Analyst Todd Sullivan over at seekingalpha reckons it's a good time to invest in the auto sector. Operating under the principle that Americans need cars for their economic survival, Sullivan says motorists will still be in the market– just shopping at a different stores. Sullivan points to Warren Buffet's recently acquired 13.98m share stake in CarMax and Sears Holding's big investment in AutoNation and AutoZone as proof that there's gold in them thar' pre-owned autos and car parts. Sullivan also tempts investors with the fact that all of these companies are "hovering around 52-week lows." Meanwhile, Sullivan counsels investors to avoid Detroit's domestic manufacturers' shares like the proverbial plague. "It should be noted that this is NOT an endorsement of the US auto industry via Ford or GM as these are just terrible businesses due to legacy union costs," Sullivan opines. "They are stuck in a cost structure that dooms them. It is probably the only business the airlines can look at and say "at least we are not them."

Yesterday, we reported that Dallas, TX is having problems with its red-light camera revenues. Apparently, Orlando, Florida's town fathers don't read TTAC. WFTV reports that city commissioners have approved a contract to pay a Georgia company $500k a year to install and maintain red-light revenue raisers at ten different intersections. "We're really doing this as a means of public safety," Mayor Buddy Dyer insists. "And most of the statistics show many accidents are caused by running red lights." Really? I don't think so. Anyway, if it's all about the children, why does the deal hinge on whether or not cities will be allowed to issue tickets to those caught by the cameras? In fact, if the laws aren't changed, the cameras won't be installed. Perish the thought.

Have you heard a Ford marketing slogan… lately? After "No Boundaries" and "Bold Moves," FoMoCo is pulling the wraps off their latest rhetorical gambit: "Ford. Drive One." The new tagline– which thankfully doesn't include the words "We're Begging You"– is aimed at stemming Blue Oval defections (I'm leaving that joke alone). According to The Wall Street Journal, this latest effort differs from previous head office marketing initiatives; Ford's actually coordinating their efforts with their dealers. "In the past, when it came to the corporate or Ford primary brand campaign, it was their campaign, they developed it on their own and let the dealers know what it was going to be," says Mark Smith, chairman of Ford's dealer council marketing committee. "I'd say there's been a little bit of frustration among the dealer body." Hold the hosannas. The "Ford. Drive One" is targeted at "consideration:" a marketing term for getting consumers to consider the brand. Sales are something else entirely. Obviously. 

Japanese leaders have been making noises about the Yen's slide against the dollar recently, prompting Detroit to whine about "Japanese interference in the currency market." According to Dow Jones (via CNN Money), the Big 2.8 were spooked by Japanese finance minister Fukushiro Nukaga's statement that his government will "keep watching movements in foreign exchange rates from now on." Japanese currency manipulation has long been one of Motown's pet peeves. The issue is a red herring; the majority of import-branded vehicles sold in the U.S. are made right here in the good old USA. Still, the accusations of sinister foreign forces manipulating international finances in their favor provides politicians with a welcome opportunity to look like they're fighting the good fight for American jobs and businesses. "Please stand up for American companies and workers by warning Japan that the United States will not sit idly by while it interferes in currency markets," wrote Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in a not-so-private letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Hey, election campaigns don't fund themselves.

Today's intentional leak is brought to you by: Nissan. The 2009 Maxima is shown in the full flesh after we saw teaser photos a few days ago, and it looks pretty good. I find the headlights weird, but apparently this is to be some kind of new Nissan family headlight cluster; it's headed for the next gen 370Z sports car as well. Otherwise, the new Maxima is a decent-looking sedan that visually distinguishes itself from the Altima. Whether there is enough market space for the Altima, Maxima, and Infiniti G35 remains to be seen. Some point to Toyota's Avalon and say it shows Nissan can also sell a Japanese Buick. I think Nissan's intended sporty image is tough to reconcile with building a luxo-barge. It will be very interesting to watch how Mr. Ghosn's boys market the Maxima.

Pictures of the new Maxima at Pixamo (with the teaser shots, too) 

Even though they don't have one hybrid or E85-compatible vehicle (or customer) on the showroom floor, Saab wants you to know they're eco-friendly. GM announced today that Saab is launching the "Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection." At an "exclusive pre-New York Auto Show party," the erstwhile Swedish brand trotted-out the 9-X Hybrid concept, "designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers seeking progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications in a fun-to-drive package." Yes, well, how about Saab's new line of "100 percent ecological/organic cotton" clothing? The apparel features buttons made from the Coroso Nut ("its harvest leaves the rain forest untouched"). If that wasn't enough (and for me, it is), Saab also announced they're donating $40k to the Earth Pledge FutureFashion Initiative. This salve the conscience of the sweat-shop fashionistas org "promotes renewable, reusable and organic materials and methods." A noble goal, indeed. If you don't want Saab clothes (to wash in Bio-Power detergent), you can "help the non-profit organization with an exciting program to be announced at a later date." Will it be before May? That's when Saab's "first collection" will be available at saabexpressions.com. The line forms… somewhere else.

I'm sorry to keep harping-on about the U.K.'s draconian anti-motorist policies, but I'm gob-smacked by the country's endless parade of car-related taxes, fines and regulations. Pistonheads reports that the island nation's government has raised the cost of a London parking ticket to, well, you saw the headline. Outside the capital city, a parking ticket will cost a hapless parking scofflaw "just" £70. Folks, that's for overstaying a parking meter. The fines are higher for more serious offenses, such as parking on a double yellow line. And if you don't pay straightaway… It gets worse. The Peterborough Evening Telegraph reports that new laws transform parking attendants (a.k.a. meter maids) into "civil enforcement officers." These new "officers" can uses handheld numberplate recognition systems to identify persistent fine dodgers and call in the clampers. And worse. They'll be able to post penalties to offenders who try to drive away before a ticket can be issued. And worse. "The law will also give local authorities the ability to fine drivers spotted flouting parking rules on CCTV." In other words, they don't have to actually put a ticket on your car. Looks like Orwell was off by 24 years.

According to The Financial Post, The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is accusing Toyota of "unduly influencing employees to vote against a union in a certification vote." In a complaint filed Monday with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the union says Toyota Canada is distributing anti-union documents to employees and putting "vote no" signs inside the plant where they build the Corolla, Matrix and Lexus RX350. The move is largely seen as saber-rattling ahead of this Thursday's unionization vote. The stakes couldn't be higher. If the IAM gets its foot in the proverbial door, Cambridge will be ToMoCo's first wholly-owned unionized North American plant. Thin end of the wedge? An excuse to slowly shift production out of Canada? Or yet another thwarted attempt to infiltrate the world's largest automaker's NA ops? We should know by week's end. Meanwhile, Automotive News [sub] reports that workers at two Johnson Controls factories (Alabama and Mississippi) rejected the United Auto Workers' [UAW] efforts to unionize the workforce. It's a major defeat for the UAW; Johnson is the fourth largest U.S.-based automotive parts supplier.  

There are two main reasons why E85 is going nowhere fast: over-production and under-consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy has tackled the latter part of the non-equation with a federally-funded report exhorting gas station owners to get on the corn juice bandwagon. E85 Retail Business Case: When and Why to Sell E85 advises that "E85 offers relief from this [local] competition by differentiating a station as green, cutting edge, patriotic, and pro-farmer." So, greenwashing it is! What about, you know, making money? "E85 projects can be profitable investments. However, their profitability depends on numerous factors… This checklist includes robust local competition in the gasoline market, access to low E85 costs, mid-grade tanks available for conversion, large potential throughput of E85, and state or local incentives for E85 infrastructure." Large throughput as in sales? Good luck with that. Meanwhile, there's lots of agri-prop. My favorite argument: who cares about gas anyway? The money's in snack foods and car washes! And that's good news because "even if E85 drew no new customers but merely converted gasoline customers from the same store, the number of customer visits would increase. This is because a vehicle’s range is reduced by 23% to 28% when operating on E85 because of ethanol’s lower energy content compared to gasoline." The mind boondoggles. 

Indian automaker Tata has moved one step closer to purchasing Jaguar and Land Rover. Reuters reports that the Indian automaker has secured a $3b one-year bridge loan from Citigroup and JPMorgan. The usual "sources familiar with the deal" say the loan is to "help finance a potential purchase" of the luxury brands from Ford. The principals declined to comment, but media reports from India say Tata is expected to agree to the purchase at the end of the month. (And Francisco Franco is still dead.) Tata may still balk– especially as Standard & Poors is reviewing Tata for a possible downgrade in the light of the potential increase in the company's debt load. If the sale go through and FoMoCo's cash flow goes critical, Volvo and their 33.9 percent share of Mazda could be next.

Since 1936, Oscar Mayer's hot dog-shaped vehicle has been keeping the company's weiners in the automotive limelight. (We're talking MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY, PORK, MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, FLAVOR, SODIUM LACTATE, CORN SYRUP, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, DEXTROSE, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE (MADE FROM SUGAR), SODIUM NITRITE on wheels.) And during that time, the Wienermobile has always ridden on an American chassis. As The New York Times reports, the previous gen was no exception, sitting on a Chevy W-4 series truck platform. No more. As you can see here, the new Weinermobile is a based on the German-owned, British-built MINI Cooper (S no less). It's a change that didn't escape the attention of NYT scribe Robert Peele. "I asked [spinmeister] Big Dog Bill if the smaller vehicle was a signal that Oscar Mayer was adjusting to concern over gas prices and fuel efficiency. Was this an attempt at a greener Wienermobile? The answer was slightly disappointing. While the Mini Wiener will indeed be more fuel efficient, he said, its true raison d’être was to celebrate Oscar Mayer’s 125th anniversary." (Way to press the point, Mr. Peele.) Too bad the Weinermobile doesn't sit on an old Subaru platform. Then they could could take it international as a Bratwurstmobile. [thanks to starlightmica for the link]

"Tesla Starts Full-Scale Production!" "Stop the Presses, The Tesla Factory is Cranking" "Tesla Begins 'Regular' Production of Roadsters" Reading the ever-credulous press, you'd be forgiven for thinking investors who've been waiting two years for their $98k battery-powered Roadster will have one in their garage in the next few weeks. Not so fast (literally). First, we await independent confirmation that Tesla hit the "start" button on the production line. Second, there's many a slip between the cup and the lip. We await the first customer delivery (real customers, not Tesla execs). And third, by its own admission, Tesla will build Roadsters at the rate of "one or two per week." On Tesla's blog, CEO Ze'ev Drori stated his employer would gradually ramp-up production, heading for "over 100 Roadsters per month early next year." Ignoring the existence of the REVA, the ZAP Xebra and several million golf carts, Drori also proudly proclaims "the Tesla Roadster is the only zero emission electric vehicle in production today." At least the Tesla hype factory is [still] in full swing.

Angus MacKenzie did everything but call TTAC by name in his essay GM Shares Tumble. So What? Yes, the Motor Trend scribe can “almost hear the Detroit death-watchers rubbing their hands with glee” at the news of GM's stock hitting two-year lows. It's true. Every time GM's share price dips, we light giant cigars, twirl our collective mustache and laugh maniacally. That Mr. MacKenzie sees critical coverage of the auto industry as journalistic schadenfreude goes some ways towards explaining Motor Trend’s increasingly toothless car reviews. But how can MacKenzie, an experienced car hack, justify pinning Detroit’s woes on anyone other than, well, Detroit? Hey, a man’s gotta eat.

The possibility of a quick resolution to the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against American Axle (AA) is fading fast. It's been a week since the full bargaining teams met; labor specialist Gary Chaison describes the non-meetings as "an awful sign." The AP [via Forbes ] reports the UAW sent an email to members of other organized companies stating "we expect this to be long and drawn-out strike," asking them to join AA workers on the picket line. So far GM has had to close all or part of 28 plants. Thousands of workers have been laid off at other suppliers. The UAW strike is also beginning to affect the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW). Several GM plants in Canada have cut back production, creating what CAW president Buzz Hargrove terms "a tough situation." So far, the strike hasn't seemed to affect GM's sales. The General started March with a 129-day supply of Silverados, a 123-day supply of Tahoes and a 141-day supply of Sierras. These models aren't exactly setting any sales records right now. You can bet that once The General starts feeling the pressure on the bottom line they'll be forced to dip into their pocket and bankroll a union buyout deal similar to their own. But what if AA balks or the suppliers can't make it 'til then? Dangerous times. 

Well, who doesn't? But Jonny's willingness to accept a Mercedes-engined Aston Martin highlights an important trend in upmarket automotive marketing: the end of mechanical snobbery. Yes, there are still brand purists who believe that the greasy bits' provenance is more important than a well-turned fender, a respected badge or comparative performance. That the connection between track and road is a holy one, whose realization establishes the brand's all-important bloodlines. But these engineering-savvy enthusiasts– who were always a minority of any luxury or high-performance marque's buyers– are a dying breed. Today's 30 or 40-something sports car buyer is likely to desire Nissan's GT-R because of its status as a Playstation plaything, rather than any racing glory. (Ferrari is the exception that proves the rule.) They're willing to judge expensive automobiles on their own merits, regardless of what lies beneath, who made it or how it got there. This open-mindedness (a.k.a. ignorance) is no bad thing. It gives a deluxe car company greater freedom to be itself, if you know what I mean.