TRAFFIC FINES IN INSTALMENTS

Dubai's RTA will allow motorists to pay their hefty fines ( 5 K & above for individuals) in installments.  This should help over 80 K ( !!) 'defaulters' on Dubai roads

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Toyota halts sales of some vehicles due to pedals - MarketWatch

Is Toyota losing the innovation edge or ignoring the quality/Kaizen aspect of the processes ?

From a customer-perspective, Toyota is synonymous with quality.

The Korean auto makers, Kia and Hyundai, are definitely eating into Toyota's market share. Not because of quality, but the perception of 'value for money'.

Is Toyota on the third stage of 'Five Stages of Decline' by Jim Collins in Built to Last ?

Toyota halts sales of some vehicles due to pedals - MarketWatch

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Safe driving

Traffic fines have never been fair... when someone receives a ticket for violation, he complaints about others who are left scot-free for making similar violations, if not more serious. Also, the quantum of fine was always linked to the category of error. But that is now set to change...You may be fined depending on 'your wallet'

At least Europen countries are taking the lead by pegging speeding fines to 'capability' ( not willingness) to pay. That is income-level !Switzerland, Finland, etc are current examples. Many other european countries set to join.

Middle East definitely needs to incorporate this in their traffic rules

Ultimate motors in India - CAR Middle East - Online | Dubai - Abu Dhabi - UAE - Saudi Arabia - Kuwait - Bahrain - Oman - GCC

Auto news from India... the next stop for International auto bra nds

Ultimate motors in India - CAR Middle East - Online | Dubai - Abu Dhabi - UAE - Saudi Arabia - Kuwait - Bahrain - Oman - GCC

Pagani in KSA

Italian car maker Pagani has launched a new line of vehicles in Saudi Arabia, including a luxury car that costs $1.6m, the Saudi Gazette has reported. Several other luxury makes and models are on offer from the car maker, the cheapest priced at $160,000. 

'As Saudi Arabia is a wealthy country, the luxury car market has not been affected in the same way as other countries where the automobile industry has been hit hard by the worldwide financial crisis,' Fawwaz A Al-Kredis, general manager of the showroom stocking the cars, told the daily.

Saudi car sales in 2010 seen rising by $2bn - Retail - ArabianBusiness.com

Saudi car sales in 2010 seen rising by $2bn - Retail - ArabianBusiness.com

Saudi Market is definitely bouncing back...

China's own stimulus

Chinese govt is trying to get their own citizens to save less and spend more, to offset the drop in demand for their exports.

They have provided for subsidies for car purchase, three times that of US... US provided for $ 3 bn for cash-for-clunkers and $1.7 bn for tax support on car purchase.
China is planning a whopping $14+ bn on tax breaks and subsidies for car purchase !

But the consumer is smarter... they may end up waiting for more support/discounts...

Twitter on Ford Cars

Ford Motor Co. announced technology to let computers read their Twitter feeds to them while behind the wheel.

There is enough distraction already from within the car or outside. Mobile phone is definitely one big cause. Every improvement in the cell phone technology (=higher distraction ) results in higher the risk  while driving.

If car manufacturers are going to play a catalytic role by supporting these distractions, are they not diluting one of their fundamental responsibility ( towards safety) ?

Food for thought !

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/07/ford.twitter/index.html

Luxury car purchase pattern- a shift ?

According to secondary reports coming out of Detroit, the luxury car buyer in US is showing a shift in his purchase patter:

• most of the luxury car owners who repaced their cars opted for a cheaper model - Buick, Hyundai, for example. While they are willing to down-grade their purchase, the still demand a good finish and reliability, safety.
  
• Apart from buying a cheaper car, another trend is to 'trimming size'. They are opting for smaller cars

Frugality is definitely in. Let us hope it remains for a longer duration, even after the market picks up.
Better awareness on global warming and push by NGO's and government agencies should help too.

A challenge for luxury car brands...

Toyota's hybrid Prius faces US Probe over brakes

Acc to reports, Toyota is facing a big challenge.
Its key brand, third generation 2010 hybrid Prius has a brake-problem: ' may malfunction unexpectedly' !

We are living in tough times... esp for auto makers.

No.1/market leader, third generation, one of high profile product... and most important, hybrid... when world is moving slowly, but surely in GO GREEN direction !

We should see minimum or nil 'recalls', a six sigma type of quality !!!