Fox News reports that GM has confirmed Roger Penske’s decision to pull Saturn from the Canadian market. Saturn’s 46 remaining Canadian dealers sold 18,726 vehicles last year. According to GM, “a business case could not be made” to keep Saturn operating in Canada. Sorry Canucks, but there will be no Renault/Samsung loving for you.

The “Toyota is the new GM” meme is a provocative one. After all, prior to GM’s decades-long unraveling its dominance of the industry put Toyota’s tentative top-dog status to shame. GM’s decline proved once and for all that no make, model or brand can coast on being “number one” alone. Which is why I want to believe that Lexus is shaping up to be the new Buick, as Mark Phelan insists at the Freep.

(Read More…)

Chrysler has removed Hyundai and Mitusbishi logos from the joint Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant in Dundee, Michigan, reports the Freep. Plant employees anonymously confirm ChryCo’s executive desire to be rid of the alliance, and GEMA reps tell Automotive News [sub] that “there are discussions about that going on at the highest levels.” The Dundee plant manufactures 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter Hyundai-designed engines for Chrysler’s small cars, and internationally the alliance builds engines for over twenty models. The obvious motivation is the same as all of Chrysler’s recent announcements, namely moving into a tighter orbit around planet Fiat. Chrysler is proving to be more useful to Fiat as a tool to screw with Fiat’s international competitors than as a way of making inroads on the American market. Meanwhile, Fiat’s actual plan for Chrysler in the US seems to be limited to creating a client for Fiat’s engines and platforms. So much so that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is reportedly considering replacing Cummins diesel engines with Fiat oil burners in upcoming Ram 1500 models.

swine flu Bird Flu Symptoms tamiflu rumsfield
rumsfeld tamiflu Tamiflu Contains Mercury flu prevention signs
tamiflu without a prescription Tamiflu During Pregnancy flu treatment
swine flu prevention kits Tamiflu For Children 2008 buy tamiflu w/ no prescription
“flu symptoms” Flu Prevention Signs Alendronic acid tamiflu alternative flu prevention 416.
san luis potosi swine flu Purchase Tamiflu swine flu cartoon
what are some treatments of swine flu How Is The Swine Flu Transmitted flu mask p95
cold and flu remedy Swine Flu Veracruz order tamiflu
tamiflu pregnancy Swine Flu 1976 can you get better from h1n1 without tamiflu
comprar tamiflu Natural Swine Flu Prevention Acheter tamiflu alendronic acid tamiflu 655.
there is no treatment for swine flu Dog Flu how long does the flu usually last
“swine flu cdc” Cancun Swine Flu tamiflu or relenza
tamiflu for children Swine Flu Origin swine flu tamiflu
tamiflu buy Tamiflu Availabilty tamiflu dosing
intestinal flu Tamiflu Suspension No Prescription tamiflu order without a prescription
mercury in flu shots Baxter Avian Flu Vaccine Europe swine flu in illinois
cdc tamiflu! H1n1 Flu false flu security
flu symtoms Tamiflu Otc Switch tamiflu for sale
tamiflu and to relenza. Best Flu Treatments Remedy for stomach flu roche and employer stockpiling tamiflu 913.
tamiflu capsules Buy Tamiflu W No Prescription where to buy tamiflu
flu protection Tamiflu Elderly tamiflu rumsfeld
symptoms of the flu Why Is It Called Swine Flu who manufactures tamiflu
flu tamiflu powder Flu Prednisone Shot swine flu italy
swine flu vaccine Tamiflu En Espana tamiflu for sale
swine flu symptoms treatment Tamiflu New Zealand swine flu italy
flu prevention signs Tamiflu Z-pack prevention of swine flu
can pets get the swine flu Tamiflu Dosage bird avian flu prevention, treatment & tamiflu
Swine flu indiana swine flu info 910. Avian Bird Flu And Tamiflu swine flu preventions
symptoms of the swine flu Flu Vaccine And Coumadin the swine flu
tamiflu maker Soap Note For Tamiflu tamiflu stock
treatment of flu Swine Flu Incubation Period “swine flu outbreak”
h1n1 swine flu How Did Swine Flu Start rumsfeld’s growing stake in tamiflu fort detrick
signs of swine flu Order Tamiflu Paypal tamiflu not effective h5n1
swine flu origin, Home Treatment Of The Flu avian flu treatment
swine flu and steroid treatment; Tamiflu Price “swine flu and symptoms”
swine flu course progression duration treatment tamiflu Tamiflu Rumsfield flu symptoms headache
swine flu statistics Tamiflu Rumsfeld flu portland or,
flu tracker Flu Georgia “swine flu natural treatments”
“swine flu natural treatments” Tamiflu Reactions swine flu in florida
Pharmacist role in flu prevention tamiflu pharmacist role in flu tamiflu 727. Still Died After Taking Tamiflu ap news tamiflu
pig flu Swine Flu In Ohio tamiflu melbourne
flu virus, Is Tamiflu By Prescription Only swine flu treatments,
swine flu info Texas Swine Flu stomach flu and treatments
spanish flu Tamiflu High Blood Pressure flu pandemic declared
stomach flu symptoms? Swine Flu Syptoms tamiflu melbourne
Over the counter tamiflu pandemic flu 335. Tamiflu Where Can You Buy Online cdc tamiflu!
california swine flu; Tamiflu Dose For Influenza Swine flu containment treatment swine flu course progression duration treatment tamiflu 162.
cold and flu treatments Tamiflu Prescribing Directions For Swine Flu “tamiflu efficacy”
tamiflu for swine Newsday Counterfeit Tamiflu swine flu statistics
intestinal flu Government Tamiflu treatment for the flu
swine flu protection Tamiflu And To Relenza. mercury in flu shots

Cash for Clunkers may be over, but its swath of confusion rolls on unabated. Keloland reports that South Dakotans are being told that their clunker rebates are taxable as income. “They didn’t realize that would be taxable. A lot of people don’t realize that. So they’re not happy and kind of surprised when they find that out,” says Minnehaha County Treasurer Pam Nelson. Omaha.com reports that clunker rebates are also liable for state income tax hits of $192.50 to $247.50 depending on the amount of the rebate. Nebraska city sales taxes also apply. Surely other states will be making announcements about local arrangements, but in the meantime, where is the confusion coming from? The cars.gov website’s FAQ holds the key. “Is the credit subject to being taxed as income to the consumers that participate in the program?” CARS asks itself. “NO,” is the answer. “The CARS Act expressly provides that the credit is not income for the consumer.” Unless it is. Have fun with that.

As Mahindra inches closer to a US market launch, we’re hearing that the Indian firm is looking for US production capacity to avoid an import penalty. Automotive News [sub] reports that Mahindra’s pickup will go on sale “in phases” starting in early 2010, while the Scorpio SUV (shown here) will roll out about a year later. As for US production, Mahindra’s Executivev VP For International Operations Previn Shah says that he’s “exploring various options,” but that purchasing an existing factory makes the most sense. Do we smell a white knight for NUMMI?

(Read More…)

Having invested a considerable amount in its Taurus full-size car, Ford will almost certainly be discontinuing its Crown Victoria Interceptor (police model) in 2011. The Detroit News reports that Ford made the announcement to departments in June, when it invited officers to Dearborn to discuss Ford’s police fleet future. After breaking the news that the old warhorse would be put out to pasture, Ford gave officers the keys to its new Taurus, inviting them to drive the Crown Vic’s likely replacement. “We have no intention of walking away from our share of that market,” says Ford’s Jim Farley.

(Read More…)

Nola.com reports that New Orleans’ public defenders office has yet to see any revenue from red light cameras, and will have to shut down by March. Chief Public Defender Derwyn Bunton made the announcement, saying the city’s ability to provide 6th amendment-mandated public defense options would be shut down between March and July of 2010. Moving the public defender’s office to a red light camera revenue-based funding model was a relatively recent decision by Mayor Ray Nagin. The public defender’s office represents over 88 percent of New Orleans’ 220,000 criminal and traffic court defendants each year.

ChryCo finally acknowledges that denying outstanding liability claims while taking taxpayer money was kind of a dick move.

In a letter sent today to Members of Congress, Chrysler Group LLC
announced that the company will accept product liability claims on vehicles
manufactured by Chrysler LLC (now OldCarco LLC) before June 10, 2009, and
involved in accidents on or after that date. On June 10, 2009, Chrysler
Group purchased substantially all of the assets of Old Carco.

(Read More…)

The Wall Street Journal shows TTAC some love in a piece titled “Americans Renew Their Love For Cars—Online.” Acerbic? Us? We’ve changed, we swear!

Yes, that is what I’d truly like to be. For if I were a big GM supplier, they’d pass the big old savings on to me. And if that doesn’t make you want to break into song, you’ve never dealt with a Mr. Bo Andersson. Yes, now that Andersson has taken his fight to make the world a less cheerful place to Russia (where such causes are far better rewarded), GM’s supplier relations are going swimmingly. Andersson’s replacement, Bob Socia, has told GM’s suppliers that under his benevolent reign, GM purchasing will split any future cost savings on parts even-steven with the supplier. Of course, it’s up to the supplier to come up with the cost savings, but c’mon. Really. Just, c’mon. “We think this decision will help generate enthusiasm in the supply base for doing business with the new GM,” say GM spokesfolks. And guess what? They’re right! [via Automotive News [sub]]

Yes, it’s different. Hit the jump to find out how.

(Read More…)

State-owned stakes in the Russian auto firm AvtoVAZ, truck builder Kamaz and engine firm Avtodizel are being merged to create the first national auto conglomerate of the Carpocalypse. AvtoVAZ chairman Boris Alyoshin is stepping down, and will be replaced when the merger is complete. A new firm, created out of Russian Technologies, has been formed as a holding company for the government stakes which amount to 37.8% of Kamaz, 25% of AvotVAZ and 30% of Avtodizel. Renault owns another 25 percent stake in AvtoVAZ. But underlying weakness in the merging firms and the complication of government-owned conglomerate governance raise concerns for the latter-day Leyland. “It is hard to see any synergy from the unification of the passenger car producer and the heavy truck maker,” Alfa Bank analyst Georgy Ivanin tells AFP. “The decision making process in both companies may slow as the management structure gets more complicated.” Not to mention the “been there done that” factor.

Toyota’s board has voted to end production at its NUMMI plant starting in March 2010, reports the AP [via sfgate]. The factory in Fremont, California, was a joint venture between Toyota and GM, but its future was first cast into doubt when GM announced it was withdrawing after discontinuing the Pontiac Vibe built there. The state of California discussed incentives to keep Toyota (and its 4,600 jobs) at the plant, but Toyota’s 1 million unit global capacity reduction was the higher priority. It’s possible that state incentives could lure other OEMs to the factory, but local incentive-grubber Tesla has already declined pursuit of NUMMI on the grounds that it was more factory than the start-up could handle.

The combination of bikinis and purported eco-friendliness is like catnip in Southern California, and Angry Green Girl knows it. Still, is a hybrid-only carwash “greener” than just going through the auto-wash? Maybe the minimal amounts of clothing help bring down the overall carbon footprint.