This Just In: New on the Net

The Friday before a three-day weekend always feels awesome. Hopefully, you don’t have to work on on Memorial Day, but if you do, here’s hoping you get overtime. Do any companies even do that anymore? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Authorities in the UK are investigating more than 400 driving instructors for not having proper credentials. Maybe this explains why everyone over there drives on the wrong side of the road. Auto Express
• With the American Axle strike now officially over, the General has calculated exactly how much it cost. The lost production wasn’t cheap. Well, unless you think that 2.81 billion is pocket change. Yikes. Automotive News
• Legislators in Florida want to release a Christian-themed vanity plate, and I think that’s a fine idea. Just as long as they release a Sex, Drugs and Rock’n'Roll plate along with it, that is. Winding Road
• Are the Japanese falling out of love with the car? Slipping sales figures seem to suggest they are, and automakers are nervously trying to figure out how to rekindle the romance. Something tells me that a nice dinner and flowers just won’t do it this time. Newsweek