India's oldest car factory shelves elite sedan

NEW DELHI — India's oldest car factory has abruptly suspended production of the hulking Ambassador sedan that has a nearly seven-decade history as the car of the Indian elite.

It was unclear how long manufacturing will be on hold, but Kolkata-based Hindustan Motors said Monday it hopes to resume making the so-called "Amby" after a period of restructuring and clearing of its debts.

The heavy car's large size and poor gas mileage have driven customers to cheaper competitors from abroad. About 80 percent of cars sold in India today are small cars that can maneuver in crowded cities and that cater to a rising middle class eager for wheels without costs.

The company began making the Ambassador in 1948, modeling it after the British Morris Oxford III. Last year only 2,214 of the vehicles were sold, reflecting a steep decline from production levels in the 1980s around 24,000 vehicles a year.

Also known as the grand old lady of India's pot-holed and pitted roads, the Ambassador has remained largely unchanged for more than five decades in ferrying the elite including prime ministers and high-society celebrities. It recalls an era when India's policy of economic self-sufficiency meant domestically produced cars were the norm.

Its bulbous chassis and bouncy back seats delight tourists and other passengers nostalgic for earlier times, while many in rural India still view white Ambassadors as the de-facto vehicle of officialdom.

Though most Ambassador sales go to taxi services and government departments, "there has been a reduction in demand for the Ambassador," the company said.

"Sturdiness is its hallmark," the company said. "The robust build, it was always seen as a positive point for customers who wanted durability and safety."

Hindustan Motors, which as of September had accumulated losses greater than its assets, said the company's Uttarpara plant, just outside Kolkata in the eastern state of West Bengal, was suffering from problems including very low productivity, growing indiscipline, a critical shortage of funds and lack of demand for the Ambassador.

It announced the indefinite production suspension, including a halt in the payment of salaries to nearly 2,500 employees, in a notice pasted on the factory gates Saturday night.

Hindustan Motors said it plans to reopen the Uttarpara factory after settling debts and restructuring. The plant also makes a 1-ton mini-truck called the Winner as well as car parts.

"If they want to maintain the vehicle, if they want the brand to survive, they will have to think through some changes in pricing, fuel efficiency," said auto analyst Abdul Majeed at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in India. "The middle class, those folks don't worry about comfort and luxury at this point in time. They are only looking at necessity."

Hindustan Motors has been unsuccessful in a long search for new investors. Earlier this year it transferred another car plant based in the south-coast city of Chennai to its financial arm, Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd. That plant produces Mitsubishi and Isuzu brand vehicles for the Japanese companies.

Shares of Hindustan Motors sank 10 percent Monday.

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These cars great for ‘staycations’

The family-vacation-turned-disaster is a meme that has spawned countless horror stories, from "National Lampoon's Vacation" trips to Walley World to several sorry sequels to Baby being put in a corner to Mitt Romney's dog.

What happened to this idyllic American rite of summer?

Well … we got busy. Busy with a career, a family. With life.

But the urge to jump into the Wagon Queen Family Truckster and hit the highway remains. Since we're all pinched for time, we typically truncate our summer vacations these days. The most likely choices are "day trips" — consisting of an overnight visit, or at most, a weekend away — or so-called "staycations," where we don't venture very far from home.

No time? No worries. Automotive Editor Mark Takahashi of Edmunds.com says there are good vehicular choices for whatever summer fun one has in mind.

Boston's career-minded dual income, no kids' population has the wherewithal, but not the time to get on a plane and get away for multiple days. These people need a vehicle that suits a life in the fast lane — even if only for a short time.

Audi A4

Audis are popular sellers here, and the attractive, drivable and fuel-efficient A4 tops the list. It has a luxurious feel and a smaller footprint ideal for city living. Buyers find this versatile car great for daily driving, but also ideal for quickie road trips. (Starting MSRP: $33,800)

Porsche 911

Of course, if you're really looking for style and panache, turn to what Takahashi calls "the classic sports car." Its iconic shape still turns heads, and maintains its legendary perform attributes. Unapologetically built for two, this car is the pick for a night out on the town. (MSRP: $84,300)

Tesla Model S

A game changer. A car Takahashi calls "sleek, sophisticated and utterly futuristic," the all-electric Tesla Model S redefines the green car. The P85 model ($93,400) provides up to 265 miles of travel on a single charge, along with jaw-dropping acceleration. People fearful of electric vehicles worry that they'll get stranded without a recharging station nearby. Chargepoint.com shows well more than 1,000 stations scattered throughout New England. (MSRP: $69,900)

Another major draw for New England travelers, said Mary Maguire, the director of public and government affairs for AAA Southern New England, is, "We have so many terrific vacation spots in close proximity. They're an easy drive and an easy proposition financially, because you can get there and back on a half a tank of gas. It makes the idea of day trip or weekend more appealing."

And then there's the "staycation" — one of the most affordable vacation options available. People take time off, but don't stand still. For family outings, perhaps a trip to Fenway, a Little League tournament, or a trek to an amusement park, consider these conveyances:

Honda Accord Hybrid

"This is one of the rare cases where we prefer a hybrid adaptation over its gasoline-only origins," said Takahashi. "It drives just like a traditional Accord, but returns astounding fuel economy figures of 47 mpg in combined driving. AAA pegs gas prices this weekend at an average of $3.65 per gallon in Massachusetts, and those prices typically spike in summer, so 47 mpg equals a win. (MSRP: $29,155)

Lexus GS 350

Another fine choice for tooling about town is the Lexus GS 350. It has the luxury and comfort of its German competitors while keeping a couple thousand in your bank account — money you can spend on having fun. "It's capable, comfortable, and inside it showcases quality and cutting-edge technology," Takahashi said. (MSRP: $47,700)

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Pilgrim protesters to gather at Sagamore Bridge

BOURNE — Protesters are planning to gather near the Sagamore Bridge on Memorial Day to highlight concerns about the safety of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth.

The protesters called the current emergency plan in the event of an accident at the power plant unacceptable for those on the Cape.

The protest comes two months after Gov. Deval Patrick wrote the Nuclear Regulatory Commission expressing concerns about the plant. Patrick said he was writing on behalf of 15 southeastern Massachusetts communities.

Patrick said he shares their concerns because of what he called the lack of a "viable evacuation route" off of Cape Cod.

The NRC relicensed Pilgrim through 2032. The plant's operators say it's safe and secure.

Patrick said the NRC should require the plant be decommissioned if it can't comply with safety regulations.

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Newspaper’s ‘Innovation Report’ is underwhelming, unrealistic

As a chorus of sycophants throws its collective back out to deem the leaked New York Times' Innovation Report a seminal work of genius, allow me to tell you why the 96-page document needs to be shelved like every other blue-ribbon commission production in history.

(It's only fitting that we do this as a Buzzfeed listicle, since the report made so much of trying to turn the Grey Lady into a cross between Upworthy and Flipboard.)

Top five reasons The New York Times cannot be serious about the Innovation Report, even if it was the work of a team led by publisher Arthur "Punch" Sulzberger's son:

5) It suggests having journalists take the time to build and repackage an archive of their own work. Have these people ever been in a newsroom? Although the idea of unearthing archives and reusing them in new and different ways isn't entirely laughable, the notion that reporters themselves should spend time on this is.

4) The authors fail to correctly define industry "disruptors" — the innovators who supplant the old with the new, like Buzzfeed and Huffington Post. According to the report, one of the "hallmarks of disruptive innovators" is that the new product is "initially inferior to existing products." Like Uber was initially inferior to taxicab dispatchers? Or how Amazon paled in comparison to Borders? How bizarre … and false.

3) The report suggests that more personalization will draw readers, even suggesting that when a reader walks by a restaurant recently given a positive review by the Times, their phone should tell them. Memo to the authors: There's this new website called Yelp, and it's … well … never mind.

2) The entire report is about growing the Times' digital audience, but there's no talk of figuring out a way to make money from that audience. True, home page visits have plunged by half in two years. (That whole having a paywall thing, perhaps?) But even before the traffic downturn, talk of layoffs and financial peril persisted. The fact is that digital advertising and subscription models alike are inherently flawed — even with a large audience. Which brings me to the final item of this listicle:

1) There are nearly no new ideas, because the report was generated from interviews with folks who are already doing the stuff they're suggesting. Repackaging and re-purposing content, promotion via social media, connecting with audiences and envisioning the digital newsroom of the future are all themes within this puzzling document.

It's like a bunch of people got together to envision 2010 from 2005. And the resources to implement all these supposed innovations will be at the expense of real journalism.

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Regulations mulled for bitcoin

State regulators in Massachusetts and others around the country are taking a close look at virtual currencies as bitcoin continues to grow in popularity.

"We will be trying to come up with a model law or regulations states can use," said David Cotney, commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Banks and chairman of the Emerging Payments Task Force. "This has gotten a lot of attention, and we want to make sure when we act, we get it right."

The task force is made up of nine state regulators from around the country, and will look at everything from bitcoin to mobile payments.

Last week though, the task force held a hearing on bitcoin and other virtual currencies, hearing testimony from bitcoin companies and regulators, include Barbara Anthony, undersecretary of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Anthony said one of the key issues is that average consumers may be interested in bitcoin, but are not aware of some of the risks.

"Consumers and average consumers need to know that there are certain drawbacks to trading in a virtual currency," Anthony said. "The kinds of consumer protections that we're used to, people have to understand they are not available to virtual currencies."

Things consumers should be aware of about bitcoin, Anthony said, include volatile worth and the fact there is no central authority that guarantees bitcoin's worth.

"You could buy $100 worth of bitcoin right now and over a period of time that value is not going to be $100," Anthony said.

Cotney said he is not planning on implementing any regulations on bitcoin immediately, but could down the road.

"We will certainly be looking at the efforts of this task force to help guide us," Cotney said.

Kyle Powers, co-founder of Liberty Teller, a company that makes bitcoin ATMs, said proper regulation will help carve out a place for the currency.

"Updated and streamlined regulations would help us grow our small business and would help Massachusetts maintain its leadership role in bitcoin," Powers said. "Bitcoin's biggest hurdle is educational, not technical. We work tirelessly everyday to increase access to and awareness of bitcoin, so we are on the same team when it comes to educating consumers."

Bitcoin had a busy week in the Boston area. Liberty Teller became one of the finalists for startup accelerator MassChallenge. And Circle Internet Financial, also based in Boston, announced its product, which aims to make bitcoin more accessible to consumers.

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New FHA rules making condos no-lending zones

WASHINGTON — For young first-time buyers, people with modest down payment cash, or seniors who want to tap their equity using a reverse mortgage, it's a growing problem: They cannot use Federal Housing Administration financing in condominiums.

It's not that these buyers and unit owners can't qualify on credit and income grounds for a loan personally — they often can. Instead, it's because the entire condominium development is ineligible. As the result of policy changes at the federal level and decisions by condominium boards of directors, thousands of communities have essentially become prohibited lending zones for FHA in the past several years.

The agency has banned so-called "spot" loans and will only insure mortgages on units in condo projects that have passed a certification process that examines budgets, reserves, insurance coverage, percentage of renters compared with owners in the development and delinquencies on payment of condo fees.

FHA says that its revised procedures weed out fiscally weak, poorly managed developments and reduce taxpayer exposure to future losses. Condominium boards, on the other hand, argue that some of FHA's evaluation criteria are too strict and that the certification process is bureaucratic and costs them money they'd prefer not to spend.

Since toughening its financing rules and requiring certification of entire projects four years ago, the number of condo developments approved for FHA financing has plunged by more than half. As of mid-month, it stood at just 10,020 communities, according to an FHA spokesman. Industry sources estimate the total number of condo projects nationwide is around 144,000.

FHA financing is important because of the special niches it fills. Among the three major federal lending intermediaries — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the other two — FHA is the most flexible on credit issues. It is also lenient on debt ratios and allows down payments as small as 3.5 percent.

As a result, FHA for decades has been the go-to mortgage option for moderate-income purchasers and has been a key resource for African-American and Latino buyers, many of whom have made their first purchase in a condominium development.

FHA also plays an outsized role in the reverse mortgage market for seniors 62 and older. Its insured reverse mortgage product accounts for more than 90 percent of all borrowing in that field, allowing seniors to extract needed cash from their home equity to support their retirement expenses.

But with the sharp decline in FHA-approved condominium projects, many buyers and unit owners are finding themselves financially frozen out. Equally troubling, unit owners who want to sell find the pool of potential buyers reduced — along with the market value of their property — because FHA mortgages are banned.

Seth Task of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty in Solon, Ohio, said a condo unit client his firm represented recently was forced to sell for $10,000 below what she had been offered by a buyer who was pre-qualified for an FHA loan — a loss solely attributable to the condominium's non-certified status. Situations like this are becoming more frequent, housing industry experts say, and the lack of FHA financing eligibility for entry-level-priced condo units is partially responsible for the decline in first-time buyer participation in the real estate market.

But now a movement is getting underway to reverse this shrinkage. At this month's spring legislative conference of the National Association of Realtors here in Washington, California brokers and agents unveiled a campaign to convince condo boards to re-think their objections to FHA certification — for their unit owners' sakes.

The primary focus, said Mike DeLeon, president of the Orange County Association of Realtors, which debuted an educational video at the Washington conference, is to show reluctant condo boards of directors "the positive benefits" of certifying with FHA. The video stresses "keeping condo unit values at their highest" by widening the pool of potential purchasers; helping existing unit owners tap their equities for retirement; and the relatively low risk of default presented by today's FHA buyers.

For most condo developments the message is this: Give some thought to the issue. FHA certification has its complications and costs, but it could be more than worth the effort for your current residents and future business.

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Startup lets clean water flow

When you are tackling one of the biggest problems on the planet, you need as many people on your side as possible.

That is the strategy Drinkwell, a Cambridge-based startup, is using to help provide clean water to the Third World.

"You really want to work with locals and have local ownership of the problem," said Minhaj Chowdhury, CEO and co-founder of Drinkwell.

Drinkwell, which has developed a cheap, reusable system of removing toxins such as arsenic, fluoride and iron, partners with people in third-world villages to treat and sell clean water to their neighbors.

"What you really want to do is create a true opportunity for the community to maintain the system and, while you're at it, create some kind of economic opportunity," Chowdhury said. "What we wanted to do is come up with a solution that actually lasts. It's really life and death for a lot of these folks."

Nearly 800 million people do not have access to clean water, and as many as 8 million people a year die from water related illnesses, according to the United Nations.

Drinkwell's model is designed to create a permanent solution. Many programs that have tried to bring clean water to the Third World have fizzled when funding waned. Drinkwell will not have this issue, Chowdhury said, because towns and villages will rely on local employees instead of an international group.

Drinkwell's water purifying system fits over existing wells, making a liter of clean water available for half a penny.

The system cleans water using ion-exchange technology, stripping toxins from the water using reusable resin beads, to provide enough water for 600 households. It produces 99 liters of clean water for every 100 liters of water put in, much more than established methods.

Drinkwell systems are connected to Twitter, so they can be monitored remotely. Because many people have basic access to cellphones and Twitter in the countries Drinkwell is serving, information about the levels of toxins in certain systems and even how long the line is for clean water can be shared in real-time.

Announced as a MassChallenge finalist last week, Drinkwell currently has 200 systems in place in India, Laos, Nepal and Cambodia through various partnerships, but is hoping to put its own model in place soon.

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Chips still on web gambling

Online gaming proponents are vowing to push ahead despite a leading casino industry lobbying group's withdrawal of support for expanded Internet gambling, which has proved to be a divisive issue among Las Vegas gaming titans.

State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Steven Grossman said the reversal by the American Gaming Association does not chill his interest in exploring online gaming to boost the state Lottery.

"They can have their squabbles out there all they want," Grossman said. "We'll continue to move forward … to study this issue and how it can potentially affect us, one way or another. Any smart business of any kind, public or private, would study that. You have to change to survive and flourish."

The AGA announced this past week it would no longer push to expand online gaming into new states, an issue that has pitted opponents such as Sands chief Sheldon Adelson and Wynn Resorts head Steve Wynn against supporters such as MGM and Caesars Entertainment.

Grossman said the near $5 billion state Lottery still wants to explore if online gaming can help preserve its market share, so long as credit cards can't be used to play and if it doesn't increase gambling addiction or hurt Lottery retailers.

"I hear the differences of opinion out there," Grossman said. "We're not going to get dragged one way or another into that debate. We'll simply study and be very careful with any approach to online gaming that doesn't protect the people of this commonwealth appropriately."

A bill is pending in the Legisla-

ture that would clear the path for the Lottery to experiment with online gaming.

Adam Krejcik, managing director at Eilers Research, which tracks online gambling, said the AGA's move dampened the prospects for new states jumping into the arena, particularly in the wake of poor returns in New Jersey.

"I think a state would much rather have the AGA support … someone needs to be leading the charge," Krejcik said. "It's hard to put a positive spin on it."

Krejcik said online gaming revenue this year in New Jersey, where casinos run gambling sites, "will come in below the most conservative estimates out there," about $140 million. Projections were as high as $1.2 billion, he said.

The state Gaming Commission — whose chairman, Stephen Crosby, called a forum in March to discuss online gambling, saying "the time is now" to discuss legalizing it — said the AGA decision does not change its posture.

"The AGA's decision to withdraw from discussions regarding online gaming reinforces the commission's position on this topic," the commission said in a statement. "The commission believes that a slow and deliberate approach to this issue is the most responsible way to move forward given the significant varying opinions on this matter."

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Starting 2012 Chrysler van gives driver a jolting jump

Recently I purchased a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country SXT V6 van with 39,000 miles. It is a one-owner vehicle with no Carfax issues. When starting out anytime, the accelerator pedal moves about an inch down before the vehicle responds from idle. When it does it jumps forward rather than a smooth reaction. This makes me let up on the pedal and then it jumps again when I reapply the throttle. This may be an inherent characteristic. I can describe the issue like this: If it is idling at 800 rpm at a stop, it jumps to 2500 rpm to get going, then adjusts to the pedal position. I called the dealership and they want to do a diagnostic and test drive for more than $100.

You are correct that some of the transmission's characteristics may be inherent. The software that controls the transmission is programmed to maximize fuel economy by tailoring shifts to specific driving conditions. The "ECO" button, for example, will cause the transmission to shift directly from first to third gear, softening acceleration to improve fuel economy.

Chrysler has issued two software updates that address shift quality from the 6-speed automatic transmission in this vehicle. One of these is called the "enhanced pedal" update which, according to the bulletin, "will make the vehicle more responsive with less pedal input and take less effort to maintain a constant cruising speed."

You didn't mention where you purchased the vehicle, but it's worth asking the dealer if your vehicle is affected by the bulletin, and if the update was done at no cost to the original owner. If not, even though the vehicle is just a few thousand miles out of warranty, this may be covered as a goodwill adjustment.

I have a 2007 Ford Focus with a trunk release issue. When I push the trunk release button on the dash and when I push the trunk release button on the remote, it sounds like a loud machine gun firing and always causes heads to turn in the parking lot. This occurs about 90 percent of the time. Usually the trunk does release, but occasionally it doesn't work and I have to repeat the process or unlock it with the key. Also, the dash light appears, indicating that the trunk isn't locked after I close it even though usually it is locked.

The most likely cause is a poor electrical connection or ground in the trunk release solenoid circuit. Ford issued service bulletin #10-5-9 in March 2010 outlining a diagnostic procedure for the trunk release. The bulletin deals with an inoperative solenoid and identifies the possibility of a poor connection between the trunk release harness connector and the solenoid. Even though your symptom is a bit different, this is the place to start.

I have a 2005 Mercury Mariner that I purchased new. The vehicle is in showroom condition with 47,000 miles on it. Here's the issue. The tachometer on the left has a little window that displays information such as direction, door open, oil change needed, etc. This has dulled to the point of being barely visible. The dealer states that the whole section of the dash must be replaced at a cost of around $700. Is there not a less expensive way? I like everything to be just right!

The dashboard on your vehicle is back-lit with a number of small light bulbs. The individual bulbs are replaceable by removing the dashboard to gain access. The real question is whether the "dulled" display is due to a burned-out bulb or failed module supplying the info to the display. If you can read the specific information displayed, even when dulled, I suspect the lamp behind it is burned out.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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Private hospitals could take some pressure off VA

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's decision to allow more veterans to get care at private hospitals could take some pressure off backlogged Veterans Affairs facilities struggling to cope with new patients from the wars on terrorism as well as old soldiers from prior conflicts.

Agreeing to recommendations from lawmakers, the administration said Saturday it will allow more veterans to obtain treatment at private hospitals and clinics in an effort to improve care.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki also said VA facilities are enhancing capacity of their clinics so veterans can get care sooner. In cases where officials cannot expand capacity at VA centers, the Department of Veterans Affairs is "increasing the care we acquire in the community through non-VA care," Shinseki said.

Lawmakers from both parties have pressed for this policy change as the VA confronts allegations about treatment delays and falsified records at VA centers nationwide.

The department's inspector general says 26 VA facilities are under investigation, including the Phoenix VA hospital, where a former clinic director says as many as 40 veterans may have died while awaiting treatment.

Officials also are investigating claims that VA employees have falsified appointment records to cover up delays in care. An initial review of 17 people who died while awaiting appointments in Phoenix found that none of their deaths appeared to have been caused by delays in treatment.

The allegations have raised fresh concerns about the administration's management of a department that has been struggling to keep up with the influx of veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Vietnam veterans needing more care as they age.

The directive announced Saturday should make it easier for veterans to get medical care at non-VA facilities, according to an agency spokeswoman.

The VA spent about $4.8 billion last year on medical care at non-VA hospitals and clinics, spokeswoman Victoria Dillon said. That amounts to about 10 percent of health care costs for the Veterans Health Administration, the agency's health care arm.

It was not clear how much the new initiative would cost, Dillon said.

Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, welcomed Shinseki's announcement, but questioned why it took so long. Reports about the veterans at the Phoenix hospital surfaced more than a month ago.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has called for the VA to allow more veterans to receive medical care at private hospitals. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said this past week that she was open to the idea of medical care at private hospitals.

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