On Tuesday, Toyota Motor Corp. said that hundreds of thousands of Priuses currently in use will be recalled to prevent floor mats from pinning down the gas pedal. However, according to Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons, the recall hasn't yet been issued because Toyota "hasn't developed the remedy yet."

In November 2009, the automaker recalled several models, including the Toyota Camry and Avalon, as well as the Lexus ES sedan in order to reshape the floor and gas pedals to prevent unsecured or poorly fitting floor mats from entrapping the pedal in an open position. As a part of that recall, Toyota now says that Prius hybrids from model years 2004 to 2009 will be recalled in the future to address the same problem.

Toyota is advising owners of those Priuses which fall in those model years to remove their floor mats in the meantime. From the 2004 to 2009 model years, Toyota sold 745,000 Priuses.

More good news for the Northeast Ohio auto industry. Just two days after General Motors announced a new shift at Lordstown to make the new Chevy Cruze, Ford Motor Company is calling back 60 workers after investing more than $155 Million at the Brook Park Engine Plant. The Plain Dealer is reporting that UAW officials at the plant expect that a new shift will be added to the Cleveland area facility in the coming months as they start filling orders for the new 2011 Mustang which will feature the new 3.7-liter V-6 engine which will get 30 mpg.

"Ford is absolutely committed to delivering class-leading fuel efficiency with every new vehicle we introduce, and this investment in Cleveland provides further proof," said Bill Russo, director of manufacturing for Ford's powertrain operations.

The company sees big things ahead for the Mustang with orders up nearly 20% this year.

“Mustang is ready for a new generation of buyers,” said Steve Ling, North America Car Marketing manager.. “With new high-tech and fuel-efficient engines, class-leading connectivity and infotainment options as well as signature style and performance, Mustang is poised to continue its legacy as America’s favorite sports car.”

After General Motors failed to sell its Hummer SUV line of vehicles to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., the company announced Wednesday that it will shutter Hummer. GM has unsuccessfully been trying to unload the Hummer brand for more than a year now.

GM and Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery had been planning to close a $150 million deal in January, but the sale was delayed while the two companies awaited approval by the Chinese government. Now, the deal is dead in the water.

John Smith, GM's vice president of corporate planning and alliances said:

"We are disappointed that the deal with Tengzhong could not be completed," John Smith, GM vice president of corporate planning and alliances. GM will now work closely with Hummer employees, dealers and suppliers to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner."

While Hummer will cease to exist in the very near future, GM will contiue to honor Hummer warranties and provide service and parts for the SUVs.

With so many auto insurance companies claiming to be the best, it’s difficult to know which one to choose. Here are five important questions to ask before signing on with any car insurance company.

1) What type of coverage do I need?

There are four big ones to ask about.

• Personal coverage: This includes medical coverage and compensation of lost wages for the policyholder and his or her passengers.
• Collision coverage: This coverage will pay for the repair or replacement of your vehicle in case of an accident.
• Comprehensive coverage: This includes coverage in case of a natural disaster or theft.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: This coverage will help if you’re in an accident with someone who is uninsured. If they are uninsured or do not have enough coverage to pay for you, this insurance coverage will pay for your repairs. Also included in this coverage is a hit and run.

2) What discounts are available?

General Motors announced today that the 3rd shift at their Lordstown plant has been reinstated to begin production of the awaited Cheverlot Cruze which will hit showrooms later this year. The new shift will mean 1,200 jobs to the Youngstown area plant.

“Adding a third shift to build Cruze is an investment with impact far beyond General Motors. It’s an investment in the long-term value of Lordstown and the prosperity of Ohio,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. “It provides rewarding manufacturing jobs and efficient class-leading new cars for American car buyers.”

“Lordstown is the latest announcement made by GM to secure the best possible manufacturing footprint to react to market demand and deliver cars and trucks faster to our customers.”

According to new documents just recently shared with congressional investigators, Toyota officials claimed to have saved the automaker $100 million by successfully negotiating with the government on a limited recall of floor mats in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Translation: by delaying the investigation of defects and slowing down other industry requirements, Toyota was able to save a large sum of money.

The automaker's greed, however, has come back to haunt them as an investigation into the company continues.

In an internal presentation in July 2009 at its Washington office, Toyota said it saved $100 million or more by negotiating an "equipment recall" of floor mats involving 55,000 Toyota Camry and Lexus ES350 vehicles in September 2007. The savings are listed under the title, "Wins for Toyota - Safety Group."

The document also cites millions of dollars in other savings realized by delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations, and slowing down other industry requirements. It also appears to show that Toyota put profits ahead of consumer safety, and urged regulators to narrow the scope of recalls.

Another day, another Toyota recall. The latest model to be recalled by Toyota Motors is 8,000 2010 model year Tacoma 4WD trucks.The front shaft of these vehicles may include a component that contains cracks that developed during the manufacturing process. As those vehicles are used, the cracks may eventually lead to the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion.

If you own a truck that is affected, you will notifed by first class mail starting in mid-March. Toyota can be contacted at 1-800-331-4331 if you have any questions regarding this matter.

A new study published by Foresight Research in Michigan entitled "2010: Automotive Marketing Return on Investment" details the effectiveness of auto shows. With the Cleveland Auto Show just around the corner (Feb. 27 - March 7), many of the study's findings will be of interest to local dealers and franchise owners.

The study found that 20 percent of new car buyers attended an auto show within 12 months of their purchase, and this number was even higher in areas where auto shows have a much larger presence. In the Midwest region, potential buyer attendance numbers were significantly higher than the national average:

• Chicago - 27%
• Minneapolis - 28%
• Detroit - 35%
• Cleveland - 36%

The influence number increased even more if customers participated in a ride and drive, jumping to 54%.

Researchers compiled data from 8,467 people who either purchased or leased a new vehicle between October 2008 and October 2009. Steve Bruyn, President of Foresight Research, said of the results:

The used car parts industry does not have a proper market place in these times.

A market place is the meeting point of a business with its customers. It may be physical or virtual. It is a place where customers and businesses go shopping knowing that they will find what they need and at the right price.

What is an effective market place? Is it the store opposite your home or the Wal Mart a few miles away? The fact that you will drive a few miles to the Wal Mart to make your purchases makes it clear which is the effective market place.

Every industry has its own exclusive market place. For example, clothing may be available in a mall or electronic goods in a show room. However, the used car parts industry lacks such a market place.

This industry has great potential. It sells OEM parts at a fraction of the cost of the dealers. Regardless of this potential, if consumers and repair shops do not have a market place available for used car products, they simply won’t buy these. EBay and car--part.com cater to a niche group of customers who have the time and energy for engaging in transactions with them.

The customers who are ignorant or do not have the time will keep on buying OEM parts from dealers while some better informed ones will buy Chinese replicas.