Dr. Elias Luna Barrios

Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Luna & Goodman Advisors

GLG News by Dr. Elias Luna Barrios, Partner and Chief Executive Officer

Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.

August 21, 2007

Analysis of:BRAZIL’S RECORD-BREAKING AUTOMOBILE DEMAND: CAN SUPPLY KEEP PACE? | tendencias.infoamericas.com

After some 10 years of painfully slow growth and inflation, Brazil is seeing an unexpected revival. Is this growth sustainable? What about the complete supply chain? Will Tier2s and 3s be able to cope with this increased demand?

Going small in China.

August 21, 2007

Analysis of:China Is Chrysler Growth Test Track | online.wsj.com

Is Chrysler’s Chery strategy the right one? Will investment pay-off?

Ford Hydrogen Fusion 999 hits 200 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats track.

August 21, 2007

Analysis of:Ford Fuel Cell Car Goes 200 M.P.H. at the Bonneville Salt Flats | wheels.blogs.nytimes.com

Impressive indeed….. If it wasn’t for the fact that this powertrain technology is some 12 years old (counting from the last known engineering publication).

A battery alone does not make a car.

August 13, 2007

Analysis of:Will GM Blow It? The Detroit giant may actually have an edge in hybrid technology. But ... | www.slate.com

Is a perceived lead in lithium ion battery technology enough, by itself, to give GM an edge in the US market over Toyota? The answer to the question is a no-brainer (sorry!), NO, Li-Ion ALONE WILL NOT GIVE ANYONE THE LEAD OVER THE OTHERS ON HYBRID TECHNOLOGY…… However, it will give them the freedom to have solved one of the crucial parts of the puzzle: where to get a reliable source of energy and secure supply over the others OEMs!!!

Automakers response to declining SUV sales

August 10, 2007

Analysis of:Muzzling the Guzzlers: High Gas Prices Drive Effort to Remake SUVs | online.wsj.com

Market sector demand is decreasing. What are automakers doing to reverse the situation?

What is really going on at and with Chrysler?

August 9, 2007

Analysis of:Between the speeches, it's all Chrysler, all the time | www.autonews.com

Banks, Cerberus and the future of ChryslerPossible perspectives of Tom LaSordaWill UAW play ball?Likely Chrysler strategy

35mpg, hydrogen, hybrid, plug-in - Change has to be managed in stages

July 16, 2007

Analysis of:Ford: Hydrogen-Powered Cars May Reach Showrooms In 5 Years | online.wsj.com

Ford Motor Co, as may other OEMs must keep momentum with their own developments and keep track with the changing technology advances of this industry. Especially Ford has to do something to keep their vehicle line-up interesting and appealing for the end customer, to be recognized as an innovator and a technology leader, but hydrogen is hardly the way to recover market position. Not for Ford, not for anyother OEM... Let’s not loose the horizon of what is cool to have and what is necessary….

Russia is growing, but regrettably, this is not the report of a success story… At least not yet!

July 13, 2007

Analysis of:Nissan Plans Russian Output in 2009 | www.nytimes.com

Together with Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, Russia is now, more than ever, luring the automotive industry to develop a well functioning local market.

The new strategy?

June 25, 2007

Analysis of:Ford celebrates the revival of Taurus | www.freep.com

500 to Taurus, Quality first, make the masses aware of the “new Ford”…. is this the holly grail, the way out?

Concentrating on whether Toyota or any vehicle manufacturer looses money on HEVs today simply misses the point.

June 25, 2007

Analysis of:10 years after first hybrid, Toyota hits 1 million mark | seattletimes.nwsource.com

It is highly questionable whether Toyota looses money on HEVs. In any case, its technological lead is a no-brainer. Its current position in this market is indisputable and represents an investment into a, not to far away, promising future, as US Senate advances on its endeavor to tackle the issues of environmental safety and greenhouse effect and other governments start to develop their own approaches.

Will Ford survive on its own after selling the crown jewels? - A comment from the fortune teller…

June 18, 2007

Analysis of:Ford: Another fine mess | www.economist.com

It is no rocket science: Ford must attack many internal fronts and concentrate in its re-structuring to get out of this battle as a successful OEM, but there are precedents. Look at Fiat’s story of the past 5 years.

Gentex rear camera display mirror on 2008 Ford F-series full-size Pick-up trucks -- A break-through for Gentex

June 15, 2007

Analysis of:Gentext in F-Series | www.sys-con.com

* Being the first will certainly create expectation but it also bares the risk of disaster if the technology proves to be faulty. * Assuming good and reliable performance, bottom and top line growth are possible.

Ford turnaround plan - Light at the end of the tunnel?

June 14, 2007

Analysis of:Can Ford Engineer a Jump Start? | online.wsj.com

×Ford’s main problems are of structural/operational nature ×Disposal of PAG will bring in some necessary cash and should contribute to reducing its debt ×Possible solutions could include reviving Lincoln as a luxury brand ×Possible solutions could include reviving Lincoln as a luxury brand ×Disposal of PAG will bring in some necessary cash and should contribute to reducing its debt ×Possible solutions could include reviving Lincoln as a luxury brand ×Possible solutions could include reviving Lincoln as a luxury brand

Investment into a promising future

March 22, 2007

Analysis of:Mitsubishi Materials, Furuya Metal to co-develop recycling technology for platinum group metals | metalsplace.com

Recycling of PGMs - Investment into a promising future

Investing in the future

March 22, 2007

Analysis of:Mitsubishi Materials, Furuya Metal to co-develop recycling technology for platinum group metals | metalsplace.com

Recycling of PGMs - Investment into a promising future

Ford's strategy - the sale of aston Martin

March 21, 2007

Analysis of:Aston Martin sale sign of deeper trouble | economictimes.indiatimes.com

Does the sale of Aston Martin really translate into confirming Ford’s problems?