Automotive News articles from February 2005

Automotive News archives from February 2005

LM dealers count on new vehicles to boost profits; Council chairman expects to see gains in volume and share.(News)(Lincoln-Mercury Div.)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson This is another crucial year for Lincoln-Mercury dealers as the division strives to make a comeback. After receiving two new vehicles in 2004, dealers will get three more new nameplates this year, including the...

Infiniti dealer: Loyalty to the brand pays off; What a difference leadership has made.(News)(Infiniti of Thousand Oaks)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Steve Lapin became an Infiniti dealer in 1993, barely four years after the brand was born. He says his loyalty to the brand has paid off: Last year was the third straight year of higher sales, after several years...

Mitsubishi dealer chief sees glimmer of hope; Pickup, new Eclipse go on sale this year.(News)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Kathy Jackson Last year was not a good year for Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. Sales were down a whopping 37.1 percent, and fewer than half of the dealers are profitable. The head of marketing left in late November, and...

Needed at Suzuki: Strong dealer commitment.(News)(Five Star Suzuki Automobiles)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Arlena Sawyers American Suzuki Motor Corp. has a goal of 200,000 U.S. vehicle sales by 2007. A tall order? Absolutely. But not impossible, says Jerry Goldstein, owner of Five Star Suzuki Automobiles in Altoona, Pa., and State...

Cayenne has revitalized Porsche franchise; Dealers' wish list: Training, smooth product transitions.(News)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Porsche's two sports cars are being replaced within six months of each other. Dealers began selling the new 911 last year, and the Boxster went on sale this year. Porsche dealers want more training for their...

Volvo dealers want stability, marketing help.(News)(Volvo Cars of North America)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Gail Kachadourian Volvo dealers are just getting to know their new leader, Anne Belec. Belec is being phased in as CEO and president of Volvo Cars of North America, replacing Vic Doolan, who retires at the end of March. A...

Ford dealers are focused on improving profits.(News)(Jim Burke Ford)(Interview)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson Profit gains for Ford Division dealers are a must in 2005. Dealer profits were down 17 percent for the first 11 months of 2004, Ford Division President Steve Lyons has said. The Ford National Dealer Council has made...

BMW CEO expects record year.(News)(BMW of North America L.L.C.)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko BMW of North America will set a sales record this year, fueled by the launch of the replacement 3 series, said CEO Tom Purves. The 3 series is larger and more agile, Purves said. In addition there are new...

Kia gets nationwide private-label finance arm.(News)(Kia Motors Finance)(Kia Motors America Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Kia Motors America Inc. will have a dedicated finance arm operating in all 50 states by June, dealers were told at their make meeting yesterday. Kia Motors Finance will not be a true captive finance unit. It will...

Ford exec: New models will cut incentive costs.(News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson After years of high incentives, Ford Motor Co.'s new sales chief wants to turn down the volume in 2005. Earl Hesterberg, Ford's group vice president of North America marketing, sales and service, says Ford and...

Subaru ads will target broader audience.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Subaru will change the thrust of its advertising to woo a wider group of buyers for the new seven-passenger B9 Tribeca sport wagon. Subaru's new agency, DDB New York, will change advertising from "being focused...

Importers mobilize lobby against the Chicken Tax.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Import auto dealers are gunning to kill the 42-year-old tariff on foreign-made pickups that has complicated business for many of them. The American International Automobile Dealers Association believes it has a...

Too few chairs, but plenty of shrimp.(corporate parties analysis)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 1, 2005... Byline: David Sedgwick My feet hurt. On Day Five in New Orleans, I'm starting to notice the little things, such as which automaker puts out enough chairs at its party. On the way to the Toyota reception, three dealers told us they...

Image builder.(News)
February 1, 2005... Jack Kain said his primary goal as 2005 NADA chairman is to improve the car dealer's image. "Dealers do too much for our customers, our communities, our states and our nation not to be held in higher esteem,'' Kain said at yesterday's general...

On the record.(News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... "We are now No. 7. We want to be in the top five of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction index, and we'll be celebrating our success in January of 2007.'' - Johan de Nysschen Executive vice president Audi of America Inc.

Isuzu to get version of GMC Canyon.(Isuzu Motors America Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Kathy Jackson Isuzu dealers will get a version of the GMC Canyon pickup in July, the company told dealers at the make meeting yesterday. The company also said U.S. dealers will not get a compact SUV from Thailand that had been...

Hyundai aims for 50% stand-alone stores.(News)(Hyundai Motor America plans to increase dealerships)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Hyundai Motor America spent most of its make meeting giving details of its new exclusive facilities program. Instead of a cash-per-car payout like some other franchises, the Hyundai plan has various smaller...

Add electrics, dealers are urged.(News)(Global Electric Motorcars LLC signs agreements with dealers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Amid the buzz over new-model announcements and dealer news at the convention, Global Electric Motorcars LLC is trying to sign up dealers for its tiny, silent vehicles. The electric-vehicle maker known as GEM,...

Question of the day: What are you doing to cut costs?(News)
February 1, 2005... "The biggest cost is bringing the customer to the showroom floor. We're trying to figure out which advertising and deals will bring customers in. But fixed operations are tough to cut.'' Ray Van Duren Ramsey Auto Group Ramsey,...

Jaguar moves toward aspiration and away from incentives.(News)(Jaguar Cars Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Despite a lineup of carryover product, Jaguar Cars North America will move its marketing almost entirely to branding and away from incentive-driven advertising. Jaguar will focus its national advertising on its...

Hot cars, cool music and conversation.(News)
February 1, 2005... New Orleans is a party town - but during the convention, parties have a purpose. Relationships are forged. Sleek concept cars are displayed to hint at future products. And, of course, the good times roll. CAPTION(S): Ed Welburn,...

Dealers bid farewell to some old friends.(News)(J.D. Power and Associates' Tom Shaver retires)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Edward Lapham In the normal ebb and flow of the auto industry, executives come and go. Some have more effect on dealers than others. At this year's NADA convention, several execs who have been trusted and respected by dealers...

Toyota to dealers: Gear up for hybrids.(News)(Toyota Motor Corp. to double its production capacity)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Toyota executives told dealers yesterday to be prepared for more hybrid vehicle sales this year, and to enhance showrooms or add service bays if necessary. Toyota is pushing further into the hybrid market this...

Auto News Digest.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... BMW picks SUV platform BMW will use its large SUV platform for its much-discussed multipurpose vehicle. "We have made this fundamental decision,'' Burkhard Goeschel, BMW board member in charge of development, told Automobilwoche, a...

What's happening today.(News)
February 1, 2005... EXPOSITION 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Convention center SUPER WORKSHOP 8:30-9:45 a.m. Convention center WORKSHOPS 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Convention center

The talk of New Orleans.
February 7, 2005... The nation's auto dealers came together last week. We bring you highlights from the NADA annual convention. CAPTION(S): Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn, center, schmoozed with fellow gearheads in New Orleans. He chats with Jim...

Bitter Jan. bites into Ford, GM trucks.(Sales)(Industry Overview)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Jason Stein That crunching sound in the dead of winter is Ford Motor Co.'s and General Motors' bottom lines taking a hit. Listen closely and you can hear it. Not only did Ford and GM lose share in January, their mix tilted...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 7, 2005... AUTO SHOWS - 2005 Feb. 5-13 - Philadelphia International Auto Show, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, 610-279-5229, www.phillyautoshow.com Feb. 9-13 - Buffalo Auto Show, Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo, N.Y.,...

Quick and easy.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... The National Automobile Dealers Association gets high marks for its new survey that promises to deliver customer feedback to dealers within 24 hours of a vehicle purchase. For dealers and manufacturers, customer satisfaction is crucial to...

Dealership loses bid to limit jury award.(Legal File)(Community Auto Plaza Incorporation)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Eric Freedman A Waterloo, Iowa, dealership must pay punitive damages and attorney fees for deliberately failing to disclose to a purchaser that a used 1997 Ford F-150 pickup had been wrecked and repaired, the state Court of Appeals...

Sedona grows.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... This rendering depicts the redesigned 2006 Kia Sedona minivan, which will be unveiled Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Chicago Auto Show. The new Sedona is bigger than the 2005 model - 8 inches in overall length and 6 inches in wheelbase. It will...

Late News.
February 7, 2005... Toyota, GM ship U.S. steel to Australia Toyota and General Motors are flying steel from the United States to assembly plants in Australia because a labor dispute has disrupted supplies there. A spokesman for Toyota Motor Manufacturing...

Rebates eventually become ho-hum, researcher says.(News)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The industry's effort to stimulate new-vehicle sales with ever-larger customer rebates has a problem: It won't continue to work. Data from J.D. Power and Associates suggest that after a while, cash rebates...

Davidson grandson is pleased with Harley F-150.(News)(Interview)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Richard Truett Willie G. Davidson, grandson of William A. Davidson, one of the founders of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Co., is the vice president of design for the motorcycle company. He toured the Detroit auto show last month and...

Exec says GM retailing experiment was 'wrong'.(News)(general motor)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Donna Harris The General Motors executive who led the automaker's controversial effort to form its own chain of dealerships in 1999 concedes the venture was a mistake. "It was the wrong thing to do,'' says Frank Dunne, who...

Jaguar's Scarpello: It will take time to establish X-Type models.(News)(Interview)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Richard Truett Tom Scarpello, Jaguar's new vice president of marketing, has a long way to go and a short time to get there in his quest to reinvigorate the British automaker's North American sales. Despite new products, Jaguar...

Retaining minorities is challenge for Big 3.(News)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Although they have had minority dealer development programs for years, the Big 3 say they still have a long way to go when it comes to retaining minority ownership of dealerships. Managers of the Big 3's programs...

Ford boosts F&I training for dealers.(News)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Gail Kachadourian Ford Motor Credit Co. will reassign about 75 salespeople to train dealership finance and insurance managers. The managers will help dealers increase captive financing penetration and promote Ford F&I products....

Data hint Japanese have caught rebate fever.(News)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell A spike in vehicle incentives late last year suggests that the three biggest Japanese brands are inching deeper into the same rebate trouble faced by their U.S. competitors. That should be a caution flag for...

GM ads will stress safety additions.(News)(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors marketing chief Mark LaNeve wants to position the company as the safest automaker in the world. The first step: a marketing campaign in conjunction with the announcement at the NADA convention that GM...

ADESA sees sales gain for used vehicles.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Retail sales of used vehicles will grow by 1.7 million units in 2005 and by 5 million units by 2009 when compared with 2004, according to ADESA Inc. The Carmel, Ind., company's annual Global Remarketing Report...

Supplier's secret turns up in China; Ex-Metaldyne workers accused of giving metal process to firm.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Metaldyne Corp.'s process of making engine connector rods out of powdered metal is a closely guarded secret. It's so secret that when product schematics showed up in the hands of a Chinese company last year,...

Scion will put supercharger in tC coupe.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Kathy Jackson Scion will offer a supercharged version of its tC sport coupe. Scion Vice President Jim Farley said at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Roundtable here that the model should arrive around...

Ford mulls selling U.S. cars in Europe.(News)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink, Bradford Wernle Automotive News Europe Ford of Europe has its first import-export manager. Jan Brentebraten, 52, will study the potential for importing Ford Motor Co.'s North America-built models to Europe....

Snapshot.(Briefs)
February 7, 2005... Out of the frying pan... Eighteen months ago, Jose Maria Alapont left a senior post at Delphi Corp. to run Fiat's Iveco commercial truck unit. But Fiat has had its troubles, and now the 54-year-old Alapont has accepted one of...

Ram factories work overtime.(Production)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Debi Domby * The Chrysler group's Saltillo, Mexico, plant last week worked overtime for the first time this year. The plant worked 43 weeks of overtime in 2004. The plant builds the Dodge Ram SRT-10, 2500 and 3500 pickups for...

There's more on the Web.(News)(Calendar)
February 7, 2005... **Online this week Wednesday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 10: Go to autonews.com/chicago2005 for up-to-the-minute coverage of press days at the Chicago Auto Show from Automotive News and sister publication AutoWeek. Also available will be...

Toyota's U.S. growth creates opportunity for suppliers; Expansion could cause a scramble for business.(News)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Crain's Detroit Business Toyota Motor Corp.'s plans to add capacity in the United States will be a golden opportunity for domestic suppliers to grab new contracts with a growing automaker known for cordial vendor...

Industry praises new energy secretary; Bodman has no ties to autos, but long business experience.(News)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Harry Stoffer The new Department of Energy secretary, Sam Bodman, is not a recognized, longtime ally of the auto industry, as was his predecessor, Spencer Abraham. Bodman has an extensive background in education, business and...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
February 7, 2005... * An editorial on Page 12 of the Jan. 10 issue mischaracterized the production capabilities of Chery Automobile Co. in Wuhu, China. The company has an assembly plant capable of producing export-quality vehicles. It also has purchased a...

BorgWarner gains technology with Beru purchase.(Suppliers)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Crain's Detroit Business Supplier BorgWarner Inc. added key components and systems to its diesel business with its $490 million stock purchase of German electronics supplier Beru AG. The acquisition also takes...

Prodrive's founder returns after 3 years.(News)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Richard Feast Automotive News Europe David Richards will again take charge of motorsports and auto engineering group Prodrive after a three-year assignment as team principal to the BAR Honda Formula One racing team. "I intend...

Porsche coupe contract will buoy Valmet.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Jens Meiners Automotive News Europe The Porsche Boxster coupe will give a boost to Finnish contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive. Production of the vehicle is expected to start in mid-2005 with the official unveiling of the...

Roof supplier buys out partner.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... DETROIT - Edscha North America of Pontiac, Mich., has bought out its 50-50 partnership with ASC Inc. in Premier Roof Systems LLC. Premier was formed in August 2000 to supply convertible roof systems to BMW Z4 production in Spartanburg,...

Safety gets a boost at the low end; Multiple airbags are becoming standard equipment.(Vehicle Technology)(Hyundai Motor Company Ltd.'s Hyundai Sonata)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Rhoda Miel Plastics News South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. dropped its new Sonata sedan from the ceiling of the Cobo Hall convention center at the Detroit auto show last month, intent on making a splash with its first...

GM loses a layer in ad hierarchy.(News)(genaral motors)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: K.C. Crain The high-profile General Motors marketing position once held by Phil Guarascio will be filled by... no one. Guarascio was GM's big-time deal maker prior to his departure in May 2000, cutting major sponsorship deals,...

NADA was a success and then some.(Column)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Many people will tell you that NADA is out of touch and that there have to be changes for the association to stay relevant. I have no problem with NADA needing to change. After all, any organization that is nearly...

Everyone pays when suppliers seek Chapter 11.(Opinion)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Something is dreadfully wrong if a supplier can get a much-needed price increase only by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It's crazy, and something must be done to change the system. Last week, Tower Automotive became the most...

GM rebuts AutoNation's call for lower inventory.(News)(general motor)(Column)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Dave Guilford AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson's call for lower vehicle inventories is a tension point between dealers and automakers. Jackson has decried swollen inventories, saying they create management headaches and high...

Letters to the Editor.(Letter to the Editor)
February 7, 2005... Diesels need a shot of glamour in U.S. To the Editor Thank you, Keith Crain, for your Dec. 20 column ("Hybrids: Real or passing fancy?''). I have been making that same argument to anyone who would listen - Big 3 reps at trade...

Tower's problems began before Ligocki.(Suppliers)(Tower Automotive Inc., Kathleen Ligocki )
February 7, 2005... Byline: Robert Sherefkin When Tower Automotive Inc. CEO Kathleen Ligocki said last month that the supplier had obtained a $50 million loan, the response from investors was underwhelming. That $50 million, says one analyst, was the...

New bosses bring range of experience.(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Takashi Nishioka, Osamu Masuko)
February 7, 2005... Byline: James B. Treece Not only is Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s new CEO an industry newcomer, he also has no experience making or selling consumer goods. Still, Takashi Nishioka has experience that could come in handy at the troubled...

XM chip poses threat to Delphi; AM/FM receivers could pick up satellite radio, too.(News)(XM Satellite Radio Inc.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Greg Bowens XM Satellite Radio Inc. has developed technology that lets radio makers sell AM/FM home units that double as satellite receivers. And it is working to adapt the system to vehicle radios. The microprocessor and...

ASC plans European expansion.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Chris Wright Automotive News Europe ASC Inc. aims to expand in Europe. The U.S. auto design and manufacturing company says it's ready to link up with European styling and engineering companies. "In North America, we have no...

On the record.(News)(Ford Motor Co.'s Jim Padilla quotation)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... "I am not satisfied with our quality. We certainly have more that can be done.'' - Jim Padilla COO Ford Motor Co.

Buick dealers take look at new Lucerne.(News)(Buick Lucerne sedan)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson Buick dealers are happy to get new product, but they need help convincing consumers that the brand has moved up a notch. Buick executives gave dealers at the make meeting a sneak preview of the Lucerne sedan, which...

Bricklin will show Chery car in Chicago.(News)(Visionary Vehicles LLC.'s Malcolm Bricklin, Chery Automotive Co.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Alysha Webb Malcolm Bricklin will bring his promotional energy - and a Chinese vehicle that he hopes to sell in the United States - to the Chicago Auto Show this week. The prototype is a small wagon from Chery Automotive Co. of...

Toyota Vitz, basis of Echo and xB, grows longer, wider; Compact's platform will be used on 7 other vehicles.(News)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: James B. Treece Toyota Motor Corp.'s redesigned Vitz compact is slightly longer, wider and taller than the strong-selling previous version. The Vitz platform is the basis for more than seven other cars, including the Toyota...

Salute from Ford.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Former Ford North American sales chief Jim O'Connor, left, and board member Edsel Ford II, center, greet honoree Tarik Daoud at Ford Motor Co.'s Salute To Dealers reception at the NADA convention in New Orleans. Ford Motor recognized nine...

Padilla: Jaguar needs to create `drop-dead gorgeous' vehicles.(News)(Jim Padilla, Jaguar Cars Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson Jaguar needs a lineup of "drop-dead gorgeous'' vehicles to revive the brand, Ford Motor Co. COO Jim Padilla said. Injecting looks, power and excitement into Jaguar is Ford's core job as it tries to turn Jaguar...

Can Mitsubishi make it work?(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s financial management)
February 7, 2005... Byline: James B. Treece After its latest bailout, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has paid off much of its debt and now can concentrate developing new models. But if the carmaker wants to get back in the automotive game, it will have to shed a...

Land Rover dealers look for quality at launches.(News)(Land Rover North America Inc., Land Rover LR3)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The flow of new Land Rover products dominated the make meeting discussion. Dealers said they want more high-end models of the LR3, which debuted in December, and urged the company to keep an eye on quality as...

Low-volume Chevy dealers criticize incentive program; `Revolution' ad theme will continue.(News)(General Motors Corp. Chevrolet Motor Div.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: K.C. Crain There were no major uproars but some minor concerns at the Chevrolet make meeting. Several low-volume dealers expressed dissatisfaction with Chevrolet's Standards for Excellence program. One dealer said his...

Mazda dealers want more traffic.(News)(Mazda North American Operations)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Mazda North American Operations has great plans for the future: new product in new segments and a bigger advertising budget. But dealers have pressing day-to-day concerns: profits and showroom traffic. "The...

Walking the floor.(News)
February 7, 2005... The NADA exposition is toured by, from left: Convention Chairman William Underriner; Jennifer Dupont, Miss Louisiana; 2005 NADA Chairman Jack Kain; 2004 NADA Chairman Charley Smith; and NADA President Phil Brady. CAPTION(S): photo

Audi plans to build second SUV; Vehicle based on A4 will join Q7, which debuts in 2006.(News)(Audi AG., Sport utility vehicles)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching luxury SUV sales soar, Audi is adding a second vehicle to its assault on the segment. A small SUV based on the A4 car is expected in about three years, says Johan...

Auto News Digest.(Briefs)
February 7, 2005... Toyota quarterly profit rises 5.3% TOKYO - A slight dip in North American operating profits was little more than a minor speed bump as Toyota Motor Corp. cruised to higher profits in the quarter ended Dec. 31. North American operating...

Ford slow to meet awd demand.(Ford Motor Co., all-wheel drive)(Brief Article)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. underestimated the market's appetite for all-wheel drive. Demand for awd versions of the Ford Five Hundred sedan and Freestyle sport wagon and Mercury Montego sedan is outstripping supply. And the...

Mercedes delays B class in U.S. Weak dollar, cost concerns are cited.(Daimler-Benz AG)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Mercedes-Benz will delay the U.S. launch of the compact B class for at least a year because of currency and cost concerns. It is the second U.S.-bound vehicle derailed because of profitability questions by the...

Cars share the spotlight with a flashy new hall.(News)(Chicago Auto Show)
February 7, 2005... This year's Chicago Auto Show seems more suitable for P.T. Barnum than a PT Cruiser. A huge expansion of McCormick Place has created a circus atmosphere that threatens to dwarf new-model introductions at the show. All but one, that is....

Winning stampers avoid M&A; Successful vendors expand by adding talent, capacity.(News)(Tower Automotive Inc.'s bankruptcy, mergers and acqusitions)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Tower Automotive Inc.'s size alone could not rescue it from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy court filing last week. Tower is the latest and largest metal-forming company to seek protection from creditors in the past...

ELABORATION.(Correction Notice)
February 7, 2005... Active International, a corporate trading company, has taken issue with parts of a story on Page 8 of the Jan. 31 issue, "The deal that blew up on Mitsubishi.'' A letter to the editor from Active is on Page 8.

Sony will supply ASC with electronics.(Suppliers)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Crain's Detroit Business ASC Inc. and Sony Corp. have reached an agreement to place some of Sony's sound and multimedia products into ASC-produced specialty cars. The deal allows Sony to bring new consumer...

VW will improve guidelines for sludge repairs.(News)(Volkswagen of America Inc.)
February 7, 2005... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Volkswagen of America Inc. will work with dealers to develop less-stringent guidelines on free repairs for vehicles with oil-sludge problems. Dealers have been asking VW for more lenient guidelines for owners who...