Latest Auto News

Hyundai Eng expects $1.2 bln order from Kuwait  SEOUL: South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction said on Tuesday that its consortium with Kuwait's Kharafi Group was picked as the most likely bidder to win an $1.2 billion order to develop a port in Kuwait. "Our bidding price was the lowest so that we're expecting a letter of intent for the contract within one or two months," a Hyundai spokesman told Reuters over the phone Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/2/2010)

Toyota to start fixing faulty US pedals after mass recall  CHICAGO: Toyota said on Monday it will start fixing faulty gas pedals this week after mass recalls dented its reputation and prompted competitors to challenge the world's top car maker. Toyota's US unit said the Japanese company had "developed and rigorously tested" a fix for accelerator pedals in faulty models and had also come up with "an effective solution" for vehicles currently in production. "The heat's on right now to execute this plan," Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor USA, said in a conference call with reporters. "We know what's causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it." Parts were already being shipped to US dealers, many of whom will be extending their hours in order to speed the repairs of the millions of vehicles affected by the recall. Canadian dealers will also begin repairs this week while European dealers will receive the parts next week, Toyota said. Production of the eight models affected will resume on February 8 at factories in the United States and Canada after a brief suspension. US sales of those popular models will resume once dealers have time to apply the fix to vehicles on their lots, Toyota said, adding that fixing vehicles already on the road will be the first priority. It was not immediately clear when Toyota would begin to repair recalled vehicles in China. Toyota pulled up to 1.8 million vehicles in Europe on Friday, the latest in a series of accelerator-related recalls that has affected more than 7.6 million Toyota cars worldwide -- nearly its entire 2009 global sales of 7.8 million vehicles. "The timing of it for them is terrible," said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at IHS Global Insight. Toyota's competitors already had a significant amount of momentum after making major cuts and revamping their product portfolio following the industry's worst downturn in decades, she told AFP. And a number of competitors, including General Motors and Ford, immediately launched incentive programs to try to lure customers away. "They (Toyota) still have a long road ahead of them," Lindland said. After days of keeping top executives out of the spotlight, Toyota went into damage-control mode Monday by announcing a "comprehensive plan" to fix the problem. "I want to sincerely apologize to Toyota owners," Lentz said in a video released on YouTube. "Toyota has always prided itself on building high quality, durable cars that customers can depend on and I know that we have let you down." The company said that in rare cases, the pedal mechanism could become worn and harder to depress, or get stuck in a partially depressed position. Toyota engineers have developed a "spacer" to add to the pedal mechanism in order to increase the tension in a spring and reduce the risk of the pedal staying down. They also redesigned the pedals so new vehicles will not need the spacer. The "sticky" pedal defect follows a more serious recall: unexpected, sudden acceleration which Toyota said is caused by floor mats getting stuck under the pedal. Toyota has come under criticism for failing to act quickly on that problem, which federal safety regulators said first came to light in 2007 and has been linked to 19 deaths in the United States. Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/2/2010)

Toyota US chief confident of recall fix  DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp US chief Jim Lentz said on Monday the Japanese automaker is confident it found the remedy to fix some 2.4 million of its eight most popular models involved in a safety recall and sales and production suspension. "We've studied the events of unintended acceleration and we're quite clear that it's come down to two different issues," Lentz told "The Today Show" on NBC. "One is the entrapment of the mat and the pedal. And we have announced a recall on that late last year. The sticking pedal issue that we've just announced and put a stop on some of our vehicles, we're confident that we have a fix for that. And between those two things, this will be under control." He referred to the two recalls that plague the world's leading automaker. One involves potentially faulty accelerators and another the chance that floor mats can jam under accelerator pedals causing sometimes-deadly unintended acceleration. The faulty pedals from Toyota supplier CTS Corp are involved in the current sales and production suspension and 2.3 million recalled consumer-owned cars and about 120,000 at dealerships. In both recall issues, Toyota has called back 5.4 million vehicles in the United States. Another 1.8 million have been recalled due to the sticking accelerators in Europe and 75,000 in China. Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/1/2010)

Toyota has solution for recalled cars, an official says  DETROIT: Toyota Motor has come up with a remedy to fix the millions of cars it recalled because their accelerator pedals could become stuck, dealers and a federal official said Saturday. Word of the solution came as the French automaker Peugeot said it was recalling cars it builds with Toyota at a plant the companies operate in the Czech Republic, widening a recall that has affected cars in the United States, Canada, China and Europe. Toyota presented a plan for repairing the potentially sticky pedals to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a senior official at the Transportation Department said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. The safety agency is not required to approve remedies but can reject them if it believes they will not sufficiently address defects. It did not reject the remedy, the official said. Some dealers said that Toyota officials phoned Saturday to say that a remedy was ready. “We got the call this morning,” said Peter Blackstock, the owner of Victory Toyota and Lexus Monterey Peninsula in Seaside, Calif. “The parts are on their way.” A Toyota spokesman, Mike Michels, said the company planned an announcement “very soon” and would send letters to owners, but he said it could take several weeks for notices to arrive. Toyota wants owners to wait for the letters before taking their cars to dealerships for repair, he said. Blackstock said he expected that dealers would be sent replacement accelerator pedals, which are produced for Toyota by CTS, a parts supplier based in Elkhart, Ind. Also on Saturday, the traffic safety agency said it had opened an investigation into the manufacture of the accelerator pedals. Last week, Toyota said it would temporarily stop production and sales of eight models at plants throughout the United States and Canada. The plants were scheduled to be closed for a week, beginning on Monday. The recall also affects the Pontiac Vibe, which Toyota made until recently. Toyota did not stop production or sales in Europe, because it said it had already devised and implemented a remedy there. The recall for accelerator pedals affects 4.1 million cars worldwide. Toyota has also recalled an additional 5.4 million cars in the United States whose accelerator pedals could get stuck on floor mats. Some models are included in both recalls. While some said the recalls have given a black eye to Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, and the second largest in the United States, its chief executive, Akio Toyoda, apologized Friday but said consumers should feel confident driving the company’s cars. Some competitors have tried to capitalize on the troubles by offering trade-in deals to Toyota owners. But it was still unclear what effect the recalls might have on Toyota’s sales in the United States. Edmunds.com, a Web site that provides car-buying advice, forecast that Toyota’s market share for January would fall to a four-year low. But AutoTrader.com, which tracks consumers’ shopping habits, said consideration of Toyota brands had actually risen during the last few days. Blackstock, the California dealer, said he hoped that repairs could be completed quickly. He said he did not think the recalls would have a lasting effect on his business, or that of Toyota. “If this is the worst thing that happens to us this year,” Blackstock said, “it should be a pretty good year.” Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/1/2010)

Toyota slow to see scope of problem even after fatal crash  DETROIT: The 911 call came at 6:35 p.m. on Aug. 28 from a car that was speeding out of control on Highway 125 near San Diego. The caller, a male voice, was panic-stricken: “We’re in a Lexus ... we’re going north on 125 and our accelerator is stuck ... we’re in trouble ... there’s no brakes ... we’re approaching the intersection ... hold on ... hold on and pray ... pray ...” The call ended with the sound of a crash. The Lexus ES 350 sedan, made by Toyota, had hit a sport utility vehicle, careened through a fence, rolled over and burst into flames. All four people inside were killed – the driver, Mark Saylor, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, and his wife, daughter and brother-in-law. It was the tragedy that forced Toyota, which had received more than 2,000 complaints of unintended acceleration, to step up its own inquiry, after going through multiple government investigations since 2002. Yet only last week did the company finally appear to come to terms with the scope of the problem, after expanding a series of recalls to cover millions of vehicles around the world, incalculable damage to its once-stellar reputation for quality and calls for congressional hearings. With prodding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota halted production and sales of eight models, including its top-selling Camry sedan. And late last week, the government allowed the company to go ahead to try yet another new fix for its vehicles, which it is expected to announce Monday. At almost every step that led to its current predicament, Toyota underestimated the severity of the sudden-acceleration problem affecting its most popular cars. It has veered from discounting early reports of problems to overconfidently announcing diagnoses and insufficient fixes. The effect on Toyota’s business is already being felt. Its sales in the United States in January are expected to drop 11 percent from a year earlier, and its market share in the United States is likely to fall to its lowest point since 2006, according to Edmunds.com, an automotive research Web site. The company has not yet projected the cost of its recalls and lost sales. But a prolonged slowdown in sales could substantially hurt a company that once minted profit. As recently as the fall, Toyota was still saying it was confident that loose floor mats were the sole cause of any sudden acceleration, issuing an advisory to millions of Toyota owners to remove them. The company said on Nov. 2 that “there is no evidence to support” any other conclusion, and added that its claim was backed up by the federal traffic safety agency. But, in fact, the agency had not signed on to the explanation, and it issued a sharp rebuke. Toyota’s statement was “misleading and inaccurate,” the agency said. “This matter is not closed.” Toyota’s handling of the problem is a story of how a long-trusted carmaker lost sight of one of its bedrock principles. Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/1/2010)

Automakers zoom on the fast lane in January  January 2010 marks a milestone in the automotive journey of the country with Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and General Motors India reporting their highest ever monthly sales. Maruti, the top carmaker, set a new sales record of nearly 96,000 units while its closest challenger, Hyundai Motor India, clocked 52,635 units and, in the process, its highest ever domestic sales at 29,601 units. For Tata Motors, passenger vehicle sales of 26,245 units are its highest ever to date. Similarly, Mahindra & Mahindra and GM India saw their sales reaching all-time highs of 20,332 and 9,421 units respectively. Two-wheelers On the two-wheeler front too, market leader Hero Honda clocked sales of 3.89 lakh motorcycles and gearless scooters in January, a growth of 23 per cent. Maruti, which posted its highest ever monthly sales at 95,649 cars (surpassing its previous high of 87,807 units two months ago), showed a 33 per cent growth from January 2009 (71,779 units). “Had we not shut down our plants for the first five days of the month for annual maintenance, we would have crossed the one lakh unit mark in January,” said Mr Mayank Parikh, Executive Officer, Sales and Marketing. The month also saw the company treble its exports to 14,562 units and register a 40 per cent growth in the multipurpose vehicle segment, which almost touched 11,000, with the new Eeco. The compact car portfolio comprising the Alto, the Wagon-R, the Zen, the Swift, the A-Star and the Ritz posted a 25 per cent growth at 58,540 units. However, the old warhorses such as the Gypsy and the M800 have been showing a decline in sales. Hyundai's run Hyundai, in its turn, reported a 42 per cent growth in sales. The country's largest car exporter despatched 23,034 cars overseas last month. With record numbers for the domestic market, it now hopes to maintain the momentum. “We hope the momentum will continue with the help of the stimulus package offered by the Government,” said Mr Arvind Saxena, Director, Sales and Marketing. Tata Motors had cause for cheer with sales of 7,258 units in the sedan segment, its highest ever since the Indigo launch in 2002. This was largely thanks to the recently launched Manza. The Nano accounted for a little over 4,000 units while the Indica range was flat at 11,448 units. The Sumo/Safari utility-vehicle portfolio grew 21 per cent to 3,538 units. Growing sales of Bolero and Scorpio, coupled with additional volumes brought by the Xylo, contributed to a 51 per cent growth for M&M. “January is an auspicious period across north India as well as Tamil Nadu which celebrates Pongal. This leads to good sales,” said Mr Arun Malhotra, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Customer Care. GM at new high GM India's numbers more than doubled to a new high of 9,421 units on the back of the Chevrolet Beat and the Cruze, which sold 2,825 and 616 units, respectively. The Spark continued its steady run with 3,477 units. The company has stated that it has already got over 10,000 bookings for the Beat, which was launched a month ago. The two-wheeler segment showed an equally buoyant performance with market leader, Hero Honda clocking nearly four lakh units in January and maintaining its good run of an average 3.5 lakh units over the last year. TVS Motor Company posted sales of 1,25,578 units, up from 93,729 units, a growth of 34 per cent. Source : Business Line (Online Edition) (2/1/2010)

Maruti car sales rose 33.3 percent in January  MUMBAI: India's largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki on Monday reported a 33.3 per cent rise in sales in January at 95,649 vehicles compared with The company exported 14,562 units during the month under review, it said in a regulatory filing. For April-January, sales grew 31.8 per cent to 826,592 units over the like period in last fiscal. Maruti's sales in the compact car (A2) segment comprising Alto, Wagon-R, Zen, Swift, Ritz and A-Star grew 24.8 per cent at 58,540 units over January 2009. Sale of models in its mid-sized (A3) segment comprising SX4 and D'Zire rose 36.5 percent to 8,995 cars in January this year. Source : Economic Times (2/2/2010)

Toyota tells dealers parts on way to fix pedals  WASHINGTON: Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday its dealers should get parts to fix a sticky gas pedal problem this week as the automaker tries to bring an end to a recall that has affected 4.2 million vehicles worldwide. The company said in a statement that it has begun shipping parts and is training service technicians on the repairs. Some dealers will stay open 24 hours to fix the 2.3 million cars and trucks affected by the recall in the US. Government regulators told Toyota last week that they were satisfied with the repair plan. The automaker also said Monday it would suspend production of eight US models affected by the recall for this week. Toyota recalled the vehicles on Jan. 21, determining that excess friction in the gas pedal assembly could in rare cases cause the pedals to stick. Engineers traced the problem to a friction device in the assembly that is supposed to provide the proper pedal ``feel'' by adding resistance, Toyota said in the statement. The device has a shoe that rubs against a nearby metal surface during normal pedal use. But wear and environmental conditions can over time cause the pedals to not operate smoothly or in rare cases stick partially open. The company said a steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the gas pedal assembly, reducing the friction. ``With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated,'' the statement said. ``The company has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick.'' Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, said in the statement that nothing is more important than customer safety. ``We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can _ as fast as we can _ to make things right,'' the statement said. Toyota told its dealers in an e-mail that they should determine how to prioritize their repairs. But the company said it ``strongly recommends dealers prioritize consumer vehicles first, followed by dealer-owned inventory (during non-peak hours).'' The repairs are expected to take about 30 minutes of work, and drivers should not notice any change in the feel of the pedal. Owners are expected to receive information by mail beginning this week and dealers are expected to receive technical descriptions on the fix by the middle of the week. The company will cover all repair costs. Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com (2/1/2010)

Maruti, Hyundai sales jump in January  NEW DELHI: India's largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki on Monday reported a 33.3 percent rise in sales in January at 95,649 vehicles compared to the like month last year. The company exported 14,562 units during the month under review, it said in a regulatory filing. For April-January, sales grew 31.8 percent to 826,592 units over the like period in last fiscal. Maruti's sales in the compact car (A2) segment comprising Alto, Wagon-R, Zen, Swift, Ritz and A-Star grew 24.8 percent at 58,540 units over January 2009. Sale of models in its mid-sized (A3) segment comprising SX4 and D'Zire rose 36.5 percent to 8,995 cars in January this year. Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter began the year on a positive note as both domestic and overseas sales recorded a positive growth. While domestic sales registered a growth of 40.8%, exports increased by 42.6% and overall growth stood at 41.6% for the month ending January, 2010. HMIL’s total sales for January, 2010 stood at 52,635 units as against 37,171 units in January, 2009 registering 41.6% cumulative growth. The domestic sales growth accounted for 29,601 units (which is the highest since 1998 when HMIL launched the Santro in September) as against 21,016 units in January, 2009 while the exports grew from 16,155 units in January, 2009 to 23,034 units in January, 2010. Commenting on HMIL’s performance Arvind Saxena, Director - Marketing and Sales, HMIL commented, “We have started the year on a right note and we hope the momentum will continue with the help of the stimulus package offered by the government.” The segment-wise cumulative sales for the month of January, 2010 are as follows: A2 Segment (Santro, i10, Getz & i20) 47,104 units; A3 Segment (Accent & Verna) 5,502 units; A5 Segment (Sonata Transform) 29 units; and SUV Segment (Tucson) 0 unit. Source : Economic Times (2/1/2010)

Rolex 24: Startup Team Finishes in Victory Lane  DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Action Express Racing, hastily formed in the off-season after a cutback by the Brumos Porsche team, captured overall honors in the Rolex 24 sports car endurance race. The defending champion Brumos team, with five-time Rolex winner Hurley Haywood making what he claimed was his final start in the race, ended up 26th overall. João Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller were co-drivers of the Porsche-powered Riley chassis that took the checkered flag at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, less than a full minute in front of a Ganassi Racing entry — third-closest margin of victory in the race's history — that appeared to be en route to victory. The Ganassi BMW Riley was leading when Justin Wilson pitted with two hours remaining, believing there was a problem with the car after he heard a loud noise. "I thought I'd blown a front tire or something like that, and being so close to the garage, I figured I'd pull it in," said Wilson. The crew found nothing wrong, but enough ground was lost that co-driver Scott Pruett was unable to overtake Barbosa. Pruett, Wilson, Max Papis and Memo Rojas were gunning for a fourth Rolex victory in the past five races for team owner Chip Ganassi. They ended up 2nd, the only car on the lead lap with the winners. A second Ganassi entry, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Jamie McMurray, dominated in the early going on a rain-soaked Saturday. The car, which 139 of the first 247 laps, did not make it to sunrise Sunday before engine failure ended its race. The Action Express team covered 755 laps, second most for a Rolex winner. It the GT class, the SpeedSource Mazda driven by Jonathan Bomarito, Nick Ham, David Haskell and Sylvain Tremblay prevailed by a four-lap margin over the TRG/Flying Lizards Porsche GT3 driven by Jim Lowe, Eric Lux, Jim Pace, Tim Sugden and James Walker. The SpeedSource team finished 8th overall. Source : http://www.insideline.com (2/1/2010)

Hyundai Announces Pricing for the All-New 2011 Sonata  FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., -- Hyundai Motor America has announced prices for the all-new 2011 Sonata. The completely redesigned 2011 Sonata delivers best-in-class fuel economy, an EPA-designated Large Car interior, 198 horsepower and a starting price of $19,195 for the well-equipped GLS model. The 200-horsepower SE model starts at $22,595 and the top-of-the-line Limited model is available for $25,295. "With the 2011 Sonata, our focus was a no-compromise engineering approach that would allow Sonata owners to have their cake, and eat it too. That focus led to a set of attributes that have not been seen in the midsize car category - attributes such as 35 mpg and 200 horsepower, bold design and an EPA Large Car interior, world-class quality and a class-leading value position," said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. "At Hyundai, we're big fans of resetting conventional wisdom, and we think we may have done it here with the 2011 Sonata." 2011 Sonata Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing ModelEngineTransmissionMSRP --------------------------- GLS2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed M/T$19,195 GLS2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$20,195 GLS with Pop. Equip. Pkg. 2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$20,945 GLS with Pop. Equip. Pkg. + Navi.2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$22,645 SE2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$22,595 SE with Navi. & Sunroof Package2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$25,195 Limited2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$25,295 Limited with Navi. Pkg.2.4-liter GDI I4Six-Speed A/T$27,395 Hyundai is the most fuel-efficient car maker in the U.S., and its commitment to continued fuel economy leadership is evident in the all-new Sonata. It has a best-in-class 35 mpg highway fuel economy rating thanks to a new 2.4-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder engine, new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions and highly refined aerodynamics. In addition to the advancements in fuel economy, the GDI engine produces a standard 198 horsepower, surpassing Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion. The Sonata GLS manual has best-in-class overall fuel economy with a 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway fuel economy rating, with all other Sonata models achieving 22 mpg city/35 mpg highway. The all-new Sonata raises the bar when it comes to features and technology offered within the midsize car segment. In addition to standard XM Satellite® radio, the Sonata boasts segment-first standard Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, available HD Radio Technology(TM) with multicasting (allowing the broadcast of alternative side-band content on HD stations) and heated front and rear heated seats. The Sonata is the first vehicle in its segment with advanced touchscreen navigation available on all trim levels. At $22,645, the Sonata GLS with the Popular Equipment Package + Navigation is the lowest priced midsize sedan with navigation. All navigation systems also include a 90-day complimentary subscription to real-time XM NavTraffic®, XM NavWeather®, XM Sports Ticker and XM Stock Ticker. The 2006 Sonata was the first popular midsize car to offer standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and six airbags. The 2011 Sonata builds on this leadership, with exceptional standard safety features including front driver and passenger airbags, front seat side impact and curtain airbags, ESC and Traction Control System (TCS), Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), front active head restraints, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system. While Sonata will compete for customers against cars like Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu, Sonata's performance capabilities, craftsmanship standards and luxury features were benchmarked against vehicles from Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. In true Hyundai fashion, Sonata makes a premium driving experience accessible to a wide range of customers, delivering the kind of value equation American car buyers have come to expect from Hyundai. Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/1/2010)

Exxon Mobil Corporation Announces $6 Billion Profit Fourth Quarter 2009  IRVING, Texas--Exxon Mobil Corporation : “ExxonMobil’s fourth quarter earnings excluding special items were $6,050 million, a decrease of 23% from the fourth quarter of 2008. Lower refining and fuels margins and lower natural gas realizations were partly offset by higher crude oil realizations.” Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2009 2008 % 2009 2008 % Earnings Excluding Special Items $ Millions 6,050 7,820 -23 19,420 44,060 -56 $ Per Common Share Assuming Dilution 1 1.27 1.54 -18 4.01 8.44 -52 Special Items $ Millions 0 0 (140 ) 1,160 Earnings 1 $ Millions 6,050 7,820 -23 19,280 45,220 -57 $ Per Common Share Assuming Dilution 1 1.27 1.54 -18 3.98 8.66 -54 Capital and Exploration Expenditures - $ Millions 8,263 6,829 21 27,092 26,143 4 1 See Accounting guidance adopted in first quarter 2009 EXXONMOBIL'S CHAIRMAN REX W. TILLERSON COMMENTED: “Despite continuing difficult global economic conditions, ExxonMobil delivered strong business results and built on our long-term focus. Our full year 2009 earnings excluding special items were $19,420 million despite significantly lower commodity prices and weak product margins. “Our financial strength provided us with the foundation to continue investing in new energy supplies to help meet global energy demand and to fuel economic growth. Capital and exploration spending was $27.1 billion in 2009, another record year, and in line with our longer term plan. “Underscoring our commitment to creating sustainable, long-term value, ExxonMobil and XTO Energy announced a $41 billion agreement in the fourth quarter 2009 that will enhance ExxonMobil’s position in the development of unconventional resources. ExxonMobil and XTO resources will combine to provide numerous opportunities to supply new affordable and reliable energy resources on a global basis. “In addition to our robust investment program, we distributed a total of $26 billion to shareholders in 2009 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding. This reflects a 7% increase in annual per share dividends and an overall reduction in shares outstanding of 5% and reaffirms our commitment to creating value for shareholders. “ExxonMobil’s fourth quarter earnings excluding special items were $6,050 million, a decrease of 23% from the fourth quarter of 2008. Lower refining and fuels margins and lower natural gas realizations were partly offset by higher crude oil realizations.” FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS * Earnings were $6,050 million, a decrease of 23% or $1,770 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. * Earnings per share were $1.27, a decrease of 18%. * Capital and exploration expenditures were $8.3 billion, up 21% from the fourth quarter of 2008. * Oil-equivalent production increased nearly 2% from the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was up over 3%. * Cash flow from operations and asset sales was $8.9 billion, including asset sales of $0.3 billion. * Share purchases to reduce shares outstanding were $2.0 billion. * Exxon Mobil Corporation and XTO Energy Inc. announced an all-stock transaction valued at $41 billion. The agreement, subject to regulatory clearance and XTO shareholder approval, will enhance ExxonMobil’s position in the development of unconventional natural gas and oil resources and enhance our ability to create sustainable, long-term value. XTO has a diverse resource base equivalent to 45 trillion cubic feet of gas which includes shale gas, tight gas, coal bed methane and shale oil and possesses extensive unconventional technical capabilities and operating expertise. * Project participants agreed to proceed with development of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The PNG LNG project will include gas production and processing facilities, onshore and offshore pipelines, and liquefaction facilities with capacity of 6.6 million tons per year. * Exxon Mobil Corporation and Qatar Petroleum agreed to develop a world-scale petrochemical complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. The complex will include a 1.6 million ton-per-year steam cracker, two 650 thousand ton-per-year polyethylene plants, and a 700 thousand ton-per-year ethylene glycol facility. The plant is expected to start up in late 2015. Fourth Quarter 2009 vs. Fourth Quarter 2008 Upstream earnings were $5,780 million, up $146 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. Higher crude oil realizations increased earnings $1.8 billion while lower gas realizations reduced earnings by $1.2 billion. Lower gains from asset sales decreased earnings by $600 million. On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased nearly 2% from the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was up over 3%. Liquids production totaled 2,393 kbd (thousands of barrels per day), down 79 kbd from the fourth quarter of 2008. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, liquids production was essentially flat, as increased production from projects in Qatar was offset by field decline. Fourth quarter natural gas production was 10,717 mcfd (millions of cubic feet per day), up 868 mcfd from 2008. Project ramp-up in Qatar was partly offset by decline in Europe. Earnings from U.S. Upstream operations were $1,011 million, $312 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-U.S. Upstream earnings were $4,769 million, down $166 million. Downstream earnings were a loss of $189 million, down $2,603 million. Lower margins drove the majority of the decline, reducing earnings $2.2 billion. Fewer gains from asset sales also contributed to the decrease. Petroleum product sales of 6,489 kbd were 272 kbd lower than last year's fourth quarter, mainly reflecting asset divestments and lower demand. The U.S. Downstream recorded a loss of $287 million, down $267 million from the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings of $98 million were $2,336 million lower. Chemical earnings of $716 million were $561 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2008. Stronger margins improved earnings by $190 million while higher sales volumes increased earnings $190 million. All other items, primarily lower hurricane costs, increased earnings by $180 million. Fourth quarter prime product sales of 6,675 kt (thousands of metric tons) were 1,049 kt higher than the prior year primarily due to improved demand and the absence of last year’s hurricane impacts. Corporate and financing expenses were $257 million, down $126 million from fourth quarter 2008, mainly due to favorable tax items. During the fourth quarter of 2009, Exxon Mobil Corporation purchased 33 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $2.4 billion. These purchases included $2.0 billion to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to offset shares issued in conjunction with the company's benefit plans and programs. Shares outstanding were reduced from 4,747 million at the end of the third quarter to 4,727 million at the end of the fourth quarter. First quarter 2010 share purchases are continuing at a pace consistent with fourth quarter 2009 share reduction spending of $2.0 billion. However, total purchases for the quarter may be less due to trading restrictions during the proxy solicitation period for the XTO merger. Purchases may be made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions, and may be increased, decreased or discontinued at any time without prior notice. Full Year 2009 vs. Full Year 2008 Earnings of $19,280 million ($3.98 per share) decreased $25,940 million from 2008. Earnings for 2009 included an after-tax special charge of $140 million related to the Valdez litigation. Earnings for 2008 included an after-tax special gain of $1,620 million from the sale of a natural gas transportation business in Germany and after-tax special charges of $460 million related to the Valdez litigation. Excluding these special items, 2009 earnings decreased by $24,640 million. FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS * Earnings excluding special items were $19,420 million, down 56%. * Earnings per share excluding special items decreased 52% to $4.01, reflecting lower earnings and the continued reduction in the number of shares outstanding. * Earnings were down 57% from 2008. Earnings for 2009 included a special charge of $140 million for interest related to the Valdez punitive damages award. Earnings for 2008 included a special gain of $1,620 million from the sale of a natural gas transportation business in Germany and special charges of $460 million related to the Valdez punitive damages award. * On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased 11 koebd (thousand of oil equivalent barrels per day) from last year. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was up about 2%. * Cash flow from operations and asset sales was $29.9 billion, including $1.4 billion from asset sales. * The Corporation distributed a total of $26.0 billion to shareholders in 2009 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding. This reflects a 7% increase in annual per share dividends and an overall reduction in shares outstanding of 5% versus 2008. * Capital and exploration expenditures were $27.1 billion, up 4% versus 2008. Upstream earnings, excluding special items, were $17,107 million, down $16,675 million from 2008. Lower crude oil and natural gas realizations decreased earnings $15.2 billion while higher operating costs reduced earnings by $1.4 billion. On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased by 11 koebd compared to 2008. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, production was up about 2%. Liquids production of 2,387 kbd declined less than 1% from last year. Excluding the impacts of entitlement volumes, OPEC quota effects and divestments, liquids production was up nearly 2%, as the ramp-up of project volumes in the U.S., Qatar and West Africa was partly offset by field decline. Natural gas production of 9,273 mcfd increased 178 mcfd, or 2%, from 2008. Higher volumes from Qatar were partly offset by field decline. Earnings from U.S. Upstream operations for 2009 were $2,893 million, a decrease of $3,350 million. Earnings outside the U.S. excluding special items were $14,214 million, down $13,325 million. Downstream earnings of $1,781 million were $6,370 million lower than 2008. Weaker margins decreased earnings $5.1 billion. Lower asset divestment activity reduced earnings about $1.0 billion. Petroleum product sales of 6,428 kbd decreased from 6,761 kbd in 2008, mainly reflecting asset divestments and lower demand. U.S. Downstream earnings were a loss of $153 million, down $1,802 million. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings were $1,934 million, $4,568 million lower than last year. Chemical earnings of $2,309 million decreased $648 million from 2008. Weaker margins reduced earnings by $340 million while lower volumes reduced earnings $190 million. Prime product sales of 24,825 kt were down 157 kt from 2008. Corporate and financing expenses excluding special items were $1,777 million, up $947 million, mainly due to lower interest income. In 2009, Exxon Mobil Corporation purchased 277 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $19.7 billion. These purchases included $18.0 billion to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to offset shares issued in conjunction with the company’s benefit plans and programs. Shares outstanding were reduced from 4,976 million at the end of 2008 to 4,727 million at the end of 2009, a decrease of 5.0%. Estimates of key financial and operating data follow. ExxonMobil will discuss financial and operating results and other matters on a webcast at 10 a.m. Central time on February 1, 2010. To listen to the event live or in archive, go to our website at exxonmobil.com. Cautionary statement Statements in this release relating to future plans, projections, events or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual results, including benefits resulting from the XTO transaction; project plans, costs, timing, and capacities; capital and exploration expenditures; and share purchase levels, could differ materially due to factors including: the timing and conditions of regulatory clearance for the XTO merger; our ability to integrate the businesses of XTO and ExxonMobil effectively after closing; changes in long-term oil or gas prices or other market or economic conditions affecting the oil and gas industry; unforeseen technical difficulties; political events or disturbances; reservoir performance; the outcome of commercial negotiations; wars and acts of terrorism or sabotage; changes in technical or operating conditions; and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" in the “investors” section of our website and in Item 1A of ExxonMobil's 2008 Form 10-K. We assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date. References to quantities of oil or natural gas may include amounts that we believe will ultimately be produced, but that are not yet classified as “proved reserves” under SEC definitions. Frequently used terms Consistent with previous practice, this press release includes both earnings excluding special items and earnings per share excluding special items. Both are non-GAAP financial measures and are included to help facilitate comparisons of base business performance across periods. Reconciliation to net income attributable to ExxonMobil is shown in Attachment II. The release also includes cash flow from operations and asset sales. Because of the regular nature of our asset management and divestment program, we believe it is useful for investors to consider sales proceeds together with cash provided by operating activities when evaluating cash available for investment in the business and financing activities. A reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities is shown in Attachment II. Further information on ExxonMobil's frequently used financial and operating measures and other terms is contained under the heading "Frequently Used Terms" available through the “investors” section of our website at exxonmobil.com. Accounting guidance adopted in first quarter 2009 Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance on consolidation as it relates to noncontrolling interests. The guidance changed the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which were recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. The guidance required retrospective adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements will be applied prospectively. The adoption of the accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements. References to total corporate earnings mean net income attributable to ExxonMobil (U.S. GAAP) from the income statement. Unless otherwise indicated, references to earnings, special items, earnings excluding special items, Upstream, Downstream, Chemical and Corporate and Financing segment earnings, and earnings per share are ExxonMobil's share after excluding amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests. Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance for earnings per share as it relates to determining whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities. The guidance required that all unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends should be included in the basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) calculation. Prior-year EPS numbers have been adjusted retrospectively on a consistent basis with 2009 reporting. This guidance did not affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations. Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/1/2010)

Honda City owners may have to wait for 'safe switch'  MUMBAI: Owners of 8,532 Honda City cars made in 2007 may have to wait as much as three weeks to get the possibly defective power-window switches replaced, as Honda Siel Cars imports the component from Thailand, said a senior company official. Honda is set to recall these cars, the third in its history in India, to replace switches that could heat up component. This is part of its global recall of 6.46 lakh cars for defective component in cars which are sold under various names such as City, Fit and Jazz. Honda Siel recalled 4,459 units of its popular sports utility vehicle CR-V model in July 2007, and 2,200 Accord sedan in 2004 to replace certain faulty parts such as the fuel pump, transmission and hood-stay. Customers can continue driving these cars even as they wait for replacing switches as no harm is feared, said a Honda official. “We never compromise on safety. We always proactively try to resolve any potential problem,” said Jnaneshwar Sen, vice-president (marketing) of Honda Siel. Honda India said the situation here is not ‘alarming’ and that no customer has so far driven to the dealership complaining about those switches. Global auto companies such as Honda, Toyota and France’s Peugeot have recalled lakhs of cars for defective component that could cause accidents. Toyota had discontinued production in some of its plants in the US, following complaints about its accelerator pedals. “We will start notifying the customers to bring the vehicles to the dealerships when the parts reach us,” said Mr Sen. “It will take less than 2 minutes to replace the faulty switches.” When a car has been manufactured with a defect and it is discovered, the vehicle is recalled by the manufacturer for safety issues. Recalls, mostly voluntary by manufacturers tend to be costly, as it entails replacing the defective part or paying damages. “Auto manufacturers need a greater consistency in quality of parts used on their global platform,” said Rakesh Batra, partner & national director, auto practice, Ernst & Young. However, recalls do not affect brand image of the company and most often the recall costs are weaved into the warranty, he said. Honda said the current model of City, which is running into its third generation as well as the Jazz, which is running into its second are not affected, it said in a statement on Saturday. Source : Economic Times (2/2/2010)

Tata Motors sales grew 77 percent in January  KOLKATA: Global auto major Tata Motors' sales (including exports) of commercial and passenger vehicles grew 77 percent to 65,478 vehicles in January 2010 over 36,931 vehicles in the corresponding period last fiscal, a company statement said here on Monday. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles for January 2010 were 62,202 units, a 74 percent growth over 35,704 sold in January last fiscal. Cumulative sales (including exports) for the company for the fiscal at 498,108, recorded a growth of 24 percent over 400,284 units sold last year. Source : Economic Times (2/1/2010)

Hero Honda sales up 23.57 pc in January  NEW DELHI: The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda today reported 23.57 per cent jump in its sales at 3,89,802 units in January compared to the same month's last year. Hero Honda is also planning to launch three new products by the end of this fiscal. In a statement, Hero Honda said it had sold 3,15,458 units in January last year. The figure registered during January is the highest-ever sales in the month by the company, it added. Besides, for the 13th consecutive time, the company has recorded more than three lakh despatches in a single month. "Our sales numbers for January provide an excellent start to the calendar year, 2010. The sales growth we have achieved is significant in light of the high base that we created in the same period last year," Hero Honda Motors Senior Vice President (Marketing & Sales) Anil Dua said. The company witnessed good performance in all the regions and sales across segments grew, he added. On its upcoming products, without giving any details, Dua said, "Going forward, we have three new product launches planned in the next two months, taking the total number of launches to nine this fiscal." Source : Economic Times (2/1/2010)

BMW Group Australia Appoints New Head of Corporate Communications  MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA –: BMW Group Australia has appointed Tim James to the position of PR & Corporate Communications Manager, effective 22 February. James, 34, was previously the Product Communications Manager in the corporate communications team at BMW Group Australia. Toni Andreevski, 36, who has led BMW’s corporate communications activities in Australia since mid 2006, has been appointed to the role of Product & Market Planning Manager with responsibility for Australia and New Zealand. BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis, welcomed the moves. “Tim has developed a wealth of experience within the company across various roles in BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad as well as most recently in corporate communications. “We are confident he will continue the on-going success of the company’s corporate communications activities. “With his extensive product knowledge and experience in the luxury automotive industry, Toni will take on responsibility for BMW and MINI product and market planning functions as the company prepares for its next model offensive,” Mr Yallouridis said. Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (2/1/2010)

Celebs autograph Chrysler for Haiti  Celebrities such as Tom Hanks have autographed a Chrysler 300C to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake relief fund. Hundreds of stars of stage, screen and music rallied round and added their names to the white executive saloon car. The one-off vehicle, dubbed the Chrysler 300 Haiti edition, is now being auctioned off. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated from the auction will go to the American Red Cross for their Haiti relief efforts. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives and many more were displaced by the earthquake, which struck the island a fortnight ago. The celebrity-scribbled Chrysler 300C is being auctioned off on February 20th, in Oklahoma City. Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (2/1/2010)

Toyota's Ontario supply chain feeling the pain  TORONTO -- The shutdown of Toyota's Ontario plants threatens to widen and close parts suppliers, automotive industry officials say. Toyota Motor Corp. is stopping production at six plants Monday, including Woodstock and Cambridge, amid quality problems that have prompted huge vehicle recalls by the worlds No. 1 automaker. According to the London Free Press, suppliers to those plants may be idled, since Toyota's just-in-time delivery system means there is little storage for parts. "There will be an impact throughout the supply chain, definitely," said Ted Kawashima, director of the Japanese Automotive Parts Industries Association in Michigan, representing Japanese parts makers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Toyota said Thursday it's leaving the decision on whether to remain open next week with suppliers. That will see some remain open and build inventory, while others may bring in workers for retraining, just as Toyota is doing, and others may shut down, said Kawashima. "You cannot say everything will close or stay open – it depends what they are making and how their inventory is," he said. Toyota has announced recalls of 2.4 million vehicles on three continents due to a sticking accelerator pedal. Toyota is suspending U.S. and Canadian sales and production of eight models: the Camry, Highlander, Corolla, Venza, Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe. Toyota has more than 15 suppliers in the London area alone and the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association lists more than 60 parts plants in Canada feeding both Toyota and Honda. "Given the just-in-time delivery system, it would not surprise me, there is a close link between the two," David Worts, director of JAMA said Thursday. "It remains to be seen how they will emerge from this but we hope they are doing the right thing, that they will address this appropriately." Source : http://www.todaystrucking.com (2/1/2010)

Specs of light in US freight economy?  ARLINGTON, Va. -- Recent changes in a few economic indicators point to better days ahead for the U.S. economy and for the trucking industry, says the the American Trucking Associations. ATA's Chief Economist Bob Costello pointed out in his Weekly Economic Recap that the real gross domestic product gained an annualized rate of 5.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2009. This is better than analysts' forecast of 4.7 percent and ATA's forecast of 5.1 percent. "Still, we believe that the fourth quarter will be the outlier and that GDP will come down to earth starting this quarter, growing 2.5 percent, and remain at or below that level for the rest of the year," Costello stated. In the Bureau of Economic Analysis' GDP report, there was a 2 percent boost in personal consumption, a 28.1 percent increase in exported goods, and 13.3 percent growth in business investment on equipment and software. According to the ATA, 3.4 percentage points of the growth in GDP came from a smaller decrease in inventories. Consumer confidence was also up in January, and new manufacturing orders for durable goods, which are products with a useable life of at least three years, gained 0.3 percent in December. Source : http://www.todaystrucking.com (2/1/2010)

Time to get tough with Ontario with cell-texting ban  TORONTO -- The 'soft' enforcement period is over for truckers or anyone else caught driving on Ontario roads with a cellphone or any other electronic device in their hands. Starting today, police will no longer be issuing warnings for anyone caught driving while distracted. The fine can be up to $500. The law includes a ban on talking, texting, or e-mailing on just about any hand-held device, including phones, MP3 players, GPS or portable DVD player or any other communication device that requires drivers to take their hands off the wheel. Hands-free modes of these devices are allowed for the most part. As for push-to-talk devices and CB radios, Emna Dhahak of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation reaffirms what Today's Trucking reported last summer -- that they're technically covered under the law, but the government is granting a three-year exemption for their use to "give time for the development of hands-free solutions." A lot of times these nuanced clarifications can get lost getting delivered from Queen's Park to the roadside, but OPP Inspector Dave Ross tells todaystrucking.com that truckers can rest assured that the cops know what to do. He says he's positive officers are aware of the exemption. "The MTO (Ministry of Transportation) provides information with regards to a three year phase out for the commercial use of two-way radios, including mobile and CB radios to allow for hands-free technology to be developed,” Ross says. “(The law) doesn't affect mobile data terminals, logistical tracking services and dispatching devices. They'll be exempt for commercial and public service vehicles that are engaged in the performance of their duties.” It's apparent that truckers all over the continent will have to get used to such limits of in-cab use of technology. In fact, with the U.S. last week immediately banning texting for commercial drivers nationwide, only a handful of jurisdictions, namely Alberta, still don't have hard rules on distracted driving. Source : http://www.todaystrucking.com (2/1/2010)

TVS Motor Co sales grow 34% in Jan`10  TVS Motor Company witnessed all round growth as Motorcycles increase 24%; Scooters contribute 43% in January 2010. Exports grow 15%; Domestic sales up 37%; 3 Wheelers at 1710 units With robust increase in sales with healthy contributions from all segments of the two wheeler market, TVS Motor Company has posted a significant 34% growth in two wheeler sales for the month of January 2010. The company witnessed voluminous growth in its three wheeler business as well, with sales increasing almost seven times when compared to the previous year. The company registered total two wheeler sales of 125,578 units against 93,729 units in the corresponding period of the previous year taking the cumulative growth for the period April 2009 to January 2010 to 12% with sales of 1,234,632 units against 1,100,453 units in the comparable period of the previous year. Domestic sales witnessed a quantum increase of 37% registering 109,504 units in January 2010 as against 79,729 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. Motorcycle sales of the company witnessed a growth of 24% registering 54,698 units inJanuary 2010 when compared to 43,990 units recorded in January 2009. The company`s scooter sales grew by 43% with sales of 25,509 units when compared to 17,832 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. Continuing its upward trend, exports recorded a growth of 15% registering sales of 16,074 units of two wheelers in January 2010 as against 14,000 units in the corresponding period of the previous year. The company`s three wheelers sales logged capacious growth recording 1,710 units in the month of January 2010 as against 466 units registered in January 2009. Cumulative three wheeler sales for the period April 2009 to January 2010 stood at 10,417 units. Shares of the company gained Rs 0.25, or 0.34%, to trade at Rs 74.15. The total volume of shares traded was 233,625 at the BSE (12.18 p.m., Monday). Source : Myiris.com (2/1/2010)

Toyota Announces Accelerator Pedal Fix  Automaker pledges to repair recalled vehicles quickly and conveniently Toyota says it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles this week. The car company says its engineers have developed and "rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances." Toyota says it also has developed an "effective solution" for vehicles in production. Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under way, Toyota said. Many dealers have been scheduled to work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as possible, with some even staying open 24 hours a day. The company has also stopped production of affected vehicles for the week of February 1. "Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive," said Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. "We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can -- as fast as we can -- to make things right. We know what's causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most important to fix this problem in the cars on the road." On January 21, Toyota announced its intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles equipped with a specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the recall on January 26. Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include: • Certain 2009-2010 RAV4s • Certain 2009-2010 Corollas • 2009-2010 Matrixes • 2005-2010 Avalon • Certain 2007-2010 Camrys • Certain 2010 Highlanders • 2007-2010 Tundra • 2008-2010 Sequoia No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Others that are NOT affected include Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids, all of which remain for sale. Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with "J" are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall. In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, Toyota says the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance. Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. Proposed fix cause accelerator pedals in recalled vehicles to stick in a partially open position. The issue involves a friction device in the pedal designed to provide the proper "feel" by adding resistance and making the pedal steady and stable. The device includes a shoe that rubs against an adjoining surface during normal pedal operation. Due to the materials used, wear and environmental conditions, these surfaces may, over time, begin to stick and release instead of operating smoothly. In some cases, friction could increase to a point that the pedal is slow to return to the idle position or, in rare cases, the pedal sticks, leaving the throttle partially open. The automaker calls the solution for current owners "both effective and simple." It says a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar will be installed into the assembly that will reduce the surface tension between the friction shoe and the adjoining surface. With this reinforcement in place, the excess friction that can cause the pedal to stick is eliminated. The company says it has confirmed the effectiveness of the newly reinforced pedals through rigorous testing on pedal assemblies that had previously shown a tendency to stick. Separately from the recall for sticking accelerator pedals, Toyota is in the process of recalling vehicles to address rare instances in which floor mats have trapped the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus models (announced November 25, 2009), and is already notifying customers about how it will fix this problem. In the case of vehicles covered by both recalls, Toyota says it plans to remedy both at the same time. Source : http://www.consumeraffairs.com (2/1/2010)

Chevrolet Cruze gets Automatic Gearbox  Chevrolet's top-of-the-range diesel-powered Cruze is now available with an automatic gearbox. The six-speed transmission on the 2.0 VCDi LT model can operate in full auto or manual shift mode. Powered by a 150PS 2.0-litre common rail diesel engine, the new model accelerates from 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 124mph where conditions allow. Combined MPG is 42.2mpg, with CO2 emissions of 177g/km. With a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, the Chevrolet Cruze is the only car ever to achieve maximum points in offset frontal and side-impact tests. Safety features fitted as standard include Electronic Stability Control and traction control. Luxury features include full climate control, reverse parking sensors, cruise control, front fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, rain sensitive wipers, automatic headlights, front and rear electric windows, follow-me-home headlights, a six-CD autochanger and MP3 socket, and a Thatcham category 1 alarm system with remote locking. Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (2/1/2010)

Nissan ramping up production  A third production shift at Nissan's Sunderland plant is to be reinstated in response to strong Qashqai demand. Throughout 2009 the plant has been working hard to satisfy orders on two shifts. But now sales of the popular crossover have reached levels where demand is out-stripping supply. And in March, an extensively updated version goes on sale across Europe, which could add to that demand. Therefore, from May, a nightshift will be added to the Qashqai production line. Although the market will dictate how long the nightshift remains in operation, it is expected to be maintained for around six months. To support this, recruitment will begin next month for 400 new fixed-term manufacturing posts at the plant and allow retention of an existing 160 Temporary staff. It is anticipated that additional posts will also be created across Nissan's supply chain. Trevor Mann, Nissan Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Europe, was upbeat. "Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market," he said. Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (2/1/2010)

Recession made freight filchers aggressive: report  AUSTIN, Tex. -- Cargo thieves may not have had as much selection last year, but they weren't slowed down one bit. Despite the economic doldrums and growing industry efforts and new technology to combat cargo theft, thieves made off with more truck cargo in 2009 than has ever been recorded. According to FreightWatch International's 2009 Annual Cargo Theft Report, an average of 72 cargo theft incidents occurred per month in 2009 -- a gain of 12 percent. While typically the majority of cargo thefts have occurred at truckstops, in 2009, there were a noticeable increase in the number of cargo thefts occurring at terminal and distribution center lots and trailer drop lots. In the first half of 2009, there were 31 incidents in secured distribution center and terminal lots, while it increased to 62 incidents in the second half of the year. The report attributes the change to the proactive approach by cargo thieves to target loads at their points of origin through information collection and surveillance. "Over the last year, we have seen companies increase their proactive security measures," said Barry Conlon, CEO of FreightWatch. "This combined with a decrease in total shipping during 2009, primarily due to decreased global demand resulting from the recession, has forced cargo theft gangs become more aggressive and increase their active targeting unprotected high-value loads." According to the report, electronics was the industry most heavily hit by cargo theft, accounting for 23 percent of total theft activity. Electronics incurred an average loss value of $806,000 per incident. The food and drinks industry came in second at 20 percent, followed by home and garden items at 10 percent. The states with the highest risk for cargo theft in 2009 included California, Florida and Texas. Other states at risk were Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Source : http://www.todaystrucking.com (2/1/2010)