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As a man thinks, so he is. Some people are never. Recent Posts
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CarSpace Alternate RouteTurn off the nav system, crumple up that MapQuest printout, and let's find out where the next random turn may take us! Jun 2, 2008 - Worldwide Effects
Gasoline in Japan surged to a record 160.3 yen a liter ($5.76 a gallon) last week. Sales of cars, trucks and buses fell 6.1 percent to 221,377 from a year earlier, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said in a statement. Sales at Nissan dropped 11.4 percent to 33,681 vehicles. Last month, the company's sales surged 11.5 percent, the most of any carmaker, as consumers rushed to buy vehicles at the lower tax rate. Toyota Motor Corp.'s sales fell 2.8 percent to 105,519 vehicles in May. Honda, Japan's second-largest carmaker, sold 26,900 vehicles, a 5.1 percent increase, helped by its revamped Fit compact. Gas prices have affected people's driving and purchasing habits all over the world. Sort of makes you wonder how the price of oil is still being propped up if the price is supposedly based on actual supply and demand. Read more at Bloomberg.com
Sep 26, 2007 - Follow the Money
CNNMoney.com reported that "Ford Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Alan Mulally said Monday the company may export China-made small cars to other countries, but will do so only after strong local demand for its cars is met." In the first 8 months of 2007, sales of Ford-brand vehicles in China rose 29% over the same period in 2006. Mulally said Ford will continue its aggressive component sourcing plan in China and said, "I really believe that just like aerospace, the auto industry is becoming more and more globalized with more and more collaborations." So where is Ford's bread buttered? Follow the money... While the company aims to turn around its North American unit by 2009, economic growth in the U.S. will likely slow in the next year due to the credit tightening caused by the country's subprime mortgage problems, Mulally said. And are they concerned about the UAW and the strike? Follow the money... Mulally also said that Ford believes negotiations with the United Auto Workers union over a new national contract are making progress, and setting up a retiree healthcare trust is "one of pieces we are working together today to improve." Is "making progress" a euphemism for expecting concessions? It must be, because to this point all I hear is that the union has given all it's going to give. But if there are no concessions, doesn't that take down the North American unit as the union cuts off its nose to spite its face? Oh yea... follow the money. There seems to be a thriving auto industry sprouting up overseas. How will things turn out?
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