BUSINESS BRIEFS
Auto industry to press Congress for $50B in loans
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Auto industry allies hope to secure up to $50 billion in government loans this month that would pay to modernize plants and help struggling carmakers build more fuel-efficient vehicles.
With Congress returning this coming week from its summer break, the industry plans an aggressive lobbying campaign for the low-interest loans. The situation is growing dire after months of tumbling sales, high gasoline prices and consumers' abandoning profitable trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Lawmakers authorized $25 billion in loans in last year's energy bill to help the companies build fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids and electric vehicles. With credit tight, automakers and suppliers want lawmakers to come up with the money for the program — and expand the pool of money available to $50 billion over three years.
Industry leaders have argued that the loan guarantees are not a government bailout because it would hasten production of fuel-efficient vehicles and reduce dependence on imported oil.
JETBLUE AUCTIONS FLIGHTS ON EBAY
NEW YORK — JetBlue Airways Corp. is auctioning off more than 300 roundtrip flights and six vacation packages this week on eBay, with opening bids set between 5 and 10 cents.
The flights are to more than 20 destinations, including four "mystery" JetBlue Getaways Vacation packages to undisclosed locations.
The three-, five- and seven-day auctions include one- and two-person roundtrip weekend flights in September from cities including Boston; Chicago; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Salt Lake City; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and in Southern California. Customers can access the auctions at www.jetblue.com/ebay.
WINDOWS' AD ABOUT NOTHING
To reboot Windows' image, Microsoft kicked off its biggest consumer marketing effort with a TV ad — about nothing.
Ad experts differ on whether it's getting its money's worth from the big-budget 60- and 90-second ad featuring founder Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, star of "Seinfeld," a 1990s sitcom famously about nothing.
The ad mentions Microsoft once (about making PCs "delicious") and briefly shows Windows' logo. It's mostly "Seinfeld"-like banter as Gates shops at a cheesy shoe store.
The ambiguity is by design, says David Webster, Microsoft general manager of brand and marketing strategy. It's "an icebreaker" for an effort that will include print, outdoor, online and TV ads and Windows store promotion.
YAHOO-GOOGLE DEAL OPPOSED
SAN FRANCISCO — A group representing big-spending national advertisers said yesterday it sent a letter to the Justice Department asserting an online ad partnership between Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. will stifle competition and likely raise prices.
The Association of National Advertisers said on its Web site that the letter to Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's antitrust division, came after a "comprehensive, independent analysis" and meetings with Google and Yahoo executives.
The ANA says it represents 400 companies — including Apple Inc., The Coca-Cola Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., Proctor & Gamble Co. and General Motors Corp. — with 9,000 brands.
PROTESTS END AT INDIAN COMPANY
CALCUTTA, India — Protests that halted production at a plant in India building the world's cheapest car were called off after the local government promised yesterday to compensate angry farmers.
The farmers in West Bengal state had been protesting that land for the Tata Motors Nano factory was taken from them without proper compensation.
The state's governor, who brokered the deal, announced late yesterday that a committee will be set up to decide within a week the details of the compensation package.
