It’s interesting that despite crises such models that Chevrolet, Ford, and Subaru have benefited from a dramatic increase in overall brand perception among car owners. According CONSUMER REPORTS the scores reflect consumers’ total perception level of a brand across those categories, and not the actual qualities of the brand’s individual vehicles.
Toyota maintained its Number one spot. But overall score improvements helped Ford to slip past Honda into second place and allowed Chevrolet to rise to fourth place, from ninth. Subaru’s 39-point increase, which was the largest of any brand and almost double its 2009 score, boosted the brand to ninth place, from last year’s 18th position.
At the other end of the spectrum, the two lowest-scoring brands were Hummer and Saab—divisions that General Motors has struggled to sell. Luxury brands saw the greatest decreases in overall scores, with Porsche (-13 points), Lexus (-15), Cadillac (-15), Infiniti (-21), and Lincoln (-25) moving in the wrong direction.
Clearly, several brands emerged from the 2009 auto crisis stronger than others, and the way consumers perceive the brands is in constant change.
According to AP, the world’s cheapest car, came to US from India. Tata Technologies could be involved in bringing the car up to U.S. standards, said Tony Jones, associate vice president of the global automotive practice. Warren Harris, Tata Technologies president, would only say that the price would be more than the roughly $2,500 charged in India.
“The structural changes that would need to be made, the changes that would be required as far as emissions are concerned, and some of the features that would be appropriate to add to the vehicle for the North American market, obviously that would drive up the price point,” he said.
Tata Technologies January 16th 2010
Nearly 300 new laws taking effect in Illinois with the new 2010 year. For instance:
A person, regardless of age, may not use a wireless telephone at any time while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone established under Section 11-605, or on a highway in a construction or maintenance speed zone established under Section 11-605.1. This subsection does not apply to (i) a person engaged in a highway construction or maintenance project for which a construction or maintenance speed zone has been established under Section
11-605.1, (ii) a person using a wireless telephone for emergency purposes, including, but not limited to, law
2009/2010 Law Update for Law Enforcement
Illinois Secretary of State Police
Training Section
enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity, (iii) a law enforcement officer or operator of an emergency vehicle when performing the officer’s or operator’s official duties, or (iv) to a person using a wireless telephone in voice-activated mode.
No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due
care.
(b) No person may drive a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than the applicable statutory maximum speed limit established by paragraphs (c), (d), (e),
2009/2010 Law Update for Law Enforcement Illinois Secretary of State Police
Training Section
9
(f) or (g) of this Section, by Section 11-605 or by a regulation or ordinance made under this Chapter.
(c) Unless some other speed restriction is established under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit in an urban district for all vehicles is:
1. 30 miles per hour; and
2. 15 miles per hour in an alley.
(d) Unless some other speed restriction is established
under this Chapter, the maximum speed limit outside an urban
district for any vehicle of the first division or a second
division vehicle designed or used for the carrying of a gross
weight of 8,000 pounds or less (including the weight of the
vehicle and maximum load) is (1) 65 miles per hour (i) for all
highways under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll
Highway Authority and (ii) for all or part of highways that are
designated by the Department, have at least 4 lanes of traffic,
and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite
directions and (2) 55 miles per hour for all other highways,
roads, and streets.
you can learn all new law 2010 acsessing to http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/police/lawupdate0910.pdf
