Bush pols now run Chrysler. Cerberus Capital. investors are, or have been: * John Snow - George Bush's former Treasury Secretary - who as late as 2005 was saying that his boss will be remembered for "having significantly reduced the deficit in his time." He's the chairman of Cerberus. * Steve Feinberg - a major Republican contributor and the secretive, truck-driving founder of Cerberus. * Dan Quayle - former Vice President of the United States of America. He's Cerberus' chairman of global investments. * Donald Rumsfeld - no introduction needed. He was an investor in Cerberus - and may still be - for all we know. There are a number of Republican Party heavyweights, including Dan Quayle, former Vice President and Indiana Senator and John Snow, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Bush. Dick Cheney has been rumored to be a big investor in Cerebus. I think the appreciation of DCX is in the stock already,so I'd avoid it.

The Ford family owns 40% of Ford Motor Company. Ford is in transition, facing a shareholder's revolt against CEO Alan Mullaly, with a movement to strip the Ford family of power. It's been steadily losing market share in the US and is mortgaging their factories. The Ford family may be selling their shares. The Ford family faces intense heat from stockholders. Maybe if the family sells, it will help Ford's price.

GM is bleeding cash. It loses about $1,500, because of health care and retiree costs, for every car it makes. The stock is inflated. GM is a little bit over a year away from Chapter 11. I don't see how GM can get its expenses in line. Its stock is up through smoke and mirrors but it can't keep it up, in my opinion.

Jim Cramer mentioned Spartan Motors on Mad Money, May 14, 2007. He's two thumbs waaaay up because they make a custom chassis that's resistant to IEDs. Spartan Motors, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the engineering and manufacture of custom motor vehicle chassis and bodies in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Spartan Chassis and Emergency Vehicle Team. The Spartan Chassis segment manufactures and markets chassis for fire trucks; motorhomes; and specialty applications, such as military vehicles, trolleys, utility trucks, and crash-rescue vehicles. This segment sells its product to original equipment manufacturers through dealers. The Emergency Vehicle Team segment offers emergency vehicles built on chassis platforms. Its products include pumpers and aerial fire apparatus, heavy and light-duty rescue units, and tankers and quick attack units; aerial ladder components for fire trucks; and ambulances and rescue vehicles. Spartan Motors was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan.

Toyota just passed Ford as the second best selling auto maker in the US. It had a blowout quarter, but iits stock has treaded water.

Japan's second largest auto maker. Higher PE (23 vs 14) but lower PEG (1.22 vs 1.65) than Toyota (TM). Of the two, I like Toyota better.

Based in Hong Kong. According to their 2006 Annual Report, sales were flat in 2005. Maybe they're turning around? Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures and sells minibuses, automotive components, and sedans in China. It also manufactures gasoline engines for use in minibuses, sedans, and sport utility vehicles and light trucks, as well as for use in automotive components, including window mouldings, strips, axles, and stamped parts. The company sells its minibuses under JinBei and Granse brands, and sedans under Zhonghua brand. In addition, it manufactures and sells automotive parts and components, including window stripping and mouldings, seats, axles, safety and airbag system, interior decoration, and engines for passenger cars, minibuses, sport utility vehicles, and light duty trucks. Further, the company has a joint venture with BMW Holding BV to manufacture and sell BMW designed and branded sedans in China. Brilliance China Automotive Holdings�s strategic partners include Toyota, BMW AG, Mitsubishi, FEV Motorentechnik Gmbh, Porshe, and Italdesign S.p.A. The company was founded in 1949 and is based in Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Nice articles at Seeking Alpha: Tata Motors Is a Long-Term Investment. Tata Motors' Shares Appear Undervalued My favorite, which I I own personally, is India's Tata Motors (TTM). It's growth has been astronomical, especially after it introduced a $2,500 car specifically for the Indian market. It's not only a great company in an expanding market, it's cheap, with a P/E of 13 and PEG of 0.69. It's pulled back because of problems with the Indian stock market a few months ago but it appears to be rebounding.