Indian investors aren't thrilled with Tata's acquisition of Jag and Land Rover (JLR). Not only have JLR lost billions of dollars for Ford, but apparently Tata wasn't just pulling a fist full of coins out of the sofa to pay for the brands. Reuters reports this morning that "Tata has announced plans to raise $4 billion, expected to help finance the Ford deal and the manufacture of the Nano." And considering the added "earnings volatility" the JLR deal brings (translation: nobody knows what the hell could happen to Tata's bottom line), the purchase is sending ripples through the Indian stock market. It seems people are realizing Tata just bought companies that don't make money. You would have thought Tata already had the cash for the deal; this is not the best time to be looking for $4b on the credit market. And what happens if Tata can't raise the cash? Just sayin'…

The situation has gotten so bad for parts suppliers, that even USA Today has an areticle describing the industry's abysmal conditions. After chronicling the travails of supplier bankruptcy poster child Plastech, the story notes that times will be tough for everyone in the biz. "I can't in my 21-year history in the auto industry think of a time when it's been more difficult than this," wails Laurie Harbour-Felax of consulting firm Stout Risius Ross. "More Chapter 11 filings are imminent in the next three to six months." The wide load of industry pressures: weak demand, rising commodity prices, increased overseas competition, tightened credit and cost-cutting pressure. Craig Fitzgerald, a partner at Plante & Moran, predicts that 50 percent of small and midsize suppliers will go out of business in the next five years, either selling out or shutting down. This is gonna get rough. I mean, rougher.

According to King5, cameras set up to catch "red-light runners" in Puyallup, WA, are working quite well. "Perhaps a little too well," says city manager Gary McLean. Even though each camera-equipped intersection has warning signs, McLean says the number of drivers caught by the cameras has been a revelation. "I think everyone's been surprised at the number of people getting the warning notices." After the cameras went into operation on March 1st, more than 2.5k "red light runners" were caught; an average of more than 100 per day. However, no drivers have received the $124 ticket slated to go along with the offense. City leaders are extending the ticket-free "warning period" through the end of April so drivers "can get used to where the cameras are." And it's not about the money: "It's about correcting behavior and public safety," says McLean. "It's not about revenue. Because, trust me, plenty of people are still going to violate the law and those fines will be imposed, but for the public listening to us now, we hope they hear this and correct it." Meanwhile, the city of Bellevue, WA will soon be adding cameras at six intersections, along with three new speed cameras, The expected annual take? $827k.

Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck has come out against biofuels, warning that trying to fill up to 20 percent of energy demand with plant-sourced fuel could result in a food shortage. As a food company executive, Mr Brabeck's opinion is neither surprising nor entirely altruistic. However, his warnings echo remarks from UN Special Rapporteur On The Right To Food Jean Ziegler last year. In October, Ziegler cautioned that every 13 gallons of corn-based biofuel could feed a child for a year, and called for a five-year ban in the EU on converting croplands to biofuel production. Just something to keep in mind the next time you put 30 gallons of E85 in your Suburban.

Scrap metal. The phrase may not mean much to you, a pistonhead who takes pride in his ride. But scrap is one of the most lucrative industries in the car business today. That old junk car in the neighbor's yard that would have been lucky to get $50 seven years ago is now going for over $200– on the steel content alone. When you throw in the recyclable platinum, aluminum, copper and lead into the mix, the revenue on an average junker is anywhere from $350 to $600 per vehicle. This inflation has implications for both the average Joe and the entire American automobile industry.

Dick Dauch plays for keeps. The Detroit Free Press reports that the American Axle CEO has no qualms about taking his business elsewhere. Dauch, who founded the company, said he had no intention of turning it into an offshore company. HOWEVER "we have the flexibility to source all of our business to other locations around the world, and we have the right to do so." When the Freep asked the UAW for their thoughts on Dauch's threat, they declined to respond. But a couple of weeks ago on a radio talk show,  UAW president Ron Gettelfinger insisted as long as AA maintain "the attitude that they're not going to negotiate– that they're going to dictate– we're not going to get an agreement."  Meanwhile, the strike is beginning to affect those GM plants they can't afford to close. The pressure is on for AA to get back to work, one way or the other. So who will blink first? Given that Dauch has already moved some production to a plant in Mexico and has the means to increase production in other countries, and the UAW gave in to the Big 2.8 so easily, the smart money's on the union backing down. And GM forking-out.

Selling indulgences are we? Toyota has made a $20m donation to the Audubon Society, the single largest donation in the conservation society's history. At the same time (coincidence or what?), ToMoCo and AuDoBo are co-launching "TogetherGreen.org." The Car Connection says TogetherGreen programs will have three prongs (devil's trident perhaps?). The first "uses innovation grants to increase measurable land, water, and/or energy conservation." Part two: conservation fellowships. TogetherGreen will train up to 200 environmentalists that can become expert guides, organizers and role models. Part three funds volunteer days, which will be offered at Audubon's network of nationwide community centers, to present hands-on experience with environmental issues." Out of curiosity, what's the bet the Audubon society won't be criticizing Toyota's nine SUVs anytime in the near or distant future?

With the buff books claiming the Nissan GT-R does runs of 0 – 60 in only 12 parsecs (yes, I know a parsec is a measurement of distance, Han Solo) and over 470 horsepower on tap, it was only a matter of time until someone made their GT-R look like it went through a blender.. A member of the forums at Drift.Com.My, a Malaysian drifting community website, just posted a gallery of shots of a pile of metal that used to be called a GT-R. Posters there are saying the car appears to be from Singapore, although wherever it's from, it's hardly a car anymore. Just because you can afford it, doesn't mean you have enough brains to drive it responsibly. I'm not saying such a powerful beast should be illegal, just that its drivers should have to be chemically castrated and wear ankle GPS bracelets at all times and give up their search and seizure protections. In any case, here are the pictures of the wreckage [thanks to Autoblog for the tip]

Automotive News recently published an interview with Ford's group vice president of human resources. Joe Laymon mentioned the names of six brass hats Ford considers potential successors to their current CEO Alan Mulally. As Mr. Mulally has only been in office for just 18 months, anticipates a long stay and hasn’t seen his 63 birthday, the timing was, at the least, odd. More importantly, Laymon effectively turned a succession plan into a very public episode of Survivor Dearborn.

In India, Suzuki has over 50 percent of the market share. You might have heard this factoid on Wednesday's podcast, you might have read it during our coverage of the NYC auto show. I've said it for a third time because it really is quite amazing. Part of their sales success is down to Suzuki's extremely well developed small car lineup, anchored by the Swift, which is not on sale in America because Suzuki hates freedom. And import costs, currency fluctuations and low profit margins. (We do have a Swift-related car however, the fun-to-drive SX4 crossover). Back to India, where Maruti Suzuki is taking names and kicking behinds. They've just unveiled a sedan version of the normally attractive Swift hatchback, and it might just be the most awkward car of the year. There are other uglies out there like the Mercedes ML and the MINI Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works. But this might just take the cake for bizarre mass market car [outside of China]. Oh, and as if it wasn't weird enough, they're calling it the "Dzire" and marketing it as "The Heart Car." In sum, ew.

I've been kvetching about the overcylinderization of BMWs M cars for a while now. The first M3 had an inline four. The next two gens holstered straight sixes. And now the M3 has a high-revving V8. BMW's mighty M5 went from two generations of straight sixes to a V8 to a high-revving V10. All this horsepower excuses BMW from having to lighten its cars and focus on improving dynamics. It seems that BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer is thinking along the same lines. Speaking to the German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport, Reithofer said he wants to trim down to fewer cylinder engines in the M cars and the rest of the BMW range. In particular, he said that BMW's diesel V8 (which is rather popular over in Europe) would be replaced with a twin turbocharged I6. And he indicated that the M range would also probably be downsized as well. Turbocharging, not displacement and cylinders, would be the path to improvements in M cars' horsepower and weight distribution. (Not to mention CO2 emissions.) Hey, if it works for the Nissan GT-R…

After Lexus' slow start in Japan, Toyota has announced plans to introduce India to the premium brand within the next two years. To that end, India's Economic Times reports that the flagship Lexus LS sedan and LX SUV will lead the way, followed closely by the RX CUV. Toyota is investing heavily, planning stand-alone Lexus dealerships so that Lexus can "operate from a separate exclusive entity to maintain its niche brand value." As it has in the U.S., Toyota will align Lexus to compete against the usual (German) suspects: BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche. Given the country's burgeoning nouveau riche class, India appears to be a great candidate for a brand with no "real" provenance or heritage. If Tata expands Jaguar/Land Rover distribution to India– and why wouldn't they?– the great tiger will be the scene of some interesting luxury car wars over the next decade.

Timothy Gardner and Rebekah Kebede of Reuters [via the Calgary Herald ] claim that an increase in America's output of cheap, subsidized ethanol, along with additional gasoline refining capacity coming online, may lower U.S. gas prices. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, American production will rise by 130k barrels of ethanol per day in 2008 (up to 550,000). Gardner and Kebede note that the government subsidizes blenders to the tune of $0.51/barrel of blended ethanol, and that "the subsidies have made ethanol cheaper than gasoline and a much sought after component for blending into motor fuel." Another factor that could contribute to falling prices: the slowing of American demand for gasoline. While demand grew by 1.3 percent annually from 1971 to 2007, growth has slowed down 0.7 percent in 2007 and the government forecasts a paltry 0.4 percent for 2008. And what of transportation costs and logistics? (Ethanol can't be transported via existing pipes; it must be transported by diesel burning tanker trucks.) Or consumer reluctance to use corn juice once they figure out the (often hidden) fact that 85 delivers significantly less bang-for-the-buck? Nothing. 

…and yet they're not on a plane to Vegas or ringing-up their stockbroker. Anyway, the mag's posted a roadmap of Jaguar and Land Rover's (JLR) product plans for the next umpteen years. Oh, one qualification: Tata has only committed to follow Autoweek's guide for the next five years. Might I remind everyone that the Indian automaker has guaranteed Ford it will follow JLR's five-year plan. And it will… right until it doesn't. Anyone who thinks Ford knows how to run JLR for the next five years should look at the last five years. Or ten. And I'm sure Tata's done that due diligence. The only Autoweek prognostication you can reasonably expect to deliver 100 percent truthiness is the arrivals of the new, 5.0-liter V8; the engine's development is nearly done. Autoweek estimates that the new powerplant will stump-up a reasonable 380 horses in naturally-aspirated form and nearly 500 when supercharged (the latter being a little optimistic). And without a doubt, this engine is bound for Jags and Range Rovers alike. (Well, duh.) Otherwise, the real vision for Tata's future are in Ratan Tata's brain, and he ain't sayin' nothing. Yet.

As you know, TTAC has a simple posting policy: no flaming the website, it's authors or fellow commentators. As some commentators have [rightly] pointed out, the policy contains a glaring inconsistency: we allow flaming of third parties. GM Car Czar Bob Lutz, Toyota, The New York Times, President Bush, etc. have all been flame-broiled on this site. [NB: if Bob Lutz or George Bush posted on TTAC, they'd have anti-flame protection.] My only defense for this obvious double standard: it works. I'm not going to make that case by pointing to any of the incisive remarks penned by our Best and Brightest. Instead, I'd like to draw your attention to the comments (and picture of a douche) underneath a Jalopnik link to my last GM Death Watch. If you share some of these sentiments about TTAC, I invite you to voice them right here, right now. All I ask is that you do so in a civilized manner. Because that's who we are, and that's what you do. Meanwhile, Justin and I discuss the day's news.