Automotive News articles from October 2004

Automotive News archives from October 2004

Suppliers to the 2005 Dodge Dakota.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The redesigned 2005 Dodge Dakota is 3.7 inches longer and 2.7 inches wider than the 2004 model. The added length is primarily ahead of the front axle. The Chrysler group says this will provide added crush space for improved impact performance....

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 4, 2004... Sept. 24-Oct. 17 - State Fair of Texas Auto Show, Fair Park, Dallas, 214-421-8728, www.bigtex.com/autoshow.html Sept. 25-Oct. 10 - Paris International Motor Show, ParisExpo, Porte De Versailles, Paris, 33-1-5688-2240,...

Auto News Digest.(Briefs)
October 4, 2004... CARS sets technology sessions BEDFORD, Texas - The Congress of Automotive Repair and Service, called CARS, will offer seven original-equipment manufacturer new-product technology sessions in Las Vegas this fall. The annual CARS event,...

Bentley braces for used cars; Off-lease Continental GTs will increase the need for certified program.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Bentley Motors Inc. is an ultraluxury niche automaker that shares some concerns with mass marketers. How to keep its cars' resale value high, for example. And how to keep its late-model used cars out of the hands...

M-B will test hybrid Sprinters; Automaker studies vehicles for its commercial fleet.(News)(Mercedes-Benz)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc Automotive News Europe Mercedes-Benz will test gasoline-electric and diesel-electric powertrains in its Sprinter van. The company wants to know if hybrids have a future in its commercial vehicles. Hybrid...

Toyota favors center-mounted controls.(News)(Toyota Motor Corp.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: James B. Treece Attention Toyota dealers: You soon may have to sell skeptical shoppers on the benefits of looking for the speedometer atop the center of the instrument panel, rather than behind the steering wheel. Toyota Motor...

GM may build small SUV for N.A. Lutz: There may be room for a vehicle smaller than the Vue.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(North America)(Robert Lutz)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Rick Kranz General Motors is debating whether to develop a Toyota RAV4-sized SUV for sale in North America. GM's deliberations are likely a response to the growing number of small unibody SUVs offered by Asian automakers. GM's...

GM's 7-seat SUV is not for United States.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(Sport utility vehicles)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Rick Kranz General Motors has decided not to offer a seven-passenger SUV developed on the Theta architecture for North America. Last month, GM unveiled the Chevrolet S3X concept at the Paris auto show, a small SUV with three...

Small cars make big tracks; Tall wagons, funky styling, flexible interiors aimed at price-conscious young consumers.
October 4, 2004... Byline: Dale Jewett A new generation of small cars and wagons is about to hit the United States, but they won't be like the 1970s-era econoboxes. Automakers are launching a wave of small vehicles with flexible passenger compartments...

Scion, Saab execs discuss brand boosts.(News)(Saab Cars USA Inc.)(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Scion Div.)
October 4, 2004... The head of the youngest automotive brand and the executive who is expanding and refocusing an older brand will speak at the 2005 Automotive News World Congress. Jim Farley, vice president of Scion at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., and...

GM, Ford raise '05 prices for 2nd time.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. General Motors raised prices early in September, and as might be expected, Ford Motor Co. tagged along. One difference: GM boosted Chevrolet and GMC truck prices; Ford concentrated on its cars. For each...

Infiniti seeks Chanel's advice; Automaker asks high-end experts how to sell pricey 2006 M.(News)(Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. Infiniti Div.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Kathy Jackson, Mark Rechtin Infiniti faces a challenge: boosting sales of vehicles at $40,000 and above, says Mark Igo, vice president of Infiniti Division. The problem will become critical next spring when Infiniti starts...

Volvo studies crossover, SUV and small wagon.(News)(Volvo Car Corp.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Mark Rechtin As part of its goal to reach 600,000 global annual sales, Volvo Car Corp. wants to expand its product line into three new segments. The products will be spread above, below and smack in the middle of its present...

Ford may sell Escape Hybrid in China.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Ford Escape Hybrid SUV )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Alysha Webb Ford Motor Co. will consider selling its Ford Escape Hybrid SUV in China, says Mei Wei Cheng, CEO of Ford Motor China. "But first we want to see how it does in the U.S.,'' Cheng said at a press event here two weeks...

Machinists union targets dealer groups.(News)(International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Donna Harris The machinists union is trying to organize service technicians at stores owned by several of the nation's largest public dealership groups. The prospect of labor unrest could threaten the public retailers' image...

There's more on the Web.(News)(information on autonews.com)
October 4, 2004... **Online this week Go to autonews.com/paris2004 for complete coverage of the Paris auto show from Automotive News and Automotive News Europe. Find our latest car cutaway, the Peugeot 1007, with a list of suppliers and the Automotive...

Rebadging Daewoos will cost GM millions.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Automotive News Europe Rebadging Daewoo-built vehicles as Chevrolets in western Europe will cost General Motors Europe tens of millions of dollars while it struggles to reverse losses. The immediate costs for...

Auto News digest.(Briefs)
October 4, 2004... Supplier seeks bankruptcy protection DETROIT - Intermet Corp., a chassis components and metal supplier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last week. The Troy, Mich., company attributed the filing to rising scrap steel...

GM starts new model output.(Production)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Debi Domby * General Motors began production of the Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay last week. The Uplander replaces the Chevrolet Venture; the Montana SV6 replaces the Montana. The Venture...

Auto News briefly.(Briefs)
October 4, 2004... Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Even CEO Bill Ford isn't immune from the lawyers at Ford Motor Co. The automaker's intellectual property lawyers had a problem with a quote from Bill Ford that is displayed at the visitor's...

Jaguar slashes long-term volume hopes.(News)(Jaguar Cars Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Mark Rechtin, Bradford Wernle Awash in red ink, Jaguar Cars has abandoned its long-term goal of selling 200,000 vehicles a year globally. The chastened outlook follows parent Ford Motor Co.'s announcement last month that it...

Supplier group buys stamping plant; Purchase will help minority-owned parts maker expand.(Suppliers)(Diez Group)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Robert Sherefkin The purchase of a mothballed Tower Automotive Inc. stamping plant is expected to boost the growth of a minority-owned auto parts maker. The Diez Group of Dearborn, Mich., last month closed on the sale of the...

Mark of quality; Jack Fitzgerald's stores earned ISO 9001 certification. But it took work.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Harry Stoffer As an advertising slogan, it's not going to win awards. But Jack Fitzgerald's ability to say "My dealerships are certified to ISO 9001'' could be one of the most important pitches he has ever made to potential...

Goin' mobile; Greg Ens says his annual road rallies strengthen customer relations.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Gail Kachadourian Want to go for a ride? That's what Honda dealer Greg Ens asked the 158 people who had bought or leased new vehicles from his dealership in a year's time. Ens, dealer principal of Southland Honda, in...

High-tech sensors could save people and designs; Carmakers find innovative ways to meet EU safety rules.(News)(European Union)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc Automotive News Europe High-tech sensors could help automakers meet tougher pedestrian safety rules without a drastic redesign of cars. Siemens VDO Automotive has integrated a fiber-optic contact sensor into...

Compacted graphite iron makes lighter diesels; New processes widen use of durable engine material.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: John Mortimer Automotive News Europe Auto engine designers are turning to a long neglected version of iron that can handle the much higher internal pressures of modern diesel engines. Compacted graphite iron has a molecular...

`It's a learning process'.(Insight)(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Arlena Sawyers `It's a learning process' Randall Noe created a business unit to cater to Hispanic customers because making them feel comfortable was good for business and the right thing to do, he says. Noe spoke with Staff...

Brose seeks $630 million in '07 sales.(News)(Brose North America)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Julie Armstrong Another German supplier hopes to grab more North American share. Brose North America Inc., part of Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., expects $630 million in sales in 2007, thanks to the addition of its seat...

Visteon focuses on China's domestic market; Supplier sees openings for Tier 2s that can localize design.(Suppliers)(Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd., )
October 4, 2004... Byline: Robert Grace Plastics News "Wanted: Quality Tier 2 automotive parts molders with strong design capabilities. Must be willing to relocate. Terrific earning potential for right candidates.'' Such a sign does not hang outside the...

Dealers.(People)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Milestone * Mike Shannon of Holiday Mazda in Fond du Lac, Wis., received a 25-year award from Mazda North American Operations. CAPTION(S): 25 with Buick: Duke Covert, left, of Covert Buick-Cadillac in Austin, Texas, receives a...

In Godzilla's footsteps: Hummer takes Tokyo; H2 needs two parking spaces, but architect loves it.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: James B. Treece The first day behind the wheel of his new truck, Masahiko Sakata noticed something odd. "Nobody passed me,'' he says. "They all slowed down to watch. If they passed, they wouldn't be able to see the car as...

It's showtime! Forget soap operas and talk shows in the customer lounge. Superior Lexus puts its technicians on TV.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Donna Harris Rick Ulin carefully chose his cast for the production. The stars were outfitted with several sets of clothing. The floor and walls of the set were marked to indicate where equipment belonged. A light was set to flash...

Bosch gives Buick stability control lessons; Supplier will spend $15,000 on its first U.S. dealer program.(Suppliers)(Robert Bosch Corp.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Julie Armstrong Robert Bosch Corp. is teaching 2,900 Buick dealers nationwide about a little-known option on the 2005 LaCrosse sedan. Bosch supplies the electronic stability control system for the car, which began shipping to...

Power out at Ford's Blue Oval.(Ford Motor Co.)(J.D. Power and Associates)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is dumping J.D. Power and Associates from its next-generation Blue Oval dealer-certification program. The automaker has selected MSX International Inc. of Warren, Mich., to evaluate dealerships when it...

Hydrogen's coming, but tougher CAFE is needed now.(Opinion)(Corporate Average Fuel Economy )
October 4, 2004... Hydrogen will be a significant fuel for the auto industry, and it's time for Washington to get serious about it. In the meantime, regulators and automakers must work diligently to improve the fuel economy of gasoline engines. The heyday...

Ford saves millions by recycling paint solvent.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Jim Johnson Waste News Ford Motor Co. has recycled plenty of paint solvent waste during the past two decades. Thirty-eight million gallons, to be precise. The automaker says it has reclaimed all of that waste solvent...

PSA works to adapt stop-start system to diesels; But automaker still has to resolve technical glitches.(News)(Peugeot S.A.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine Automotive News Europe ***** Correction: A story on Page 44B in some editions of this issue has the name of Peugeot's future small minivan wrong. It is the Peugeot 1007. ***** ...

Volkswagen drops Piech's W-8 engine; Passat W8 is discontinued because of slow sales.(News)(Volkswagen AG)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Jens Meiners Automotive News Europe Volkswagen AG's W-8 engine configuration may be dead. Volkswagen has stopped producing the Passat W8 model because of slow sales, says CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder. It was the only vehicle to use...

Pressure is on testers as new tires and wheels roll out; GM laboratory director faces many critical issues.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Bruce Meyer Rubber & Plastics News GM laboratory director faces many critical issues If you want to talk tires with someone at General Motors, then Jim Gutting's probably the guy you want to look up. As director of GM's...

Engineering firm grows through acquisitions.(Suppliers)(MC Technology Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Monica Link Modern Engineering Inc. of Rochester Hills, Mich., is using acquisitions to broaden its reach in the industry. The company offers engineering, design, technical staffing and supply chain services. Don Lee, Modern...

Diesels stink? Not in Europe, they don't; The problem lies with low-quality fuel available stateside.(Opinion)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Chris Wright I had an interesting experience on a recent trip to Munich, Germany. I was a guest of BMW, and I was delighted to be met at the airport by a smartly dressed chauffeur who escorted me to a waiting BMW 7 in which I was...

Dana builds a case for thermoplastic oil pans.(Suppliers)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Rhoda Miel Plastics News Dana Corp.'s search for sales opportunities in the industry is prompting it to consider new uses for plastics under the hood. The Toledo, Ohio, company is developing prototype thermoplastic transmission...

Innovative dealers.(Insight)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Auto dealers featured in this special section will be recognized at a cocktail reception before the NADA convention in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 28. Contact Kathleen Lightbody for more information at klightbody@crain.com or 313-446-6037.

After Oprah, where are the G6s? Pontiac dealers say they don't have enough sedans to sell.(News)(General Motors Corp. Pontiac Div.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: K.C. Crain The season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show'' created a lot of buzz last month when Pontiac gave each audience member a new G6 sedan. But some Pontiac dealers aren't pleased. They say they don't have enough...

GM prepares for Cadillac in China; Despite slump, carmaker anticipates lucrative market.(News)(General Motors Corp. Cadillac Motor Car Div.)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Normandy Madden Advertising Age General Motors is marketing its Cadillac brand to China's elite consumers with a futuristic TV commercial, even as vehicle sales have plunged in the country. Sales surged by 76 percent in China...

Global tire industry hits $80 billion in sales; High-performance tires, growth in China are key factors in success.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Bruce Davis Rubber & Plastics News The global tire business expanded 12 percent last year to $80 billion, boosted by exchange-rate factors and strong growth in China. The expansion is continuing this year. Despite uncertain raw...

Timing is everything; Jay Alosa's DealerAlert software tells dealers about problems before they occur.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Jay Alosa was fuming about a slow-paying customer four years ago when inspiration struck. Alosa, a third-generation retailer who runs the Freightliner truck operations of his family's New Hampshire auto chain,...

Even computerphobes catch on.(Insight)(alarm system that notifies by e-mail)(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Lindsay Chappell New Hampshire dealer Jay Alosa created an alarm system that notifies him by e-mail when mistakes or missed opportunities are about to occur. He now markets it to other dealers. Automotive News Staff Reporter...

BMW plans gasoline-hydrogen 7-series hybrid.(News)(BMW AG)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko BMW AG will offer the current-generation 7 series with hydrogen and gasoline-powered powertrains. The gasoline-hydrogen hybrid likely will appear within the next four years, based on BMW's product life-cycle...

GM piles on more rebates; Automaker puts extra $500 to $1,500 on '04 and '05 vehicles.(Incentives)(General Motors Acceptance Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. The 2005 model year began Friday, Oct. 1, and General Motors already is offering rebates as high as $4,000 on its new cars and light trucks. If the buyer will settle for a leftover 2004, the giveback goes as...

Late News.
October 4, 2004... 2005 Acura RL sells for $49,470 The redesigned 2005 Acura RL sedan goes on sale Oct. 14 for $49,470, including a $570 destination charge. That compares with $46,145 for the previous model, including destination. The new RL is equipped...

Buyers say no to 6-year, 0% car loans.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Amy Wilson, K.C. Crain September was a hot sales month - but six-year, 0 percent loans from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors had little to do with it. Last week's clearance blitz brought customers into showrooms, says George...

Jackson pushes for more minority supplier business.(News)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Julie Armstrong Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition vows to closely monitor the auto industry's diversity practices. The group has bought shares in seven automakers and 11 suppliers in order to have a voice at their shareholder...

Oasis in the desert; Bernie Schiappa beat the Las Vegas heat when he moved his inventory inside a swanky new store.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Donna Harris On summer days, Las Vegas temperatures can top 110 degrees. Car thermometers have been known to break as vehicles left baking in the sun cooked interiors to more than 160 degrees. Even in bearable temperatures,...

BMW considers a sport wagon; Goal: Boost space without sacrificing performance.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko BMW won't build a minivan, but it is still considering vehicles that offer the interior room of a minivan. Helmut Panke, CEO of BMW, says the automaker "will never bring a minivan'' to the market. But it is...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
October 4, 2004... * A story on Page 4 of the Sept. 27 issue misstated Ford Motor Co.'s production plans for the Ford Escape Hybrid. It also gave the wrong production site for the vehicle and the wrong title for Phil Chizek. Ford says it will build between 4,000...

Personnel.(People)
October 4, 2004... BMW MANUFACTURING CORP. - Peter Giliam to vice president of total vehicle quality. Giliam was general manager of quality and launch at BMW's Rosslyn, South Africa, plant. BORGWARNER INC. - Jamal Farhat to vice president and chief...

On the air; Lennie Lawson's commercial talk-radio show pulls in listeners - and sales.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Monica Link Three customers walk into a Chevrolet showroom in southeastern Tennessee. They want to purchase different types of vehicles with different options. But they have one thing in common: The same ad influenced their visit....

Supply line.(Briefs)
October 4, 2004... Alcan to supply Mercedes A class GOTTMADINGEN, Germany - Alcan Automotive will supply aluminum bumpers to Mercedes-Benz for the A-class compact in Europe. Terms were not disclosed. Alcan Automotive, a subsidiary of Alcan Inc. of...

GM, Chrysler group lead September sales comeback; Ford Motor drops 4.2% on sagging car sales.(Sales)
October 4, 2004... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Spurred by General Motors and the Chrysler group, new-car and light-truck sales got back on track in September after an undistinguished August. The September total of 1,437,145 was up a satisfying 10.3...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 4, 2004... Oil changes 101: Filter gaskets To the Editor: Regarding the Sept. 20 Late News item on Honda CR-V fires from oil-filter gaskets ("CR-V fires remain a puzzle''): Has everyone on the technical staff gone brain dead? Perhaps I can share...

'Decisive' restructuring is in works for Visteon in N.A.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Terry Kosdrosky Crain's Detroit Business A North American restructuring is in the works at Visteon Corp., with analysts predicting possible sales and transfers to former parent Ford Motor Co. Visteon CEO Michael Johnston said...

Toyota gets new slogan; `Moving forward' theme places automaker in customers' lives.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota Division last week launched a brand marketing campaign with the slogan "Moving forward.'' "Moving forward'' is designed to demonstrate how the automaker fits into its customers' lives. It replaces "Get the...

Calif. Mitsubishi dealer sues Mitsubishi.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Kathy Jackson A Mitsubishi dealer in California has sued the company's financially struggling U.S. operations. Thomas Cogliano, owner of Ukiah Mitsubishi in Ukiah, Calif., claims among other things that Mitsubishi Motors...

Suppliers compete for stop-start business.(Suppliers)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine Automotive News Europe French supplier Valeo SA has contracts with six customers for its fuel-saving stop-start system, giving the supplier a big jump on its rivals. Record oil prices are pressuring...

Interest is high for Delphi's sliding door.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Douglas A. Bolduc Automotive News Europe A number of automakers are interested in Delphi Corp.'s compact power sliding door, said Volker Barth, Delphi president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Peugeot 1007 has...

Pontiac: Great promo, but no cars.(Column)
October 4, 2004... Byline: KEITH CRAIN By any measure, Pontiac's promotion people hit a home run last month when they hooked up with Oprah Winfrey and gave away 276 new Pontiac G6s - one to each member of the studio audience. It was the sort of promotion...

Porsche decision on 4th model due in '05.(News)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko, Peter Brown, Jens Meiners The next-generation Porsche 911 went on sale Aug. 28 and the replacement Boxster goes on sale in the United States in January. Porsche is reviewing whether to build a fourth model. ...

`I have fun at my job'.(Insight)(Brief Article)(Interview)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Jason Stein Greg Rietz developed an organizational system that enabled him to sell 737 vehicles in 2003. He spoke about it with Staff Reporter Jason Stein. You credit your system of organization for your success. Is that a...

Movin' the metal; Greg Rietz sold 737 cars last year. Here's how he did it.(Insight)(Biography)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Jason Stein Salesman Greg Rietz isn't a sophisticated guy. He refuses to hire an administrative assistant. And he uses a primitive method to track his sales and set annual goals. Taped to the back of an old plaque he received...

Conversion vehicle sales stay in losing streak.(Sales)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Monica Link U.S. shipments of conversion vehicles nose-dived in August to their 17th straight month of decline. August shipments plummeted 33.3 percent to 3,200 units compared with 4,800 in the year-ago month. For the year...

Digital systems may widen in-car TV use; Meantime, suppliers ease carmakers' switch from analog systems.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Jens Meiners Automotive News Europe Digital technology is expected to propel in-car TV systems into the mass market. But it will take a few years before the new technology will start replacing analog systems. High-end...

Picture this: A Mercedes-Benz pickup.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Doug Bolduc It may be inconceivable, but is a Mercedes-Benz pickup also inevitable? Mercedes began testing the waters last week at the giant commercial vehicles show in Hanover, Germany. The luxury carmaker showed the Viano...

Playing it safe; Mitch Roberts cuts work injuries and insurance costs by rewarding employees for taking care on the job.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Mary Connelly Mitch Roberts rewards employees with cash bonuses for safe behavior at his Chevrolet dealership. But the 34 employees of Roberts Chevrolet in Edinburg, Texas, aren't the only ones who benefit. Roberts says his...

Speaking the language; Randall Noe wanted to make Hispanic customers comfortable. So he opened a bilingual unit.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Arlena Sawyers Randall Noe always found a way to do business with his Hispanic customers who speak little or no English. For years it meant getting bilingual employees to pinch-hit as translators when non-Spanish-speaking employees...

French pastry.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Among the attractions at the Paris auto show was the Peugeot 907, a two-seater powered by a mid-mounted 6.0-liter V-12 engine. Some wags at the show said the 500-hp faux Ferrari was a brand-building exercise that could presage Peugeot's...

Mitsubishi exports to N.A. continue sharp decline.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Yuzo Yamaguchi Exports from Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to North America fell for the eighth straight month. Mitsubishi's exports to North America in August slid 16.6 percent from a year earlier, to 4,277, as the company's U.S....

Fun - and profit - in the sun; Bob Kinney cut energy costs at Capitol Honda in California by installing solar panels on the roof.(Insight)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Richard Truett If customers who get great deals at Capitol Honda in San Jose, Calif., glance skyward, put their hands together and mouth the words "thank you,'' they are aiming their gratitude in the right direction. Divine...

Escape Hybrid technicians get special training.(News)(Ford Escape Hybrid)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Dealerships that want to sell the new Ford Escape Hybrid must send at least one service technician to a two-day training class. So far, 1,850 service-bay technicians have completed the course, says Al Rocker, Ford...

Major suppliers step up investment in Poland.(Suppliers)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Lyle Frink Automotive News Europe Poland is seeing a wave of automotive investment, despite losing a Kia assembly plant to Slovakia. Major suppliers such as ArvinMeritor Inc. and Faurecia are accelerating Polish operations,...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 11, 2004... Entry-level Cadillac isn't a good idea To the Editor: I have long considered Robert Lutz to be the most knowledgeable, experienced and (almost) clairvoyant executive in the automotive industry. This is why I question General...

Automakers stretch for high-impact magazine ads.(Marketing)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Laura Clark Geist The mood was bleak among magazine advertising salespeople here in spring 2001. Automakers slashed their print ad budgets to help pay for sales incentive campaigns. Asked how things were going, a veteran...

Intermet crisis aids other foundries.(News)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Intermet Corp.'s decision to seek bankruptcy protection could turn out to be a blessing for the automotive cast-parts industry. A federal court order would free Intermet from the threat of creditors' lawsuits...

Audi SUV to wear Q7 badge; BMW legend von Kuenheim talks about Bernhard, VW and McDonald's.(News)(sport utility vehicle, volkswagen)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Ralph Kisiel Audi's first SUV, due to debut in early 2006, will be called the Q7. "The letter Q denotes a new type family within our company, alongside A, S and RS,'' says Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Audi AG board of...