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The Nikkei Business Report

09 Nov 2009

The Nikkei 225 finished up 0.2% at 9,808 Monday, but volume was down at a 6-week low. Fast Retailing, Suzuki Motor, and Kubota were top gainers, but major power companies were among the hardest hit. Makiko Utsuda from The Nikkei has more.

Fiat's 5-Year Road Plan for Chrysler

05 Nov 2009

Fiat said its 5-year road plan to turn around Chrysler will result in the doubling of revenue. "There is no alternative but for Chrysler to be ambitious at this point," Stefano Aversa, co-president of restructuring specialists Alix Partners, said Thursday. "They have plenty of cash."

Ford's Safer Seatbelt 05 Nov 2009
Ford is unveiling its groundbreaking seat belt. CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the details.

Chrysler's Rebirth

05 Nov 2009

Chrysler is kicking off its rebirth and hoping its new game plan will please the government as well as the industry. Mike Jackson, chairman and CEO of AutoNation, shares his insight.

Toyota Reports Surprise Profit, but Outlook Bumpy

05 Nov 2009

Toyota's results blew past expectations Thursday. The Japanese automaker posted a surprise quarterly profit and halved its annual loss forecast. "Toyota is still making a loss. It's still going to face a very difficult future ahead," Graeme Maxton from The Insight Bureau said. "This doesn't mean that the auto sector has turned around."

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CNBC ON DIGG

Are Diesels Better Than Hybrids?

Published: Wednesday, 8 Jul 2009 | 9:32 AM ET

Text Size

By: Phil LeBeau

Volkswagon Jetta TDI
Source: vw.com
Volkswagon Jetta TDI
I get the e-mails on a pretty regular basis. Almost all of them say the same thing: clean diesel cars are a great alternative for people who want fuel efficiency and a better driving experience so why aren't Americans waking up and buying more diesels?

Invariably, we have an e-mail exchange where I say there are not many diesel models for sale, and many Americans still remember the days when diesel cars were smelly, noisy, and incredibly unimpressive. The diesel lovers respond, "don't be ignorant" about the virtues of the new clean diesel models.
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Well, for those people (and yes, there are tens of thousands out there) the latest study from Intellichoice is a reason to rejoice.

In its annual cost of ownership study, Intellichoice finds the 5 year savings for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI (versus a standard model Jetta) is greater than the savings you get from a Toyota Prius vs. a standard model Camry.

The full results are below.

Annual Cost of Ownership

2009 Model and Trim	MSRP Premium	5-Yr Cost of Ownership Savings
Volkswagen Jetta TDI	$2,070	$6,210
Toyota Prius (vs. Camry)	$1,805	$4,930
Saturn Aura Green Line	$1,480	$2,185
Mercedes-Benz GL320 BlueTEC	($1,000)	$4,645
Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4WD .	$615	$3,821
Ford Escape Hybrid AWD	$4,725	$2,123

Keep in mind Intellichoice factors in more than just what you save at the pump in calculating ownership savings. Also included are other factors like insurance, maintenance, etc.

VW has long been pushing diesel models in the U.S., and in fact, it has sold more than 800,000 in this country. It's now running a marketing campaign promoting clean diesel as the best option for those who want fuel efficiency. While gas prices are not as high as they were last year, the message has a better chance of connecting with buyers than a few years ago when diesel was an option with limited appeal.

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But can diesel replace hybrids as the most attractive option for those who want a car powered by something other than unleaded gasoline?

I doubt it.

Yes, I know that answer is going to drive diesel fans nuts. But two factors will limit sales of diesels.

First, there are far fewer diesel models than hybrid models. Second, until the cost of diesel becomes substantially lower than unleaded, car buyers will see no incentive to buying diesel of a standard model.

Still, the latest Intellichoice study is reason for optimism among diesel fans.

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