Stanley taking over Lumax

While discussing the potential of the Indian supplier industry in the global context with one of my European colleagues, I pointed out to him that most Indian suppliers are home-bred entrepreneurs, who have realized the opportunity window and mostly used the technical collaboration / minority equity stake method to bring in technical know-how, unlike China where most supplier ventures are joint-ventures with global suppliers, formed out of compulsion.


His contention was that as soon as the Indian industry reaches a significant size, the Boschs, Mahles and Danas of the world will start looking at it with a different perspective and will strengthen their presence in the country. At that point of time, the Indian entrepreneurs – at least some of them – will have to stepaside as they will not be able to match the deep pockets and long-term staying power of the global majors. India will also be more important to these global suppliers as it will be an important sourcing centre for global vehicle programs as well as the aftermarket.


And you won't like an important base to be manned by allies, especially when the Indian entrepreneurs tend to partner a dozen global suppliers (look at Anands, Rane, TVS, Amalgamations etc etc) in different ventures at the same time.


The recent increase of stake in Lumax by Stanley electric certainly points in the direction predicted. Stanley sees Lumax as an important player in the Indian industry (reports suggest that Lumax has a 60% stake in the Indian automotive lighting market) and with global sourcing becoming a buzzword, it would be prudent to have Lumax under your own control.


And Stanley is not the only case here. Bosch is keen to increase its stake in its Indian venture, even though it already has management control. On the other hand, Federal Mogul booted out its Indian partner Escorts last year – Escorts wasn't doing a great job there – to assume control of Goetze India.


But is this going to be a trend? Maybe! In selective cases, where the Indian partner is pre-occupied with other things, it may be prudent to take control of things and run them yourself. However, in cases like the Rane Group, TVS group companies and some other respected entities, it may make sense to let the Indian partner do the day-to-day management.


For more details on Stanley and Lumax visit www.theautodiary.com

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Car Buying Tips: Don’t Get Ripped Off in the Finance Office

When the negotiations are done, most consumers relax when buying a car. The hard work is done. The hard sell is over. It’s time to celebrate a victorious purchase of a new or used vehicle.

Most consumers don’t realize that the true hard sell is just about to start.


In a perfect world, a finance manager, business manager, or whatever title is given to the person in the back that prepares paperwork will be just that: the person that prepares paperwork.

In the real world, the finance manager is probably one of the best and most persistent salespersons the consumer will ever meet.

They aren’t necessarily bad people. Most are exceedingly friendly and professional,
dressed to impress and possessing an easy way that puts people at ease. To a car dealership, the finance manager is the last and best chance the dealer has to make money on a vehicle sale.

There are dozens of methods that the finance manager can make money from you. The good part is that not all of the ways are bad and not all of the products that they will offer are rip offs. In most cases, though, some of the offerings are just not worth the money the consumer will pay.

Instead of going over the details of the different products and suites that aren’t really worth it, here is a short list of items that a consumer should really question and investigate before purchasing:

Undercoating, paint sealant, oil change plans, VIN etching, scotch guard, preowned vehicle leasing, personal vehicle insurance, and tires for life.

There are others that are somewhat legitimate like the ones listed above, and there are some that are downright scams, but we’re here to focus on the potentially good ones.

Dealerships such as Toledo Chevrolet Dealers and Portland Lincoln Mercury Dealers and other honest dealers around the country offer a basic, short list of products that consumers should consider:

GAP INSURANCE

Some call it a scam, but most who have totaled a vehicle with a lien on it can attest to the wonders of Gap Insurance. In essence, it covers the “gap” between what a vehicle is worth and how much is owed when a car is totaled. For example, if someone totals their vehicle and the insurance company agrees to pay $7,000 while the driver still owes $11,000, gap insurance is designed to cover it. Without gap, the insurance company will be forced to leave the remaining $4,000 to be paid out of the customer’s pocket.

Usually ranging from $300-$700, it is a good investment for consumers who (1) finance vehicles without securing equity by putting a lot of money or trade equity down on the car, (2) drive more than 10k miles per year, and/or (3) purchase new vehicles, especially high dollar ones.

EXTENDED WARRANTIES

Not all warranties are created equal. A consumer who plans on keeping a vehicle beyond the factory warranty should strongly consider an extended one.

Research beforehand into some extended warranties available online for the vehicle you are considering. Know the cost, deductible, what is and isn’t covered, and whether a prorated balance is refundable if the vehicle is traded, sold, or totaled.

Armed with this knowledge, it should be easier to get a good deal on a good warranty, whether it’s the one that the finance manager offers or a separate one.

CREDIT LIFE AND DISABILITY

Most life insurance policies are designed to help with cost of living. Debt should not be paid through standard insurance.

In case of tragedy, having a credit life and disability plan will help to pay off the balance of a vehicle loan. There are few things worse after dealing with a tragedy than to find that the loved one also left major bills and debts behind.

Final Thoughts

Not all “bad” items are that bad. Some may fit into a consumer’s needs. Not all “good” finance items are good, either. The key is to do the research before getting caught off guard by a finance manager ready to spray a $20 can of Scotch Guard in your new or used car for an additional $179.

About the Author

J.D. strives to promote quality, honest automotive websites and point out the scams out there being put on by “the other guys”. Visit his current projects, Toledo Chevrolet Dealers and Portland Lincoln Mercury Dealers. Both sites are designed and maintained by Automotive Website Design in Orange, CA.

I hope it helps.

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BMW Designs a Dream of an Airplane

Of course everybody knows that BMW designs the best cars, from the svelte look of the BMW 1 Series, down to the top of the line BMW 2500 parts.

But could BMW design a Boeing 787 jet’s interiors?

The answer is yes.

Last fall, Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) approached BMW Group DesignworksUSA, a unit of the German car giant, and asked it to reportedly create "a conceptual 787 aircraft interior for a fictitious, affluent, Russian client in his mid-thirties."

Of course DesignworksUSA rose to the challenge, coming up with an interior design that immediately reminds one of James Bond.
"We studied the young, Russian billionaire clientele that would
be the potential buying group of this aircraft," explained the firm's marketing manager, Jackie Jones, in an e-mail. "By immersing ourselves in information regarding their lives, we were able to develop scenarios describing 'a day in the life of'... "

DesignworksUSA captured its design for the fictitious Russian billionaire's Dreamliner in computer graphics, along with matching glowing marketing description that included:

- "An aircraft that can function as a second home with luxurious amenities.”

- “Guests on the jet may ‘enjoy a cocktail at the bar while admiring the stowed vehicles seen below through the transparent floor.’ Yes, that's a BMW down there”.

- “The parking space in the cargo deck allows ‘a seamless air-to-ground experience’ and "the complete freedom to go from anywhere to anywhere."
DesignworksUSA creative director Magnus Aspegren put it more directly, writing in an email, "The vehicle-viewing area in the forward lounge would guarantee bragging rights for the owner among friends and business associates during flight."

The custom 787 also features a "technologically advanced office;" a gourmet kitchen; an exercise room; a spa and sauna; and a cinema lounge with waterfall floors and a screen that spans two floor levels.

What’s more, to increase the sense of space, many of the plane’s interior walls are semitranslucent.

In illustrations provided by DesignworksUSA, even that master-bedroom suite has one translucent wall. But the suite is tucked away upstairs to the rear of the aircraft and is no doubt off-limits without an invitation.

For now, however, this dream of an airplane is just that - purely conceptual.

"In case a client approaches BBJ or BMW Group DesignworksUSA and expresses interest in the interior, we would use this as a baseline," Jones wrote.

Boeing spokeswoman Sandy Angers said the typical configuration of a 787 VIP jet will allow seating for up to 75 people. With that passenger load, the range of the 787-9 VIP airplane will be 11,450 miles, enabling nonstop flight to virtually anywhere in the world.

And the best thing? When The Billionaire gets to his desired destination, he won't need a hired limo. The plane lands, the crew unloads Billionaire’s BMW from his parking space inside the plane…and in no time, off Billionaire goes to spend more of his money.

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Roaming in Style: the EarthRoamer XV-JP

When people talk about off-roading and how much fun it is, it’s highly likely that you’ll also hear them mentioning the famed Jeep in the same breath, as Jeep is world-renowned for its mud-plugging potential.

Now the iconic off-roader comes in an even more fun package, not to mention a survivalist gear that’s guaranteed to make any zealous outdoorsman jump with glee.

EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicles, says its website, are designed to travel to four-wheel drive accessible, remote locations and provide a comfortable year-round camping experience without dependence on external power or utility hook ups.
– one that will definitely be the object of desire for off-road enthusiast yet. The XV-JP comes equipped with the usual upgraded suspension, winch, high-intensity lighting and other necessities for a serious off-road excursion, but there's more. There’s also the complete camping setup, including a tent mounted atop the roof offering users three different material choices to match the elements, along with a queen-size bed, a solar power battery backup, an engine-heated hot water tank and a cassette toilet. Now that makes for a dream camper, doesn’t it?

Here are more details from the company’s website (www.earthroamer.com/):

EarthRoamer XV-JP

The Jeep Rubicon Unlimited based EarthRoamer XV-JP is designed to carry two adults on technical four-wheel drive trails to remote camping locations. Once in camp, the XV-JP's Loftop™ can be deployed to provide nearly 9 feet of interior stand up height and a queen-size bed in the loft. Underneath the cantilevered loft, the rear tent can be dropped down for an additional bug free living space. The XV-JP comes equipped with 25 gallons of fresh water capacity, an inside cassette toilet, inside shower, sink and cooking facilities. Plenty of light and ventilation is provided by an abundance of screened windows. An electric fan provides additional ventilation when needed and the forced air furnace will keep you cozy on cold nights and when winter camping.

About EarthRoamer
The company says its website, places high importance in preserving the environment for generations to come. This is the primary reason why they design renewable energy sources like solar and biodiesel into their systems. All of their vehicles utilize solar energy as a primary power source for lights and appliances.

About Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque (and registered trademark) of DaimlerChrysler. The marque, like all other Chrysler subsidiaries, became part of DaimlerChrysler when Daimler-Benz merged with the Chrysler Corporation in 1998. Jeep is also maker of top of the line Jeep parts like the Jeep catalytic converter.

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EarthRoamer has recently introduced a tweaked Wrangler

The Spada Codatronca: Not for the Faint-Hearted

Sure your GMC ride has kept you reliable company for the past three years, except on having your mechanic check out the GMC catalytic converter some months back, your ride never really gave you any problems. You like your car, but sometimes, you can’t help but long for something racier, something different, more out-of-this world.

Well check out the latest beast from the car-loving folks in Italy.

Designed and produced by the Italian design house SpadaConcept in conjunction with the tuning firm UK Garage, the newest supercar -- the Spada Codatronca, might just be the car you had in mind.

You may have heard about SpadaConcept – it is the same design studio responsible for designing such classics as theAston Martin DB4, Fulvia Sport Zagato –to name a few. Ercole Spada and his son, Paolo Spada, who also happens to be the company’s new design director, reportedly drew influences from their original 1965 Alpha Romeo TZ that also featured a fin-like rear called the "Kamm tail coda tronca" design.

Now Spada have released full technical details of their exciting new limited-production supercar, the Codatronca, which, according to the company’s website, can be expected to be available in three hand-crafted versions, two of which will be fully road homologated super cars, the TS (Turismo Sportivo) and the TSV (Turismo Sportivo Veloce); with a third race destined option, the TSS (Turismo Super Sportivo), which was described by the Italian firm as "the finest race version which will be delivered soon."

Based on the Chevy Corvette, the Codatronca features heavy Mako Shark infuence in the front end design. It is a front-mid-engined, rear wheel drive two-door coupé featuring a very lightweight aluminum spaceframe structure combined with a magnesium roof section and similar composite treatment for the engine cradle.

You should know here that the engine is a tweaked Corvetta C6's aluminium block V8, and cylinder head comes with an eight-quart dry-sump lubrication system, titanium valves and connecting rods. Spada also fits twin Rotrex superchargers, dual intercoolers, sequential fuel injection and a boosted compression ratio of 11:1. All this combined delivers an impressive 600 hp at 6,300 rpm and 790 Nm of torque at 4,600. The power is channeled through the rear wheels via a short-throw 6-speed manual. And did we mention that all this too, is Euro 4 compliant?

The "base" Codatronca TS, according to Spada reaches top speed of 330 km/h and 0-100 km/h (62mph) time of 3.2 seconds. The lighter-weight (1380kg) and more powerful (700hp) TSV track version, says the company, is set to deliver a top speed of 355 km/h and an astounding 2.7 second 0-100 km/h time.

A lot of netizens have already commented on the Codatronca’s styling – but like it or not, Spada’s newest supercar is definitely not a car for the faint-hearted.

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Beijing Bans One Million Cars from Streets

China has got itself a new, mad love – cars.

Chinese car ownership levels have jumped rapidly, driven by the fast increasing middle class. The car’s symbol of freedom and status is rapidly changing in one of the most heavily populated countries in the world, and along with it carries a hefty price: badly congested streets and rising carbon dioxide emissions.

In Beijing, China’s capital, smog levels have gotten so bad that the State Environmental Protection Administration has decided to remove one million cars from the city's streets. The Chinese government announced this week that a partial driving ban would be in place between August 7 and 20 in a hope that Beijing's perpetual smog will disappear. Chinese officials have agreed that the country’s unstoppableindustrial growth has driven its environment to breaking point and is now putting the lives of its people in danger.

By June, Beijing had registered three million vehicles, up from 2.88 million last year and only 1.34 million five years ago, a rise that has helped make the country the world's second-largest vehicle market by sales after the U.S.

A recent report by the World Bank and China's State Environmental Protection Agency found that approximately 394,000 deaths occurred in 2003 from outdoor air pollution in China. The report said the approximate monetary cost of "excess deaths" from such air pollution was 394 billion yuan, or around $52 billion, assuming the value of a "statistical life" to be one million yuan.

Previous government reports have revealed that more than 70 per cent of China’s waterways and 90 per cent of its underground water are contaminated as a result of the pollution.

A previous ban of all government cars earlier this year saw traffic jams ease and blue skies return to the capital.

The city has already reportedly spent more than $15 billion trying to improve its air quality – conducting massive pollution clean-up, moving steel mills, power plants and coal-fired furnaces to the suburbs or beyond, what with the Olympic Games to be hosted there only a year away (August 8-24, 2008).

The situation in Beijing has become so bad that Chinese officials measure the performance of their initiatives by counting how many days of blue skies they have in a year.

The Government says that the efforts are having an impact, with the city last year enjoying 241 “blue-sky” days, compared to fewer than 100 ten years ago.

Despite assurances from the Chinese government however, International Olympic Committee leaders remain apprehensive about the problem, demanding "contingency measures" to contain the pollution threat.

Is this just the beginning of drastic measures to be taken by the chienese government to curb the country's pollution? We’ll just wait and see.

In the meantime better be prepared to replace your BMW with its upgraded BMW 2002 parts with a more environmentally-friendly alternative – the bicycle. If you’re in Beijing, that is.

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Your Opportunities For Car Donation In Portland

If you are a Portland area resident who is facing the decision of what to do with an old, but still functioning automobile, you may be able to turn it into a tax benefit by making a car donation in Portland. As long as you donate it to an Internal Revenue Service recognized charity, you will be guaranteed a minimum write-off of $500.00m and it could be significantly higher if the charity sells it for more. The best part is that Portland is home to many charities which will accept donated cars, and even pick them up.

Portland Charities

If you'd like an idea of what the charities to which you can make a car donation in Portland are, there are a few which stand out. The Oregon Food Bank is responsible for supplying food to over eight hundred food assistance programs throughout Oregon.
Your car donation in Portland to the Oregon Food bank will assist needy families not only n the Portland area all over the state.

Portland Impact will happily take your car donation in Portland and use the proceeds from its sale to provide financial assistance to those dealing with homelessness and job loss, or to supply senior citizens and disabled adults with various services. They will accept any car donation in Portland as long as the vehicle has no major damage and does not require significant mechanical work. In addition, the car's book value must be at least $70 to cover the cost of processing it. They will pay for towing your car.

If you're a Portland resident, making a car donation in Portland to Portland Impact is one way of assuring that the benefits of your generosity will help your neighbors.

Let's take a look at these foundations in Portland that are indeed recognized by the IRS and which will entitle you to tax deductions whenever you will decide to assign to them your used vehicles.

If you make your car donation in Portland to the United Way of Mid Willamette Valley, you'll be helping a broad-based charitable effort which offers assistance to the homeless, those seeking employment, or in need of food, the very young and the elderly.

How Your Car Donation In Portland Will Be Used

Some of the charities which will accept your car donation in Portland may opt to keep it and use it in performing their work; others may choose to auction it off and use the proceeds to fund their work. In either case, you'll receive a tax deduction either for the vehicles book value or its sales price, and you'll have the joy of knowing, whenever you hear of the good work being done by your charity, that your car donation in Portland helped it happen!


Article written by : Wade Robins


sms competition - win a car




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