Leaf pre-orders exceed capacity; GM commercial boosts brand image

(The Associated Press)

Leaf pre-orders rise above capacity
Nissan says the automaker has received more than 13,000 orders in the U.S. and Japan for its new electric car, the Leaf, exceeding production capacity. Currently the company can produce fewer than 12,000 of the cars by next March, but is seeking to boost capacity to meet the demand. The first models of the zero-emissions Leaf will be delivered to customers in December.

--The Associated Press

GM CEO Ed Whitacre speaks in April. (Orlin Wagner / The Associated Press)

GM commercial boosts brand image
A recent General Motors commercial, in which the company's CEO says it has repaid its U.S. loans, have succeeded in repairing the automaker's image with some consumers. Surveys by YouGov, a company that measures public perception of businesses, showed consumers have a more favorable view of GM since Ed Whitacre's ad proclaimed repayment "in full, with interest, five years ahead of the original schedule." It now has a stronger image than Toyota and has gained ground on Ford, according to the survey.

--The Associated Press