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July 2009 Archives
10:51 AM Thu, Jul 30, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth  Email
In a lead opinion piece this week, Automotive News argues that "there ought to be a continuing role for the automotive task force, which engineered......
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3:28 PM Wed, Jul 29, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Here we go! I noted last week, once The New York Times gets stuck into an issue, it's not long before mountains start to move.......
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2:37 PM Wed, Jul 29, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Here we go! As I noted last week, once The New York Times gets stuck into an issue, its not long before mountains start to......
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2:33 PM Wed, Jul 29, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Here is the lead editorial in today's New York Times in its entirety: Mind over Muscle America's automakers have long claimed that it will take......
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3:48 PM Mon, Jul 27, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
SATURDAY, May 30, offered the kind of warm, sunny afternoon that rain-soaked New Yorkers had longed for all spring. In the theater district, crowds......
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3:48 PM Mon, Jul 27, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
The first study of drivers texting inside their vehicles shows that the risk sharply exceeds previous estimates based on laboratory research -- and far surpasses......
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11:48 AM Mon, Jul 27, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
PARIS - European carmakers are likely to rely on a mix of clean car technologies to achieve big emission cuts even as they gear up......
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11:48 AM Mon, Jul 27, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
YOKOSUKA, Japan - Nissan is developing a hybrid system that can be used to power smaller cars as an interim solution to improving mileage before......
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5:47 PM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Here is the beginning of Maureen Dowd's column in today's New York Times. Check out the whole column in the NYT. One night several years......
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11:41 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Chrysler's new program to match the government's $4,500 Cash for Clunker payout is a smart move and hopefully reflects a turnaround at a company that......
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9:33 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
After years of championing diesel power, high-end German automakers are rushing into hybrids, according to USA Today. They aren't abandoning diesels -- more are coming.......
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9:33 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
SEOUL, South Korea -- Hyundai Motor Co. said second-quarter net profit rose 48 percent to a record high as robust sales in China and India......
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9:26 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
STUTTGART - Sportscar maker Porsche conceded a months-long power struggle to mass-market rival Volkswagen by axing its CEO and said it would raise at least......
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9:22 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Helped by a lightened debt load, Ford Motor Co. posted a surprise second-quarter profit of $2.8 billion Thursday, following the worst loss......
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2:38 PM Wed, Jul 22, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
MILAN -- Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday that the Italian automaker has begun transferring small-car and fuel-efficient engine technology to Chrysler, which......
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1:01 PM Wed, Jul 22, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler says it will match the $4,500 government incentive for people to trade in their old gas guzzlers for new vehicles......
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1:01 PM Wed, Jul 22, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
DETROIT -- Although General Motors' North American sales dropped sharply last quarter as it headed into U.S. bankruptcy protection, strong growth in its Asia-Pacific region......
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1:34 PM Tue, Jul 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
I got good responses to my blog of July 9 which was published in The Providence Journal on July 12 in which I expressed confusion......
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1:08 PM Tue, Jul 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
WASHINGTON -- The average price drivers paid for gasoline fell to $2.46 a gallon, the lowest level in eight weeks, the Energy Department said Monday,......
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1:08 PM Tue, Jul 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration warned Congress on Tuesday that a House-approved plan to restore shuttered General Motors and Chrysler dealerships would threaten the auto......
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1:03 PM Tue, Jul 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the......
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9:39 AM Mon, Jul 20, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Now The New York Times has addressed the dangers of hand-held cell phones - both for calling and texting - while driving, we may at......
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10:12 AM Thu, Jul 16, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
The Better Business Bureau is warning anyone looking to buy a used car that VIN cloning--which targets used car buyers--is on the rise and advises......
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10:12 AM Thu, Jul 16, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- Harley-Davidson said Thursday it is cutting 1,000 more employees and lowering its motorcycle shipment guidance as quarterly earnings continued to fall due......
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4:12 PM Wed, Jul 15, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
General Motors' announcement that Bob Lutz is putting his retirement on hold and continuing on as vice chairman in charge of all "creative elements of......
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11:22 AM Tue, Jul 14, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Citroën has confirmed plans to build the Citroën GT, a two-seat sports car originally created for the virtual world of the Gran Turismo 5......
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10:45 AM Tue, Jul 14, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
MILAN - Fiat has expressed interest in iconic car designer Bertone, which is in special administration, the Italian car maker said on Tuesday, according to......
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10:45 AM Tue, Jul 14, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
HONG KONG/DETROIT- As a decision looms over GM's controversial plan to sell its Hummer unit to a little-known Chinese firm, the two Chinese regulators in......
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10:40 AM Tue, Jul 14, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Jim Tarbox, who lost his Jeep dealership franchise in the restructuring of Chrysler, is traveling to Washington Tuesday, according to a news statement released by......
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10:51 AM Mon, Jul 13, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
FRANCISCO - Electric car sales could jump to 86 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2030 if consumers don't have to buy batteries themselves,......
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10:41 AM Mon, Jul 13, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT - RHJ International declared its interest in Opel on Monday and Qatar looked to be moving closer to a $7 billion bailout of Porsche,......
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10:41 AM Mon, Jul 13, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
TOKYO -- Honda's new president promised to draw inspiration from the legacy of the company's founder to ride out hard times while pushing an aggressive......
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9:51 AM Fri, Jul 10, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
The new face of GM: DETROIT -- Bob Lutz, the former General Motors product chief who had intended to retire at the end of this......
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9:51 AM Fri, Jul 10, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Saying that business as usual was over at General Motors, the chief executive began a new era for the carmaker on Friday with a promise......
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2:06 PM Thu, Jul 09, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
For decades, General Motors has been lumbering and cumbersome, lagging every market trend from SUVs in the 1990s to hybrid cars today. But now it's......
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10:25 AM Thu, Jul 09, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
JAMESTOWN -- The state Turnpike and Bridge Authority voted 3 to 1 yesterday to move toward increasing the tolls on the Pell Bridge for the......
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10:18 AM Thu, Jul 09, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- Opponents of General Motors' plan to sell the bulk of itself to a new government-controlled company face a noon deadline to file......
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10:12 AM Thu, Jul 09, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
I guess I hadn't double checked my right hand mirror because as I moved from the outside lane to the middle one on I-95 recently,......
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6:09 PM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Sound economic and business planning depends on lining up the invariables and making educated predictions on the variables. So when the price one of the......
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3:26 PM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Check out this attention-getting French ad for the Renault Megane L'Equipe: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/664622/funny_french_car_ad/......
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2:49 PM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Remember Ratan Tata's promise to develop the cheapest car in the world? Tata is chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors. Well, his......
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1:33 PM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
My brother-in-law has alerted me to a piece which will hearten diesel fans - to a certain extent. Phil LeBeau, the NBC motoring reporter, writes......
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1:06 PM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- Oil prices sank below $61 per barrel Wednesday as the government reported unused gasoline held in storage surged yet again, according to......
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10:48 AM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
SEOUL - Hyundai on Wednesday launched its first hybrid car in the domestic market to satisfy a growing appetite for fuel-saving vehicles and to improve......
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10:48 AM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
This story from Reuters is too amusing to pass up! BERLIN - A drunk German sparked a slow-speed police chase after stealing a tractor to......
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10:48 AM Wed, Jul 08, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- The sale of most of General Motors' assets is moving closer to completion, after a bankruptcy judge denied motions by groups with......
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10:23 AM Tue, Jul 07, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- Groups representing plaintiffs in car accidents said Monday they would oppose General Motors' attempt to quickly exit bankruptcy protection, arguing that hundreds......
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8:06 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- A poster in Jim Tarbox's office at his North Kingstown Chrysler Jeep dealership declares: "Challenge: The harder the course, the......
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8:06 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
The extreme volatility that has gripped oil markets for the last 18 months has shown no signs of slowing down, with oil prices more than......
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8:06 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
LONDON - Oil fell to around $64 a barrel on Monday and touched a five-week low, pressured by doubts over the prospects for a global......
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8:06 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
FRANKFURT - Porsche on Monday denied a newspaper report which said five more potential bidders have emerged for a Porsche-owned derivatives package which controls around......
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8:06 AM Mon, Jul 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- A bankruptcy judge has ruled that General Motors Corp. can sell the bulk of its assets to a new company, potentially clearing......
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10:41 AM Thu, Jul 02, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Irv Gordon, who has driven his 1966 Volvo P1800S 2.7 million miles in 43 years, has responded to my recent blog about his achievement. And......
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10:41 AM Thu, Jul 02, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
DETROIT -- Automakers had another difficult month in June, but sales figures released Wednesday included faint glimmers of hope for the industry, according to The......
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10:41 AM Thu, Jul 02, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Aston Martin has announced a new compact car concept, the Cygnet. Aston calls the car a "luxury commuter concept," according to The New York......
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10:41 AM Thu, Jul 02, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- Facing a July 10 government funding cutoff, General Motors Corp. is calling for quick approval of its bid to sell its "good"......
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10:21 AM Thu, Jul 02, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
I have a mistake in today's Lifebeat section of The Providence Journal which I want to correct as quickly as possible. On page D7, I......
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2:22 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
DETROIT -- U.S. sales at Ford and Chrysler last month offered sharply different views on the downtrodden U.S. market for cars and trucks, while General......
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2:22 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
Last week I noted that lower diesel prices were helping sale for German-made vehicles from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Now it seems they might......
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1:29 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
I really do not know what to make of Irv Gordon and his 2.7 million mile 1966 Volvo P1800. Gordon, 68, is a retired teacher......
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12:29 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
NEW YORK -- A senior member of President Barack Obama's auto task force testified Wednesday that the U.S. government will not continue to fund General......
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12:29 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Peter C. T. Elsworth Email
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. says its June U.S. sales fell only 10.7 percent from a year earlier, a far smaller drop than in previous......
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