Main page | January 25, 2008 »

Beijing to pull half its cars off the road during Olympics

Beijing will withdraw more than half of its 3 million cars from the roads during the Olympics to ensure better air quality and improve the flow of traffic, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications Liu Xiaoming told a panel discussion at the ongoing first session of the 11th BMC, according to People's Daily Online.

The traffic plans for the Olympics and Paralympics, to be held in August and September, have been completed, Liu said.

Public transport will operate more efficiently and carry more passengers during the Games, with 173 bus routes and special lanes for Olympics-related vehicles. And more metro trains, some of which will not stop at all stations, are likely to be introduced to deal with passenger rush.

The city will dedicate lanes to Olympic traffic and increase public transportation with new shuttle buses to accommodate visitors and local residents, the article said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:07 PM to China | Permalink | Comments 0

GM, Toyota win top awards for customer loyalty

General Motors and Toyota are in a neck-and-neck competition when it comes to U.S. customer loyalty, according to the Detroit Free Press.

GM had the top loyalty for manufacturers during the 2007 model year, while Toyota was tops for brand loyalty, according to the 12th annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards.

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

Ford loses $2.7B in Q4, $2.8B in 2007, U.S. outlook grim

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford said Thursday that it lost $2.8 billion in the fourth quarter and $2.7 billion for the year as gains in worldwide markets outside the United States were dragged down by continued weakness in North America, according to the Associated Press.

Ford President and Chief Executive Alan Mulally said the company's operations are improving but the outlook for U.S. sales in 2008 is grim.

Mulally said the company will be adjusting production and making further cost cuts in North America, including a new round of buyouts for its 54,000 U.S. hourly workers.

Details of the buyout program were expected later Thursday.

Ford lost $1.30 a share in the fourth quarter, narrower than a loss of $5.6 billion, or $2.98 a share, in 2006. The full-year results, which resulted in a loss of $1.35 a share, were significantly better than 2006, when Ford lost $12.6 billion, or $6.72 a share.

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