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GM Envisions Driverless Cars on Horizon

DETROIT -- Cars that drive themselves - even parking at their destination - could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp. executives say, according to the Associated Press.

GM, parts suppliers, university engineers and other automakers all are working on vehicles that could revolutionize short- and long-distance travel. And Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner will devote part of his speech to the driverless vehicles.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:55 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

New Saturn Vue hybrid will set new bar, GM says

A new gas-electric Saturn Vue hybrid will leapfrog models like the Toyota Highlander hybrid to become the world’s most fuel-efficient V6 SUV when it goes on sale late this year, General Motors promises, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Vue Green Line 2 Mode will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:26 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Japan's Domestic Auto Sales Hit Low

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's domestic auto sales fell to a 35-year low last year as the nation faced high gasoline prices, limited income growth and shrinking demand, an industry group said Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Sales of new cars, trucks and buses declined 7.6 percent to 3.434 million vehicles in 2007, the Japan Automobile Dealers' Association said in a statement. The figures do not include sales of minicars and minitrucks.

The result, which marked the fourth straight annual decline, was the lowest since 1972, when sales totaled 3.406 million vehicles.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:23 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Fall on US Economic Concerns

VIENNA, Austria -- Oil prices fell Monday as a report of growing unemployment in the United States raised concerns of an economic downturn that could curb oil demand, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Labor Department said the unemployment rate jumped to 5 percent in December - its highest level in more than two years - from 4.7 percent in November. Analysts had expected December unemployment at 4.8 percent.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery dropped 52 cents to $97.39 a barrel by midday in European electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.27 to settle at $97.91 a barrel on Friday.

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

Vanity plates getting popular in Ocean State

R U VAIN?

Rhode Islanders apparently are not, at not least when it comes to their license plates.

The state known for big egos and bad drivers ranks a modest 21st on a nationwide list of percentage of cars sporting vanity plates, according to a national study by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

Leading the pack is Virginia, followed closely by New Hampshire, according to a survey by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Massachusetts falls 46th on the list while Texas is dead last.

Just 3 percent of the more than 800,000 vehicles on the road in the Ocean State have personalized plates.

But Division of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Gina Zinni says vanity plates have been on the rise in Rhode Island since the DMV began allowing drivers to try out combinations and purchase plates online.

“Before, you had to walk into the DMV to see if [the name or phrase] you wanted was taken or not,” Zinni said.

Now you can create your dream plate in your pajamas. The system will even show you a preview of what your plate would look like.

Just don’t get too cute. Inappropriate vanity plate ideas are met with a “tsk tsk” admonishment from the computer system.

--This item also appeared in the projo Politics Blog

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 9:33 AM to Fun | Permalink | Comments 0