Honda Motor Co. passed Chrysler LLC in August to grab fourth place in U.S. auto sales this year as cars won market share from trucks amid an industrywide slump.

Asia-based brands, led by Nissan Motor Co.’s 14 percent gain, raised their share of August U.S. sales to 47.3 percent, beating General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler for a fourth month, research firm Autodata Corp. said yesterday. While Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda fell, they dropped less than the U.S. trio.

Efforts to create a “greener” Monroe, Michigan, are receiving a big boost thanks to the efforts of Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Superstore.
The hometown dealer is part of a citywide effort that places additional recycling bins in city parks, recreation centers, and its own showroom to collect soda cans, water bottles and other items that would otherwise end up in a landfill, and part of a national effort to promote September as “Green Checkup” month.

It has been one long waiting game for this Wizard of Oz behind Brisbane’s fledgling Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival.

Waiting … for the perceptions of southern states to catch up with our city’s rapidly evolving rag trade.

Waiting … to convince interstate designers and media that he might actually know what he’s doing.

Waiting … for our State and local governments to open their own eyes to the value of his annual retail showcase.

Chrysler has completed its program to eliminate the use of lead wheel weights from its vehicles, switching to more eco-friendly substitutes in its products sold world-wide.

The move is said to put Chrysler in full compliance with a voluntary program announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Detroit. The national lead-free wheel weight initiative calls for elimination of lead wheel weights in vehicles by the end of 2011.

The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in Germany. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close.

DAX Index futures expiring in September added 4.5, or 0.1 percent, to 6,442 as of 8:12 a.m. in Frankfurt. The DAX increased 1.6 percent to 6,420.54.

German stocks pared earlier gains as Commerzbank AG, Infineon Technologies AG and Fresenius Medical Care AG retreated.

The benchmark DAX Index was little changed at 6,421.44 as of 5:11 p.m. in Frankfurt after rising as much as 0.6 percent. The HDAX Index of the country’s 110 biggest companies added 0.2 percent to 3,297.12.

German stocks fell as oil advanced for a third day, damping the earnings outlook for automakers and airlines.

Daimler AG, the world’s second-largest maker of luxury cars, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG led a retreat among shares sensitive to swings in crude prices. A report showed an unexpected decline in U.S. inventories and Tropical Storm Gustav is forecast to enter the Gulf of Mexico, home to more than a fifth of U.S. production. Infineon Technologies AG, Europe’s second-largest chipmaker, fell the most in five weeks. Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. said profit fell more than estimated.

INDIANAPOLIS — “The World’s Home of the Figure 8” announced today that Eastgate Chrysler will provide four beautiful convertibles for this years 32nd Annual World Figure 8 Championship on September 6th. These high-end automobiles will carry the starting field of drivers around the track on a series of parade laps to greet the fans during driver introductions. This gesture gives fans a last chance to let their favorite drivers hear their support and gives the 33 starters the acknowledgement they deserve before the fireworks light up the night sky. We would like to thank the folks at Eastgate Chrysler for their support in this the “Greatest Event on the Planet”.

German car maker Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) does not intend to build another factory for its Smart brand minicars, the company said on Monday, denying a German magazine report.

“We have no plans for a second Smart plant,” said a spokesman for the Mercedes-Benz division, which includes Smart.

It has been one long waiting game for this Wizard of Oz behind Brisbane’s fledgling Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival.

Waiting … for the perceptions of southern states to catch up with our city’s rapidly evolving rag trade.

Waiting … to convince interstate designers and media that he might actually know what he’s doing.

Waiting … for our State and local governments to open their own eyes to the value of his annual retail showcase.