373-A sophisticated car theft ring "stalked" New Yorkers who drove Lexus SUVs and other mint-condition luxury vehicles so it could fill orders from an international broker serving clients in northwest Africa, authorities said Wednesday. In one instance, thieves allegedly followed one victim until she left her car to drop a child off at school. When she returned, it was gone.

373-NEWBERG, OR - Discussions about moving Lexus production to North America are taking on a sense of urgency, a top brand official tells WardsAuto. "We're probably having more serious conversations now than I've seen in the last 22 years," Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager for Lexus in the U.S., says in an interview during a media event here. WardsAuto.

473-Law enforcers say luxury car owners in New York City were "stalked" by thieves who were filling orders for buyers in Africa.Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced 14 arrests in the car theft investigation on Wednesday.Authorities say the ring stole more than 100 cars with a value of $4 million.They say the ring took orders for specific colors and models of Lexus sedans and other luxury vehicles from an international broker.

485--- by Alan Tran VOXX International Corporation has finalized its agreement with AVG (OEAM) Inc., an AVG Group company, to become the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Bongiovi Digital Power Station(TM) (DPS) technology for applications in the automotive aftermarket and the PPO Market (automotive accessorization post factory and pre aftermarket). Under the terms of the agreement, VOXX International's wholly owned subsidiary, Audiovox Electronics Corp. (AEC) will have exclusive U.S.

380-Repairs to Kanto plant took a week, with output back to 90% of pre-quake levels within about three months. KANEGASAKI, Japan - This small city in northeastern Japan became a focal point last spring as the Japanese auto industry began its recovery from a massive earthquake and tsunami. Scores of other cities, towns and villages throughout the region have similar stories to tell.

363-In april werden er Europees gezien 1.017.912 auto's verkocht. In april 2011 waren dat er nog 1.092.963. De daling komt vooral op het conto van de Zuid-Europese landen, die het hardst worden getroffen door de recessie. In Griekenland daalden de verkopen met 56,7 procent, in Italië met 18,0 procent, in Spanje met 21,7 procent en in Portugal was dit 41,7 procent.

402-A mother and son whose car stalled in the middle of busy Route 309 in Montgomery County were killed when an SUV slammed into their car Monday afternoon. "They never knew what hit them," said Montgomery County Coroner Walter Hofman. Pennsylvania State Police said the 2000 Lincoln Town Car broke down in the center lane of the northbound side of Route 309 near the Camp Hill Road overpass in Whitemarsh.

403-May 15 (Bloomberg) -- Ferrari SpA will turn to fuel-saving hybrid technology to create its most powerful and expensive model, showing that even elite performance cars are under pressure to get greener. The Italian automaker's first hybrid, dubbed the F70 in trade press and blogs, will probably surpass the 660,000-euro ($850,000) price of the limited-edition Enzo, said a person familiar with the plan.

494-Een man uit het Amerikaanse Californië heeft zijn peperdure Lexus dwars door een muur heen gereden en vervolgens in een zwembad geparkeerd. Modesto Cabral, zoals de bestuurder heet, reed volgens de politie onder invloed. "We werden wakker van enorm kabaal. We keken naar buiten en zagen dat een auto in ons zwembad lag", aldus de 16-jarige Janelle tegen de San Gabriel Valley Tribune. De man is aangehouden. Zijn auto is weer op het droge gehesen, maar het is niet duidelijk of deze nog werkt.

480-DUNSFOLD, U.K. - It's tempting to feel self-satisfied by posting the best lap time among journalists test-driving the McLaren MP4-12C, the first in a range of new road-ready super cars from the iconic British racing team that has been fighting Ferrari for Formula 1 bragging rights since the 1960s. Yes, this 592-hp 2-seat mid-engine hand-assembled exotic with dihedral doors and a carbon-fiber chassis makes every competent driver feel like Michael Schumacher, if only for the 3.

470-TWO PEOPLE were killed in Fort Washington Monday afternoon, when they were hit by a car as they tried pushing a disabled vehicle along the northbound lanes of Route 309 near the Camp Hill overpass, State Police said. A 54-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were hit from behind by a Lexus SUV as they were trying to push a Lincoln Town Car onto the shoulder, according to reports. The woman who was driving the Lexus was reportedly taken to Abington Memorial Hospital.

392-TOKYO (AP) - Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs - a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics. If successful, counting on machines can help preserve this nation's technological power - not the stereotype of machines snatching assembly line jobs from workers, Jun Misumi - company spokesman, said Monday.

431-LA PUENTE, Calif. -  The Diaz family awoke to find a Lexus at the bottom of their swimming pool.   The Southern California family tells the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that drivers navigating the tricky intersection next to their house in La Puente have hit their cinderblock wall before, but early Sunday one of them smashed right through it in his silver sedan, then sank into the pool. A crane later fished out the 2006 Lexus.

425-LA PUENTE, Calif. - The Diaz family awoke to find a Lexus at the bottom of their swimming pool. The Southern California family tells the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that drivers navigating the tricky intersection next to their house in La Puente have hit their cinderblock wall before, but early Sunday one of them smashed right through it in his silver sedan, then sank into the pool. A crane later fished out the 2006 Lexus.

352-The Southern California family tells the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (http://bit.ly/L0zjqa) that drivers navigating the tricky intersection next to their house in La Puente have hit their cinderblock wall before, but early Sunday one of them smashed right through it in his silver sedan, then sank into the pool. A crane later fished out the 2006 Lexus.

387-TOKYO-Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs -- a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.If successful, counting on machines can help preserve this nation's technological power -- not the stereotype of machines snatching assembly line jobs from workers, Jun Misumi -- company spokesman, said Monday.

416-Something surprising is going on in the American bedroom. In droves, people are outfitting their beds with a plush, squishy, and decidedly controversial type of mattress. While these products support the body just-so during sleep, they distress some people during sex. The complaint is lack of "traction," if you get the drift. "It's like trying to do it in quicksand," one owner writes on an Internet message board.

468-After all, they say, it's $40,000.  Look what else one can buy for that much. There are nice Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, BMW and Cadillac luxury models at that price.  Even with a government subsidy, the claim is that the Volt, an extended-range electric car, doesn't stand on its own at $40,000. Even if gas hits $5 a gallon, it doesn't work.  And who knows what it will be worth in 36 or 48 months? If new technology trumps it, it could be next to worthless.

384-TOKYO Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs - a key change being played out across Japan, a world leader in robotics.If successful, counting on machines can help preserve this nation's technological power - not the stereotype of machines snatching assembly line jobs from workers, Jun Misumi - company spokesman, said Monday.