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Toyota Motor Corporation Sets Automobile Industry Standard
One can’t linger too long among manufacturing people and publications without hearing about Toyota Motor Corporation’s substantial success over the past year in overcoming industry-wide deficiencies to build a reputation of consistent achievement. Toyota no doubt sets a standard for the rest of the struggling automotive sector.
Toyota Motor Corp., riding on its reputation for fuel-efficient cars like the Prius hybrid, said Friday it produced 9.018 million vehicles, including its Japanese subsidiaries that make trucks and smaller models. It was its fifth straight year of growth….In December, Toyota’s global output totaled 624,219 vehicles, up 4.7 percent from the same month a year earlier. It was the 26th consecutive month of growth.
As the auto industry sets its sights on hopeful recovery in 2007, Toyota continues to cast a vision for sales growth and energy conscious automotive innovation.
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Could we see the first electric cars by 2008?
According to an article in the San Jose-Mercury news, the first fully electric car to run on American roadways is now in the planning stages.
No major automaker currently sells a purely electric-powered car that can be used on public roadways in the United States.
Mitsubishi displayed an all-wheel-drive gasoline-electric hybrid car at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but the company does not currently sell a hybrid car.
In the early 90s, there was speculation that the first fully electric car available nationwide was expected to come from GM, as they had a clear advantage at one point as far as research and development.
Though there is some speculation that GM had ulterior motives for abandoning the project in 2002, their official reason, stated as insufficient demand, held water at the time from a profitability standpoint – gas prices were half what they are now. Now that more consumers believe that the has come for the electric car, and are stating that they would purchase one, it looks as if Missubishi will be the frontrunner in the entire industry.
Electric cars are not necessarily the savior of the energy question, according to a documentary that explores the issues behind converting to alternative energy sources, "Addicted to Oil". Early blogosphere reports show that consumer response to the news so far is positive.
The issue of electric cars raises many important questions. Will maintenance costs for cars run on electricity decline, or are ther other issues that could make the costs go up? Could maintenance frequency go down? What kinds of changes would have to be made on warranty coverage?
Some of these questions can be estimated from studies on hybrids, or the electric car community in California. Others we won’t know about until the sample of electric cars is large enough. For those, we’ll have to wait and see.
When Two Giant Automobile Manufacturers Become One
What would the world do if GM and Ford became a single company? Probably treat it like any other American automobile manufacturing company. So what is so exciting about the potential alliance of two of the major automotive players? Quite a 
bit, if you’re at all involved with auto industry news. The prospect of GM and Ford putting their two experienced and highly influential automotive companies together is really more of a risky business concern than a question of “what will this do for the auto industry?”
The automobile industry would certainly feel the effect of the two giants’ merger, but no one would be more affected than if GM and Ford were to join only to have the partnership be a failure. Many large companies have embarked on the mission to unite with hopes of knocking out the market share mostly by combining solid reputation to watch the result of the merger unexpectedly crumble to below what each business had attained on their own. Reports of a possible merging of GM and Ford are highly interesting because the auto world would be waiting with held breath to see if it turns out successful or a flop. In the meantime, if it’s publicity the two corporations are looking for, they’ve succeeded at that.
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Translation: A Full-Sized Vehicle Purchase Deal
If there’s one way to battle difficult times for your automotive company, it’s to strike 
a sweet-sounding deal with your patrons. GM is doing just that as it announces that its 2007 line of full-sized pick-up trucks will go for no more than the 2006 line. Without getting nit-picky about pricing details and the amount of difference in this year’s line over lasts, the offer will sound nice to customers looking to purchase a truck.
While car owners and intentional buyers are getting excited about the prospect of a great buying year, GM’s offer is another example of how American auto manufacturers are being forced to compete with high fuel prices and increasingly popular foreign models. This is surely prime time to invest in your vehicle’s long-term lasting ability. When car makers offer deals and incentives to the extend that they are currently, it means the bottom line is car ownership is more expensive than ever and the public is pressured to place new vehicle buying as a lower priority. An extended warranty on your automobile can keep you from having to return to the lot sooner than your wallet expects or allows.
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US Auto Makers Encouraged To Approach like Asian Competitors
The global competition fury between the United States’ automobile manufacturers and Asian-based industries rages enough without the recent concern over fuel 
efficiency and gas prices. Now statistics are showing that a race between automakers at home and abroad is being overtaken by economic common sense, replacing former priorities of luxury, design, and status. Of course gas costs have always been a factor in the competition but the world is at a place with oil that is unforgiving for America’s producers of gas guzzlers and fuel chuggers.
The wake up call is in the numbers. Americans are simply forced to be more economic with car choices and Asia provides more practicality in their design. While US auto makers are striving to hang in there by reporting intensive research on manufacturing large vehicles with better fuel economy, Asia has the vehicle market’s allegiance. In the meantime, if the top US auto makers can master the large consumer car that cuts back significantly on pump cost, then watch out Asia as America closes in.
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Ford�s Ignores Consumer Cut-Backs With Expedition EL Model
Gas prices have caused a considerable decline in the purchasing of SUV and other gas-guzzling car models but apparently not 
enough to make some auto makers resist exploring new large and luxurious territory. Ford is releasing a version of the Expedition called the Expedition EL in 2007 to test the ground for large vehicle purchasing. At the same time Ford is releasing the emissions-reducing PZEV Focus in consideration of environmental and energy issues at the forefront of the public’s concern, it is attempting a big, very big new SUV.
The pursuit of the SUV market still clinging to their transportation treasures is an example of just how popular SUVs were a decade ago. For a company like Ford to continue manufacturing full-sized SUVs that are by no means cost efficient and energy saving and expect a level of profitability says that SUVs are still hot to trot despite a market drop off. Interested in the Ford Expedition EL and other 2007 SUV models like it? Whew, you’d better be just as interested in warranty coverage for your new toy. You don’t want to neglect an extended warranty to extend your Expedition EL’s very pricy future.
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On The Brink Of Car Making Revolution
Auto manufacturers are done with the old and bringing out the new, pleasing an ever-so-ready public. Despite protesting from a few soccer moms, Ford is moving past the minivan madness of the past few decades to focus their manufacturing attention on SUV distribution instead. The decline of the minivan marks a truly 
revolutionized approach to vehicle manufacturing. Ford will be releasing a new line of family sized automobiles that are more SUV-style.
As car manufacturers attempt to revitalize the auto industry with the restructuring of their products to appease America’s posh community of vehicle consumers, extended warranties are rising in car ownership importance. Covering your nice new minivan replacement will protect your investment and prevent it from becoming a money-guzzler. Since auto manufacturers are producing car models intended as much for comfort and luxury as basic transportation, the coverage counts even more. As the expense of owning a new car is set to increase, a thorough extended warranty is a vehicle owner’s saving grace when damage is done.
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Ford’s PZEV Focus
Out of respect for Ford, we will follow up yesterday’s not-so-charming report on the Ford dealership warranty 
fraud with a heart-warming reference to Ford’s PZEV Focus. In an attempt to raise awareness about Ford’s Focus model’s direct comparison to hybrid fuel efficiency, Ford is smacking PZEV labels on its Focus in California.
Along with auto manufacturers’ attempts at lower fuel emissions comes the mandatory requirement that the car must be covered by an extended warranty for a minimum of 15 years or 150,000 miles. According to the article cited in Auto Spectator, the manufacturer must provide this warranty to cover the PZEV standard in a guarantee that the car will remain emissions conscious.
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Whats in A Warranty Deductible
An automobile warranty can vary tremendously depending upon your warranty coverage inclusions. This is especially true for the amount you will spend to have the service. Similarly to other types of insurances, your auto warranty has a deductible. Many top of the line warranty providers are going to give you top of the line coverage, but you will 
doubtless pay more, with the exception of some providers, many times an aftermarket warranty.
The coverage you invest in will either save you thousands but afford you a sizeable payout at time of service, or can save you some will charging you more than they should be. Investigate thoroughly the deductible expectation of an extended warranty. Do you pay to speak to a mechanic or to have the full repair done?
Some warranties that expect payment per visit may get more from your wallet the more you visit the shop. A deductible based upon final repair will be charged after all of the details are finished. Some warranty groups also offer warranties with no deductible. This may be the best option for a car owner who expects frequent visits to the shop. There are many options when choosing a car warranty based upon deductible. Consider your car needs and your prospective wear and tear and then you will have a basis for choosing the type of deductible offered.
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Choosing the right car warranty
Finding an auto warranty can be difficult, because now there are simply so many to choose from. However, I’ve come up with two questions I ask when searching through the warranty quotes.
Is the electrical covered?
Often that’s the first parts to go out and a shade-tree mechanic can no longer fix newer cars because of the complicated electrical system. Be sure your warranty covers electrical systems.
Is the cooling system covered?
What if your air goes out? What will you and your family do to fix it? If you can find a warranty that covers cooling, then you might want to give it a closer look.
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