Different Ways of Analyzing Success

This is from a Canadian newspaper that covers the auto business news. Honda is cautiously optimistic about sales, because profit slipped about 4%. GM said that only losing 115 million last quarter was due to the success of their reorganization. Daimler Chrysler's losses are so extensive, many scientists believe they may have actually "broken off" from our reality, and may in fact now operate from a parallel universe where women buyers yearn for Dodge Chargers and the new look of the Chrysler 300.

Full story below is from The Chronicle Herald:

GM, DaimlerChrysler post losses; Honda profits up

DETROIT (AP) — After months of restructurings, job cuts, management changes and other moves to lift their fortunes, U.S. automakers still are posting losses as market share slips further toward their Asian rivals.

General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group reported third-quarter losses Wednesday, joining Ford Motor Co., which on Monday posted a whopping US$5.8 billion loss. In contrast, Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co. reported a profit Wednesday, although less than the same period last year.

A $1.5 billion quarterly loss at Chrysler prompted some industry analysts to question whether its parent company would put it up for sale.

GM posted a $115 million loss for the third quarter on Wednesday, saying its results reflected benefits of its turnaround plan.

Honda said Wednesday that second-quarter profit slipped 4.3 per cent, but sales were strong especially in North America and Asia, where demand for fuel-efficient Japanese cars has been growing.

United Road

United Road has a pretty sweet website for POV. Probably has built-in functionality for auction and dealer freight as well.

Crash

ROUTE 18 JAMMED IN OLD BRIDGE Car carrier rams moving van
Minor injuries in a.m. accident
Home News Tribune Online 10/25/06
STAFF REPORT

OLD BRIDGE — A car-carrier loaded with new Jeeps crashed into a moving van on Route 18 yesterday strewing furniture and boxed items from the moving van across the highway and the grass median.



The crash occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to township police, and stalled traffic in the area for hours.

No serious injuries were reported.

The moving van was attempting to cross Route 18 south from the Spring Valley Road jughandle when the car carrier, traveling south on Route 18 in the fast lane, hit the moving van, with the impact causing both vehicles to veer onto center grass median, township police Sgt. Robert Greenway said yesterday afternoon.

Only one lane of Route 18 south was open and northbound traffic was being diverted onto Marlboro Road around the accident scene and back onto Route 18 yesterday. Traffic was backed up for the better part of the day in both directions.

The auto-transport driver was taken to Raritan Bay Medical Center in the township for treatment of minor injuries and released.

A passenger in the moving van was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

A careless driving summons was issued to the moving van's driver.

Police interviewed three witnesses at the scene, but no further details were available. Police did not release the identity of the drivers or the passenger.

Contributing: Staff writers Mary Ann Bourbeau and Ken Tarbous