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Backseat Driver: It's in the genes - boy monkeys prefer cars

My sister always refers to it as "the truck gene." Having raised a daughter and a son, she observed that little boys seem to have a special gene that makes them want to play with trucks once they reach a certain age.

Now it seems there may be scientific evidence to support her theory, according to New Scientist. Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, found that male rhesus monkeys preferred playing with cars.

The researchers studied 11 male and 23 female rhesus monkeys and found that in general the males preferred to play with wheeled toys, such as dumper trucks, over plush dolls, while female monkeys played with both kinds of toys.

So it seems that when it comes to cars, nature rules. (Unless my nephew is a monkey!)

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:38 PM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

GM Slashing Truck Production; Worse May be Coming

The worsening U.S. economy is forcing General Motors to slash production of its big pickups and SUVs. It will trim operations at four key truck plants, reducing production by a whopping 143,000 vehicles, according to thecarconnection.com

Even barring further cutbacks, which industry observers fear could follow, those plants will produce 15 percent fewer vehicles this year than in 2007.

Making matters worse, GM is facing a series of labor problems that could cripple other assembly operations – on top of an ongoing labor dispute at a key supplier that has already shuttered 30 GM factories.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:21 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

GM loses $3.3 billion in 1Q, lowers sales outlook

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. struggled to a $3.3 billion first-quarter loss, due in part to a weak U.S. market, a strike at a major parts supplier and plummeting sales of sport utility vehicles and pickups, according to the Associated Press.

The nation's biggest automaker also cut its industrywide U.S. sales outlook for the year. GM disclosed earlier this week it was cutting production of some of its slow-selling trucks and SUVs.

But its earnings excluding one-time items beat Wall Street expectations, and GM shares rose more than 13 percent.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:18 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0