Altima Hybrid sedan vs Camry Hybrid: Nissan vs Toyota

Nissan and Toyota both are Japanese auto companies. They are big rivals too. Now, Nissan is trying to take Toyota into a price war in hybrid cars. Nissan is offering lower price than Toyota in the hybrid car segment.

Bloomberg reported:

The 2007 Altima Hybrid goes on sale today for $24,400, Nissan spokesman Darryl Harrison said. The Camry Hybrid starts at $26,200.

Nissan is introducing the hybrid to meet California rules that require the biggest automakers to sell a minimum number of low-pollution vehicles. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn has repeatedly said the cost of hybrid components means such models won't be profitable and don't offer enough benefits to consumers to make up for $3,000 or more in price premiums.

``Nissan knows it has to have a hybrid for publicity and regulatory reasons and is limiting loss potential by selling it in just a few states,'' said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with market forecaster Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. ``They're playing it safe.''

So, it is a tough challenge for Nissan. Although Nissan has set the price lower, it has still some tough battles to fight to catch up Toyota.

General Motors Performed Well in Latin America, Africa and Middle East in 2006

General Motors may be not doing so well in some parts of the world but it is doing great in some other parts. For example, in 2006, General Motors did very well in Latin America, Africa and Middle East.

Forbes reported:

General Motors Corp said it sold a record number of cars and trucks in its Latin America, Africa and Middle East (LAAM) region last year and raised its market share.

The company said it sold a record 1.04 mln vehicles in the region, a 17.4 pct increase over the year earlier, and raised its market share in the region to 17.0 pct -- it's highest in sixteen years -- on the strength of its global brands, especially Chevrolet, which significantly outpaced industry growth in almost every market in the region.

It was a great year for GM in this region and 2007 may become a good year too.

Bad News for General Motors in Australia

General Motors Holden (GMH) is the Australian Unit of General Motors and it seems that there is some bad news for the company. It has not performed in a good way in terms of exporting cars from this Australian unit.

Forbes reported:

General Motors Corp's Australian unit, General Motors Holden (GMH), said its total export sales in 2006 fell 24 pct to 46,074 vehicles, from a record 60,518 in 2005.

It said the fall reflected the end of the Pontiac GTO export program to the US in June last year and a one-off sales program to China and South Korea in 2005 which boosted that year's export total by 7,854 cars.

Vehicles manufactured by GM Holden were sold overseas in 2006 under the GM brands of Chevrolet in Brazil, the Middle East, and South Africa, and under the Pontiac brand in the US, and Holden in New Zealand.

General Motors should take this matter seriously and try to find out the causes behind falling export from the Australian unit. If needed it should arrange some support for the Australian Unit so that things can become better again.

New Saturn Astra And Pontiac G8 Passenger Cars from General Motors

General Motors may be under pressure form different sides but it is going to introduce some cool cars in 2007 Chicago Auto Show. General Motors is now the largest auto maker but it is under serious threat from Toyota in terms of global market share. I think that the introduction of these cars will help GM to boost its sales.

Huliq.com wrote:

General Motors will introduce the all-new 2008 Saturn Astra and 2008 Pontiac G8 at the Chicago Auto Show next week, building on the momentum of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit – where the Saturn Aura captured the North American Car of the Year award and the Chevrolet Silverado claimed the North American Truck of the Year award.

Saturn continues its product revitalization with the new Astra compact car, along with the 2008 Vue Red Line and Vue Green Line hybrid. The Astra marks the fifth all-new vehicle in Saturn’s lineup, and is the last step in a complete reinvention of the brand’s showroom in less than 20 months.

The G8 sedan represents Pontiac 's continuing commitment to rear-wheel-drive performance, and adds to the G6 GXP and Torrent GXP recently introduced in Detroit. Additionally, a pair of special-edition Chevrolet Corvettes will debut.

The Chicago Auto Show is open to the public Feb. 9-18 at McCormick Place.

So, you will have to wait just few days to see the new cars from General Motors.

Greensboro Auto Auction: The Best auto Auction?

To the auto fans, Greensboro Auto Auction in Greensboro, N.C. is not an unknown event. It has been recognized as the best auction by DaimlerChrysler Remarketing. I found a press release about in Yahoo!. Here it is:

DaimlerChrysler Remarketing has named Greensboro Auto Auction in Greensboro, N.C., as Auction of the Year. This is the third time in the last five years that Greensboro Auto Auction has been selected by DaimlerChrysler Remarketing as its top- performing auction.

Greensboro Auto Auction, one of 24 DaimlerChrysler affiliated auctions, was recognized for providing the highest residual values, quality and customer service to DaimlerChrysler and its Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge dealers in 2006.

"Since becoming a DaimlerChrysler affiliated auction in 1988, Greensboro Auto Auction has grown to be one of our largest and best-performing auctions in the nation, and securing this award in three of the last five years demonstrates that," said Peter Grady, Director - DaimlerChrysler Motors Remarketing. "We greatly appreciate their continued commitment to providing the highest quality vehicles in support of our dealers' retail sales efforts."

Greensboro Auto Auction features a 24-lane facility situated on 235 acres. The auction sold 19,350 used Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles in 2006 and is also a member of the National and Southern Auto Auction Association.

DaimlerChrysler Remarketing sells vehicles to all Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers in the U.S., via 24 affiliated auctions throughout the U.S.

Congratulations to the organizers of the event

Nanjing Automobile Group Restarting Production of MG Rover in UK

MG Rover was perhaps the last symbol British excellence to car making. Nanjing Automobile Group, a not so famous Chinese company bought the company in 2005. Now, it is going to start production of the car again in the UK.
Scotsman reported:

Unlisted Chinese car maker Nanjing Automobile Group said production of the iconic MG sports car will re-start in England within weeks, ending a two-year halt after MG Rover collapsed with the loss of 5,000 jobs.

Nanjing Auto, a little-known manufacturer based in eastern China, outbid China's top car maker Shanghai Automotive to take over MG Rover for around 50 million pounds in 2005.

It said it planned to make 6,000 TF sports cars a year.

"Production in England will begin in April or May," Lv Qiang, public affairs director of Nanjing MG Motor, told Reuters.

Nanjing shipped some MG production lines to China, where the first cars using MG technology are expected to be ready by late-March, Lv said.

Chinese companies are riding fast- even in the auto production too.

US auto sales May Increase: What About US Car Makers?

Amidst so many bad news, it is good news. The auto sales in USA has perhaps increased a bit in January 2007. If this trend continues then the sales figure may shine brightly at the end of the year.

Sydney Morning Herald reported:

Cuts in production and lower sales to fleet customers are expected to weigh on overall January US auto sales by General Motors and Ford, but Asian automakers likely will gain more ground.

Industry-wide, sales for the month could be up nearly one per cent to nearly 1.2 million compared with January 2006, when strong fleet sales propped up results, according to estimates from Edmunds.com, a research website for car buyers. Companies report January sales on Thursday.

Jesse Toprak, chief economist for Edmunds.com, said Toyota Motor likely will post double-digit gains and Honda's sales could rise nearly 10 per cent. Despite a recent retreat in gas prices, he said fuel efficiency - a strong point for Toyota and Honda - remains key.

"Consumers have no confidence in gas prices," Toprak said.

Although the market is expanding in the US, things do not look that bright for US automakers. Toyota is covering grounds in the US. The Year 2007 seems to be a bright one for Toyota.

China: 11th Five-Year Program (2006-2010) for auto parts Industry

Chinese companies may not be among the top ten auto makers in the world but China is surely making great strides in the auto parts industry. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers are now serious about making China as one of the top names in auto parts in the next 5 years.

China Daily reported:

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has finalized the 11th Five-Year Program (2006-2010) for the country's auto parts industry.

According to the program, the auto parts industry is expected to realize 1.2 trillion yuan (US$154.42 billion) in gross industrial output value by 2010. That includes 630 billion yuan in output value for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market, 170 billion yuan in the auto aftermarket and 400 billion yuan from exports.

The program highlights self brands for technological innovation. Efforts will be focused on the improvement of core technologies in engines, transmissions and auto electronics. By the year 2010, spending on research and development is expected to account for 30 percent of total sales.

So, let us what will happen after 5 years.

Education: A Big Factor in Car Insurance?

I always thought that the rate of car insurance should be equal for everyone. However, it seems that many car insurance companies do not share my idea. Some of them determine their rates according to the education level of the car owner.

News-journalonline.com reported:

Is it fair to make a janitor pay $112 more than a lawyer to insure a car in Florida?

GEICO and a few other insurers say yes, because blue-collar workers are more likely than professionals to have accidents.

State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has begun looking into the issue, nearly a year after the Consumer Federation of America first urged regulators throughout the nation to scrutinize GEICO's billing methods.

J. Robert Hunter, insurance director for the Washington-based advocacy group, said his organization had documented that GEICO is using a driver's education level and occupation as factors in setting premiums for vehicle owners in nearly every state, including Florida. At least three other insurers -- Allstate, Progressive and Liberty Mutual -- have begun doing the same thing but to a lesser extent.

What is your idea about this whole matter?

2007 Montreal International Auto Show: A Success

The 39th Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) managed to attract thousands of auto enthusiasts. It finished yesterday and it was a success. Many of the visitors got impressed with the show. It attracted more than 200,000 visitors.

I found a press release about the show:

The 39th Montreal International AutoShow (MIAS) concluded Sunday night after welcoming 206 207 visitors over a period of 10 days, from January 19th to 28th. The 2007 Auto Show was a resounding success and visitors were given a very colourful show. The 7th

Heaven, a segment which presented exotic cars and humorist Michel Barrette's

personal collection of vintage cars, sparked a lot of interest from visitors.

According to preliminary results from the survey conducted by Léger Marketing,

visitors said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Show in general

and extremely impressed by the Show's new visitors' circuit.

Pleased with this 39th edition, Show President, Mr. Jean-François Brault

proudly commented "This was an exceptional year! We had no less than 50

unveilings consisting of one WORLD premiere, 42 Canadian premieres, 3 concept

vehicles, 3 regional unveilings and 1 prototype, and lets not forget the

presentation of the award-winning vehicles from the 2007 Fuel Consumption

Guide (Energuide)."

In addition, during the Press day held on January 18th, CAA Canada

presented the 2007 Pyramid Award for Environmental Initiatives as well as the

2007 Pyramid Award of Recognition. "These award presentations coincide with

our wish to constantly enrich the On Route to a Greener Future segment"

indicated Mr. Brault.

A $265,580 Donation to Five Worthy Causes

During the Montreal International Auto Show Charity Preview evening, the

Show raised $265,580 to benefit the Sacré-Coeur de Montréal Hospital

Fondation, the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Fondation, the Sainte-Justine

Hospital Foundation, the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). This evening, held on

January 18, 2007 in a relaxed atmosphere, was a complete success! For three

years now, the Montreal International Auto Show Charity Preview has raised

over $731,500 for various foundations of the Greater Montreal's health care

community.

Auto Show Blood Drive: a real success

Surpassing their objective, the Montreal International Auto Show's annual

blood drive, held from January 22 to 26, helped HEMA-QUEBEC collect over 800

gifts of life. Each donor received one free ticket to visit the 2007 Auto

Show. During the second day, many personalities from CFCF-CTV came to

encourage donors. Show organizers wish to thank all visitors for their

priceless gift of life!

The 2007 Montreal International Auto Show, organised by the Montreal

Automobile Dealers Corporation (MADC), was presented by the Laurentian Bank,

in collaboration with The Gazette.

New England Collision in April

New England Collision and Auto Repair Show is going to take place in the end of April in Boston. A lot of auto enthusiasts will turn up at the show. Here is a press release from PRWEB:

The fourth annual New England Collision and Auto Repair Show is April 20-22 at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston. This event features exhibitors displaying the equipment and products that shops use in their day-to-day operations, plus free seminars and I-CAR certification programs.

The New England Collision and Auto Repair Show is where automotive and collision repair shop owners, managers and techs will convene for training, certification and networking amidst entertaining promotions and hundreds of the industry's top equipment suppliers.

Hundreds of products on display including paint systems, compressors, spray booths, parts and more.

New England Collision and Auto Repair Show is supported by the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA), local chapters of AASP, ASE, I-CAR and SAE.

Attendees include shop owners, technicians, specialty shops, painters, mechanics and glass technicians.

The automotive repair world comes together at New England's largest automotive repair trade show, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 20-22, 2007, at Bayside Expo, Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information, contact Richard Vendola by e-mail or 800-996-3863

Sounds good to me. If you have time then pay a visit.

CarGurus.com: A New Website on Cars from Veterans

CarGurus.com is a cool website on cars. Here you can find all the necessary information about cars and also you can share your opinion about cars. I visited the website and found it to be extremely useful for car lovers.

About the launch of the website, I could find a press release in PR Newswire:

An experienced group of web

executives recently released the next generation of online automotive

communities: http://www.cargurus.com. CarGurus' founders, board, and investors

bring a wealth of experience from such leading web companies as

TripAdvisor, eBay, Expedia, and Yahoo.

In beta since March 2006, the newly-released automotive community

already boasts over 1,300 user reviews, 3,800 wiki pages, and information

on over 6,800 new and used cars from 1960-2007.

Internet Veterans Bring Online Community Expertise

With a focus on building the next generation online automotive

community, the founders and board of CarGurus bring unparalleled knowledge

and experience in building online communities in the areas of autos,

travel, and shopping:

* From TripAdvisor: Langley Steinert, Founder and CEO of CarGurus.

Steinert was formerly Chairman and co-founder of TripAdvisor, currently

the third largest online travel site on the web and the leading online

travel community site in the world.

* From eBay: Simon Rothman, Investor and Board member. Rothman founded

eBay Motors in 1999 and was formerly the Global Vice President and

General Manager. Ebay Motors is now the number one automotive

marketplace in the world.

* From Expedia: Steve Kaufer, Investor and Board Member, currently

President and CEO of TripAdvisor, a division of Expedia. Kaufer co-

founded TripAdvisor with Steinert in 2000.

* From Yahoo: Matt Rightmire, Investor. Rightmire was a founding member of

the product development team at Yahoo!, joining the company in 1995.

Rightmire left Yahoo! in 2002 as Vice President and General Manager of

Media and Entertainment.

Other notables include: David Parker, Board member. Parker was

previously Vice President of Business Development at the award-winning

Internet search technology company Direct Hit, which was sold to Ask

Jeeves. Nick Shanny, Investor, is currently CTO of TripAdvisor and formerly

a member of Microsoft's advanced research group.

Unbiased Auto Community Site with "Open Architecture"

"CarGurus is quickly becoming the next generation automotive community

site for both new and used autos information," said Langley Steinert,

Founder and CEO of CarGurus. "Unlike other leading automotive information

sites, CarGurus is built with an 'open architecture,' allowing our users to

submit, edit, and control the content on the site. The other leading online

auto sites have a 'closed architecture' in which users are not encouraged

to submit content beyond simple user reviews. These sites are more

editorially driven with proprietary content written by on-staff writers."

CarGurus provides its community with the tools for editing or adding

information of their own -- be it writing a review, editing the wiki

summary for a given car, submitting a link for a great article out on the

web, posting a photo of a car or asking a question of the community. In the

end, CarGurus simply facilitates connecting consumers on the hunt for auto

information with other consumers "in the know."

"My experience at eBay Motors taught me about the power of online

automotive communities," remarked Simon Rothman, Investor and Board Member

for CarGurus. "Automotive enthusiasts are a passionate and knowledgeable

crowd. What is needed online is a site that provides a more comprehensive

set of tools to allow this vocal community to more fully express themselves

and exchange useful auto information with one another."

Growing market for Auto Research

Researching a car online is similar to researching online travel and

real estate in that the absolute purchase price is a large number and the

purchase requires significant research. The web is full of great

information and community advice on new and used autos. The problem is that

finding all this great information out on the web is a daunting task.

CarGurus will be the one place that brings all of that relevant information

together into one community.

"Part of the birth of the idea for CarGurus stemmed from my own

frustration in researching a new car," remarked Steinert. "Last year, I

spent weeks scouring the web to find information on a new car. Over those

weeks, I visited over 25 unique web sites and numerous car-specific

bulletin boards. I was left wondering why there was not one site out there

that could organize all this information into one place -- a community of

automotive information."

Online autos information sites are a rapidly growing segment. According

to a J.D. Powers' 2006 report, over the past five years, the percentage of

buyers who found their vehicle through online means has doubled from 8% in

2002 to 16% in 2006. The ad dollars are following this upward trend.

According to a 2006 eMarketer report, in 2007 auto-related advertising

spending will account for 15% of all online ad dollars to the tune of $2.7

Billion.

About CarGurus LLC

Located in Harvard Square, Cambridge MA, CarGurus LLC is an online

automotive community founded by Langley Steinert, formerly Chairman and co-

founder of TripAdvisor LLC. CarGurus' founders, board, and investors bring

a wealth of experience from such leading web companies as TripAdvisor,

eBay, Expedia, and Yahoo. For more information about CarGurus visit us at

http://www.cargurus.com

So, there are quite a few experienced hands behind the website. I am sure that it will become a successful car portal very soon.

Tough Times Ahead for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler

Americans may be proud of their auto industry but their top companies face a very bad prospect. Actually, more than the companies, the workers and their families are worried for an uncertain future. So, the workers of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are now worried about the future of their jobs.

Post-gazette.com wrote:

Detroit's Big Three automakers spent last year shedding tens of thousands of workers , overhauling their marketing and shaking up their managements. Now , it's becoming clear that even more-drastic action may be needed to turn them around.

Thursday, Ford Motor Co. announced losses of $5.8 billion for the fourth quarter and $12.7 billion for all of 2006, the deepest deficit in the 103-year history of the nation's No. 2 automaker. Also expected to report losses for the year are General Motors Corp., which Thursday said it will delay announcing its fourth-quarter financial results, and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group. That would make 2006 the first year since 1991 that all three companies were in the red.

For all their efforts last year, the three U.S. auto makers continue to labor under heavy cost burdens, including hefty obligations to their union workers. But their real challenge is how to stop burning cash in futile efforts to manage decline. They can no longer rely on the cost-cutting and sales-boosting strategies of the past, such as squeezing parts suppliers for discounts, pressuring dealers to accept excess inventory and demanding higher prices from consumers.

Today they face suppliers who are less likely to give in to their demands, consumers who want less costly and less profitable but more-fuel-efficient vehicles, and auto dealers who are less dependent on a single Detroit brand. At the same time, foreign rivals are stealing away market share.

So, the future looks only bleak for the top car makers. May be they should relocate their factories in Asia and Africa.

Changan Auto Group: Sales target of 850,000 vehicles in 2007

In the world stage, sales target of 850,000 vehicles is nothing. In fact, all the top ten auto companies in the world sell millions of vehicles annually. However, for a Chinese auto maker 850,000 is a decent number. So, if Changan Auto Group can really get this figure after the year end then its top bosses will be delighted.

Forbes.com reported:

Changan Auto Group, parent of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd (SZA 000625; SZB 200625), said it has set its 2007 production and sales target at 850,000 vehicles, up about 20 pct from last years levels.

The company said in a statement that its sales revenue rose 43.83 pct in 2006 to 43.2 bln yuan, with auto sales of 708,737 units.

Auto exports of Changan Auto Group, one of China's major automakers and joint venture partner of Ford and Suzuki (other-otc: SZKMF.PK - news - people ), were up 43.3 pct at 21,725 units last year.

Let us see what Changan Auto Group can achieve in the next 11 months.

Wonder Auto Technology Having Healthy Market Expansion

In the auto world, we do not hear the names of too many Chinese companies. However, Chinese companies are coming up and they are going to challenge many global names in the auto industry. Wonder Auto Technology is doing well. I am stating here a press release that I found in PR Newswire:

Wonder Auto Technology, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: WATG) (''Wonder Auto'' or ''the

Company''), a China-based manufacturer of automotive electrical parts,

today announced it has added a number of new customers in both the

international and domestic starter and alternator markets during the second

half of 2006.

''Our ability to expand and diversify our customer base demonstrates

our competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets. We are

particularly pleased that our technological strengths, cost-effective

delivery and stringent quality control are enabling us to reinforce our

leadership position in China and to quickly penetrate new international

markets,'' commented Quingjie Zhao, the Wonder Auto's President and CEO.

Over the last six months, Wonder Auto has entered the Korean market by

securing contracts for first run orders with Doosan Infracore Co. Ltd. and

SW-Tech Corporation. Wonder Auto has also received orders for sample

products from LDV Group Limited, the 2nd largest commercial vehicle

manufacturer in UK. The relationship with LDV Group Ltd marks Wonder Auto's

entrance into the European market and is the first step for the Company in

meeting the high standards demanded by European manufacturers.

In the China marketplace, Wonder Auto's new contract wins include first

run orders from Beijing Benz-Daimler Chrysler Automation and Nanjing MG

Rover Motor Company Ltd. Both contracts broaden the Company's market

penetration beyond the mid and low end engine capacity market.

About Wonder Auto Technology, Inc.

Wonder Auto Technology, Inc., through its subsidiary, Jinzhou Halla

Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd., designs, develops, manufactures and sells

automotive electrical parts and is the second largest seller of automotive

alternators and starters in China. The Company's products are suitable for

various types of automobile. Most of its products are used in cars in the

sedan category, especially cars with smaller engines with displacements

below 1.6 liters. The Company's customers include Beijing Hyundai, Beijing

Daimler Chrysler, SAIC GM WuLing, FAW Auto Group, Chery, Geely and Tianjin

FAW XiaLi Automobile Co., as well as automotive engine suppliers such as

Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi Motors Engine Manufacturing Co. Wonder Auto

is a Nevada corporation with its manufacturing subsidiary Halla and its

corporate headquarters located in Jinzhou City, Liaoning, China.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the

meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts.

Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and

expectations of the Company's management and are subject to risks and

uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the

forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could

cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking

statements: business conditions in China, changing interpretations of

generally accepted accounting principles; legislation or regulatory

environments, requirements or changes adversely affecting the businesses in

which the Company is engaged; fluctuations in customer demand; management

of rapid growth; intensity of competition from other providers of auto

components; timing approval and market acceptance of new product

introduction; general economic conditions; geopolitical events and

regulatory changes, as well as other relevant risks not included herein.

The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. The

Company does not assume any obligation to update the information contained

in this press release.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact:

Mark Collinson,

Partner,

CCG Investor Relations

Tel: +1-310-477-9800 x117

Email: Mark.collinson@ccgir.com

Good, the more Chinese companies can shine the better. They can offer cheaper products. Car is considered to be for the rich men only. May be Chinese companies can make a difference.

Wind of Change in Auto Industry?

JIM STANFORD has written a reflective article in globeandmail.com.

A new auto pact, for a new auto industry- the title suggests that he is talking about the changes in the auto industry.

He wrote:

The Detroit show -- first and biggest of them all -- celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. But lurking behind the glitter was fear the curtain may be closing on Detroit's century as automotive capital of the world. Will the snappy new products shown in Detroit reverse the massive losses experienced by GM, Ford, and now Chrysler?

GM's resurgence seems encouraging. It snagged honours for both Car and Truck of the Year (the latter with the Canadian-made Silverado), and its plug-in hybrid Volt sedan (which gets 150 miles to the gallon) generated the show's top buzz.

Chrysler and Ford also unveiled cutting-edge designs. Chrysler's new-generation minivan (built in Canada) has stowable swiveling back seats, and even a table. Ford's futuristic Airstream concept would create a whole new vehicle class -- a "people-mover," neither minivan nor SUV. It could conceivably be built here, too, if it gets the go-ahead.

The industry's quality guru, J.D. Power and Associates, delivered more welcome news: Big Three vehicles are more reliable than European-made cars, and the gap relative to Asian vehicles has almost disappeared.

Yes big changes indeed. Go ahead and read the entire article. If you are an auto enthusiast, you will enjoy reading it.

Car Insurance Fraud Getting Busted: Car Insurance Rate Falling

Car insurance fraud is a growing problem in the western countries. Many times, car owners claim false accidents and get money. Thus, it drives the price of the insurance up for everyone. For few bad people, everyone is suffering. However, in Massachusetts, a fight back is taking place and this is helping everyone.

Southcoasttoday.com reported:

High-profile crackdowns on auto insurance fraud have resulted in dramatic savings for drivers in some Massachusetts communities.

The statewide average premium is scheduled to drop by nearly 12 percent on April 1, but drivers in some communities where antifraud task forces have been operating will see even greater savings, with premiums falling 24 percent in Lawrence and more than 15 percent in some Boston neighborhoods.

Drivers in Lawrence, the first Massachusetts community to target insurance fraud in 2003 following a case in which a grandmother died in what police called a staged accident, will see the average annual premium drop to $1,379 from $1,815.

In Boston's Dorchester section, drivers will see the average premium fall to $1,670 from $2,033, a reduction of almost 18 percent.

A good initiative indeed. If every community could take this kind of initiative then we would suffer less.

New York International Auto Show in April

Now, the auto show in Washington is making the headlines. For the auto lovers in New York, it will take just a few weeks to have their own exhibition.

AutoSpectator.com reported:

The New York International Automobile Show (NYIAS), North America's largest publicly-attended Auto Show will open to consumers on Friday, April 6th and run through Sunday, April 15th. Prior to the public opening, the Show will host Press Preview Days on Wednesday, April 4th and Thursday, April 5th.

Helping Consumers Decide

In addition to debuting dozens of new cars and trucks that have never been seen anywhere in the world before, the Show is best known as the world's largest new vehicle showroom during its ten-day run. Nowhere is it easier for consumers to compare different makes and vehicle types. For car-buyers there is no better place to research a vehicle. Today's new vehicles are packed with technology to help make driving more exciting, safer, and cleaner, but it can also make choosing a new vehicle confusing. The Show allows consumers the ability to understand these complex new features and systems through the use of easy-to-understand vehicle cutaways, interactive displays, and video presentations.

If you want to get more information then you can always visit the show website:

http://www.autoshowny.com/

Fiat Making Steady Profits in Auto Sector

For any auto company, making profit in this age is a tough challenge. Yes, making profit may not be that tough but having consistent performance in the market is a tough challenge. So, Fiat bosses should celebrate the news that its auto unit is improving consistently.

IHT reported:

Fiat on Thursday reported an eighth consecutive quarterly profit on rising sales of the Grande Punto hatchback and increased truck demand.

Fourth-quarter net income rose to €452 million, or $586.8 million, from €38 million a year earlier, the company said. Sales increased 5.5 percent to €13.9 billion. The auto unit reported an annual profit for the first time in six years.

Fiat, based in Turin, Italy, will introduce the new compact Bravo model next week in an effort to win more customers in the most competitive segment of the European car market. The chief executive, Sergio Marchionne, brought the group back to profit in 2005 for the first time in five years with higher sales, cost cuts and changes in top management.

There has been a positive influence on the price of shares of Fiat. It has been increasing consistently for nearly a year.

Fuel efficiency and Washington Auto Show

This is the age of environmental protection. We have done a lot of damage to our environment in the entire 20^th century. It is time we make some amends to our destruction of earth’s environment. The number of cars is increasing all the time in the world. So, we have to work out on reducing emission of bad things from our cars. That is why fuel efficiency is the key theme of the Washington Auto Show.

Sbsun.com wrote:

Automakers highlighted their work to develop clean and fuel-efficient technologies at the Washington Auto Show on Tuesday, hours before President Bush outlined an energy agenda that could shape the industry's future.

DaimlerChrysler AG touted a new heavy-duty diesel pickup truck that would meet stringent emissions standards in 2010, while Ford Motor Co. showed off a fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability.

In several presentations at the car show, the industry stressed their work to reduce the nation's dependence on imported oil and their efforts to develop alternative technologies.

The events were aimed at key policymakers in Washington and came in the context of Bush's State of the Union address later in the day.

It is nice that America is giving more importance to saving the earth. Many times in the past we often heard claims from American business groups that there was no reason to be worried about climate change.

Auto Loan: Malaysian Auto Sales Fell in 2006

This is the age in which the number of auto is increasing everywhere. It seems that Malaysia is an exception to this rule. In fact, in 2006, new auto sales in Malaysia fell significantly.

Forbes reported:

Overall auto sales in 2006 fell to 490,768 units from a record high of 552,316 units in 2005, the Malaysian Automotive Association said in a report. But it predicted sales to rebound and grow by 1.9 percent this year to a half million vehicles.

The 2006 sales figure fell short of the association's forecast of 520,000 units as higher interest rates, stringent rules for loan approvals and shorter repayment period made financing a problem while a hike in retail fuel prices last year dampened sales, the report said.

"2006 was a trying year. The inability to get financing was a key factor as well as a low resale value," association president, Aishah Ahmad, told a news conference.

Malaysian government is always keen to maintain discipline in their economy. That is perhaps why it is becoming more difficult to get auto loan in the country. Yes, it is not a desirable condition. On the other hand, do not forget that 2007 is the 10^th anniversary of Asian economic crisis of 1997. A disciplined approach to the economy saved it that time.

Counterfeit and Pirated Auto Parts: $1 Billion Loss for Ford?

Ford officials have been extremely vocal against counterfeit and pirated auto parts and they have every right to do so. It seems that fake auto parts is depriving the company $1 billion. It is a very bad news to digest. The worst part is that the trade of counterfeit auto parts is increasing at a very rapid face. If this trend continues then sooner or later, fake products will outnumber the real auto parts from real companies.

CBC News reported:

Ford has dispatched undercover investigators to seek out counterfeit and pirated auto parts, a problem that is putting the public's safety at risk and costing about $1 billion US annually, according to the automaker.

"[The cost] doesn't include the health and safety ramifications of fake or faulty items such as auto glass, brakes, tires, suspension and coupling mechanisms, and even seatbelts. Driver safety is simply not quantifiable," Joe Wiegand, Ford's global brand protection manager, says in a study released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy.

Wiegand says a full-time staff has been hired to track fake auto parts within the U.S. The company has also hired independent agencies to investigate outside the country.

Yes, the loss of Ford is too much and this should stop. However, Ford is not the only company suffering from this problem. GM is suffering too.

The Detroit News reported:

General Motors Corp. dedicates significant resources to the problem around the world, but hasn't put a dollar amount on it.

"The counterfeiters are criminals. They don't file financial reports with us," spokesman Tom Henderson said Friday. "It's kind of hard to get an accurate number on this. We know it's significant."

GM has seized more than $250 million in counterfeit auto parts in the past two decades, shutting down hundreds of counterfeiting operations.

Piracy is a major issue in international business. It will take time and determined effort from many governments to put an end to piracy. On the other hand, major companies like Ford and GM should come up with initiatives to make people conscious about health and safety hazards of using counterfeit auto parts.

Flexible Series Hybrid Edge from Ford Motor Co.: Is It Worth it?

This is the age of caring for the environment and reducing fuel emission in the cars. Auto companies are in a rat race to bring out the next big fuel saving and environment friendly car. Ford Motor Co. has done a superb job by introducing Flexible Series Hybrid Edge, the energy efficient car of tomorrow.

Reuters reported:

The concept vehicle -- a modified Ford Edge -- was one of several technologies Ford and other automakers were showing off at the Washington, D.C., auto show intended to highlight their progress in pushing into alternatives to gasoline, including ethanol and clean-burning diesel.

Ford said its Edge was the first drivable hybrid vehicle with batteries that draw power from a hydrogen fuel cell and can be recharged by a conventional electric outlet.

Plug-in vehicles, which have batteries that can be recharged with a standard electrical outlet, have drawn backing from both environmental activists and power utilities since they promise to shift auto-related energy consumption from oil and to the U.S. power grid.

So, you can see that the car is full of goodies and would help us a lot to reduce air pollution. I did not find any information about the price of the product. I hope that the price will be within the reach of most consumers.

Toyota Ultra Low Cost Car: Our Expectations

You should already know that Toyota is going to bring out an ultra low cost car for the developing countries within the next 3 years. Toyota has so far neglected this market segment and now Toyota high ups have realized that the future of the car industry is in the poor countries.

What we expect is that Toyota would ensure reasonable price and at the same time address the safety concerns. Then, the consumers would want to have standard servicing facilities. More than everything else, if the consumers can have the opportunity to buy a car in easy installments. So, Toyota should make some sort of arrangements with the banks in this regard. The good thing is that in most of the developing countries, banks now provide loans for buying cars more easily than the past.

Toyota and Ford: In Search of an Alliance

Forming alliance is nothing new in the international corporate world. So, there is nothing shocking in the news that Ford and Toyota are sleeping on the idea of making a serious alliance among the two auto makers. Ford is the second largest American automaker while Toyota is the largest Asian automaker. Toyota is making serious inroads in the American auto industry.

The Cincinnati Post reported:

Part of Toyota's aim in courting Ford is diplomacy - an effort to win what people familiar with Toyota management's thinking describe as political peace from the U.S.'s second-biggest producer of automobiles. Although protectionist rhetoric has abated significantly compared with 15 years ago, Toyota officials remain concerned about a possible backlash as they continue to gain market share in the U.S. while Detroit's Big Three shut factories and ax jobs. Analysts widely expect Toyota to outsell Ford in the U.S. on an annual basis as early as this year.

Toyota also could benefit in a practical way if Ford agreed to use its gasoline-electric hybrid technology. That is in part because Toyota's momentum in establishing its hybrid design as an industry standard has slowed. GM, for instance, has lured German auto makers DaimlerChrysler AG and BMW AG into a powerful alliance to develop a hybrid system of their own that they say is simpler than Toyota's. Other companies, including Honda Motor Co., are trying to go it alone.

Any alliance would likely have some impact on the thousands in this region who work for Toyota and Ford. Toyota operates its largest U.S. plant in Georgetown, Ky., where it is making a hybrid Camry, and its North American manufacturing operations are headquartered in Erlanger. Ford operates two transmission plants here.

It is wrong to think that Toyota alone will be benefited from any alliance between the two automakers. There is something for Ford too. Ford can use the alliance to increase sales in Asia- the traditional strong hold of Toyota.

Who Will buy Daewoo Automobile?

These are not good days for Daewoo Automobile in Romania. The company is struggling to keep its existence. A lot of jobs are at stake. Now, a number of companies are interested to buy the company. GM and Ford both are seriously contemplating on the idea of buying Daewoo Automobile in Romania.

MSN reported:

General Motors and Ford Motor, as well as Chery of China and Tata of India, have submitted letters of intent to buy Romania's troubled Daewoo Automobile, which the country bought back from the bankrupt Korean group last year.

Romania's privatisation authority hopes to select a buyer by June.

Teodor Atanasiu, head of Romania's privatisation Avas, said the buyer would have to guarantee a minimum annual output of 300,000 units. The plant, located in Craiova, about 200km west of Bucharest, employs 4,000 people and has capacity to build 200,000 cars and 300,000 engines a year.

Let us hope for the best. The last thing that Romanian economy needs at this point of time is job losses of so many auto workers.

General Motors Canada Awarded for Contribution to Environment

Car companies are often in the wrong side of environmental protection. So, it sounds very sweet when we can see that any auto company is awarded for its contribution towards the environment. General Motors Canada has just got a prestigious award for its role in saving the environment.

durhamregion.com reported:

Given by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), the Pyramid Award of Recognition acknowledges the contribution that dismantling older vehicles and recycling their parts has on the environment.

"The Car Heaven program encourages motorists to contribute to a clean environment by donating their old vehicle. Motorists also receive the benefit of the incentive to purchase a more fuel-efficient vehicle. It's a win-win situation," says Sophie Gagnon, director of public and government relations for the CAA.

Since coming onboard in May 2005, GM has offered a $1,000 incentive for eligible donors towards a new GM vehicle. More than 12,000 vehicles were retired in 2006. The emissions of their vehicles are equal to the emissions from more than 230,000 new vehicles.

This is a good initiative from GM. I wish that GM gradually spreads this program to all the countries on earth. Other auto makers should learn from GM and commit more on the environment.

Toyota Making Inroads in American Market

Toyota is focusing more and more on the American market. The American auto market was traditionally dominated by American car makers like GM and Ford. These companies are still strong in USA but Toyota is gradually making inroads here. 2006 was a good year for Toyota.

Delaware Online reported:

But even as GM and DaimlerChrysler showed modest progress, Toyota posted the biggest gains in the U.S. retail market. It grabbed 2.5 points to end the year at 17.5 percent, passing Ford for the first time for the No. 2 spot, behind GM. Honda Motor Co. increased its U.S. retail market share by a half-point to 10.9 percent.

In overall U.S. sales, retail and fleet, Toyota passed DaimlerChrysler for the No. 3 spot, behind GM and Ford.

The long-standing focus by Toyota and especially Honda on retail sales while avoiding heavy reliance on fleet sales has helped strengthen their brands, Libby said. The image and resale value of their vehicles are kept high because the market is not flooded with fleet models, he said.

It is a reality that it will take still some years for Toyota to become the market leader in the US. However, Toyota is progressing at a fast pace in the American auto market and this is a scary development for GM and Ford.

Tesco Car Insurance Policy Benefiting the Drivers

If you are a car owner or a driver, the part that you must hate most is car insurance. I have seen many people grudging over it. Well, we need insurance and there is no way you can avoid it. So, Tesco is trying to make car insurance more palatable.

MoneyHighStreet.com reported:

All named drivers who own a Tesco Car Insurance policy will be rewarded with at least one year's claim-free driving plus a discount of up to 50 per cent when they take out a policy with Tesco on their own vehicle.

All claim-free years of motorists on a Tesco policy will be recognised and offered as a discount on their initial premium should they take out their own policy.

No doubt that this will attract some car owners. Tesco officials have acted smartly here. Now, we have to wait and see that how many persons they can attract.

Living in a R-reg Ford Mondeo Car for Nine Months

Living in a R-reg Ford Mondeo Car for Nine Months

Really, sometimes I feel sympathy for the western people. We in Asia suffer every kind of hardship. Many people live in the street in Asia and it has become a part of everyday life. You go to street in any major city in Asia and you can find hundreds of people living in the street in miserable condition. However, here is a true story of a family in the UK who are living in a car because they have no house.

Image Link: Living in a Car

I found the story in Leeds Today with the title:

Homeless family forced to live in a car

A Leeds family are living in a car after losing their home nine months ago.

The heading is perhaps enough to tell the story. Well, you may wonder that the people are either drug addicted or lazy. No, they are just normal people like you and me. The report stated:

Club singer Daniella Prestwich, daughter Hayley, 12, and partner Duncan Haigh, 29, were made homeless in May and are sleeping out in their R-reg Ford Mondeo. Ms Prestwich, 28, said: "We always find a safe place to park up, cover the windows and have lots of quilts to keep warm. I am 6ft tall, but luckily the car is quite long, so I can just about fit in it."

They stay in public car parks or on quiet residential streets near the homes of friends. She added: "When it is freezing, we put the car heater on which eats up petrol, but we have to keep warm. It can be quite cosy, we have lots of covers, wear thermals and layers and can even make a cuppa with a water heater through the cigarette lighter."

The family have been taken off the priority list for Leeds City Council housing after they refused to accept a run-down property, which they say was not fit for human habitation.

It is a case in which the UK government has failed to deliver its basic duty of protecting its citizens. UK is not a poor country and its government can surely afford to ensure a small but decent house or apartment for this family. The family is suffering all kinds of problems. Because of not having a fixed address, they cannot find steady jobs and they have to go to the houses of different relatives and friends for washing, taking bath or even brushing teeth.

I urge each and every one of you who are reading this post to spread this message over the Internet so that UK officials become more active and help this poor family. Nine months is too much for anyone to stay in a car.

Used Shelby 1966 Cobra Sold for $5.5 Million

Who cares for used cars? It seems that some people do care for used cars and they care even to the extent of $5.5 million. No, I am not joking.

Freep.com reported:

The 800-horsepower, 1966 Shelby Super Snake Cobra, once the personal car of racing icon Carroll Shelby, 84, sold for $5.5 million at auction Saturday.

The packed house rose to its feet and cheered at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a pair of bidders drove the price to a record. Shelby, who created the Cobra in the 1960s using Ford engines and a British sport car chassis, said he built the Super Snake -- with twin superchargers on a 427-cubic inch V8 -- and drove it for years.

Now, the million dollar question is: Will you buy it? As for me, no way. I do not have the money and even if I have it, I would never buy. What about you?

VE Commodore: Wheels Car of the Year for 2006

I have to admit that I am not an expert on Australian car sector. Even I do not know much about VE Commodore but I can only tell you that this car has been elected as Wheels Car of the Year for 2006. This is a prestigious award.

NineMSN reported:

The long wait is over. Australia’s premier new car award – Wheels magazine’s 2006 Car Of The Year – has gone to … Holden’s VE Commodore.

Wheels editor, Ged Bulmer announced this year’s winner live on TV’s A Current Affair tonight.

In one of the most closely-fought, three-way showdowns in the award’s 44-year history, the VE – together with its HSV E-Series spin-offs – has triumphed over finalists Toyota’s Aurion and BMW’s 3 Series Coupe at the last hurdle.

In all, the VE beat 20 other new car models to the title at the end of a solid week of the most demanding testing imaginable, under both controlled conditions and on public roads.

Good for the car. Australia is an important car market. It has a market size of nearly 1 million cars a year and that is a good market considering the fact that Australian people have good purchasing power.

Indonesia 2007: A Flourishing Market for Toyota

Indonesia is not the rich Asian economic giant anymore as it was even 11 years ago. However, the country is not doing badly in the world stage and the auto market is having a healthy growth in Indonesia. Toyota wants to remain as the market leader in Indonesian auto market.

Reuters reported:

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) expects Indonesia's domestic vehicle sales to grow by 10-20 percent this year and aims to hold more than 34 percent of the domestic market, its local unit said.

An increase at the top end of that range would give sales of around 380,000 units, still well below a historical high of 533,910 in 2005.

PT Toyota Astra Motor, the distributor for Toyota vehicles in the world's fourth most populous nation, accounted for 38.8 percent of new vehicles sales in 2006, up from 34.2 percent in 2005, as domestic sales shrank by 40 percent.

"Toyota Astra Motor predicts that the total market will increase by 10-20 percent compared to 2006 sales achievement. Toyota aims to maintain market leader position with more than 34 percent in 2007," the firm said in a presentation to the media late on Monday.

Toyota is the number 2 auto maker in the world. If it wants to be the number one then it should focus more on Asia. After all, Asia is the place where the growth is.

Ultra-low-cost car from Toyota Soon

Car is not cheap and most people in the world still do not own a car. There was a time when mobile phone was expensive and most people did not own a mobile phone set. Then the mobile phone makers and operators realized that the best way to increase business was to make this technology affordable for the mass people. Now, we are seeing a same trend in cars. Toyota has stated that it would come up with a low cost car by 2010. Yes, within 3 years you will find a cheap car from Toyota.

The Australian reported:

TOYOTA is working on an ultra-low-cost car to compete with makers in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe said in an interview with the Financial Times the focus for the model was "low-cost technology".

"Everything from design to production methods will be radically changed and we are thinking of a really ultra-low-cost way of designing, using ultra-low-cost materials, even developing new materials if necessary," Mr Watanabe said.

At the other end of the market, Alfa Romeo has cut $7000 off its gorgeous Brera coupe this month after rivals undercut it on price, reducing the Italian brand's flagship by 10per cent after only a few months on sale.

So, good news for millions of people who cannot afford an expensive car at this moment. They just need to wait for another 3-4 years to own a car.