Automotive News back issues from January 2008:
Late News.(Ford Motor Co.)(Flex sport wagon)(F-150 pickup)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... GPS will track fuel price Ford Motor Co.'s next-generation navigation systems will help drivers find cheaper gasoline. Beginning with the 2009 Ford Flex sport wagon and F-150 pickup, Ford will offer Sirius Travel Link, which provides information such as gasoline ...
Ford dumps volume targets for dealer bonuses.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is dropping the volume requirement from its dealership bonus program in 2008. The move is among several in the works aimed at boosting dealership profits. The changes to the program are designed to make it easier for stores to ...
Who's No. 1? Time for an official review.(Final assembly)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Edward Lapham Isn't this a wonderful time of year? Although the holidays are over and spring is still a long way off, there's a natural exuberance in the air. It's bowl time. And even though the Bowl Championship Series determines the official No ....
Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Jan 07, 2008 ... GM ad policy shift is good for dealers To the Editor: General Motors' decision to give control of advertising spending back to dealer groups in April will get us back to the days (before 2000) when we had control ("GM dealer groups get ad control,'' Dec. 10). ...
What an exciting way to start 2008.(Column)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: KEITH CRAIN This year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. So many storms are approaching that it's tough to predict how things will turn out. But at least the year will start on a high note. In less than a week, press ...
Saturn's Lajdziak: GM is 'where I wanted to be'.(News)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Jamie LaReau Jill Lajdziak's General Motors roots run deep. The head of GM's Saturn brand grew up working in her father's Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership. She even told other potential employers of her desire to work for the automaker. She got her wish. She ...
Solstice outguns Miata - again.(Final assembly)
Jan 07, 2008 ... For the second straight year, the Pontiac Solstice roadster is America's favorite moderately priced sports car. The Solstice took the checkered flag over the Mazda MX-5 Miata in the 2007 U.S. sales race, outselling the Miata in a photo finish. Pontiac sold 16,779 units in 2007 ...
Study: Indirect loan delinquencies soar.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Donna Harris Delinquencies on vehicle loans made through auto dealerships hit a 16-year high in the third quarter of 2007, a new study says. The trend is likely to continue, the American Bankers Association said last week. Payments on 2.86 percent ...
Ford goes global in styling its B-cars.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Amy Wilson After toying with a number of design concepts for subcompact cars, Ford appears to be settled on a plan: a global B-segment vehicle shared largely across its European, North American and Asian units. Ford is teasing the public with its Verve family, ...
The theme: Green and mean; Fuel sippers and gas guzzlers share the spotlight.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Talk about contrasts. Next week's Detroit auto show features fuel-sipping hybrids, zero-emissions fuel cells and a healthy dose of gasoline-sucking, rubber-burning, performance cars. Five Chinese companies will set up shop in Detroit's Cobo Center to woo potential ...
Who has 1st Mustang - and what's it worth?(Final assembly)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Classicmusclecars.com, a Wauconda, Ill., outfit, is offering for a cool $5.5 million a car that it claims is the very first regular-production Ford Mustang built and sold to the general public. The company has the original bill of sale, which shows the white Mustang convertible being ...
Waning interest.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Interest rates on new-car loans obtained at dealerships are down a little. Here is the average annual percentage rate on 72-month loans for new-vehicle transactions in November and December compared with the same period in 2004-06. By the way, 72 months was the most popular loan term ...
Rethinking retail: A hot topic at World Congress.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Issues affecting dealers in the evolving automotive retail market will be the subject of a panel discussion at the Automotive News World Congress on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 22. The speakers are: * Walter Czarnecki, executive vice president, Penske Corp. * ...
Ford, Microsoft to offer 911 service in Sync.(News)(Microsoft Corp.)(Ford Motor Co.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Leslie J. Allen Microsoft Corp. and Ford Motor Co. plan to enhance the Sync system, taking aim at a key feature of General Motors' OnStar - automatic accident notification. On Sunday, Jan. 6, Microsoft's Robbie Bach was expected to announce the enhancement ...
Lifan is the latest Chinese wannabe.(Final assembly)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Another small Chinese automaker is talking about selling cars in the United States. Lifan Auto, which sells only one model - the small 520 sedan - is talking with a U.S. distributor, says Yin Mingshan, president of Lifan's parent, Chongqing Lifan Industry Group. He wouldn't ...
This year's U.S. sales forecast: Gloomy.(Sales)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Now that the industry has wrapped up its U.S. sales reports for 2007, it's time to look ahead and back. Neither picture is especially pretty. For 2008, it's hard to see more than 15.7 million to 15.8 million sales of new cars and light ...
Supply line.(Briefs)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... BorgWarner turbocharges V-8 DETROIT - BorgWarner Inc. will supply two turbocharger systems to International Engine Group's 6.4-liter V-8 PowerStroke diesel engine. Ford uses the engine in its F-series heavy-duty pickups. International Engine will use BorgWarner's ...
Showtime in Detroit.(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Pickups and SUVs - once predictable and conservative - are getting a styling makeover. At next week's Detroit auto show, Toyota will introduce the A-BAT concept pickup, left. Ford will unveil the ...
Denso expands hybrid plant.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Hans Greimel Denso Corp. plans a 25 percent expansion of a plant that makes hybrid vehicle components and other parts. The Japanese supplier will spend about [yen]6 billion ($53.9 million) for an additional 1.2 million square feet of land at a factory complex ...
CAFE will put new entrees on auto show menu.(Opinion)(Corporate average fuel economy)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Big auto shows are changing - and the corporate average fuel economy legislation signed last month by President Bush will speed the transformation. The evolution of auto shows toward displays of more practical and fuel-efficient vehicles should be obvious at the North American ...
Some pay raise: To $8.3 million from $1; For top Delphi execs, Chapter 11 has happy ending.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: David Barkholz Delphi Corp.'s two top executives, Steve Miller and Rodney O'Neal, stand to earn $13.6 million in combined cash bonuses as part of the supplier's impending emergence from Chapter 11 protection. Miller, 68, a longtime turnaround expert who is ...
Calendar.(International Auto Show)(Calendar)
Jan 07, 2008 ... AUTO SHOWS Jan. 10-13 - Silicon Valley International Auto Show, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, Calif., 717-671-4300, www.motortrendautoshows.com Jan. 18-20 - South Carolina International Auto Show, Palmetto Expo Center, Greenville, S.C., 717-671-4300, ...
BMW adds jobs to boost S.C. output.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: April Wortham BMW AG may be cutting 8,000 jobs worldwide this year as part of its plan to boost profits, but it's hiring in South Carolina. The German automaker's Spartanburg factory will add up to 200 jobs in the first quarter and extend its night shift two ...
Gasoline-diesel combo moves closer to reality.(News)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Powertrain designers have long sought to combine the advantages of gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines into a single unit. Despite research that can be traced back almost to the birth of the auto industry, development costs and other ...
Soft market threatens Tundra sales goal.(News)(Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota executives say they couldn't care less that the Tundra full-sized pickup fell 3,445 units short of their 200,000-unit sales goal. But what should have them concerned is whether Tundra sales can grow enough to reach Toyota's goal of 300,000 ...
Gas prices boost Nissan car sales as trucks tank.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Lindsay Chappell High gasoline prices rippled through showrooms at Nissan and Infiniti last year. Two fuel-efficient vehicles, the Nissan Versa and Rogue, helped Nissan North America Inc. post a strong sales gain in 2007. Nissan Division car sales ...
Brose buys Siemens motor unit as step toward N.A. growth.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: April Wortham Germany's Brose Group hopes to use the first spoils from Continental AG's takeover of Siemens VDO Automotive AG to propel its own growth spurt in North America. On Dec. 20, Brose agreed to purchase the electric motor operations of the former ...
Dodge Ram gets interior upgrade.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Bradford Wernle Dodge hopes to shake up the pickup market by offering some 2009 Ram models with a coil spring rear suspension in place of the traditional leaf spring suspension. Chrysler LLC engineers hope to set their pickup apart from the competition by giving it a ...
Personnel.(People)
Jan 07, 2008 ... AUTOMOTIVE TRADE POLICY COUNCIL - Raphael Goodstein, 27, to manager of trade and legislative affairs. He had been regional field director for the Arizona Democratic Party. The Automotive Trade Policy Council is a Washington nonprofit association that represents the Detroit 3 on ...
JAPAN TRIUMPHANT; After a big 2007, Toyota Division is about to become #1 in the U.S.
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Get ready for a new leader in U.S. sales of cars and light trucks. And it won't be an American brand. In a remarkable 2007, the Toyota brand passed the Ford brand in sales and was No. 2 behind Chevrolet. Not too far behind, either. ...
Expanding Meridian sees bright future.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Rhoda Miel Meridian Automotive Systems Inc. has made it through a tough year in the auto industry, and although conditions look even bleaker for 2008, it is expanding. Meridian will open a plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, by October to injection-mold bolsters for ...
Detroit show gets back on a global track; Rising gasoline prices reverse trend toward big-truck parochialism.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: James B. Treece This month, the Detroit auto show celebrates its 20th year as an international exposition. The same forces that are making the Tokyo show more parochial are converging to restore Detroit - which itself was heading toward parochialism a few years ago - to ...
Lexus SUV luxury will grow on you; LX 570 packs on 4 inches and 400 hp, stays at 12 mpg/city.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Mark Rechtin Just when you thought luxury SUVs couldn't get any bigger, Lexus has increased the length of the redesigned LX 570 by 4 inches and widened it by more than an inch. Evidently, when you buy a luxury SUV that tops $80,000 fully optioned, added size ...
Personnel.(People)
Jan 07, 2008 ... AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS INC. - Yogendra Rahangdale to vice chairman, a nonboard position. He had been president and COO. David Dauch to executive vice president, COO and chairman of the operating committee. He had been executive vice president of strategic and ...
On the Web...
Jan 07, 2008 ... This week at www.autonews.com * Today: Get live coverage of auto-related news from the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. * Tuesday: GM CEO Rick Wagoner speaks at the International Consumer Electronics ...
Dealers.(People)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Milestones Joanne Helphenstine and Brett Helphenstine of Palm Automall in Punta Gorda, Fla., received a 25-year award for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep from Chrysler LLC. CAPTION(S): 25 with Chevrolet: Elmer Beene Jr., left, of Beene Motor Sales ...
An industry turns green - let's talk.(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... The sharp rise in oil prices - now around $100 a barrel - has tossed an economic hand grenade into the debate over global warming. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, automakers must achieve big improvements in fuel economy. And now, consumers seem certain to demand results. ...
Things are looking up (and down) for MG.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... There's good news and bad news for long-suffering fans of the MG marque who have been waiting since 1980 to buy a new sports car with the famous octagon logo. First the good: With the merger of Nanjing Automobile and SAIC Motor, the MG brand is now in the corporate garage of an ...
New Chrysler purchasing chief looks to Asia.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz John Campi, the architect of Bob Nardelli's purchasing strategy at Home Depot, will direct Chrysler LLC's $40 billion annual purchase of parts and services. Campi's appointment last week as Chrysler's executive vice president ...
Concept offers a peek at Explorer's likely successor.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford will unveil its crossover of the future - and the likely successor to the Explorer SUV - at the Detroit show. The Explorer America concept hints at Ford's plans for its larger vehicles. The unibody vehicle also is a design study for the ...
Ford doubles regional promo money; Budget shift gives local execs more options in 1st qtr.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. will double its regional promotions budget for Ford-brand vehicles in the first quarter. Dollar figures aren't available, but dealers say the budget increase is designed to give Ford's regional units more flexibility to tailor ...
BMW's 1-series coupe gets a soft-top counterpart.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko The second two-door model in BMW's new 1-series range will debut in Detroit. The 2008 128i convertible will go on sale in late spring, about a month after the coupe. The 128i will be powered by a 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. Later ...
Forum concept is a clubhouse on wheels.(News)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Lindsay Chappell For two years, Nissan's planners have been talking about a "different approach'' for the brand's next minivan, in light of the dismal sales reception for the Nissan Quest. The Forum concept shows they weren't kidding. If the Quest was ...
Simple safety: Green, amber, red; Color-coded inspection forms help dealerships build business.(Service & Parts)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Donna Harris Dealers and automakers are promoting vehicle safety checks - and building service business - with color-coded inspection forms. The forms are part of an industry push to simplify inspections, improve customer communication and get more vehicle ...
Continental layoffs follow production cuts at Chrysler.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: April Wortham Continental AG will slash more than 200 jobs at its newly acquired automotive electronics plant in Huntsville, Ala., as it copes with fewer orders from its largest customer, Chrysler LLC. Continental announced the job cuts just eight days after ...
Once more into the legal fray?(Final assembly)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... The auto industry's track record in court fights over regulation of greenhouse gases wasn't so hot in 2007. The Miami Dolphins, at 1-15, had a better year. So it was understandable that automaker associations were cautious last week about jumping into yet another court battle. ...
Chinese automakers increase their presence.(News)(Report)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Alysha Webb Chinese automakers will have their largest presence at the Detroit show. The companies expect to gain valuable insight into the U.S. market and stake a small claim on the minds of U.S. dealers and consumers. If their cars are unrefined, though, ...
A digital Automotive News.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: DAVID SEDGWICK Starting today, subscribers can read complete issues of Automotive News online, page by page. If you are a subscriber, you will have access to all articles, photos, charts, special sections, data and ads that appear in the print edition. At ...
No more peekaboo for Camaro.(News)
Jan 07, 2008 ... In an apparent effort to get ahead of spy photographers, Chevrolet released the first official photo of the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro ...
Visteon: 'We're leaner and smaller'; Supplier cuts salaried jobs in restructuring.(Suppliers)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Visteon Corp. plans to eliminate 400 more white-collar jobs by mid-2008 and fix, close or sell as many as 10 more plants by year end as it narrows its product line. Employees of the parts supplier were told in October that 500 salaried jobs ...
Correction.(Correction notice)
Jan 07, 2008 ... * A list of 2007's 10 least expensive vehicles on Page 21 of the Dec. 31 issue ...
Caddy V-8 is endangered species.
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Jamie LaReau, Richard Truett The big, powerful V-8 engines that have been a mainstay of Cadillac's big sedans since the late 1930s are fading away, victims of the move to fuel efficiency. Cadillac's trademark V-8 engine will give way to smaller high-tech V-6s ...
CAFE fines may yield meager grants.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Harry Stoffer When Congress and President Bush enacted a law last month that raises fuel economy standards 40 percent by 2020, they made what sounded like a big concession to automakers. The law earmarks half of all fuel economy fines paid by automakers that ...
Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Ford: Tata is lead bidder for 2 brands LONDON - Ford Motor Co. last week told Jaguar and Land Rover workers it is negotiating to sell both brands to Tata Motors of India. It was the first time Ford publicly identified potential buyers for the brands. Ford put Jaguar ...
Chrysler eye candy includes green jelly bean.(News)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Bradford Wernle Chrysler LLC, which has the industry's worst corporate average fuel economy, will showcase its green credentials with a trio of concept vehicles in Detroit. The three distinct choices of powertrains and designs may hint at directions Chrysler ...
Group 1 buys luxury, imports.(News)
Jan 14, 2008 ... Byline: Ryan Beene Group 1 Automotive Inc. says its growth plan for 2008 includes the acquisition of import-brand and luxury dealerships. Last year the public dealership group acquired 14 luxury and import franchises in the United States and United Kingdom. ...
RV shipments rebound 1.8% in October.(News)(recreational vehicles)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Ryan Beene Wholesale October shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes to retailers rose 1.8 percent to 28,400 compared with the year-earlier month, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. It was the first increase since ...
Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Kia Motor Finance Co. opens a service center)(Daimler Financial Services Americas L.L.C.)(Universal Warranty Corp.)
Jan 14, 2008 ... SouthwestRe offers GAP coverage ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - SouthwestRe, a vendor of finance and insurance products, now offers guaranteed automotive protection insurance. GAP coverage makes up the difference between the balance on a vehicle consumer loan and the insurance payment when ...
Study: More car buyers choose to get financing on the Internet.(Finance & insurance)(Survey)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Ryan Beene The share of new-vehicle buyers who study financing options on the Internet is declining, a new study says. But the percentage of customers who apply for loans online after they do such research is rising, the study adds. These findings are ...
Late News.
Jan 14, 2008 ... Nissan-Chrysler team up Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. on Friday signed a deal for Nissan to supply Chrysler with a small car based on the Nissan Versa sedan to be sold in South America in 2009. Under the plan, Nissan will supply about 20,000 vehicles a year and ...
VW said to set sights on site in South.(Volkswagen AG)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: April Wortham Volkswagen AG is closing in on the South as the location of a second North American factory, according to sources familiar with the project. The Carolinas and Georgia are leading candidates to produce vehicles for the United States and Europe. ...
Verve is Ford's global small-car.(News)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Amy Wilson In the Alan Mulally era, the Verve concept is Ford Motor Co.'s first stab at leveraging global design resources to create a U.S. vehicle. Under CEO Mulally, Ford tapped European engineers and designers to craft a subcompact that could be sold in ...
Mexico sales fall 4.5% in Nov.(Sales)(Brief article)
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Ryan Beene Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico slipped 4.5 percent in November from a year earlier to 97,671 vehicles. Through the first 11 months of 2007, sales in Mexico dropped 2.7 percent to 973,502 vehicles. General Motors sold 19,635 ...
Big-buck trucks defy sales trend; Pickups sag, but top-end models get pricier, stay popular.
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. executives, who are rolling out the Platinum series F-150 at the Detroit auto show, say they don't know where the ceiling is for luxury pickups. The F-150 Platinum, which was scheduled to be unveiled Sunday and will go on sale in ...
On the Web.(Calendar)
Jan 14, 2008 ... This week at www.autonews.com: * Monday: U.S. dealers can take part in Automotive News' annual dealer attitude survey at autonews.com/08dealersurvey. * Monday: Live coverage of Detroit auto show press conferences, including Lincoln, GM, Toyota, Chrysler and Mazda. ...