Automotive News articles from March 2005

Automotive News archives from March 2005

VW builds Web site for Hispanic market; Spanish site offers flash animation of each model, dealer locater.(Marketing)(Volkswagen of America Inc.)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Laurel Wentz Volkswagen of America Inc. is launching its first Spanish-language Web site for the U.S. Hispanic market this month. The site will include flash animation of each VW model, says Daniel Marrero, creative director of...

Press: Large pickups are key to Toyota's growth.(Marketing)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Jean Halliday Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. has seen its future: trucks. "The truck market is really key to our future growth, especially large pickups,'' says Toyota COO Jim Press. "We are upgrading the content of our...

We're looking for leaders.(News)
March 7, 2005... On Sept. 26, Automotive News will publish a special issue, 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. These women work for automakers, suppliers, dealerships and allied businesses. They make major decisions and are influential...

GM creates global product board; Goal is to cut costs, speed development.(News)(General Motors)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Charles Child, Rick Kranz To improve its products, General Motors took a very GM-like step last week: It created a committee. True, it's a powerful committee. The Automotive Product Board will include the company's top global...

Buick, AOL get 'Desperate' with weekly recaps.(Marketing)(America Online Inc., Desperate Housewives)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Buick is sponsoring a weekly recap of the hit ABC series "Desperate Housewives'' on the America Online Web site. The deal extends Buick's marketing campaign with the TV show. The campaign includes product placement of Buick models in...

Honda sends execs to Alabama, Ohio plants.(News)(Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Yuzo Yamaguchi Honda Motor Co. will send new executives to head its manufacturing operations in Ohio and Alabama effective April 1. Akio Hamada, 56, will become president of Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. in Marysville,...

Audi prepares to build supercar.(News)(Audi AG)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Audi is likely to put a supercar into production as its halo, says Audi AG Chairman Martin Winterkorn. The automaker is "nearer and nearer'' to giving the Le Mans quattro the green light, Winterkorn says. Audi...

Honda U.K. spot for FR-V puts family 'Together'.(Marketing)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Emma Hall A new TV commercial by Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing uses colorful geometric shapes to launch the FR-V minivan. In the "Together'' spot, characters named Marcia, Tom and baby Lola are each represented by a brightly...

Trust, reliability marketing keys for Chevy in China.(Marketing)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Normandy Madden Shanghai General Motors is launching the Chevrolet brand in mainland China. The automaker's marketing campaign aims at mass-market buyers, including many Chinese who never have owned an international-brand...

Schrempp makes rare comments.(News)(DaimlerChrysler AG's Juergen Schrempp)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Media-shy DaimlerChrysler CEO Juergen Schrempp has broken his silence to defend his leadership as socially responsible. A company's leader should be judged on more than the bottom line, Schrempp told the Financial Times at the Geneva auto...

Snapshot.(Briefs)(Nissan Motor Co.'s market for continuously variable transmission equipped vehicles, discrimination suit of Primus Automotive Financial Services Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Inc.'s fee raise)
March 7, 2005... Nissan shifts to CVT Nissan Motor Co. is stripping the gears out of more of its vehicles. The Japanese automaker expects that 40 percent of its U.S. sales in the 2008 model year will be of vehicles equipped with fuel-saving continuously...

European Cadillac debuts.(News)
March 7, 2005... Carl-Peter Forster, president of General Motors Europe, introduces a concept version of Cadillac's European small car, the BLS, at the Geneva show. The car, designed to fit Europe's narrow streets, goes on sale next year. CAPTION(S): ...

Mercedes drops plan for U.S. B class.(News)(Daimler-Benz AG)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko The B class will not come to the United States because Mercedes-Benz cannot price the vehicle to make a profit, says the brand's CEO. Mercedes-Benz in January decided to ax the B class from the future U.S....

Dealers.(People)
March 7, 2005... Citizenship The Detroit Auto Dealers Association donated $50,000 to the Salvation Army to help rebuild the village of Galle, Sri Lanka, which was destroyed by a tsunami in December. The money was collected by Detroit's NBC TV affiliate,...

Supply line.(Briefs)(Sarnamotive Blue Water Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... DTS, Lucerne to get Delphi smart airbags DETROIT - Delphi Corp.'s latest smart airbag technology will debut in the 2006 Cadillac DTS and 2006 Buick Lucerne. Both vehicles were shown at last month's Chicago Auto Show. Delphi's so-called...

Visteon mulls sale of businesses.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Visteon Corp. is exploring the sale of its axle business and part of its electronics business, sources close to the talks say. Since December, Visteon CEO Michael Johnston has met privately with several...

Late News.
March 7, 2005... Delphi CFO leaves under cloud DETROIT - Delphi Corp. CFO Alan Dawes resigned Friday, March 4, after the audit committee of the supplier's board of directors said it had lost confidence in him. Delphi also said Paul Free, chief...

Lenders pass buck, dealers say; Stores claim loans require more accountability.(News)(dealership agreements)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Donna Harris Changes in dealership agreements with lenders are shifting more liability to dealerships for customers' vehicle loans. Auto lenders are holding dealerships more accountable for verifying customers' identities and...

Alfa is in no hurry to come to N.A. Management team, European dealerships are higher priorities.(News)(North America)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Luca Ciferri Alfa Romeo's new CEO said the Italian sports car brand wants to return to the United States, but he declined to set a date. "North America is a must for a brand like Alfa Romeo, but the date of our return now is...

Saleen makes changes in GT team.(News)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Amy Wilson A management upheaval is unfolding at the supplier that operates the Ford GT assembly plant. Rich Rinke, the 43-year-old COO at Saleen Inc., is out. CEO Steve Saleen fired Rinke in late January and several other...

Volvo Super Bowl space shot nets otherworldly results.(Marketing)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Volvo Cars of North America Inc. has tied the introduction of its V-8-powered XC90 sport wagon to a space launch. Volvo executives pronounce the big-money effort a success. A 30-second commercial during the Super...

Auto News Digest.(Briefs)(General Motors Corp.'s investments and new German plant, product liability case of Ford Motor Co.)
March 7, 2005... GM invests in Ontario OSHAWA, Ontario - General Motors of Canada Ltd. said it will invest $2 billion in its Ontario operations. The money will prepare the Oshawa No. 1 car plant to produce the 2006 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo....

Auto News Digest.(Briefs)
March 7, 2005... Performance car will be a Nissan Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is on track to badge its high-performance Skyline GT-R sports car in North America as a Nissan, not as an Infiniti. A brief debate erupted within the company over the car's U.S....

GM has new marketing head but is mum on sales strategy.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(appointment of Mark LaNeve)
March 7, 2005... Byline: K.C. Crain General Motors has chosen a new executive, Mark LaNeve, to jump-start sales in North America. But so far, neither LaNeve nor GM is saying what he might do. LaNeve, 45, rocketed to the top of GM's North American sales...

Mazda Miata.(News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Who designed it: Yasushi Nakamuta Engine: 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder What's interesting? Despite the larger engine and flared wheel wells, the redesigned Miata is only 22 pounds heavier than the current model. What's new?...

Supplier seeks reimbursement from GM.(News)(Inalfa Roof Systems Inc.)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Robert Sherefkin General Motors' decision to kill the slow-selling GMC Envoy XUV left a key supplier holding the bill for an estimated $10 million parts plant. The supplier has asked GM for a reimbursement. GM spokesman Tom...

Ford belt complaints persist.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Harry Stoffer Most of the 1.4 million vehicles Ford Motor Co. recalled in mid-2001 because of a suspected defect in front seat belt buckles passed dealer-conducted tests. Buckles were replaced in only a small percentage of the...

The making of a beastly SUV 'metaphor'; $27 million safety campaign targets young SUV drivers.(Marketing)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Jamie LaReau "I feel like I have an animal under me.'' That's how members of a focus group of young men described driving an SUV. New York advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, which was developing a public education...

ADESA has $150 million to acquire, grow.(News)(Bayside Auto Auction Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Arlena Sawyers ADESA Inc. plans to use $150 million in cash on hand to acquire vehicle auction sites and invest in Internet projects this year. Those moves should enable ADESA to grow and raise its share price, CEO David...

Normal builds its last Chrysler coupe.(Production)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Debi Domby * Mitsubishi Motor North America Inc. Manufacturing Division built its last Chrysler group car in Normal, Ill., the week ending Feb. 26. The plant produced the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus coupes. During the 10...

4 former minority dealers sue GM.(News)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Four former minority dealers are suing General Motors, alleging the automaker's minority dealer program deceived and discriminated against them. GM says the suit, filed last month in a New Jersey federal court,...

Honda to build more engines in Ala.(News)(Honda Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Honda Motor Co. will expand its engine-building capacity here to keep up with production of the Pilot SUV and Odyssey minivan. Honda will spend $70 million to add engine head and block machining capacity, as...

PAG ramps up ad spending for '05.(Marketing)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Mark Rechtin Ford Motor Co.'s luxury Premier Automotive Group is getting a bigger advertising budget this year, even as Ford is cutting costs elsewhere. Executives of the PAG brands Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo say they expect...

Nissan gets stuck with golf tourney bill.(Marketing)(Nissan North America Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Jamie LaReau Rain curtailed the Nissan Open professional golf tournament in Southern California last month. But the PGA Tour is requiring the automaker to pay its full share of the $4.5 million purse. Nissan North America...

Dealer reserve lives - and rightly so.(automotive loans)(Column)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Jack Kain The Feb. 21 column by Stephen Brobeck of the Consumer Federation of America ("Finance reserve should be dumped'') demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of dealer financing. Brobeck's arguments are...

Mitsubishi ends work with turnaround firm.(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Yuzo Yamaguchi Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has ended a two-month contract with AlixPartners LLC, a U.S. turnaround expert. In an interview here last week, Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko said AlixPartners helped the troubled...

Scion goes off the beaten path.(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Scion Div.'s marketing strategy)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Lillie Guyer Scion is taking its guerrilla marketing strategy on a road less traveled. "We went after a niche others seemed to care less about,'' says Jim Farley, vice president of Scion, the youth division of Toyota Motor...

GM felt February's chill wind.(Sales)
March 7, 2005... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Forget what you may have heard or read. February was not a disaster for U.S. car and light-truck sales, although it was mighty bad for General Motors - down 12.7 percent - and Ford Division trucks - down 10.1...

Dealership wins age-bias suit.(Legal File)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Donna Harris A federal judge threw out an age discrimination lawsuit against one of the largest Ford dealerships in the Washington area. The court ruled that Ted Britt Ford of Fairfax, Va., had valid reasons to replace a...

Spartanburg will build BMW crossover.(News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko BMW's plant in Spartanburg, S.C., will build a new crossover vehicle within three years. The vehicle will use many components from the next-generation X5 SUV that goes on sale in two years, says Burkhard...

Democrat heads NADA's Washington staff.(News)(National Automobile Dealers Association)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Harry Stoffer As Republicans have tightened their hold on Congress, the National Automobile Dealers Association has made Democrat David Regan its top lobbyist on Capitol Hill. Regan believes the move makes sense. His reasoning:...

Can anyone build a world car?(motor shows)(Column)
March 7, 2005... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Hundreds of cars were displayed in Geneva: lots of new ones, some old ones and not many pickups. Light trucks are a North American invention. But it was amazing to realize how few cars are sold and embraced around...

Nissan Europe airs epic commercial; Spot contains 24 1-minute episodes.(Marketing)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Emma Hall Looking beyond the 30-second TV commercial, Nissan Europe is airing a 24-minute spot. The automaker is running an epic commercial on a British cable and satellite network. The series of 24 one-minute episodes is...

Audi may build U.S. assembly plant.
March 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Hit hard by the cheap dollar, European auto executives are scrambling to insulate themselves against future currency fluctuations. Some companies - such as Mercedes-Benz - are reconsidering plans to export...

Citroen C6.(News)
March 7, 2005... Who designed it: Mark Lloyd designed the C6 Lignage concept that appeared at Geneva in 1999. Marc Pinson of the Citroen Design Center in Paris took Lloyd's concept into the production version. Engines: 3.0-liter, 215-hp V-6 gasoline-powered...

Porsche plans Cayman for younger buyers.(News)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Porsche's coupe version of the Boxster will be called the Cayman. The company also will decide whether to make another model line by year end, said Hans Riedel, executive vice president of sales and marketing....

Auto News briefly.(Briefs)
March 7, 2005... Maxi milestone for the Mini BMW sold its 100,000th Mini Cooper in the United States in February - more than two years ahead of schedule. In March 2002, when the car was launched in the United States, BMW expected sales of about 20,000...

Bernhard's job now: Look, listen and learn.(News)(Wolfgang Bernhard )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle Wolfgang Bernhard made a much-anticipated appearance at the show but said little and made no news. Bernhard, Volkswagen's minister without portfolio, is still learning the ropes and isn't allowed to say much....

The car business is tough for beginners.(News)(management skills of Marchionne, Sergio, Carlos Ghosn and J.T. Battenberg III)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Peter Brown I have just two words: For Sergio Marchionne: Good luck. For Carlos Ghosn: Be careful. And for J.T. Battenberg III: Good job. Running a big automotive company is like riding a bull. It's possible to...

U.S.-bound VWs will retain content; As dollar struggles, automaker won't sacrifice features.(News)(Volkswagen AG)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle Despite a strong euro that has plagued European automakers, Volkswagen AG will not decontent its vehicles to make them competitive in the United States. Customers won't buy Volkswagen vehicles without features...

Volvo snags design head from M-B.(News)(appointment of Steve Mattin at Volvo Car Corp.)(Mercedes-Benz )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle Volvo Car Corp. has hired Mercedes-Benz veteran Steve Mattin to head its design team. Mattin, 41, spent 17 years with DaimlerChrysler, primarily at Mercedes. He was a central figure in the design of the current...

Alternative marketing grows rapidly.(Marketing)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Jamie LaReau A $1 million donation to fight breast cancer. Short films. Video games. Ring tones that cell phone users can download. Wireless streaming messages to personal digital assistants. A year of free car insurance. ...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 7, 2005... Dealer earns his finance reserve To the Editor: Stephen Brobeck's Feb. 21 column lacked substantial evidence that the dealer finance reserve, or dealer markup, should be dumped. The finance managers of today's dealerships differ...

Appeals court revives seat belt suit.(Legal File)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Eric Freedman A Florida appellate court has reinstated a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging defective design of the Gen-3 seat belt buckles used in 1993 and later Chrysler minivans and 1997-98 Dodge Dakotas and Durangos. ...

States should not adopt California tailpipe rules.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Automakers have a strong case when they argue that states should not be allowed to adopt California's tailpipe emissions regulations instead of federal emissions rules. The federal program is better for business. In the long run, industry...

Lexus gets sporty with new sedan.(News)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Lexus Div.)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Dave Guilford Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus Division takes another step toward shedding its sensible-shoes image - reliable but unexciting - with the IS 300 sports sedan replacement. Like the larger GS series, which reaches the...

M-B: No U.S. Smart decision until late April.(News)(Mercedes-Benz)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle, Diana Kurylko Smart will design its next-generation ForTwo car to comply with U.S. regulations, says Smart CEO Ulrich Walker. Smart is doing this to leave its options open for the United States. But the...

Less costly Rolls may be in works.(News)(planning to create car)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. is looking at creating a car similar to the Bentley Continental GT, which has a long line of wealthy buyers seeking an "affordable'' ultraluxury car. "Our engineering team is looking...

Hyundai Grandeur.(News)(midsize sedan redesigned)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Who designed it: Hyundai's design studio in Ulsan, Korea Engine: The U.S. version will have a 3.8-liter V-6. At Geneva, a 3.3-liter V-6 was shown. A 2.2-liter diesel engine is promised. What's interesting: Longer, wider and taller than...

Concepts.(News)
March 7, 2005... The Geneva show was full of eye-catching concept cars. Here's a sampling. Nissan Zaroot Who designed it: Ryouichi Kuraoka, Nissan's product chief designer Engine: N/A What's interesting: Gull-wing doors usually are too heavy...

Aston Martin V8 Vantage.(News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Who designed it: Henrik Fisker, now departed Aston Martin design chief Engine: 4.3-liter, 380-hp V-8 What's interesting: The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is designed to help the automaker expand its reach dramatically. The new "baby...

Why keep it a secret?(Opinion)(pricing issues)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... General Motors bit the bullet and cut sticker prices of three of its midlevel SUVs - the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Buick Rainier. But why is GM keeping its price cut a secret? No advertising has appeared, and apparently none is...

Geneva glitz and glamour.
March 7, 2005... Bentley rolled out its Continental Flying Spur, a four-door sister model to the Continental GT. The Flying Spur will go on sale in the U.S. this year for $165,950. CAPTION(S): photo

Calendar.(trade shows of automotive industry)(Calendar)
March 7, 2005... AUTO SHOWS - 2005 March 3-13 - Melbourne International Motor Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 613-9829-1111, www.motorshow.com.au March 3-14 - Geneva International Motor Show, Geneva Palexpo, Geneva,...

Looking to get the red out; 6 top tech leaders reveal their toughest challenges.(Information Technology)
March 14, 2005... Ask the top IT person at one of North America's largest parts suppliers about his or her top challenges for 2005, and you're likely to get an answer involving cost control. Automotive News surveyed six IT leaders at large suppliers. Here's what...

Personnel.(People)
March 14, 2005... ADVANCED ACCESSORY SYSTEMS - Alan Johnson, 56, to president and CEO. He was president and COO of Plastech Engineered Products of Dearborn, Mich. Advanced Accessory Systems of Sterling Heights, Mich., supplies roof racks and towing systems....

With Tower in Chapter 11, Tier 2s are feeling the pain.(Suppliers)(Tower Automotive Inc.)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Tower Automotive Inc.'s bankruptcy filing is creating a ripple of financial stress among smaller suppliers that are wary of more Chapter 11s from their customers. Tower, of Novi, Mich., which supplies body...

XM has a new shining star.(Information Technology)(XM Satellite Radio Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Laura Bommarito There's a new kid in the satellite radio neighborhood. XM-3 - the technical name for XM Satellite Radio Inc.'s (xm.com) newest satellite - joined siblings Rock and Roll in orbit after being launched from a...

GM shifts Saab production to Germany.(News)(General Motors Corp.)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle Globalization has come to Trollhattan, Sweden. Saab's factory in Trollhattan will bid for new products just like any other General Motors plant. The Swedish factory lost the bid to produce the...

VW will add convertible in 2006.(News)(Volkswagen of America Inc.)(Interview)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Volkswagen will launch a 2+2 convertible in 2006 based on the Concept C show car. Also on the drawing board, but not approved, are an SUV smaller and less expensive than the Touareg and a seven-seat SUV similar...

Got your number.(Information Technology)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... $5.6 billion: Forecast for value of in-car infotainment market in China in 2010 $13.98: Monthly subscription fee for XM's satellite radio and NavTraffic services 9.36 million: Number of unique visitors to autobytel.com in November ...

Honda adds dealer cash as Accord, Civic sales dip.(News)(American Honda Motor Company Inc.)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Kathy Jackson, Charles Child Americans' waning appetite for mid-sized cars is eroding sales of two icons, the Honda Civic and Accord. Honda Division spokesman Andy Boyd says high incentives offered by the competition also are...

VW's SOS.(Final assembly)(Volkswagen AG)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Volkswagen could use some magic in the United States. Last week, VW Group announced operating losses of $1.24 billion in North America for 2004. The company blamed the weak U.S. dollar and stale models. VW's losses should narrow as the...

Canada Feb. sales rise 11.2%.(Sales)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Dale Jewett Canada vehicle sales rebounded from a slow start to the year, climbing 11.2 percent in February compared with the year-ago month. Sales totaled 102,654 units. Car sales rose 10.1 percent to 51,848 units. That gave...

Renault, Nissan will cut shared suppliers by 20%.(News)(Regie Nationale des Usines Renault)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine The Renault Nissan Purchasing Organization will reduce its supplier base as it strives to cut costs by placing bigger orders with fewer parts makers. "I expect the number of our common suppliers to...

Podcast is new GM marketing tool; iPod, MP3 player are added to sales arsenal.(Information Technology)(General Motors Corp.)
March 14, 2005... Byline: John Couretas The blog, that Web medium for unfiltered, unsanctioned personal comment, has been adopted by automakers looking for tools to connect them with customers and others in new ways. So it was only a matter of time before...

Supplies dip in February.(News)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Dale Jewett Automakers and dealers had nearly 4.1 million vehicles in stock on March 1, which translates into a 78-day supply. That compares with an 88-day supply of vehicles a month earlier. On March 1, 2004, there was a...

BMW's Bangle: Ready for the next design revolution.(News)(BMW AG)(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Luca Ciferri BMW AG design chief Chris Bangle remains controversial. Most rival designers are critical of the new BMW shape. He talked with Staff Reporter Luca Ciferri at BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany. The new 3-series...

Grand Cherokee seeks showroom traction.(News)(Jeep Grand Cherokee)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Mary Connelly The launch of the Chrysler 300 was heard in the market as a raucous roar. The arrival of the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee - another important vehicle for the Chrysler group - is being greeted in tones more...

Are new-car buyers treated fairly? Yes: Most report a positive experience.(Opinion)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Maury Giles Like e-mail spam or crabgrass in your lawn, negative stereotypes are notoriously difficult to kill. Take the notion that shopping for a new car is akin to going in for a root canal: If I could collect a dollar for every...

Dealers.(People)(Palmiero Toyota)(Gene Smith Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Beginnings * Dan and Kathy Carter opened Carter Chevrolet in Carthage, Tenn. Transitions * Ed Fitzpatrick of Valley Lexus, Valley Infiniti and Valley BMW in Modesto, Calif., and Coliseum Lexus of Oakland in Oakland, Calif., was...

Geneva revisited.(News)(auto show)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... So many savory cars and concepts packed the Geneva auto show this month that some were lost in the shuffle. Here are four models you may have missed from the Swiss show - but only one will reach America. CAPTION(S): Audi's...

Luxury means speed you don't need.(News)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Bradford Wernle To understand the difference between the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the Volkswagen Phaeton, all you have to do is accelerate to 155 mph - fast enough to get you thrown in jail in most countries. The...

CIO drives home his point.(Information Technology)(Chief information officers)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... Byline: Lillie Guyer Dana Corp.'s (dana.com) IT restructuring should come as no surprise. CEO Mike Burns set the groundwork last summer by reducing the supplier's business units from four to two - commercial vehicles and heavy duty. ...