The U.S. Senate – as expected – on Sunday passed legislation that would give as many as 2,150 rejected General Motors Co. and Chrysler dealers the right to seek reinstatement through neutral arbitration, sending the bill to President Barack Obama. According to Automotive News, the measure was part of a $446 billion spending bill that passed on a 57-35 vote on Sunday. Obama is expected to sign the bill, triggering a six-month arbitration process. The House passed the bill on Thursday. Earlier in the week, a conference committee of congressional leaders approved the financial-services spending bill that included the dealer arbitration provision. Neutral arbitrators would be required under the legislation to balance the economic interests of dealers, the companies and the public. The bill also would allow dealerships to "present any relevant information" during arbitration. Click here for more on the legislation aimed at helping dealers selected for closure by General Motors and Chrysler earlier this year.
China has overtaken the U.S. as the world’s biggest market for automobiles, the first time any other country has bought more vehicles. According to MSNBC, now that the Chinese buy more cars and trucks than Americans, the shift could produce ripples for the environment, gas prices, and even the kinds of cars automakers design. More than 12.7 million cars and trucks will be sold in China this year, up 44 percent from the previous year and surpassing the 10.3 million forecast in the U.S., according to J.D. Power and Associates. After a sharp slowdown in auto sales late last year, the Chinese government cut taxes on small cars and spent $730 million on subsidies to encourage sales of SUVs, pickups, and minivans. A big stimulus program also boosted truck sales by pumping money into construction. Auto sales were expected to rise with China’s stimulus, but they have far exceeded expectations, said Jeff Schuster, J.D. Power’s executive director of automotive forecasting. Most experts think the top-sales title will shift back and forth between China and the United States for the next several years, with China ultimately prevailing. For more on the Chinese auto market, click here.
Toyota Motor Corp. aims to sell its upgraded plug-in hybrids globally in about two years. According to the Wall Street Journal, in doing so, the world’s biggest car maker by volume intends to pull away from rivals focusing on the development of electric cars, said Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada at a press conference on Monday. The initial sales target for the next-generation plug-in hybrid is only several tens of thousands of cars a year. The new hybrid is powered by electric motors and an internal combustion engine that kicks in when the batteries run low or more power is needed. The batteries can be recharged by plugging into a standard electrical outlet – unlike regular hybrids, which are charged by the car’s engine and the braking system. Click here for a photo. Ahead of the mass-market launch of the new vehicle, which is based on the flagship Prius hybrid, Toyota said it will introduce around 600 for lease or rent, free of charge, in Japan, Europe, the U.S., and other markets in the first half of 2010. Of the 600, Toyota said it will lease about 230 in Japan, 200 in Europe, and 20 in other countries, and will rent about 150 free-of-charge in the U.S. to gather data to improve the model. Click here for more on Toyota’s plans to begin selling plug-in hybrid vehicles.
It’s easy to get excited by a new car, like the $90,000 Porsche 911 Carrera S. It has a six-cylinder, 385-horsepower engine that gets to 60 miles an hour in 4.5 seconds, and it tops out at 188 mph. But if you want a chance at getting a good deal on one of the 2010 models, keep that enthusiasm to yourself. It’s the only way to walk out of the showroom with your dignity—and your wallet—intact. To create its list of the worst things to say to a dealer when buying a car, Forbes consulted with car-buying experts from AAA, Kelley Blue Book, and NADA Guides. They provided their best advice for getting the most car out of the shopping experience—and for not being taken for a ride. Click here to view the list. One piece of advice unanimously agreed upon: Be careful when you talk numbers. Another phrase to avoid, at least up front, is "My credit’s not very good." Inevitably, if you get serious about a particular vehicle, the salesman will find out that your credit score is not up to snuff. But if you tell him outright, he’ll know he’s got you in a bind. Click here for more on what to avoid saying when buying a vehicle.
According to Jerry Garrett at the New York Times, Remote Touch Interface is a signature (though optional) feature of the new Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan. Click here for a photo of the vehicle. Remote Touch consists of a joystick-like knob and mouse-type control buttons on the center console. The knob and buttons direct a cursor on a dashtop LCD screen, which you use to control all sorts of functions, from the audio system to the trip computer to the navigation map. Garrett writes that the highest compliment he can give the HS 250h is this: It is a hybrid that doesn’t feel like one. A $3,900 technology package includes radar-guided cruise control; collision detection, which warns of an impending crash; and the intriguingly named Keep Lane Assist feature, which sounds a warning if the car starts to drift — and can even intervene to steer the car back into its lane. In body size, the HS slots into the Lexus line between the compact IS and midsize ES models. Click here for a photo gallery of the 2010 Lexus HS 250H. Click here to read Garrett’s entire review of the vehicle.
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