July 29, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From the Detroit Free Press: Toyota is recalling 412,000 passenger cars, mostly the Avalon model, in the U.S., and another 16,420 vehicles in Japan for steering problems, the automaker said Thursday. The 373,000 Avalons being recalled in the U.S. range from the 2000 model year through to 2004 and have improper casting of the steering lock bar - a component for the steering system - causing cracks to develop on the surface. In some cases, the crack can cause the lock bar to break, potentially leading to a crash if the steering wheel locks. Also being recalled in the U.S. are 39,000 Lexus luxury model LX 470s for the 2003-2007 model years because of a steering shaft problem, which is different from the Avalon steering problem, according to Toyota.
Financial results from the second quarter are coming out for various automakers. Volkswagon AG, who has set a goal of surpassing Toyota by 2018, made $1.63 billion, quadrupling the prior year’s profit. Nissan reported profits of $1.22 billion, which was double analysts estimate. And Hyundai Group said profits rose 71% to $1.17 billion. GM is expected to report second quarter results the second week of August.
Here’s Rush Limbaugh’s rambling from his radio show yesterday about the Chevy Volt and GM, with total disregard for the facts: "The charging station is your house, so that 40-mile range has gotta include you getting home and then staying home for three to four hours to charge the thing," Limbaugh said. "It's 20-mile range. So I'm saying to myself, I can't in good conscience recommend that." (actually, the Volt’s backup engine serves as a generator and will power the batteries for another 300 miles after the initial 40)
"...Why wouldn't you use the backup first and use the battery as the backup is the point? Well, because you're making a statement, you're out there saying you're better than everybody else." (interpret that drivel however you wish).
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