More disappointment, taxes, and a scam.
Taxes goes without saying, but it wasn't supposed to happen this year... why not and why did it? Same answer to both. Mercedes. This time the wolf ate the boy who cried wolf (OE). The convertible had everyone nervous, but most didn't want to miss out on DCX. When that didn't materialize, it put OE right back where they been for years: broken promises, no 4S deal, and now loan shark financing to boot. Not only are people taking tax losses, not as many of them will buy back in as years past. The convertible changed everything. Three biggies. If all this isn't bad enough, now OCP's competitors are looking particularly strong. It appears Honda can meet emissions on high-S fuel, implying that others can too. Siemens is attempting to market their own HPDFI. Mitsubishi clearly has their GDI rolling, although we've seen no indication that they've resolved their high-S problems (it was their problems that suggested high-S wouldn't work with HPDFI, but now Honda's ULEV has that in question).
biz.yahoo.com
Honda beats Toyota to the punch, as the Prius is being launched in limited volume. For those that aren't familiar with the J-VX:
auto-vision.com
Continuing with the marine market, which initially appeared so promising for OE: Yamaha has built a light and powerful 4S outboard, and seems intent on launching outboards with cats and then large 2S motors with DFI (and maybe cats too). Yamaha is developing a 4S PWC (suggested by CARB and NMMA). Yamaha has also put a cat in a PWC, although DFI is a better solution. But with CARB's recent ruling, they'll soon need DFI, and eventually both. Bombardier is dragging their feet kicking and screaming into the DFI world, with Polaris and Tigershark launching in 1999. Please excuse my choppy presentation of these points.
A host of things have gone badly for OE recently. Summarizing: convertible is just ridiculously scary. This is risk taking on Clinton's level. DCX was the ultimate cry wolf. Marine made no real progress in 1998 (Mercury added only one motor, OE lost all open accounts and Bombardier decided to skip 1999). Last but not least, the additions of Sundiro and Aprilia went right on by. BTW, I appreciated AAGPQ pointing out Roberta Salings mistake regarding that she claimed to be unsurprised when OE had just remarked they were very surprised (no credit for Aprilia or Sundiro). This shows you how much she alters what she'll say to me - she was so determined to give me the answer I didn't want she contradicted a company press release! I had hoped PH would help broker a truce, but it doesn't appear he's interested. That may or may not be related to my recent posts exposing the growing list of OE failures. Can you say "Betamax"?
Ballard news in Barron's is picked up by others:
fnews.yahoo.com
Pierre says only unleaded gas has benzene in it? I don't think that's right. I'm not certain, but I think ALL gasoline has benzene in it. Surely someone here knows. Benzene is definately a carcinogen, that I can guarantee you. In fact, this has been known for some time.
10 years!?! Holy mackerel! We're supposed to wait ten more years? That will send them running for the exits! Yahoo could be trading for $10,000+ a share by then (without splits)!
Siemens+Mercury+Bombardier+Tohatsu+Lotus+Sundiro+Aprilia+Texmaco-BHP-RGC-RS=$3 |
