Automotive News articles from November 2007

Automotive News archives from November 2007

Working mom Nason mixes car safety, cupcakes.(News)(dialogue with Nicole Nason of United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Harry Stoffer Nicole Nason isn't the first high-level public official to leave a media event early. But the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offered a novel excuse recently for ducking out of a meeting...

SEMA panel attendee dies.(Dale Kille)(Specialty Equipment Market Association)(Luverne Truck Equipment Inc.)(Obituary)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Dale Kille, 55, national sales manager for Luverne Truck Equipment Inc. of Brandon, S.D., suffered a fatal heart attack Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Automotive News NADA SEMA dealer forum at the Specialty Equipment...

Viper plant goes into OT.(Production)(overtime)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Debi Domby * For the first time, Chrysler LLC's Conner Avenue (Detroit) plant will work overtime. In the past, the plant would increase the line speed for the Dodge Vipers built there instead of scheduling overtime. * Nissan...

Chevy's Impala replacement may not be rwd after all; Tougher CAFE rules may alter GM plan.(News)(Corporate Average Fuel Economy)(Chevrolet)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz Just when you thought General Motors was giving up on the front-drive Chevrolet Impala for a high-powered, rear-drive sedan, the automaker has quietly developed a backup plan. GM's new global mid-sized vehicle...

Expect more cuts in vehicle lineup.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle More models will get axed before Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli and his team are finished. A crossover code-named JZ49 - the Chrysler brand's proposed version of the forthcoming Dodge Journey crossover - already...

Magna prepares to offer an olive branch to UAW.(Suppliers)(Magna International Inc.)(United Automobile Workers)(Canadian Auto Workers)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz The once staunchly anti-union Magna International Inc. plans to include the UAW in its efforts to make peace with labor. But it wants a no-strike pledge that may be hard to sell to the rank and file....

VW brand: Jacoby is firmly in charge.(News)(Stefan Jacoby appointed at Volkswagen of America Inc.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Stefan Jacoby, the new CEO of Volkswagen of America, has solidified his control of Volkswagen brand operations, replacing Adrian Hallmark as chief of the VW brand. Hallmark, 45, will move to parent Volkswagen...

GM wants global growth and U.S. profits.(Talk From The Top)(dialogue with Rick Wagoner of General Motors Corp.)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Peter Brown, Jamie LaReau This year might be a breakthrough for General Motors. Just two years after losing more than $10 billion, GM appears to be turning itself around. GM remains in the red, but it has been narrowing its...

Brockman launches road show; Owner warms to role as voice, face of Reynolds.(News)(Bob Brockman)(Reynolds and Reynolds Co.)(Universal Computer Systems Inc.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ralph Kisiel When Bob Brockman bought Reynolds and Reynolds Co. a year ago, the intensely private dealership software developer remained in the shadows. But his coming-out party is in full swing, and he's got some things to say:...

Chrysler feels equity's sharp ax; Cuts in jobs and vehicles show Cerberus has no patience for unprofitable operations.
November 5, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle Any doubts about how private equity might manage an automaker were resolved last week when Chrysler whacked 10,000 jobs, four car models and five production shifts. Private equity knows how to cut costs...

Brockman meets face-to-face with dealers, workers.(News)(dialogue with Bob Brockman of Reynolds and Reynolds Co.)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Bob Brockman's acquisition of Reynolds and Reynolds Co. sent shock waves through the dealership community one year ago. Today, as Brockman continues to merge Reynolds and Universal Computer Systems Inc., the market...

New plan: Can't sell 'em? Don't build 'em.(News)(forecast of Chrysler L.L.C.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. In the first major product decision of the Bob Nardelli-Jim Press era, Chrysler LLC has pulled the plug on 31/2 nameplates - 21/2 cars and one truck. Gone are the Chrysler Pacifica crossover, the Dodge Magnum...

On the Web...(Calendar)
November 5, 2007... Here's what's coming at autonews.com. * Live: For updates on the UAW-Ford contract talks, log on now to www.autonews.com. * Nov. 7: GM, Toyota announce quarterly earnings * Nov. 8: Ford announces quarterly earnings * Nov....

What the company needs now is a product wizard.(News)(Chrysler's production cuts)
November 5, 2007... Byline: David Sedgwick Don't blame Chrysler's production cuts on $96-a-barrel oil. Granted, it's tempting - but wrong. Instead, blame the product gurus who produced unsellable vehicles even when they were positioned in a hot market...

BMW expects 1 series to be a success in U.S.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: James Franey BMW proved skeptics wrong when its 1-series entry-luxury car became a hit in Europe. Now the automaker wants to do the same in North America. BMW will launch its first 1-series variant - a coupe - in the United...

BMW gets advice on luxury service.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Tom Armitage BMW, the world's top luxury automaker by volume, has turned to a hotel chain and an airline for tips on how to stay No. 1. BMW wants to sell more than 2 million cars and SUVs a year worldwide by 2020, up from 1.37...

Paper: Ford family suspends sale talks.(Final assembly)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... The staid Financial Times generally doesn't spend much time dishing family gossip. But friction in the Ford family is big business and part of the paper's beat. The Times reported last week that the Fords have put their differences on...

SEMA is the automotive toy store.(Column)(Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association)(Column)
November 5, 2007... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Just about everybody who had anything to sell the automobile industry was in Las Vegas last week for the SEMA show, a huge exposition based on the aftermarket. For those of us old enough to remember, SEMA once stood...

AutoNation Direct becomes next step in Internet era.(Opinion)
November 5, 2007... AutoNation's test of a start-to-finish online process for selling new vehicles comes at an auspicious time in the retail automobile business. Domestic automakers and their dealers are wrestling with the need to reduce the number of retail...

Chrysler Financial riles non-floorplan dealers.(Chrysler Financial Company L.L.C.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle Chrysler Financial is making it tougher for dealers who do not finance inventories with the captive finance arm. Under a new policy, non-floorplan dealers who sell vehicles through Chrysler Financial will be...

Toyota boosts markup on warranty parts.(Service & Parts)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Donna Harris In a policy change, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. is reimbursing its dealers at list price for parts they use in warranty-covered service. The policy took effect Oct. 1. Toyota previously paid dealers a warranty...

Convenience: Part 1 of 2.(News)(cruise control and voice recognition software technology in automobile industry)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ian Morton Adaptive cruise control These systems, also called active or autonomous cruise control, automatically adjust speed and distance to vehicles ahead. Second-generation systems work in stop-and-go situations and some...

Ex-NHTSA chief now lobbies . . . on NHTSA issues.(Final assembly)(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Jacqueline Glassman)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... The revolving door between government and the private sector has spun once more for Jacqueline Glassman. The former Chrysler Corp. and DaimlerChrysler lawyer spent four years at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. She rose...

A world on its ear: Automakers want CAFE.(Final assembly)(Corporate Average Fuel Economy)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Harry Stoffer How wacky have things gotten in Washington? Automakers are begging Congress to raise fuel economy standards. Import-brand automakers did so in a letter to House and Senate leaders. And, by the way, they would...

Nonunion Navistar plant sends diesels to Ford; Factory ensures supply during UAW strikes, pricing dispute.(Navistar International Corp.)(United Auto Workers Union)(Ford Motor Co.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: April Wortham A nonunion Navistar plant is supplying Ford with diesel engines as the companies remain locked in a pricing dispute and Navistar deals with UAW strikes. Navistar International Corp. is relying on subsidiary...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 5, 2007... Let consumers make their own choices To the Editor: I was somewhat disturbed by a comment by Edward Lapham in the Oct. 15 issue ("Even Toyota likes to make money''). He wrote, "We must find the right way to shape consumer...

Mazda seeks to change the shape of the rotary engine.(News)(Mazda Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin For the first time in the 50 years since Felix Wankel designed the rotary engine, the fundamental shape of the engine will be changed. In developing its 16X rotary engine, Mazda Motor Corp. will enlarge both the...

Automakers grapple with display design.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Michael LeGault The information flood is spilling out of the home and office and into the automobile. Now the auto industry is finding it must do a better job of monitoring the floodgates. The task falls to those who design the...

GM to offer D20 brand wheels on trucks, SUVs.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Bring on the bling. In January, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac buyers will be able to customize their full-sized trucks and SUVs with 20- or 22-inch wheels bearing a flashy new brand logo called D20, without leaving...

Ford gets funky with the Flex.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Ford Motor Co. unveiled a slew of products, racing engines and vehicles at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show here last week. Ford showed two concept versions of the Flex sport wagon due next summer...

Dealer suit alleges former owners withheld harmful news of scandal.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Arlena Sawyers The owner of three Seattle auto dealerships that closed last month is suing the previous owners, claiming they did not disclose a scandal at the stores that caused sales to plummet. In January, Gee Automotive...

Nissan sues defectors.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: April Wortham Nissan North America Inc. is suing 10 former employees who it claims broke a commitment to remain with the company at least a year after its move here from California. Court documents say Nissan seeks $471,328.07...

Comfy and secure.(News)(automobile safety)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Products aim to improve life for occupants, others Cars and trucks are often sold on the basis of their styling, horsepower and performance. But each automaker has a wide array of technologies it can tap to distinguish a vehicle from its...

Auto News digest.(Briefs)
November 5, 2007... Denso profits soar in 1st half NAGOYA, Japan - Toyota-affiliated supplier Denso Corp. posted net income of [yen]118.3 billion, or $1.03 billion at current exchange rates, in the six months ended Sept. 30, up 25.7 percent from the...

Dealers.(People)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Milestones * David Yost, Arnita Yost and Bob Yost of Yost Farm Supply Ford-Mercury in St. Francis, Kan., received a 25-year award for Ford from Ford Motor Co. * Todd Booth, Gary Schultz and John Saathoff of Platte Valley Auto Mart in...

Position wanted: Fin O'Neill seeks a new auto challenge.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Fin O'Neill quips that he's carrying around a "Will work for food'' sign. The former CEO of Reynolds and Reynolds Co. is out of a job. He left the largest dealership management system vendor Oct. 26 under his own...

Marketing for Malibu: 3-part plan.(News)(Chevrolet Motor Co.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Jamie LaReau Chevrolet has a three-step plan to market the mid-sized Malibu sedan that is just arriving in dealerships. "Rather than saying Chevrolet is launching the Malibu, we like to say the Malibu is relaunching the...

A Bob bomb hits Toyota.(Final assembly)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Not that he's bitter. But Bob Lutz thinks it would be a good time for the news media to stop deifying a Japanese rival. Asked if he sees Toyota as vulnerable, GM's vice chairman replied: "Rightly or wrongly, there are cracks in that...

Hyundai's next plant site may be in Mexico.(News)(Hyundai Motor Company Ltd.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: April Wortham Hyundai Motor Co. is looking into building an assembly plant in Latin America. If the automaker chooses a site in Mexico, one consultant says, the plant could ship small cars to the United States also. Hyundai has...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction notice)
November 5, 2007... * A story on Page 28 of the Oct. 29 issue gave the wrong name for a finalist's technology in the PACE Awards competition. BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems' technology is Turbocharger with Regulated Two-Stage (R2S). * A story on Page 38...

Source: Geely in Europe soon.(News)(Geely Group)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Jens Dralle Chinese automaker Geely is preparing to start sales in western Europe in two years with a new generation of models, according to an industry source. The first model will compete with the subcompact VW Polo, the...

Hard-rocked CAFE: Mulally blows off steam.(Final assembly)(Alan Mulally's views on corporate average fuel economy)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Looking back on human history, a lot of decisions look bad in retrospect. Trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees, for example. Or the New Coke. But for Alan Mulally, humanity's low point came when Washington adopted corporate fuel economy...

Mitsubishi hints at future models.(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Kathy Jackson Mitsubishi's U.S. product future may not be as bleak as some dealers have complained. U.S. retailers were not impressed with sketches of the 2009 Galant sedan and Endeavor crossover at dealer meetings this year in...

SEMA panel: Customization moves the metal.(News)(Specialty Equipment Market Association)(Discussion)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Properly customized cars can move the metal faster and raise profit margins. That was the message at the Automotive News dealer forum panel discussion at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show. Subaru...

Late News.(briefs)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Mazda raises N.A. sales forecast TOKYO - Mazda Motor Corp. has raised its full-year sales forecast for North America. It now expects to sell 407,000 vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico in the fiscal year that ends...

Tundra's quality problems bring 'shame' to Toyota.(News)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota Motor Corp.'s global manufacturing chief expressed "shame'' over quality problems that have plagued the launch of the 2007 Tundra full-sized pickup. "We have had some trouble on the first stage,'' said...

RV shipments fall 7.5% in August.(News)(Recreational vehicles)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ryan Beene Wholesale shipments of RVs and conversion vehicles fell 7.5 percent in August. For the month, 31,900 vehicles were shipped, compared with 34,500 in the same month last year. Shipments of RVs and conversion vehicles...

Supply line.(Briefs)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Delphi will sell suspension unit DETROIT - Delphi Corp. retained W.Y. Campbell & Co. to manage the sale of its global suspension business. Delphi employs more than 2,500 workers at manufacturing operations in Poland, Mexico and the...

Nardelli tackles 'vertical learning curve'.(Talk From The Top)(dialogue with Bob Nardelli of Cerberus Capital Management L.P.)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Rick Johnson, Dave Guilford, Bradford Wernle Cerberus Capital Management shocked the auto world when it brought in an outsider, former Home Depot and General Electric executive Bob Nardelli, to run Chrysler. The industry word was...

Mays to redesign Ford's design unit.(News)(J Mays)(Ford Motor Co.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson J Mays will reorganize Ford Motor Co.'s design department as the automaker shifts to a single global design language for the Ford brand. "Everyone's focus will be slightly shifted,'' said Mays, Ford's group vice...

High school internships seek to remedy future tech shortages.(Service & Parts)(Automotive Youth Educational Systems)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Laura Clark Geist Brent Brinson, a senior at Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas, studies in an unusual classroom: the service department of Monument Chevrolet in suburban Houston. His textbook is a Malibu engine, which he is...

Nissan in-car gizmo is pal, nag, comic; Robot companion can deliver a joke - or a warning.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell "You look like you had a bad day today.'' "You seem tense. Relax.'' "Have you been drinking?'' "By the way, I think the speed limit through here is 35. You should probably slow down just a tad.'' ...

Farley adds U.S. sales to Ford duties.(News)(Jim Farley)(Ford Motor Co.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Jim Farley hasn't even started his new job at Ford Motor Co. and already he is getting more responsibility. The former Toyota executive was hired three weeks ago to head Ford's global marketing. Now, on top of that...

Engineering vets join green team for congress.(News)
November 5, 2007... Dean Harlow, president of Ricardo Inc.; Byron McCormick, executive director of General Motors fuel cell activities; and Mary Ann Wright, CEO of Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, have joined the faculty of the 2008 Automotive News...

Mulally: Ford races the clock; In tough times, will the turnaround succeed? The CEO says he doesn't know.(Ford Motor Co.)(Mulally, Alan)(Interview)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Alan Mulally says Ford Motor Co. is in a "race against the clock,'' and he has no idea whether Ford will win. In a startlingly candid comment, Mulally revealed uncertainty about the outcome of the struggling...

Mulally pushes to transform Ford.(Talk From The Top)(Ford Motor Co.)(Mulally, Alan)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Peter Brown, Amy Wilson Fourteen months after leaving Boeing for the top job at Ford Motor Co., Alan Mulally still has a lot of work to do. He has arranged a loan package worth $23.4 billion, put Jaguar and Land Rover up for...

Crossovers fuel Oct. sales gains.(Sales)
November 5, 2007... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. After four down months, U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks finally topped the year-ago month in October. The increase was only 1.2 percent - 14,271 units. But it bolstered the chances of sales reaching...

Pols would doom unlimited zoom on autobahn.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... As fast as you want on the autobahn? Gone, if Germany's Social Democrats have their way. The party recommended last week that the speed limit be dropped from fuggetaboutit all the way down to 130 kph (81 mph). Studies showing that...

Gloom in Tokyo.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... As the world's automotive leaders gathered last month at the Tokyo auto show, several sounded nervous about 2008. Here are three views about the U.S. market next year: 1. John Mendel, executive vice president, American Honda: "I think...

VWoA's 1 million sales goal: Get real; Quality and image help keep VW brand in its place.(Opinion)(Volkswagen AG)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Jesse Snyder Volkswagen group says that by 2018 it will sell 1 million Audis and VWs a year in the United States. I don't think so. That would mean tripling U.S. sales in a decade. Here are five reasons why that won't happen....

Concept from Korea.(News)(Hyundai Corp. debuts a concept at Los Angeles auto show)(Brief article)
November 5, 2007... Hyundai showed a sketch of the Genesis Coupe, a mean-looking, wedgy concept, last week at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas. The concept will debut this month at the Los Angeles auto show, and a production car based...

Toyota explores selling heavy-duty pickup.(News)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Specialty Equipment Market Association)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Toyota's heavy-duty diesel truck rumblings are getting louder. At the Specialty Equipment Market Association show here last week, Toyota Motor Corp. quietly parked in its display of wild tuner cars the Tundra...

Court reinstates fraud suits against GMAC.(Legal File)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Eric Freedman Lawsuits alleging that fraud by GMAC Financial Services helped force a Nevada dealership out of business can go to trial, a federal appeals court ruled. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco...

As Dura loses, CEO's in win-win spot.(Suppliers)(Dura Automotive Systems Inc.)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Dura Automotive Systems Inc. has handed out pink slips to hundreds of employees as the auto parts maker struggles to leave Chapter 11 reorganization. But if Dura CEO Larry Denton ends up laid off, you won't need to...

Convenience: Part 2 of 2.(News)
November 5, 2007... Byline: Ian Morton Parking assist programs Standard systems use bumper-mounted sensors and/or a rear-vision camera to help drivers maneuver into tight parking spots. Other systems park the vehicle automatically. How it works:...

Fire-breathing hybrids? Toyota takes a green path in its pursuit of hot sports cars.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Hans Greimel Toyota does nearly everything well - except sports cars. In fact, the automaker lacks a Toyota-badged sports car in its U.S. lineup. But Toyota Motor Corp. aims to change that with its own twist: hybrid power. ...

Ex-Toyota managers buy marginal suppliers.(Final assembly)
November 12, 2007... Monomoy Capital Partners LP, a New York private equity fund, is using Toyota expertise to plunge into the auto industry. The fund is enlisting former Toyota managers to make marginal North American auto suppliers more profitable. Last...

Nissan's supercar emerges from the shadows.(News)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Nissan Motor Co.'s $70,000 sports car has been shrouded in secrecy for the past six years. Even key people inside the company are now startled to see the degree to which Nissan has suited up to battle such giants...

For GT-R, Nissan calls for Super Mechanic.(News)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell No ordinary dealer technician will be able to work on the new GT-R sports car when it hits the U.S. market next June. It will be a job for Super Mechanic. That is the title given to a new designation of...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)
November 12, 2007... Toyota cares only for our money To the Editor: If you think for one minute I give a good rat's ass about what happened at Toyota for the last 50 years, think again. The continuing promotion of the imports, supported by the U.S....

Chevy will get small 7-seater; Minivan is similar to Opel Zafira, will be built in Michigan.(General Motors Corp. Chevrolet Motor Div.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Jamie LaReau General Motors will build a compact minivan for Chevrolet in 2009. The seven-seater, code-named MPV-7, will be modeled after the next-generation of GM's Opel Zafira. The UAW's summary of its labor contract with...

'Messy and weak'; GM's 3rd-qtr. loss points to detour for turnaround.(News)(Financial report)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Jamie LaReau That jaw-dropping $39 billion third-quarter loss General Motors reported last week may have resulted largely from an accounting adjustment, but it also was a sign that GM's turnaround has veered off course. Even...

At last, some respect for the Toyopet Crown.(Final assembly)(car collection)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Attention car collectors: The next hot classic import could be Toyota's failed - and fabled - Toyopet Crown from the late 1950s. With fewer than 2,000 Toyopets sold in the United States from 1958-61 and only around a dozen thought to...

Lincoln prices won't jump to fill Jag void.(News)(Ford Motor Co. Lincoln-Mercury Div.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Even with the likely sale of the Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands, Ford Motor Co. won't try to reach upward with its Lincoln brand. Lincoln has a lot of opportunity without crossing into the $60,000-plus price...

Mulally: No on-camera pitches.(Final assembly)(Alan Mulally of Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Ford CEO Alan Mulally is always looking for a way to make a sale. He made a pitch directly to analysts and reporters during Ford's third-quarter earnings conference call last week. Mulally wound up the call by saying, "I would also just ask...

Detroit 3 must fulfill promises in labor contracts.(Opinion)
November 12, 2007... The UAW and especially its president, Ron Gettelfinger, deserve praise and admiration for forging new agreements with the Detroit 3 that make the union and its membership part of the solution, not the problem. Now it's time for General Motors,...

Delphi: More losses, more executive bonuses.(Final assembly)(reorganization )(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Delphi Corp. continues to lose money - another $1.20 billion in the third quarter and $2.50 billion for the first nine months of 2007. And Delphi said Friday it is delaying reorganization hearings until Nov. 29 after lead investor Appaloosa...

Oct. Canada sales rise 2.1%.(Sales)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Ryan Beene Canada's car and light-truck sales were up 2.1 percent in October from last year, to 120,963 vehicles. Car sales fell by 3.1 percent to 61,284 units, and truck sales rose 8.1 percent to 59,679 vehicles. General...

Glamour capital gets 14 debuts.(News)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell, Kathy Jackson, Diana T. Kurylko, Mark Rechtin, Amy Wilson, Ryan Beene Fourteen world debuts are planned for this week's Los Angeles auto show, including Lincoln's new flagship sedan and a low-volume fuel cell...

Police seize refurbished Shelby Mustangs.(News)(Unique Performance Inc.)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Kathy Jackson Police in a Dallas suburb have seized 61 cars from Unique Performance Inc., a company that refurbishes and sells 1960s Shelby Mustangs. Each of the 58 Mustangs and three Chevrolet Camaros that were confiscated...

Lentz's new title: More than just an 'attaboy' promotion.(News)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.)(Jim Lentz)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Even though Jim Lentz has been named president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. - a bump up from executive vice president - it doesn't change his position on the organization chart. But the move does give Lentz more...

Output rises 5.8% in Oct.(Production)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Debi Domby * In October, 1,460,551 cars and trucks were produced in North America, up 5.8 percent from October 2006. North America car production increased 1.6 percent. North America truck production rose 9.4 percent. U.S. car...

Mercedes' star is reborn.(Marketing)(Daimler-Benz AG)(Brief article)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Alex Ricciuti After wearing the same face for 18 years, Mercedes-Benz is putting on a new one. Mercedes is separating its three-pointed star - one of the world's best-known images - from the company name on corporate logos and...

Ford gives Sync its own marketing campaign.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
November 12, 2007... Byline: Mary Connelly Sync isn't a car or truck. But Ford Motor Co. is marketing the new onboard communication and entertainment system as if it were. Departing from its usual practice, Ford seeks to brand a product feature on its own...