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66 vehicles get insurance institute’s highest safety rating

The entire list can be found at the institutes website at http:http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx. The institute has 191 vehicles rated on its website.

More autos are achieving the highest rating because better safety equipment is increasingly standard, Lund said. The insurance industry-funded trade group said 92% of 2011 model year cars, 94% of SUVs and 56% of pickup trucks now have standard head and torso side airbags. Electronic stability control is standard on 92% of 2011 cars, all SUVs and 72% of pickups.

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company, Kia Motors Corp., had nine winning vehicles for the 2011 model year. Volkswagen and its corporate sibling Audi also had nine vehicles in the top category.

Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. had eight top awards apiece. Subaru was the only manufacturer with a winner in all of the vehicle classes in which it competes, garnering five top picks.

Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, attributed the proliferation of safety features to Congress, saying that in recent years lawmakers have pressed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to set more stringent standards.

Electronic stability control, for example, must be standard in all 2012 model year cars, and more automakers are installing side-curtain airbags to satisfy a phase-in of stricter side-impact crash protection over the next several years.

The two features we like the most are electronic stability control and side-curtain airbags, Ditlow said. No consumer should have a car without those two features.

Federal safety regulators also have changed their evaluations and testing methods to give consumers a better view of vehicle safety ratings. In October, the Transportation Department and NHTSA unveiled a more comprehensive crash rating system for vehicles.

For the first time, the government will evaluate how women fare in accidents by using female crash dummies. The new ratings also take into account side pole crashes and crash-prevention technology such as electronic stability control.

The agencies also said they would now issue an overall vehicle score that combines the results of a frontal crash test, side crash tests and rollover resistance tests.

Automakers are reacting to these changes, Lund said.

Ford added safety features when it brought out its redesigned Explorer mid-size SUV at the start of the 2011 model year. The Explorer, one of the best selling SUVs ever, had never previously earned a top insurance institute rating.

Ford also upgraded the roofs of its Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT SUVs as well as its Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans. The four vehicles previously failed to win top safety rankings because they lacked the required roof strength.

Meanwhile, when GM launched its Chevrolet Cruze compact car this year, it put 10 airbags, including knee protection, into the vehicle as standard equipment, the insurance group said.

Some segments of the industry still lag behind when it comes to safety features. None of the small pickup trucks the institute evaluated qualified for this years award. It has not yet tested large pickups.

jerry.hirsch@latimes.com

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Tags: Autos

CTS-V Wagon Named MSN Autos Editor’s Choice

Selected as one of 10 vehicles that made an impact in 2010

DETROIT – MSN Autos has selected the CTS-V Wagon for its MSN Autos Editor’s Choice Awards, earning the Cadillac a spot among the top 10 vehicles of the year.

The MSN Autos staff and contributors selected the winners based on vehicles that have risen to the top of their field in 2010. The awards are meant to celebrate greatness in the automotive industry.

“The 2011 CTS-V Sport Wagon blends striking sheet metal with some of General Motors’ most potent and race-bred technology,” MSN Autos wrote in naming the winners. “It’s armed with the same menacing, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine found in the CTS-V Sedan, which means 556 horsepower will be on tap, as well as a slew of brake, suspension and interior upgrades.

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Tags: Autos

Topical Autos Reports for Various Countries Published by MarketPublishers.com

LONDON Market Publishers Ltd informs that new in-demand Business Monitor International (BMI) reports on autos markets in various countries are available in its catalogue.

Bulgaria Autos Report Q1 2011. High levels of debt as well as tight credit controls will prevent any significant improvement of sales by the end of 2010 which is expected to change in 2011. The report provides detailed information on the major companies and investors, presents data on sales and production volume hellip;

Czech Republic Autos Report Q1 2011. Overall car production has increased 13% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first nine months of 2010. According to data, 803,846 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were produced in the Czech Republic. The report provides information on the financial position of the auto companies hellip;

Serbia Autos Report Q1 2011. This report presents economic and political analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, provides industry forecast scenario, information on production and sales. The study offers long term infrastructure and production projects information and discusses indicators for the auto sector hellip;

Slovakia Autos Report Q1 2011. Slovakias new car market has shown impressive growth in the tail end of 2010. This report provides business environment ratings, industry forecast scenario, analyses production and sales volume, presents figures for commercial car market and export-driven growth. The research discusses government attempts to liberalize the labour market to bring down Slovakias chronically high unemployment rate hellip;

Slovakia Freight Transport Report 2011. The study discusses the consequences of Slovakias financial crash and recession in the freight transport industry, presents data on market indicators like demand, sales and volume. The report provides information on the import and export growth, industry forecasts, import and export partners, key trade indicators, industry trends and developments hellip;

More new market research reports by BMI can be found at http://marketpublishers.com/members/businessmonitor/info.html

CONTACTS

The Market Publishers, Ltd.

Mrs. Alla Martin

Tel: +44 208 123 2220

Fax: +44 207 900 3970

ps@marketpublishers.com

www.marketpublishers.com

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Tags: Autos

European shares rebound on firmer autos, utilities

* FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.3 pct after closing lower on Friday

* Automakers, utilities feature among biggest gainers

* Caution due to geopolitical tension, euro zone debt crisis

* For up-to-the-minute market news, click on [STXNEWS/EU]

By Atul Prakash

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) – European equities bounced back on
Monday in thin year-end trading, helped by firmer utilities and
automobile shares, though tensions in the Korean peninsula and
the lingering euro zone debt crisis capped gains.

At 0913 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top
European shares was up 0.3 percent at 1,129.85 points after
falling 0.4 percent on Friday. The Euro STOXX 50 .STOXX50E
blue chip index rose 0.5 percent to 2,835.67 points.

The Euro STOXX 50 faced tough resistance at 2,837.89 — its
38.2 percent Fibonacci retracement of a major fall from a high
in 2007 to a trough in 2009.

Automakers topped the gainers list on hopes that a global
economic recovery will boost demand for vehicles. The STOXX
Europe 600 Automobiles amp; Parts .SXAP index rose 1.3 percent,
while Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) was up 2 percent.

For most of the traders and hedge funds, the year is over.
There is not too much volume and you are not going to see much
direction either way, said Koen De Leus, strategist at KBC
Securities, in Brussels.

Macroeconomic figures were lately on the upside. The market
is overly bullish and overbought. If momentum in economic data
continues to be good, then the market can stay around the
current levels.

Utility shares were also in demand, with the European sector
index .SX6P rising 0.7 percent and National Grid (NG.L)
gaining 1.6 percent.

CAUTIOUS TRADE

But caution prevailed as despite threats of war by
Pyongyang, South Korea launched live firing drills on a disputed
island after an emergency UN Security Council meeting failed
to agree on how to defuse the crisis. [ID:nL3E6NK01M]

Concerns about the euro zone debt crisis also persisted. The
European Central Bank has expressed serious concerns that
Irelands bailout package could affect the institutions
liquidity operations in the euro zone. [ID:nLDE6BI0HC]

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Tags: Autos

Increase in Theft from Autos in Crofton Neighborhoods

Police amp; Fire

Increase in Theft from Autos in Crofton Neighborhoods

Police ask residents to report suspicious activity and remember to not keep valuables in plain view.

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Tags: Autos

Focus on our own

Tuesday December 21, 2010

The announcement, earlier this week, that a division of Plasan will be located in Michigan was disappointing, but not shocking. Part of the companys work is related to the automotive industry and Michigan is ground zero for autos.

The fact that Michigan is committee significant funding to that effort makes it a far more powerful player than Vermont.

The Bennington area would love to see manufacturing jobs come to town, not flow out. A heavy investment in trying to lure jobs to Bennington from other states or countries is — given our transportation challenges — more than a bit unrealistic. Jobs that were once in New England first went to Southern states, where unions are less powerful, and then to places like Mexico, and are now going to places with rock-bottom labor costs.

In talking with people, locally, about job development, Ive come to the recognize that the strongest job growth in our community could come through locally owned and developed companies. Local employers with a local base have the potential to be the powerhouse of local job development. Thats where we should be investing our efforts.

If you look at the businesses that have grown in Vermont and Bennington County over the past 30 years, almost all have local roots. Often they have been developed by people who live and want to live in Vermont. Statewide, consider Ben Jerrys Ice Cream, Green Mountain Coffee and IDX. None

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Tags: Autos

US retail sales rise on big-ticket items

Sales at US retailers rose a stronger-than-expected 0.6 per cent in September, lifted by big-ticket items including autos, electronics and appliances, Commerce Department figures showed on Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected an increase of 0.4 per cent for September, after an upwardly revised 0.7 per cent gain in August. Excluding autos, September sales were up 0.4 per cent, matching analysts expectations.

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Tags: Autos

Research and Markets: United Kingdom Autos Report Q4 2010 Forecasts New Car …

DUBLIN lt;bgt;Research and Marketslt;/bgt; (lt;a href=http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlinkamp;amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F51e51e%2Funited_kingdom_autamp;amp;esheet=6468002amp;amp;lan=en-USamp;amp;anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F51e51e%2Funited_kingdom_autamp;amp;index=1amp;amp;md5=20e4ee46fbef07689ab3db72990c8facgt;http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/51e51e/united_kingdom_autlt;/agt;) has announced the addition of the lt;a href=http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlinkamp;amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F51e51e%2Funited_kingdom_autamp;amp;esheet=6468002amp;amp;lan=en-USamp;amp;anchor=United+Kingdom+Autos+Report+Q4+2010amp;amp;index=2amp;amp;md5=1747604149963802203e6ae5017a4b0agt;United Kingdom Autos Report Q4 2010lt;/agt; report to their offering.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;The United Kingdom Autos Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, auto associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the United Kingdoms automotive industry.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Based on the competitiveness of its manufacturing industry and regulatory environment, the UK leads BMIs Business Environment Ratings for the auto industry in Europe this quarter. However, how long the UK will be able to sustain this position will depend significantly on the regulatory environment in the country. Although the new prime minister, David Cameron, has said commitment to manufacturing is one of the governments main priorities, the business secretary, Vince Cable, has said the new government is unlikely to continue providing direct support for carmakers, except to those in exceptional circumstances. Given that carmakers already face the challenge of rising raw material prices and uncertain currency movements, we stress that the new government will have to ensure that the support to carmakers is withdrawn only after some amount of stability has returned to the market.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Figures for the first seven months of this year show that new car sales increased 15.1% year-on-year (y-o-y), to 1.24mn units, but a 13.2% y-o-y fall in July, has cast doubts on whether the market could end 2010 on a positive note. BMI forecasts new car sales will reach 1.98mn units by the end 2010, down nearly 1% compared with last year. We expect more pronounced growth from 2011 when we expect the market to grow nearly 4% y-o-y, to sales of 2.31mn units. Although we expect the economy to return to growth averaging 2.3% y-o-y in 2011, high vehicle ownership levels will limit any significant growth in the passenger car segment. This will limit car sales to 2.3mn units by the end of 2014, only just surpassing the pre-crisis levels of 2008.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Production has recovered from the sharp drop last year, rising 41.9% y-o-y, to 808,844 units, in 7M10. However, BMI sticks to its view that output in 2010 is likely to remain well below pre-crisis levels, reaching 1.36mn units by the end of the year. Meanwhile, our expectations of a much stronger recovery in production from 2011 are being weakened by widespread fiscal consolidation, weak bank lending and internal devaluations in the eurozone. Although we expect growth thereafter, we expect output to reach 1.60mn units by the end of 2014, not yet recovering to the pre-crisis level of 1.65mn units produced in 2008.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Ford Motor and Vauxhall continue to lead the market, with the formers Fiesta and Focus remaining the best selling models so far this year. Much of the sales growth this year is down to the scrappage scheme, and consumers have shown a preference for smaller low cost cars. Hyundai Motor, Ford, Kia Motors and Volkswagen emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the incentive, together taking nearly 40% of the total 392,466 vehicles sold under the scheme between January and July this year.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;bgt;Key Topics Covered:lt;/bgt;lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;ulgt;
lt;ligt;
Executive Summary
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
SWOT Analysis
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Global Overview
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Table: BMI Core Views On Global Auto Sector
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Business Environment Ratings
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Industry Forecast Scenario
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Production And Sales
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Domestic Sales
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Economic Contribution
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Macroeconomic Forecast
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Competitive Landscape
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Passenger Car Segment
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Commercial Vehicles Segment
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Buses And Coaches
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Company Monitor
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Country Snapshot: UK Demographic Data
lt;/ligt;
lt;/ulgt;lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;bgt;Companies Mentionedlt;/bgt;:lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;ulgt;
lt;ligt;
Ford Motor
lt;/ligt;
lt;ligt;
Vauxhall Motors
lt;/ligt;
lt;/ulgt;lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;For more information visit lt;a href=http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlinkamp;amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F51e51e%2Funited_kingdom_autamp;amp;esheet=6468002amp;amp;lan=en-USamp;amp;anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchandmarkets.com%2Fresearch%2F51e51e%2Funited_kingdom_autamp;amp;index=3amp;amp;md5=e16b2b83c45193e851ca2911ea47a348gt;http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/51e51e/united_kingdom_autlt;/agt;lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;img alt= src=http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnewsamp;amp;sty=20101014005890r1amp;amp;sid=11029amp;amp;distro=ftp /gt;lt;span class=bwct31415 /gt;

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Tags: Autos

CSX’s Ward Says Autos Leading ‘Gradual’ US Recovery

CSX’s Ward Says Autos Leading ‘Gradual’ U.S. Recovery
October 13, 2010, 5:39 PM EDT

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By Mark Clothier

(Updates with closing share price in seventh paragraph.)

Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) — CSX Corp. Chief Executive Officer Michael Ward said increased U.S. automobile production is helping drive a gradual economic recovery.

The second-largest publicly traded U.S. railroad yesterday reported third-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates as a 44 percent increase in automotive shipments boosted rail volumes. North American car and light-truck production rose 62 percent through August this year to 7.86 million vehicles, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.

“Except for housing-related, we’re seeing things continue their gradual recovery,” Ward, 60, said today in a telephone interview. “You are getting the drag effect you would expect as automotive continues to rebound.”

Profit from continuing operations climbed to $414 million, or $1.08, from $290 million, or 73 cents, a year earlier, Jacksonville, Florida-based CSX said yesterday in a statement. The average estimate of 24 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was profit of $1.04 a share.

Total shipping volumes rose 10 percent, CSX said. Sales climbed 16 percent to $2.67 billion, helped by higher prices and revenue gains in autos, chemicals and fertilizers.

“There is some pricing ability because we are an attractive option for people,” Ward said. “If they look at their options of moving stuff by truck or other modes, rail is the most attractive to them. So even with the slightly higher prices, we still are a good value.”

CSX rose $2.40, or 4.2 percent, to $59.66 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have gained 23 percent this year.

Union Pacific Corp. is the largest publicly traded U.S. railroad. CSX trails both Union Pacific and Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. by 2009 revenue.

–Editors: Kevin Orland, Jamie Butters.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Clothier in Southfield, Michigan, at mclothier@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jamie Butters at jbutters@bloomberg.net.

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Tags: Autos

Electric, Hybrid Autos: Oohs, Ahs and Question Marks (Photos)

The future is here and for Detroit, that means the era of nail-biting officially begins now. After years of criticism, the industry no longer has to hear complaints that its slow to bring out car technologies that bypass fossil fuels. At a trade conference this week, auto representatives gathered to put on display the latest electric and hybrid car models – and there is no shortage – as well as to swap thoughts about this nascent market.

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Tags: Autos