Quake automakers can dethrone as top Toyota.

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Co can glide paragraph 3 in the production car manufacturer after General Motors and Volkswagen due to Japan's earthquake and nuclear crisis, the local edition of almost two thirds in March alone slashed.

A lack of parts in the course of 11 March earthquake and tsunami has Japan's auto sector supply chain, deportation policy while damage to one large nuclear power plant supplies has disrupted.

Investors await overseas rivals benefit hinaufgeschiebt of a continuing crisis in the Japanese issue shares in the South Korean Hyundai Motor and associate Kia Motors altitude record on Monday.

In Japan and in North America, Hyundai, GM and Ford Motor Co, the largest automotive winner be managing director of the foresight (Shanghai) automotive industry consultant said Yale Zhang, co. This is because the three producers can find spare parts easier than the Japanese producers.

In the Japanese market Hyundai and Kia said the main beneficiaries of the struggling Japanese auto industry Suh Sung-Moon, analyst at Korea & investments in Seoul.

American auto companies GM and Ford are sales and market increase parts and deeper intervention in the North American small-car market that dominated the last Japan automaker was making two decades, said David Whiston, analyst at Morningstar in Chicago.

Honda Motor Co., Japan's no. 3 automaker and fourth largest in the US market, said on Monday, it, take to the end of the year would before production to normal, recent comments by Toyota Echo returned.

Honda reported that domestic production shrank 63 percent in March, said output at 50 percent of the original plans would be by the end of June.

Domestic production at Toyota, the world's largest automaker, 63 percent fell in March, while Japan's no. 2 Nissan Motor Co said 52 percent was the illustration. Nissan is no. 6 in the US market.

Toyota is almost certainly, his top spot in the global car production, losing a title by overtaking it in 2008 General Motors reached. GM looks like it will slide into the top spot and Toyota behind Volkswagen, which is currently no. 3 could fall, said Koji Endo, Managing Director of advanced research Japan in Tokyo.

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Toyota, the 8.42 million vehicles last year compared to GM sold 8.39 million, was on the route said Endo after sales of about 6.5 million units this year. Other analysts, without clear guidelines of Toyota, expect approximately 6.3 million to 7 million units sales.

"Most likely GM produced 8 million plus and Volkswagen, as most probably third Toyota GM first will be produced about 7 million", Endo said.

Volkswagen has a stated goal of taking Toyota's no. 1 spot, and the 2011 expects sales to top record 7.14 million vehicles, which it sold last year.

Toyota to lose the view on his top ranking played down.

"When Toyota became no. 1 was it go from here, no champagne corks", Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said. The March sales the worst were he since records began in 1988, added in the year added.

His cut later on standard & poor's Outlook on six major Japanese car manufacturers and suppliers "negative" from "stable."

Johnson Controls Inc., one of the world's largest auto supplier, in the Monday is a drop in the third quarter sales of $500 million because of the decrease to Japanese auto production projected.

Production has disturbed also outside of Japan, as factories in Europe, North America, and the other Asia scale back due to parts shortages.

Story: Nissan reminiscent of older model Pathfinder, Infiniti QX4 SUVs

The impact on the production is however smaller related Johnson to the halving of Japan's automobile production while some analysts, including Brian second the quarter seen from Barclays Capital calendar.

Johnson said that he expected that Japanese auto output to fall by 50 percent in the second quarter, close to normal in the third quarter and produce more than normal in the fourth quarter.

No clarity
Japanese car manufacturers have not predict, which will have impact on the result of the production cuts, but analysts have since the disaster, slashing was forecasts.

11 Analysts, the revised average based their forecasts on billion yen ($ 3.44 billion) operating profit for the year after the earthquake for Toyota by March 2012.

That's his results on 11 May to 65 percent from the consensus of 804 billion yen of 21 analysts before the quake, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. announce Toyota, but it is not sure if it will provide its own forecast.

"In overseas markets, consumers can and (non-Japanese owner) will probably take some share, but I think it is a question, or temporary release Anderungen-if those will be sustainable-my guess is that they tend to temporary", said Christopher Richter, an auto analyst at CLSA Asia Pacific markets in Tokyo.

Tokyo transport equipment sub index has bounced around 14 percent of its post - quake deeply, but is still more than 6 percent below where it was hit before the disaster.

On the other hand, Hyundai has 30 percent over the same period on expectations it surged the suffering its Japanese competitors will benefit. Hyundai shares rose 5.6 percent to a record high on Monday, while KIA shares made also a data set, by 3.2 per cent.

"These are good times for South Korean car manufacturers." "Profits they will market share, raise utilization rates," said Park Fund Manager at ING investment management in Seoul Jong-min. "incentives, reduced the helping to reduce costs."

Hyundai and Kia were no. 5 by global sales last year.

The disaster was a major setback for the world's third largest economy, with exports data falling a record faster than forecast in March and industrial production due on Thursday expected to decline. Some economists expect industrial production fall about a quarter, month after month, in March.

The decline in Japanese vehicle having output steel of main suppliers, with a weight of about profits and the Outlook for companies including JFE holdings by fed.

Many companies are expected to refrain from it 2012 earnings guidance while the current fourth quarter reporting season and those who will do a gloomy picture expected to paint.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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New Hyundai Elantra competes with the best

Given its reputation for quality and reliability, since the Toyota Corolla a favorite of compact car buyers in the United States a long time

Toyota customer loyalty has indeed become so reviews and even a shocking number of callbacks, and continue to buy narrow-minded recently that the purchaser intentionally ignore poor Corollas based on their experience with Toyota vehicles that were built in the past.

But today, there are others vying for her affections, including the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra suitors. At first, like with a Hyundai in the family like a bad idea, the automaker which given recent reputation for spotty quality and imitators in previous models. But all this is in the past and the Elantra, which asks that you now be improved on a date, suave and dependent. It is an invitation that should seriously consider car shopper.

Finally, the Elantra is a handsome devil. Take a look at its dynamically flowing lines, out behind the front wheel with a slashing character line and includes the front and rear door handles on its flight motor length behind on the rear wheel before immersion in the taillight lens.

The result is a car which strongly echoes the design of the mid-size Sonata, earned the well-deserved recognition of your own. The contoured headlights give thoroughly contemporary style that visually minimize openings Elanta front end, and the emphatic wheel arches, beveled corners and channeled fog light the front overhang, which visually the car before the horse so many front-drive vehicles sets.

But the real news is under this handsome hood. For years Honda is known for his engine design skills, an ability, which led the company, which remind someone you listen to, Honda Motor Co., with the emphasis on "Motor" is the full name of the company.

In the vehicle was United States to say it as "Hon-Day," in a less than subtle attempt, the relatively easy prestigious Korean newcomer confused with your established under the different at the same time with the name "Hun Day" for many owners suffer during Hyundai's two decades, and estimated, Japanese rivals. (Even the logo is Hyundai logo on the hood as an italic version of Honda's "H".)

This was understandable. Honda has set the standards for technology, design and performance for decades. Until now. The new Hyundai Elantra offers more power, more torque and better fuel economy than the 2012 Honda Civic.

Their transmissions - both automatic and manual - how are both six speeds have more gear. The bottom line is the Elantra cost less and perform better than the best selling model in the compact segment, the Honda Civic.

Of course my friends at Honda will quickly point out, that now have an app for it, so to speak it. Honda offers a high efficiency version of the civic, the mpg city from the Elantra 29, 40 mpg highway EPA fuel economy rating, edges, although it will probably take 2-3 percent of the civic based on the history of such models. And Honda offers a sporty, expensive Civic Si hot-rod version replete with the larger, thirsty engine from the accord, which is definitely faster than the Elantra.

But Hyundai engineers have surpassed Honda's by each Elantra exemplary fuel economy and performance, at no extra charge. Sure, the difference in fuel economy is low, such as the difference in the power and torque, the number of gears and the performance. But overall I, the Elantra, the civic exceeds think.

Plunge for Hyundai to Honda in one of these categories is unexpected. For Hyundai, Honda in all of them bother is shocking, because there is the Elanta and the determination of the engineers, the job right do. No automaker of Lucks in a victory over Honda.

It is not, declined that Honda is quality, but rather that the automaker has a long time scale for most manufacturers of fuel efficiency, performance, and clever engineering. These competitors have long taken Honda in the line of fire, but they are rarely landed a shot so far.

As a successful model in the segment, the civic is a natural point of comparison for many buyers. Other models - such as the Toyota Corolla and the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta - are running, because these companies obviously have contempt for customers by offering cars that were cheaper to the to the point insult buyer intelligence.

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The new Chevrolet Cruze fits well, on which a handsome cabin, and only the 2012 Ford focus presents an impressive alternative to the Elantra. But while the focus of the top car in the segment is almost undisputed, that leadership is not cheap. Consumers, unable, or unwilling, a fabulously dressed focus an additional few grand will spend may conclude that the Elantra is the more intelligent value close seconds.

Unlike many competitors, the Elantra is only in a single body style - 4-door sedan. A compact wagon, the Elantra 5, based on the previous generation car, is also available, but this is an outdated vehicle, currently that this excellent new Elantra model is comparable.

Story: Ford F-150 pickup call back to 1.2 million vehicles extended

Three and five-door hatchback in the compact class segment sell found other great success, but so far, Hyundai is satisfied to the mainstream 4-door sedan part of the market. The Elantra lively Dynamics suggest that the fun sports version of the car would very well recorded, especially if it were in the hatchback style that defines the segment "hot hatch".

As more and more customers the Elantra (and the Ford focus) that go to, can escape Word driver, the faithful have been other brands (to her own detriment of late). They are excited to discover that they have ugly hard cabin surfaces, deaf, not separate steering to put up, soggy suspension and grumble, thirsty engines only, because they want to buy a small economical car.

The Elantra, which is out there on the welcome mat with the flowers. Go ahead and leave it.

© 2011 msnbc.com. Reprints

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Ford recalling 1.2 million F-150 pickups

DETROIT - Ford leaned on Thursday pressure from regulators and widened a recall of America's best-selling vehicle, the F-150 pickup, because its air bags at the wrong time can provide.

The recall includes almost 1.2 million F-150 s for model years 2004 and 2005, and some for 2006 built built. A short circuit may which could cause airbags to inflate without a crash and hurt drivers.

Ford Motor Co. in February said the problem would be 150,000 truck rules but had resisted the Government would like to expand the recall.

The wider recall shows how regulatory authorities have become more aggressive since the criticism last year for a slow response to unintended acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles. It is also a sign that it is harder for Ford and other automakers the size of future callbacks to limit.

The national highway traffic safety white 269 cases in which the air bags inadvertently, committed administration security governing car, 98, takes some serious injuries.

When Ford resisted NHTSA's request to extend the callback of the winter, said the Agency for the guarantee that it will hold a rare public hearing to may. NHTSA said "The potential for astronaut loss of control is an unreasonable risk of security", the company.

Before the flood of unintended acceleration reminds Toyota's last year, not NHTSA would have made likely Ford the callback, you expand said Joan Claybrook, a former administrator of the Agency, who previously led the consumer group public citizen.

But the Agency become aggressive is since of Toyota's problems is critical, said.

She said NHTSA fining Ford for not having regard to all vehicles could land in February. Toyota a record paid the Government $48.8 million in fines for using three callbacks.

Ford, like most car manufacturers, callbacks, that delay to reduce size and cost, said Claybrook.

Ford said that owner next month say it to their trucks to a dealer, a wire of airbag in the steering wheel to replace. The wire can rubbed be caused a short circuit, inflate to the airbag unexpectedly can lead. The repair less than half a day, said the company.

The problem was fixed in January 2006 in factories of Ford's truck, not it are vulnerable after this date.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood, the company said the truck remember not before five years, because there was not a security risk. Also, Ford officials believe not, a big recall was required, because the short would first set light warning of an airbag problem from a dashboard.

"We thought the airbag warning lamp, sufficient note for customers, that the vehicle requires service well before the air bag deployment, and most owners it would then maintained," he said.

Ford also determines most of the truck with the problem were in a now-closed factory in Norfolk Virginia, and those contained in the February call back, he said.

The F-150 has traditionally been the best-selling car in America, and makes about 18 percent of Ford Sales. It was a profit center for the company. Good for sale equipped truck for more than $ 40,000.

Thursday's recall expanded also 16,000 Lincoln LT pickups from the model year includes 2006.

Claybrook contends that all trucks at once remember Ford not to save money, a claim denied the Ford.

A Barclay's analyst Thursday estimated that the callback over 180 million $ or $150 per truck Ford would cost. Claybrook is the cost per vehicle to expensive when compared to other callbacks.

Air bags have saved thousands of lives and reduce injuries. But they can people injured, because they quickly bloat. The most injuries are scratches from contact with the bag and burns from the gases, the they inflate.

Story: Years of IKARUS can compete with best compact.

Ford said NHTSA, that F-150 driver Burns, bruises, neck and back pain and smaller cut tracks reported. Two customers chipped or broken teeth and two reported a broken elbow or arm. Ford said that it knows no crashes through the airbag problem caused.

Drivers are less likely that air bags be infringed by, which inflate at random as of Beutel, expert with the University of Michigan go in a crash, Matthew Reed, a car safety transport said Research Institute, the air bag injuries for 22 years has studied.

Air bags are used to protect someone, sitting in a driving position, and injuries are more likely if they are not that position, Reed said. People often out of position as a result of heavy braking, shot or other movements are in crashes.

"If at all, a random airbag deployment is more likely to catch the occupants in the location, the airbags for developed were", he said.

© 2011 The associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti QX4 SUVs, recalls

DETROIT - remembered almost 271,000 older model Pathfinder Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Infiniti QX4 SUVs in North America due to the chance that could collect road salt and water, causing a loss of steering, U.S. Security regulators said.

Affected around 45,330 Infiniti QX4 SUVs of models years 1997 and 2003 in the United States and Canada are about 225,650 Scouts from model years 1996 to 2004.

The recall affects Scouts and QX4s in Canada and 20 cold weather States where road salt is used to keep streets disable snow and ice.

Road can collect salt and melted snow in the strut and, corrosion, which could lead to difficulties in the control and the regulators said even losses, steering, could lead to a crash.

Customers of the product recall may inform Nissan and its dealers will investigate and fix the issue free of charge.

No injuries were reported due to this issue and there is a report of an accident that this caused, but Nissan said that he not was confirmed as the corrosion problem linked.

Story: Japan Quake can dethrone Toyota as top car manufacturers

Nissan said its tests have indicated that only a small part of the recalled vehicles are expected to repair.

Nissan dealers should take half an hour, until an hour but repair or replacement takes longer, a spokesman of the Nissan.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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Fuel concerns add convertible of woes

Sunshine provides a much-needed rest after a long, gray winter warm, and there is no sensation more exciting too many drivers as a switch for a vehicle console switch and set a chain of events.

With a buzz and a series of clicks and strokes, which rises, such as canvas origami folds up on the new Nissan Murano cross cabriolet and is neatly away.

The CC, as it is commonly known, is entries in the convertible market one of the most recent - and one of the more unusual - this year. It is a segment that has seen some surprising innovations in recent years.

The demand may be still critical, say analysts. There was a time when the convertible was one of the dominant automotive body styles, but in the last decades it has become little more than a small niche. Some forecast of a revival, but others warn that is becoming increasingly important as fuel economy, many motorists to give up the idea of driving "al fresco".

Nissan cross cabriolet has generated a fair bit of controversy. Some a stroke of genius, have called it, while others are questions, whether it the answer to a question that no one has asked.

The original Venetian five-door broke with tradition. Instead of trying to make the Murano, appearance of a conventional SUV decided Nissan for a decidedly winding outside. The CC Gets a top - indeed, it has the largest convertible roof on the market.

"We think it's a small but viable market for a convertible as the cross cabriolet," particularly in Sun contested segments of the country such as in the Northeast, said Mike Drongowski, Nissan senior product planning Manager.

Innovations such as the hardtop convertible have also on building demand in regions where convertible was aligned sales behind the Sunbelt have traditionally remained States. A hardtop Coupe design offers several advantages. Vehicles are quieter, if a top up and offer more protection against attacks by, among other things.

Demand for models such as the BMW 3-series and Infiniti G hardtop convertibles has surpassed in general the expectations, but the strong cost and need more space, save to a metal folding roof has many car manufacturers, with traditional canvas designs remain convinced instead.

The number of convertibles on the market is modest in recent years new offerings such as the Murano cross cabriolet and the upcoming Fiat 500 convertible, including showrooms meet up.

Still, the current growth in the number of convertible offers is far away from the 1950s and 1960's as a convertible option that was standard and almost constructions so widespread as Coupe and wagon.

In fact, the ad disappeared almost in the late 1970s, partly due to stricter federal safety regulations for cars. But it was not security, which killed almost the convertible notes automotive historian Jim Wren.

Instead, the culprit was bad sales.

Wren puts forward, who came close to deadly blow for convertibles, in the form of the interstate highway. After the establishment of the interstate network Americans started faster drive, and as a result, convertibles were not more comfortable rides.

What's more, three quarters of all cars came from 1972 air conditioning sold rendering convertibles in the United States factory, less desirable.

But it is harder to keep the advertising, so to speak, have imagined as anyone. In the mid of 1980s a few convertible-special offer - beginning with the Chrysler LeBaron - a comeback.

The advertising redux is today a small segment of the automotive market. In fact reached North American sale of convertible bonds only 247,519 units or 1.5 percent of total vehicle sales in 2005, according to research firm IHS, overthrow, only 112,914 or 1 percent of sales in 2009.

The decline surpassed the general crisis in the US car market for new to resist driver with cash registers the additional costs for the acquisition of a convertible option. Ford, the Mustang looked up such as the sale of its convertibles slip from almost a quarter of sales in the 1990s just under 13 percent of the Mustang sales in the first quarter of 2011.

But now, signs of life that which again have started it US auto market and the economy are struggling in the segment of convertibles.

U.S. sales of convertibles rose more than 9 percent to 122,949 units last year to IHS, and research company forecasts demand for convertible could almost double to 223,224-2015 - a pace of growth that would surpass the total automotive recovery.

Or maybe not, warns IHS analyst Aaron Bragman.

"The problem [with convertible driving] is that if you top to down, fuel economy drops," he said. "Could, the more critical as mileage is important" the average American motorist, Bragman added.

There is no easy way to overcome the additional drag the top, bottom, said Bragman. It has "why you no hybrid convertible" and probably not battery-electric vehicles with convertible see tops, he added.

But even with gasoline at $4 still some lure a gallon, the lure of the open air. And automakers will likely Spotlight innovations such as the hardtop convertible, the aerodynamics can improve if is at the top.

So while the convertible never had it in the last decades reconstruction demand is, expect only a few it completely disappear.

© 2011 msnbc.com. Reprints

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Why gas prices are rising faster than they fall

You might have heard over the weekend that skyrocketing gas prices have finally "plateaued." If gas prices were like gravity, you would anticipate they would?start plummeting soon.? Raise your hand if you expect that.

Me neither.? While the words "skyrocketing" and "gas prices" often end up in the same sentence, "plummeting" and ?gas prices? rarely occupy even the same paragraph. In a perfect free market, prices should float up and down with equal speed. But in our market, what goes up doesn't seem to come down, at least not at once.? What gives?

We've been told for months that instability in the Middle East spooked the traders who set gas prices, which are almost $1 per gallon more at the pump than a year ago. Prices jumped 30 cents from mid-March to mid-April alone, to an average $3.88 a gallon.? What are odds, do you think, that average prices will return to $3.58 by mid-May?

The quick rise/slow fall phenomenon will feel familiar to most consumers, who often explain it with this conventional wisdom -- greedy retailers take advantage of temporarily high prices as long as they can to sock away a little extra profit. ?

Economists tend to scoff at conventional consumer wisdom, but basic economic theory holds no explanation for the sharp rise/slow fall price pattern. Twelve years ago, economist Sam Peltzman -- a free market advocate not known for consumer-friendly research -- conducted a vast study of price "shocks," which could have dispelled these complaints as yet another whiny consumer myth. Instead, it fueled the fire. His review of 77 consumer goods that had been subject to abrupt price increases ? including gas -- led Peltzman to write a paper called simply "Prices rise faster than they fall."

?"The title summarizes the main result: the person in the street is right and we are wrong," Peltzman wrote.(PDF) In fact, the results were so vexing he called it ?a serious gap in a fundamental area of economic theory."

Consumers might call it price gouging; economists like Peltzman have settled on a?more neutral term: "asymmetric price adjustment." And while economists have conceded this time that whiny consumers happened to be right, they aren't yet ready to sign up for their conspiracy theories.

For economists interested in the more general problem of pricing, gas prices are a fantastic real-world laboratory.? Nearly all consumers need gas.? Prices fluctuate often, and there is (theoretically) widespread competition, making gas stations a nearly ideal marketplace to study.? And nowadays, thanks to services like GasBuddy.com, it's relatively easy to gather price data across wide geographic regions.

The first research into what some called gas price ?stickiness? was published in 1997 by a research team headed by Severin Borenstein, who found that gas prices fall about twice as slowly as they rise after a price shock. For example, if prices rise 50 cents in four weeks, and the cause of the increase is eliminated, it?ll take about eight weeks for the prices to return to pre-shock levels.

Matt Lewis, an economist at Ohio State University, has been studying gas prices for more than a decade. He's considered some of the usual allegations, like pricing fixing and collusion among stations. He doesn't entirely discount those, but he thinks he's found a better explanation for the fast rise/slow fall phenomenon.? Here's his theory in a nutshell: When prices fall, consumers are so relieved that they stop shopping around for the best price. That eliminates the normal downward pressure on gas prices and allows stations to squeeze out a few more cents of profit while prices slowly fall.

Matt Lewis

One chart from Lewis' research, showing the inexact relationship between wholesale and retail gas prices during 2003-2005 in the Los Angeles market. Notice the soft, rounded peaks on retail prices, as opposed to the sharp peaks on wholesale prices, showing that prices don't go down as quickly as they could. Also notice that stations' profit margins often shrink as prices rise.

"Consumers shop around more intensely when prices are going up. When they are falling, they don't shop around as much," Lewis said.?

A key element of his theory is something economists call a "reference price."? Your local car salesman might know it as "framing." Once consumers get a number in their head -- $10,000 for that car, $3.70 for that gallon of gas -- all subsequent choices are impacted by a new price's relation to that reference price.? When the car dealer says, "OK, $9,500," you think you have a good deal. When the nearest gas station drops the price to $3.63, the average consumer impulsively stops searching.

"If prices are falling, you pull into a station and think 'I have a good deal,'" Lewis said.

The last big gas price shock -- the speculation price bubble of 2008 -- created a perfect opportunity for Lewis to test his theory.? Consumers can use GasBuddy.com to search for the lowest gas price in their area.? As prices soared in the first half of 2008, Lewis charted a similar spike in GasBuddy.com traffic.? When prices fell that fall, GasBuddy.com Web traffic fell, too -- showing gas shoppers became less interested in shopping around while gas prices waned.

Lewis' more recent research has added another nuance to his theory that might make consumer conspiracy theorists feel a bit better. Lewis has, for years, observed several Midwestern retail gas markets that don't behave like other U.S. markets. Intense competition in some small towns near his Columbus, Ohio, home has led to regular cyclical price wars. Stations undercut each other on a daily basis, engaging in short-term price wars that might drop prices from $2.50 to $2.38, for example. But after a few weeks, one station will bite the bullet and raise prices back to $2.50.? Other stations follow suit.? Then, the cycle begins again.

In these areas of cyclical price wars, Lewis has found that the fast rise/slow fall phenomenon doesn't apply.? In other words, stations facing intense competition can't get away with what consumers might call "gouging" and economists call asymmetric price adjustment.?

Lewis isn't ready to generalize those observations just yet, but conventional wisdom will tell you there's not enough real competition in gas prices. Twelve years ago, Pelzman predicted imperfect competition would be blamed for the sharp rise/slow ?fall price pattern. He dismissed that explanation as "unlikely to be rewarding."

But Lee Branstetter, an economist at Carnegie Mellon University, said that local monopolistic behavior is probably the fundamental cause of ?downward price rigidity.? When prices go up, retailers who don?t react immediately lose money.? Failing to raise prices in lockstep with higher wholesale prices leads to an obvious, quantifiable loss. But when wholesale prices go down, many gas station owners play the game every retailer does ? ?How much extra can I get away with charging before I lose consumers?? ?And even with competitor?s prices so obviously posted, station owners face little risk in trying to grab a few extra pennies per gallon from drivers?

?Retail gas sellers in the same neighborhood can function as a kind of local oligopoly,? Branstetter said -- a small group of businesses that collectively operate with monopoly power. And consumers are often loath to change their buying habits.? ?If you are lagging behind a little bit -- ?all your consumers aren't going to desert you immediately. ? (Consumers) are willing to be abused a little bit in the short run.?

Any study of retail gas prices risks ignoring complex factors in a market that is anything but pure: The spot price is controlled by speculators making bets on the whims of the oil producing nations? cartel, the threat posed by government-subsidized energy alternatives and the likelihood of another environmental disaster, to name a few.? A mysterious wholesaling and distribution system adds to the cost in difficult-to-measure ways.?? Also, gas stations often make very thin margins on retail gas sales ? many use gas as a loss leader for chips and soda sales.? As prices go up, their razor-thin margins shrink toward zero, Lewis said ? and station owners naturally try to recover some of those lost profits as prices head back down.

Making the issue even murkier, behavioral economists will tell you, is the fact that gas shoppers are anything but rational agents who constantly seek out the best price. Instead, many are pesky realists for whom the nearest station will do.? On the other hand, some consumers overestimate the true value of a cheaper gallon of gas, because they underestimate the cost of driving to get that cheaper gas (what economists call "search costs?).?

In "The Cheapest Gas in Your Area Can Cost More," Loyola College Professor Joseph Ganem makes the argument succinctly.

"If you drive five miles out-of-the-way to purchase gas in a car that gets 25 miles per gallon, that 10-mile round trip burned 0.4 gallons. If you drove that distance to pay $2.95 per gallon to fill a 12-gallon tank, instead of paying $3.00 at your local pump, you actually spent almost a nickel more per gallon for your tank of gas," writes Ganem, author of ?The Two-Headed Quarter: How to See Through Deceptive Numbers and Save Money."? He has a nifty "Is it worth it" calculator on his Web site.

It should also be noted that while retail gas prices ? in fact, all commodity prices -- remain artificially high temporarily, retailers can?t get away with exorbitant overcharges for long. Gas price history bears this out.

?While it takes much longer for price of retail products to adjust downward, eventually you do observe adjustments,? Lee said. ?The forces of competition do eventually assert themselves.?

Still, Lewis' theory has implications far beyond the gas market. If there is a general lack of price sensitivity when prices fall, basic supply and demand just took another body blow, and comparison shopping just isn't what we thought it was.? The lesson for consumers is clear: As gas prices fall during the next few months, don't abandon the good price shopping habits you've acquired. While consumers tend to be hyper-vigilant while the price of gas is soaring, the real rip-offs will occur when it?s declining ?? ?when you?re likely to have stopped paying attention.

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Restart reported problems in Nissan leaf

TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co has received complaints from owners, that its leaf electric car occasionally posing start-a potential blow to the automaker of the aim to promote emission-free vehicles.

Japan's no. 2 automaker said on Monday it was looking for on that in the cause, the sheet air conditioning unit returned. Nissan assesses whether the glitch in a specific component or programming, was Toshitake Inoshita spokesman said.

Nissan plans no recall for now, because the topic touches not security, but will decide as to the cause of the problem identify action, he said.

"If we know the exact cause, we will decide whether to issue a service bulletin, or other steps", Inoshita said.

He added that the phenomenon in the United States and Japan, has been reported, although he no exact figure for the number of complaints.

Strive for Nissan and its French partner Renault SA leader in the emerging field of electric vehicles, the plug into an electrical outlet to supply the car batteries become, and have no tailpipe emissions.

Nissan started the paper five-seater in Japan and the United States in December. Delivered, it sold more than 3,300 units in Japan as of February and an other 452 in the United States by March.

Production at the plant of Nissan Oppama South of Tokyo, again the leaf taken, recorded on the Monday on the basis of the normal - the supplier delivered parts - for the first time in a month, because it was interrupted by a devastating earthquake that rocked Northeastern Japan on 11 March.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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U.S. is still the King as the worst car

By all accounts, the big three automakers Detroit started better made, longer lasting, more efficient vehicles. It is a significant change from the 1990s and early 2000s, when they fell behind their European and Asian counterparts in each category.

"This change is not even a gradual thing," says Christine Overstreet, an automotive consultant and Director of the heels and wheels. "It is as they said, ' we really want to strengthen it OK, we want to really compete, we are ready." "To have last years so badly that she really stepped up their game."

But with three exceptions - the Mercedes-Benz S550, smart fortwo and Nissan Titan - all the cars on the this year's list of the worst cars on the road are made (yet) of domestic companies. These include the Dodge Dakota, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and Chrysler Town & country. The only American car company with 0 (zero) vehicles on the list? Ford.

Forbes.com slide show: the worst cars on the road

To determine to our list of the worst produced cars on the road, we started with the lowest-rated vehicles from six reliability and performance studies this year by consumer reports.

Every car, truck, or SUV made with the name, the worst in at least two of these studies are the final cut on the "Worst" list.

We should note that the Mercedes S550 the only vehicle that qualifies for our list is the high cost of property, low fuel consumption and a low review of total value, not because of the problems with the reliability, security or performance, which every other vehicle in the top 10 hit. In fact, as the sedan and the Cadillac Escalade probably at a disadvantage on lists such as this - its luxurious interior upgrades, high-quality trim and strong engines work luxury vehicles against them.

"The worst value is, the highest cost of Ownership--you have not forgotten, it is a numerator and denominator of these things," says Terry Woychowski, Vice President of quality and global launches for General Motors. "An analogy a clock use: If you looked at dollar vs. accuracy the time to buy a watch, a Casio would buy probably." [Compare, the] the price and value in a Rolex - you would say, ' well, shoot. It costs so much! "For vehicles as follows, it is an uphill battle."

We should also keep in mind that almost any car or truck more efficiently and more reliably is more secure today than anything else on the road only 15 years ago. But that excuse not only how often vehicles as jeep freedom for poor reliability or bad fuel economy be - tilted, or both.

Jeep Liberty and Wrangler earned spots on consumer reports at least reliable list for 2011. The Wrangler was also consumer reports worst value, and worst cars distinctions, the latter of which based on more than 50 individual tests consumer reports and evaluations. The Wrangler appeared also on our list of worst cars last year.

Doug Betts, Chrysler's senior Vice President for quality, says consumer reports tests reflect the latest and most up-to-date vehicles, which currently is the company. The cars and trucks Chrysler has now come from the line are much better than cars in the last year made, he said in a statement on the reports.

"Customers 16 new or updated clear vehicles to RAM, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Fiat dealer will see this year" said Betts. "These vehicles provide a new level of interior refinement, world class fit and finish, and significantly improved driving dynamics."

Similar to, and despite the significant improvements since hit bottom in 2009, GM has some work to do before it can regain a reputation fleet wide. Four GM manufactured vehicles - the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Chevrolet Colorado and Chevrolet Aveo/Aveo5 - are ranked among the worst in the market today. All up on the hybrid Tahoe cars list, as well as the previous year qualified for the worst.

"Our new vehicles in, we continue to bring vehicles, come as we continue very better to do I think that already turn perception that we noticed," says Woychowski. "I look forward to the next year or two if we this dynamic, where there is simply a [good] reputation is."

Woychowski expressed the same frustration with ratings, the Chrysler bed fact. He noticed a 45 percent reduction in warranty repairs GM brand since 2007 and said how the Aveo is not on lists like these cars much longer anyway.

"We are paid to get smarter every day", says Woychowski. "If we create the last Aveo, the best will, that we have ever done because those who buy this car today afternoon goes, we want to they have the best vehicle, which we have.... ever produced"

? 2011 Forbes.com

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Zipcar revs for initial public offering

NEW YORK-Zipcar Inc., the car-sharing company that rented rides for less than an hour, will receive expected to this week a warm reception from Wall Street for its planned initial public offering.

His followers think, skyrocketing gas prices car-sharing always popular will. You praise Zipcar's technologically-savvy and their plans for overseas expansion.

"Zipcar one of the long-awaited hot tickets in the IPO Valley," said John Fitzgibbon, founder of the IPOscoop.com. Investors are, IPOs again warming up to the market of 2008 and 2009 sputtered.

However, Zipcar was never profitable, since its inception in the year 2000. It expects to lose money again in 2011. Cars, his most important costs are not cheap.

The IPO value he would total in the middle of the expected price range around $125 million from $14 to $16 per share. The company expects revenue of about 89 million $, $46 million, of which plans you to use to pay down debt.

The company plans to trade on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ZIP. The offer is expected to award Wednesday night, to start Thursday with the stock to trade.

In contrast to a car rental program requires no Zipcar customers a store of value key pick up to visit. Lieber, members pay an annual fee of $60 and $25 application fee to join and get a keycard. Cars are parked in their city.

Members go online to reserve a car in the vicinity, and their key card unlocks it. Hourly rates vary, typically less than $ 10. customers pay no gas.

While Zipcar, that it more cities identified dozens where it could succeed says, there are questions how far it can expand. His model works best in densely populated areas, where many residents have cars.

Zipcar, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a giant among U.S. car sharing programs, operating in 14 cities. Most of its competitors are only one. It bought it major direct competitor, Flexcar, 2007.

However, Enterprise and Hertz car rental companies have their own car-sharing programs. An alliance called the CarSharing Association was also recently Zipcar's smaller competitors.

Zipcar expands campus with cars quickly on the College up to 230 colleges, up to 150 in June. Last year it moved overseas by buying u.k. rival tram Ltd.

Zipcar says that there are more than 100 u-Bahn areas around the world and hundreds of other universities as attractive markets has identified.

"If it works, then is anyone going to make a lot of money," car analyst Michael Millman said. "If it don't take I they can always the contract for the smaller and more profitable to be."

Millman said he is not sure if Zipcar's losses so far are a concern.

"I of which is, if they have a profit wanted to they could have a profit," said he, "but then they have to give up or delay growth."

Investment groups including Norwegian investment company Smedvig capital AS and a number of individual investors are also selling shares and part of the IPO proceeds.

Zipcar gets praise for the use of the technology: for example, members can receive text messages, if your reservation is almost on and to find out whether they can extend the rental.

The company has two tech prominent on its Board of Directors, AOL co-founder Steve case and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.

Skyrocketing gas prices Zipcar in the short term, violate can, said Dave Brook, a consultant of CarSharing Portland in the year 1998 was founded. But she eventually interest drum could, he said.

Brook thinks turning point if car owners drive less than 5,000 miles per year. "" "That's when you start you think"I'm spending a lot of money for this car and not always a lot of value from it.""

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Fiat increases its Chrysler stake to 30 percent

DETROIT - Fiat increased share at the Chrysler Group LLC Tuesday as the Italian automaker set several benchmarks to 5 percent by the Government meets their possessions.

The company now owns 30 percent of Chrysler, and it can increase property to 35 percent by a car 40 mpg in the United States

Fiat have a 20-percent stake in Chrysler, when it took over the company to increase funded bankruptcy in 2009, and the Government for a State several benchmarks for Fiat, its share. In exchange for the property management expertise got Chrysler small-car and clean engine technology and Fiat.

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Fiat, the enterprise's share rose to 25 percent in January, if it meets the first Government benchmark, by a fuel-efficient four cylinder engine in a factory in Dundee, me

The participation was granted Tuesday as Fiat-Chrysler's sales outside of North America, Chrysler Fiat's use of its technology offset and distributors in Europe and Brazil, Chrysler cars and trucks sell recruited.

Plans for the 40 mpg car are already in the works and Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, is hoping to increase Fiat share to 35 percent by end of this year.

Marchionne said he eventually wants to increase Fiat ownership to 51 percent. It can buy another 16 percent as soon as it has repaid loans from the U.S. and Canadian Governments. Marchionne said in the past, he expected that happen in 2011, but on Monday said, which could in the next year, based on slides if Chrysler able, must repay the loans. Chrysler is negotiating with banks that refinance government loans.

In addition to Fiat, Chrysler's other owners include a United Auto workers retiree health care of trust fund 59.2 per cent, the US Government to 8.6 per cent and the Canadian and Ontario governments at 2.2 per cent.

Fiat added 5 percent proportional to came from the other three owners.

Marchionne said, his Government loan refinance Fiat before the return to Chrysler in the public stock exchange. At first he thought that the initial public offering could come at the end of this year has but recently said it could be delayed.

© 2011 The associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Toyota warns us dealer of summer car deficiency

DETROIT-Toyota Motor Corp is revealing that U.S. dealer, new cars could be short specify this summer due to the production slowdowns in Japan and North America.

A memo to traders get Monday by the associated press said Toyota U.S. general manager Bob Carter, Toyota produces cars and trucks at significantly reduced levels in April and adopted not the capacity planning table for may to July.

"The potential exists, the delivery of new vehicles may be significantly influenced this summer" Carter said memo.

Production shortage has parts was disabled after hundreds of suppliers from 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan damaged were. Colors are affected even color. Carter said in the memo that the company due to the lack of a chemical from a supplier changed exterior colors on some vehicles manufactured.

Toyota's North American plants are a series of one-day shutdowns begin on Friday because of parts shortages faced. All 13 have its some downtime, even though the duration on some can vary. For most, the a day shut down between April 15 and 25 will happen April. The temporary shutdowns affects 25 000 workers, but there will be no layoffs, the company said.

Under the vehicles, Toyota makes the US and Canadian plants are the Camry and Corolla sedans, the tundra pickup and the Sienna minivan.

Japan Toyota plans production at all its factories from April 18 through April 27, but resume only on half of their normal volume. The Japanese plants can become 10 for an annual holiday break down then by may. The hybrid Prius and Yaris compact cars are the cars, which makes the company in Japan.

Carter said Toyota has now available in the United States taking into account, that 300,000 vehicles Toyota sold 176,222 cars and trucks in March, the current stock stock supply means of the company slightly less than two months.

"What we do know is summary, today we have good levels of inventory, but inventory is always close," said Carter. Toyota's U.S. sales off to a strong start in April, he said.

Earl Stewart, a car dealership selling Toyota in North Palm Beach, Florida, of whom 88 Prius hybrids last month, but now has no stock. He hopes as many this week find he received.

"I am sure, it's not nearly as many as we could sell," he said. Stewart said he put the orders from customers and hopes to fill in the next few months.

Carter said Toyota will all two weeks shipping vehicles to North America and not on six or more ports per trip. He said he told how many vehicles will come to each port as soon as he receives each ship manifest dealer.

The contents of the note were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Shares of the Zipcar rally in stock market debut

NEW YORK shares of Zipcar Inc., car-sharing service a US popular with college students and city dwellers, rose 66 percent in early trading on Thursday following the initial public offering enough demand, more shares and price than the expected sale attracted NASDAQ.

$11,88 In her debut for trading at $29.88 added shares, following the initial public offering Wednesday raised$ 174.3 million.

Shareholders of the company sold 1.4 million more shares as originally planned in the initial public offering price of $18 per share, over the proposed range from $14 to $16 price.

And Zipcar is almost a decade old, a leading provider of so-called car-sharing, a service, the customers car a hourly or daily rate and Park in convenient rent may stains.

The service is especial popular in urban areas and college campus, where less people of own cars and parking is scarce and expensive.

The model has on so much, that have larger car rental Holdings Inc caught, such as such as Hertz global, company launched Holdings Inc and U-Haul, owned by Amerco, rival car-sharing services.

Zipcar is revolution by venture-capital investors including Steve case life, benchmark capital, Greylock Partners and Smedvig capital support.

Zipcars are above all the streets of 14 major cities and roaming 230 college campuses around the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Expand in Europe, about a year ago next Zipcar bought a British peer, tramway Ltd.

In February, the company of former eBay added Inc. CEO Meg Whitman Board.

The company said it planned, the proceeds from the initial public offering mostly to debt-part on tram former shareholders-pay off, but also its expanding business, marketing and service selection use.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan led underwriters on the initial public offering.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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Rare Mustang found while cleaning out the garage

Make LECOMPTON, Kansas - is out of a garage cleaning and the search for something so amazing that it was to win the lottery.

It happened a Lecompton businessman.

For the last 40 years as an auctioneer, Bill fair said that he has come across some weird stuff.

He said "A skull, parts of the body,".

But fair said he was not ready for what he found recently.

What fair found was one a classic 66 Shelby Mustang of only 1,100 manufactured and sold's of Carroll Shelby personal car much.

The fastback was sitting in the middle of a huge pile of junk-e-in a storage room. It has been 26 years and was in perfect condition in the vicinity.

"In the middle of the trash was a car," he said.

Fair does not really know what had just found his company. Some research has shown that similar cars sold upwards of $2 million for have.

Fair was rented by a court appointed lawyer in working with the Texas Attorney general's to take office and clean out of the building. When he told them about the car, they had delivered it to an auction in San Antonio.

And while fair never the classic Mustang again can see, he will never forget it.

Fair said she already have an offer of $60,000 for the car. The Prosecutor General's Office expects Texas, to $ 200,000 to.

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Toyota sells 1 millionth Prius hybrid in us

DETROIT-Toyota Motor Corp, fight, restart production, after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, said Wednesday that it has sold 1 million Prius hybrids in the United States.

The Prius is been best-selling hybrid in the United States said the automaker, as it on sale 11 years ago went.

The Prius is powered by a gasoline engine and an electric motor. It can receive up to 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 on the highway.

It is becoming increasingly popular in this year become how gas prices in direction have nationwide move $4 a gallon.

Toyota said it has sold more than 2 million Priuses worldwide.

11. March earthquake in Japan Toyota forced to stop production in most Japanese factories. But the company to make newly launched two plants, on the 28 March Prius and Lexus models.

Toyota launches two more models make an another small step toward normalization on 11 April, operations. But the world's largest automaker denied a report that most hit its domestic factories would start next week, and also has warned that supply disruptions likely vehicle Assembly to one or more which interrupt its North American factories at any given time.

Moody's investors service on Wednesday warned that it may downgrade your credit rating for Toyota due to the financial fallout of suspended passenger car production after the March 11 Quake and tsunami.

The warning came as Toyota worldwide no. 1 struggling automakers, to resume output in Japan after the twin disasters disrupted supply chains and the lack of parts caused.

The associated press contributed to this report.

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The Buick is back again! No, really...

During Butler University long-shot bid Monday night against the University of Connecticut in the NCAA title game collapsed, basketball fans got a look at an another Cinderella story, which can have a better chance of success.

Buick, the long struggling General Motors brand, before recently signed a three year sponsorship deal with the NCAA, highlighted by the debut of a new "hymn" in the last few days March commercial madness.

"Our intention is the flag and inspire a re-evaluation of the Buick," said Craig Bierley, brand marketing chief.

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Not many Americans is aware that Buick is still around, admits Bierley. In fact, many analysts have long prompted GM, Buick to give up, and it was expected that one of the first brands to go, when the giant automaker in Government-controlled bankruptcy be overturned in the year 2009.

The US Government forced cut GM four of its eight North American brands. At the end, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac were closed while Saab was sold. Buick survived along with the Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC.

Buick not only survived, it begins to thrive now. The dominant in the luxury long United States already for the first two months of the year sold the sign, which is positioned as a mid-luxury brand, Lexus, a vehicle make.

Lexus were surpassed in turn by BMW in the first quarter, again his leading role in the March and the two automakers. However, Buicks sales which easily surpassed industry as a whole recovery. The Division of GM sold 15,663 cars and crossovers in the last month a 20.9 percent increase over the same month a year earlier. For the first three months of the year, sales 39.2 per cent over the previous year amounted to 44,739 - a jump.

Just as important the fact that these increases came is trimmed as Buick - back on sale in distributors long the dumping ground for the brand unwanted offers.

Of course it helps, to a large extent new line-up to have. The still strong enclave is Buick's oldest model, introduced for model year 2008. The crossover was the first sign was modified slightly in Buick. It has won not only several awards, but also began the younger, wealthier and better educated buyers, is the way the Buick had seen in decades.

Since then a procession of new car offered was sedan, 4-door shelf, one long for product, including the great LaCrosse and Buick line starved added later in the year of the compact verano. On the upcoming Shanghai motor show Buick will draw now expected the packs from a show car morphs in a completely new compact crossover.

To reveal Buick's decision the concept vehicle in China instead of at April's New York Auto show is important, yet not really surprising. In fact, Ed Welburn, GM global design Director, takes note of the fact that Buick is probably only exist "because of the China."

The last emperor had a curious twist of fate a Buick that later become the Communists only at the cost of ownership of Mao's long-time lieutenant Zhou Enlai was taken prisoner. As GM Chinese officials approached a dozen years with plans for a factory in Shanghai, it was said, had to produce Buicks instead of a stronger brands of the company. Since then, GM has turned to China's largest automaker and Buick of one of its largest foreign brands.

Now the challenge for Buick, to reproduce their success in China, here in the United States is lamenting "where is the perception [the Buick brand] with reality" Chris Perry, GM's North American marketing director.

The NCAA campaign-, include basketball, football, hockey and women's football - plays for the newly create Buick's push-to-image.

Meanwhile, the GM brand can also benefit from the effects of 11 March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which have crippled the Japanese automotive industry.

Michael Jackson, CEO of the giant AutoNation retail network, this week warned that Japanese vehicles supply will be probably short in the coming months. It could be true in particular for Lexus, because all the Toyota luxury brand are currently mounted products in Japan. Toyota is just the beginning of assembly lines locked by the March 11 disaster restart. And the ongoing nuclear crisis, which has left the country behind the power, is expected to automobile production for some time limit.

Buick's long-term success is still far from guaranteed, cautioned automotive analyst Dan Gorrell of car Strategem, a Southern California-based market research company. The Buick brand is still an older, less wealthy buyer - although, that begins to shift. And Buick - like the rest of GM - still sees sales lag in coastal key markets.

The brand has a smaller cast than main competitors such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But is optimistic that with less divisional mouth GM feed now can afford Bierley, Buick more give what it takes. The new Verano, in particular "the playing field gives us," specifically a compact luxury segment long dominated brand overseas imports.

As March Madness fans know, there are plenty of long-shot teams, you give to the annual tournament only their dreams, such as Butler's, see shot down. But Buick is betting that it has to go all the way the staying power. Whether it has a Cinderella team remains to be seen, but Buick is so far, defying the odds.

© 2011 msnbc.com.  Reprints

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Teens drive apps let parents monitor

Mobile app developers are not wait teen on Oprah or the Federal Government to resolve driver safety issues. A variety of driver tracking functions of the vulnerability by hackers, price, privacy, and adaptation in the competition offer a series of parent-oriented Smartphone applications. For those without smartphones a whole has emerged in response to the sudden accessibility of tracking technology craft of agnostic mobile phone devices. Lisa Peterson Bender endured after mom's cancer, baby born healthy pregnant women with cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, and seven months fear, questions, whether against her unborn daughter disease would endanger. Healthy, Alice Virginia was born on 13 March. Elusive Bronx Zoo Cobra has a name: MIA Trump: I doubt 'real' Obama in US Cosby on Trump was born: Prince low hanging "It is full": world's eligible Royals

Taser, which non-lethal weapons manufacturer, busted in the software space at CES is earlier this year with protector, a car tracking device that from a paired phone once automatically locks the engine switched on. Once activated the phone only, shows a simplified logo, ornaments, blue screen, with the hood shield and prevents calls and texts, except on 911 and allows select numbers by parents.

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The brute-force-security from an external hardware trigger is an attempt, the hacker preempt tactics of tech-savvy teens. Clever kids have a history of outwit adults, as the young participants an obesity study, to think about researchers the a pedometer that more had they their pets to fool actually were attached as they. An external device might just make the software more difficult hacking, or at least more trouble as proven. Taser's device sold for $249 on their website, plus a monthly subscription.

What is when teens are Joyriding with their friends? Android-enabled speedbump warns parents when the Smartphone faster than a predetermined speed detects movement. Speedbump itself more as a kid friendly, triggering calls himself only his big brother tracking, when a violation is detected; In addition, parents can their own standards on speeds for residential, secondary or highway roads (probably as part of part of some negotiations with their child) set.

Speedbump's automatic speed recognition is $12.99 per month, and offers a pricing plan that required for $3 of less a month check manual speed. Thrifty parents who could choose the manual data entry feel safe that the effect of "Watch Tower" never know, when you monitor teens will scare in behave at all times. This effect can work only for people, the aversion and it is unlikely that very type teen the scare, which engaged in reckless driving in the first place. So, if security really is relevant, it, might be wise for parents $3 per month pony up the extra.

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And finally, what concerned parents, the hundreds for imagination of smartphones peeled still does not? The Internet is full commercial fleet and vehicle-tracking technologies, to keep the nervous parents tabs can be used to their teenager. In fact, the demand seems so high, that this low production sites such as generic GPS parents secured sites on Google keywords in search capture technology for alternative solutions to be tooled seem.

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Chrysler feeling pain of Japan parts lack

Chrysler Group LLC was the latest car producers affected by the earthquake of Japan and its aftermath, because overtime said it work on some of which would cancel its North American assembly plants due to parts shortages.

Chrysler, which is headed by Italy "Fiat SpA, said cut off overtime plants in Toluca, Mexico, and in Brampton, Ontario, in, what it the first effects of the crisis Japan."

The river which has auto parts from Japan been disrupted since a massive earthquake and tsunami in the Japan met on 11 March.

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"We have experienced no interference of the regularly scheduled production due to one of the problems in Japan." We, however some planned overtime from our take production plan in an effort to save supplier parts, which may be affected by the disaster "Said Chrysler spokeswoman Katie Hepler in a statement."

The Brampton plant, near the city of Toronto, is building the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger and Challenger, and the Fiat 500, which went on sale in the US market while the Toluca plant makes the Dodge journey. Those sections are used in the 500.

Chrysler previously said his minivan assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, idle would this week due to the part not in connection with the crisis Japan bottlenecks. The plant is also minivans for Volkswagen AG.

The parts deficiency due to the crisis Japan influenced many car manufacturers, with Toyota Motor Corp., have said on Tuesday that at least one of the North American plants would probably have production to interruptions.

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The Japanese automaker said would happen first production cuts likely in this month. Previously, it had limited overtime work at the sites.

Last week, Ford Motor Co. said it would its Kentucky pickup truck plant, idle while Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. the capacity planning table adapted to the locations in the United States and Mexico non-productive days for later planned by the shift in the second and third quarters to April.

Ford had previously said it would its assembly plant in Genk, Belgium, to save parts in the idle state.

General Motors co. had shut before production in the pickup truck in Shreveport, Louisiana, due to the lack of parts.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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Mercedes-Benz M class reminiscent of vehicles of the U.S.

DETROIT-Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles in the United States is 136,750 M class and M class made from 1999 to 2004 for questions relating to control cruise, which can lead to a crash U.S. federal safety regulators said in mind. ?Is the bad economy good birth control? Life Inc.: The recession has its mark on Americans live, and questions to some 4 per cent decline in the birth rate, how deep the influence that it will have on the next generation. Life Inc.: A colorful way to avoid foreclosure Buick (Yes, that Buick!) is doing great (serious!) Fore! Some famous and updated for sale golf real estate 10 minutes before 4/8/2011 8: 03: 29 AM + 00: 00 ConsumerMan: Farewell, reward debit cards

A filing with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows to perform the repairs to the Mercedes dealer from September.

The brakes to disengage cruise control may fail, said the chances of a crash, the submission. There are other ways, including working "cruise control stalk" or pumps the brakes, which measures the system still fails the brake application, the filing said.

The recall was prompted by several complaints from consumers NHTSA said.

The recall includes model year 2000 - 2002 M-class and 2000 - 2004 M-class AMG vehicles.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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5 Tips for dealing with car dealers

There are a few of the cardinal rules that apply for any negotiation. If you are the buyer, you will almost never anything less than your first offer. The first number that you used the baseline, judged by which all subsequent offers on the table and compare. If you set the bar too high, you can be little wiggle room a deal cutting to a number you like.

It comes to cars, assume the attitude that you are always way if you do not what you want, and go to a different dealer. This ability gives you the upper hand over all car salesmen, no matter how cunning and experienced they may be. Use this power to your advantage.

Here are a few more tips that might help.

1. Do your homework
Arm himself with as much information as possible about the car that you want to buy. Magazines and Web sites are a good source, as well as the Kelley Blue book, if you are in the market for a used car.

Find out if it not public traders of hold back and financial incentives that directly benefit the retailer. A cancellation reserve is a percentage of sales, which is repaid by the manufacturer to the dealer. The vehicle thus artificially raises the dealer costs on paper and are shown the vehicle more expensive than it really is. Their goal is to take the money away from the dealer and put it in your own pocket.

Bring your research with you to the vendors, including fair values, current discounts, offers, financing and trade-in estimates. An important aspect of the negotiation is a good deal, the seller to convince that you know what you are talking about before the trial. If you your credibility right at the beginning to have, is this the seller notice set up, that you are not a pushover.

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(2) You have a budget
Many merchants are asked whether you have a budget, or highest level to which you want to spend. Answer big question, but not directly. You should have a budget, but keep it to yourself. Their leverage, lower than your budget, disappears when you open, set this number because the seller now know what you are ready to negotiate.

You want to get the best car, you can while spending the least money possible to buy it. When you are asked if you have a budget to respond to that of the amount you will spend from the car and attractiveness depends on the whole deal. Are intentionally vague.

Review your financial situation and find out how much car you can realistically afford. In the location you would like to, offers and counter-proposals to make without this calculation on the ground must.

3. Consider your timing
If you buy at the end of a year model, merchants have to clean their available resources to make room for the new models. While a year lose depreciation and amortization, which is a decisive factor, if you plan to keep the car for several years. Retailers advertise special discounts at different times of the year and on some holidays.

If your purchase at one of these hours, you can not, you can be not, to stop you. Many retailers give the same discounts all year round when you are ready to negotiate for them.

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4. Bring a friend
It is not uncommon that a seller reinforcements to bring, if you do not seem to stir. If you have someone with you, they can run interference and some sales distract pitches. This can be useful, if you against several sellers. Can your friend in a "good Cop - bad Cop" approach where your friend acts as a bad COP and makes you meet as a buyer and appear reasonable. Make sure that your friend is completely in advance informed about the role, which you want to play it.

This can work to your advantage, if the sales manager in the negotiation, to break a deadlock. He has generally more authority than the seller to price reductions.

5. Dress the part
You do not to look, how to burn money. When you trade in an old car, drive to the dealer and let the new Mercedes in the garage. Dress casually, but professionally. Sloppiness will not help, because the seller thinks that he waste time with you is. If you are lucky, are a Zadora, you, have to be at home.

At the dealer
There are services from consumer organisations and insurance companies that you can deploy with car cost data, and you can find some a fee. If you spend several thousand dollars of a new car, it is value issues a few to get this information. It will pay off in the long term.

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GM CEO in the value of $1.3 million shares

DETROIT - General Motors co. is reward its top manager with shares currently worth more than $1.3 million.

In a filing Monday with the said securities and Exchange Commission U.S., GM was Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson 42,360 stock units on March 31 as part of his compensation. Akerson is paid in three installments from March of next year.

The stock units are now $ 1.37 million based on current share price of GM, but Akerson get, what value they are on the day they are paid.

Akerson, a former telecommunications Executive, was GM CEO last fall and led the company through an initial public offering in November. He is expected to get a pay package in the amount of $ 9 million for 2010, including $ 1.7 million in pay.

Last week, said the US Treasury Department Akerson's is 2011 limited to $9 million pay. To borrow the company 49.5 billion $ in the reorganization bankruptcy took over the Treasury Department in GM a 61 percent in 2009. The parts cut off, to 26.5 percent in November, but can pay set still for companies, even their federal aid be repaid which are.

GM also said Monday that Vice President Stephen Girsky currently similar received shares in the amount of $828,406 under a compensation plan as Akerson's.

GM shares fell 2 cents to $32.39 to close.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Toyota: N. American plant closures likely in April

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Toyota Motor Corp said Monday, that it is inevitable, that the company is forced to temporarily all shut down its North American factories because of parts shortages due to the earthquake, the Japan made.

The temporary shutdown are expected to take place later in the month relate to 25,000 workers, but no layoffs are expected, said Mike Goss spokesman. Only the planned shutdown last or whether all 13 of the Toyota will be affected the same factories, is unknown and depends on if parts production in Japan can start, he said how long.

So far that presented used parts in your inventory or relying on those who have the North American plants have been delivered to the earthquake, Goss. But these were low run.

"We where up to a point this month get this gap in the pipeline begins to show." So we have to suspend production for a while, "he said."

A March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged auto parts plants in the north-eastern Japan, cause bottlenecks that hit the most car production of the nation. Japan's car daily output of more than 500,000 vehicles since the disaster, has fallen, Scotiabank senior says economist Carlos Gomes. Some manufacturers market plants back on line, but only at low speeds due to missing parts.

Manufacturers outside the country are the lack of parts from Japan. Just last week, several North American plants for part of this month, Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. said closed out, and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said that his company can expect to see errors.

Toyota only gets about 15 percent of its parts from Japan for cars and trucks built in North America, "but still have them all, to build the vehicles", said Goss.

Poured Kentucky said Monday before a show in Louisville, from Toyota's head of North American operations. Toyota has about 500 company provides parts in North America might, but many of them get components from Japan, which is not available, he said. During the planned shutdown, workers focuses on training and review the operations for ways to improve. You can take off even holiday or time without pay.

The planned shutdown all Toyota and Lexus models produced in the United States will have, he said. Several large car dealership chain predictions lack models of Japanese automakers in the spring and summer.

Goss would not estimate how long the Assembly lines would be shut down. "It depends on how quickly we can help these suppliers up and running again to get into Japan," he said. "Things change every day and we try hard to minimize any interruption of our production in North America."

Toyota runs behind the several parts, mainly electronics and paint pigments, said Yoshimi Inaba, Chief Operating Officer for North American operations. The company is looking for alternative parts supplier. He also said it is too early to predict the impact on the Toyota sales and their efforts to from a string of safety recalls last year, which have hurt sales.

"We have some inventory." So if the interruption of the production is short enough, then it would have any major impact, "he told reporters to at an event of literacy in Louisville." "It is too early to predict how big is the influence."

Toyota warned last month that production cuts in some North American factories were possible, but said it knew when or how long.

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Top car dealer sees lack of Japanese car

DETROIT - cars Japanese manufacturers will supply the largest U.S. last chain dealers this spring and summer because of the short month earthquake and tsunami.

AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson said Monday that his company expects disruptions in the operations that, to limit the availability of new vehicles in showrooms. He based his prediction on information from the automotive industry, he said.

More than half of AutoNation's new vehicle sales last year came from passenger cars and truck Japanese producers. About two-thirds of these vehicles were assembled in North America.

A March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged auto parts plants in the north-eastern Japan, cause bottlenecks most passenger car production in this nation, shut. The parts shortage affected the manufacturers outside the country. Just last week, Ford Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co., said, part of this month because of bottlenecks would that few North American businesses are closed and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said his companies see interruptions.

Jackson said, it was difficult to predict the effect of the defect to AutoNation. The company has 243 new vehicle dealership franchise in 15 States.

Japan's car daily production of about 37,000 vehicles has fallen, Scotiabank senior says economist Carlos Gomes.

Nissan Americas includes five North American plants for several days this month because of the parts supply interruptions. It plans, later to compensate for the loss of production.

In Japan, Toyota Motor Corp., said last week that nine of his 15 works have included the production of vehicles or parts again in Japan. The rest remained closed for an indefinite period.

Honda Motor Co. is planning to restart his Sayama plant and Suzuka factory on 11 April. If these two works are auto assembly plants on line, all Honda's back in operation, but they bottlenecks are run with half of the normal rate because of the parts.

Jackson expects that by the end of this year recover the US car market to keep. AutoNation is to manage by deficits, he said.

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Car sales on the rise, but buyer "Downsizing"

DETROIT - Americans slipped in smaller cars and SUVs in March, as higher gas prices meant fuel consumption from top priority and rising employment, that more first-time buyers purchased a vehicle.

The trends high US sales of new cars by 17 percent from a year earlier to 1.25 million, a healthy rate, with the automotive industry, slow and steady recovery shows remains on the line. The monthly sales pace, adjusted for seasonality of the business and projected for the year, came to 13.1 million. During the recent boom years car sales hit 16 million per year.

11. March earthquake in Japan had little stricter spring progression could be impact on sales, while automaker said deliveries.

General saw double-digit increase in sales of motors, Ford, Honda and Nissan. The major car manufacturers only Toyota reported a decline of 6 percent, but was expected since Toyota sales strengthened in March of great incentives were.

Ford sold more new cars than General Motors last month, so that March, only the second time the company GM since 1998 sold.

Story: GM discounts, CEO comments raise eyebrows

Gas prices rose, moved to a more efficient cars and crossovers. The national average for a gallon gas 3.58 make $ this week, the highest price for this time of year. Gas prices have 25.1 cents per gallon last month jumped.

"This is a new normal, we see you in the spring of this year, if dramatically, they facilitate gas prices are", said Jesse Toprak, Vice President for industry trends on car prices website TrueCar.com.

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Sales of the Nissan Sentra compact car doubled last year, such as sale of the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra a combined 55 percent were small cars. Crossovers-saving fuel, to. Ford escape, sales increased by 25 percent.

But Toprak said gas prices were not the whole story. Buyers always responses to new products, and it is only, that many of these products - such as the Ford Fiesta small car and Chevrolet Cruze compact car - are also the most fuel-efficient.

A healthier economy were also buyers more confidence walking into showrooms and go with a new drive. The economy added 216,000 new jobs in March, bringing the unemployment rate to a two-year low of 8.8 percent. Many workers are young people looking for work during the recession, but now have jobs and are looking to buy a car. The cars, which they want to under $ 20,000 and are economical, Toprak said.

Bigger cars, crossovers and SUVs are hurt most by the trend. Buyers appear below a vehicle size will move if they make a new purchase. Sale of the traverse, a large crossover fell 4.7 percent in March, while sales of the middle class were Chevrolet Equinox crossover to 17 percent. Sales of the Ford Taurus large sedan were 15 percent, but the Ford Fusion midsize sedan saw its best sales month ever.

Pickup sales decreased slightly and seemed pickup buyers looking for more efficiency. Ford said that Ford's new V6 engine chosen 37 percent of the F-150 buyer in March instead of the traditional V-8.

In the past, which would have been a concern for car manufacturers, to get the stronger profit margins on larger vehicles. Alan Batey, Vice President which Chevrolet, said division of GM, but buyers are their small cars with more expensive options such as leather seats, equipment that is driving the prices. Only 20 percent of the buyers will decide for a base model Cruze, he said.

GM said its sales growth a total of 11 percent was powered by the new Cruze, its first high-quality small cars in years. The vehicle one 80 percent revenue gain compared to lackluster predecessor, the cobalt. The increase is by far the largest for all GM vehicles last month.

But GM was two months sweet deals and his rival a total growth stayed behind. To increase by about $400 per vehicle in January discounts and it in February expanded, cut them GM in March.

Sales were Ford Motor Co. to 16 percent saw the strength of new vehicles including the new Explorer crossover, which double sales of last March.

Chrysler Group LLC said his 31 percent increase in sales of medium-sized sedans such as the Chrysler-200, which was featured in a popular Super Bowl ad and led Dodge Avenger. Exceeded sales growth for cars trucks and truck sales was still strong at Chrysler.

Toyota attributed to its turnover drop reduced discounts. TrueCar.com said Toyota incentives 23 percent from last March and 11 percent of February fell. Officials tempted customers to assure that adequate supply of Prius sales jump in March 52 percent saw it. Production has resumed in Japan and shipments will be coming soon, she said.

"We do not think that we run out of the car," said Bob Carter, Director of Toyota in the U.S. branch of the company.

Toyota Motor Co. will start beginning of March with a 18-day supply of Japanese Prius hybrids, April down from a 30-day supply.

Other automakers reporting sales Friday include:

Kia Motors America, with a 44 percent from March last year. Increased sales of the new Optima mid-sized car by 90 percent. Honda Motor Co. said sales jumped 23 percent. The subcompact fit, which in Japan made is, led the way with a 49 percent, while civic compact sales rose by more than 40 percent. Nissan Motor Co. said sales 27 percent on the month, the best month in the history of the company jumped. Sale of the Xterra compact more than doubled, but sales of SUV Pathfinder was also strong against the trend of small-car. Hyundai Motor America reported a 32 percent sales jump and said sales of the Elantra compact more than doubled. Subaru of America Inc., said U.S. sales rose by 13 percent. Outback sales jumped 38 Prozent.Mazda North American operations said its US sales rose by 33 percent. Sale of the Mazda5 van more than doubled.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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Muscle cars hit the road again

ALT: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Ford was not the only one with a track-centric Pony Car, which debuted in 1969. Chevrolet rolled out the Camaro ZL1 in the same year.

This car was more the result of ingenuity as a planned intention. In contrast to the boss, not the ZL1 someone was to do designed. Instead, it was the result of a creative Illinois Chevrolet dealers ordered, that 50 Camaros of the company's aluminum block 427 cubic inch racing engine ZL1 with the code name.

A few other retailers idea caught on and was 69 cars were rated then engine officially 430 PS, but more than 500 produce tested was built hp.

The $4,200 racing engine doubled the price of the Camaro, so that she are not terribly popular in regular customers, but drag racer car's ability to rocket down the Strip in just 11 seconds estimated.

ALT: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

In the early 1960s American automakers agreed not officially back racing with "Factory" team. But the company had customers who wanted to drive even their cars, and so wanted to win for this team.

Sports car racing team wanted the fastest Corvette, Ferrari and Carroll Sheby Cobras and Chevrolet commits, offers regular production option code Z06 Corvette challenge. Select this option to the ' Vette's order form gives the factory install a 360 hp 327 cubic-inch V8, M21 4-speed manual transmission, stiffer Springs, shocks and AMG, racing-grade drum brakes (the Corvette have nor have disc brakes), alloy wheels and a huge 36, 5-gallon gas tank for endurance racing.

At $5,975 Chevy 1963 found only 199 customers for the Z06.

New: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

In 2001, Chevrolet was ready to defend a more powerful version of the Corvette of the car call roll-out, which March had claimed performance against the Dodge Viper. The company achieved in their archives and dusted off the Z06 moniker. This meant the usual steps of the installation of a more powerful engine and stiffening the suspension, track performance, while the base model with softer springs and available automatic for the Boulevard cruiser to update.

Today, Chevrolet offers even the Corvette Z06, but its position as the apex of the Corvette performance since replaced the supercharged Corvette ZR1. So the 2011 Z06 Corvette is model with a 427-cubic-inch V8 (7.0-liter) loads 505 HP, one driving the car the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine top speed of 198 mph. the Z06 carves widespread use of lightweight carbon fibre and magnesium mass 3.175 a sum, the outrageous in today's crop of Porky is lbs performance models. If that's not enough, one brings in available performance package wheels, tires, shocks and brakes the ZR1 for maximum handling and braking.

ALT: 1968 Dodge Charger R/T

Dodge debuted the fastback designed medium-sized charger 1966 with a design originally intended for Chrysler turbine car, which has reached not production. But an updated design in 1968 tripled charger sales, and together with the new sheetmetal, a new high performance option, the R/T came for road/track stand.

The R/T base engine was the 375 hp 440 Magnum but the optional 425 bhp 426 Hemi with two four barrel carburetor was the legendary pinnacle of the line, with a top speed of 156 mph, a test of the car magazine car and driver.

With modest changes in the following year the charger 1969 later fame won in garish citric acid as the street of running racecar "General Lee" in the popular weekly 1980s TV series "The Dukes of Hazard."

New: 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Widespread dismay of enthusiasts return of the Dodge Charger to the company's lineup, was it not as a swoopy Coupe, but as Pug-faced 4-door sedan. Dodge soothes ruffled feathers with a model of R/T the charger fidelity to the original performance, if not look to confirm.

For 2011, the charger R/T powered a 370-hp 5, 7-litre Hemi V8 which in a nod to modern realities, in which a fuel-saving cylinder mode changes, when all these horses are not required. Another modern reality is customers lack of interest in manual transmissions, in a departure from the original so shocking as the new car block there are styling, so no manual transmission available.

But there are all-wheel drive, give their first realistic chance to have a normally rear-wheel drive American muscle car as the year of Snow plagued driver. And for those, the current R/T feel lack of power compared to the original, there is always the 425-hp 6.1-liter SRT-8 version.

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Marchionne says that Chrysler IPO could be delayed

TURIN, Italy Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne Wednesday proposed that Chrysler of its initial public offering of the demand of the US automaker and the auto workers union Trust Fund cash can delay.

Marchionne has already indicated that an IPO could happen by the end of the year.

He said a decision on, if and when to Chrysler public how much the automaker would depend on itself and the United Auto workers healthcare trust, which pays health benefits for pensioners and need a 63.5% in Chrysler, liquidity market share.

"If these two needs are not present, then the IPO of Chrysler can or may be irrelevant," Marchionne told reporters after a Fiat shareholders meet.

But he added: "It is rational, perhaps useful, to expect that it will have an IPO." It can be done very quickly. We stored in the SEC, we are working even our way through the comments. We have, once again implemented a public company, and issue of securities takes time. "We should do it properly."

Fiat SpA, which took over management of Chrysler LCC 21 months, increased its stake in the once bankrupt automaker, Detroit number three to 25 percent this year. Marchionne confirmed that it expects that to increase it to 35 percent by the end of the year. At this point, it could go further and increase your participation on 51 percent majority stake if Chrysler pays loan to the U.S. and Canadian governments back. Marchionne is talking to banks about refinancing.

"Our goal remains to achieve a participation of more than 51 percent in the year," said Marchionne. Chrysler IPO could start at this point.

Marchionne Fiat had other options for its stake over 51 percent continue to increase, said the Treasury an additional 8 percent stake - including the possibility, he said to acquire. Treasury has 9.2 percent of Chrysler, while the Government of Canada holds a further 2.3%.

Marchionne also said that Chrysler production likely "created by the supply chain problems earlier this month by the tsunami and the earthquake in Japan will be loaded". Chrysler has already said it has to stop because a specialized pigment is produced in Japan not available, the orders for certain colors and Marchionne said, deployment of electronic components for Chrysler has slowed down.

"It likely negative effects on production, in particular in the United States", said Marchionne. He will not be models or appreciate otherwise possible production delays.

"It is an evolving scenario." ... What we want is a dislocation of anywhere one to three weeks, "Marchionne said."

Fiat European and Brazilian companies apparently not be affected, he said.

Katie Hepler, a spokeswoman Chrysler at the headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, would not possible U.S. production cuts Wednesday comment.

Marchionne said shareholders earlier that could potentially generate the two automakers billions combined revenues of euro100 ($141 billion) up to 2014.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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GM discounts, CEO comments raise eyebrows

Last fall, the road ahead looked smooth for General Motors.

Since it sank in Government guided bankruptcy, wiedereingestellt a leaner, meaner auto manufacturer over a year its shares on the world's major exchanges, again on the investment scene at the world's largest initial public offering burst.

But only four months later some industry watchers are fears that the company could draw new drivers, CEO Daniel Akerson, with the car market area is unfamiliar and GM into a ditch.

Critics claim that Akerson, a former telecommunications executive with pleasant subordinates of similar background, focus too much on cost reduce and heavily surrounded on incentives, such as such as discounts, artificially inflate sales at the expense of profits and brand image to leave is.

Adding to the worry: finance the departure this month of GM's Chief Chris Liddell after less than a year at work. Liddell ran GM through its record $23 billion IPO in November last year and his departure concerns about GM renewed stability and in the last few months behind the automaker put performance that many analysts have attributed to had. The company has four bosses in the past two years had.

"I have before this movie, and it ends badly," longtime Detroit Adam Peter Delorenzo said his blog, autoextremist.com.

Things have certainly optimistic considered for GM of the last time.

In the first months of 2011 sales of GM market share from its rivals packed cars and trucks, as the company increased according to sales data of j.d power and associates. It seems the rest of their investment in the company well for the future of the company, and hence the potential for U.S. taxpayer again bode.

Story: Delay the launch after earthquake Toyota Prius minivan

But some have called into question as these sales were made, and competitors have complained tactics of GM. You say, the use of sales incentives such as discounts access market a shortsighted tactic is disturbing their use that is industry now of a company under the direction of outsiders.

GM has strong incentives their cars since the beginning of the year, added great discounts offers for current owners of GM cars, no penalty early part-exchange for currently leased GM cars and larger discounts for users of the GM credit card. The result was a U.S. market share of more than 21 percent higher than the company has had in the year.

"We see upside to the incentives,", said Eric Lyman, Director of the residual value solutions in the automotive lease Guide, the industry authority on residual values.  "It is manipulating the market and lowering the cost of your vehicles, which lowers the resale value of your used vehicle on the market," he said.

This is the main concern of George Pipas, spokesman for sales analysis for Ford Motor Co. "The focus will be on the business rather than on the product" noticed he said "It clearly has adverse implications for resale value."

GM declined to respond directly, but text of a March 1 conference call with analysts by Don Johnson, Vice President of sales operations supplied. He was "price or incentives alone does not fully explain a 70 percent increase and a gain of almost three full share points,".

But the word in the industry is that sales fell in March after the incentives. "The metaphor that was used as drug addition,", Pipas said.  "If you move it sheetmetal depend on it is not so good."  "Then your customers hang it."

Some veterans ensure unfamiliarity with automotive engineering - he had to Akerson a long career as a Manager with Nextel and MCI--leads GM, error, that it made, when it was run from 1992 to 1995 by Chairman John Smale to repeat, formerly President and CEO of consumer products company Procter & gamble.

Smale's hand-picked North America President Ron Zarella the introduction of the Pontiac aztek, a dismal sales of SUV championed the styling of ridiculous it brought a quick end.

Akerson has appointed some top positions including the recent announcement that April 1 will take over as chief financial officer Dan, Ammann outsider in a similar way. Ammann came to GM of Morgan Stanley investment banking group. Akerson former Sprint Nextel has executive Linda Marshall, GM OnStar lead Division installed.

As GM's CEO, Smale was the conviction that GM just like P & G's consumer goods, and is largely could be sold cars with the differences in the packaging and marketing. The result was a product line of inconspicuous Autos--the aztek ungeachtet-- drains both costs and customer appeal.

In an echo of the past, Akerson recently said the Wall Street Journal was that a GM as the can of diet Coke was during the interview as well drink car.

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"It is a consumer product," he said. "GM is acting like a consumer-oriented, not engineering driven company start." "We sell a consumer product - our can cost only $30,000"

Industry insiders with a memory of the 90s years blasted immediately this view as a return to Smale's strategy failed, cultivate a product commoditize is important for a strong emotional connection to the drive sales and brand loyalty.

"The only difference between GM then and now GM is that this is a a company that has emerged only recently from the brink of bankruptcy, the bad-a single misstep can afford over brought from misguided leadership, even though she has the most competitive lineup (the vehicles) it had in decades" Delorenzo said.

At the time of his departure from the company last year, former Vice President of product development reminds boss Bob Lutz the mess which he found after joining GM in 2001:

"Product development all organisational with brand management was in," he said. "This was done Smale, John, who believed that you could use the principles of the Division of consumer products in the automotive business, which has sought, and it simply doesn't work."

Story: Quake could cause large car price increases.

Focus on costs and speed product development rather than on product quality and customer satisfaction has led cars, no one wanted, Lutz said.

Under Lutz, GM won numerous awards car as the North American car of the year for Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Volt, while cars like the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette and Buick LaCrosse won applause from magazine reviewers.

In addition said transaction prices-the actual selling price of GM car and truck-increased from $4,000 as a result of an additional $1,000 of the cost, Lutz, so that customers happier and the company more profitable.

Now Akerson says that speed and cost are the aspects on which he will focus the magazine to say that "while the second WELTKRIEGS GM produced tanks and equipment for four years." "Why should it take four years to a car?"

Reuters contributed to this report.

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