The bankruptcies of Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GRM) provided Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE ADR: TM) with an unparalleled opportunity to increase U.S. market share. But now patent-infringement claims could result in a U.S. import ban on some of the company’s most popular hybrid cars.

McLean, Virginia-based Paice LLC has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that claims the Toyota Camry infringes on its patents, Bloomberg News reported. An investigation into the claim could be completed within 15 months and result in a ban of some Toyota imports.

Paice, a developer of hybrid electric power train technology, in 2005 won a similar case against Toyota involving the Japanese carmaker’s Prius, Highlander and Lexus RX400h hybrid models. Paice claimed those vehicles used its drivetrain technologies, and a jury agreed, awarding the company $4.3 million

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 9, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Colgate Palmolive (CL), China Mobile (CHL), ICICI Bank (IBN), Tele Norte (TNE) and Toyota Motor Corp. (TM).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

IMF Grows More Optimistic

While the U.S. is gaining share of the world economy relative to the other advanced economies, it is losing share to the developing parts of the world, most notably China and India. While the two emerging giants have not been immune to the world

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Auto sales posted another dismal December, capping a horrendous 2008. Should we be surprised? Of course not -- we have been talking about this for some time. Expensive vehicles and gas guzzlers were hit the most, as cost-sensitive consumers and tight credit markets rule the day.BMW sales were down 36% in December and 10% in 2008. The pillar of strength here is the Mini, believe it or not.Chrysler was down 53% in December and 30% in 2008. Most of the weakness can be traced to the 300, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and Ram.Daimler (DAI) was down 24% in December and down 2% in 2008. The C-class, a terrific car we saw in San Diego a couple of days ago, is keeping this company afloat.Ford (F) was down 34% in December and down 22% in 2008. The weakness can be tied ...