American speeds up its Boeing 737 order

American speeds up its Boeing 737 order American Airlines said Wednesday it will take delivery of another six Boeing 737-800s in 2010 in an effort to speed up the replacement of fuel-gulping MD-80s. The move brings the total number of 737-800s expected to be delivered in 2009 and 2010 to 76. American said the deal is part of an amendment under its purchase agreement with Boeing, in which the airline exercised its right to buy 20 737-800s for delivery in 2009 and 2010.

Chrysler Jeep plant to produce a crossover Chrysler plans to spend $1.8 billion retooling a Detroit factory that builds Jeeps so that it can start making a more fuel-efficient, car-based crossover vehicle there. The new vehicle, designed to attract consumers who are responding to high gasoline prices by shunning traditional sport-utility vehicles, will go on sale in 2010. Thomas LaSorda, a Chrysler vice chairman, announced the plan Wednesday at an auto industry conference in Michigan. He was unclear about whether the new crossover will be built alongside or in place of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, now made at Chrysler's Jefferson North plant in Detroit.

Chinese taxes will promote small cars China is raising its sales tax on big cars to as high as 40 percent, and drastically cutting taxes on small cars, in its latest attempt to combat emissions that contribute to heavy smog over most of its cities. The tax on passenger vehicles with engines bigger than 4 liters will be doubled to 40 percent from 20 percent, effective Sept. 1, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday in a statement on its website. Those buying vehicles with engines from 2 liters to 4 liters will have to pay a 25 percent tax, up from the current 15 percent, it said. "Autos are the giants of energy consumption and pollution emissions and this is a major part of the effort to conserve resources and reduce emissions," the ministry said. The sales tax for cars with engines 1 liter or smaller would drop to 1 percent from the current 3 percent.