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- <text id=89TT0415>
- <title>
- Feb. 13, 1989: Business Notes:Bankruptcy
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1989
- Feb. 13, 1989 James Baker:The Velvet Hammer
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- BUSINESS, Page 63
- Business Notes
- BANKRUPTCY
- Flat Tire For Yugo
- </hdr><body>
- <p> When the Yugo subcompact was introduced into the U.S. four
- years ago, its promoters billed it as the next Volkswagen
- Beetle. But last week Global Motors, importer of the
- Yugoslav-made car, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
- The car's initial allure was its low base price, which started
- at $3,990 in 1985 and is now $4,349. But the car ran into
- competition from South Korea's Hyundai Excel, which began
- selling at $4,995 in 1986.
- </p>
- <p> Moreover, the Yugo's reputation went downhill because of its
- bumpy handling and lack of amenities. Sales slumped from 48,532
- autos in 1987 to 31,546 last year. Even so, the manufacturer,
- Zavodi Crvena Zastava, plans to take over its U.S. importer's
- operations and continue selling the car.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
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