Fresh on the heels of Toyota’s first losses…ever.  It now seems that the auto giant is now faced with more problems.  It seems that Toyota has called for the recall of over a million cars for some apparently minor problems.  According to news.cnet.com the recall is taking place in various places mostly for a problem with seat belts:
“About 830,000 cars in Europe, North America, and other regions are being recalled, and another 536,000 in Japan. The defective models include the Yaris (called the Vitz in Japan), Belta, and Ractis models built between January 2005 and April 2008.
The recall concerns the Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »

So Barack Obama has decided to tell US car makers that they had better start producing smaller, more eco friendly cars.  According to the globeandmail.com, Obama has allowed states the right to cut the emission standards on vehicles on their soil:
“Mr. Obama’s decision will let California and other states set their own auto emission standards in their drive to slash greenhouse gases, an official familiar with the decision said Sunday.
The move is significant on two fronts: It could empower states to set tougher standards in targeting emissions, which are blamed for contributing to global climate change; and it would be Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »

So, you managed to get into a fender bender. Now what do you do? The following is a checklist of things to keep in mind in the all-too unfortunate event that you become involved in a car accident:

If possible, pull your vehicle over to the side of the road so that you do not block traffic.
Check to see if you or any passengers with you were injured.
If the accident involves injury or damage, contact the local police immediately.
If the accident involved another driver, obtain information from the other driver to include: name, address, telephone number, insurance company, policy number and Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Janelle - No Comments »

No big surprise here, but USA today is reporting that lower gas prices are sending what car buyers that are left back to the types of large vehicles that got America into lots of trouble in the first place.  It seems that the folks at GM, Ford, and Chrysler (among others) are having a hard time pinning down exactly what Americans want, and when they want…whatever it is that they want:

“The change shows how fuel prices rule the car business. In May, 56% of the vehicles sold were cars, not trucks. By last month, the share of cars had fallen Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - 2 Comments »

Keeping your car clean is more than just about keeping up appearances. During the winter months, salt accumulation tends to build on the undercarriage of your vehicle as well as various other parts of your vehicle’s exterior paint and interior. As a result, this can actually damage your vehicle if it isn’t addressed. The solution: a simple car wash. Take a look:

Tags: Auto Transportation by Janelle - No Comments »

It seems that after suffering it’s first loss in something like 70 years, Toyota is now toying (excuse the word play) with the idea of introducing the super small, fuel efficient IQ micro car.  The car looks something like the Smart car.  It is only around 3 meters long but it can carry up to four passengers.  The IQ is already being sold in Europe and Japan, but Toyota is hoping to take a part of the US market for these dwarfish vehicles according to Reuters:
“The IQ can figure into Toyota’s response to another world mega-trend – urbanization,” he said, Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - 1 Comment »

Things are looking just as bad in Germany as they are here in the states.  According to recent news Germany is looking to slow production and cut the hours of nearly 90 thousands workers.  This move comes on the heels of an extremely slow car market and a reduction of demand.  BMW is the largest manufacturer of luxury cars, a part of the market that has surely taken a hit in this slowed economy.  According to bloomberg.com BMW and VW will both be cutting production:
“BMW, the world’s largest manufacturer of luxury cars, will drop shifts for 26,000 employees in February Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »

Chrysler has come out saying that they will be offering the famous “no interest” loans in the near future.  This move is obviously intended to stimulate car sales in our slowed economy.  The only problem with Chrysler’s plan is that you are paying for it.  The money for Chrysler’s no interest loan program is coming from the American tax payers to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars that the treasury has already o.k.ed the “loan” (I think only the most gullible of us believe that these are actually loans) will support the no interest financing according to Bloomberg.com:
The aid from Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »

Here’s something that Americans are dying to hear: Can’t sell those new “small cars,” just tax gas!  In our effort to keep a dead industry alive, our domestic car makers are toying with the idea of pushing the gas tax up, up, and away.  Now, you may be thinking, “they can try to raise the taxes all they want, but it ain’t gonna happen!”  Think again.  Consider the fact that Barack Obama raked in TONS of money and support from the UAW and SEIU.  I don’t know about you, but I feel obliged to give back when someone lets me Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »

I’ve been saying two things for quite a while now: 1) Lower gas prices will kill the “retooling” efforts of GM, Ford, and Chrysler and 2) We, the American People, never learn.  These two statements go hand-in-hand really.  Since gas prices have dropped it seems that the cars Americans are buying, when they do buy, more SUVs and trucks as opposed to those small cars that were so highly touted in recent months.  GM execs are even talking about the destructive nature of this change in thinking according to chron.com:

“Gasoline prices “are completely messing it up,” Lutz said today in Read the Rest…

Tags: Auto Transportation by Christopher - No Comments »