Auto Warranty – More important then you might think

Are you keeping your car in this tough economy? I know I am. That's why I made sure my auto warranty is protecting both my car and my family. This company got me the protection I needed: Click Here

No cost to apply and now I have the extra protection with all kinds of great benefits I am so happy I have. Plus, I have 24 hour roadside assistance and extended towing benefits.

Make sure you're protected. Don't miss out: Click Here

Auto Insurance Facts Revealed

Auto Insurance is a commitment that cannot be avoided and you may feel stranded if you don’t have one. But here, when you apply for one, there will be just so many hidden clauses that may send you into a tizzy. That’s because most of the time you have little or no knowledge about the insurance complexities. But you cannot run away from the fact, as auto insurance is a must in most states.

So with no choice left you need to understand a few facts rather pesky prints about the auto insurance and the first step towards this would be to get an idea as to what benefits are covered under the insurance you choose to buy, and then you can plan to save some money by comparing it with other insurance firms. Read on for more information….

Have ample knowledge about the insurance cover

You need to know the exact amount of insurance that suits your convenience and pocket. Once you claim for an insurance cover your next premium automatically increases. For example, if you meet with an accident don’t be complacent and think that the damages will be covered by the insurance company, give a thought as to how much will the auto insurance really cover; probably much lower than what you have claimed. Be clear about this factor with the insurance agent before taking the insurance.

The other factor you must be aware of is that after the first accident the rates increase by 20-40% if you are at fault, and this rate is calculated considering the average amount of the claim and the processing fee of the insurer. And the safe option to deal with this is to go for an ‘accident forgiveness’ policy.

Depreciated value claim

In case you are a third party claim, you will be having the benefit. For example, if someone hits your vehicle you can claim for a diminished value from your auto insurance company, because you do not have any deal with their auto insurer. Making such a claim in a first party situation is not valid in most states. One must also remember that once your car has met with an accident in spite of the repairs whatsoever, the insurance company will lower the value of your automobile.

Do not pay in parts

Paying the auto insurance premium monthly, quarterly or half–yearly could bore a hole in your pocket because you will be charged with processing fees. And the best option to avoid this scenario is to pay a lump sum.

There are other points to keep in mind and that is if you want to change the insurer then you need to inform the old insurer in writing that you intend to cancel your policy with them. If required you will have to prove about the new auto insurance policy to your old insurer and also inform the financing company in case if you have dealt with dealer financing. And, last but not the least; choose an auto insurance policy that offers high deductible and liability levels as they can save you a lot of money.

Get $5000 Tax Rebate If You Donate Your Car

How to Get $5000 Tax Rebate If You Donate Your Car?

People might think why on earth one need to donate one’s car; but the reasons could be plenty and car donation is now the next best charity and many people seem to give their vote for it making it popular not only in the United States but elsewhere in other developed countries as well. However, car donation to charitable organizations is simply not on humanitarian grounds, there are associated benefits with it that people love.

Although donating a car to charitable organization is a means to helping the poor and the needy, yet by doing so the individual can enjoy significant amount of tax benefits which is the most attractive thing here. Again, your vehicle might be in utter bad shape and is of no use to you but donating your car to any of the charitable organizations which could be of some worth to them.

Why not sell your car?

Selling a car is always a pain. It is not only time consuming but also involves additional cost. If you wish to sell your car you need to give a makeover to it which implies you need to invest something, so that you get the best price. Second, you need to bear with the cost of putting up an advertisement in any of the media. You need to run around car dealers and convince people about your car on various test drives that would be taken by parties before they buy the car.

So is that headache all worth? Instead why not donate your car to some organization and end up saving time at least?

Benefits of donating car

Car donation attracts tax benefit in the following year to the donor if the charitable organization is registered under 501(c) 3. The amount of tax refund is on the sale value of the car. Once you will up the car donation application form you become eligible for the IRS tax rebate and you receive a receipt of minimum $500. The charitable organizations will assess the market value of the car depending upon its running condition. If your car needs any repair then that amount will be deducted from the amount of tax rebate that you will receive on car donation.

Donating your car to a charitable organization is a simple and easy process. You simply need to call the listed numbers of the charitable organizations and they would take care of the rest. You need not worry on paper work, repairs or even money. Suppose your car is worth $5000, you are entitled for a charitable deduction of $5000 from your income for tax purposes. However, if the value of your car is more than $5000, then you need to fill up 8283 form along with 1040 form and officially written form of car valuation attested by highest concerned officials.

So if you are thinking of selling your old car think from your heart and feel the fact that a vehicle which is either junk or old-fashioned for you can be treated like golden chariot by others who are in need of it. Why not make a conscious decision and get going with your donation of car to a charitable organization.

DaimlerChrysler received order to deliver 500 buses to Bucharest

The Bucharest Transportation Department (RATB) signed a contract with Daimler Chrysler group in September for another 500 Mercedes Benz Citaro buses which will be used in the Romanian capital city, a press release of the German company shows.

DaimlerChrysler did not give any other details regarding the contract but Bucharest officials told HotNews.ro that the order amounts to 105 million euro.

The first 50 busses will be delivered in December this year and the rest will arrive by 2009.

At the end of 2006 local authorities acquired a first batch of 500 buses of the same type, the last of which were delivered this summer.

HotNews.ro, Oct 1, 2007

State begins Automobile Craiova privatization negotiations with Ford

The Privatization Committee organized for car producer Automobile Craiova (formerly owned by Daewoo) begun the negotiations with Ford Motor Company, after the technical offer of the US-based company was opened, a State Assets Agency (AVAS) release informed on Friday.

AVAS representatives declared for HotNews.ro that John Fleming, Ford Europe CEO, will meet the committee’s representatives on Monday, ion order to present some of the technical offering’s details.

Negotiations with Ford should have begun on Monday, but the Privatization Committee demanded supplementary documents.

Sebastian Vladescu, head of the Committee, estimated this week that the transaction may be closed before September 1. Ford would take over in this deal some 72.4 of the stock at Craiova.

HotNews.ro, Jul 13, 2007

500 Mercedes Benz buses with AC in Bucharest

Evobus GmbH won the bid organized by the Bucharest City Hall for purchasing 500 buses, a press release informs on Monday. The Mercedes Benz models are the first equipped with AC and video surveillance system to run the streets of the capital city.

Each bus amounts to almost 200.000 euro and will enter into public use by 2008. Aside the AC and video system, the buss has LCD monitors, automatic taxing and passenger counting system.

In 2006 however, bus acquisitions faced criticism mainly from the press, as the buses, even though very expensive, lacked air conditioning both for the driver and the passengers. To remedy their mistake, town hall officials decided to install AC for the driver. This amounted towards a greater sum paid for from the public budget.

HotNews.ro, Jul 10, 2007

Ford starts negotiations for buying Romanian company car producer

Privatization Committee of Automobile Craiova (Daewoo Automobiles) starts and giant car producer Ford begin on Monday the official privatization negotiations, after the final bid was validated on Friday. Ford is the only company to make an offer for the Romanian factory.

Both the financial and technical offers will be open on Monday in the presence of Ford officials.

Sebastian Vladescu, the president of the Committee, declared that the transaction could be colsed by the end of August, Ford taking over 72.4% of the company shares.

Previously, non-binding offers were submitted by General Motors Corporation, Ford Motors Company and Russian Machines, part of the Russian group Basic Elements owned by Russian mogul Oleg Deripaska.

The Romanian state has been holding the majority stake in the plant since 2004 and planned to sell it by the end of June 2007.

The transaction was evaluated at 60 million USD, 50 million of which cover the majority stake and the other 10 cover the company's debts to firms in the Daewoo group.

Update
The Authority for State Assets Recovery (AVAS) postponed the negotiations with Ford, motivating that the American company needs to fill up more papers, a press release informed on Monday.

HotNews.ro, Jul 9, 2007

Dacia sells less in Romania, more everywhere else

Dacia, the traditional car producer in Romania, recorded decreasing sales in Romania for the first three months of the year, Renault press release reads. Still, Dacia is the firm leader (30% of all new cars sales) in a market severely affected by the huge car registration tax imposed by the Government.

According to the data at the Car Importers and Exporters Association (APIA), Dacia sold 18,487 units in Romania since the beginning of the year, less than the figures last year.
Meanwhile, exports increased 26.0, compared to Q1 in 2006, with peaks in the Logan and Logan MCV models.

In the Euromed region, including the Eastern Europe, Turkey and North Africa, sales increased 6.4%. The major growth came from the launching of the Logan model on the Russian market.

Still, total sales of the Renault group decreased 2.6% during the first three months of the year, down to 10.25 billion euros, compared to 10.54 billions in 2005.

HotNews.ro, Apr 27, 2007

Cheap Chinese SUV eyes Romanian market

Great Wall Motors, the largest SUV and truck maker in China, will enter the Romanian market with its Hover SUV in an attempt to test the potential of the European market for Chinese cars. The importing company hopes to sell over 1000 Hover units at prices ranging from 13,000 to 17,000 euro, AutoIndustry informs.

Hover will be imported to Romania by a company belonging to the Alexandrion Group, which also holds the commercial license for Hungary, Bulgaria, the Moldovan Republic and Macedonia.

According to AutoIndustry, some 250,000 new cars were sold in Romania in 2006.

Great Wall Hover eyes a slice of the market also targeted by Renaults’ Romanian division Dacia, According to French magazine AutoPlus, Dacia’s own SUV may come at a price of about 13,000 euro and is due to be launched in 2009 or 2010 the latest.

HotNews.ro, Apr 12, 2007

General Motors interested in Daewoo Craiova

South Korean company GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, with the main stockholder the US company General Motors, negotiates with the Romanian government the take over of the Craiova car producing factory, formerly owned by Daewoo, an Reuters interview with chairman Michael A. Grimaldi reveals.

"We expect to know exactly how things are in fact before the end of July", said Grimaldi, warning that there are several companies also interested in Automobile Craiova.

Daewoo Automobile Romania was formed in 1994, with 51% of the stock held by Daewoo Heavy Industry and 49% belonging to the Romanian state.

General Motors and other partners took over in 2002 some of bankrupt Daewoo's assets, but not the factory in Craiova, which became eventually property of the state.

The Romanians state announced its intention to sell the factory in 2006, in a transaction worth some 60 million euros.

According to Reuters, Romanian officials say the car producer is a target for Ford, Renault-Nissan, Chery Automobile (China) and Tata (India).

HotNews.ro, Apr 5, 2007

100 million euros profit for Dacia in 2006

Renault-owned Automobile Dacia had a 1.54 billion euros business figure last year, a 29% growth year on year. The net profit after taxes was 100.6 million euros. 2006 was the second year with profits, after 5 years in a row of losses.

The company sales reached 187,215 units, out of which 107,777 were sold in Romania and 79,438 exported. Compared to 2005, the Dacia sales grew 9.3%.

As for production, it reached 188,410 units, 177,230 being produced under the Logan brand.

Export center CKD Logan, managed by Renault Industrie Roumanie (RIR) generated a business figure of 335 million euros.

The cumulated Dacia - RIR business was 1.884 billion euros, with 45.7% represented by exports.

Dacia also made investments worth 142 million euros, while other 16 million euros were invested in a line for the next gear box, scheduled to be launched in 2008.

The total amount invested by Renault after taking over Dacia in 1999 is now 772 million euros, other 200 millions being scheduled for investment in 2007, plus 66 millions for the gear box line.

HotNews.ro, Mar 21, 2007

Bulgaria plans launch of its own low-cost car

The success of Renault’s Romania-produced Dacia Logan in Central and Eastern Europe sparked a new trend on low-cost cars for emerging markets. Bulgaria has announced its own project for such a car as students and teachers at the Sofia Technical University have developed a new concept named Univers.

The project is apparently focused on Daimler Chrysler, which may be interested in producing a cheap car in Bulgaria. Howerver, there is no clear data in this regard so far.

The idea behind the concept, deveoped over 2 years, is a compact model with enough space for four-five people, that would cost between 7,500-8,500 euro.

While Univers is still a static concept, the Bulgarian team plans to build a functional prototype by summer 2007 and then look for investors or even European funds to produce it.

Automarket, Feb 27, 2007

Car builders against EC pollution policy

Car producing companies stand firm against the European Commission's project to impose the construction of less polluting cars. According to BBC News, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) attacked in a press release the suggestions recently made by the European Commission, considering that approving such measures would affect the entire European economy.

Less employees and new markets to be found are the main concerns of the car producers, who also claim the price per unit might rise for cars that comply with the new regulations.

In 1998-1999, most car producers selling units in Europe promised to build cars with less than 140 CO2 grams per kilometer (gpk) before 2008 or 2009. Still, the average was 162 gpk in 2005.
Emissions caused by street transport increased 30% since 1990, representing nowadays some 25% of all CO2 emissions.

HotNews.ro, Feb 9, 2007

Renault to build ultra-cheap Logan

The Renault group plans to build a new version of the successful Logan, but one a lot cheaper than the current, the company's Executive Manager, Carlos Ghosn, declared for Financial Times.

"The new Logan generation will be a lot more competitive", Ghosn said, adding that the car may cost between 2,000 and 4,000 euros, but failing to offer any other details.

Often referred to as a 5,000 euros car, the Logan arrived on the market at 7-10 thousand euros, for full-versions.

Logan is currently produced in Romania, Russia, Morocco and Columbia, with production starting this year in India, Iran and Brazil.

HotNews.ro, Feb 9, 2007

Dacia-Renault officials lobby for unwanted tax

Francois Fourmont, president of local car producer Dacia, launched a full-force offensive against those who oppose the first registration tax for cars. Fourmont described an apocalyptic scenario in case the tax is cancelled: tens of thousands of workers fired and over one million citizens affected directly, pollution caused by second hand cars and a declining Romanian car industry.

Fourmont invokes the Polish example, with 2.4 million used cars imported after the European accession, out of which 1.8 million were older than 10 years.
According to Fourmont, the Polish car industry hasn’t recovered yet, after the second hand cars’ boom.
Our note - what Fourmont fails to notice is that Poland may soon pay 555 million euros as tax refund, after the State lost an European Court trial on the legality of the tax.

HotNews.ro, Feb 2, 2007

Car market grows 18.9%

The new cars market grew almost 19% in 2006, up to 256,364 units, a press release from the Car Importers' and Producers' Association (APIA) informs.

Local producer Dacia, owned by Renault, still leads in the sales top, with 96,037 units sold and a 37.5% market share. Dacia is followed by another local producer, Daewoo, with 23,075 units and a 9% market share.

The top continues with Renault (21,395 units, 8.3% market share) and Skoda (20,541 units, 8% market share).

The best selling imported model continues to be Renault Clio, with over 13,249 cars sold. Skoda follows with its Fabia model, 7,629 cars sold.

Renault Megan is the third ranking, with 6,882 units.

Opel's Astra Classic had the most spectacular evolution, with a 210% growth, up to 6,103 units.

HotNews.ro, Jan 19, 2007

Le Figaro: Dacia break - best deal of the year

Romanian car producer Dacia - builder of the cheap berlin - launched in 2006 a break model for seven persons. The price / comfort report is unbeatable, daily “Le Figaro” notes, claiming that Dacia's product is the deal of the year. The model was officially launched in September, during the World Auto Show.

"In the middle of the sales season, we found a new break, for 8,800 euros in the five seats version and 10,640 euros for the seven seats".
In Eastern Europe, the price starts at 7,600 but the price is extremely competitive for this kind of car, the French journalists note.

Dacia/Renault delivered to France some 10,000 cars in 2005 and some 20,000 in 2006. Dacia will offer an 100,000 kilometers guarantee for most European states, a Renault press release informs.

HotNews.ro, Jan 19, 2007

Tata Motors submits offer for Daewoo Romania

Indian group Tata has submitted an offer for the takeover of Daewoo Automobile Romania, Romanian minister-delegate Iuliu Winkler said in a press conference in New Delhi on Monday. But he failed to specify the value of the offer, according to online website Autonews.ro.

The news comes as Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko said in a press conference in Romania on Monday that his country was also interested in the privatization of the Craiova-based plant, which returned to state control after the Korean company Daewoo announced its withdrawal.

Tata, which controls Indian car maker Tata Motors, joins big names such as General Motors and Ford in showing interest to buy Daewoo Automobile Romania.

The Romanian government decided January 10, 2007 to establish a privatization commission to tackle the sale of the plant. The head of the commission is Finance minister Sebastian Vladescu.

HotNews.ro, Jan 15, 2007

Government establishes commission for Daewoo Craiova privatization

The Romanian Government decided in its Wednesday session to create a commission to supervize the privatization of Daewoo Automobile Romania. The commission will be headed by Finance minister Sebastian Vladescu, according to Government spokeswoman Oana Marinescu.

It will prepare and suggest a privatization strategy, choose privatization methods and procedures and supervize the whole process.

PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu said the Daewoo privatization must conclude as fast and transparent as possible.

According to Marinescu, the commission was established now because there are companies showing interest in buying the plant.

The Daewoo Automobile Romania car maker was established in 1994 as a joint venture between the Daewoo group, represented by Daewoo Heavy Industry (51%) and the Romanian state through Automobile Craiova (49%). The Daewoo Group was bought in 1999 by General Motors - which did not take over the Craiova-based plant, however.

In 2004, Daewoo Motor offered the Romanian Government the sale of the majority stake, the conversion of DAR debts to other Daewoo companies and the sale of the resulting package. The transaction was evaluated at 60 million USD, 50 million of which cover the sale of the original majority stake.

Ford, GM Daewoo Auto&Technology, Renault-Nissan, Cherry, Tata and Ford are among those who expressed interest in the Craiova plant.

HotNews.ro, Jan 10, 2007

Renault launches Logan MCV in France

Two years after the launch of the first Logan car on the French market, Renault puts on sale there its new Logan MCV, which is pretty close to its Kangoo model, at prices ranging from 8,800 euro to 11,390 euro, French newspaper La Tribune informs.

Renault believes MCV will revolutionize the MCV market just as Logan changed the family car market. Logan was launched in Romania in September 2004 and then in a string of other countries, reaching total sales of about 400,000 units.

In Romania, Logan MCV sells at prices ranging from 8,200 euro for its five-seat, 1.4 engine Ambiance version to 11,600 euro for the seven-seat, 1.5 diesel engine Laureate version.

HotNews.ro, Jan 10, 2007