There have been times over the past several decades when it seemed that General Motors had a monopoly on dumb moves. Not just now. I say that not just because its North American market share seems to have touched bottom at 23.5% in the first half of the year, moving up since. The main reason GM looks comparatively intelligent these days is not merely that its cars and trucks are greatly improved, but that its competitors are making some very unintelligent decisions. Three that come to mind involve Ford, some Japanese firms and Chrysler.Ford Motor (nyse: F – news – people ) has made clear that it will create a look or design theme for all its cars around the world. So when a fellow from Manchuria sees an American Ford or a German Ford, he can say, even in Manchurian, “That’s a Ford.” If an American traveling in Manchuria sees a Chinese Ford, he can say, “That’s a Ford.”This is not a simple exercise, like putting the same label on soda cans. We’re talking about battles among designers, the retooling of factories and the spending of hundreds of millions, maybe billions, of dollars over time to do it. News source: Forbes And why? Is that Manchurian going to be more likely to buy a Ford if he sees a German Ford with a similar grille? Is even one American more likely to buy a Ford if, when touring in China, he sees the same grille? We used to believe that it was better that foreigners, like the Germans, didn’t know that one of their auto companies was owned by outsiders, meaning us Americans.Some luxury cars do have a universal look, for example the Mercedes and the BMW. But those are German cars, not global cars meant to fit every national taste. The German attitude is: “This is German. If you like it, fine; if you don’t, you are too dumb to know better.” That’s not the American approach.Now every Ford carries the name “Ford,” so the fellow from Manchuria will know an American Ford when he sees the name. But there’s no reason to think the design that pleases him will please me. In fact, more often than not, Ford’s European designs don’t please Americans. I can go through a half-century of Ford flops, such as the Contour and Mystique, which were European-designed Fords built in America, and the Merkur and Scorpio, European Fords imported here. Even the Focus, the smallest Ford built here, came from a European design and is disappointing.It would be wiser to spend the time and money creating designs that fit each market. Yes, this costs more in design, tooling and parts. But how much is saved by losing customers who don’t like the global look?Also a good nominee for a Bad Idea Award: building a new car plant with new workers and having them build a completely new design. That’s asking for trouble. Still, that is what Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY – news – people ) did in Mississippi and Toyota (nyse: TM – news – people ) did in Texas. Sure enough, they have had trouble: Even Consumer Reports panned some of the new Toyota trucks from Texas. Wouldn’t it be better to build a brand-new vehicle in an older plant, with experienced workers, and build a car you know how to build in a new plant? The cost to the Toyota and Nissan reputations has been terrible.Lastly, my list of bad moves includes a plan by Chrysler Corp. to combine its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep nameplates under one showroom. If you have a Chrysler dealer that sells 1,000 cars a year and a Dodge dealer that sells 1,000 cars a year and a Jeep dealer that sells 500, and you put them all under one roof, you don’t get 2,500 sales. You get maybe 1,800.Why? There usually are physical limits on how many cars may be sold and serviced in one location, for one thing.Second, put them together and you have 25 different vehicles. Go find a sales person who can really know so many. Worse, some of these vehicles are mechanically similar–the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro, both sport utilities; the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger, both sedans.You’ll note that Chrysler has started cutting vehicles, including some good ones like the Dodge Magnum, a sleek, low-slung station wagon. They have their problems, but I would say inept marketing was the real issue. If Chrysler kills too many products, it won’t have much to sell.Lest I be accused of being a sourpuss, here’s my good-news prediction:Next year will be better for the industry than this year, maybe 10% above 2007’s expected 16.1 million vehicle sales. Despite the troubled housing market, credit problems and Fuel prices, low unemployment and fairly low interest rates will keep buyers coming out. And General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) will continue its turnaround.

SHANGHAI, China – General Motors Corp. and its Chinese automotive partner SAIC are forming a joint venture that will bring GM’s Onstar dashboard technology to China.The $46 million joint venture – Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. – is the first for GM subsidiary OnStar outside North America, the companies said. It will provide vehicle safety, security and telecommunications services in China similar to those available in the U.S. and Canada, GM said.The services will be made available first in vehicles made by Shanghai GM, a GM joint venture with SAIC (nyse: SAI – news – people ), which is short for Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. They include automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, handsfree phone calling, vehicle diagnostics and turn-by-turn navigation, it said.GM is hoping the technological whistles and bells it will offer through the joint venture beginning in 2009 will give it an edge in China’s increasingly competitive market.”We believe this will bring new growth points for Shanghai GM,” Kevin Wale, president of General Motors (nyse: GM – news – people ) China Group. “Telematics is a star industry,” he told reporters.”We expect OnStar to have a similar impact in China as in the U.S.,” he said.OnStar and SAIC each own 40 percent of the joint venture, with Shanghai GM owning the remaining 20 percent. Shanghai GM is a 50-50 joint venture of GM-SAIC.Once the OnStar joint venture rolls out its products, Shanghai GM’s major vehicles will all be configured to use the hardware and software needed for its services, said Chet Huber, OnStar’s president. He said further study was needed to determine if OnStar would be offered as standard or optional equipment.In North America, OnStar has “basically terminated” arrangements to run its services on non-GM vehicles, Huber said. But the joint venture is leaving open the option to offer OnStar on other brand vehicles in China.OnStar and a first-year subscription fee are standard on most of GM’s 2008 vehicles in North America. After the first year, vehicle owners pay a subscription fee. The company was set up in 1995 and after early efforts to make it a mobile link to the Internet, its services now are promoted as a safety measure.Asked whether the Chinese government, which tends to demand strict regulatory control over technology and telecommunications, would allow OnStar to operate as intended, Wale said he expected no problems.Although China’s own telecommunications and vehicle services infrastructure is still developing, feasibility studies showed that the services the company intends to offer can be made available across all of China, Huber said.GM shares rose 31 cents to $28.70 in morning trading Thursday in New

Among the great many parts and components of a Dodge truck, the Dodge Truck Bumper is the one part of the vehicle that is specifically designed to bear the brunt of any impact that may result in the event of frontal collisions. In circumstances of this sort, the Dodge Truck bumper minimizes the damage to the frame as well as the body of the truck This not only keeps repair costs to a minimum, it also ensures passenger safety. Reduced impact prevents passengers from getting injuries worse than a few bumps and scratches. As with the case of a number of bumpers, Dodge Truck bumpers have undergone a lot of enhancements over the years. Dodge Truck Bumpers, for one, have already incorporated brush guards and push bars to heighten the safety features of the truck bumper. Though bumpers have been traditionally made of heavy steel, there are models available in a variety of types: rubber bumpers, plastic bumpers as well as painted light metal. As an aside, it is quite interesting to note that the term “streamlining” applies to bumpers since some bumpers are primarily crafted to facilitate better air flow into the engine while the car is in motion. Thus, installing the right bumper model can either improve the speed of the truck or slow it down. This is not a problem for drivers of Dodge trucks though since, with Dodge Trucks Bumpers, they have auto parts that not only improves car speed but also serves as effective safety features for the car. Yes, it’s quite a welcome bit of good news. What is more, Dodge develops as well as manufactures their bumpers with the most durable materials available in the market at present. This is why Dodge Truck Bumpers are quite capable of withstanding tremendous collision impact or why Dodge Truck Bumpers just a wee bit longer than a run of other truck bumper models available in the market in this day and age. This, of course, is not surprising. With over 79 years in the car industry, Dodge and Dodge auto parts have proven to be one of the most leading brands and trusted products that consumers rely on. News source: USA.NET

All 2008 cars will be equipped with TPMS (a Tire Pressure Management System) to let you know when you need to add air to your tires. Don’t rely on these systems to keep your tires at proper inflation, they won’t. These systems don’t warn you until your tire has lost 25% of its pressure, the point at which danger may loom. Besides, there is a huge correlation between tire pressure and gas mileage so driving around 15% low is environmentally irresponsible and will cost you money in the long run. Tires will lose pressure over time regardless of conditions, so checking your tire pressure at least once a month should be on your don’t-screw-it-up checklist. The temperature has finally dropped in any part of the country that actually gets a winter. This means your tire pressure has taken the plunge along with it. Did you know that for every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your tires lose 1-2 psi of air pressure? That’s enough to give your gas mileage a punch in the stomach, for sure, not to mention the safety concerns that arise from low tire pressure. Don’t delay, check your pressure today! News source: About Auto Repair

There are few things more dispiriting than seeing your car after an accident and trying to assess what the damage will cost you. It is likely that you have a place in mind that you would take your car, if you’ve ever had to have body work done in the past, and assuming the work was finished to your satisfaction. Your insurance company will likely let you know where you can get your car repaired under your policy, if it was damaged in an accident.Quality is Essential If you can make your own decision about which auto body shop to use, keep the following suggestions in mind to help you find a shop that will give you good service. You should pay attention to the quality of the auto shop that you decide to use. Check that the auto shop looks well maintained. Are there cars inside the auto shop that look like they have been there for a long period of time? Do they seem to have a lot of customers? Is the shop busy? The shop should not be keeping cars for long periods of time, and it should appear to be well maintained.Don’t accept repairs as completed unless they have been fully carried out. Make sure that you get what you pay for, that your car gets fixed properly, and your car runs as expected! Do not allow seedy auto repairs workers to con you out of your money due to poor and unskilled work, or by submitting incomplete work. As you are paying for these repairs on your car, you should get what you agreed upon in the first place. The best way to stand up for yourself and your car is to be picky! Credibility is ImportantQuestion the auto shop to find out their objectives and goals. Is quality a high priority to them? Will any service they perform be backed with their name? Have their employees received certification in auto repair work? Let them know how much you rely on your car for day-to-day activities. Can they understand that you need your car to be as good as new? When bringing you car to a repair shop, be sure that they know the specifics or your car. Be sure that the company guarantees its work and don’t be afraid to ask for references. After deciding on a repair shop, it is important that you inspect your car, both before and after the work is done. Preferably, you should do this inspection both on your own and with the shop’s inspector. This will help you to be aware of any differences in your car while it is in the shop. Repairmen may not tell you if they do accidental damage to your vehicle during its repair. Unfortunately, this is a more common scenario than you probably realize. Just think, the money could possible have to come from their own pocket to fix the damage, and the may get into trouble, or even fired. So yes, this is a common scenario.Be wise when selecting a car repair shop. Look for a repaired vehicle on their lot so you can assess a completed example of their repair work. Don’t let dirty or disorganized places work on your car. Do your homework and use common sense. It’s your responsibility to take care of one of your biggest investments. Your car will thank you for it! News source: Sports blog

October is AAA’s car-care month, perfectly timed with the first mountain snowfalls. Throughout the month, the association’s auto repair partners offer all motorists (not just AAA members) complimentary winter-preparedness checks of batteries, tires, wipers, belts, fluids, lights and electrical systems — services valued at up to $60. Advance appointments are required. AAA says the most common winter problems result from improper tire pressure and dirty or low levels of oil, anti-freeze and other automotive fluids. Another cold-weather culprit is a weak or dead battery. AAA reminds drivers to engage headlights in dim winter light, and to use low-beam or fog lights when driving in falling snow or fog. Also, keep the gas tank at least half full to minimize condensation and the chance of freezing gas lines. Hybrid cars have a lot going for them, especially when they are going. They economize on fuel while producing lower-than-average emissions. But some hybrids are not great after periods of down time. Use caution when leaving a hybrid parked at airports, boat launches, trail heads or other spots for more than three days. I recently returned from a 10-day trip to a dead 2007 Toyota Prius. Onboard electronics, such as the dash clock and other functions, had apparently drained the tiny starter battery. A call to my roadside-assistance company brought a tow truck and a technician with training in the special maintenance protocols for hybrids. The guy said that jump-starting short-lived hybrid batteries keeps his tow company jumping. There was no mention of the hybrid battery-life problem during negotiations for purchase of the car, but a call to the Portland dealer confirmed that my car is not unique. The service department concurred with the tow-truck driver’s advice to disconnect the starter battery — located under a panel in the rear trunk area — when leaving the car parked for more than three days. When you reconnect the starter battery, the car’s memory settings will revert to factory defaults, requiring re-programming of the car’s clock and radio stations, but the car will start. Toyota officials say the current generation of hybrid car is more resistant to battery drain than previous models. They say the starter battery should remain trickle charged from the high-voltage battery for up to two months while sitting with the gears in the park position. Clearly, that didn’t work in my case. Hybrid-car drivers should check vehicle manuals, manufacturer’s Web sites and service departments for model-specific advice. PDX customer service reps say they have not noticed a high number of dead hybrids in their long-term parking areas. They do, however, offer free jump starts and flat-tire assistance to any stranded motorists in their lots. News source: kjkkregon Live;l News source: oregon live

EL PASO, TX. – One week after severe hailstorms many are still waiting to get dinged and dimpled cars fixed. And there are plenty of places popping up all over town offering to do the job fast and cheap. But are they legit? Bang, Bang, Bang the sounds of hail falling from the sky have been replaced with the sounds of hail damage being repaired — plink, plink, plink.Hank Row’s brand new repair shop on North Mesa near Festival recently sprang up in the wake of the pelting. “We’re a large company — our headquarters is in Dallas — we just go to wherever catastrophic hailstorms occur,” said Hank Row. Having just set up shop in El Paso on Tuesday, they are not alone. Some mobile repair shops like Row’s even have stormtracking software — that can see hailstorms anywhere in the U.S. “Many are great, reputable companies, I always suggest that people check references,” Row adds. He also says whoever fixes your car should be licensed, bonded and insured — like he says he is. “People go to the first auto repair shop they find.” Stephanie Abelleyra from the Better Business Bureau says they’ve not gotten any complaints about those pop-up repair shops — so far. “The problem comes later, 2 or 3 months later and then the company doesn’t want to be responsible.” Abelleyra says the BBB recommends only going to an established body repair shop even if it costs more and takes a little longer. She says consumers should make their own decision — but make sure to be informed when doing so. Speak up, file a complaint, do research and the experience will be a better one. News source: KVIA

Tail lights are one of the vital components of your vehicles. Also called tail lamps, the tail lights is a system that is composed of various types of lights that assume different functions. Here are two of the common tail lights found in your automobiles:-The Reverse Lights — Reverse lights are utilized to light up the back of your automobile when you do the backing. Once you choose the reverse gear, the reverse lights will be turned on. -The Turn Lights- These are the yellow lights that indicate the direction you intend to take. Moreover, you can also make use of the turn lights during emergency. Use it as a hazard light.Your driving experience will absolutely tell you that tail lights are indispensable parts of your automobile. Though it may not be as crucial in running the engine as auto radiators, these tail lights are still important components since they play a big part in maintaining safe driving. Beyond doubt, the service of the tail lights of your vehicle is not perpetual. Whether you’ve prepared for it or not, these auto parts will certainly be in need of repair sooner or later. For that reason, it is essential that you know how to inspect the tail lights for damages. It is also helpful if you know the basics of tail light repairs.Determining if your tail lights are defective is rather simple. The light they emit shall serve as your hint. Patching up damaged tail lights is also an easy process. You just have to master a few principles of tail light maintenance:Bulbs have different ways of removal. Remember that not all bulbs can be easily pulled out. There are some types of bulbs that have to be rotated in order to be removed. Fractures and burns are the usual problems that your tail lights may suffer. When the light filament is busted, you must immediately get a new bulb. Otherwise, the tail light may blow up because of the water vapor that was stocked inside the bulb. Regular check of the electrical connections that make up your light bulb is a great way of detecting tail light defects. This can also guarantee better light emission. If you want to make the lights more intense, you just have to replace the single-filament bulbs with those that contain high power. News source: Auto Mechanics

E-Commerce Ventures is pleased to announce the website launch for Pro Auto Gear. ProAutoGear.com will serve as a one stop superstore for auto care, car detailing, restoration, and customization products for automobiles. Pro Auto Gear’s offerings will go beyond traditional auto detailing products such as car wax, paint sealants, car polishes, car wash and wax, leather cleaners and detailing accessories. Leather repair kits and stock formulations for hundreds of leather interior dyes and paints cataloged by make, model, and year will address the interior leather repair, restoration, and customization market. For the automotive exterior, a complete line of custom paints and auto graphics accessories is planned. Complementing the auto paint selections, premium airbrush equipment from Iwata and HVLP spray guns from SATA will anchor the auto spray equipment lines.According to Larry Eades, President of E-Commerce Ventures, “Pro Auto Gear tasked us with two objectives for the new site. One, they wanted a site that would leverage their experience in auto detailing and interior restoration, that would share their knowledge base with the web through online documentation, online forums and media resources. Second, Pro Auto Gear wanted a platform that would support their growth into the burgeoning auto customization market. This market is exploding — one need look no further than to the popular media for evidence — shows such as Pimp My Ride, Monster Garage, and even American Chopper point to the popularity of vehicle customization.”Crew Chief note: great site lots of stuff you wont find in your local parts store. News source: PR Leap

1) Britax Roadster Car SeatThis forward-facing car seat gives your child the perfect boost!2) Graco LiteRider Navy Gingham Squares Stroller Carrier/Car Seat Travel SystemIncludes stroller, matching infant car seat and stay-in-car base for on the go convenience, Height adjustable handle lets parents choose the right position for a comfortable stroll, Combination 3-point/5-point harness for a snug ride, Front swivel wheels with locks and suspension for a smooth ride, Infant head support for added comfort, Infant car seat has a 5-point harness for a snug fit in three places, and Infant car seat is LATCH equipped for easy installation.3) BrasCustom Front End Covers are the ultimate in style and full front end protection for vehicles.4) Pyle PLWT4 High Performance Automotive TweeterMake that stereo sound so much better with this sweet little tweeter.5) Garmin eMAP Automotive Mounting BracketThis mounting bracket for eMap has all the qualities you’re looking for; lightweight, portable, and adjustable. Bracket is jointed, allowing you to position eMap out of the sun’s glare. Comes with temporary and permanent adhesive disks that adhere the mount base to the dash.6) Bass Pro Shops® Auto HatsShow your pride with these great-looking, raised-rubber logo caps. Authentic styling includes easy-gripping rubber “traction plate” on the bill. Sturdy 100% cotton twill construction. Imported. One size fits most.7) Audiovox AXT1200 1200 Watt 2 Channel MOSFET Bridgeable Amplifier AmplifThis high performance 1200 Watt, 2 Channel MOSFET Power Amplifier features a light-up LED power bar, high and low-level input capabilities, remote on/off switching, gold plated RCA line inputs and speaker terminals, plug-in automotive type fuses, and thermal & overload protected output stage.8) Clarion FMC-250 C-Bus FM Modulator CD Changer Controller with IR Remote ControlThe FMC250 controls a Clarion C-Bus CD changer and plays back the sound via your FM car radio – no matter which brand. The FMC250 hideaway unit connects between your FM radio antenna input and the car antenna. Simply tune your radio anywhere from 87.7 to 89.9 MHz (0.2 MHz step 12- point) and listen to superior Hi-Fi CD sound in full stereo from the connected Clarion C-BusCD changer.9) JVC KV-DV7 Mobile (12v) DVD Video, V-CD and CD Audio PlayerThe KV-DV7 is JVC’s high performance in-dash DVD player. This versatile unit can be added to any existing stereo system with an included wired remote eye. JVC’s top of the line KD-SH909 headunit can also control this unit allowing multiple installation options. For in-car experience, nothing beats DVD resolution and sound!10) Cobra ESD9400 11-Band Automotive Radar/Laser DetectorCobra 11 Band Hi Performance RadarLaser Detector featuring Saftety Alert & Strobe Alert, LaserEye 360 deg detection, Digital Strength meter, Ultrabright Data Display & Voice Alert News source: About Auto Repair[img”>im