Automotive News back issues from June 2007:
Underlying the CAFE battle: What's a car, what's a truck?(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Harry Stoffer To critics of the federal fuel economy program, the Chrysler PT Cruiser is a symbol of the regulations' loopholes and the ability of automakers to exploit them. But under a little-noticed rule change, the Chrysler group now must plan to call the ...
Valeo CEO: Profit margin will hit 6% by 2010.(Suppliers)(Thierry Morin )
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine Thierry Morin has survived the toughest challenge to his leadership since taking over as Valeo CEO six years ago, but trouble still looms. Valeo shareholders gave Morin and the eight people he proposed for the board an overwhelming vote ...
GM improves supplier ties; Ford falls; Toyota and Honda top annual survey.(Suppliers)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Ford Motor Co. has replaced General Motors as the North American automaker with the worst vendor relations, according to a respected annual supplier survey being released today, June 4. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. retained their ...
Marketing chief Murphy leaves Chrysler.(People)(George Murphy )(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Mary Connelly George Murphy joined the Chrysler group in the early days of then-CEO Dieter Zetsche's tenure. Murphy's assignment: focus and spice up the company's marketing. Murphy, 51, resigned last week as senior vice president of global brand marketing. He ...
Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jun 04, 2007 ... BMW clarifies quote on build-to-order To the Editor: The quote from BMW Manufacturing Co. Vice President Doug Bartow in a May 21 story about young buyers was his reply to a question about how to achieve perfection in the supply chain ("Buying from lots? That's ...
Chrysler transaction prices take a dip.(News)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Not only are Chrysler group sales off this year, so are transaction prices. That's a reversal of trend. The average retail price for the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands combined had been rising steadily since 2003, according to the Power Information Network. But in the first ...
Kia's quest: Tattoo status.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Kia is enjoying steady U.S. sales increases. But Len Hunt, COO of Kia Motors America, isn't satisfied. At an Automotive News marketing conference in Los Angeles last week, Hunt said not enough people are shouting, "I want a Kia.'' Most of Kia's sales still are based on price and ...
Labor on China: `We must get together - and get moving'.(Final assembly)(Conference notes)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Edward Lapham Like everybody else who has been to China recently, Teamsters President James Hoffa was blown away by the energy of the Chinese economy. And he said so last week in a speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference, an annual two-day confab of ...
Wanted: A few innovative dealers.(News)(Editorial)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Have you created a showroom that shoppers can't resist? Discovered a recipe for loyal salespeople? Found a way to put some fun into F&I? If you are a franchised new-car dealer and have pioneered any winning strategy in any part of your ...
Black-owned retailer sets revenue mark.(News)(Prestige Automotive Group )(Statistical data)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Prestige Automotive Group is the first black-owned U.S. dealership group to reach $1.5 billion in yearly revenue, a new survey says. The suburban Detroit company is the largest black-owned auto retailer in the country for the fourth straight ...
Ramaciotti is new Fiat design czar.(People)(Lorenzo Ramaciotti )(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Fiat has lured longtime Pininfarina design boss Lorenzo Ramaciotti out of retirement to head the Italian group's styling activities. Ramaciotti, 59, will oversee design at six Fiat group brands: Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, Abarth and Fiat ...
Calendar.(Calendar)
Jun 04, 2007 ... AUTO SHOWS June 9-17 - Barcelona International Motor Show, (press days: June 7 and 8), Barcelona Fair, Barcelona, Spain, 34-932-33-3555, www.salonautomovil.com July 26-29 - Expo Auto & Moto Brazil, TransAmerica Expo Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 55-11-31495111, ...
Autoliv plan: Fewer suppliers, more low-cost sourcing.(News)(Jan Carlson)(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc Automotive News Europe When Swedish supplier Autoliv needed a new CEO, it chose the man who led the division that generates nearly half of the company's revenues. On April 1, former Autoliv Europe President Jan Carlson, 47, replaced Lars Westerberg as ...
Marelli CEO: Automakers stress parts, not just price.(News)(Magneti Marelli CEO Eugenio Razelli )(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Byline: Luca Ciferri Automotive News Europe CEO Eugenio Razelli says Magneti Marelli refuses automakers' demands to make abrupt price reductions, which partly explains why he characterizes relations between the two sides as tense. But he sees positive changes taking place. ...
Toyota tops wish list of ZF's Haerter; CEO wants more business from Asia, `new players'.(News)(Hans-Georg Haerter of ZF Friedrichshafen AG )(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Arjen Bongard, Douglas A. Bolduc Automotive News Europe Hans-Georg Haerter has seen many changes at ZF Friedrichshafen AG since he joined the German supplier in 1973. Since January, Haerter has been the one deciding the direction in which the company will go. ...
Mazda's Davis has racing in his blood.(News)(Robert Davis)(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Mark Rechtin Robert Davis, Mazda's product honcho in North America, spends most weekends tearing up tracks in his RX-8 in the Sports Car Club of America's Touring 3 races. Davis and his wife, Bonnie, even camp at the tracks on race weekends. When not ...
LaNeve to Chevy: Fix the car ads.
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors marketing chief Mark LaNeve is sending a blunt message to Chevrolet's long-time ad agency, Campbell-Ewald: Fix Chevy's car ads. That puts pressure on Bill Ludwig, the ad agency's chief creative officer. In an interview ...
Will BMW buy Volvo? Not likely.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... German news media reported last week that BMW might be interested in buying Volvo from struggling Ford. BMW and Ford poured cold water on the rumor, and history adds a few more buckets. "There are no synergies between Volvo and BMW,'' said one former Volvo official. "Each of us ...
Why is this man smiling?(Final assembly)(Tom LaSorda CEO Chrysler group)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Why has Tom LaSorda been grinning like a Cheshire cat lately? Well, he's getting to run his very own company now that DaimlerChrysler is selling Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management. But the Chrysler group CEO might be smiling for another reason: The Cerberus deal could make ...
Study will focus on vehicle communications.(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Tim Moran The German government and several global automakers and suppliers are conducting a four-year test of cutting-edge auto communication technologies. Peter Rieth, director of technology and future development for Continental AG's automotive systems ...
Combo stores are top priority of new Buick, Pontiac, GMC bosses.(News)(Jim Bunnell)(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Jamie LaReau The new managers of Buick, Pontiac and GMC will move aggressively to eliminate stand-alone dealerships and combine the three brands under one roof. They also want to slash Pontiac's fleet sales, which regularly have exceeded 40 percent in recent ...
GM to boost ad spending for Cadillac DTS, STS.(News)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors has bolstered its budget to aggressively market the slumping Cadillac DTS and STS sedans in the second half of the year. Although the luxury sedan segment as a whole is down, GM is not happy with DTS and STS sales, said Mark LaNeve, ...
Cerberus exec: 'Due diligence is done' on Chrysler.(News)(Cerberus Capital Management)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Bradford Wernle Cerberus Capital Management, soon to be taking ownership of 80.1 percent of Chrysler, has completed its inspection of Chrysler. All that's left is the paperwork leading to final signatures. "Due diligence is done,'' Cerberus Managing Director ...
Correction.(Correction notice)
Jun 04, 2007 ... * A story on Page 45 of the May 28 issue gave the wrong time frame for the recent increase in DaimlerChrysler AG's stock price ....
Report: New Prius' battery won't be lithium ion; Newspaper says Toyota suppliers were told of safety concerns.(News)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: James B. Treece Reversing an earlier decision, Toyota Motor Corp. will not use lithium ion batteries in the redesigned Prius hybrid car due in late 2008, according to a Japanese newspaper. Toyota suppliers were told in May that the decision to postpone the ...
This must be the place.(Final assembly)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Bo Andersson, General Motors' purchasing czar, was in China last month to talk with prospective suppliers. But finding him was a bit tricky for suppliers invited to a Shanghai office suite, because building managers hadn't gotten around to putting up a directory. Anyone who made ...
Credit cards increase service business; DCX dealers get bounce from branded plastic.(Service & Parts)(DaimlerChrysler Financial Services )
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Donna Harris DaimlerChrysler Financial Services is using branded credit cards to drive customers back to Chrysler group and Mercedes-Benz dealerships for service, parts and accessories. About 300,000 owners of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Mercedes vehicles have ...
Super Duty tops Ford's sales hopes.(News)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Richard Truett Three highly profitable versions of the redesigned 2008 F-series Super Duty pickups are exceeding Ford Motor Co.'s sales projections. Buyers are snapping up fully optioned F-350s, such as the Lariat and King Ranch, in greater numbers than ...
Court: Car ownership transfers when buyer applies for title.(Legal File)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Eric Freedman A dealership's liability as the owner of a motor vehicle ends the moment a purchaser signs the title application, a divided Michigan Supreme Court has ruled. It doesn't matter whether the title application has been delivered or sent to the ...
Auto News digest.(Briefs)(General Motors Corp. in Licensing agreements with Insignia Group LLC)(NASCAR in Licensing agreements with Universal Technical Institute Inc.)
Jun 04, 2007 ... GM, Insignia reach agreement on licensing CHARLOTTE, N.C. - General Motors has signed a licensing agreement with Insignia Group LLC, which produces online accessory catalogs for dealers. The 10-year agreement authorizes Insignia to include GM accessory product information and ...
Dealers.(People)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Milestones * R.C. Alexander of Alexander Toyota in Franklin, Tenn., received a 25-year award for Toyota from Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. * Jack Helfman of River Oaks Chrysler-Jeep in Houston received a 35-year award for Chrysler from DaimlerChrysler AG. ...
Kia ads: Join the cool crowd; New campaign aims at getting rid of low-price image.(Marketing)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Mary Connelly The cool kids are doing it - and you can, too. That's the thrust of the new advertising campaign from Kia Motors America. The Korean brand wants to throw off its geeky low-price image. It seeks to join the in-crowd of automakers known for ...
NADA: Revenue from parts, service fall in '06.(Service & Parts)(National Automobile Dealers Association)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Donna Harris Service and parts revenue at franchised U.S. dealerships fell for a second straight year in 2006. Dealerships reported $80.45 billion in service and parts sales last year, down 5.5 percent from 2005, according to the National Automobile Dealers ...
Marketers' target practice can be very perplexing.(Marketing)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Byline: Laura Clark Geist So just who is the target buyer for Jeep's new Patriot SUV? A media planning document from the Chrysler group identifies the Patriot's ideal customer: a 45-year-old man whose household earns $65,000 a year. But when Jeep buys TV ...
Feds must deny states' CO2 waiver, set national plan.(Viewpoint essay)
Jun 04, 2007 ... The EPA must deny a waiver to the 12 states that want to set and enforce their own rules for CO2 emissions. Instead, the Bush administration and Congress must develop a comprehensive national plan to reduce petroleum consumption and, therefore, CO2 emissions. It's understandable ...
Magna eyes more vehicle assembly; Hogan: N. America has potential.(Suppliers)(Mark Hogan of Magna International Inc.)(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Despite word that Magna International Inc. would lose production of the BMW X3 SUV in Europe, Magna President Mark Hogan wants to pursue a vehicle assembly site in North America. "Do we see potential for a North American assembly plant for ...
Faurecia's priority: Stop losses in North America.(Suppliers)(Yann Delabriere)(Interview)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine Yann Delabriere, Faurecia's new CEO, is making a priority of stemming the French supplier's losses in North America. Delabriere, who became CEO in February, said the company lost 80 million euros ($107.6 million) in North America in ...
9-3's new face.(News)
Jun 04, 2007 ... The 2008 Saab 9-3 adopts fascia, grille and surfacing themes first seen on the Aero X concept. The model marks the return of Saab's ...
True North goes south in Kansas.(News)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: David Barkholz General Motors' True North march to labor savings has stalled in Kansas. The UAW local at GM's Fairfax assembly plant hasn't met with the automaker in the month since negotiations broke down over work rule concessions, said Jeff Manning, ...
The MG returns, with a boost from Chinese.(Final assembly)(MG Rover )(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... The MG is back, with a dose of Chinese cash and technology. The first MG sports cars in more than two years was built last week at the famous Longbridge plant in England. The cars are modified TF two-seaters that will be sold in England this fall. The mid-engine ...
Chrysler needs a small car, but not from Chery.(Viewpoint essay)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: James B. Treece Chery Automobile Co. has resumed talks with the Chrysler group about building a small car in China for sale under the U.S. carmaker's badge. Talks had been suspended during DaimlerChrysler AG's sale of the Chrysler group. Expect Chery to say ...
BMW to the purists: This 1's for you.(News)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Rick Kranz BMW wants the upcoming 1 series to lure enthusiasts back into the fold. The automaker identifies this group as former BMW owners who abandoned the brand because the 3 series got too big and too luxurious over the past 20 years. "There ...
Toyota wins the May crown; Brand beats Chevy, Ford to lead U.S.(Sales)(Statistical data)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. There's a new automotive sales leader in the United States. No one should be surprised that Toyota was at the top of the heap in May. Toyota Motor Corp. bested General Motors, including Saab, in the first quarter of 2007 to become the ...
Minivan launch tests Chrysler's marketing; '08 products arrive at a crucial time.(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Mary Connelly Chrysler group dealers start ordering the company's 2008 minivans this week, and Chrysler's promotion of the vehicles raises several major marketing questions. For instance: In an era of crossovers and strong competition from Japanese ...
Mooney takes GM global integration job.(People)(Denny Mooney )(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Jack Herman General Motors has appointed Denny Mooney to the newly created position of vice president, global vehicle systems and integration, effective Aug. 1. Mooney, 50, will oversee the execution of best practices for GM's global engineering organization ...
Ailing Buick has much riding on Enclave; Crossover's quiet luxury aims at women in 40s.(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors is counting on the Enclave crossover to get younger customers into Buick showrooms. It has been a bad year for Buick. The 30.9 percent sales decline through April is the biggest drop of any brand this year. The Enclave is key to ...
Mexico sales down for April, year to date.(Sales)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Jack Herman Vehicle sales in Mexico dropped 3.8 percent in April, with two of the top three sellers reporting losses. A total of 75,022 cars and light trucks were sold in April. For the first four months of the year, 355,240 vehicles have been sold, down 1.6 ...
Lindsey Halstead.(former chairman of Ford)(Obituary)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Lindsey Halstead, former chairman of Ford of Europe and the man who brought Jaguar into the Ford family, died May 26. He was 76. Halstead, a 41-year Ford employee, was named to the top job in Europe in 1989. That year he led negotiations that ...
A milestone for U.S. trucks.(Production)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Byline: Debi Domby * U.S. truck production reached 3 million on Thursday, May 31, six days later than in 2006. * General Motors' North America truck production reached 1 million on Monday, May 28, 10 days later than in 2006. * ...
Small cars stand tall in May sales.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Richard Truett Gasoline prices reached record highs in May, so sales of fuel-efficient vehicles went through the roof, right? You betcha. Hybrids, crossovers and small cars were scorching hot last month. And most trucks and SUVs were not. Toyota's ...
The profit isn't always in money; New technologies may pay off in the long term.(Viewpoint essay)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Dave Guilford A documentary filmmaker stirred things up last year by asking Who killed the electric car? The answer, at least regarding the EV1 that was the focus of the film, is General Motors. GM killed the EV1 just as it killed the Cadillac Eldorado and ...
Toyota's Yaris effort has a hip-hop beat.(Marketing)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Marcus Amick Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. is using hip-hop music to market its Yaris small car to young black consumers. A monthlong series of events that begins Thursday, June 7, in Houston will feature hip-hop disc jockeys, rappers and break dancers squaring ...
Bois will be . . . Buick owners?(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Unlike hip-hop star Big Boi, your average grandmother might not watch Jerry Springer, breed pit bulls or host a burlesque show in the Boom Boom Room at the Body Tap, a club in Atlanta. But the two may have something in common. That's because Big Boi rolls in a 2007 ...
Harbour: Detroit 3 boost productivity.(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: David Barkholz The Detroit 3 have almost caught their Japanese counterparts in factory productivity. And the small gap that remains could narrow further next year as General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler group cut workers and get leaner through new ...
Toyota sues; this Lexus chassis isn't very classy.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Toyota, always the savvy marketer, has trademarked the prestigious Lexus name for use on pens, binoculars, clocks, shirts - even stuffed animals. But it wasn't counting on Lexus Cash, the would-be porn star. And that led to a federal lawsuit filed last week in Detroit. ...
Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. appointed Bill Fay, Randy Pflughaupt)(Valeo Cos. to acquire Visteon Corp.)(Tata Autocomp Systems Corp. to acquire Lear Corp.)
Jun 04, 2007 ... Toyota moves more executives LOS ANGELES - After appointing new Toyota and Lexus general managers in April, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. has made several sales and marketing changes. Bill Fay, 51, has been named vice president of sales for Toyota Division. He will ...
Late News.(Ford raises Edge sales forecast)(DaimlerChrysler AG. Chrysler Group plans Mexico engine plant)(Volvo Cars of North America Inc. appointed Doug Speck )
Jun 04, 2007 ... Ford raises Edge sales forecast DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. last week raised its 2007 sales forecast for the Edge crossover to 120,000 units, from 100,000. Edge sales totaled 12,701 in May, the highest monthly total since it was launched late last year, said George ...
Industry wrongly fights CAFE boost.(Corporate average fuel economy)(Column)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: KEITH CRAIN The federal government isn't even close to having a bill that would put some real numbers on revised corporate average fuel economy standards, and the industry already is putting up roadblocks. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has created ...
After losing out at Valeo, Pardus may go after Delphi.(Suppliers)(Pardus Capital Management LP )
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: David Barkholz Karim Samii is not easily deterred. The founder of Pardus Capital Management LP is considering an investment in Delphi Corp., fresh off losing a proxy fight for board control of Valeo SA. Samii won't talk publicly about his pursuit ...
Ranger's in danger: Is Ford out? Small-truck segment sags; company weighs its options.
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Richard Truett The clock is ticking on Ford Motor Co.'s ancient Ranger compact pickup, the plant where it is built and maybe the entire compact pickup segment. Next year, Ford will close the St. Paul, Minn., plant where the Ranger is assembled. Soon the ...
All-wet paint plan will cut factory's equipment, costs.(News)
Jun 04, 2007; ... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Imagine the mess you would get if a paint shop in an auto assembly plant applied the base coat when the primer was still wet, and then applied the clear coat on top of the wet base coat. Sounds like paint robots gone wild. But that's the new ...
U.S. Steel may be buyout target.(Late News)(Volkswagen AG adds Mexican workers)(Shares of U.S. Steel Corp. rose)(Saturn Corp. marketing through test drives)
Jun 11, 2007 ... DETROIT - Shares of U.S. Steel Corp., a key producer of automotive steel, climbed nearly 8 percent Friday afternoon after reports that German steel maker ThyssenKrupp may be interested in buying the company. ThyssenKrupp AG, based in Duesseldorf, may be interested in buying ...
NUMMI starts building 2008s.(Production)(New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. )(Brief article)
Jun 11, 2007; ... Byline: Debi Domby * Last week, New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., began building the 2008 Toyota Corolla and Pontiac Vibe. * In May, 1,447,782 units were produced in North America, down 2.8 percent from May 2006. North ...
A weird week, many questions.(Final assembly)(Ford Motor Co. receive the Platinum Plant Quality Award from J.D. Power and Associates)(Daimler-Benz AG ranked low on quality management)(Toyota Motor Corp. to not use lithium batteries )
Jun 11, 2007; ... Byline: Edward Lapham Some weeks there are too many strange questions in the auto industry. For example: * Did anyone say "I told you so''? One week after Ford closed its Wixom, Mich., assembly plant, it became the first North American assembly ...
Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Navistar International Corp. sued Ford Motor Co.)(Toyota's hybrid sales top 1 million)(Autoliv Inc. to build airbag plant )
Jun 11, 2007 ... Toyota's hybrid sales top 1 million LOS ANGELES - Toyota Motor Corp. said last week that it has sold more than 1 million hybrid vehicles since 2000, more than half of them in the United States. And the pace is picking up. "We anticipate combined sales of Toyota and ...