Automotive News articles from December 2007

Automotive News archives from December 2007

Roger and me: Exec welcomed young reporter.(News)(Interview)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Edward Lapham Roger Smith won't be eulogized as the best CEO of General Motors. Critics will line up to talk about what happened at GM on his watch and how his vision for the giant automaker was out of sync with changes in the...

VW scours U.S. and Mexico at 'full speed' for factory site; Tired of sagging sales and big losses in America, Volkswagen needs more dollar-zone production to meet aggressive sales targets. Will the Southeast get another plant?(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Henning Krogh Volkswagen is accelerating its search for a factory site in North America. "Our scouts are looking full speed in Mexico and the U.S.,'' production chief Jochem Heizmann told Automobilwoche, a German sister...

Court rules against dealer, for Isuzu in franchise suit.(Legal File)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Eric Freedman After Isuzu Motors America turned down a request from California dealer Ray Fladeboe to transfer his franchise, Fladeboe continued to sell Isuzu vehicles without a franchise agreement. Bad move, said the 9th U.S....

Aura sibling on street.(News)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... The next-generation Opel Vectra, which will come to the United States as a Saturn Aura, is seen in these spy shots of testing in Germany. The redesigned vehicle is built on General Motors' Epsilon 2 platform, enabling a wider and taller body....

Supply line.(Briefs)(Schefenacker PLC to change its name to Visiocorp PLC)(TRW Aftermarket Asia-Pacific Private Ltd. to joint venture with Sun Vacuum Formers Private Ltd.)(Michelin North America Inc. to settle dispute with China Manufacturers Alliance LLC)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Schefenacker changes its name to Visiocorp PORTCHESTER, England - Next week, automotive mirror manufacturer Schefenacker PLC will change its name to Visiocorp PLC. The Visiocorp Web site is set to launch Dec. 11. Since spinning off its...

John Z's Banshee up for bid.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... If you have a spare $1.3 million, you can own the car that might have changed Pontiac's history. The Banshee, a swoopy fastback concept from the early 1960s, was the brainchild of John Z. DeLorean. Only two Banshees were built, and one of...

Magna takes the 'line' out of assembly line; now it's a circle.(Suppliers)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Magna International Inc. has taken the "line'' out of the assembly line at its newest plant here. The Aurora, Ontario, parts maker has created a carousel-style assembly system that moves in unison with the...

Got Smart? Be defensive. Be VERY defensive.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Edward Lapham As one of the four dozen judges for the North American Car and Truck of the Year, I'm always driving and evaluating a different vehicle. It's a tough, thankless job, but somebody needs to do it. This is the time...

Loonie's swoon sends Canadian car prices downward.(News)(Report)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle The newly muscular Canadian dollar is causing a surge in imports of U.S. vehicles into Canada and sending Canadian car prices downward for the first time in nearly a decade, according to a report from Scotiabank...

Putting pedal to the (recyclable) metal.(Final assembly)
December 3, 2007... Camilo Pardo likes to say he reaches the extremes of the auto industry. The Ford designer showcased his green leanings in Rolling Stone magazine's recent Wheels '07 section. "We can't run around in these gigantic Excursions and shit,''...

Mahle beefs up powertrain services.(Suppliers)(Interview)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Mahle GmbH, a major supplier of engine parts, is trying to break free of its image as a maker of pistons, rings and other internal parts. Its 2005 acquisition of Cosworth Technology Ltd. expanded its offerings to...

Hybrid owners want mpg, not performance.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Leslie J. Allen A good balance between fuel economy and price remains the top selling point for hybrid vehicles, recent sales numbers show. Luxury, performance and even the image of the hybrid buyer are becoming fairly low...

Production.
December 3, 2007... 3 tables: Scheduled plant overtime * Plant closings * North America car and truck production: see print copy. CAPTION(S): Mercedes-Benz's Vance, Ala., plant built its 1 millionth vehicle on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The plant builds the M...

Feisty VW wants to surpass Toyota.(News)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Volkswagen AG hopes to overtake Toyota Motor Corp. in global sales by putting most of its vehicles on four new architectures. That will help VW build cars faster, cut development times by up to a year and...

Lutz: GM wants global Cadillac look.(News)(General Motors)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz The mission for Cadillac's first global head of styling is simple: Create a bold American design that draws inspiration from the current theme and make that design consistent across all models. Although Clay Dean...

On the Web...
December 3, 2007... This week at www.autonews.com. * Today: November sales reports. * This week: Continuing coverage on the completion of the biggest acquisition in the history of the global auto supply chain: Continental's $16.9 billion purchase of...

Siemens still trying to cut Chrysler apron strings; Ala. plant remains heavily dependent on former owner.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: April Wortham Nearly four years after Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. bought an electronics plant here from Chrysler, the factory is still heavily dependent on its former owner. The plant steadily has added new contracts from...

We're all creatures of habit.(Column)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: KEITH CRAIN I've been buying gasoline at the same place for years. The owner still offers service and has the last three service bays in the neighborhood. I get my coffee at the same spot every day. They take good care of me,...

Auto parts don't share in export boom; Weak dollar doesn't help U.S. suppliers.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Exports of most U.S.-made goods are soaring, thanks to a cheaper dollar. But not exports of auto parts. Exports of U.S.-made auto parts of all kinds - both original equipment and aftermarket - plunged 27...

Auto analysts see production cuts, possible recession.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Brent Snavely As the subprime-lending crisis reverberates through the nation's financial structure, automotive analysts are becoming increasingly worried about the potential impact of a national recession. "All indications are...

Ex-GM marketing boss goes digital; Jackson named CEO of tech firm with auto clients.(News)(former general manager of General Motors ltd. Mike Jackson named CEO of Speedshape Inc.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Ryan Beene, Laura Clark Geist Mike Jackson, General Motors' former marketing chief, last week was named CEO of Speedshape Inc. The technology company provides computer-generated animation and digital imagery services. Jackson,...

China's BYD aims hybrids at United States.(News)(BYD Auto Co.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Kevin Huang Another Chinese automaker is planning to come to the United States. BYD Auto Co. wants to start volume exports of its own brand cars to the United States and Europe in the second half of next year or early 2009. ...

Suppliers, UAW must follow path of Big 3 pacts.(Opinion)(United Automobile Workers)(General Motors Corp.)(Ford Motor Co.)(Chrysler LLC)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Now that the UAW has new contracts with General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC, the union's focus switches to negotiating contracts with suppliers. To build on what it has accomplished with the Detroit 3, the UAW must be just as...

Japan's exports rise 7.2% in 3rd quarter; Increases to Russia, China, Mideast offset N.A. decline.(News)(Statistical data)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Hans Greimel Japanese automakers kept exports humming in high gear during the third quarter despite falling shipments to North America. Rising exports to Russia, China and the Middle East picked up the slack and helped boost...

Late News.(briefs)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Report: Chrysler will lose $1 billion this year DETROIT - Chrysler LLC stands to lose about $1 billion in 2007, according to a report published Thursday by a newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Steven Landry, Chrysler vice president of...

THE FINAL SAY.(Final assembly)(Quotation)
December 3, 2007... "Hybrids are a revenue godsend. They raise the average MSRP, raise the average transaction price, can potentially raise or at least add profits. Everyone wants a lick from this particular frog.'' Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing...

Bertone in bankruptcy.(Final assembly)(Carrozzeria Bertone)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... One of the greatest names in the global auto industry is in the tank. Last week, Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Bertone said it is seeking protection from creditors through Italy's equivalent of Chapter 11. The Italian group's design,...

Wary Wall St. sinks dealer stocks; Low share prices tied to gloomy outlook for 2008.(Statistical data)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz, Jamie LaReau Stock prices for publicly traded auto dealership groups are taking a pounding, bumping along near 52-week lows. Analysts say that means investors expect the economy - and auto sales - to decline in...

Mercedes to be hurt if supplier halts work.(Suppliers)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Matthias Krust Erwin Behr Automotive, a major supplier of premium wood-grain interior trim to luxury automakers, can continue production for another few weeks. The company has been under bankruptcy protection since Oct. 31. A...

Daimler's new goal: Be leading European turbocharger supplier.(News)(Daimler AG)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc Daimler AG says it has relied too much on its turbocharger suppliers. Now it plans to become a leader in the field. "Not long from now, we will be Europe's third-largest turbocharger supplier,'' Leopold...

Ford looks to European unit for more profit; Russian sales boom, efficient plants and successful design fuel optimism.(News)(Financial report)
December 3, 2007... Byline: James Franey Ford Motor Co. wants to squeeze more profit from its European operations. Globally, Europe is a bright spot for Ford, which is undergoing a restructuring in North America after a pretax loss there of $6.1 billion...

Carroll Shelby goes after 2 former business partners.(News)(Shelby Automobiles Inc.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Kathy Jackson The tangled business affairs of Carroll Shelby grow more complicated by the day. The 84-year-old racing legend is now in disputes with two key partners. Shelby says he won't renew a licensing agreement with the...

GM and Ford train suppliers in Russia.(Suppliers)(General Motors Corp.)(Ford Motor Co.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Bettina Mayer General Motors and Ford Motor Co. are taking a hands-on approach to address a shortage of qualified suppliers in Russia. Only 5 percent of the country's 300 Tier 1 parts makers meet Western quality standards,...

Powertrain progress; Carmakers, suppliers seek better performance, fuel economy.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Hybrid powertrains and clean diesel engines grab the headlines. But carmakers and suppliers are coming up with a range of powertrain changes as they seek to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. Those changes include the fuels used,...

Personnel.(People)(brief)
December 3, 2007... AVL NORTH AMERICA INC. - Gregory Hopton, 49, to president. He replaces Larry Moulton, who is retiring but will remain with the company as a consultant. Hopton had been general manager for LMS North America, a technology consulting firm with...

LM exec: As Town Car becomes fleet car, sales will fall.(News)(Ford Motor Co. Lincoln-Mercury Div.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Retail sales of the Lincoln Town Car will continue to slide in 2008 as the model becomes primarily a fleet vehicle, a Lincoln Mercury marketing executive says. "We'll sell fewer Town Cars next year than this year,...

Audi expects boost in volume from Q5.(News)(Audi of America Inc.)(Financial report)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson The Q5 crossover will be Audi's third volume entry, the luxury brand's U.S. chief says. The Q5 will go on sale early in the first quarter of 2009. Volume is expected to be in line with sales of Audi's other volume...

Chinese plan to build vehicles in Mexico.(News)(FAW Group Corp.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Stephen Downer Before Mexico's Salinas Group struck a deal to assemble cars with a Chinese automaker, it talked with two Indian automakers, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Tata Motors Ltd., about a similar joint venture. "This...

Stop-start/regenerative braking.(Technology)(Peugeot S.A.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Recent stop-start systems failed to catch on when they were offered as an option on some PSA/Peugeot-Citroen models in Europe in 2004. But stop-start is an increasingly hot topic because it offers fuel economy improvements in city driving of...

Biofuels.(Technology)
December 3, 2007... Made from crops or other plant matter, biofuels such as ethanol are seen as a useful weapon in an automaker's environmental armory. Yet serious doubts remain about the actual carbon dioxide savings offered by certain crops. There also is a...

Rocker Young goes hybrid.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Rocker Neil Young is taking some decibels - and emissions - from his beloved 1959 Lincoln Continental. To transform the throaty exhaust of the giant classic luxury sedan into a discreet hum, Young is paying H-Line Conversions, of Wichita,...

Honda boosts CR-V capacity in Mexico.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Stephen Downer Honda Motor Co. has increased production capacity of the CR-V crossover to 50,000 units a year from 30,000 at its assembly plant in El Salto in western Mexico. The Mexican-made CR-V already is sold in the United...

An H3T chaser.(News)
December 3, 2007... The long-anticipated 2009 Hummer H3T pickup was spotted at the recent Baja 1000 competition, of all places. The prototype, seen here, was used as a chase vehicle while sporting black and white camouflage. The production pickup has four doors;...

Correction.(Correction notice)
December 3, 2007... * A story on Page 1 of the Nov. 26 issue cited the wrong currency in explaining a possible future gain for U.S. manufacturing. A weak dollar encourages European carmakers and suppliers to expand North American production.

Suspension systems.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Automakers and suppliers have developed electronic systems that adapt to road conditions and driving styles. How it works: Variable dampers provide either a firm or soft ride by restricting or easing the flow of damper fluid within the...

Diesel hybrids.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Dismissed a couple of years ago as too expensive, the diesel hybrid has suddenly become more interesting as a way to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. How it works: A diesel hybrid operates much like its gasoline-engine...

Manheim has slow start in China, sees big future.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Alysha Webb China's small secondhand-vehicle market means growth here for Manheim Auctions Inc. is slow. But the used-car marketing giant isn't deterred. "The United States is a mature market. I can't think of any area in the...

7 models, 1 line: Nissan stretches flexible assembly; Redesigned Murano begins plant's expansion.(News)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Hans Greimel Production of Nissan Motor Co.'s redesigned Murano crossover is part of an expansion that will test the company's manufacturing flexibility. The vehicle is the first of four models to be added by February to Line...

Automakers fight for CAFE scraps; Negotiations continue as Congress nears votes on tougher standards.(News)(corporate average fuel economy)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Harry Stoffer Automakers and their allies appear to have made only modest gains in talks leading to final votes by Congress on far tougher fuel economy standards. Reports of closed-door deal-making are widespread. But a senior...

Electronic stability control.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... By the 2012 model year, electronic stability control will be mandatory in new vehicles sold in the United States. Such systems help keep vehicles from skidding out of control and rolling over. How it works: Electronic stability control...

Mexican-Spanish supplier aims beyond usual Tier 2s.(Suppliers)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Stephen Downer A Mexican-Spanish joint venture with annual sales of $270 million is preparing to open a $52 million plant in northern Mexico that will paint and line beds for Chrysler pickups. It is the latest expansion by...

Lincoln expects to pass Mercury in '08 sales.(News)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Lincoln sales will continue to recover in 2008, finally overtaking showroom sibling Mercury, the brand's top marketer says. Although Ford Motor Co.'s domestic luxury brand remains far below its record highs, Lincoln...

Dealers.(People)(Buzzy Cohn, William Feinstein and Ramsay Gillman awarded by Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Milestones Mitsubishi Motors North America awarded 25-year awards to the following dealers: William Lehman of William Lehman Mitsubishi in North Miami, Fla.; Ramsay Gillman of Gillman Mitsubishi South in Houston; Buzzy Cohn of Rockville...

Judge: Toyota employee worked to death.(Final assembly)(Kenichi Uchino employee of Toyota Motor Corp., died because of long working hours)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... A Toyota employee died of overwork after logging more than 106 hours of overtime in a month, a judge in Japan has ruled. The decision reversed a ministry's earlier decision not to pay compensation to his widow. The employee, Kenichi...

IT rivals see opportunity in Reynolds-GM spat.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(Reynolds and Reynolds Co.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Ralph Kisiel As General Motors and Reynolds and Reynolds Co. battle in court, other vendors of information technology see a chance to grab business from Reynolds. GM has certified Reynolds, Quorum Information Technologies Inc.,...

Ford car production ain't what it used to be.(News)(Chrysler Corp.)(Ford Motor Co.)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
December 3, 2007... Fifty-seven years ago, Ford Motor Co. passed Chrysler Corp. to become the No. 2 producer of cars in North America behind General Motors. Ford held that position from 1950 through 2006, but this year things have changed. Ford has slipped from...

Imported used cars mess up Mexican market; Dealers are hurting; cheap vehicles aren't checked for safety.(Opinion)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Stephen Downer What is the Mexican government thinking about? On the one hand, President Felipe Calderon has declared his intention to make Mexico an auto assembly powerhouse. On the other, his administration is allowing...

Auto News digest.(Briefs)(BMW of North America L.L.C. to make use of software for customer service)(automobile insurance forecasted)
December 3, 2007... BMW, Xtime team for Web scheduling SAN MATEO, Calif. - BMW of North America LLC has hired Xtime to provide the automaker with software that will enable customers to schedule service appointments online. Matthew Russell, BMW's service...

GM, Chrysler still spend big on incentives.(Incentives)(Chrysler L.L.C.)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Those who insist that rebates and other incentives have lost their punch and are not spurring sales are outside the auto industry. They may be looking in, but they aren't seeing much. If you're wondering how...

Odyssey to the top? Honda may best Dodge in minivans.(News)(Chrysler L.L.C.)(Honda Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle The Honda Odyssey has overtaken the Dodge Grand Caravan as the nation's top-selling minivan in 2007. But the new Grand Caravan, the traditional segment champ, is nipping at the Odyssey's heels. Through October,...

Ex-minor leaguer Hollis is a big hitter at Scion.(News)(Interview)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Running a car brand is a lot like being a cleanup hitter. You're usually trying to hit home runs. Scion's new boss, Jack Hollis, knows a thing or two about hitting dingers. He was a member of Stanford University's NCAA...

7,500-mile oil change is becoming the norm; Longer intervals may cut customer trips to dealerships.(Service & Parts)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Donna Harris A 7,500-mile interval between oil changes is emerging as the industry standard. Automakers cite improved vehicle quality and longer-lasting synthetic motor oil. The reduction in factory-recommended service visits...

How to steal $1 million from a dealer.(David Delgado employee at Daimler-Benz AG under scam investigation)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Ryan Beene At Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel, managers considered David Delgado a model employee. After five years as a service drive lot attendant, Delgado was promoted in 2000 to supervise temporary workers at the tony Orange...

Roger Smith led GM during turbulent times; Ex-CEO is recalled as mentor and unwilling star of `Roger & Me'.(News)(General Motors Corp.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Jamie LaReau In 1981, John Bergstrom applied to General Motors three times asking to start a car dealership. GM rejected his requests all three times for lack of capital. So one night he hand-wrote a letter to then-CEO Roger Smith...

Mulally, Nardelli headline 2008 World Congress.(News)(Conference notes)
December 3, 2007... Two of the Detroit 3's CEOs will speak next month at the 2008 Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally kicks off the formal proceedings when he addresses the congress Tuesday morning, Jan. 22. Chrysler...

Mexico sales off in Oct.(Sales)(Ford Motor Co.)(General Motors Corp.)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Ryan Beene Sales of new cars and trucks in Mexico totaled 97,037 in October, down 0.5 percent from last October. The latest decline left Mexican sales through October down 2.5 percent compared with the same period in 2006, to...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 3, 2007... Tomorrow's Malibu: Refine, don't tamper To the Editor: I read Peter Brown's column on the Malibu and would add one missing component to the fate of the new Malibu: no major changes ("Ooooh, Malibu: At last, a competitor to... you...

By-wire technologies.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... By-wire technologies replace mechanical force and linkages with electronically controlled actuation of braking and steering. Most cars today have electronically controlled throttles. Some, such as the new Jaguar XF, have electronic gear...

Turbochargers.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... The success of the diesel engine in Europe has meant that the once-exotic turbocharger now is commonplace. Half of the 14 million new cars sold in western Europe last year were diesel-powered. Most rely on turbochargers to boost power and...

Electric power steering.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Electric power steering is a fuel- and weight-saving technology that eliminates the need for hydraulic lines, belts, pulleys, pumps and reservoirs and regular maintenance. How it works: An electric motor drives the steering in one of three...

Dual-clutch transmissions.(Technology)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... Dual-clutch transmissions yield as much as a 10 percent fuel saving over a conventional automatic by eliminating the torque converter and providing for more seamless shifts between gears. How it works: A dual-clutch transmission in effect...

Settle dispute now.(Opinion)(General Motors Corp.)(Reynolds and Reynolds Co.)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... General Motors and Reynolds and Reynolds Co. must resolve their legal battle so Saturn dealers will know which dealership management system they'll be using. GM's plan to use Reynolds as sole provider of a uniform system for Saturn dealers...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 3, 2007... AUTO SHOWS - 2007 Dec. 1-9 - Essen Motor Show, (press day: Nov. 30), Essen Trade Fairgrounds, Essen, Germany, +49 (0) 201 7244 248, www.essen-motorshow.de Dec. 6-9 - Auto Show of the Palm Beaches presented by Northwood University,...

A new GMAC - but same old interest rates.(News)(General Motors Acceptance Corp.)
December 3, 2007... Byline: Jim Henry Auto dealers say they are still waiting for the benefits they expected from General Motors' spinoff last year of the former General Motors Acceptance Corp. Their anticipation of sharply lower interest rates, tied to the...

Transplant Igo likes Nashville's rhythm.(News)(Interview)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Music-loving Mark Igo was transported to the middle of Music City U.S.A. last year when Nissan shifted its U.S. headquarters from Los Angeles to Nashville. The head of Infiniti division now lives a short walk from...

Don't be too quick to crown the Malibu; New Chevy is a beauty, but can it shake the Detroit 3's bad rep?(Opinion)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz The accolades for the restyled, re-engineered 2008 Chevrolet Malibu keep coming: Beautiful exterior design. Rich-looking interior. Well-engineered, quiet, smooth. Extensive attention to fit and finish. Exceptional...

TRW joins supplier trek to Japan.(Suppliers)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Hans Greimel TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is the latest foreign parts supplier to open an engineering center in Japan as overseas companies scramble for a bigger slice of that country's auto industry. TRW opened its...

Study: Japanese have the best media reach.(Briefs)(Report)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Japanese-brand automakers reach U.S. consumers through advertising media at a higher rate than the Detroit 3 or European-brand car companies, a new study concludes. Integrated Media Measurement studied automakers' media penetration in New...

Toyota outguns Chevy in Nov.(Sales)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Philip Nussel Another month, another brush with history. Toyota Division barreled past Chevrolet in November to claim the top U.S. sales spot among brands. Toyota has been the divisional sales leader in four months this year -...

Toyota's green image is suddenly black-and-blue.(News)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin For years, Toyota's environmental reputation has been beyond reproach. But now it seems everyone from the Detroit 3 to the Sierra Club is questioning the green credentials of the company that gave America the Prius....

Winget: From pariah to savior.(Suppliers)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz When Chrysler LLC needed someone to help it through a critical parts shortage, it turned to a supplier executive whose earlier financial troubles had once made him an industry pariah. Larry...

Bohr, Jacoby will speak at Congress.(News)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... Bernd Bohr, chairman of Robert Bosch's automotive operations, and Stefan Jacoby, Volkswagen of America CEO, will be among the speakers at the 2008 Automotive News World Congress. Jacoby will speak the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 23; Bohr...

Program gives dealers 2nd shot at service contract sales.(Finance & insurance)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Laura Clark Geist MileOne Automotive used to take little notice when factory warranties expired for its new-vehicle customers. That inattention cost the private dealership group potential sales of extended warranties, the company...

Pontiac's not ready for prime time, by choice.(Marketing)
December 10, 2007... Byline: Jean Halliday Pontiac's marketing director, Craig Bierley, must deal with slumping sales and a shrinking advertising budget. He wants to make his mark on the brand after replacing Mark-Hans Richer, a high-profile risk taker who...