AUTOS

Chrysler reached an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit that forestalled what would have been the first trial of a lawsuit over hazards posed by air bags to children. A spokesman for the auto maker declined to give details of the settlement, but the Nashville Tennessean newspaper said it is believed to include a multimillion-dollar payment to the child’s parents.

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Ford Motor Co. unveiled new incentives on its 1999 model cars and trucks starting today. The incentives include $500 cash rebates on some models and finance rates ranging from 1.9% to 7.9%. Incentives on 1998 models also will be continued.