A short overview of what happened in other parts of the world while you were in bed. TTAC provides round-the-clock coverage of everything that has wheels. Or has its wheels coming off. For the next two weeks, WAS will be filed from Tokyo.
Good news! Nothing, absolutely nothing newsworthy and car related happened while you slept. Europe is officially closed as of a week ago. Japan turned the key last Friday evening. Even the Chinese car industry took advantage of the fact that all the expats of the joint ventures are home with mother-in-law and apple pie – and did nothing.
What’s left to report? That in Japan “domestic prices for used cars are declining due to shrinking exports to such destinations as the vital Russian market,” as the Nikkei‘s only car story of the day is? That a company in Singapore bought a taxi company in Beijing, as Gasgoo has it? That BMW’s Mini brand “aims to grow next year in albeit deteriorating market conditions,” as Reuters reports? That Oman Air appoints GM customer service? Or that Eon Musk [sic] is featured in “a series of profiles on prominent business leaders in the Bay Area who are managing their way through the severe economic downturn,” which the SF Chronicle launched as a sign of utter desperation?
The only newsworthy story would be that Honda was rescued by a Mexican for a dollar. But that’s against TTAC editorial policy, and you know the story already anyway. Can’t miss it. It runs unopposed. These days, no news is good news. Enjoy it. Or go back to bed.
Depends on your timezone! It’s 3:41 pm here in Japan. Can’t help it that you are staying up so late to hear the morning edition land at your door :)
That seems to be a pretty odd use of the word “albeit”. It sounds wrong to me. Any grammar nazis here who know for sure?
Good Morning Guys. I head back to PI, Korea and Saipan in January….ya gotta love that time zone dance…
Martin: It’s wrong. But who am I to correct Reuters? I won’t take the arthritic license to change it to “aims to grow next year, albeit in deteriorating market conditions.”
I agree, Bertel.
It may also be a coincidence that the Reuters piece says it was edited by a Ron Askew, nomen est omen.
Sure is