as crucial to GM's survival as it restructures money-losing U.S. operations and tries to free itself from a health-care obligation of more than $50 billion.

A GM spokeswoman said the two sides began talking around mid-morning. Meantime, workers at a GM facility in Warren, Michigan, could be seen picketing early on Tuesday with signs reading "UAW on Strike."

Many analysts predicted that a protracted strike against the largest U.S. automaker was unlikely and the two sides could still settle on a deal on wages and benefits that delivers many of the sweeping concessions GM has sought.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:04 PM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

In G.M. Strike, Both Sides See a Crossroads

The United Automobile Workers union wielded its most potent weapon against General Motors yesterday, sending 73,000 workers to picket lines in its first national strike at G.M. since 1970, according to the New York Times' Micheline Maynard.

Union officials said they were left no choice but to strike because General Motors was unwilling to accept the union’s demand that it protect workers’ jobs and benefits.

For General Motors, its unyielding stance reflects its decision to accept the short-term pain of a strike at 80 facilities in 30 states to achieve its goals: a lower cost structure and more flexible work force to better compete against surging Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda.

“This really is a defining moment,” said James P. Womack, an expert on manufacturing and co-author of “The Machine That Changed the World,” which studied the plants of Japanese automakers in the United States. “G.M. has backed away from defining moments for generations. And now somebody there has finally said, ‘We have to do this because it’s a new era.’ ”

The length of the walkout may hinge on the answers to two crucial questions: How long can the U.A.W. afford to stay out? And how long can G.M. endure a strike? While an indefinite strike would pose risk to both sides, each has made a calculated decision that it has more to gain by standing tough.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:58 AM to GM , Unions , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Automakers go back to seating's future

Back-seat drivers may be as annoying as ever, but at least they won't be as cramped.
Some automakers are working to turn back seats into more pleasant accommodations for adult passengers, according to USA Today.

Among the latest to make an improvement is Honda (HMC), which lengthened its flagship Accord sedan from midsize to a full-size model, mainly to add more legroom in the back seat. The new Accord, which just went on sale, has another 1.4 inches of knee room in back.

In a change for what has traditionally been a family sedan, Honda says kids are no longer the primary back-seat riders for Accord.

The car's target customers now are empty-nest boomers and white-collar Gen Xers, many of whom don't have many kids. Instead, auto executives envision the back seat as a place to try to impress adult friends and business clients.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:55 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Strike: Wall Street's not too worried, yet

The strike might be on, but Wall Street doesn't believe that an agreement between GM and the UAW to create a new retiree health care fund is completely off, according to Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Tompor.

GM stock held its own. GM closed at $34.74 Monday, down 20 cents a share. Ford Motor Co. closed at $8.48 a share, up 25 cents a share. GM has requested that the UAW take control of a new retiree health care fund to pay out future liabilities estimated at $50 billion in exchange for a onetime payment into the fund from the automaker.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:48 AM to GM , Unions , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

A weakened union plays its only trump card

Let's take UAW President Ron Gettelfinger at his word when he says, as he did Monday after striking General Motors Corp., "There's not one person on this stage ... that wanted to see these negotiations end in a strike. Who wins in a strike?"

Gettelfinger, of course, blamed GM for being unreasonable.

But wasn't he also conceding, in a way, that the UAW is in a predicament? It's an institution with declining influence, fewer and fewer friends and one big weapon it can ill afford to use without destroying itself in the process, according to Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:45 AM to GM , Unions , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

How long can the strike last?

The strike many believed never would happen shut down General Motors plants nationwide Monday, casting uncertainty on whether the U.S. auto industry can get the kind of revolutionary changes it says it needs to compete, according to the Detroit Free Press.

An end to the first nationwide UAW strike in 31 years will depend on resolving the key union issues of wages and benefits, job security and investment in U.S. facilities and vehicles, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger indicated at a news conference Monday.

He repeatedly said that the strike was not related to talks over a landmark retiree health care trust on which the two parties are believed to have agreed to a general framework.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:42 AM to GM , Unions , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Long Strike Could Cost GM Billions

DETROIT -- If the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors Corp. lasts longer than a week or two, it could cost GM billions of dollars and stop the momentum the company was building with some of its new models, according to several industry analysts, according to the Associated Press.

A strike of two weeks or less would not hurt GM's cash position and would actually improve its inventory situation, Lehman Brothers analyst Brian Johnson said Monday in a note to investors. But a longer strike would be harmful, causing GM to burn up $8.1 billion in the first month and $7.2 billion in the second month, assuming the company can't produce vehicles in Mexico or Canada, Johnson wrote.

Initially, the strike wouldn't have much impact on consumers because GM has so much inventory, the analysts say. The company had just under 950,000 vehicles in stock at the end of August, about 35,000 less than at the same time last year.

But Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates, said even a short strike could hurt GM because its new crossover vehicles - the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook - are selling well and in short supply.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:40 AM to GM , Unions , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: As went the British auto industry, so goes Detroit?

Does the demise of the British car industry set an example for Detroit?

The names of the great British marques live on, giving class and credibility to the vehicles that carry them, but the companies have long been shells for foreign carmakers.

In particular, the two biggest companies, Austin and Morris, went out of business as independent companies decades ago.

Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW as is Mini. Bentley is owned by Volkswagen. Jaguar and Landrover are owned by Ford is currently trying to sell. Ford sold Aston Martin for about $1 million to an investment consortium in March.

Indeed, the most viable British carmakers are Ford, which is owned by Ford, and Vauxhall, which is owned by GM with only remaining wholly owned British marques tiny specialty outfits like Morgan and Noble.

Meanwhile, France has Peugeot-Citroen and Renault, Italy has Fiat and Germany, of course, has three premier global marques - BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

What happened to the British car industry?

It might be easy to blame its demise on the damage caused by WWII. But France, Germany and Italy were all heavily damaged by the war.

No, a more likely culprit can be found in the dreadful labor relations that followed WWII, with rotten management often at loggerheads with intransigent unions.

And herein the lesson for Detroit. The current strike against GM by the United Auto Workers union is merely the latest incident in a long history of ebbing market share to Asian and European manufacturers.

For decades Detroit has been a byword for second-rate design and execution, forced to play catchup with innovations in both design and technology pouring out of Asia.

As for glamor, long gone are Detroit's glory days of the 1950s and 1960s. German and German-owned British marques and high-end Italian marques are the cars people currently drool over.

And now the union contracts that have had Detroit against the financial ropes for years in terms of health and retiree benefit costs are front page news with the first nationwide strike against GM since 1970.

I hope Detroit is not following the dismal post-war history of Britain's auto industry, but the signs are not encouraging.

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:48 PM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Trapdoor Opens on Hybrid Credit

Get these tax credits while they last.

In August, Honda sold its 60,000th hybrid vehicle. That means the clock has started ticking on the phase-out, and eventual end, of credits for people who buy a Honda hybrid, according to the New York Times. Hybrid tax credits were part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The 2007 Accord Hybrid qualifies for a $1,300 credit and the Civic Hybrid for $2,100. (Some earlier models still qualify technically for the credit, but it’s only for the vehicle’s original owner; credits are not available for pre-owned cars.)

However, the Energy Policy Act sets a limit on the number of hybrids eligible. Once an automaker sells its 60,000th hybrid (all hybrid models combined), the tax credit begins to fade.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:39 PM to Alternative fuels , Honda | Permalink | Comments 0

Trapdoor Opens on Hybrid Credit

Get these tax credits while they last.

In August, Honda sold its 60,000th hybrid vehicle. That means the clock has started ticking on the phase-out, and eventual end, of credits for people who buy a Honda hybrid, according to the New York Times. Hybrid tax credits were part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The 2007 Accord Hybrid qualifies for a $1,300 credit and the Civic Hybrid for $2,100. (Some earlier models still qualify technically for the credit, but it’s only for the vehicle’s original owner; credits are not available for pre-owned cars.)

However, the Energy Policy Act sets a limit on the number of hybrids eligible. Once an automaker sells its 60,000th hybrid (all hybrid models combined), the tax credit begins to fade.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:39 PM to Alternative fuels , Honda | Permalink | Comments 0

UPDATE: UAW Pickets go up at GM's plants

In the first national UAW strike since the 1970s, General Motors Corp. workers across the nation walked off the job this morning after negotiations over a new labor contract reached an impasse, according to an update by the Detroit Free Press.

Thousands of UAW members who work for GM walked off the job at 11 a.m. today — 9 days after a 4-year contract was set to expire. The contract had been extended hour by hour, until late last night when the UAW issued the strike deadline.

UAW Ron Gettelfinger said during a noontime press conference that the union will continue to negotiate with GM while workers picket.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:32 PM to Auto industry , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW strike has terrible implications for GM, the UAW, Michigan

The UAW striking General Motors, especially if the walkout lasts more than a few hours, is a dangerous move with all sorts of awful implications for the company and the future of the UAW to say nothing of Michigan's economy, according to the Detroit Free Press' Tom Walsh.

General Motors, while making good progress on its turnaround the past two years, is still losing money in North America and could still suffer enormous damage from a walkout of any length.

And what of the UAW itself, which has been touting its efforts to organize the nonunion U.S. plants of Toyota Motor Corp., other Asian automakers and growing suppliers such as Denso. By striking GM, the union provides fodder to the anti-union campaigns at all those companies, which play upon workers' fears that strike-happy U.S. labor unions will scare companies into closing U.S. plants and cutting jobs en masse.

Meanwhile, Michigan's economy labors under the dual burden of its reliance on the Detroit Three auto companies and their declining market share, exacerbated by the longstanding reputation of Detroit and Michigan as a stronghold of truculent, overpaid and inflexible labor unions.

Forget about all gains in productivity and recent cooperative deals between labor and management to cut health care costs and simplify work rules. The old anti-business, pro-labor image is a hard one to shake. Any nationwide automotive strike, no matter how brief, sends the wrong message to growing companies looking for the best place to invest.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:28 PM to Auto industry , Unions | Permalink | Comments 1

Bugatti Resigned to Exclusivity

Sorry, all you wanna-be Bugatti buyers. If you can't come up with the $1.4 million it'd take to park a Veyron in your garage, you'll have to just settle for something more mundane - perhaps a Ferrari F430 or Mercedes-Benz SLR, according to thecarconnection.com

The reborn French marque, the top-line subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, has been struggling to lay out plans for its post-Veyron future, and according to senior managers, one likely move would be to introduce a second model at a slightly more reasonable price.

Make that former managers. With sales of the $1.4-million supercar running at an even more modest pace than the one per week originally forecast, VW ordered a shake-up earlier this year. And now, the new managers have nixed the idea of letting the Bugatti name appear on something that might come in at just a million dollars even.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:23 PM to Supercars , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

G.M. Workers Begin Walkout Over Contract Impasse

DETROIT — Members of the United Automobile Workers union walked off the job today at General Motors plants across the country after union leaders and company officials failed to reach an agreement in contentious talks on a new contract, according to the New York Times.

It is the first national strike by the union since 1970. That strike, also against G.M., lasted for two months. The U.A.W. last struck G.M. at two plants in Flint, Mich., in 1998, in a strike that went on for seven weeks.

The union’s president, Ron Gettelfinger, said the union would go back to the bargaining table today. “This is nothing we wanted,” he said. “Nobody wins in a strike.”

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:20 PM to Auto industry , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Bentley Goes on a Diet

Bigger is better, or so goes the old mantra that defines carmakers and Costco shoppers alike. But at least one automaker is thinking twice about its future and betting that big sales growth - and big, heavy, high-powered cars - may not necessarily be the answer, according to thecarconnection.com

Bentley certainly has done its share of growing, in recent years. Not all that long ago, as the poor-relation sibling to Rolls-Royce, it was a nearly forgotten brand that came a hair's breadth away from being abandoned entirely.

Now a subsidiary of the German giant, Volkswagen AG, Bentley is one of the world's most successful luxury marques, with products like the Continental GTC racking up sales of 10,000 a year.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:41 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Playing the Options for Best Returns

HOMEOWNERS have learned that some home improvements pay off handsomely, returning every dollar spent when the time comes to sell.

Similarly, car buyers are finding that optional safety features — stability control systems and side curtain air bags, for instance — can do more than just keep the family safe, according to the New York Times.

Along with options like CD changers and leather upholstery, the extra-cost safety equipment can help owners get a higher price when it is time to sell or trade in the car, according to companies that track resale values.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:39 AM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

They’re Electric, but Can They Be Fantastic?

Electric cars are the future.

That, at least, is the message automakers are sending to consumers as they trumpet big plans for cars that can bypass the gas pump.

Of course, backers of electric vehicles, or E.V.’s, floated those assurances in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, when General Motors released its star-crossed EV1. Today, almost no one drives an electric car.

But with a gallon of premium gas topping $3 on average, and as carmakers and entrepreneurs pour money into the latest generation of electric cars, the prospects appear brighter, according to the New York Times.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:36 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 1

UAW STRIKES GM: Pickets go up at automakers' plants

UAW members started picketing at Hamtramck, Lansing and Orion and other locations when the union’s 11 a.m. deadline for a new labor agreement with General Motors passed, according to the Detroit Free Press.

At 1:40 a.m. this morning, the UAW officially announced that it had set an 11 a.m. strike deadline, which coincides with scheduled lunch breaks at some plants. The two sides continued to negotiate this morning.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:27 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Dips, but Gas Prices Set to Rise

NEW YORK -- Oil prices fell Friday as investors sold to lock in profits, but analysts doubt oil's record-breaking run is over and say gasoline prices are about to start following crude higher, according to the Associated Press.

Gasoline prices have so far held steady or even fallen despite a rally that boosted oil to new records for eight straight trading sessions on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:33 PM to Crude oil market , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Pressure on GM goes up for every day auto contract talks drag on

So, after days and days of going round and round about how to get a $50-billion commitment for future retiree health care off General Motors' balance sheet and into a union-run trust fund, the UAW and GM have punted this vexing issue off to the side while they discuss other matters, according to Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:24 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil slips towards $81

LONDON - Oil prices slipped a little today, after hitting a succession of record highs this week which were fuelled in part by oil company production shutdowns in the Gulf of Mexico because of a storm threat, according to Reuters.

U.S. crude for November delivery fell 18 cents to $81.60 a barrel by 7:30 a.m. EDT. The October U.S. crude oil contract expired on Thursday after it hit a record for the seventh-straight session at $84.10.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:11 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Up Again As Low Dollar Spurs Buying

NEW YORK -- Crude oil prices surged further into record terrain Thursday, breaching $83 a barrel as the weak dollar and some worrisome weather in the Gulf of Mexico spurred buying, according to the Associated Press.

Gasoline futures jumped as well.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:42 PM to Crude oil market , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: No More Slouching Toward Alternative Fuels

I read a quote the other day that went something along the lines of "When the facts change, I change my opinion."

Well, the facts about global warming have been changing for some time and it seems to me the message is finally getting through. I mean, when the senior advisor on the environment to this petro-driven administration concurs that CO2 emissions are changing the climate, you know opinions are changing.

And I expect a sea change next year in interest in cars and trucks powered by alternative fuels, mainly clean diesel from Europe and gas/diesel-electric hybrids from Asia and Detroit.

Folks, it's going to happen very fast indeed. Remember when we all smoked and no party or bar was complete without the fug of cigarette smoke. No more. Gone. Heck, I went to university in France in the late 1960s and developed a taste for the deliciously pungent Gauloise cigarettes. There were practically national brands and now they are not even made in France any more!

Plus ca change, plus ca change.

And the word at the current auto show in Frankfurt - one of Europe's biggest - is alternative fuels. This on the cusp of the entrance of the big clean diesels from Germany into the North American market (starting next year).

I have enormous respect for the intelligence and common sense of the average Joe, and the facts of global warming are getting through to all of us. What was once trendy is now becoming a fact of life and most of us now want to do our bit to save ourselves from ourselves.

Buying cars that emit less CO2 makes more than good sense: increasingly, there is little alternative that makes any sense.

- Peter C. T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:39 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil hovers around $82

LONDON - Oil hovered around $82 a barrel on Thursday as sinking U.S. crude inventories and the threat of a storm gathering near Florida increased worries of a winter supply crunch in the world's top consumers, according to Reuters News Agency.

Oil has traded above $80 for the past week but OPEC officials and oil analysts say the lofty price is unsustainable.

U.S. light crude edged up 35 cents to $82.27 a barrel by 9:00 a.m., after a record-high of $82.51 on Wednesday, the sixth straight session to hit a record. London Brent crude fell 33 cents to $78.14.

Oil has risen by a third this year, driven by worries of fuel shortages during the Northern Hemisphere winter, supply risks in countries ranging from Mexico to Iran and flows of money into oil and out of poorly performing equity markets.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:28 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Flint: Hydrogen, to the Back Burner

Everybody is working on new ways to improve fuel economy and to go green. That's the news out of theFrankfurt auto show.

But if you take it a step further, it likely means that the most radical potential change in the automobile world - a move to hydrogen-powered vehicles - will likely go on hold, according to thecarconnection.com

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:37 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Rise Above $82 a Barrel

SINGAPORE -- Oil prices rose Wednesday above the previous session's record close, lifted by expectations the interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve will accelerate growth and increase demand for already tight crude and gasoline supplies, aaccording to the Associated Press.
Light, sweet crude for October delivery added 66 cents to $82.17 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midafternoon in Singapore.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:33 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW-GM Work Toward Contract

DETROIT -- As General Motors and the United Auto Workers enter their fifth day of bargaining under hour-by-hour contract extensions Wednesday, the unique issues that each of the Detroit Three automakers faces could make it difficult to use an agreement with GM as a pattern contract for Ford and Chrysler, according to the Associated Press.
All three companies are grappling with dwindling market share, high health care costs and too much factory capacity, but Ford may negotiate temporary wage cuts, for example, because its financial situation is the most dire, and Chrysler's status as a private company could affect its contract.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:29 AM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Record Increase in Sales of Alternative Fuel Autos Continues

Washington, DC – Newly released sales figures from R.L. Polk reveal that an increased number of alternative fuel automobiles rolled off dealer lots in the second quarter of 2007.

Between April and June of this year, nearly 490,000 AFAs were sold nationwide, an increase of 27 percent over the same period last year, bringing the total number of AFAs to nearly 11.5 million on American roads.

Sales of E-85 capable vehicles were up almost two percent from 266,859 from the first quarter of 2007 to 272,109, while sales of hybrid vehicles showed a significant increase, up about 48 percent from 74,056 to 109,716. Sales of clean diesel vehicles also grew from 93,012 to 108,044—more than a 16 percent increase.

“We are seeing the trend in increased sales of AFAs not only in comparison to the first quarter of 2007, but also in comparison to the first two quarters of 2006. The 2007 second quarter sales figures show an increase of 31 percent in sales of AFAs over the first half of 2006.

Higher gas prices and an increasing availability of a variety of models of AFAs for sale are likely drivers of this upward trend,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Yet, even though more AFAs are being sold, we still need more gas stations to offer biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.”

Sixty models of AFAs are currently available and more are in development, including hybrid-electric, clean diesel, ethanol capable and others. Advanced vehicles need advanced fuels, including ultra low sulfur diesel, E85 ethanol, bio-diesel, hydrogen and electricity, all of which will play increasingly important roles as AFA sales continue to increase.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:06 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

What's taking so long? High-stakes health plan

While leaders of the UAW and General Motors Corp. may essentially agree on the solution to long-term health costs, a contract agreement remained elusive through Monday evening, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Analysts and workers say the reasons are threefold:

• It's extremely complicated.

• The stakes are fantastically high.

• It is going to be difficult to get rank-and-file members to ratify it.

People briefed on the matter indicate the two sides are down to the final multibillion-dollar decisions on matters such as establishing a retiree health care trust -- known as a voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA -- and job-security issues, including commitments for plant investments in the United States.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:24 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Dream Machines in Frankfurt

Check out these fabulous concept cars currently on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany!

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:21 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

Global warming suit against carmakers tossed

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Monday tossed out a lawsuit filed by California that sought to hold the world's six largest automakers accountable for their contribution to global warming, according to USA Today.

In its lawsuit filed last year, California blamed the auto industry for millions of dollars it expects to spend on repairing damage from global-warming induced floods and other natural disasters.

But District Judge Martin Jenkins in San Francisco handed California Attorney General Jerry Brown's environmental crusade a stinging rebuke when he ruled that it impossible to determine to what extent automakers are responsible for global warming damages in California. Many culprits, including other industries and even natural sources, are responsible for emitting carbon dioxide.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:07 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 0

Alternative power sources for autos drive into spotlight

FRANKFURT - Suddenly, alternative auto power seems close, according to USA Today.
The big Frankfurt auto show in Germany, home of the speed-limitless autobahn, bristles with vehicles aimed more at saving petroleum than gulping it. Here in the USA, General Motors (GM) is about to put the largest hydrogen fuel-cell test fleet into consumer hands, and Honda (HMC) is gearing up to launch fuel-cell, diesel and hybrid models.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:04 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

GM-UAW back at bargaining table; auto stocks rise

DETROIT — As General Motors and the United Auto Workers returned to the bargaining table Monday, auto shares rose on optimism the two sides were closer to a critical agreement that could take billions in retiree health costs off GM's books, according to USA Today.

At the plants, workers were less certain as they spent a third day without a contract.

Negotiations resumed around 11 a.m., GM spokesman Tom Wickham said. Negotiators were making progress but still had a lot of work to do, according to a person who was briefed on the talks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are private.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:59 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Increase in Oil, Gas Drilling Projected

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Oil and gas drilling on federal lands across the Rocky Mountain West could increase by more than 160 percent over the next two decades due in part to pro-industry regulations enacted by the Bush administration, according to a report by an environmental group, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:56 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil hits new high above $81

LONDON - Oil struck an all-time high above $81 a barrel on Tuesday, fuelled by concerns of a winter supply squeeze in top consumer the United States, where an anticipated interest rate cut was calming recession fears, according to Reuters.

Hurricane and other supply risks, tightening U.S. fuel inventories and fund flows into energy from poorly performing equity markets have driven a rally that has taken U.S. crude to new record highs for five straight trading sessions.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:40 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

GM-UAW Bargainers Talking Again

DETROIT -- Bargainers for General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers resumed contract negotiations Monday amid optimism that they are getting closer to reaching a critical contract agreement, according to the Associated Press.

Negotiations resumed about 11 a.m. Eastern, GM spokesman Dan Flores said. The talks had stopped about 3 a.m. after a marathon 16-hour session.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:21 PM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Sets New Record Ahead of Fed Meeting

NEW YORK -- Oil futures set another trading record and other energy futures rose Monday on expectations the Federal Reserve will cut the benchmark federal funds rate, a move the market expects will support the economy and ensure its thirst for oil and gasoline, according to the Associated Press.

Oil futures rose as high as $80.50 on Monday. Oil prices set several new records over $80 a barrel last week for a number of reasons, including perceptions that problems in the subprime mortgage industry would have a minor effect on the economy.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:19 PM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Mileage Ratings Are Still Estimates, Though Closer to Reality

SOME Americans are skeptical of almost anything the government says. But even the most cynical citizens find it hard to dispute a much-repeated statement from one federal agency: Your actual mileage may vary, according to the New York Times.

But starting with the 2008 models, shoppers can have more faith in the window stickers that they study in dealership showrooms; for the first time since 1984, the E.P.A. is revising its method for calculating fuel economy to better reflect realities of the road.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:35 AM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

A Place in the Sun From the Beach to the Desert

THE dune buggy always seems like one of those all-American lifestyle gadgets that just arrived one day — like the surfboard, the skateboard and the snowmobile — more or less fully formed and ready to ride.

But the dune buggy did have an inventor and can trace its roots back to its Adam, an elemental machine called Old Red. And this year brings an anniversary of perhaps the most important moment in its history, according to the New York Times.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:40 AM to Collecting | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler recalls 300,000 SUVs, 70,000 cars

WASHINGTON — Chrysler said Friday it would recall nearly 300,000 sport-utility vehicles to fix potential braking problems while driving uphillm according to USA Today.

The recall involves more than 156,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Commander SUVs from the 2006-2007 model years, more than 90,000 2007 Jeep Wrangler SUVs and nearly 50,000 2007 Dodge Nitro SUVs.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:38 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

Goldman sees oil surging to $85 by year end

LONDON - Goldman Sachs Monday forecast U.S. oil prices will surge to $85 by the end of the year, and said crude could climb as high as $90 due to tight supplies, according to Reuters.

Their estimate was $13 higher than its previous forecast, and came after oil's rally to a record high of $80.36 a barrel on Friday.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:36 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Fall on Profit Taking

Oil prices dropped to extend the previous session's decline Monday when concerns faded about storms affecting oil rigs, refineries and pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery lost 70 cents to $78.40 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Europe.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:35 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

GM, UAW Negotiate Until 3 a.m.

DETROIT -- Bargainers for General Motors and the United Auto Workers took a break early Monday amid optimism that they are getting closer to reaching a critical contract agreement, according to the Associated Press.

Negotiations came to an end just before 3 a.m. after a marathon 16-hour session on Sunday and Monday, said GM spokesman Tom Wickham.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:30 AM to GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Hyundai Veloster For Real?

The Hyundai Veloster is one of the Frankfurt Motor Show's more striking concept cars. But according to the company it's not as outlandish as you might think and is a real production possibility, according to thecarconnection.com

The Veloster name is a combination of the words velocity and roadster. The car is designed to appeal buyers in their twenties.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:29 PM to Hyundai | Permalink | Comments 0

Small is Beautiful in Frankfurt

FRANKFURT - When it comes to this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, UP! is down, according to thecarconnection.com

Downsized that is, in the form of Volkswagen's pint-sized prototype car. Dubbed the UP!, it makes the automaker's original Beetle look positively huge. For the moment, the UP! is little more than a concept vehicle, but you likely won't have to wait very long to see it - or one of several variants the German maker will reveal later this year - go into production.

The same is true for a trio of minicar concepts revealed by General Motors, during its time in the Frankfurt spotlight. The American giant hopes to gauge reaction at this and several other major world auto shows to see if there's enough demand to justify production

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:23 PM to Alternative fuels , Design , Environment , GM , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW talks extended; GM target for strike

The UAW has selected General Motors Corp. to be the lead negotiating partner, also known as a strike target, in the year's national contract talks, leading workers, analysts and labor experts to believe the union has agreed -- in principle -- to establish the retiree health care trust that the nation's largest automaker so desperately wants, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The union has agreed to indefinite contract extensions with Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC, those companies acknowledged.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:14 AM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Car weight limits are a problem for fat Americans

The growing girth of Americans is colliding with government-mandated warning labels on all 2006 or newer cars that list the maximum weight — passengers and cargo — that's safe to carry, according to USA Today.

Many two-seat sports cars, including Mazda MX-5 Miata and Chevrolet (GM) Corvette, aren't certified to carry two 200-pound adults, according to a government formula aimed at tire safety.

Many five-passenger vehicles are rated about 850 pounds, maxxing out if their five occupants weigh more than 170 pounds each. Six 200-pounders would overload the seven-passenger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:12 AM to Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil down on fading hurricane, new credit fears

LONDON - Oil eased from its record high on Friday as a hurricane subsided in the Gulf of Mexico and as fresh evidence of credit troubles in the banking sector hit financial markets, according to Reuters News Agency.

There was some downward pressure on oil from credit worries that knocked European shares lower after UK mortgage lender Northern Rock tapped the Bank of England for funding.

U.S. crude dropped 62 cents to $79.47 a barrel by 10:05 a.m. EDT, having settled up 18 cents in New York on Thursday, when prices hit a record of $80.20 a barrel.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:08 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Car-Buying Spurt Helps Retail Sales

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Retail sales posted a modest gain in August, helped by the biggest jump in auto sales in more than a year. But there are concerns that spending could falter as the steep slump in housing and financial market turbulence weigh on consumer confidence, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:04 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

2007 Ford Verve Concept

Say hello to Verve, Ford's small, fuel-efficient and affordable alternative, something that could go up against the likes of the Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit, according to thecarconnection.com.

And from the hints the U.S. automaker is dropping, its Verve concept may very well fill the small car hole in its lineup.

The concept builds on prior prototypes, such as the Iosis, which, in Ford-speak, introduced the new "kinetic design" philosophy. The sculpted form is designed to project both agility and muscularity - in sharp contrast to the cheap-and-cheerful small cars of the past.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:27 AM to Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

Hyundai Reaches with i30cw

On its Frankfurt motor show stand, Hyundai revealed a new tall-wagon variant for its i30 model line, which is new for 2008, according to thecarconnection.com.

The i30cw, which is reportedly destined for U.S.shores next year in slightly different form as the Elantra wagon, has what is called a "new wagon design philosophy," which translates to a more elegant, better-handling wagon design that brings the convenience of a van.

Overall length is about 176 inches - about three inches shorter than the Kia Rondo - making it significantly shorter than mid-size sedans but longer than most subcompacts. A long wheelbase of 106.2 inches is the key to the i30cw's very impressive interior space of 14.7 cubic feet with the back seats in place and 49.3 cubic feet with them folded flat.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:25 AM to Hyundai | Permalink | Comments 0

Toyota and VW developing competition for Daimler's Smart car

While Daimler continues to plug money into the never-profitable smart project, its very dogged determination has attracted at least two wannabes to the Frankfurt auto show this year, according to thecarconnection.com.

Volkswagen's UP! Concept is one, and Toyota 's IQ city car is the other.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:21 AM to Mercedes-Benz , Toyota , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

VW Mulling car plant in U.S.

While the automaker still needs "to do some homework," it is beginning to look like little more than a matter of time before Volkswagen officials approve a long-considered U.S. assembly plant, according to thecarconnection.com.

One of the key questions left to resolve is whether the automaker will use that facility to produce a product specifically for the American market, agreed several senior officials, or one or more high-volume models that could be exported around the world, in part, to take advantage of the steadily weakening U.S. dollar.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:18 AM to VW | Permalink | Comments 0

European Carmakers Bet That the U.S. Is Ready for Diesel

FRANKFURT, Germany — Two decades after diesel cars all but vanished from American roads in a cloud of sooty smoke, are Americans ready to give them another try?

That is a big question at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week, as European carmakers roll out “clean diesel” vehicles — their answer to the call for more efficient, climate-friendly cars, according to the New York Times.

Betting that diesel power will become an alternative to the hybrids popularized by Toyota and other Japanese carmakers, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen all plan to sell new diesel automobiles in the United States in the coming year, and many of them are on show here

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:12 AM to Alternative fuels , BMW , Design , Environment , Mercedes-Benz , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW locals rally, fear loss of work

Tensions are ratcheting up as the deadline nears on the labor contract negotiations between the UAW and the Detroit automakers, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Around 1,000 UAW members rallied on the west lawn of Chrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills Wednesday to show discontent with their local negotiations, which are running concurrent with national talks. In particular, they oppose the automakers' demands that contract workers replace some union members.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:08 AM to Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

GM says Saturn electric Vue may be on the road by '09

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Saturn will put General Motors Corp.'s first plug-in hybrid -- a Vue compact SUV that can run up to 10 miles solely on electricity and switch to an engine for longer trips -- on the road "very quickly," brand general manager Jill Lajdziak said Wednesday, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"In 2009-ish," Lajdziak said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:06 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment , Fuel economy , GM | Permalink | Comments 1

Judge says states can regulate emissions

A federal judge in Vermont said Wednesday that states have the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gas emissions from autos, a ruling that could require automakers to boost fuel economy as much as 59% by 2016, according to USA Today.

Because the only way to cut CO2 emissions is to burn less fuel, car companies say the ruling improperly allows states — not just the federal government — to set fuel-economy standards.

Automakers and their trade groups were still wading through the 244-page ruling late Wednesday. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents most big automakers, said it was "considering the options, including an appeal." The deadline for that is Nov. 13.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:04 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil hits new high above $80

LONDON - Oil rose to an all-time high of $80.20 on Thursday after Hurricane Humberto forced the closure of some U.S. Gulf refiners and stoked concerns of fuel shortages this winter, according to Reuters News Agency.

Investors were also building up positions in the market -- their enthusiasm growing thanks to a market structure that can virtually guarantee favorable returns.

U.S. crude traded 21 cents lower at $79.70 a barrel by 10:36 a.m. EDT, having eased from its new record. London Brent crude also shed 21 cents to $77.47.

U.S. gasoline prices soared by 1.7 percent to $2.05 a gallon after Hurricane Humberto shut oil shipping channels and three refineries as it slammed onshore Texas.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:01 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: Bentleys Rule

Check out my piece on Bentleys this Saturday. The story is pegged to a 1924 3-liter green beauty owned by Dr. Paul Sydlowski of Bristol.

He has restored and tweaked the monster into the kind of racer that dominated European race tracks in the late 1920s, most notably the Le Mans 24-hour Endurance Race which the marque won in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

Sydlowski is the kind of collector who not only likes to drive his vintage cars, but to thrash them, as we say in Britain. On a 60-mile jaunt through southern Rhode Island on a recent sunny afternoon, he showed Journal photographer Steve Szydlowski and myself what his car can do when pushed, thundering along at 60-70 mph and taking corners at incredible speeds.

The fact is these cars were built to be fast tourers and then tweaked for the race track. With someone like Sydlowski, a very experienced driver who races his car on tracks and takes it on rallies around the world, at the wheel the car really shows off its stuff.

As he says, he loves the Bentley because it keeps up with modern traffic. No pottering along the road in a Model A at 35 mph for him; that kind of driving he describes as being "a menace to yourself and everyone else."

The mechanical genius behind these gorgeous machines was Walter Owen "W.O." Bentley who developed the engines following work on railroads, motorcycles and airplanes. Indeed, it was his engine that powered the famed Sopwith Camel biplane that fought the German Fokker triplane of Red Baron fame in WWI.

But he is mostly remembered for the fabulous cars his company produced from 1921 to 1931, when the company was bought out by Rolls-Royce.

Happily, Rolls kept the marque alive as the sportier counterpoint to its luxury cars and in 1998 Bentley was acquired by Volkswagen which has revamped the marque, creating some of the finest luxury sports cars in the world.

And VW has even brought the marque back to Le Mans where Bentley interrupted Audi's dominace over the last eight years to win the legendary race in 2003.

As I said, my piece on Sydlowski's 1924 Bentley will run this Saturday. See you there!

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:22 AM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Toyota Considering New Plant in China

Toyota said it might need more production capacity in China to meet demand as sales there rise at about nine times the pace of those in the United States, according to a business brief in the New York Times.

“We are looking at the possibility of a new plant,” an executive vice president, Mitsuo Kinoshita, said at an investor conference in New York, without elaborating. Toyota, based in Toyota City, began building its seventh factory in China in June.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:21 AM to China , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Germans See Imitation in Chinese Cars

FRANKFURT, Germany — It’s hardly surprising that a car that bills itself as the “ultimate driving machine” would inspire imitation. But to BMW, the CEO, a Chinese sport utility vehicle, is less respectful homage than brazen knockoff, according to the New York Times.

Charging that the CEO is a copy of BMW’s popular X5, the company has filed suit to prohibit its sale in Germany by the Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan Automobile.

That did not prevent Shuanghuan’s European importer from showing off the CEO on Tuesday at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

It was a vivid illustration, on the show’s first day, that the struggle over intellectual property rights between China and the West — a battle that has ranged over products from designer handbags to computer chips — now extends to cars.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:17 AM to BMW , China | Permalink | Comments 0

Sustainability Takes Center Stage at Frankfurt Auto Show

European automakers, stung by criticisms from environmentalists and government regulators that they are late to the green party, will be using the 2007 Frankfurt motor show to showcase everything in their alternative fuel and powertrain arsenals, according to the New York Times.

The biennial show, the 62nd Internationalen Automobil-Ausstellungen Cars, will be held at the mammoth CongressCenter Messe Frankfurt convention center from Thursday through Sept. 23.

Press preview days began Monday night and continue through Wednesday. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will open the show to the public on Thursday.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:13 AM to Alternative fuels , Auto industry , Design , Environment , Fuel economy , Shows , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Mercedes-Benz expects to profit on hybrids

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Mercedes-Benz expects to turn a profit on vehicles using the sophisticated new hybrid system it developed with General Motors Corp. and BMW, DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche said Tuesday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
GM has conceded it will initially lose money on the system. Zetsche credited his more optimistic expectation to Mercedes' higher sales price. Despite that, Mercedes will use the system on only one of the many hybrid models it plans to introduce over the next several years, he said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:59 AM to Mercedes-Benz | Permalink | Comments 0

New Jeeps help Chrysler hang on to market share

At a time when crosstown rivals are seeing their U.S. market share decrease, Chrysler LLC has been able to hold steady in large part because of its new Jeep vehicles, according to the Detroit Free Press.

For Chrysler, it's been a mix of incentives on Chrysler and Dodge vehicles and the introduction of new Jeep products -- Compass, Patriot and the four-door Wrangler -- that are helping prop up the Auburn Hills automaker in a year when General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have seen significant declines, experts agree.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:56 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

UAW-automaker talks ramp up as deadline nears

DETROIT — Negotiations between the United Auto Workers and Detroit automakers are intensifying as both sides try to settle on a new contract before the current four-year pact expires at midnight Friday, according to USA Today.

After Friday, the risk of a strike increases. Negotiators worked through last weekend attempting to hammer out a new contract, but deliberations are focusing on a complex health care deal that might take longer to hash out.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:53 AM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Amid all the cars at Frankfurt, a Lamborghini and a rock star

FRANKFURT, Germany — Got a spare $1.4 million? Want a Lamborghini Reventon? Get in line and start saving your money.

The Italian carmaker has made just one of the cars so far and unveiled it at the 62nd International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, according to USA Today. It plans another 20 for 2008.

They've already been ordered and down payments banked, said Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann. Each Reventon is a symbol of extreme exclusivity, even by Lamborghini's standards.

Winkelmann said the name itself, like the company, has a storied history. Reventon was a fighting bull, owned by the Don Rodriguez family and is famous for killing famed bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:49 AM to Lamborghini , Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil above $78 as OPEC fails to calm market

LONDON - Oil held above $78 a barrel on Wednesday, close to its record high, after OPEC's modest output increase failed to allay fears over stock levels during the coming winter, according to Reuters News Agency.

U.S. light crude for October delivery was 7 cents higher at $78.30 a barrel by 8:15 a.m. EDT, after coming within a whisker of August 1's record high of $78.77 on Tuesday.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:47 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Higher gasoline price seen trimming down Americans

NEW YORK - Higher U.S. gasoline prices may slim more than just wallets, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis and reported by Reuters News Agency.

Entitled "A Silver Lining? The Connection between Gas Prices and Obesity," the study found that an additional $1 per gallon in real gasoline prices would reduce U.S. obesity by 15 percent after five years.

The report, written by Charles Courtemanche for his doctoral dissertation in health economics, found that the 13 percent rise in obesity between 1979 and 2004 can be attributed to falling pump prices.

Gasoline hit a low of less than $1.50 per gallon in 2000 before moving back to a record high of $3.22 in May 2007.

Higher gasoline prices can reduce obesity by leading people to walk or cycle instead of drive and eat leaner at home instead of rich food at restaurants.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:31 PM to Fun , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Hits New Record on Supply Concerns

NEW YORK - Oil prices rose to a new record settlement price Tuesday as traders turned their attention to a government inventory report expected to show tight supplies and shrugged off OPEC's decision to boost output, according to the Associated Press.

Even factoring in OPEC's decision to increase oil production by 500,000 barrels per day starting Nov. 1, "supplies are tight," said Addison Armstrong, an analyst at TFS Energy Futures LLC.

And according to analyst predictions, they're going to get even tighter. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, on average, expect Wednesday's report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration will say that crude oil inventories fell by 2.7 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 7.

Investors had already priced in OPEC's increase, and many were looking for a larger production boost, analysts said.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 74 cents to settle at $78.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after alternating frequently between gains and losses. The settlement price bested the previous record, set July 31, by 2 cents.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:24 PM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

OPEC agrees to raise output

VIENNA - Saudi Arabia persuaded OPEC to raise oil output by 500,000 barrels per day on Tuesday in a gesture to consumer nations worried by the economic impact of $77 oil and rapidly diminishing fuel stocks, according to Reuters News Agency.

After seven hours of talks, OPEC officials announced the hard-won deal, effective November 1. Before the meeting Libya, Algeria and Venezuela were inclined to resist the proposal put forward by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab neighbors.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:21 PM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Hits $80 a Barrel for First Time

Oil futures prices rose sharply Wednesday, briefly climbing above a record $80 a barrel after the government reported a surprisingly large drop in crude inventories and declines in gasoline supplies and refinery activity, according to the Associated Press.

The report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration suggested oil supplies are tightening as demand remains strong. That's why oil prices are rising despite OPEC's decision on Tuesday to boost crude production by 500,000 barrels per day this fall, analysts said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:02 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Chevrolet Volt to be tested in '08

FRANKFURT, Germany - General Motors will begin testing the revolutionary electric drive system in the Chevrolet Volt concept car on the road in vehicles next spring, company Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said at a dinner Monday night, according to the Detroit Free Press.

By this time next year, GM may allow selected people outside the company to test the system.

GM is committed to putting the system in the Chevrolet Volt for sale by 2010, Lutz said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:59 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment , GM , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

2007 Bugatti Pur Sang

Considering it is rolling out barely one Veyron a week, you'd be hard-pressed to call the reborn Bugatti brand "mainstream." But for some folks, two identical cars are just too darn many.

So look for a special lineup of what will be the ultimate in limited editions, the Bugatti Pur Sang, or "pure blood," in French, according to thecarconnection.com

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:13 AM to Design , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil steadies above $77, OPEC debates output rise

LONDON - Oil steadied above $77 a barrel on Tuesday, as OPEC debated a modest rise in crude production to assuage consumers worried by prices near record highs and rapidly diminishing stocks, according to Reuters News Agency.

U.S. light crude rose five cents to $77.54 a barrel by 1145 GMT, off highs of $78.32 that placed it within striking distance of its record high of $78.77, on the back of pipeline attacks in the world's fifth-largest crude producer Mexico.

London Brent crude was up two cents at $75.50.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:31 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

As the Hardtops Hide, the Trunks Go Missing

THE age of the retractable hardtop is upon us, according to the New York Times.

The convertible BMW 3 Series, Volvo C70, Volkswagen Eos and Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK all wear hard hats, and the Lexus SC and Mazda Miata also offer retractable shells. With the Pontiac G6 and Chrysler Sebring convertibles, the retractable hardtop infiltrates the meat of the market, the domestic four-seat convertible.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:10 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

When a Glass Ceiling Is Good

THE sky may be the limit, but the roof no longer is, at least to auto designers seeking a competitive advantage. While much of their attention has recently focused on the resurgence of retractable metal hardtops, many of this fall’s new models will stake their claims to novelty on skylights, according to the New York Times.

The naming of the new skylights suggests that the automakers’ knack for labeling their products remains strong. The companies that invented memorable names like Vista-Cruiser, Hydra-Matic and Stow ’n Go now offer UltraView, Sky Slider and Vista Roof. Still, at least one mystery of roof nomenclature remains unresolved: how sunroof came to mean a skylight that opens and moonroof became the designation for a fixed one.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:06 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

A Private Viewing of Citroëns in a Museum of Sorts

Tucked to one side of Citroën’s sprawling auto factory in Aulnay-sous-Bois, about 20 minutes outside of Paris, is a gray and mirrored-glass building surrounded by a fringe of green grass.

One double-chevron logo adorns the awning of the entrance, but otherwise the structure is nondescript and incredibly reserved, like a warehouse from the future.

This is the Citroën Conservatoire, the company’s private museum, which houses an extraordinary collection of cars and an example of nearly every car the company has ever produced, according to the New York Times.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/a-private-viewing-of-citroens-in-a-museum-of-sorts/index.html

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:58 AM to Citroen | Permalink | Comments 0

The Power of Unpleasant Memories

USUALLY, when Madison Avenue uses nostalgia to peddle products, the result is the kind of “misty water-colored memories” that Barbra Streisand warbled about in “The Way We Were.” By contrast, a humorous campaign from BMW stands out for asking consumers to reminisce about a time in their lives they might have sought to forget, according to the New York Times.

The theme is “Relearn to drive,” which is also the address for the campaign’s Web site. The goal is to persuade car owners to consider attending the BMW school because a good deal of what they learned when they were taught to drive is outdated or irrelevant — or may have been wrong in the first place.

To sow doubts about how people were taught to drive and persuade them to “undo the damage,” the site presents nine archetypal (or stereotypical) characters intended to represent the people who helped most Americans learn to drive.

The characters include a feckless stepfather, an impatient older sister, a brusque high school coach, a bumpkin of a country cousin and a neurotic mother. They are all dissected in droll descriptions as basically well-meaning but hopelessly unqualified for the task. Thus the need for a visit to the school, which the Web site promotes as having been “built from the ground up to make you a better driver.”

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:50 AM to BMW , Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

GM Cuts Production for Quarter

DETROIT — General Motors cut its fourth-quarter production schedule by 10 percent on Tuesday as a tightening credit market caused sales at the Ford Motor Company, Chrysler and even Toyota to decline in August, according to the New York Times.

G.M. said it planned to build 107,000 fewer vehicles in the fourth quarter, compared with the quarter in 2006, even though it had managed to increase its sales 5.3 percent in August after giving discounts on full-size pickup trucks and other vehicles.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:45 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford brews colors to suit your fancy

About a hundred years ago, Henry Ford declared that his Model T customers could have the vehicle in any color "so long as it's black."

But today, Ford Motor Co. engineers and designers are mixing a paint revolution in the secret confines of the company's Dearborn product development labs, according to the Detroit Free Press.

By 2009, 45% of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks will feature new, often trendsetting paint colors -- a color changeover that will be the biggest in the company's 104-year history.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:38 AM to Design , Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

Cheney's hand in fuel rules claimed

WASHINGTON -- A Washington auto advocacy group claimed Thursday that Vice President Dick Cheney and the Bush administration devised a 2006 change in fuel economy standards for trucks that eases requirements on automakers, with limited input from federal auto industry regulators, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Public Citizen, which has sued to block the standards, says it based its claims on data gathered through a Freedom of Information Act request showing Cheney's staffers attending at least 45 meetings on fuel economy standards between 2001 and 2003.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:35 AM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

People add luxury cars, but not motorcycles

FRANKFURT, Germany — Luxury automakers BMW, Audi and Mercedes reported healthy sales increases for August on Friday, but Harley-Davidson lowered earnings expectations for the because of a "difficult time for the U.S. consumer," Chief Executive Jim Ziemer said, according to USA Today.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:14 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Side-crash tests will soon get much tougher to pass

The government Wednesday ordered automakers to beef up side-crash protection by late 2012, something car companies say they're already doing faster than the new regulation requires, according to USA Today.

The rule announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not dictate how automakers must improve head and torso protection for occupants of vehicles that are hit from the side. But it adopts a tough test procedure that both NHTSA and automakers say will result in all vehicles having side-impact torso and head-curtain air bags.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:10 AM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

OPEC Members Insist Crude Is Plentiful

VIENNA -- Global oil markets are amply supplied with crude, key OPEC members said Monday, signaling that the cartel will maintain its current output targets at this week's meeting despite stubbornly high prices, according the Associated Press.

Oil and energy ministers for Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria and Venezuela told reporters on the eve of a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that the 12-nation group felt little pressure to loosen its taps.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:08 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: Anyone got a rat rod out there?

First an apologia: This blog has been pretty haphazard of late. Reason is simple: I have been taking days off to take advantage of the glorious weather with my 5-year-old. Next week I will be back on schedule.

Meanwhile, does anyone out there have a rat rod they would like profiled in the projoCars section?

What's a rat rod? Wikipedia describes a rat rod as "a style of Hot Rod or Custom car that imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. It is not to be confused with the somewhat closely related "Traditional" Hot Rod, which is an accurate re-creation or period-correct restoration of a Hot Rod from the same era.

Most Rat Rods appear "unfinished" (whether they actually are or are not), with just the bare essentials to be driven. More recently however, a trend has arisen of making the vehicle appear "unsafe" or "scary", whether the vehicle actually is or not."

So if you have one of these vehicles and want us to profile it, call me at 401-277-7403 or email me at pelsworth@projo.com. Look forward to hearing from you.

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:13 PM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Death Valley's a hotbed of car-testing intrigue

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — As if torture-testing cars in the nation's hottest place wasn't enough, Lee Foster had to worry about spies, according to USA Today.

Lots of them.

Foster was leading a team of engineers from South Korean automaker Kia putting disguised cars through the most grueling tests imaginable. All the while, they had to fend off a legion of car paparazzi hell-bent on grabbing shots of vehicles that hadn't yet been shown publicly.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:01 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler swipes exec from Toyota

Chrysler LLC, remaking itself as a private company, has raided the executive suites of Toyota once again, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Chrysler this morning named Toyota Motor North America President Jim Press as its new co-president and vice chairman.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:58 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil up $1 as U.S. fuel stocks seen tightening

LONDON - Oil rose $1 on Thursday, closing in on an all-time high of $78.77, as investors expected U.S. refinery snags and slower imports to drain gasoline and crude stocks in the world's biggest consumer, according to Reuters News Agency.

Further momentum was provided after Syria accused Israel of bombing its territory on Thursday and warned it could respond -- a reminder of volatility in the Middle East, source of nearly a third of the world's oil.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:52 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford, Toyota, Chrysler Sales Drop

Toyota, Ford and Chrysler each reported sales declines last month, but General Motors surprised industry analysts on Tuesday by showing an increase in a declining U.S. auto market, according to the Associated Press.

Toyota's 2.8 percent sales drop, Ford's 14.4 percent decline and Chrysler's 6.1 percent decrease were symptoms of what analysts said would be slumping U.S. auto market due to high gasoline prices, rising mortgage payments and turmoil in the financial markets.

But GM, led by increased pickup truck sales, showed an increase of 6.1 percent, while Nissan Motor Co. reported its sales increased 6.3 percent for August compared with the same month last year.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 3:59 PM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Nissan , Sales , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Thumbing Rides Online

MILLIONS of pack rats have connected with bargain hunters via eBay, and untold numbers of lonely souls have found companionship through MySpace. Now GoLoco.org wants to use the matchmaking potential of the Internet to simplify carpooling, pairing solo drivers with people in need of a lift, according to the New York Times.

The GoLoco.org Web site goes beyond filling empty seats with people who would rather avoid owning or renting a car for a specific trip: drivers can screen potential riders by checking the descriptions and photos they have posted, and riders can rate drivers they’ve experienced.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:24 AM to On the road | Permalink | Comments 0

Economic fears to pinch auto sales

When August auto sales are reported today, they are expected to provide another sign that U.S. economic worries will challenge the auto industry for months to come, putting pressure on carmakers for further production cuts and profit-eating sales incentives, according to the Detroit Free Press.

U.S. consumers are too spooked about the housing market -- specifically, the value and marketability of their homes -- to be in the mood to buy new cars and trucks.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:19 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Texas start-up says it has batteries beat

AUSTIN, Texas — Millions of inventions pass quietly through the U.S. patent office each year. Patent No. 7,033,406 did, too, until energy insiders spotted six words in the filing that sounded like a death knell for the internal combustion engine.
An Austin-based start-up called EEStor promised "technologies for replacement of electrochemical batteries," meaning a motorist could plug in a car for five minutes and drive 500 miles roundtrip without gasoline, according to USA Today.

By contrast, some plug-in hybrids on the horizon would require motorists to charge their cars in a wall outlet overnight and promise only 50 miles of gasoline-free commute. And the popular gas-electric hybrids on the road today still depend heavily on fossil fuels.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:12 AM to Alternative fuels , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Toyota aims to break GM global-sales record in 2009

TOKYO — Toyota plans to sell 10.4 million vehicles globally in 2009, it said Friday, a sales target that would put the Japanese automaker ahead of a record set by world leader General Motors 30 years ago, according to USA Today.

Analysts say Toyota Motor (TM) is likely on track to beat General Motors (GM) as the world's biggest automaker in global vehicle sales and production this year — a title Detroit-based GM has held for 76 years.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:10 AM to Sales , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Gibbs NASCAR team expected to make switch to Toyota

Joe Gibbs Racing has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday amid several published reports that the team will announce it has signed a deal to field Toyotas in the Nextel Cup series, according to USA Today.

The reports, citing unidentified sources, said JGR will end its 16-year relationship with General Motors and give Toyota its first big-name team in Cup.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:08 AM to Racing , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Rises on Hurricane Concerns

Oil prices rose as traders monitored the pace and path of an Atlantic hurricane that could smash the oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, though that appeared less likely Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 10 cents from Friday's close to $74.14 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, midafternoon in Singapore.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:06 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0