Horimitsu TATTOO work today 額 牡丹

急遽仕事。(^-^;)

Haste work. (^-^;)

Trabajo de prisa. (^ - ^;)

Horimitsu TATTOO 年末年始休業中

仕事納めや忘年会なども終わり今日からお休みです。
本年は皆様からご愛顧いただきましてありがとうございました。
一年の疲れをゆっくり癒します。
皆さんも良いお年をお迎えください。

The work paying and the year end party, etc. also take a rest end today.
Thank you for patronizing it from everybody for this year.
Tiredness is slowly healed for one year.
You also must receive a good year.

El trabajo que paga y el año acaba la fiesta, etc. también tome un fin del resto hoy.
Gracias por patrocinarlo de todos durante este año.
Se sana cansancio despacio por un año.
También debe recibir un año bueno.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 龍

本日一件のみ。
龍。
で、本日終了。

Only as for the today work.
A dragon.
Well, it is finished today.

Sólo en cuanto al hoy el trabajo.
Un dragón.
Bien, está acabado hoy.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today いろいろなモチーフ

本日一件のみ。
いよいよ終わりに近いです。
年内には終わらなかったです。
来年年明け一回やって終了。

Only as for the today work.
It is finally almost the end.
It was not over within this year.
I do it once in the new year and am finished next year.

Sólo en cuanto al hoy el trabajo.
Es finalmente casi el fin.
No era terminado dentro de este año.
Lo hago una vez en el nuevo año y soy el próximo año acabado.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 鯉 カバーアップ

本日二件目。
鯉。カバーアップ。
今年は春からお世話になりました。
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
で、本日終了。

Today the second case.
A carp. Cover up.
I was taken care of this year from spring.
Next year thanking you in advance.
Well, it is finished today.

Hoy el segundo caso.
Una carpa. Cubra a.
Me cuidé de este año de primavera.
El próximo año agradeciéndole de antemano.
Bien, está acabado hoy.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 剣龍

本日一件目。
剣龍。
今年はお世話になりました。
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
良いお年をお迎えください。

Today the first case.
KENRYU.
I was taken care of this year.
Next year thanking you in advance.
Please invite a good year.

Hoy el primer caso.
KENRYU.
Me cuidé de este año.
El próximo año agradeciéndole de antemano.
Invite un año bueno.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 額

昨日三件目。
更新忘れの上、写、写真が撮れてない・・・。(^-^;)
スミマセン。

2010 Chevrolet Equinox named Urban Truck of the Year

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox was named the Urban Truck of the Year by On Wheels Media, Monday, December 21, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. Chevrolet will accept the award for Best Urban Truck of the Year at the 14th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, January 12, 2010.

Randi Payton, On Wheels Media's president and publisher said, "The Urban Vehicle of the Year resonates with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas, who drive on crowded road conditions. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel efficient, and have the performance and safety characteristics that are relevant to the consumers in Metropolitan areas."

The Urban Truck of the Year winner is selected by a panel of 15 automotive journalists from a broad array of newspapers, magazines, broadcast and Internet outlets.

Brand Trainwrecks: Saab Story

Auto Industry Overcapacity Finally Ravages A Storied Brand

Regardless of whether General Motors ends up selling its Saab brand to Dutch sports-car maker Spyker Cars NV – or to anyone else – its apparent demise provides a depressing exclamation mark on a year in which the doomsayers about global automotive overcapacity were finally proven right.

Even during the worldwide, mid-decade economic boom, automotive analysts periodically would point out – and honest industry executives

would admit – that automakers were headed for a capacity donnybrook. Even as Asian brands kept building new plants in North America and Europe, and General Motors and the Europeans kept adding capacity in Asia, those doing the relatively simple math kept saying: There’s way too much room to build cars, and sooner or later someone is going to have to pay for it.

Unfortunately, it hit the fan in 2008 and 2009. And GM and Chrysler, through their untimely meltdowns, have ended up bearing the brunt of the world’s massive capacity adjustment.

Still, Saab’s story is particularly poignant in this regard because it’s really the first venerable, standalone global brand that has taken it in the teeth – er, grille. Yes, GM has shed other brands, but Hummer and Saturn never were vital, and Pontiac had faded decades ago.

Saab has a proud heritage that GM slowly strangled with a paucity of new products after it bought the brand outright a couple of decades ago. Originally an aircraft manufacturer, Saab began building automobiles in 1949.

“Saab’s quirky designs and mastery of turbocharging gained it an international following,” as AutoTrader.com wrote in its summary about the brand. “Over the years, Saab also produced a bunch of industry firsts in technology, including ignition locks positioned on the front console instead of the steering wheel for better logic and more safety, cabin-air filters, electrical heated seats, and side- and rear-impact crash protection. During the Eighties, Saab cars gained popularity in America as a favorite choice of upscale young consumers looking for a way to distinguish themselves from the mainstream.”

Nowadays, however, consumers already are prepared to move on if Saab ultimately conks out. BMW, Audi, and Volvo could be the biggest immediate brand winners among Saab shoppers who also considered other brands while browsing for Saabs lately, said AutoTrader.com.

Added AutoTrader.com President and CEO Chip Perry: "As the Saab brand is shut down, it is likely many of those buyers will gravitate to those other European brands, although our shopper activity on AutoTrader.com shows Saab buyers are also interested in some American and Japanese brands."

AutoTrader.com:  Cross-Shopping Data Shows BMW Top Cross-Shopped Vehicle Among Saab Shoppers

PRNewswire-ATLANTA

Comparing Apples With 'Apples': GM Did You Do To SAAB What Ford Did To VOLVO???

Let's compare Apples with Apples...

Can anyone give a 'Yes' answer to the question: Did GM do to SAAB what Ford did to VOLVO; during all those years they owned the brands respectively?

"SAAB brand has become a 'pain in the arse' for GM" vs. "Ford is very close to completing the selling of VOLVO to Chinese Geely"...Huh what a big-big difference...Don't you think?

VOLVO at the beach...

SAAB: Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolag (Swedish Airplane Corporation)
VOLVO is Latin and means "I roll"

SAAB 1947 & 1954

THE HISTORY OF GM's SAAB

1990: Car division splits from aircraft business. GM and Investor AB take 50% stake
2000: GM takes 100% ownership
Jan 2009: GM announces talks to sell Saab
Aug 2009: Koenigsegg agrees terms to buy Saab.
Nov 2009: Koenigsegg pulls out of talks.
1 Dec 2009: GM says will consider offers until end of December
18 Dec 2009: GM announces the winding down of Saab

SAAB

A Voice On The Web:

The Time Is Now – Please Complete The Sale Of Saab

Come on GM, get a move on, there are only 9 days left until the end of the year. You owe it to the folks at Saab, all of the workers in Trollhättan, all the dealers around the world and everyone else that has contributed to this company to make it what it is. They are counting on you and so are we.

VOLVO

 The first series produced Volvo automobile, the Volvo ÖV 4, left the factory on 14 April 1928 which became the official date for the founding of Volvo.
In 1999 Volvo sold its car division Volvo Cars to Ford for $6.45 billion. The Volvo trademark is now shared between Volvo AB, where it is used on heavy vehicles and the unit of Ford, where it is used on cars. Recently, Ford is evaluating whether to on-sell Volvo Cars. On 1 December 2008, Ford announced that it will "re-evaluate its strategic options for Volvo," including the possible sale of the brand. In 2009, Ford Motor Company has confirmed that the preferred buyer of Volvo Cars is Chinese motor manufacturer Geely.

In brief: VOLVO is "rolling" very happily off to mainland China where SAAB is blinking in its death bed.

1999 SAAB & VOLVO

2004 SAAB & VOLVO

2009 SAAB & VOLVO

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 額

本日二件目。
額。
今年はお世話になりました。
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。(^-^)/

Today the second case.
GAKU.
I was taken care of this year.
Next year thanking you in advance. (^-^)/

Hoy el segundo caso.
GAKU.
Me cuidé de este año.
El próximo año agradeciéndole de antemano. (^ - ^)/

Horimitsu TATTOO work today いろいろなモチーフ

本日一件目。
いよいよ触れる所がなくなってきました。(^-^;)

Today the first case.
A place to finally touch disappeared. (^-^;)

Hoy el primer caso.
Un lugar a finalmente toque desapareció. (^ - ^;)

Horimitsu TATTOO work today いろいろなモチーフ

本日一件目。
もう少しです。

Today the first case.
just an inch. almost.

Hoy el primer caso.
sólo una pulgada. casi.

SAAB blinked in death bed..! Some signs of life?

GM statement regarding Saab inquiries-2009-12-20

Following Friday's announcement that GM will begin the orderly wind down of Saab, GM has received inquiries from several parties.  We will evaluate each inquiry.  We will not comment further until these evaluations have been completed.

I will not say "Great Minds Think Together" as i don't know who is making an offer for the great SAAB brand at this time. BUT who ever it is knows, without any doubt, that this opportunity can not be missed. I still expect Roger Penske to come up with an offer but not a signal yet. I recently posted a few rational thoughts re this issue and you may click the below to read them. Jalopnik covered the latest GM announcement promptly and is also posted herebelow.

*Editorial: GM, don't touch my brand..!(Focusing On Brand Ownership)

*We Discredit GM's final decision to shut SAAB down; and that is "to the LAST DROP!!!"

Saab Not Yet Dead?

GM shouldn't bring out the dead just yet. Swedish national papers are reporting Spyker's making a last-ditch attempt to purchase Saab and prevent the brand from getting irrevocably Börked. Now GM's saying it's weighting options.
We'd assume — out of national pride at least — Sweden would be doing everything possible to try and retain existence of its quirky but still seemingly loved brand. The question we've got is who's going to pick up the funding end that Russian backers — the sticking point in GM shooting down the sale due to intellectual property concerns — and make GM feel all safe and snugly?
Still, we're now hearing the following from GM:
"Following Friday's announcement that GM will begin the orderly wind down of Saab, GM has received inquiries from several parties. We will evaluate each inquiry. We will not comment further until these evaluations have been completed."

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 額

本日三件目。
鳳凰に額。
今年はお世話になりました。
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
３５度のあれ、ありがとうございました。
で、本日終了。

Today the third case.
It is a GAKU to a Phoenix.
I was taken care of this year.
Next year thanking you in advance.
That of 35 degrees, thank you.
Well, it is finished today.

Today the third case.
It is a GAKU to a Phoenix.
I was taken care of this year.
Next year thanking you in advance.
That of 35 degrees, thank you.
Well, it is finished today.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 新規の獅子

本日二件目。
新規の獅子。
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
ご夫婦仲良くしてください。(^-^)/

Today the second case.
A lion.
Next year thanking you in advance.
Please make conjugal relations better. (^-^)/

Hoy el segundo caso.
Un león.
El próximo año agradeciéndole de antemano.
Haga más bien las relaciones conyugales. (^ - ^)/

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 龍

本日一件目。
龍。
残り一回で筋終了。

Today the first case.
A dragon.
It is the line end at remainder once.

Hoy el primer caso.
Un dragón.
Está una vez el fin de la línea en el resto.

GM Plans to Close Saab After Sales Talks Collapse + GM Closes the Book on Saab

GM Plans to Close Saab After Sales Talks Collapse

By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ

Published: December 18, 2009

Saab, which earned a loyal following over six decades with its stylish but idiosyncratic cars, failed to attract the buyer it needed most — a new owner for the company — leaving General Motors little choice but to announce Friday that it would shut down the brand.

Bigger car companies, which have been struggling with steep losses of their own, showed no interest because Saab was too small even though the brand is well regarded.

The last hope for Saab, which General Motors took control of in 1990, had been Spyker Cars, a tiny Dutch maker of high-end sports cars.

But some G.M. officials said that Spyker’s reliance on Russian financing for the Saab deal was a major factor in its decision to walk away. “We discovered this week that there were issues that couldn’t be resolved and no additional time would overcome that,” said John F. Smith, a General Motors executive vice president.

He added that G.M. would still be willing to consider selling Saab if a new buyer were to emerge. If that does not occur, the process of winding down Saab will begin in January. “I can’t rule it out, but the clock starts now,” he added.

Saab, which filed for bankruptcy protection in Sweden in February, has been a perennial money-loser.

It is among G.M.’s smallest brands, with sales of 93,000 vehicles worldwide last year, with just under 22,000 in the United States. G.M. also closed its Pontiac and Saturn brands this year.

Besides throwing the fate of some 3,500 Saab workers in Trollhattan, Sweden, into doubt, Saab’s expected closing also was more troubling news for Sweden’s industrial base.

Another famous Swedish automaker, Volvo, is being sold by Ford to Zhejiang Geely Holding of China. Both Volvo and Saab are based in the west of Sweden, and the region has a deep network of suppliers and contractors that will also be affected. “This is of course a major blow to Sweden, though it wasn’t unexpected,” said Cecilia Werner, communications director for the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.

She said there were nearly as many Swedes whose jobs were indirectly dependent on Saab as there were Saab employees. Moreover, she said, the company’s long history and distinctive automobile designs have made it part of the Swedish identity, especially overseas.

“They say ‘Ikea, Abba, Volvo and Saab,’  ” Ms. Werner said. “This company has been a part of Swedish pride, along with Volvo.” In the auto world, as in Sweden, the announcement Friday was greeted more with sadness than with surprise.

Besides losing money for years, Saab was always on the periphery of G.M.’s empire. In the last year, management in Detroit had made it clear it wanted to dispose of the company.

In a conference call, Mr. Smith repeatedly declined to specify what problems came up during the due diligence process at Spyker.

An earlier deal to sell Saab to Koenigsegg, a Swedish maker of specialty sports cars, collapsed last month.According to people close to the negotiations, G.M. was concerned about Spyker’s Russian financial backers as well as the fate of G.M.’s technology and other intellectual property under Spyker. The people declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the talks.

The main investor in Spyker is the Russian bank Convers Group, which is controlled by Alexander Antonov, a Russian tycoon. His son Vladimir, a 34-year-old banker who is a top executive at Convers, is chairman of Spyker.

Last month, G.M. pulled out of a deal to sell its European Opel and Vauxhall operations to a consortium led by Magna International, a Canadian maker of auto parts. The consortium was backed by the Russian state-controlled bank Sberbank.

“They’d been down the road with Russian investors before and that gave them reason for caution,” said one official, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. “There was no visibility on when that might have been resolved.”

Another snag was the question of whether Spyker could qualify for a 400 million euro ($573 million) loan from the European Investment Bank that was part of the earlier deal to sell Saab to Koenigsegg.

A spokesman for Spyker declined to comment on the question of the company’s Russian ties, as did a spokesman for G.M.

In a statement, the chief executive of Spyker, Victor Muller, seemed to put the blame on G.M. for dragging its feet. “We sincerely regret that we are not able to complete this transaction with G.M.,” Mr. Muller said. “We worked 24/7 for three weeks, but the complexity of the transaction in combination with the strict deadline simply did not allow us to complete the transaction.”

Saab will continue to honor warranties, while providing service and spare parts to current Saab owners around the world.

Nick Reilly, the president of G.M.’s European operations, said that the move was not a bankruptcy or forced liquidation, so he expected Saab to pay its debts, including those of suppliers. In all, 1,100 dealerships worldwide will be affected, including about 200 in the United States.

G.M. initially bought half of Saab in 1990 for $600 million, acquiring the rest in 2000 for $125 million. Under G.M.’s stewardship, Saab lost a large part of its Swedish identity as well as the technical prowess that earned it a loyal following in the 1980s.

“People will say they’re sad to see it go, but what they’re lamenting is the Saabs from the ’70s and ’80s,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

“Since the mid-’90s it’s been a pretty irrelevant brand,” Mr. Bell said. “The only reason people would be excited about buying a Saab would be if someone was an enthusiast of the brand. And I think Saab was even pushing their patience.”

December 18, 2009, 9:43 AM

G.M. Closes the Book on Saab

The two leading suitors for Saab were small supercar makers. Koenigsegg has less than 50 employees. Spyker builds around 50 cars a year.

On Thursday, a friend described watching someone he knew repeatedly attempt and fail at an activity as “watching an animal slowly bleed to death.” I think the phrase also applies to following Saab’s final months. On Friday morning, General Motors ended the agony by announcing it was winding down the Swedish brand.

“We regret that we were not able to complete this transaction with Spyker Cars,” Nick Reilly, the president of G.M. Europe, said in a statement. “We will work closely with the Saab organization to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner. This is not a bankruptcy or forced liquidation process. Consequently, we expect Saab to satisfy debts including supplier payments, and to wind down production and the distribution channel in an orderly manner while looking after our customers.”

Earlier this week, G.M. had agreed to a deal with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding for the rights to the technology and tooling for the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 sedans.

Update | 10:20 a.m.

Spyker Cars has issued a news release on the failed deal talks with G.M. “We sincerely regret that we are not able to complete this transaction with G.M.,” said Victor Muller, the chief executive of Spyker Cars, in a statement. “We worked 24/7 for three weeks, but the complexity of the transaction in combination with the strict deadline simply did not allow us to complete the transaction timely. Our thoughts are with the wonderful management and employees of Saab in these challenging times.”

GM to 'wind down' Saab business

GM has been trying to sell Saab since January.

GM says it has failed to sell its Swedish car brand Saab and will begin "an orderly wind-down of Saab operations".

ANALYSIS

Jorn Madslien, BBC business reporter

It is the end of the road for Saab, the car that emerged from a company making fighter jets.

When its owner GM bought Saab, it was seen as a brand that could become the US automotive group's European luxury brand.

But the quirky cars did not attract a broad enough following, so it failed to make money.

GM's solution was to cut costs by sharing ever more parts with Opel while, at the same time, toning down their design.

Such moves alienated traditional Saab customers without gaining new ones. New product development ground to a halt and in the end, there was simply not enough left of Saab to make it worth preserving.

New focus

GM said its focus would remain on its four core brands - Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC - as well as its European business Opel.

GM pledged to become a leaner company when it emerged from bankruptcy protection in July this year. It had been hit by a sharp slump in sales - partly because of the financial crisis, but also because of stiff competition from Japanese rivals.

The company is now 62%-owned by the US government.

THE HISTORY OF SAAB

1937: Saab founded as aircraft maker

1946: Starts making cars

1969: Merges with Scania-Vabis

1990: Car division splits from aircraft business. GM and Investor AB take 50% stake

2000: GM takes 100% ownership

Jan 2009: GM announces talks to sell Saab

Aug 2009: Koenigsegg agrees terms to buy Saab.

Nov 2009: Koenigsegg pulls out of talks.

1 Dec 2009: GM says will consider offers until end of December

18 Dec 2009: GM announces the winding down of Saab

Source: Reuters

VIA: BBC-News

CLICK TO READ:

Editorial: GM, don't touch my brand..!(Focusing On Brand Ownership)

Horimitsu TATTOO work today 龍

本日二件目。
龍。
本年はお世話になりました。
また来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
で、本日終了。

Today the second case.
A dragon.
I was taken care of in this year.
Again as for the next year thanking you in advance.
Well, it is finished today.

Hoy el segundo caso.
Un dragón.
Me tuve cuidado de por este año.
De nuevo en cuanto al próximo año en agradeciéndole de antemano.
Bien, está acabado hoy.

Horimitsu TATTOO work today いろいろなモチーフ

本日一件目。
いろいろなモチーフ。

Today the first case.
Various Japanese motifs.

Hoy el primer caso.
Varios motivos japoneses.

We Discredit GM's final decision to shut SAAB down; and that is "to the LAST DROP!!!"

GM's SAAB decision definitely sets a new PEAK on Twitter today. 1000's tweeting about the unhappy ending for SAAB...

The final decision taken by GM, to shut SAAB down, sounds like the last resort for GM to place the great brand at. Our first impression,and still, is that GM publicly announced this decision to force the interested parties to act faster toward a final phase; a "take it or leave it" situation ... Holiday season is pretty close by and GM had given itself the month of December to finalise the SAAB issue. I am truly hoping that this is the scheme but doesn't much look like it...

We had suggested(click to read) more than a month earlier, when Koenigsegg pulled out, that Roger Penske should wake up out of his frustration with the failed Saturn deal and go for SAAB; which is a great deal more feasible than buying and operating Saturn. This is indeed a RATIONAL suggestion. Lets take a closer look at Roger Penske and his auto businesses and then you decide:

Penske Corp. Website Home Page: Unique in its heritage and formidable in its national and international scope, Penske Corporation is a closely held transportation services company that encompasses retail automotive sales and services, truck leasing, supply chain logistics management, transportation components manufacturing, and high-performance acing.

Penske Automotive Group Website:

Penske Automotive Group is the second largest publicly traded automotive retailer in the United States as measured by total revenue. As of July 31, 2009, we owned and operated 160 franchises in the United States and 150 internationally.

Penske Automotive Reports Third Quarter Results

Adjusted Income From Continuing Operations Increases to $30.9 Million

Adjusted EPS Increases 21% to $0.34

Adjusted SG&A Decreases 90 Basis Points to 81.3% of Gross Profit

Penske Truck Leasing website:
Whether you're renting a truck for household or business use, you get professional assistance, flexible and convenient reservation options and customer protection programs.

You can count on finding your Penske moving truck ready to roll at pickup.

That’s because more than 3,500 Penske-trained technicians at

close to 700 Penske service facilities nationwide put their expertise behind preparing every truck.

Penske Logistics website:

What if You Could Turn Cost Centers into Profit Centers?

Solutions for supply chain management.
The Science of Logistics
Optimize the efficiency of your entire supply chain. From sourcing and manufacturing through delivery and return, we apply precision technologies and extensive experience to formulate logistics solutions specifically targeted to meet your challenges. Advisor, Collaborator, Partner...

In addition to listed above, Penske Corp. owns and operates 5 more automotive companies:

Penske Automotive Group

MOST ADMIRED

Top 50 rank: N.A.

Rank in Automotive, Retailing: 1 (Previous rank: 3*) 

Overall score: 6.59

Address: 2555 Telegraph Rd.

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Phone: 248-648-2500

Website: www.penskeautomotive.com

Industries

Most Admired

Company Industry Overall score

1 Penske Automotive Group 6.59

2 AutoNation 6.37

3 CarMax 6.32

4 Hertz Global Holdings 5.65

5 Avis Budget Group 5.36

Contenders

Company Industry Overall score

6 Group 1 Automotive 4.94

7 Rush Enterprises 4.69

8 Asbury Automotive Group 4.64

9 Lithia Motors 4.46

10 Sonic Automotive 4.40

From the March 16, 2009 issue

So Mr. Penske we can tell quite easily that you know what you are doing and how to drive sustainable  growth for your businesses. Better act fast and decisively; go get SAAB. It will be one hell of a  PITY if that well entrenched automotive brand is wiped off the industry. You can buy it, own it and indeed make it re-prosper. You are in the auto business BUT earning the identity of a vehicle manufacturer is definitely a different story and we believe is well deserved by an entrepreneur as yourself. Pick up the phone and call Ed Whitacre; you are alraedy of his important customers, retailing Chevies and Saabs and Saturns. If I were you, I would even call the President Obama and ask him how he can align The Auto Task Force to help GM and you settling a SAAB deal. I am darn sure that they will look in to it right away. Why not keep the great brand within the borders of the US Auto Industry instead of further helping the Chinese maintain their accelerated growth to beat you at your own turf???

Please Think About It. /MT

AND here's what this great brand will be introducing to the market IFF NOT DEAD: