CHECK out this Reuters video report on the ruling of the European Union’s highest court against a longstanding German law that protected Volkswagen from takeovers.
By Yuri Kageyama
Associated Press
TOKYO, Japan–Nissan’s new super-sports car, the GT-R, is a rare challenge to European and American automakers by a Japanese company more used to family-friendly offerings like the Altima sedan.
Nissan claims the muscle car, to be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, is so sophisticated it is training scores of maintenance workers at dealers in Japan to service the vehicle.
“The GT-R requires special attention because its technology is so advanced,” Corporate Vice President Takao Katagiri said Wednesday. “It also calls for finesse in salesmanship because the sales representative must deal with customers who are going to be very demanding.”
By Associated Press
TOKYO, Japan–Toyota said Monday it sold 2.34 million vehicles globally in the July-September quarter, fewer than General Motors’ tally, as the US rival regained its lead in the race for the world’s top automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s worldwide vehicle sales for the first nine months of this year — at 7.05 million vehicles — also fell short of sales of Detroit-based General Motors Corp. at 7.06 million vehicles for the same period.
The numbers Toyota released Monday show the Japanese automaker running neck-and-neck against Detroit-based General Motors with 2.38 million vehicles for the third quarter.
Toyota, which beat GM in global vehicle sales for the first half of the year, has been riding on its reputation for high quality small cars reputed for good mileage, such as the Camry, Corolla and gas-electric hybrid Prius.
Some analysts say it’s a matter of time before the Japanese automaker — which built its business in the decades after World War II by imitating American automakers — will close in on GM.
By Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has activated its “Lakbay Alalay” program to assist motorists during next week’s long vacation in observance of All Saints’ Day.
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered all regional directors to ensure the safety of motorists and vacationers through the program.
“The DPWH Lakbay Alalay Program involves the deployment of composite teams comprised of DPWH personnel and mechanics who will respond to road emergency situations,” Ebdane said in a statement.
The composite teams will be complemented by the government agency’s equipment and service vehicles which can be utilized as tow trucks, he said.
Ebdane also instructed regional directors and district engineers to submit their respective lists of assigned personnel as members of the composite teams, including their contact numbers and the locations of Lakbay Alalay stations along the country’s national highways.
He said the DPWH “Lakbay Alalay” program would take effect at 6 a.m. on Oct. 31 until 12 noon of Nov. 4.
By Cebu Daily News
CEBU CITY, Philippines–X-ray machines will now be regularly used to inspect container vans entering the international port in Cebu and in the other parts of the country to foil rising smuggling activities.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has also entered into an agreement with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the LTO not to register all imported used vehicles that are 2004 model and earlier without the clearance of the BOC, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said.
The agency’s move came after 10 container vans containing used clothes and used cars from South Korea worth about P20 million were seized at the Cebu International Port (CIP) on Friday.
By Kenneth del Rosario
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–Commuters passing through Visayas and Mindanao Avenues in Quezon City can look forward to a faster trip with the concreting of the Congressional Avenue Extension expected to be completed before the holidays.
The city government announced it would soon release P58.6 million as compensation to the over 100 homeowners affected by the road project. The amount will be reimbursed by the Department of Public Works and Highways once funding becomes available.
Of the total, P11.9 million will go to homeowners on a portion of Visayas Avenue to Luzon Avenue while the remainder will go to payments for lot parcels from Visayas Avenue to Tandang Sora Avenue.
The 10-km road extension project is expected to be operational before the Christmas season. It was expected to significantly decongest traffic on Commonwealth Avenue and Elliptical Road, city officials said.
The DPWH, meanwhile, urged affected property owners to submit a certified true copy of transfer, certificate title, certified true copy of tax declaration and tax clearance to facilitate the release of payment for their properties.
By Ronnel Domingo
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–Ford Motor Co., whose officials have expressed continued optimism in the Philippines, could expand its production facility here by up to seven times if local economic growth continued and regional integration opened up more markets in Southeast Asia.
Liam Benham, Ford’s vice president for governmental affairs in Asia-Pacific and Africa, said the company was continually looking at expansion opportunities in the country although there were no short-term plans so far.
“Ideally, a facility should be producing 100,000 units to 200,000 units yearly,” Benham said.
By Diane Luar
Cebu Daily News
CEBU CITY, Philippines–At least 10 roadside car washing services have been closed down and their equipment confiscated by the city government since Monday along V. Rama Avenue in Cebu City.
The car wash owners were cited for violation of City Ordinance 801, which prohibits washing, greasing, and repairing of cars along the road.
Insp. Michaelangelo Beltran of the city police’s Traffic Patrol Group said the car washes also caused traffic congestion along V. Rama Avenue.
