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December 2008

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

OPEC Losing Touch- Oil Prices Tumble to Under $40 Per Barrel In Spite Of Market Manipulation

OPEC Losing Touch- Oil Prices Tumble to Under $40 Per Barrel In Spite Of Market Manipulation

ORAN, Algeria – Here's how bad things are for OPEC these days: It announced its largest-ever production cut Wednesday and oil prices promptly slumped to $40 a barrel, the lowest level in more than four years AP – Iran's Minister of Petroleum Gholam Hossein Nozari, left, gestures towards Minister of Energy and ... Continue reading

ZAP Auto Execs Say Divert Bailout to Support Producing Electric Car Companies

ZAP Auto Execs Say Divert Bailout to Support Producing Electric Car Companies

SANTA ROSA, CA Dec 18, 2008; Two veteran automotive executives, H. Dennis Kammerer and Rodger L. Cornish, say electric car pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB - News) is already building all-electric models and the US government should offer support to companies who are already building plug-in transportation. The two auto ind ... Continue reading

Pelosi: Jobless Claims Show Need for Economic Recovery and Job Creation Package and Aid to Autos

Pelosi: Jobless Claims Show Need for Economic Recovery and Job Creation Package and Aid to Autos

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the latest economic news that 554,000 Americans filed for jobless claims: "Today's jobless claims again illustrate the struggles that workers are facing as they search for jobs, worry about layoffs, or fight to ... Continue reading

NADA Chairman Says 'Auto Bankruptcy of Any Kind is Not an Option'

NADA Chairman Says 'Auto Bankruptcy of Any Kind is Not an Option'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Responding to news reports that the White House is considering a so-called "orderly" bankruptcy for auto companies, the Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, Annette Sykora, strongly argued against such a move. "Bankruptcy, whether it's structured or not ... Continue reading

ALLIANCE FORMED TO MANUFACTURE ADVANCED AUTOMOBILE BATTERIES IN THE U.S.

ALLIANCE FORMED TO MANUFACTURE ADVANCED AUTOMOBILE BATTERIES IN THE U.S.

CHICAGO, Ill December 18, 2008: Leading U.S. battery and advanced materials companies, with support from one of the country’s largest national laboratories, have formed the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, known as the “Alliance,” to manufacture advanced lithium ion ... Continue reading

2009 TO PRESENT ROUSH WITH LOTS OF ROAD RACING "NEWS"

2009 TO PRESENT ROUSH WITH LOTS OF ROAD RACING "NEWS"

For Immediate Release 2009 TO PRESENT ROUSH WITH LOTS OF ROAD RACING “NEWSââ 0;¬??? LIVONIA, Mich. (December 18, 2008) - Jack Roush, Jr. will be celebrating the New Year on January 1 just like everyone else, but the list of “newsââ 0;¬??? surrounding his road racing endeavors is far ... Continue reading

Yenkos from Historic Collection to Be Sold at 2009 Barrett-Jackson Event in Scottsdale

Yenkos from Historic Collection to Be Sold at 2009 Barrett-Jackson Event in Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--Five rare Yenko muscle cars from a celebrated collection will be sold at No Reserve during the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 11-18, 2009. For the first time, four Yenko Camaros and a Yenko Nova from the Gary Holub Collection (Lot #’s 1276-1278) will ... Continue reading

Henkel Accompanies Dakar Rally to South America

Henkel Accompanies Dakar Rally to South America

DUESSELDORF, Germany and ROCKY HILL, Conn., Dec. 18 -- The driest desert on earth, the world's longest exposed mountain range - Dakar 2009 is full of superlatives demanding exceptionally skilled drivers as well as vehicles and technical equipment able to meet the toughest requirements. On January 3, 2009, the most sens ... Continue reading

SAVE-A-LOT RETURNS TO NATIONWIDE SERIES WITH CARL EDWARDS

SAVE-A-LOT RETURNS TO NATIONWIDE SERIES WITH CARL EDWARDS

Concord, N.C. December 18, 2008: Save-A-Lot food stores has extended their relationship with Roush Fenway Racing signing on as a primary sponsor for Carl Edwards and the No. 60 Ford for 13 races in the Nationwide Series in 2009. The Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will mark the first race for Save-A-Lot ... Continue reading

IMS UNVEILS CENTENNIAL ERA-THEMED EVENT LOOS FOR 2009 SEASON

IMS UNVEILS CENTENNIAL ERA-THEMED EVENT LOOS FOR 2009 SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, December 18, 2008: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway recently unveiled the logos for all three motor racing events in 2009 at the legendary Brickyard, the 93rd Indianapolis 500, 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and second Red Bull Indianapolis GP. All three event logos share a similar design ele ... Continue reading

Chip Ganassi Racing Drivers Honored on 2008 All-America Auto Racing First Team

Chip Ganassi Racing Drivers Honored on 2008 All-America Auto Racing First Team

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. December 18, 2008: Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon, and TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas have been voted to the 2008 All-America Auto Racing First Team by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA). The 17 drivers sel ... Continue reading

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES - December 18, 2008

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES - December 18, 2008

1. Drivers remember Christmases past: The wrapping might not have left much to the imagination. But it didn’t matter to a young Ryan Hunter-Reay, who vividly remembers the excitement of receiving his first go-kart as a Christmas present. “That set everything in motion,” said Hunter-Reay, who won at Watki ... Continue reading

2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists Announced

DETROIT, Dec. 18 -- Two European automakers, two domestics and for the first time a Korean automaker comprise the six finalists for the North American Car of the Year and the North American Truck of the Year awards, it was announced today. Two of the six vehicles are new, clean diesels that can be sold in all 50 states ... Continue reading

ONE MORE FOR THE GOOD GUYS: U.S. Firms Join Forces to Build Car Batteries

ONE MORE FOR THE GOOD GUYS: U.S. Firms Join Forces to Build Car Batteries

Leading U.S. battery and advanced materials companies, with support from one of the country’s largest national laboratories, have formed the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, known as the “Alliance,” to manufacture advanced lithium ion battery cells for transportatio ... Continue reading

Bush Now Appears to Favor an "Orderly" Bankruptcy for Detroit Three

Bush Now Appears to Favor an "Orderly" Bankruptcy for Detroit Three

AUTO CENTRAL - December 18, 2008: In a live televised interview this morning President Bush talked about an "orderly" bankruptcy as the solution for the three American automakers, as opposed to making any specific announcement or decision to try and take some of the funds from the $700 billion bailout package (or what ... Continue reading

Registration Now Open for Harley-Davidson's 2nd Annual Daytona Women's Ride

Registration Now Open for Harley-Davidson's 2nd Annual Daytona Women's Ride

Hundreds of Women Riders to Share Passion and Raise Funds for MDA MILWAUKEE, Dec. 18 -- Last year in Daytona, hundreds of women riders joined together on the Harley-Davidson Daytona Women's Day Ride and raised $67,000 for MDA. Registration for the 2009 ride on Tuesday, March 3, is now open with a limited number of spot ... Continue reading

Bosch Power Tools Acquires Parts of the Freud Group

Bosch Power Tools Acquires Parts of the Freud Group

Bosch further expands its business with power tool accessories STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 18 -- -- In the accessories business, Freud generated sales of 100 million euros in 2007 -- Planned acquisition of the four Freud Group manufacturing sites in Italy, as well as sales companies in North America, China, Italy and the ... Continue reading

TomTom Announces Online Route Planner Featuring Exclusive Map Share and IQ Routes Technologies

TomTom Announces Online Route Planner Featuring Exclusive Map Share and IQ Routes Technologies

CONCORD, Mass.--TomTom, the world’s leading navigation solutions provider today announces the introduction of the TomTom Route Planner, a free Web-based routing application available at http://routes.tomtom.com. TomTom’s online Route Planner, which is currently in a BETA test program, allows users to easily p ... Continue reading

Balqon Corporation Installs AeroVironment's PosiCharge Fast Charge System at Port of Los Angeles to Power Electric Trucks

Balqon Corporation Installs AeroVironment's PosiCharge Fast Charge System at Port of Los Angeles to Power Electric Trucks

MONROVIA, Calif.--AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) today announced that Balqon Corporation (OTC:BLQN), a developer of heavy duty electric trucks, tractors and electric drive systems, has purchased a new high voltage version of AV’s PosiCharge™ fast charge systems as part of a program to replace internal combustion ya ... Continue reading

Proton Sued By Goldstar For Breach Of Contract

Proton Sued By Goldstar For Breach Of Contract

Proton sued by Goldstar for breach of contract http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008765/Proton-sued-by-Goldstar-for-bre ach-o f-contract.html Shanghai, December 18 (Gasgoo.com) Malaysia's Proton Holdings Bhd is being sued for alleged breach of contract by its former Chinese joint-venture partner, Goldstar Heavy Industri ... Continue reading

China Commercial Car Sales Down 26% In Nov

China Commercial Car Sales Down 26% In Nov

China commercial car sales down 26% in Nov http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008767/China-commercial-car-sales-down -26-i n-Nov.html Shanghai, December 18 (Gasgoo.com) China's commercial vehicle sales in November fell 25.96% from a year earlier, reflecting the fifth monthly fall in commercial vehicle sales this year and ... Continue reading

Dongfeng Nissan May Make Electric Vehicle

Dongfeng Nissan May Make Electric Vehicle

Dongfeng Nissan may make electric vehicle http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008766/Dongfeng-Nissan-may-make-electr ic-ve hicle.html Shanghai, December 18 (Gasgoo.com) Nissan China has recently announced Nissan's global plan to mass produce electric vehicles in 2010, and Dongfeng Nissan is likely to make Nissan electric ... Continue reading

Kia Unveils New Soul Concept At NAIAS

Kia Unveils New Soul Concept At NAIAS

The all-new concept based on the recently revealed and eagerly anticipated Soul urban crossover passenger car is more than just a re-packaging treatment, as it will demonstrate the flexibility of the original Soul design first shown at the 2006 NAIAS. ... Continue reading

GM denies holding new merger talks with Chrysler

GM denies holding new merger talks with Chrysler

NEW YORK December 18, 2998; Jui Chakravorty Das writing for Reuters reported General Motors Corp has not reopened merger talks with Chrysler LLC, a GM spokesman said on Thursday, denying a report in The Wall Street Journal that talks had been revived. "We have had no talks with them since we announced during our third- ... Continue reading

New Ford Fiesta Triggers Retail Surge

New Ford Fiesta Triggers Retail Surge

Nearly 11,500 new Ford Fiesta models have been snapped up in the UK in just 77 days since it went on sale on 1st October - and with more than 9,000 going to retail customers. That equates to almost 80 per cent - a substantial increase on the normal retail rate of 60 per cent. ... Continue reading

Toyota Aygo For A Winner

Toyota Aygo For A Winner

Project Aygo started in March last year when Toyota (GB) PLC supplied a vehicle to top-selling Japanese car magazine Banzai. The tuned Aygo, which featured throughout the year in Banzai in a series of build diaries by editor Joe Clifford, was up for grabs as star prize in a competition run in the magazine. ... Continue reading

TV Show Names Kia pro_cee'd As Car Of The Year 2008

TV Show Names Kia pro_cee'd As Car Of The Year 2008

Shown in over 40 countries worldwide, Auto Mundial has spent the last year testing and reporting on a wide range of machinery from across the globe. Despite the gargantuan range of new cars on offer, from sports cars to 4x4s and city cars to people movers, the Auto Mundial team put the pro_cee'd up against the all but ... Continue reading

NAIAS Global Stage Welcomes Two More Fine Performers

NAIAS Global Stage Welcomes Two More Fine Performers

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is pleased to add two international manufacturers to the growing list of show debuts. ... Continue reading

Motor Expo Success Boosts Tata Sales

Motor Expo Success Boosts Tata Sales

Tata Motors (Thailand) Co Ltd is expecting sales of its vehicles in Thailand to increase in the period from the year end through to 2009. The company's confidence is borne out by the number of orders attracted at the Thailand International Motor Expo for the Xenon 2.2-litre common-rail diesel and the Super CNG with its ... Continue reading

Nissan Provides Thai Youth With Learning Opportunity Through The Donation Of 'Nissan Mobile Library' To Sikkha Asia Foundation

Nissan Provides Thai Youth With Learning Opportunity Through The Donation Of 'Nissan Mobile Library' To Sikkha Asia Foundation

Nissan's vision is to enrich people's lives. To make this possible, the company believes in contributing some of its profits into building a better and sustainable society. Nissan's past involvements have included several welfare projects, including the Sikkha Asia Foundation. ... Continue reading

First Continental Service Center Opened By National Distributor Nasco Automotive In Amman, Jordan

First Continental Service Center Opened By National Distributor Nasco Automotive In Amman, Jordan

Today the opening of the first Continental tire shop at Amman, Jordan was celebrated. It is located in Al Madina Munawra street in the western part of Amman. The shop design was developed by considering Continental`s highest shop quality standards and advanced equipment operating with highly skilled personnel. ... Continue reading

Chevrolet Launches Beautifully Safe All-New 2009 Traverse in Abu Dhabi

Chevrolet Launches Beautifully Safe All-New 2009 Traverse in Abu Dhabi

Chevrolet's first entry into the crossover utility (CUV) segment marks the birth of the all-new Traverse, which was officially launched in the UAE at a major media ride & drive event along the scenic routes of Abu Dhabi in the same week of its regional debut at the 2008 Abu Dhabi International Motor Show. ... Continue reading

Four Wheeler names HUMMER H3T 2009 Pickup Truck of the Year

Four Wheeler names HUMMER H3T 2009 Pickup Truck of the Year

Four Wheeler magazine, America's oldest and most prestigious four-wheel drive enthusiast magazine, has named the 2009 HUMMER H3T the winner of its coveted Pickup Truck of the Year award. The in-depth competition has been held annually since 1989, and this year marks HUMMER's first-ever win. ... Continue reading

Key Component Of Fuel-Efficient Start-Stop Systems Developed By Continental

Key Component Of Fuel-Efficient Start-Stop Systems Developed By Continental

A growing number of vehicles gets equipped with a start-stop function these days: During vehicle standstill with ignition on this feature shuts down the engine without driver activity - typical situations are a wait in front of a red traffic light or at a rail crossing. ... Continue reading

GM Chrysler Merger Talks Reopen

GM Chrysler Merger Talks Reopen

December 18, 2008; Ajay Kamalakaran writing for Reuters reported that General Motors (GM - News) and Chrysler have reopened merger talks, as Chrysler owner Cerberus Capital Management (CBS.UL) has signaled its willingness to give away part of its ownership in the auto maker, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people ... Continue reading

Further Award Recognition for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Further Award Recognition for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

The Volkswagen Caddy Van and its new, larger sibling the Caddy Maxi Van, received some good news at the What Van? Vans of the year Awards 2008 in the UK. ... Continue reading

The Seat Ibiza, '2009 Car of the Year by the Readers'

The Seat Ibiza, '2009 Car of the Year by the Readers'

The new SEAT Ibiza has received its second consecutive prize in Spain by being voted '2009 Car of the Year by the readers of Publishing Group Prensa Ibérica publications, specialist magazine Autofácil and the La Vanguardia newspaper. This prize follows the one received by the Ibiza SC two weeks ago as 'Young Car 2009 ... Continue reading

Maserati Launches The Ultimate Driving Course

Maserati Launches The Ultimate Driving Course

Maserati has released details of the 2009 programme for the ultimate advanced driving courses, the Master Maserati Driving Course, with tuition provided by drivers from Formula One, World Rally Championship, Indy Car and European and World Touring Cars in latest Maserati models. ... Continue reading

Valeo Takes Into Account The AFEP-Medef Recommendations Of 6 October 2008

Valeo Takes Into Account The AFEP-Medef Recommendations Of 6 October 2008

Following its meeting yesterday, the Valeo Board of Directors indicated that the AFEP-MEDEF recommendations of 6 October 2008 concerning the remuneration of executives who are corporate officers of listed companies are in line with Valeo's principles of corporate governance. ... Continue reading

GM China, SAIC and Shanghai GM Open Second Plant in Shenyang

GM China, SAIC and Shanghai GM Open Second Plant in Shenyang

General Motors China and its joint venture partners, SAIC and Shanghai GM, celebrated the opening of their second plant at Shanghai GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co. Ltd. in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang. During today's ceremony, the first Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan rolled off the production line. ... Continue reading

Ferrari Bucks The World Crisis Because "There'll Always Be People Crazy Enough To Buy A Ferrari!"

Ferrari Bucks The World Crisis Because "There'll Always Be People Crazy Enough To Buy A Ferrari!"

Speaking at the annual Ferrari end of year media conference, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has said that while other car makers saw profits and sales plummet in 2008, Ferrari has ignored the trend and recorded its best ever year for sales, earnings, profits and achievements in motorsport. ... Continue reading

New Face Of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2009: Julia Stegner Is The New Face Of The International Fashion Activities Of Mercedes-Benz

New Face Of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2009: Julia Stegner Is The New Face Of The International Fashion Activities Of Mercedes-Benz

The fashion activities of Mercedes-Benz in over 20 countries now have a new face. International top model Julia Stegner will make her first appearance as the fashion brand-ambassador at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin Autumn/Winter 2009, which will take place from 28 January to 1 February 2009 at Bebelplatz, in t ... Continue reading

MINI Heads Back to Its Roots

MINI Heads Back to Its Roots

Silverstone in the United Kingdom with its legendary racetrack will be next year's setting for the largest MINI fan event ever celebrating the brand's 50th birthday. ... Continue reading

2 Million Michiganians Plan Holiday Travel, Reports AAA

2 Million Michiganians Plan Holiday Travel, Reports AAA

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 17, 2008; An estimated 2 million Michigan residents -- almost the same number as last year -- will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming Christmas holiday period, according to AAA's latest travel survey. Nationwide, AAA predicts a slight decline in travel. Most travelers will go by ... Continue reading

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