Dearborn automaker Ford is in the middle of implementing its turnaround plan. With market shares constantly decreasing, the automaker needs to find a way to get back into the race in the auto industry. Although the United States auto market is the most important auto market today, Ford is not neglecting its operations outside the country. Recently, The Auto Channel reported that the automaker has earmarked $500 million to expand its presence in the exponentially growing Indian auto market. This announcement by the company reaffirms its commitment to growth in the said Asian country. One of the areas that Ford is focusing on is the increased output of their auto assembly plant in India. Part of the budget for their Indian operation expansion will go to the expansion of their Chennai auto assembly plant.

Chrysler LLC, now going single after the divorce with Daimler AG, is etching sales milestones. The Auburn Hills automaker reported sales rise of 15 percent outside of North America and six percent in Canada. Chrysler announced last Monday that it had its best-ever year in overseas markets, selling 238,218 cars which represents about nine percent of total sales. The automaker also increased sales in Canada which is likely to counter the losses in the United States last year.

The increasing price of gasoline has forced many consumers to purchase smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles. It has also meant the decline in sales for American automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler which are known for manufacturing large vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks. Further concerns about the increasing price of petroleum fuel were uncovered by a poll conducted by Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

On the fourth of this month, Dakar Rally organizer Amaury Sport Organization officially announced that the rally will not be held due to the significant safety concerns divulged by the French Government in connection with the stages in Mauritania. After different exchanges with the French government particularly the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the organizers of the Dakar decided to cancel this year's edition of the rally, which is set from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal's capital.

There is no denying it. General Motors Corp.'s most influential vehicle these days is the Chevy Volt. As announced, the Volt plug-in hybrid is expected to invade the roads by 2010. But GM CEO Rick Wagoner said Thursday the timeline is not a sure thing as the automaker works to develop the technology required to produce a battery-powered car for the masses. It can be recalled that the Volt concept made its official debut at the North American International Auto Show January this year. An updated version of the plug-in hybrid was launched at the Shanghai Auto Show in April.

For years, Dearborn automaker Ford has been the second largest automaker in the world - second only to General Motors. But Toyota has overtaken it already and Ford is in the middle of implementing its turnaround plan named the Way Forward. The automaker vowed that it will design and manufacture vehicles which consumers would want to own.

Brake rotors are a very important part of your car. These are the parts that brake pads grab onto, stopping or slowing your car. After prolonged use, they can become warped, glazed, or damaged and can be restored by processing (or turning) them. A warped rotor will give the feeling of shuddering when the brake is applied, and can be so bad that the steering wheel can sometimes shake.

Have you experienced poor brakes after crossing a river with your truck? If yes, your truck rear brakes are drum-type. If a brake drum is submerged on water, it will result in poor brakes function. Because water gets trapped in the drum for a while, it makes your brake pedal hard. Converting your brake drum to disc brakes will solve this problem and give you a better braking performance. This procedure may require a conversion bracket depending on your disc brake kit or brake assembly.

A rear differential locker is one of the more basic upgrades for your truck. A differential locker is very useful for any off-road and challenging terrain. It helps us fulfill our challenges by giving us better traction on tracks. In the market, there are wide ranges of lockers to select for your Off-road Beast. Always determine your differential specification before working on this procedure.

Are you an off-road enthusiast or just a truck and/or SUV fanatic? It can be difficult to lift your truck or SUV using a suspension lift. Although many off-road accessories shops are selling suspension lift kits for every vehicle classification, they aren't easy to use and often will cost big bucks. As an off-road person, I make my own suspension parts and lift kits. A simple body lift is ideal for correcting height problems. Here's how it's done: