Eco-car projects of Toyota, Mitsubishi, Tata approved

The Board of Investment (BoI) has embraced the new government's Thailand Investment Year 2008-09 campaign by approving promotional privileges for seven investment projects totalling 60 billion baht.

Leading the momentum were investments in the production of small, fuel-efficient eco-cars. The auto industry was one of the main drivers behind the country's doubling of investment value to record high of 744.5 billion baht last year.

Of the seven projects granted promotional privileges yesterday, three were the eco-car production plans of Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota Motors and Tata Motors, whose rivals had already received the green light last year.

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) will invest 4.71 billion baht to make up to 107,000 eco-cars a year starting in 2010.


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What if your fuel bill was $1,200 a month?

Now, this is pain at the pump.

Record-setting fuel prices have hammered California drivers, but few are reeling like Rick and Arleen Roberts of Los Banos.

Their monthly bill to fill up his diesel VW Golf and her Corolla: Just shy of $1,200.

No typo, no misplaced comma.

"It's killing me," said Rick, 50, a scientist for Roche Pharmaceutical in Palo Alto.

"I never believed we'd be paying this much," sighed Arleen, a catering manager for a hotel in Fresno. Yep, he commutes 220 miles a day over Pacheco Pass to the Peninsula. She travels 165 miles deep into the Central Valley. That's 1,925 miles a week — or more when they work six days out of seven, which both often do.

Some people criticized the couple for choosing to live so far from work, when gas prices are hovering around $3.63 a gallon and diesel is $4.18.


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QAF Auto To Unveil BMW΄s New X3

Bandar Seri Begawan - QAF Auto Sdn Bhd will be holding a roadshow this month at The Mall in Gadong, where they will be unveiling Bavarian Motor Works' (BMW) latest Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) that has recently received accolades for being both efficient and safe.

Offering substantial enhancement of driving pleasure and economy, BMW's latest diesel-powered X3 is being brought to the local market by QAF Auto in hopes to further broaden its leading position in 2008 as the world's most successful SAY

"This is a totally new look for us, so the launching of the car can be compared to a facelift," QAF Auto Sales Manager Clement Chong told the Bulletin yesterday. The newly developed four-cylinder diesel in the X3 2.0d, along with numerous fuel-saving improvements, has been widely lauded for its efficiency and agility in its segment, BMW said in a media release.



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Fueling issues, educated guesses

In uncertain economic times for schools, one thing is almost a guarantee.

That guarantee is one that nearly every person who owns a car, truck or van can relate to. Whatever was paid this year for fuel cost it will almost certainly be more for the following year.

Although fuel cost is not necessary as big an issue for districts as the amount of funding the State of Michigan is going to pay out or how much enrollment will increase or decline, the cost of fuel for districts in the Cadillac area is a concern.

Much like trying to figure out the dollar amount the state is going to pay or the number of students a district might lose, there is no way of telling how much money is needed for fuel cost.

While districts don’t pay have to pay taxes on fuel and technology is making buses more efficient then they were in the past, the uncertainty of fuel prices has area districts looking for ways to stretch every transportation dollar.


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FPA's Rodriguez Keeps His Powder Dry And Outperforms In Sell-Off

Few things seem to slow down amateur race-car driver and First Pacific Advisors CEO Robert Rodriguez. Over the 10 years ended March 31, his FPA Capital Fund ranked No. 9 among small-cap value portfolios tracked by Morningstar. It ranked No. 2 so far this year going into Wednesday. .


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What will fuel our green future?

Green auto technology is making cars cleaner and more efficient, but no one knows for sure which technology will win out, a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon was told yesterday.

Glen Ringdal, president of the New Car Dealers of B.C., laid out a five-pronged plan to help control greenhouse gases, beginning with cleaner fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane and diesel.

"We're looking into technology that can make ethanol from trees, waste growth, even garbage," said Ringdal. "There are even two large ethanol plants being built in Georgia that can make extra ethanol from pine trees.

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2008 New York International Auto Show Steve and Thom Wrap-Up

Four major US auto shows with international importance keep us busy all winter. Los Angeles begins the season in November where the Asian influence is felt and where automobile enthusiasm is most pervasive in the general populace. Detroit is next in January drawing by far the most international media attention and therefore the most new product introductions. But space is seriously limited. Chicago in early February is a wide open show mostly in terms of having the most space, but we always find great new stuff there as well. Now, here we are in New York in March where we see most of the fresh new products from the other three shows plus a few treats the manufacturers have saved for this final blast into the model year.

We, your intrepid Detroit Bureau team of Thom and Steve, drove the 11-hour, I-80 trek so we wouldn't have to suffer the ongoing indignities of airline travel.


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Nat'l Car Care Month right time to spring clean auto

The heat is coming. Your car is going to suffer, and your wallet may, too, if you don't prepare. Planning ahead and preparing your car may prevent it from needing an "unexpected" trip to the repair shop.

April is National Car Care Month -- the perfect time to visit your local repair shop and have a preventative maintenance inspection and checkup. For those who love their cars, it means the chance to scrub off winter's grit and grime and administer some well-deserved TLC.

Follow these 10 important tips on how to spring clean your machine:

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Tuner Creates $28,000 Body Kit for Lamborghini Murcielago

PARAMOUNT, California — A Japanese tuner has come up with a way to make your Italian supercar even more exclusive by adding a limited-edition body kit that costs as much as a new car. The aero kit from Premier4509 for the Lamborghini Murciélago consists of a front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper made of carbon fiber and fiberglass. An adjustable rear spoiler is optional. Only 300 packages will be sold worldwide, with each kit featuring a numbered serial plate. Adding the kit to the Murciélago — which sells for more than $330,000 — will cost buyers $28,000. Premier4509 is a brand of Japanese tuner Veilside and produces parts for luxury cars. In addition to body kits, the company will eventually sell limited-edition wheels and luxury accessories. Later this year, the Premier4509 line will grow to include more products for Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston Martin and Maserati vehicles.



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Tuner Special: Loder1899 Ford Focus

ODELZHAUSEN, Germany — Bavarian car conceptualist Loder1899 has been tuning cars since the turn of the 19th century, and lately has specialized in the Ford lineup. This includes cars in the extended family, including the modest Loder1899 version of the Land Rover Freelander 2 and the menacing Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Loder's latest styling kit includes a sporty ground effects package for the recently redesigned 165-horsepower Ford Focus. It is available on all of the three- and five-door versions except the ST and gives the ride a meaner stance with the addition of a front spoiler, rear diffuser, rear hatch spoiler and side skirts as well as a lowering kit. Five-spoke wheels complete the look and are offered in 17-20-inch variants. An upgraded chip and sport exhaust system are available for the 2.0 diesel version, which ups the output of this compact machine by 30 hp.


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http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=16036

Portable Global Positioning Systems are among the fastest selling car accessories today. They also happen to make you a target. GPS theft continues to rise.

Because these often-expensive portable devices are impossible to trace, they've become popular among thieves, who can easily sell them on the street. GPS devices have been stolen from ambulances and FBI cars, so don't think for a minute yours is safe.

Here are a few tips that can help keep your GPS in your possession,

Hide the goods Most reported thefts are from people who left their GPS mount and system in plain sight, so it's important to hide both pieces in your trunk or glove compartment when you get out of the car. You might also want to keep other gadgets, like iPods, out of sight to keep thieves at bay.



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'Green' Cars Boost Thai Auto Industry

April 2, 2008 -- Incentives from the Thai government to encourage automakers to produce fuel-efficient "eco-cars" have yielded a raft of major investments and started to change how Thais drive, experts say. Tax breaks for automakers and car buyers were unveiled last year, as the government worried that Thailand's position as the world's biggest maker of light pickups might not be enough to guarantee the future of its auto industry. The kingdom churns out 900,000 one-ton trucks every year -- about three-fourths of global output.

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Car firms suffer double-digit falls in US sales

Workers in the US car industry are facing a summer of factory shutdowns, overtime restrictions and additional lay-offs as the worsening economy sends vehicle sales into a sharp decline.

Figures from all the major car makers yesterday showed sales in March were down in double-digit percentages compared with a year ago, and industry executives said 2008 is on course to be the US's worst year for sales in 15 years.

"I'd like to be able to tell you the worst is behind us but I can't really say that," Ford's marketing chief, Jim Farley, told investors, as the company revealed a 14 per cent slide in sales of cars and light trucks. General Motors said its monthly sales had collapsed by 19 per cent, while Toyota revealed a 10 per cent decline.

Worse for the industry, the most expensive – and therefore the most profitable – vehicles, such as SUVs, are being deserted by customers in favour of cheaper, more fuel-efficient models.


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http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/03Apr2008_biz50.php

Wilson Electronics is introducing at the CTIA Wireless 2008 show in Las Vegas the latest in its industry-leading line of cellular signal improvement products: the SignalBoost(TM) Mini-Amp Kit. Designed for use in cars, trucks, RVs, and other vehicles, this plug-and-play kit reduces dropped calls, extends signal range, and increases data rates for all Cellular and PCS carriers. It supports multiple cell phones and cellular data cards simultaneously, installs in minutes and can be moved easily between vehicles.

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Stanley pins hopes on eco-car project

Thai Stanley Electric Plc has pinned its hopes on the eco-car project, which will involve total production of 700,000 units per year. The listed Thai-Japanese manufacturer of automotive bulbs, lighting equipment and moulds and dies, currently supplies products to many vehicle and motorcycle producers. They include Honda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Ford and Mazda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Cagiva.

''So far, we have not yet started talking with the seven eco-car makers even though some of them are our existing customers,'' said executive vice-president Apichart Lee-issaranukul.

However, the factory in Pathum Thani has ample capacity to support new car production of 200,000 units per year.

The Board of Investment has approved eco-car promotional privileges for six global manufacturers: Honda, Nissan, Suzuki Mitsubishi, Toyota and Tata.


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Hertz Rent a Car Completes Acquisition of Franchise Locations in Czech Republic and Slovakia

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ - News) announced that its Hertz Rent a Car (RAC) brand in Europe has acquired the vehicle rental businesses of its franchise partner Rentex Autopujcovna a.s. in the Czech Republic and of Rentex's subsidiary Car Solutions s.r.o. in Slovakia. The move provides Hertz, the leading general use car rental brand, with a strong corporate foothold in Central and Eastern Europe.

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Many factors contribute to total cost of vehicles

A cheaper car can cost you more in the long run than a more expensive model, so consider how much that model will cost you to own. Consumer Reports says these factors contribute to total cost:

• Depreciation. This is a vehicle's loss in value over a defined period. Some vehicles depreciate faster than others because of oversupply, limited appeal or rebates on similar new models.

• Fuel costs. They can really add up, especially for SUVs. You could pay more than $10,000 to fill up a Dodge Nitro over five years, for example, while a more efficient RAV4 would cost $2,000 less.

• Interest. To obtain an estimate, assume a 15 percent down payment and use the average interest rate of 6.86 percent as reported by Bankrate.com in December to estimate the total charge.



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Environmental & Energy

There has been a recent push by both public and private sectors to introduce new initiatives to combat and adapt to climate change; however, adapting to climate change involves more than simply changing a light bulb or buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Climate change is affecting the way in which we do business, particularly as industry braces for new environmental legislation, shareholders demand greater action on climate change, and more stringent disclosure standards are introduced. A heightened awareness of climate change issues is generating increased interest in how organizations manage their carbon footprint, which is leading to increased interest in the opportunities and risks associated with climate change.... .



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Gulf blazing a trail

MANAMA: The Gulf is leading a revolution in the motorsport industry which will see high-profile new race circuits go hand in hand with hi-tech initiatives in areas such as energy conservation, the chairman of top luxury car brand Aston Martin said yesterday.

In a keynote address on the first day of the Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East in Bahrain, David Richards praised the countries of the region for the billions of dollars they have spent on infrastructure in recent years and hailed countries like the kingdom for realising the challenge was to build sustainable automotive industry to accompany their new circuits.

"The business model of a race circuit that could stand on its own and just be isolated and run a motor race without anything else around it is gone forever," he said.


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Smaller cars and bigger savings

While smaller, more fuel efficient cars are a hit in the U.P, trucks aren't going anywhere just yet. By Heather SawaskiPosted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 at 10:24 p.m.

MARQUETTE -- As gas prices continue to soar and budgets are tightly squeezed, many of us are starting to steer toward more economical ways to get from Point A to Point B.

"Small car sales are very strong right now without a doubt," says Jim Grundstrom of Frei Chevrolet in Marquette. "They're actually very challenging to get from General Motors, because the demand is high across the country."

However, Grundstrom says don't write off the larger vehicles just yet. He says 57 percent of his monthly sales are still trucks and SUVs and attributes this to consumer needs here in the U.P. Many motorists tend to want vehicles that can haul things, like trailers; and with such long winters, the four-wheel drive does come in handy.



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One-stop service for accident claims - good move?

Former F1 champion Mika Hakkinen took a Mercedes McLaren F1 car for a spin down St Andrew's Road during the launch of an anti-drink driving campaign on Sunday. He said later that Singapore's street circuit night race would pose unique challenges for drivers. -- PHOTO: AP » Full Story .



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Article Of The Week | The War Against Scientology

I wanted a new car equipped with all the bells and whistles. Tod needed something more practical for his wife and new baby. Dwayne wanted a more fast and furious car. And Mauricio needed something a bit more rugged and roomier. With this in mind, sales associate Fermin Trompeta at Pearson Honda in Midlothian assisted us in determining which Honda would best suit our very different lifestyles. Framin took us one by one and asked us questions that helped narrow down his search. We were then allowed to test-drive a car that Framin specially selected for each one of us. I test drove a Civic Coupe; Tod drove an Odyssey; Dwayne, a Si sedan and Mauricio, an Element. Continue reading and find out what we felt about our rides. —Isabel Ramos

Isabel's Civic Coupe I volunteered to be the first potential buyer; mainly, because I was eager to test drive the upgraded Civic Coupe.



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Dealerships go extra mile to sell cars Smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles draw buyers

In this tight economy, it now takes a little more to seal the deal for a new or used car.“I'm getting the same amount of people in the door, but there are less people buying on impulse," said Jason Johnson, co-owner of Desert Wind Auto and Cycle. “They're looking for deals, and doing their homework."A slowing economy — nationally, statewide and locally — has consumers watching their wallets more than ever before. And while people are still buying cars, many consumers appear to be gravitating toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles to offset big jumps in gasoline prices. Others are choosing used vehicles over new.“Some of our customers are looking to downsize," said Rick Roberts, managing partner of Anderson Chrysler Dodge Jeep. “I would say that there's more customers that are coming in that gas mileage is a priority to them."Roberts also said that his certified pre-owned vehicle sales are up.



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OUTLOOK Halfords seen reporting solid full-year sales

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Halfords Group Plc., the car parts and bicycle retailer, is expected to again illustrate its defensive qualities in a tough UK trading environment when it updates on full-year sales on Thursday.

For the year to March 31 2008 analysts at Citigroup are forecasting total sales growth from the 450-store group of 7.3 percent, with like-for-like sales up 4.7 percent and gross margin down 10 basis points.

For the second-half period they expect like-for-like sales growth of 2.5 percent, excluding Easter.

Analysts at UBS expect full-year total sales of 800 million pounds, up 7.5 percent, with like-for-like growth of 4 percent and gross margin flat. For the second half they also expect like-for-like sales growth of 2.5 pct.

"We view Halfords as a relatively defensive stock within the retail sector, mainly due to its 30 percent exposure to car maintenance products," they told clients.


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Six Waukee students compete for top mileage

The pit crew doesn't know how many horsepower their engine will produce. They don't much care how fast their car will go. In this race, only one statistic matters - gas mileage.

Six Waukee High School students are working to build two ultra-efficient contraptions for the Ultimate Mileage Vehicle Competition, set May 9 in Altoona. With the help of industrial technology teacher John Kotz, the students will try to engineer their cars to go farther than the competition on just 8 ounces of gasoline.

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Ten technologically advanced green cars

It's no secret rising gas prices have consumers searching for more fuel-efficient vehicles that can reduce toxic emissions and pain at the pump.

Take the 1.8-liter, four-cylinder Nissan Versa. Last year its sales jumped 259% from the year before. No wonder: It's got an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) miles-per-gallon rating of 26 city and 31 highway. The Honda Fit, a similar vehicle with near-identical mileage, was up 101%.

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Automakers struggle to balance power, fuel-efficiency

VANCOUVER - Automakers are facing a strange dilemma these days: Consumers say they want green fuel-sipping, eco-friendly vehicles.

But those who can are still plunking down their money to buy high performance cars and SUVs that have the carbon footprint of a sasquatch.

"I think we can all observe what's happening," says Barry Engle, who took over as president of Ford of Canada in February.

"Up until now there certainly seems to be a preponderance of consumers who, on the one hand express interest in being more environmentally friendly and on the other hand are completely unwilling to give up any performance."

Perhaps it's not surprising after all. Public opinion polls have suggested people are concerned about climate change and want to do something.


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Thailand approves Toyota, Mitsubishi, Tata eco cars

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has approved plans by Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi Motors and Tata Motors to build fuel efficient cars in the country, the state Board of Investment (BOI) said on Wednesday.

The projects meant a combined investment of 16.67 billion baht ($528.7 million), the board said in a statement.

The Thai unit of Japanese carmaker Toyota would invest 4.64 billion baht in a plant with the capacity to assemble 100,000 so-called eco cars a year expected to start production in 2012, it said.

Half that production would be for export, mainly to Southeast Asia and the Asia-Oceania region, it said.

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) would spend 4.7 billion baht on a plant with an annual capacity of 107,000 eco cars, 88 percent of them for export, with production scheduled for 2010, it said.



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