Marcel A Pierce

Victor Epand asked:


There are many different kinds of magazines catering to different communities world wide. Magazines are basically reading material carefully and meticulously compiled to meet the requirements of a particular target segment in society. There are sports magazines, science magazines, dedicated business magazines and magazines that cater to the world of car and automobile enthusiasts.

Magazines on automobiles are magazines with dedicated news and reports on automobiles and the concerned industry operating from around the world. Magazines on automobiles feature new cars being marketed, tests carried out on certain new launches within the industry and dedicated and unbiased comparisons, which describe advantages and disadvantages of similar models.

Auto Magazines also offer:

Reviews on future model speculations from one or different companies. This enables the car and automobile enthusiasts to consider options before indulging in a purchase or sale.

Comparisons in the price ranges offered by the various segments of the industry, to assist car enthusiasts to plan and deliberate on a purchase or sale.

Confidential information from within the various companies that form an integrated part of the automobile industry. This enables co operators to be better informed about happenings from within the industry. It also gives the readers the opportunity to guage the future market of a particular car or model.

Spyshots or pictures of camouflaged models tested by automakers to fuel the enthusiasm of automobile racing fans world wide. This feature enables car enthusiasts to take a sneak peek at the models and cars yet to be launched.

Modified automobile reviews that make available information on the salient features incorporated post launch, to increase sales and offer real value for the hard earned money spent. These reviews help car company owners and agents, as well as readers who are contemplating investment within the industry.

Lists of new models marketed by the different automobile companies and the pre launch and market prices and details. This is very helpful to regular investors within the industry.

Specifications and ratings of the automobiles by a dedicated board that assesses the automobiles on the basis of past records and upgraded features and road worthiness. These assessments are vital to investors and the businessmen from the industry itself.

Used car advertisements for the buyers who wish to indulge in the ownership of cars, without having to dole out the high launch and market prices. Second hand or used cars offer the layman an opportunity for mobility, without getting cheated after doling out the payment.

Auto racing news and reviews on the events planned within the industry and by sponsors from around the world.

Some of the notable Magazines on automobiles include:

Auto Bild, Auto Week, Auto Car, Auto Revue, Automobile Magazine, Avtomanija, Car and Driver, Car, Road and Track, Street Machine, Top Gear, Motor Trend, Auto Trader

The Magazines on automobiles are targeted at fulfilling the need for information of dedicated readers on investments that are probably second only to real estate.

Alisha Delphi asked:


Now that you are facing a pink slip-generated financial emergency, a loan seems the only way out to solve impending problems such as a mortgage installment. But you are unsure of being able to avail one considering your credit record. If that’s what you are thinking, you are highly mistaken.

Automobile title loans not only take care of your immediate financial concerns but also provide you with an opportunity to correct your bad credit rating as a timely payment is read as a good credit score by credit bureaus.

What is an automobile title loan?

When you are in dire need of instant cash, automobile title loans are a wise option if you are the title owner of your automobile. Automobile title loans are short-term loans, usually with a 30-day repayment cycle, although flexible options may be offered by some lenders. Your automobile is the collateral against your loan.

The interest rates are pretty high for these loans, for example 25% for one month. Most automobile title loan policies include roll-over plans. This means that your loan can be renewed as many as six times over if you miss your payment when due.

On the flip side, roll-overs are usually a trap laid down by lenders as each roll-over comes with a higher rate of interest. Thus, you could end up paying far more than the principle amount if you happen to be careless. The lender can reclaim your automobile if you default and earn enormous profits from resale.

Therefore, it is best to consider the pros and cons of availing an automobile title loan, especially with respect to your own credibility to fulfill the specified obligations and ability to conform to the conditions applying to it because the risks involved are many.

How Does an Automobile Title Loan Help Rebuild Credit?

Taking into account the risk issues involved with an automobile title loan, you may wonder how it will help you rebuild your credit-worthiness. All you have to do is check with yourself if you can repay the loan on time before deciding to go for it.

Credit bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion keep track of borrowers and their payment patterns, which is converted into a FICO score. This score determines your ability to borrow and is accessed by lenders to weigh the risks of issuing a loan to a certain customer. A high score increases your credit-worthiness and you easily climb one up on this meter by a timely payment of your automobile title loan.

gholea asked:


In the first half of 2008, Chinas automobile market saw a modest decline regarding the speed of increase while the growth rate still rose quickly. Both the production and sales of automobile broke through 5 million, reaching 5,199,600 and 5,182,200 respectively. Generally, in the first half year, the automobile market presented the following characteristics:

`. The car production and sales maintained a fast growth rate, with the speed of increase declined modestly. The automobile production and sales were up 16.71% and 18.52% respectively. And affected by the appreciation of Renminbi, the rising of raw material prices and labor costs, natural disasters and other factors, the increase rate of automobile production and sales was down by 5.65 and 4.78 percentage points respectively.

a. The overall passenger vehicle market was stable with a slowed growth rate for the limousine market. The sales volume of passenger vehicles hit 360.9 million, up 17.07% year on year, among which the sales of limousine reached 2,667,600, up 16.72% year on year, and the speed of increase declined significantly, reaching 9.2 percentage points.

b. The sales of commercial vehicles were above the average level, and truck and semi-trailer truck had an outstanding performance. Sales of commercial vehicles hit 1,573,200, up 21.98% year on year, with the growth rate 3.46 percent point higher than the average level of the automobile market. The sales of trucks were 1,247,600, up 20.86% year on year.

c. The imports and exports of automobile maintained a steady growth, with a higher speed of increase for export than import. From January to May, the import value of automobile was USD13.287 billion, up 40.26% year on year, while the export value was USD20.391 billion, up 42.16% year on year, 1.9 percentage points higher than that of import. The import volume of automobile reached 171,400, up by 58.94% year on year, while the export volume was 310,600, a surge of 70.60% year on year, with a surplus of 139,300.

d. The key enterprises performed well and maintained a relatively high level of market share. The total sales volume of

the top ten automobile manufacturers reached 4.3497 million, accounting for 84%, and among which, the five major groups SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Chang’an Group and Beijing Auto sold 3,497,900 in total , occupying 2/3 of the auto market share.

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Sonal Arya asked:


India is no more a backward country with bullock carts and horse carts running on roads. It has successfully developed and modernized at its own pace. The automobile sector is also growing but at a higher pace. Indeed it forms one of the fastest growing sectors in the Indian economy and so is the popularity of automobiles in India. Be it cars, mopeds, vans, buses or tractors, the vehicles are manufactured at large. A number of cars and other automobiles are imported and exported every year.

There are various major players in automobile sector in India. Sonalika Tractors, Ashok Leyland, HMT Tractors, Royal Enfield, Chevrolet LML India, BMW Kinetic Motor Co. Ltd., Force Motor, Monto Motors, Toyota, Kirloskar Motors, Ford Motors, Ford, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Nissan Motors TVS Motor Co., Hero Honda, Reva Electric Co., Volvo, Hindustan Motors, Yamaha Motor etc. are among them. . Indian automobile industry is the tenth largest in the world. Every year new and advanced model of cars and other vehicles are launched by various leading manufacturers suiting the consumer needs.

With the increase in per capita income, the purchasing power of people has also increased. More and more people are turning to private vehicle and have become a successful affordable mode of transportation. The Indian automobile Industry is currently growing at the pace of around 18 % per annum which is remarkable. Such a tremendous progress has fueled and is a result of economic liberalization by Indian government. Progress has accelerated ever since the foreign direct investment has been allowed. International automobiles giants have helped Indian automobile sector to enlarge by setting up local basis.

The technological changes and progress successfully led to the progress of automobile sector in India. Automobile industry in India is one of the fastest growing automobile industries and has made its position in the world market.

Joel Gray asked:


Automobile companies go to extreme lengths to one up the competition, they roll out new makes and models yearly. The cars of today are lean, mean horsepower monsters showcased in the most beautiful designs imaginable. During times of oil and petroleum crisis, consumers are still waiting in line to purchase the latest automobiles.

So it is very fortunate that there are some manufacturers that came up with the concept of hybrid automobiles. Hybrid cars were developed to save on the world’s oil resources and to produce lower emissions. Hybrids are a combination of the combustion gasoline engine of the present and electric motor. To power to these automobiles, multiple propulsion packages are utilized. Electric batteries are utilized to crank up the electric motors. The batteries of the modern commercially-produced hybrids are recharged by acquiring kinetic energy through the means of regenerative braking used in the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight hybrid-electric vehicle.

There are many kinds of hybrid automobiles. These types are distinguished by the connection manner between fueled and electric halves of the powertrain and the designated operating period of each portion.

Here are the main classifications and the brands that utilize the following hybrid packages:

1. Full hybrid

It can operate on just the engine or the batteries alone, or both power sources combined. These automobiles have more drivetrain flexibility because of the presence of split power path. The electrical and mechanical power is interconverted. Differential-style linkage is utilized by the vehicles in the middle of the motor and the engine linked to the transmission’s head end in order to put balance from each power portion.

Toyota’s Prius and Highlander SUV are full hybrids, with computer-operated systems that decides which power source should be in operation, or if both of them should be working at the same time. When operating on its normal mode, the electric power is used, and the gasoline engine will only work if it is required or if the electric motor has been turned off.

2. Assist hybrid

These hybrids use the engine as the main source of power. A very powerful electric motor is connected to a conventional powertrain. It operates when there is a need for the engine to be turned over and also when the driver requires additional starter power.

This design is used by the hybrid automobiles of Honda, like the Insight. It compliments the reputation of the company in producing gasoline engines that are small and efficient. Honda’s system is called Integrated Motor Assist. The difference of the Assist from the Full hybrids is that it cannot function on electric power alone.

3. Mild hybrid

They are conventional vehicles equipped with starter motors that are oversized. The advantage of this is that the engine can be shut off whenever the car is in braking, coasting or stopping motion, and still be able to restart with no problems at all. Like the other hybrids, energy is recaptured by utilizing the motor for regenerative braking.

Some people do not consider the mild variety as hybrid automobiles, because they do not save up on fuel compared to the other kinds. Chevrolet used this system for their Silverado automobile, and they improved its fuel efficiency by making the engine turn off or restart on demand. General Motors created the Belt alternator starter hybrid system, for the Saturn VUE Green Line automobiles. Its operation is more or less the same as the Silverado.

4. Plug-in hybrid

They are full hybrids that function using only electric power, equipped with bigger batteries and has the capability to recharge energy from the power grid. The primary benefits of using these vehicles is that they can be independent from gasoline for short, daily trips, but can also have the capabilities of other hybrids when it comes to long distance travel. They can also be used by multiple fuels to supplement the electric power.

Companies such as Renault and DaimlerChrysler are producing automobiles using this system.

Here are some more of the hybrid automobiles that are currently available in the market:

1. Lexus RX400h and GS450h from Lexus

2. Honda Insight Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid from Honda

3. Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner from Ford

Consumers today have lots of options when purchasing their automobiles. For those who are conscious of the amount of fuel wasted and the amount of emissions produced, hybrid automobiles are a very sound option.

Sunil Kewalramani asked:


Automobile industry : Disruptive technologies are the need of the hour !

 

                                           SUNIL KEWALRAMANI                  April 28, 2009

 

 

Hearing the new, more aggressive restructuring plan offered by General Motors reminds one of the scenario for mankind jokingly foreseen by Woody Allen. “One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” If – and it is a big if – the plan is accepted by debtholders, they will be taking a disproportionate hit compared with other principals. Only shareholders will fare worse – although unbelievably GM’s shares soared 20 per cent.

Under the plan, the union-run healthcare trust would exchange half the cash owed to it for shares, making it a substantial shareholder in a restructured enterprise. GM’s scheme also assumes another $11.6bn in cash from the Treasury. In addition to the $15.4bn of loans received, part of this would be retired in exchange for half the carmaker’s equity. These two steps would give unions and Treasury about 89 per cent of the company, even before private debtholders are taken into account. GM envisions some $27.2bn of that debt being converted to equity, giving holders another 10 per cent of the company.

Whatever happens, shareholders will be either wiped out or nearly so. Even a minimal recovery depends on debt-holders taking a bigger financial hit than the union. Assuming unsecured lenders accept, the restructuring plan would create a much less indebted but also far smaller GM with about 40,000, or a third fewer, US workers, and four core brands with a little over half today’s number of dealerships. This makes sense, as do shedding Pontiac and plans to axe Saturn and Hummer. Someone has to pay. More government cash may be needed to avoid Chapter 11. A bankruptcy restructuring may be messier and less pleasant for dealers, workers and suppliers – but more equitable

Detroit Three have their back against the wall

The market capitalisation of General Motors is now below that of Mattel, the maker of Match-box toy cars.  Once industry leader, GM, now finds Toyota’s market value, at $ 145 Billion, now 25 times greater than GM. 

As a poor strategy, the Detroit Three focused on high-margin gas-guzzling sports-utility vehicles and pick-up trucks, which have now lost charm as oil prices have ventured, however temporarily, into unchartered territory. The Three also failed to control labour costs and have not built flexible assembly lines. As a desperate move, Ford has sold its flagship brands Jaguar and Land Rover to the TATAS.  Credit is the automobile industry’s lifeblood and today, the drying up of credit has hit carmakers’ financing arms such as General Motors’ GMAC and Ford Credit hard.   Detroit’s producers are seeking to tap into federal bail-out funds for their financial arms, alongside a $ 25 Billion low-cost credit line to retool old factories.

 

Germany’s Big 3 also face significant  headwinds; devise counter-strategy :

Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have acquired a reputation for offering cars with cutting-edge technology.  They are however heavy gas-guzzlers and heavy emitters of carbon dioxide. The trio have now decided to launch electric cars, to desist demand destruction due to high oil prices impacting revenues.  Daimler plans to offer Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid in 2009. However, the luxury sedan will be out of reach but for the more affluent.

 

Europe too catches the slowdown flu :

Sales in the European union HAVE fall 8.3 % compared with last year. Italy was down 20 %, Spain by 31 % and Ireland 49 %. The Italian group Fiat is to stop production at most of its domestic factories in late 2008 for 3 weeks with hundreds of workers laid off temporarily.  Renault is already cutting 6000 jobs round Europe and Peugeot is cutting fourth-quarter production by at least 20 per cent in France.

 

China’s automobile industry too hits a slippery path :

After stunningly rapid growth in the domestic car market—34 per cent in 2006 and 24 per cent in 2007, year-to-year passenger car sales rose an anemic 14 % in the six months to June 2008.  Possible reasons include the almost 70 % decline in Shanghai’s stock market since its peak in 2007, reducing car buyers’ disposable income. Tight government monetary policy has meant fewer purchases of high-end business vehicles.  According to auto consultancy JD Power, China “could be on the brink of a significant pause in demand growth”.  Only the government’s $ 600 Billion stimulus packaged has saved the scene in 2009, and somewhat restored in China’s automobile market. With the world economic outlook still uncertain, it may be quite some time before the third largest world economy returns to more solid growth.

 

Although fuel prices are subsidized in China, sometime back China did hike fuel prices to reflect market reality but this had only a marginal impact on sales : for the average consumer, it added only Rmb100 ($ 15) to monthly operating expense. This, when weighed against the Rmb150,000 average cost of mid-sized vehicle, was not termed demand-destructive in China.  Yet, faltering world economic growth is beginning to hit hard as China is essentially an export-driven economy. This, coupled with uncertainty over whether oil prices will remain at the levels they are at present, could cause some buyers of sub-compacts to defer purchases and compel consumers to look for more fuel-efficient cars.

 

French car market is turbo-charged by cheaper, cleaner cars :

Renault and its French rival Peugeot-Citroen, assisted by government incentives to produce cheaper, cleaner cars, have already started utilizing government incentives to turbo-charge their offerings.  The ‘bonus-malus’ tax system introduced by the French government under President has stimulated purchase of small cars.

 

The Japanese Four got their strategy right

Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai steadily captured the bulk of the market in compact cars and SUVs, known as crossovers.  Nissan plans to launch an electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery in Japan and the US in 2010.  Mitsubishi is offering MiEV, its version of the electric car, in Japan by 2009.  Nissan believes that the batteries it is developing with NEC will give its car a range of 160km and be 80 per cent rechargeable in 20 minutes. The range could increase to 300km or so within a few years.

 

In her book ‘The End of Detroit’, Micheline Maynard observes that “with their efficient development methods, their focus on manufacturing and most important, experienced engineers in critical management jobs, the foreign companies never forgot that they were in business to develop top-quality cars and trucks that appealed to customers, as opposed to rental-car models and government fleets”.

 

Toyota’s Prius charges ahead

The Toyota Prius, a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle, finds demand far in excess of what it can supply. The delivery time is anywhere between 6 weeks and four months, indicating that Toyota has stuck the right chord with its customers.  Toyota could foresee consumers’ long-term falling out with fossil fuels, and as the pioneer, had sold its first Prius in 1997.

 

Every battery in a Toyota hybrid is made at a factory in Shizuoka, Japan, by Panasonic EV Energy, a joint venture between Toyota and Matsushita Electric, holding company of Panasonic. The factory has an annual capacity of 500,000 nickel metal hydride battery packs a year, acting as a natural ceiling.  Honda has sold 52000 units of its singly hybrid model, a Civic sedan, in 2007 and plans to offer a new hybrid-only five-door that will have an initial annual sales target of 200,000 units, gradually extending upto 500,000 units by 2010.

 

Honda first car-maker to offer hydrogen-powered car FCX Clarity :

FCX Clarity of Honda is the first hydrogen-powered car whose only exhaust pipe emission is water.

 

General Motors to build world’s largest rooftop solar power station in Spain

Its Zaragoza factory in Spain, which produces about 500,000 cars a year, will be covered by 183,000 square metres of solar panels.

 

   Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 to General Motor’s  rescue

   At a time when General Motors is trimming capacity and chopping jobs across North America, Lordstown, Ohio is set to hire 1400 workers for a third shift. The plant owes its good fortune to building the sporty, fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 cars.  While demand for big sports-utility vehicles and pick-up trucks are on the decline, Cobalt sales jumped by 18 per cent in the first five months of 2008.

 

GM collaborating with dozens of utilities for its Chevrolet Volt and Saturn Vue electric cars

  Both industries have a lot riding on the success of plug-in cars that will run largely on electricity, with gasoline or other fuels filling a supplementary role. It is collaborating with utility majors American Electric Power Co., Austin Energy, Consolidated Edison Inc., Dominion Resources Inc., Duke Energy Corp., DTE Energy Co., Edison International, New York Power Authority, PG&E Corp., Progress Energy Inc., and Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. The Chevy Volt is designed to run at full speed for at least 40 miles solely on lithium-ion batteries. Auto makers need the cooperation of utilities since they control the new technology’s primary fuel—electricity—and must make sure that the vehicles’ recharging processes must mesh with the electricity grid and don’t inadvertently undermine grid reliability.  Intelligent embedded software will ensure recharge at most optimal time and price.

 

The ‘Jatropha’ Factor :

Gujarat-based Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) is assisting Daimler Chrysler, M&M and GM in using Jatropha as an alternative fuel in their futuristic engines. Diamler’s Jatropha plantations across Gujarat and Orissa are already in their fourth year.  GM on the other hand has made a first-phase investment of $ 0.5 Million to get biodiesel derived from Jatropha tested in six of its vehicles at CSMCRI’s facility at Bhavnagar in Gujarat, India.

 

BMW and Fiat enter into  strategic alliance :

The two are exploring links between Alfa Romeo and the Mini small car brand. BMW already has an engine agreement with France’s PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Fiat has as many as 29 alliances with competitors to reduce R&D costs. After Fiat withdrew Alfa Romeo from the US in 1995, BMW would help reintroduce it.

Alliances are a significant cornerstone of strategies of most car companies today.  BMW and arch-rival Daimler are jointly cooperating with General Motors on hybrids to further their joint interests.

 

India’s rise as the ‘small car hub’ of the world

  Small cars account for 71 % of Indian car market; the corresponding figure in China is 33 %. In September 2008, Maruti’s export sales rose significantly to 6318 units from 4362 units in last year.  Cumulative exports grew 25% to 30,235 vehicles from 24,236 vehicles for the period April-September 2007.  Maruti currently exports Alto, M800, Omni, Wagon R and Zen Estilo to non-European markets such as Chile, UAE, Algeria and East Africa. The year-end launch of its new compact ‘A-Star’ should provide further fillip.  Nissan plans to buy 50,000 A-Star compact cars from Maruti and export to markets in Europe. Bajaj Auto’s exports grew 43 % to 68,572 units in September 2008 as compared to 48,048 units in September 2007.    Hyundai, aided by high demand for its new i10 compact,  continued to be the leader with export kitty swelling from 9508 units in September 2007 to 23911 units in September 2008.  Hyundai exports 40 % of its small car production in India; ‘Santro’ is sold as ‘Atos’ in 97 countries.  TVS Motor reported 40 % growth in exports at 13036 units during September 2008, as compared to 18229 units in the same month last year. 

 

Car *********** in China and India low compared to Developed nations

The car *********** rate in USA is 600 cars every 1000 people.  In Europe, it is 300 cars every 1000 people (since the public transportation infrastructure is more efficient than in the USA). In China and India, it is about 30 cars every 1000 people.  Thus, as these economies grow rapidly, there will be greater demand for cars to ensure mobility.

 

Hyundai’s i10 and Santro are quick to react to the need of the hour :

Launched to challenge other cars in the market, such as Maruti Wagon R, Zen Estillo, Tata Indica and Chevrolet Spark, the two models of Hyundai—i10 and Santro have enabled Hyundai to clock 39 % growth in sales in the domestic passenger car segment over the period April-June 2008.  The i10 model might further affect Maruti and Tata sales as Hyundai has launched its compressed natural gas (CNG) variant and launced the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) variant in end-2008.  Recently, in tune with changing times, Hyundai launched a new version of the i10 powered by a 1.2 litre Kappa engine whose double overhead camshaft would enable the engine to run at higher speeds. The Kappa engine is being manufactured at Hyundai’s engine and transmission plant in Sriperumbudur and its remarkable fuel-efficiency will significantly raise the bar in the segment.

 

65 % of Maruti Suzuki’s Swift and Dzire are diesel variants :

The growing trend towards diesel is forcing Maruti to launch diesel and petrol variant of Splash hatchback.  Whereas more than 75 % of Tata Motors’ Indica and Indigo sell the diesel versions, more than 65 % of Hyundai’s Verna and Sonata’s sales comes from the diesel counterpart.  Also on the diesel track are  Mahindra’s Logan and GM’s Optra.

 

M&M to speed up e-vehicles, launches CNG variant of Bolero :

M&M plans to launch an array of alternative fuel variants including CNG and hybrid versions of its flagship SUV Scorpio and that of its one tonner pick-up vehicle Bolero.

 

Tata Nano to crank out 30 % more fuel-efficient CRDi diesel engine :

Tata Nano will sport the world’s first 800 cc, turbo charged CRDi diesel engine. The small diesel engine will have fuel injection systems developed by Bosch.  Rest of the diesel engine platform will be developed by Tata Motors and German powertrain maker FEV.  Tata Nano will be the world’s first 800 cc, turbo charged, CRDi diesel engine.  While Bosch is working on the CRDi system for the Nano, Honeywell Turbo India is working on the turbo charger, thus providing a unique fuel-efficient buying proposition.  The 1.3 liter Fiat multijet CRDi engine that Suzuki has used on its Swift is the smallest diesel engine in India thus far.

Tata Nano is beefing up the low-cost car with fitments such as air bags, better designed interiors and engine options to make the Nano export-quality. Tata Nano’s unique fuel-efficient engine and ‘bottom-of-the-pyramid’ pricing of $ 2200 makes it a unique customer-centric proposition and a disruptive technology which when replicated across engine classes, has the capability to transform the way we move, the way we go to work, and basically the way we live our lives.  After making its mark on the domestic scene, Tata Nano has its eyes on the world small car market.  Tata Motors, which plans to deliver its first electric car by the end of this fiscal, has tested Indica platform for the vehicle.  The company is working on five prototypes of electric vehicles.

During September 2008, Tata Motors has launched three new fully loaded variants on its popular Tata Indigo CS range.  The new variants are the petrol GLX model and two diesel LX models—in the Turbo-charged diesel with intercooler and direct injection common rail engine options. Bajaj launched the new Platina 125 cc with the Digital Twin Spark-Swirl Induction or DTS-Si engine during September 2008.  TVS Motor broadened the horizons of its TVS Scooty with the launch of Balancing Wheels, a unique and innovative product that can be effectively fitted on to the Scooty. This indicates how automobile manufacturers are resorting to disruptive innovations to keep their revenue stream flowing.

 

The car industry is leanly managed with high fixed costs and relatively less flab.  This is the sign of the industry’s competitiveness since carmakers have steadily improved their vehicles’ quality in recent years while barely increasing their prices.  For example, despite large improvements in performance, Porsche’s flagship 911 model has been priced virtually the same in real terms since 1992, according to EurotaxGlass, the publisher of Glass’s Guide, the UK car buyer’s handbook. 

 

Disruptive technologies possible in China and India

Most of the developed nations have their past legacy.  They also have their interests and resources to protect.  For example, most have inflexible assembly lines and labour contracts which they cannot terminate except at a steep cost. Thus, they keep defending their gas-guzzling vehicles, and are not customer-centric.

 

On the other hand, China and India, have the advantage of being in virgin territory with not much of past legacy to haunt them.  They have the advantage of being able to experiment with disruptive technologies, especially in an era of high crude prices.

 

Amazingly, unlike the developed nations, most of the focus in China and India is on the high input costs, high interest rates and falling demand.  Commodity prices and interest rates have begun to retreat of late.  Yet, there is little appreciation of how disruptive technologies can bring about a revolution in the way we travel to work and do things.

 

The real disruptive innovations are more likely to take place in Silicon Valley, Bangalore and Chennai rather than in Detroit where car-makers have their legacies and interests to nourish and defend.  High oil prices, although temporarily acted as a dampener for the automobile industry, has come as a blessing in disguise for India in its endeavors to become the “small car hub of the world”.  While the rest of the automobile world is scaling down capacities, Hyundai, for example, has started in India third shift operations in mid-September 2008 as compared to the originally planned October 2008 to meet soaring demand for i10 in domestic as well as overseas markets.  The rest of the world has already benefited by bringing out fuel-efficient innovations to transform the landscape of the world automobile industry.

 

Thus, disruptive technologies seem to be the need of the hour.  Supply-side management rather than overly focusing on the demand side, seem to be the key factors that will reverse the gloom that has descended on the world automobile industry and usher in an era of growth and prosperity in the commuting world.

 

 

Sunil Kewalramani is a Wharton Business School MBA and CEO, Global Capital Advisors. 

Emeka Ezidiegwu asked:


Automobile insurance rules vary from state to state. It is important to understand automobile insurance rules in your state to make certain that you are prepared if you are involved in an accident. One of the first questions you should ask prospective insurance companies is what their automobile insurance rating is. Insurance companies receive a rating based on their financial status. The purpose of auto insurance is to prevent you from having to pay out a large amount of money if you are in an accident — whether you are at fault or not. If the insurance-company takes your premium but does not have the resources or inclination to pay out your claim, you will be in little better shape than if you had no coverage at all.

Automobile insurance ratings are typically available through your state’s insurance commission, the state agency that oversees insurers. Other ways to determine the rating of a company are by asking the company directly, or asking your agent or broker. 

Once you are certain that you are dealing with a financially responsible company, you are ready to buy. It is important to understand the different automobile insurance rules so that you purchase the coverage that best meets your needs. By following the rules in your state you can be certain that you are protected. Automobile insurance protects you in the following ways:

1. Coverage if your car is damaged or stolen.

2. Coverage of your financial obligations if others are injured or their property is damaged due to actions on your part.

3. Coverage of medical expenses for you or others if you are involved in an accident.

Understanding these different types of coverage ensures that you are covered in any instance. Once you have purchased the policy that best meets your needs, it is important to meet your part of the agreement with the issuing company. If you are involved in an accident, it is important that you contact the insurer immediately. Automobile liability insurance reporting rules vary from state to state, but the basic rules are the same. If you are involved in an auto accident, whether you believe that you are at fault or not, there are several things that you should do:



If no one is injured, move to the side of the road. This reduces the risk of secondary accidents.





Call 911 or the local police. The rules regarding filing a police report differ, but typically if damage to either vehicle exceeds $250, you should file a police report. It never hurts to have an official record of the accident regardless.





Exchange insurance-information with the other party. Whether you believe that you are at fault or not, you should exchange information. The insurer will follow-up and, with the help of the police report and statements from everyone involved, determine fault and negotiate a settlement.



Automobile insurance rules differ from state to state and company to company, but if you understand the various types of coverage available, and follow the guidelines set forth by your company in the event of an accident, you should have no problems with filing or receiving a claim.

Paul Turner asked:


If you ever want a good laugh, take a few minutes to hop on the Internet and search for some clippings from about a hundred years ago that try to offer up predictions on what kind of cars and automobiles we would be driving in the 21st century. It’s hilarious to look at drawings of what people thought we would be driving, from flying cars to automobiles that looked like some sort of messed up combinations of bicycles and hot air balloons. If there is one constant when it comes to predictions of future automobiles, it is this: they are almost always way off the mark and totally wrong. Having said that, let’s take a more pragmatic look at what automobiles of the future might resemble and the different influences that could shape the cars of tomorrow.

First of all, let’s get rid of the old cliche about us driving flying cars someday in the future. That is almost certainly not going to happen anytime in the next hundred years. And it’s not because of limits of technology, either; sure, we could probably create automobiles that really did fly if we wanted or needed to. The real reason why flying cars will never happen is simple: it’s safety. Just look at the automobiles of today and how many of them get into crashes every single day around the world. And that is when they are limited to just two dimensions of travel! If you added another dimension (up and down) to the options for travel that car drivers have, you would see a massive increase in the amount of crashes, deaths and injuries.

I know what you’re going to say: that if technology allowed us to just type or state a destination and have the flying car take us there automatically, then it would get rid of human error. And yes, that is a valid point. But the fact of the matter is that technology of that kind does not exist yet, and when it is perfected enough to place in automobiles, it will likely be extremely expensive. You would probably see an economic disparity between who was travelling in the new, slick, safe flying cars, and the poorer people who were still bound to drive themselves around in the much less safe two-dimensional automobiles. Until the technology becomes both possible and cheap, you will probably not see many cars zipping around in the skies.

Besides, as of right now traffic in the skies is regulated by the federal government, and the flight paths and routes for airplanes have to be approved ahead of time by officials who keep track of where everything is flying. If you added automobiles to the mix, the problems that would face traffic controllers would likely be extreme. So as of right now, the future of high-tech cars and automobiles is likely to be right here on the ground where they are now. While flying cars might someday come to pass, you probably shouldn’t count on it anytime in the next hundred years or so.

Amit Kishore Verma asked:


If you own an automobile, here are some automobile tips that can help you. These tips have been collected from various automobile news websites. Read on and benefit from them.

Here are some automobile tips for maintaining your automobile in the finest conditions. All the automobile tips are related to the different parts of your automobile:

Tyres - one of the most important automobile tips is to rotate the position of the tyres on a regular basis. Another of the automobile tips is to balance the tyres at around 10,000 km. Also the under-inflated tyres have to be checked regularly. Also the tyres have to be checked for any gravel or stone residual.

Brakes - one of the most important automobile tips for the maintenance of breaks is to top up the brake fluid reservoir occasionally. This is to be especially done if you notice the brakes becoming wobbly and getting slow.

Battery - The automobile tips for battery maintenance is to clean the battery terminals regularly as well as apply some grease. The second tip is to check the battery’s distilled water level.

Interior - the interiors should be vacuumed regularly. This helps to prevent any deposits of sand, grime, dust, salt, etc. while cleaning the dash should be wiped, instruments and seats should also be cleaned. It is advisable to use some special car cleaners.

If the interiors have leather, you should not use any high alkaline content as they can actually bleach the color off the leather.

Exterior - the best of the automobile tips for cleaning the exteriors is to wash the windscreens with water and soap. To dry the exterior, the chamois leather should be used. As soon as the car dries off it is advisable to use a rag dipped in a solution of water and methylated spirit to polish the glass.

Lights- all the lights like, brake lights, emergency flashers and turn signals should be cleaned regularly. Some fuses and bulbs should be kept in the vehicle as spares. Make sure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle.

Hoses - the automobile tips for hoses state that they should be inspected every month. Same is true for the belts. In case you feel that a hose appears bad or has become really hard, then it should be replaced.

Exhaust - the exhausts should be given proper attention. They should not be loose; also their clamps should not be broken. The automobile tips suggest that you should look for any possible holes in the pipes or the muffler. You should also change the parts that are either damaged or have caught some rust. Also the emission of your automobile should be checked every year.

Spare parts- most of the automobile tips that you will ever read will suggest you to use only genuine spare parts for your automobile. They last long and do not have any side effects on the automobile’ performance.