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GM, Ford roll out protection plans for car buyers

General Motors is following Hyundai and Ford in offering protection for car buyers who lose their jobs. A plan announced Tuesday morning called Total Confidence offers up to nine payments of up to $500 each if a car buyer loses his or her job in the first 24 months after the purchase. The plan covers loans and leases.

Think, again: Norwegian electric-car maker looks for U.S. plant

Think, the Norwegian electric-car maker, says it plans to build an assembly plant and a technical center in the United States. After financing failed in the wake of the collapse of credit markets in late 2008, the company entered Norway's debt-settlement process (the equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy), and production of its recently redesigned Think city car was halted. It continues operating under a $6 million interim funding measure while it pursues additional financing.

Wheel maker connects with exotic clientele via social media

Reaching potential buyers of custom wheels for exotic cars takes more than buying ads in magazines. Miami-based ADV.1 Wheels is building a business fueled by a social-media approach that includes car-forum interaction, photo shoots and short films on the Internet. The company launched a Facebook fan page in late March, has received more than 59,000 “likes” and aims for 100,000--at which point ADV.1 Wheels has promised to give away a set of the company’s Trakfunction wheels.