Automotive News articles from January 2002

Automotive News archives from January 2002

Letters to the Editor.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Balance profit with patriotism To the Editor: When will American business realize that capitalism must be balanced with patriotism if our country is to grow and prosper? The lack of that logic is best illustrated by statements like...

Innovative dream cars battle for top honors.(finalists for Automotive News' most innovative concept cars)
January 7, 2002... On Wednesday, Jan. 9, Automotive News will name the most innovative concept cars introduced over the past 15 months. Competing for recognition are 18 vehicles in the following categories: best interior, best exterior, best environmental...

Honda puts Model X on 'fast track'.(green lights small sport-utility model production)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... American Honda Motor Co. has given its Model X - a small, box-shaped sport-utility that debuted at the Detroit auto show last year - the green light for production. ``We put it on a fast track and hope to have it in showrooms before the...

Personnel.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... GENERAL MOTORS - John Bowen, 42, to general director of the GM Card. He will be responsible for overall operations, consumer marketing, interaction with GM's car divisions and long-term planning for the GM Card initiative. He was brand manager...

Ala. manager is steeped in Toyota tradition.(Paula Lillard is profiled)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... ERLANGER, Ky. - Paula Lillard will find a few of her new roles unfamiliar now that she is managing Toyota Motor Corp.'s V-8 engine plant in Huntsville, Ala. But running a Toyota production system won't be one of them. That role she has...

Supply line.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Titanium Metals creates auto group DENVER - Titanium Metals Corp. of Denver formed an automotive division called TiMET Automotive in Morgantown, Pa. Kurt Faller was named president of TiMET Automotive. He was director of automotive...

Ford finds future technicians in inner cities.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Detroit is the latest market to benefit from a Ford Motor Co.-sponsored program that trains unemployed inner-city residents as technicians in dealerships. The company said last month it will spend $1.5 million to open three training...

Panelists will examine top supplier challenges.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Susan Skerker, Dave Bing, Neil De Koker and B.N. Bahadur know plenty about the challenges of auto suppliers. Skerker plots strategy at a big company. Bing runs a smaller one. De Koker represents 270 of them. And Bahadur rescues ailing ones....

Auto News digest.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Getting to the meat of it Asked why the Buick Bengal was canceled, General Motors Vice Chairman Robert Lutz must have been thinking of his previous meal. The two-seat, frontdrive convertible had been expected to bow around the 2004 model...

2001 production fell sharply.(North American vehicle production for 2001 )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... * North American vehicle production for 2001 is estimated at 15,886,933, far below the record set in 2000 of 17,698,866. Automotive News subscribers can check the Data Center portion of our Web site, automotivenews.com, for final production...

Dealers.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Beginnings * J. David Reynolds and David Garrison opened Arkla Motor Co. Inc. (Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep) in Crossett, Ark. * Ernie Boch of Boch Automotive Enterprises in Norwood, Mass., opened Boch Honda. Boch also owns Kia, Mitsubishi and...

Car-truck race a photo finish.(truck sales surpassed car sales in 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... Is it a car or is it a truck? It depends on who's doing the counting and which vehicle segment carries the most prestige. Using some definitions, truck sales surpassed car sales last year - the first time that has happened for a full year....

Late News.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... GM halts merit raises DETROIT - General Motors will not award merit-pay increases to salaried employees at mid-year, but may reinstate them later this year. Spokesman Tom Wickham said GM will review the possibility of merit pay later...

Auto News digest.(industry briefs)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... DCX will hit earnings goal FRANKFURT - DaimlerChrysler said Friday, Jan. 4, that it was on track to hit the bottom end of its earnings target range, with 2001 adjusted operating profit likely to come in at about $1.08 billion, Reuters...

Chrysler fires up Crossfire.(2004 Chrysler Crossfire introduced)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... The sporty, low-slung 2004 Chrysler Crossfire unveiled at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show last week is a much-changed car from the concept shown at the Detroit auto show last year. The Crossfire - arguably the L.A. show's foremost debut -...

Designers get new freedom.
January 7, 2002... Some of that new sheet metal on display at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows was shaped by an often-neglected force: the instinct of the designer. In an effort to inspire breakthrough designs - primarily on niche vehicles - Big 3 auto...

Big 3 incentives.(General Motors, Chrysler, Ford)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... * General Motors: GM Overdrive - $2,002 cash rebate on 2001 and 2002 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac models through Feb. 28 * Chrysler group: 0 percent financing or some cash rebates through Tuesday, Jan. 8; 7-year,...

Age argument.
January 7, 2002... At issue: Sales applicant sues Illinois dealership for age discrimination. Where it stands: Appeals court upholds $100,000 damage award.

Lutz sees line of cars, cycles; Memo spells out ambitious plan for Cunningham Motor.(Robert Lutz, Cunningham C7 Grand Touring Car prototype)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... DETROIT - General Motors Vice Chairman Robert Lutz's prominence as the automaker's top product guy has shifted attention away from efforts to build his own car company to produce a $250,000 sports car. But Lutz and Cunningham Motor Co. CEO...

Chrysler: We won't follow GM incentives.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... General Motors has shifted into overdrive on national consumer incentives, a strategy other automakers say they will avoid. Although competitors were quick to follow GM's 0 percent financing incentives in September, the Chrysler group and...

Comment: Used-car values under siege; But spring should spark an upturn.(industry faces challenges to wholesale values)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a softening economy, layoffs, massive daily rental returns, unprecedented new-car finance incentives and high used-car inventories at dealerships and auctions. Those are the challenges to wholesale values our...

Mando looks for a lift from GM-Daewoo tie-up.(Mando Corp.)(Company Profile)
January 7, 2002... SEOUL - Oh Sang Soo is delighted by General Motors' anticipated takeover of Korea's Daewoo Motor Co. For the president of Mando Corp., Korea's largest automotive supplier, a takeover would yield a shot at Daewoo business, based on Mando's track...

CAFE debate: Should government pay to replace dirty old vehicles?(corporate average fuel economy, scrappage provision added to comprehensive energy bill)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... WASHINGTON - The fuel economy debate has taken an unexpected turn - toward whether the government should use tax dollars to scrap older vehicles so people replace them with new, more efficient cars and trucks. Scrappage has been proposed...

Dealership owes damages in age case.(Phillips Chevrolet Inc., Illlinois, United States)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... A Chicago-area dealership must pay $100,000 in damages for age discrimination against a 59-year-old applicant for a sales job, a federal appeals court has ruled. ``The damaging evidence was that the person with hiring authority had noted...

Warning for '02: Hang on; it may be a rough ride.(marketing tips for 2002)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Last year was rough for the U.S. auto industry. Yes, vehicle sales were high, but profits were low. Now the experts project a 10 percent sales decline in 2002. Wondering how to cope when tough times get tougher? Here are some tips for: ...

Obituaries.(for automobile dealers Floyd Handy and Guy Hutcheson)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 7, 2002... Floyd Handy ST. ALBANS, Vt. - Automobile dealer Floyd Handy died Nov. 8. He was 75. He was dealer principal of Handy Dodge-Toyota and Handy Chevrolet-Olds, both in St. Albans. He was affiliated with Handy Pontiac-Cadillac-Buick-GMC, also...

2 hats don't cause conflict, Lutz says.(Robert Lutz owns Cunningham Motor Co. and works for General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... LOS ANGELES - Robert Lutz says there is no conflict between his twin roles as General Motors' top product executive and his ownership and vice chairman's job at Cunningham Motor Co. The GM vice chairman says there is ``a Chinese wall''...

Lincoln offers a peek at its future.(new Continental concept car)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... For a peek into the future of the Lincoln brand, look to the Continental concept unveiled at the Los Angeles show, says design director Gerry McGovern. The rear-drive sedan is powered by a 6.0-liter, 48-valve V-12 rated at 414 hp. ``The...

Satellite helps small dealers join 20 group.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Ford Motor Co. is using satellite technology on the FordStar Network to make it easier for low-volume dealers to participate in 20-group discussions. The program, in which dealers discuss best business practices, is being rolled out after...

Auto News digest.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Chrysler extends powertrain plan DETROIT - Chrysler group last week said it would extend its powertrain protection plan, which provides seven-year/100,000-mile protection at no charge. The warranty applies to any new 2001 and 2002...

Homegrown manager.(Paula Lillard of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Paula Lillard Company: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Inc. in Huntsville, Ala. Title: General manager of administration for Toyota's V-8 engine plant venture Age: 45 The path: Joined parts inventory department of Toyota's...

Ford will unveil major cost-cutting effort.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Ford Motor Co. is scheduled this week to announce a massive restructuring aimed at slashing costs by several billion dollars. The company plans to reveal the specifics Friday, Jan. 11, at a morning meeting in Detroit with stock analysts....

Anybody have a crystal ball?(car dealers had good 2001 despite downturn)(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... OK, we're in a recession. Look around, and you can see layoffs and nonexistent profits for a lot of companies. But talk to dealers and they'll tell you that 2001 was a darned good year. No one doubts that 0 percent financing did the...

Pickup spiffs push late sales; GM, Ford battle in 2nd-best sales year.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... Ford Motor Co. and General Motors loaded extra incentives on full-sized pickups in December as they each struggled to win the pickup sales crown. The result was a split decision. The Ford F-150 remained the best-selling nameplate, but GM...

What was fun in 2001.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... After the numbing events of Sept. 11, having fun became a tricky proposition; even the idea of having fun sometimes seemed incongruous. But, like the rest of the nation, people in the auto industry tried to - had to - shake off the...

Toyota crafts tool to develop managers.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... First Toyota Motor Corp. standardized the way its factory workers perform their assembly line jobs. Now it is standardizing human resources. Want to chart your career path at Toyota? Just follow the written instructions. Over the past...

Cunningham Motor Co.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... Cunningham Motor Co. Formed: January 2000 Prototype unveiled: January 2001 Headquarters: Livonia, Mich. Chairman: Briggs Cunningham III Vice chairman: Robert Lutz CEO: John McCormack

Japanese cut production again, by 5.1 percent.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... TOKYO - Japanese automakers cut November production 5.1 percent from a year earlier as exports and sales decreased. The decline to 820,841, the third consecutive monthly drop, brought output for the first 11 months to 9.05 million units,...

Suit says Ford sold bad tires, Explorers.(Brief Article)
January 7, 2002... DETROIT - Former Ford Motor Co. employees allege in a lawsuit that company supervisors ordered them to sell recalled Firestone tires, damaged vehicles and suspect vehicle parts to companies that would sell the merchandise to consumers. ...

Motor homes, conversion shipments down in Oct.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 7, 2002... Shipments of motor homes and conversion vehicles in October were down compared with the same month a year before. Conversion vehicle shipments dropped 45.7 percent compared with October 2000. October marked two years of consecutive monthly...

2001: A sales odyssey; 10 easy steps to understanding last year's sales story.(vehicle sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 14, 2002... As it sprinted to a surprisingly strong finish, the U.S. auto market was anything but a share-the-riches scene last year. For some makes, there were dizzying climbs in sales. For others, helpless falls. New types of vehicles gained fans, while...

Hard-pressed U.S. plant may be expanded.(BMW (US) Holding Corp. may expand Spartanburg, South Carolina plant)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 14, 2002... Spurred by soaring demand for its X5 sport-utility, BMW is considering expanding its U.S. assembly plant. Crews are on steady overtime, and the plant, near Spartanburg, S.C., is operating beyond its scheduled capacity, said Tom Purves, CEO...

Government spins its wheels.(tax policies affecting automotive industry stalled)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 14, 2002... Government spins its wheels * $2,000 clean-fuel tax deduction: Phase-out began Jan 1, 2002, would end Dec. 31, 2004 * $4,500 maximum tax credit for alternative-fuel vehicles: Passed the House, is stalled in the Senate

Detroit show was the place to be.(North American International Auto Show)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Last week was even busier than normal because it was the week for press previews at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was a great event that lasted for several days, until we were all worn out. The quality and...

Policy change.(General Motors Corp. making changes)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... To reassert its divisions' identities, GM is * Reassigning field reps to handle single divisions in major markets * Reinstituting divisional make meetings at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention * Doing...

FreedomCAR needs firm milestones.(fuel cell program for automotive industry)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... The Bush administration is making the right choice when it uses taxpayers' money to help speed the development of fuel cells for automobiles. But the administration must set firm goals, then make sure the goals are met. The benefits of...

GM shuffles field reps to bolster brands.(General Motors; reorganized field policy allows continuity)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... In another retreat from its past brand policies, General Motors will reassign many of its field representatives to work with a single division's dealers. The policy reverses a portion of GM's 1999 reorganization of field operations, which...

Network spots trends quickly ; Sales transaction data reported to dealers within days.(J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - Isaac Newton saw an apple fall from a tree and formed the law of gravity. J.D. Power III saw a bag of apples scanned at the grocery store and created the Power Information Network. ``I had been thinking about this for years...

Dealership faces class-action fraud suit.(Martin J. Kelly Oldsmobile Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... The Illinois Appellate Court has reinstated a consumer fraud suit against a suburban Chicago dealership that allegedly failed to tell a prospective used-car buyer that a vehicle was the subject of a manufacturer's technical bulletin. The...

Chrysler seeks big bang from 'little hits'; Zetsche wants 33% jump in sales from niche models.(Zetsche, Dieter)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - The Chrysler group has high hopes that a bunch of ``little hits'' can fuel a one-third jump in sales in the next five to 10 years. CEO Dieter Zetsche says the increase of about 1 million units will come from ``new and different...

About shareholder return.(Automotive News/PricewaterhouseCoopers Total Share Return Index)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... The data on the opposite page represent the fourth-quarter update of the Automotive News/PricewaterhouseCoopers Total Shareholder Return Index. The Index is calculated separately for automakers, suppliers and retailers. Total shareholder...

At the North American International Auto Show last week, the stories off the floor threatened to overshadow those under the spotlights. ; Is it a car? A truck? With this breed, old labels don't fit.(Chrysler Pacifica and Volkswagen Magellan launched)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - The freshly tallied, near-record U.S. sales of 2001 had been more about incentives than product. And the pending announcement of Ford Motor Co.'s massive cutbacks hung ominously over three days of media previews. Yet hardware did...

0% plan sparked reeling industry.(GM automotive 0 percent financing produces record sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - It was a simple message that blanketed almost every TV screen in the country in late September: Buy any GM car or truck in stock and pay no financing charges. Almost immediately, an industry shellshocked from the Sept. 11...

supply line.(multiple automotive industry supply contract news briefs)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Ford picks Continental Teves as brake supplier DETROIT - Continental Teves is the brake system supplier for the 2003 Lincoln Navigator. Continental Teves also will supply a traction-control and stability-management system, which will...

Beefy boy-toy concept hints at future look of Ford trucks.(Ford F350 pickup truck)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... The diesel engine in the Ford F-350 Tonka concept truck will be on the road in Ford Division Super Duty trucks within about a year. Ford's oversized boy-toy truck also showcases the interior and exterior design direction Ford will use to...

Lawmakers fail to renew tax break for high-tech cars; Missed Jan. 1 deadline bodes ill for pending fight.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... WASHINGTON - If it's true that government tax incentives for buyers of advanced-technology vehicles are the right way to go, then Congress has slipped into neutral. Lawmakers failed to enact an extension of a tax deduction for buyers of...

Quest concept closer to Nissan brand image.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Get used to the face of the Nissan Quest minivan concept; it contains much of the new design direction the Japanese automaker is using globally to define its brand. ``The grille gives a hint at Nissan's future brand identity,'' Jed...

Mazda makes stronger plastic for use on the 6.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... TOKYO - Mazda Motor Corp. has developed an injection molding process that uses a high-strength plastic to make parts that are lighter, stronger and less expensive. The process first will be used in front-end module and door module carriers...

ZF installs execs at Sachs.(ZF Sachs)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... ZF Friedrichshafen moved quickly to appoint a management team at its new ZF Sachs subsidiary. The German driveline and chassis specialist named Hans-Georg Harter head of the clutch and shock absorber unit. ZF Sachs was formed following...

Foreign makers have taste Americans crave; Surveys show once buyers bail on Big 3, they rarely return.
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - More than a few gasps of surprise were heard around Detroit after Car and Driver tested eight mid-sized sedans and rated the four American models behind the rest of the field. It's common for new models from Nissan, Honda and...

Solstice invents new look for Pontiac.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... General Motors' concept car team accompished much more than creating the Pontiac Solstice for Vice Chairman Robert Lutz in just four months. In that short period, the team defined a new design direction for Pontiac and worked out a...

Gale: Beware of meaningless change.(automobile design)(Interview)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Automotive design is at a crossroads, says Tom Gale, retired vice president of design at DaimlerChrysler. He spoke with Staff Reporter Richard Truett. Where is design headed? We are looking for something new right now. That's part of...

Show Talk.(Dieter Zetsche's take on the economy)(Brief Article)(Interview)
January 14, 2002... ``It's clear we are in a recession. The first and second quarters are going to be tough. Sales were pulled forward from last year. The question is to what extent.'' Dieter Zetsche, CEO of the Chrysler group

Honda beefs up truck lineup.(new SUV's the Pilot and Model X)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 14, 2002... Honda Division has taken steps to strengthen its truck-short product line - but the steps appear to be in opposite directions. In Detroit last week, Honda introduced the Pilot, a compact sport-utility aimed at the center of the best-selling...

2001 production down 10%.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 14, 2002... * Preliminary numbers for 2001 North American car and truck production show a 10.1 percent decrease from the record year of 2000 when 17,698,866 vehicles were built. Automotive News subscribers can view the final totals by manufacturers on the...

Tops in value.(in 2001)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Despite a rocky year for the stock market, the following companies came out on top in the Automotive News and PricewaterhouseCoopers index of shareholder value for 2001. See full report on | PAGE 46 | Automakers One-year: BMW AG ...

Obituaries.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 14, 2002... Richard Lynch EVANSTON, Ill. - Longtime auto dealer Richard Lynch died Dec. 12. He was 87. Lynch and his two brothers founded Frank J. Lynch Buick in Chicago in 1938. In 1962 Lynch bought out the remaining portion of the business, which...

Late News.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Ford sticks with 0 Ford Motor Co. struck back at General Motors with continued 0 percent loans, and added cash rebates of its own. GM eliminated 0 percent offers Jan. 3 in favor of $2,002 cash rebates for most GM divisions, plus an...

Ford shares savings with suppliers.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - Auto suppliers found one sign of encouragement in Ford Motor Co.'s restructuring plan - the automaker will give back a portion of parts cost savings. The shared savings program, reminiscent of the old Chrysler Supplier Cost...

Lots of talent, no superstar; A dean of design gives high grades - and some tips for improvement.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... The Detroit show was flooded with new products, but there wasn't a superstar, such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser or Volkswagen New Beetle of years past, says Imre Molnar, dean of the College of Creative Studies, a Detroit school noted for training...

66 dealers vie for Time magazine awards.
January 14, 2002... Time magazine, in association with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and in cooperation with the National Automobile Dealers Association, has received 66 nominations from automotive trade associations for the 33rd annual Time Magazine Quality Dealer...

Volvo Safety Concept Car wins Automotive News honor.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - The Volvo Safety Concept Car last week won Automotive News' annual award for concept car of the year. The vehicle - unveiled at the 2001 Detroit auto show - combines a stylish exterior with innovative safety features such as...

Suppliers face more uncertainty.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Suppliers treaded water on stock value during 2001 but faced challenge after challenge during one of the toughest years for parts makers in recent memory. Those obstacles won't disappear in 2002. The first question mark is how production...

Forecast for automakers' shares: Expect volatility.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Automakers suffered the most in 2001, and their share values are likely to remain volatile in 2002 as manufacturers try to craft the right incentive plans. Vehicle manufacturers had the sharpest drop in 2001, with a decline of 11.6...

TrailBlazer, Altima win top honors.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... A jury of automotive journalists named the 2002 Nissan Altima as the North American Car of the Year and the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer as the North American Truck of the Year. The awards were announced at the Detroit auto show. The Altima,...

Microbus under the microscope.(at Volkswagen)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Flip a coin. There's a 50-50 chance Volkswagen will build a Microbus. So says Bernd Pischetsrieder, who takes over as chairman in April. The decision may hinge on the outcome of meetings held in Detroit last week between executives of...

VW crosses over with Magellan.(its first SUV)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Volkswagen AG, the world's fourth-largest automaker, for a long time has tied its fortunes to traditional cars. But that's changing. With the Magellan sport-utility unveiled in Detroit last week, VW announced its interest in the burgeoning...

[0] Show Talk.
January 14, 2002... ``Let me state for the record that I have been nodding off in meetings all my career.'' Robert Lutz, General Motors vice president for product development, responding to reports he is showing his age by dozing in meetings

New face of brand management.(at General Motors)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... GM is changing its system. The number of brand managers (now 31) will be reduced through attrition. Brand managers will * Focus more on launches * Handle more nameplates * Work more closely with the 13 vehicle line executives

DCX world engine project is on track for approval.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... TOKYO - Plans for the Chrysler group, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. to develop a family of small gasoline engines for joint worldwide use appear to be on track. Although the so-called world engine has not been formally...

Premier Automotive loses rwd platform.(rear-wheel-drive platform)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - The Premier Automotive Group, sharing some of the budget-cutting pain at parent Ford Motor Co., has lost a rear-wheel-drive platform planned for future Lincoln vehicles. That means Lincoln will use current Ford platforms for new...

Chrysler drops 0% financing.(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - Zero percent financing isn't dead. It's still on the books until Jan. 31 for Saab, Feb. 28 for Daewoo and March 5 for Ford Motor Co. The Chrysler group weaned itself from 0 percent in a program that began Tuesday, Jan. 8, and...

Dealers.(Virginia Automobile Dealers Association elects officers)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... Transitions * The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association elected its officers. They are: Stephen Snyder of Checkered Flag Motor Car Co. in Virginia Beach, chairman; Karen Radley of Radley Automotive Group in Fredericksburg, first vice...

Suppliers await NHTSA decision on running lights.(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)(Brief Article)
January 14, 2002... DETROIT - General Motors is asking the federal government to require all passenger vehicles to have daytime running lights, a move that could lead to increased sales and production for lighting suppliers. ``If there is a large-scale drive...