Automotive News articles from May 2006

Automotive News archives from May 2006

Lawmakers talk about gas - burn some, too.(political side of gasoline price)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Washington lawmakers jumped on the bandwagon last week to holler about who was to blame for high fuel prices. Then they drove away in their gas guzzlers. Republicans and Democrats alike were caught in the act by a Washington Post reporter....

If China wants piece of U.S. market, GM and Ford would be good points of entry.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Edward Lapham It can't be too much longer until the Chinese buy a big chunk of General Motors and/or Ford. I know it seems cockamamie. But if you're a Chinese automaker hot to sell and build cars in North America, the quickest...

SUV backlash helps revive a slighted niche; Small cars offer a feel of the 1970s, with a stylish twist.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jean Halliday Super-sized SUVs have propelled U.S. vehicle sales for more than a decade. But small is beautiful again. New small-car entries are popping up faster than at any other time since the 1970s. That was an era of...

Audi to consumers: 'Less is more' when it comes to A3.(Audi of America Inc marketing A3 - the smallest car)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Lillie Guyer Audi of America Inc. is marketing the A3 - the smallest car in its U.S. lineup - with a "less is more'' message. Audi executives cite the sporty touring car's luxury features, cargo space, fuel efficiency and...

Obituaries.(Robert Graham)(Ford Motor Co. Automotive Components Group)(Alan Jacobs)(Jacobs Twin Buick )(Obituary)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Robert Graham JUPITER, Fla. - Robert Graham, retired vice president of Ford Motor Co.'s Automotive Component Group, died here April 17. Graham also had been a vice president in charge of Ford's Latin American operations and, after...

Delphi seeks low-wage workers for Ala. plant.(Suppliers)
May 1, 2006... Byline: David Barkholz Delphi Corp. wants to hire workers in Alabama for $10 to $14 an hour - even though it wants to cut thousands of hourly jobs nationally. The Delphi Steering Systems plant in Athens, Ala., which employs 1,900...

Wanted: Innovative dealers.(News)
May 1, 2006... If you are a franchised new-car dealer who has pioneered a winning business strategy, please tell us about it. We're gathering ideas for a special Insight section on Innovative Dealers to be published Oct. 2. E-mail Insight Editor Karen Faust...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... * A story on Page 16 of the April 17 issue about the Jeep Patriot and Compass mischaracterized the brand's departure from body-on-frame vehicles. Jeep has built several unibody SUVs, beginning with the 1982 Cherokee.

Clarification.(Correction)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... * A Supply Line item on Page 30B in some editions of the April 24 issue gave a price of $280,607 for the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. That is the U.S. equivalent of the price in Europe. The vehicle has not been introduced in the United States.

Thinking outside the econobox; Automakers seek small-car buyers online, at events.(Marketing)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jean Halliday To reach young buyers for its small cars, the auto industry has become a pioneer in the media revolution. Ford Motor Co. started the trend in 1999 when it launched the Ford Focus. Ford Division sponsored concerts...

VW thinks small but pushes performance.(Marketing)(Volkswagen of America Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Lillie Guyer Raumwunder is a German word that, roughly translated, means "small outside, big inside.'' Executives at Volkswagen use the word to describe the New Beetle. They are relying on the small car, along with the larger...

Cash for Camaros? Too soon, GM says; Dealer pulls ad after $1,000 deposits draw fire.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors has not announced plans to build the Chevrolet Camaro, but that's a mere technicality for a Detroit-area Chevy dealer. Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn, Mich., has solicited deposits from...

Porsche sales zoom as lineup expands.(News)(Porsche Cars North America Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Three years ago, Porsche Cars North America Inc. got both a new chief executive and a new vehicle in a segment where it had never competed - a combination that has taken the luxury carmaker to new heights. In...

Lucerne price strategy: So far, so good; Incentives, fleet volume decline, but some dealers complain about sales.(News)(General Motors Corp.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors calls the Buick Lucerne the poster child for its pricing strategy: Keep transaction prices strong by controlling production and limiting fleet sales and incentive spending. GM says it has increased...

Transmission gives SUVs mpg boost; GM, DCX, BMW borrow gearbox from hybrid bus.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Richard Truett A new transmission being developed by General Motors, DaimlerChrysler AG and BMW AG could move big SUVs and large luxury sedans out of the gas-guzzler category. The "Two-Mode'' heavy-duty, rear-wheel-drive hybrid...

Keith Crain Jr. named AutoWeek ad director.(News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Former Automotive News reporter Keith "K.C.'' Crain Jr. has been named advertising director of AutoWeek, a Detroit national consumer publication for auto enthusiasts. Crain, 26, joined AutoWeek as an account executive last July. He...

Allen joins staff of Automotive News.(News)
May 1, 2006... Automotive News has hired Bob Allen as a copy editor. Allen, 46, spent 13 years at Crain's Detroit Business - which, like Automotive News, is owned by Crain Communications Inc. He started as chief copy/production editor and later was...

GM dealers are pinching pennies; Cutting costs helps weather tough times.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jamie LaReau Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealer Bob Fusco used to leave his store lights on until 2 a.m. Now his timer shuts them off promptly at 10:30 p.m. Many General Motors dealers can relate to Fusco. Whether they're making money or...

Ford price cuts will squeeze dealer margins.(News)(Ford Motor Co. )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford dealers were told last week to be prepared for lower prices - and thus smaller margins - on some 2007 models. Ford Motor Co. executives told dealers that the automaker would continue to price new models so that...

Flawed parts halt production at 7 Ford plants.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Amy Wilson, Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz Transmission parts valued at "a couple of bucks'' sidelined seven Ford Motor Co. assembly plants Thursday and Friday. Canadian parts maker Linamar Corp. supplies the faulty parts,...

I'm tired of all the excuses.(political side of gasoline rates)(Column)
May 1, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Four dollars a gallon for gasoline should be no surprise. It all started more than 30 years ago, and no one has done a darn thing about it since then. Everybody is so worried about his own piece of the world that he...

PR honcho apologizes for pay-for-publicity mess.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A Washington public relations firm that former Labor Secretary Robert Reich accused of trying to bribe him on General Motors' behalf has apologized to the automaker, The New York Times reports. Reich, a commentator for the public radio...

American Idle? Ford gets real.(Final assembly)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Ford's idea of a bold move? How about producing its own reality TV show. As part of its new "Bold Moves'' marketing theme, Ford is pitching a show that would have contestants help its designers develop concept cars. Dealers got a preview...

Japan can import its small-car advantage.(Marketing)(Evan Hirsh)(Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Jean Halliday Advertising Age Evan Hirsh, auto practice vice president of the Booz Allen Hamilton management consulting firm, has worked with a range of automakers worldwide. His specialty is sales, marketing and distribution. ...

Strong N.A. sales spark record earnings at Nissan and Honda.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. predict another year of strong sales in North America in the fiscal year that began April 1. But they disagree whether North America will carry them to yet another year of record...

Has a Hemi, but maybe no actor; Strike could disrupt TV spots of automakers.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Laura Clark Geist Will Jon Reep - better known as the "Hemi guy'' - find a Hemi engine in someone's Dodge on TV commercials this fall? Will golfer Tiger Woods still tee off beside a Buick in TV spots? Will actor Willem...

750 Nissan staffers won't move; Automaker receives 27,000 resumes for 200 advertised jobs.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Lindsay Chappell About 750 of Nissan North America Inc.'s 1,300 sales and marketing employees have told the company they will not move from California to Tennessee. But at least Nissan's mission now is clear, says Vice Chairman...

Chrysler looks to Imperial to go upscale.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rick Kranz Chrysler executives believe Cadillac and Lincoln buyers are available for the taking. Ditto for some buyers of the BMW 5 series. And the car to woo them? A premium sedan such as the luxurious Chrysler Imperial...

Bush opposes capping hybrid, diesel tax credits.(automotive industry)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Harry Stoffer President Bush wants to remove a legal limit on the number of vehicles produced by any automaker that qualify for fuel-saving tax credits. The credits of as much as $3,400 per vehicle are aimed mainly at buyers...

Auto News briefly.
May 1, 2006... They better learn to parallel park Maserati North America is betting that customers who can afford to shell out at least a hundred grand for one of its models won't mind parting with a few more bucks to learn how to drive their cars...

Personnel.(Group 1 Automotive Inc. appointed Wade Hubbard)(UnitedAuto Group Inc. appointed Robert Kurnick Jr.)(Veretech Inc. appointed Larry Tabloff )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE INC. - Wade Hubbard, 48, to vice president, fixed operations. He had been director of parts and service operations for Gulf States Toyota Inc., which distributes vehicles and parts to Toyota dealerships. Group 1, of...

Wage cuts spark strike at Minn. dealerships.(automotive technicians calls on strike)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Donna Harris Efforts by auto dealerships to take service business from oil-change chains are sparking labor disputes. About 1,400 parts and service employees of 39 new-vehicle dealerships in Minneapolis and its suburbs went on...

Mazda names design chief.(Mazda Motor Corp. appoints Laurens van den Acker)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Laurens van den Acker is Mazda Motor Corp.'s new head of design, replacing Moray Callum. Van den Acker, a Netherlands native, has been chief designer in charge of strategic design at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn,...

UAW exec's take on Tower talks is heartening.(United Automobile Workers is in talks with Tower Automotive Inc. about Delphi Corp.'s chapter 11 proceedings)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... It is encouraging that Tower Automotive and the UAW seem to be avoiding the animosity during reorganization talks that has complicated Delphi Corp.'s Chapter 11 proceedings. UAW Vice President Bob King says workers are willing to share the...

Mazda, Suzuki report record profits, see gains.(Mazda Motor Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. )
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Mazda Motor Corp. aims to raise U.S. sales by 10.7 percent in the fiscal year that began April 1, even as it trims incentive spending and reduces fleet sales. Suzuki Motor Corp. also posted record net earnings....

Innovation? It's imported.(innovations )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Ford says innovation is driving its comeback, but three import automakers currently are at the wheel, according to Business Week. Toyota, BMW and Honda were ranked in the top 25 of the magazine's list of most innovative companies. Toyota...

The next Honda CR-V.
May 1, 2006... This redesigned 2007 Honda CR-V was snapped during testing in Australia. Although the CR-V shares a platform with the upcoming 2007 Acura RDX, each vehicle has unique design elements. The CR-V features vertical taillights set in the D-pillars,...

OnStar helps build dealer service business; Monthly e-mails give subscribers diagnostic updates.(messaging services)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Gail Kachadourian More than a million OnStar customers get monthly e-mail messages that diagnose the condition of their cars and trucks. Some General Motors dealers say the messages are boosting their service business. OnStar,...

Mitsubishi vows support for U.S. advertising - sort of.(United States)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is sending mixed signals on its marketing plans. "We will be very active'' in advertising in the United States, vowed Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko at an earnings press conference...

U.S. output tops 4 million.(car and truck production)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Debi Domby * U.S. car and truck production reached 4 million units on Friday, April 28, one day later than last year. * North America truck production reached 3 million units on Wednesday, April 26, six days later than last...

Morton rises in Nissan power vacuum.(Jim Morton of Nissan North America Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Lindsay Chappell In the swirl of events surrounding Nissan North America's relocation from California to Tennessee, one overlooked development is the rise of Jim Morton. Morton, a relative newcomer to the auto industry who...

Bad fastener can lead to limping Camry.(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark Rechtin Just two months into the launch of its redesigned 2007 Camry, Toyota has a problem on its hands. A fastener in the automatic transmission can loosen, and as a result drivers can lose the use of second and sixth...

Avalon shows dent in Toyota quality; Fixes sought for `problematic vehicle'.(Toyota Avalon)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark Rechtin Alan Seider has owned 11 Toyotas since 1982, but his 2006 Avalon likely will be his last. He says quality glitches have bedeviled his Toyota sedan, which he has driven less than 6,000 miles since he bought it last...

Acura, moving upscale, kills the RSX coupe.(American Honda Motor Company Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Kathy Jackson Acura will kill the RSX coupe at the end of the 2006 model year. John Mendel, senior vice president of automobile operations at American Honda Motor Co., says the company is considering replacements for its...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Too many dealers? Editorial is off-base To the Editor: I was truly stunned by the April 17 editorial, "Overdealering adds to problems of U.S. makers.'' I wondered what study, what facts, whose opinions you based it on and just how you...

Late News.(automobile sales)(standards for cars)(Fred Adcock quits Subaru of America Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Analysts forecast April sales slide Industry analysts expected U.S. vehicle sales for April to drop as much as 4 percent compared with April 2005. They forecast a seasonally adjusted selling rate of about 16.5 million units. Analysts...

Mitsubishi will export Galants from Illinois to Latin America.(Mitsubishi Motors Corp)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Officials at Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plan to begin exporting Galant sedans built in Normal, Ill., to Latin America in the next 12 months. Mitsubishi aims to push the factory's output to about 100,000 vehicles in...

Lean times at the UAW, too.(United Automobile Workers)(executives salaries)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, taking aim at shareholders and executives, calls for shared sacrifice during these hard times at unionized U.S. automakers and suppliers. And it appears he does not exclude himself. A federally mandated...

Volkswagen's new ads are about as bad as they can be.(Volkswagen AG advertising)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rance Crain Volkswagen of America Inc. and its advertising agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, have launched a brilliant scheme to allow VW to withdraw from the U.S. market. They've taken the idea right out of Mel Brooks' playbook....

Safety gear exists; we must use it; Tax breaks would help drivers buy the equipment.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Robert E. McKenna In our lifetime, the auto industry has made vast improvements in motor vehicle safety. Seat belts, airbags, stronger doors and roofs have saved nearly 329,000 lives since 1960, according to the National Highway...

Lamborghini chases sales, dealers worldwide.(Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A forecasts)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rick Kranz Lamborghini, the maker of $180,000-plus sports cars, aims to boost worldwide sales nearly 20 percent this year. The optimistic target is tied to the continued expansion of its dealer network - particularly in the...

Haldex will make awd in Mexico; Factory is company's first in North America.(Haldex Traction Systems)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Bradford Wernle Haldex Traction Systems, a Swedish manufacturer of all-wheel-drive systems, plans its first North American factory for 2008 production. The plant is to be built in Mexico, although Haldex CEO Joakim Olsson...

GM gives dealers reprieve on 5% parts surcharge.(General Motors Corp.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Ralph Kisiel General Motors will delay imposing a 5 percent surcharge on all customer special-parts orders from its dealerships for two months. The surcharge, scheduled to be imposed today, May 1, was to have been paid by...

Manheim does consumer sales in China.(Cox Enterprises Inc. Manheim Auctions Div.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Alysha Webb Used-car auction company Manheim has formed a joint venture in China, but slow release of regulations is slowing its growth. On April 20, Shanghai Manheim Guopai Motor Vehicle Auction Co. was officially established....

Auto News digest.
May 1, 2006... Mazda boosts ad spending LOS ANGELES - Mazda North American Operations will have its largest advertising budget ever in the fiscal year that started April 1, says Don Romano, the company's vice president of marketing. He would not disclose...

Dealers.(James Ernst of Ernst Auto Center won award from General Motors Corp.)(Patrick Peck opened Pat Peck Honda in Gulfport)(Tony Gullo Sr. of Gullo Toyota won award from Gulf States Toyota Inc. Transitions )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Milestones * James Ernst of Ernst Auto Center (Buick-Cadillac-Chevrolet-GMC- Pontiac) in Columbus, Neb., received a 25-year award for Pontiac from General Motors. * Tony Gullo Sr. of Gullo Toyota of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, received a...

Rolls' new baby.(BMW AG's news luxary car Corniche)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BMW engineers in Munich, Germany, are on the road these days with their latest luxury baby, a convertible version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. This prototype is based on a shortened platform of the Phantom and powered by the same engine as the...

It's just poetic license, Steve.(Gregg Shotwell wrote about Steve Miller)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The prose stylings of UAW dissident Gregg Shotwell got him a visit last week from the feds and the Michigan State Police. But they concluded he was only kidding about strangling Delphi CEO Steve Miller. In a recent Web column on...

Dealerships lose out to condos; Some stores are worth less than the dirt they sit on.
May 1, 2006... Byline: Donna Harris Don Ralph used to sell 1,500 new Buicks a year at his dealership in the resort town of Delray Beach, Fla. As Buick's fortunes declined, that number dwindled in recent years to 600. Now it's zero. Ralph's store -...

No more Fords to be built in Japan.(Mazda Motor Corp. stopping the production of Ford Escape and Ford Laser Lidea sedan)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece It's the end of the line for Fords built in Japan. Mazda Motor Corp. will halt production of the Ford Escape SUV and Ford Laser Lidea sedan this year at its plants in Japan, Mazda sources say. That will end...

Ghosn: Nissan will develop hybrid technology.(Nissan Motor Co)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Nissan Motor Co.'s licensing of hybrid technology from Toyota Motor Corp. is only a stopgap measure, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says. "I don't think this agreement will go for a very long time,'' he said last week....

The Final Say.(Russ Clark of General Motors Corp. talks about sport utility vehicles)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... "If you lay down why people buy SUVs, it's really about fuel efficiency. We have an ad out that shows it takes three cars to equal the efficiency and capability of our (Chevrolet) Suburban. In that aspect, it's more fuel-efficient to drive a...

The spy who loved real estate.(Jim Dunne, photographer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... What a charmed life Jim Dunne leads. The renowned auto spy photographer travels the world snapping sneaky shots of vehicles he shouldn't be glimpsing. Nine years ago he bought five acres of worthless - for most people - real estate in a...

DCX collaborator: 'It's amazing what you can achieve'.(DaimlerChrysler AG is partnered with General Motors Corp. and BMW AG)(Andreas Truckenbrodt)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Richard Truett Andreas Truckenbrodt, executive director of hybrid powertrain programs for DaimlerChrysler, is working with General Motors and BMW to develop the Two-Mode hybrid transmission for rear-wheel-drive SUVs and luxury...

Chrysler group sales tactics cut into profits.(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mary Connelly The Chrysler group used strong incentives, lease deals and fleet sales to bolster sales volume in the first quarter. The result was a 53 percent drop in operating profit in the period. And the company says it...

Beware of Congress.(subsidies for ethanol production)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... As Congress considers proposals to legislate away the nation's dependence on imported oil, senators from corn-producing states should avoid getting too excited about giving farmers subsidies to grow crops to produce ethanol. Thanks to...

Off the Mark.(Lincoln Industrial Corp. willing to increase price of Zephyr)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Lincoln plans to raise the price of its entry-level sedan as it changes the name from Zephyr to MKZ, which, at Lincoln, is pronounced "Mark Z.'' There will be more content in the new car, but choosing a moniker that requires a...

Calendar.
May 1, 2006... AUTO SHOWS - 2006 April 28-May 7 - Lisbon International Motor Show, Parque das Nacoes, Lisbon, Portugal, 351-21-303-5300, www.acap.pt April 29-May 7 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show, Georgia World Congress Center,...

Lexus modifies coverage of certified used vehicles.(marketing of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Lexus Div)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Lexus plans to offer service agreements to owners of its certified used vehicles that could broaden warranty coverage. Marv Ingram, national fleet manager of Lexus' certified program, says the division and its...

Contest aims to cure pain at the pump.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Harry Stoffer The group that awarded a $10 million prize for the first private space flight wants to present a similar award for a super-fuel-efficient car that consumers will buy. Peter Diamandis, chairman of the X PRIZE...

Side effects.(News)
May 8, 2006... In the continuing quest to make their creations stand out, some automotive stylists are using side vents to add sparkle to their designs. Here are a few examples. CAPTION(S): Bling's the thing: What better model to feature a little...

Mitsubishi lobbyist jumps to Toyota.(News)(Anna Schneider to leave Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc.)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Harry Stoffer Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. says it will not immediately replace its longtime Washington lobbyist, who quit for a job with Toyota. Anna Schneider started last month as the No. 2 person in the Washington...

Hauler Allied gets a break - and a threat.(Final assembly)(Allied trucks)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Atlanta gave North America's largest car hauler permission to cut its union wages 10 percent, but only through June. The Teamsters weren't happy, and threatened to strike if the union can't work out a long-term...

Trucks take the brunt of Ford dealer-discount cuts.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co.'s bid to reduce dealer discounts on 2007 models is hitting trucks harder than cars. Discount reductions on trucks run as high as 3 percentage points, according to a memo sent to Ford-brand dealers....

UnitedAuto splits stock.(Final assembly)(UnitedAuto Group Inc.)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... For just the second time, a public dealership group is splitting its stock. Roger Penske's UnitedAuto Group will perform a two-for-one stock split June 1. The stock price will be halved when the split takes effect - making it easier for...

Business outlook bleak for MSX, analyst warns.(Suppliers)(MSX International Inc.)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker MSX International Inc. could be facing some serious issues - possibly even Chapter 11 reorganization - if it can't generate enough business to handle maturing debt, one analyst says. MSX, of Warren, Mich.,...

Study: Product prices should be based on value.(News)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Matthias Karpstein Successful suppliers base their prices on the real value of their products. That is one conclusion of an industry study by the consulting firm Simon-Kucher & Partners of Bonn, Germany. The study was done with...

GM's global strategy was a costly flop; Fiat, Subaru, Isuzu, Suzuki - it just didn't work.(General Motors)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Dave Guilford General Motors' April deal to sell its 7.9 percent stake in Isuzu for $300 million drew a muted reaction. GM has liquidated much larger assets lately. Isuzu seemed an afterthought. But the deal had significance...

Forecasters predict strong SUV sales in Europe.(sport-utility vehicles)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Harald Hamprecht Sales of SUVs will continue to grow strongly in Europe, a German study indicates. "According to our estimates, sport-utility vehicles are the major growth segment in the European market,'' says Ferdinand...

Suppliers will pass on costs of materials.(raw material costs to automakers)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine Suppliers plan to pass on rising raw material costs to automakers. As prices for oil, aluminum and other commodities increase sharply, major suppliers say they cannot continue to carry the cost burden....

Ford ads take 'Bold' theme.(marketing)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Amy Wilson With "Bold Moves'' as its new marketing theme, the Ford brand is increasing its advertising spending by double-digit percentages in both 2006 and 2007. Ford executives wouldn't provide a dollar amount. But Marty...

PT Bargain.(PT Cruiser sales and earnings)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... In its 7th year on the market, PT Cruiser sales are climbing again - up 4.6% through April after a 15% rise last year. When Chrysler rolled out its retro wagon in 2000, dealers were getting prices above sticker. Since 2001, PT prices have been...

Sex-harassment law violators in Japan draw light penalties.(rules for sexual harassment )(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: James B. Treece Before Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law took effect in 1986, sexual harassment in this male-dominated society was rampant. Victims had no legal recourse, and the public ignored the problem. That has changed....

Chrysler considers Chery for small car.(international marketing)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Alysha Webb The Chrysler group is looking at hiring China's Chery Automobile Co. to assemble a small car for sale in international markets, suppliers and other sources in China say. Chrysler would sell the car under the Dodge...