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"DaimlerChrysler Gives Up on Mitsubishi   DaimlerChrysler said it has decided not to back a capital increase for Mitsubishi and may sell its 37 percent stake in the ailing Japanese automaker.   DaimlerChrysler said in a statement that its management and supervisory boards had decided &amp;quot;not to participate in a capital increase planned by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and to cease further financial support for MMC.&amp;quot;   The statement said: &amp;quot;After the earnings collapse of MMC in fiscal 2003, MMC has established a new business plan with the strong support of DaimlerChrysler.   &amp;quot;According to this plan, substantial financial resources are required to guarantee a sustainable financial recovery of the company.   &amp;quot;Together with the major shareholders of the Mitsubishi Group, DaimlerChrysler has tried hard to establish a solid financial structure. However, it was not possible to find a solution leading to an acceptable result for DaimlerChrysler.&amp;quot;   DaimlerChrysler would not decide on whether to sell its 37 percent stake until the details of a restructuring plan led by three other Mitsubishi group firms \u2014 who own 23 percent of Mitsubishi Motors \u2014 were clear, but a sale was possible, Reuters reported, citing DC Chief Financial Officer Manfred Gentz. &amp;quot;We may reclassify our participation from at equity to available for sale,&amp;quot; Gentz said.   &amp;quot;This is a disaster for Mitsubishi Motors,&amp;quot; Koji Endo, auto analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston in Tokyo told the Associated Press. &amp;quot;The company is about to vanish if things continue this way,&amp;quot; he said.   DaimlerChrysler&amp;#039;s decision is just the latest blow to Mitsubishi Motors, whose troubles began four years ago when it acknowledged that it had hidden auto defects for decades and was forced to recall millions of vehicles. The company briefly returned to profitability in fiscal 2002, but the following year suffered massive losses from buyers in North America with bad credit. Mitsubishi is currently forecasting a $658-million loss for the fiscal year that ended March 31, a reversal from $338 million in profit the previous year. Another of Mitsubishi problems is its high level of debt, $10.77 billion, or 85% of its total capital.   In related news, Reuters reported that DaimlerChrysler is considering selling its 10 percent stake in Hyundai Motor Co Ltd., worth an estimated 850 million euros ($1 billion).   A spokesman for Hyundai said the two firms have been in talks on various issues but declined to reveal what they were and whether it planned to cut ties with DaimlerChrysler.   Toyota Posts 2005 Corolla and Matrix Prices   Toyota announced manufacturer&amp;#039;s suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for all 2005 and models, including the all-new &amp;quot;performance-driven&amp;quot; Corolla XRS. All 2005 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models arrive at dealerships at the end of April, the company said in a news release.   For 2005, all Corolla sedans receive a restyled front fascia that includes a newly designed front bumper, grille and headlamp along with restyled rear tail lamps. In addition to these styling changes, the CE and the premium LE receive new wheel cover designs. The S grade receives a new front spoiler and fog lamps, and smoked headlamp masking.   New options for all 2005 Corolla sedan models include side curtain airbags (including seat-mounted side airbags), and vehicle stability control (VSC). A JBL audio system with eight speakers is available on the LE grade.   The 2005 Corolla CE sedan carries a base price of $13,680 for models equipped with a five-speed manual transmission and $14,480 with a four-speed automatic. Prices for both models represent an increase of $110, or 0.8 percent.   The MSRP for the sporty S grade equipped with a five-speed manual is $14,725, an increase of $110, or 0.8 percent. The S grade automatic is priced at $15,525, an increase of $110, or 0.7 percent.   The MSRP for the premium LE grade also increases $110, representing a change of 0.7 percent. The LE with a five-speed manual transmission is priced at $14,890 while the LE automatic is priced at $15,690   The all-new Corolla XRS, which Toyota says combines sporty styling with aggressive handling, is aimed at young performance-driven buyers and carries a base MSRP of $17,455.   The Matrix is available in three grades: the Standard model, the XR, and the performance-oriented XRS. For 2005, Matrix exterior enhancements include a new front bumper and grille. In the rear, new clear lens combination lamps provide a sportier appearance. New wheel covers on the XR grade add to the sporty theme.   The MSRP for the two-wheel-drive (2WD) Standard Matrix increases by $90, or 0.6 percent. The Standard Matrix with a five-speed manual transmission is $14,760, while the four-speed automatic begins at $15,560. The MSRP for the four-wheel drive Standard Matrix with an automatic transmission is $17,295, an increase of $180, or 1.1 percent.   The MSRP for the 2WD XR five-speed begins at $16,240, reflecting an increase of $60, or 0.4 percent. Pricing for the 2WD XR automatic starts at $17,070, an increase of $90, or 0.5 percent. The 4WD XR automatic is priced at $18,635, an increase of $190, or 1.0 percent.   Pricing for the premium 2WD Matrix XRS with a six-speed manual transmission remains unchanged at $18,750.   Pricing for all Matrix models reflects an average increase of $94, or 0.6 percent.   More Trucks Sold in 46 States Than Cars   More light trucks than cars were sold in all but four states in 2003, the Associated Press reported, citing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Washington-based group which represents ten automakers.   Cars barely edged out light trucks in Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, alliance spokesman Charles Territo said. In every other state, light trucks were king.   &amp;quot;What you&amp;#039;re really seeing is that people are purchasing vehicles that meet their needs, and light trucks, they&amp;#039;re finding, are versatile, comfortable and they&amp;#039;re safe,&amp;quot; Territo said.   Territo said 2000 was the first year in which U.S. consumers bought more light trucks than cars. That year, there were around 278,000 more light trucks sold. By 2001, consumers in 36 states bought more light trucks than cars, by a margin of nearly 600,000, and in 2003, that margin jumped to 1.7 million.   Territo predicts that in the next two years, every state in the nation will purchase more light trucks than cars.   NHTSA To Declassify Crash Data   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that data on deaths and injuries compiled by its new defect warning system will be made public despite attempts by auto and tire manufacturers to keep the information confidential, the Associated Press reported.   The system, which is designed to spot defects more quickly, was mandated by Congress after the massive recall of Firestone tires in 2000. It requires automakers, auto suppliers and child-seat manufacturers to supply data on deaths, injuries, consumer complaints, warranty claims and other information.   The agency agreed to keep warranty claims and consumer complaints confidential after automakers said releasing that data would be harmful because it would allow competitors to learn the components in each vehicle and how much they cost, but NHTSA dismissed manufacturers&amp;#039; attempts to limit some information, such as the states in which defect-related deaths are occurring. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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