President Obama's announcement on the Auto Industry may have helped clear up some concerns (most notably with tax credits and warranties), but it still has automakers scrambling for additional drastic change. It's a landmark time in our industry, identified by such labels as "cartastrophe" and "carpocalypse"  and even now, those of us in the business are left wondering what our automotive future holds. Car sales have dropped precipitously, with some experts predicting that fewer than 10 million cars could be sold this year, down from 16.5 million just two years ago.

The entire transcript of Monday's speech is available at the New York Times  but I wanted to present some highlights of it here, along with rebuttals and other relevant information from the manufacturers themselves.

As we already know, for the last few months, Obama and his Auto Task Force have been reviewing requests by General Motors and Chrysler for additional government assistance, as well as the plans each of these companies has developed to restructure, to modernize, and to make themselves more competitive.

And after all this analysis, President Obama and his Auto Task Force have determined that "neither goes far enough to warrant the substantial new investments that these companies are requesting."

Each Tuesday at Noon Eastern Time, Ford presents an interactive live steaming video event as part of its DigiKnow online webinars. Each week their host Michael Collins gives visitors the behind-the-scenes scoop on all things related to Ford. The DigiKnow events are intended to stimulate unique and informal conversations with experts from Ford, as well as provide demonstrations of some of Ford's innovative  technologies. DigiKnows help watchers uncover another side of Ford.

This week's show is about Ford's Hybrid Fusion NASCAR pace car and features Gil Portalatin, Ford's chief Hybrid engineer. The show has chat built right in so viewers can ask questions and they'll get answered, live, on air.

Be sure to log in on Tuesday March 31st at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, as Michael Collins takes a look at the Ford Fusion Hybrid NASCAR Pace Car and discovers how Ford developed the first hybrid electric vehicle ever to lead the field to the green flag at a NASCAR event. Be sure to register ahead of time, so you can join in and ask your questions as Michael talks with Gil Portalatin, Hybrid Applications Manager, who works with the team involved in the NASCAR event.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), more than 260 million Americans own cell phones. And as you’ve probably noticed out on the roadways, a number of drivers have a habit of using their phones while behind the wheel.

The use of cell phones while driving has become a ticketable offense in a number of states. With more and more states passing new cell phone legislation every month, it’s imperative that you understand the law to avoid being ticketed and keep your auto insurance rate low.

New Laws: Talking/Texting Behind the Wheel
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), several states have already banned drivers from talking on cell phones while driving, and other states have taken measures to prohibit text messaging while driving. Some states restrict both talking and texting. But there’s more: as of 2008, drivers in California  and Washington must use hands-free devices while driving or they run the risk of being ticketed. Also, drivers in Minnesota and Alaska can now receive a ticket for text messaging while driving.

If you refinance an auto loan, you can reduce your monthly car payment. Consumers refinance for a variety of reasons. The refinance of an auto loan can be a great way to either reduce your monthly car payment or accelerate the repayment period.

Auto Loan Refinance Process
The refinance process is generally the same process used in obtaining the original auto loan. The consumer may wish to start by contacting the current auto loan lender and finding out what the current used car refinance rates are. Your current lender may have reduced refinance rates since the original auto loan was taken out and have a better loan rate they can offer you. If not, you can check with a variety of sources to compare auto loan refinance rates. Most local newspapers have a local rate monitor? in the business section of the paper that is published once a week or so.

Do you have OnStar in your car? Most cars manufactured by General Motors within the last 10 years offer some kind of OnStar access plan, and let me tell you, it can be very useful. A couple times I have been on press driving events and have gotten lost from the route, and OnStar has helped me find my way back with verbal and onscreen turn by turn directions. And that's just the tip of their iceberg of useful features!

Well, here's another: OnStar and Poison Control have announced a joint venture that will increase the safety and security of OnStar subscribers by giving them direct access to Poison Control for expert instructions and information on potential poisonings that may occur in or around their vehicles.

With any poison-related issue, speed of treatment is the most important factor, followed by effectiveness of treatment, and nearly 75 percent of calls received by Poison Control can be handled over the phone. As demonstrated by this video at YouTube, subscribers now have the added peace of mind that Poison Control is just a button press away should they encounter any type of poisoning situation in their vehicle.

Take a close look at the sidewalls of the tires you’re using right now on your vehicle. You’ll see several letters and numbers, which might appear random. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Regardless of manufacturer or brand, every tire sold today is required to be stamped with certain vital information.

Everything you need to know about a tire is stamped right into the rubber. So, knowing how to ‘read’ a tire’s sidewall is a great skill that comes in handy when it’s time to shop for tires.

So, here’s how to do it!

When Ford revealed its Verve concept at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, I fell in love, and thought it had the potential to be a true Civic beater. When they announced they would be naming it Fiesta, I thought they were nuts.  But when they revealed the production model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, all I could think was "Please let my poor old Accord last until this gorgeous car makes it into showrooms!"

Up on the stage was an adorable lime green Fiesta hatchback emblazoned with decals that announced Ford's "Fiesta Movement" contest at FiestaMovement.com,  an opportunity for fans (like me and hundreds of others) to enter a short video as an application to be among the first 100 drivers of the Fiesta when it finally arrives in the United States. These specially selected "Agents" will be asked to complete "missions" in their Fiesta on a monthly basis and capture their experiences digitally and share them with Ford and other consumers. The monthly missions - scheduled to begin April 7, 2009 --  will take them to new places, to meet new people and to experience new things in their Fiesta. Agents will be encouraged to take their friends along for the ride and to share their experiences online within their social media network.

Ford Motor Company recently celebrated the production of its 100,000th hybrid SUV and reinforced its commitment to ramping up production of hybrid vehicles this year.

Ford launched the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids five years ago and the vehicles remain the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. At the same time as workers at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant celebrated the hybrid milestone, Ford dealers are preparing to begin selling the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, which will be America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedans.

"As we celebrate our 100,000th hybrid, America's interest in hybrid vehicles keeps growing, as does Ford's commitment to advanced powertrain technologies that deliver greater fuel economy, lower emissions and help enhance our country's energy security," said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. "No domestic automaker has more real-world experience with hybrid vehicle technology than Ford, and it shows in the quality and fuel economy of our vehicles."

Attendees at the Chevrolet display at last month's Chicago Auto Show were treated to a sneak preview of more than just the run-of-the-mill auto show concept cars: They were given an out-of-this-world vehicle display featuring the automotive stars from the upcoming DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures release, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Five Chevrolet-based Autobot characters will be featured in the new film set to open this summer. Besides the already familiar Camaro-based autobot Bumblebee from the first film,  four new movie characters will be introduced.

"Sideswipe" is a sleek, stylized Corvette concept vehicle influenced by the original 1959 Stingray race car, but also draws on Corvette heritage cues from other generations. This sexy, shiny rocket on wheels brings historic Corvette designs together in a futuristic shape that seems to be equal parts racecar and space ship. "Sideswipe represents an exercise in exploration for the Corvette," said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. "By giving my creative team the freedom to design no-holds-barred vision concepts, it helps them push boundaries and look at projects from different perspectives." It was really a beautiful concept car on stage, and I can't wait to see how it looks in the film!

You could be overpaying for your auto insurance  and not even realize it. When was the last time you compared auto insurance rates?   Do you pay your auto insurance in monthly installments? These are a couple of ways you might be overpaying on your auto insurance. 

Comparing Auto insurance Quotes Can Lead to Savings
Comparing multiple auto insurance quotes can help you find the coverage you need at an affordable price. When you are shopping for auto insurance, make sure you are only buying the coverage you need. Likewise, you might need more coverage than your state's minimum requirement.

Make "Accidents" More Affordable
Many drivers make the mistake of carrying the lowest deductibles in order to help offset the costs associated with filing a claim. The fact remains, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Yes the cost of an accident will be that much more expensive; however, if the damage is minor, you could be spending the same out-of-pocket amount regardless. Save on your policy, not the accident; raise your deductibles if you can afford to.