Japanese new car sales drop.

PP has some splaining to do about the taxpayers "investment" in GM. It is estimated the taxpayer will be out up to $60 B. Full repayment will not be possible unless PP can sell remaining share at a far higher price than current NYSE of <$33.00/share.
Ford outsold GM in March for the 2nd X since 1998, and Ford did not take a dime of PP $s. Not to sure about Italian-Chrysler finances, but the Mofia will always be there to help make a deal "you can't refuse". The Japanese nuclear problems are effecting their auto manufacturing drastically due to lack of continuous electrical power, as sales fall. Its also hurting US auto makers for parts manufactured currently in that country. Boeing's 787 which has be plauged for years by its P to the 4th power (piss-poor-prior-planning) to outsourcing fabrication of almost carbon composite sub-assemblies around the world companies, especially parts from Japan. Boeing grand scheme is just to assembly in America. It been a bummer, backorders in the years. Its unlikely the new material (carbon composite) would open up like a can opener due to fatique, like SW Airlines 737. The USAF has used carbon composite planes (stealth-types)for years, but "they" require special attention unfamilar certainly to American maint. and especilly to third-world maintanance depots.