Harman International has made good its promise to stay on top as the leader in automotive entertainment as it reports a successive launch of 13 major audio and infotainment platforms for the automotive industry. The list of car enhancements include custom in-car audio, navigation, hands-free communication and driver assist technologies.

Among the brands that have benefitted from this massive effort include marquee car brands like Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Hyundai, Mercedes, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, and Ssangyong.
(more…)

Continue reading...

The idea is great but the concept may be far from being practical. That is if you consider the current crop of cars in the market, muscle cars and much of which are made of aluminum and steel. But just the same, this Plywoodie and Resin Vehicle does adhere to eco-friendly principles but may be lacking in the area of usability for the rough roads out there.

It addresses the issue of vehicle weight since it makes use of light plywood and lesser metal materials. Though only a concept, it can be a great vehicle of the future. But mind you, “future” is far off and until we see something concrete as far as the trend of the automotive industry is concerned, this concept vehicle will just be a figment of our imagination…for now.

(Source) Yanko

Continue reading...

Here is something that should lift the spirits of the dampened hopes of car dealers today. Thanks to a study made by Edmunds.com, the past week alone showed that over 100,000 car shoppers are prepared to buy a car but have not closed deals yet. While the reason/s were not disclosed, for sure there will be something lacking like perhaps documents, car availability or preference or even apprehensions.

Regardless, this should be a good sign for car dealers who are looking for customers. With the surge of used cars pretty obvious with the current market conditions in the automotive industry, perhaps car dealers are looking in the wrong direction.

So what should they do? Re-evaluate their strategy. Perhaps they have overlooked some areas of their entire process which should more or less get them back on track as far as car sales is concerned. This and some new approaches can be beneficial for them. They just to adjust and study the market better .

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

A new campaign kicks off with a creative slogan for Nissan of North America, as it embraces the new challenges that the automotive industry has to deal with today. The new campaign, “Look Closer Nissan Deliver” is something that should help spice up the advertising efforts of Nissan, a boost that they need to make their car line exciting for consumers concerned.

Among the inclusions of this advertising campaign include a TV spot, print campaigns, interactivity, and direct mail. All these advertising campaign efforts started last July 8. The campaign was created in conjunction with Zimmerman Advertising, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Related to the growing interest for restoring and maintaining current cars today, here is another potential site that can help you in your spare part/s search to make sure that your vehicle is functioning properly and accordingly. AutoPartGOGO.com launches an innovative search tool for the aftermarket auto parts seekers, allowing people to see the availability and cost of that part they need.

The innovative search system allows for car enthusiast to search exclusively for “Premium” parts, the budget conscious to search for “Economy” parts, and any one to search for “Popular” parts. This allows even the most novice automotive user to easily search and find exactly what they are looking for.

AutoPartsGOGO.com has become known throughout the aftermarket automotive industry as one of few auto parts websites that can offer free shipping over $50 purchase to 48 continental U.S. states with unlimited weight and volume. Either one pound or 100 pounds, buyers can enjoy free ground shipping if the total purchase is more than $50.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Carbon Motors Corporation has taken in a new partner to help enhance the future of law enforcement vehicles with the inclusion of Snap On. With the new partnership, a new service strategy for the Carbon E7 is expected to broaden the future of homeland security and relevant shifts in automotive technology.

“We have developed a world-class product for our country’s 840,000 law enforcement first responders and we will back it with world-class customer service. We are honored to welcome Snap-on to the team that will help deliver on that promise,” stated William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer, Carbon Motors Corporation.

It looks like we may see vast improvements on law enforcement vehicles as well in the coming months. Though not expected to be as sophisticated as what we see from our private vehicles, the partnership is definitely a big boost for authorities since they too have to be aided in carrying out proper duties related to the automotive industry and driving safety.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

The facts are shaky but the trend is obvious. We are in the age where electric vehicles will soon be the craze of the world and to identify the trends and factors leading up to it, Frost & Sullivan will host a live briefing to depict emerging trends and projections for the said vehicles.

If there is anyone who would benefit from this meet, it would be the car manufacturers. Most of these groups are engage in doing their separate analysis and independent research and perhaps this is the best time to check the consistency of facts that they have gathered, comparing their figures and notes to see the viability of the emerging electric vehicle market trend.

“Electric Vehicles are seen as an emerging trend in the APAC region especially in growing markets such as China. Key challenges for the implementation of electric vehicles are being addressed and electric vehicles are likely to emerge as a savior in the automotive industry in terms of dependence of oil and emission reduction.”

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Perhaps Midas knows something that other car manufacturers don’t. Regardless, it is preying on the embattled dealers, employees and customers to try out what they have to offer, promoting their company as the alternative towards the sagging fortunes of companies like GM and Chrysler.

There are a lot of people affected by the debacle hitting the automotive industry and while the cloud of gloom roams over the dealerships, employees and customers, Midas plans to turn all that into brighter days ahead.

“Midas shops provide a full range of services on domestic and foreign vehicles, so there are employment opportunities for auto dealership service staff regardless of their specific vehicle brand or system repair experience,” Feldman said.

Call it taking advantage or not, Midas may have something to offer that auto dealers don’t know. Whatever that may be, you can bet they will get a lion share of these befuddled people. Besides, if you were among the dealers, employees and customers, what have you got to lose by checking out the Midas offer?

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

After the guessing on who would succeed the Opel brand, Magna of Canada is the likely successor of the General Motors line. General Motors is on the brink of filing bankruptcy but as far as their brands are concerned, successors are being wooed to take over.

But while that may sound like a big sigh of relief, it is no easy picking. The partnership is expected to encounter rough sailing similar to that of a new company being brought up and make its way into the automotive industry niche.

While Opel is a popular brand, one cannot deny that that tarnish of a bankrupt GM company looms over its head. It may take some time for the new ownership to sink in and hopefully Magna comes up with great strategies to overcome these boundaries.

A more conciliatory Merkel on Saturday said a telephone call to President Barack Obama had helped seal the deal. But she lashed out at what she called the “huge mismanagement” by GM executives.

(Source) AFP

Continue reading...

Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. has announced that the Wheego Whip LSV will be out in the market soon, adding another variant for the growing number of electric cars for consumer selection. The Wheego Whip LSV is touted to come out this July.

“The strategic needs of the two companies are very different. RTEV has an industry-best established product line and a great regional distribution network. But with the downturn in the economy and the pressure that power sport dealers are feeling with floor plan financing being nearly non-existent, RTEV needs to focus on cost reduction and selling deeper into its established territory markets, instead of expanding into new markets. RTEV has a cash flow optimization strategy,” Mike McQuary of RTEV explained.

Similar to the fate that most car companies are experiencing today, it is not purely about the sale but the management direction to define consistent business operations. And while they are still fresh, it would be best to look out and closely monitor the demand and other factors that could make or break this new electric car in the market.

And getting the lessons from the debacle of large and long existent auto companies, Wheego aims to learn from these and build on their new product line which is highly awaited in the automotive industry today.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Another car manufacturer seems to be picking up as far as business is concerned as they have announced that they will be hiring an additional workforce for its new Rolls Royce Ghost. The company plans to increase workforce by 50%, creating 150 new jobs that should be great news in the car industry.

The majority of the new positions have been created in the wood, leather and paint shops as well as the assembly areas. In addition there will be a number of new positions in the headquarter offices, also based at Goodwood. Rolls-Royce is keen to fill all positions within the next few months and anticipates drawing on the considerable pool of highly skilled automotive industry personnel available in the UK.

This welcome news is sure to put laid off workers and the jobless back on track. The number of laid off employees from the car industry has swelled and to date, a lot of them are still looking for a job. Apparently, Rolls Royce may be their best ticket for now so expect a lot of these jobless workers lining up to be possibly hired.

(Source) Easier.com

Continue reading...

Chrysler, just like General Motors, is cutting down the numbers and AutoNation has announced that 7 of their dealers will be hit by the dealer closure. As part of the dealer consolidation plan filed by Chrysler today in its bankruptcy, approximately 789 Chrysler dealerships will be closed nationwide.

The AutoNation stores that will be closed by the consolidation plan represented only 1% of AutoNation’s 2008 operating income. AutoNation does not believe that any one-time charges that may be associated with these actions will be material to its continuing operations or debt covenants.

Commenting on the consolidation plan, Mike Jackson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We believe Chrysler’s consolidation plan is a difficult but positive step forward for Chrysler and the automotive retail industry. Dealer consolidation is a necessary measure in today’s automotive industry and will strengthen America’s dealer network and improve dealer profitability over the long term.”

Mr. Jackson commented further, “The consolidation plan is consistent with AutoNation’s long-term strategy that we implemented in 2000 to consolidate domestic dealerships and realign our brand mix more towards import and premium luxury franchises. With our financial and operational strength and diversified brand mix, we are well-positioned to succeed in the rapidly changing automotive retail landscape.”

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

The automotive industry finds itself in a bind these days, torn between stopping the re-use of some auto parts and helping consumers buck the economic trend. Depending on how you look at it, it looks like the retirement bill made for these parts which are taken from vehicles turned in for end-of-life processing may eventually be up for debate.

The critical nature of this kind of broad legislation is twofold. First, American automobile repair businesses and consumers purchase these quality recycled vehicle components every day to keep their vehicles running. These businesses and consumers rely on parts from recycled vehicles because of their substantial savings in reduced repair costs and lower insurance premiums, savings from the purchase of a replacement vehicle, and also for the strong environmental benefits.

In fact, these two parts alone typically account for some 50% to 60% of a professional automotive recycler’s sales — overall automotive recycling is a $22 billion industry in the United States. Thus, Congress should understand the demand for such repair options, and consider the implications of restricting them.

The recovery, reuse, and resale of these quality recycled parts must remain readily available to the consumer who may not want or be able to financially retire their vehicle and will require access to parts from these vehicles for their future repairs.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Toyota is aiming to land another first with the announcement of their launch of a new dealer concept, ‘DIVA’ (Distinctive, Inviting, Value-added services, Advanced). The new concept ‘DIVA’ will set benchmarks in the automotive industry in India and will be implemented at all upcoming TKM dealerships across the country.

TKM’s new age dealerships will be more contemporary in looks, will cater to a more varied customer segment and will have increased functionality to handle larger customer volumes. They will also provide enhanced value-added services such as easier and quicker test drives and integrated value chain services all at one spot (exchange, registration, insurance and finance).

The new Galaxy Toyota showroom will be among the largest in the entire region. This ultra modern facility will provide services to customers in and around West Delhi and surrounding areas. The facility has an area of approximately 40000 sq ft.

This includes a showroom of around 10000 sq ft, featuring new car display area, café counter, etc. The back office is around 5000 sq ft, including a luxurious customer lounge. The showroom has 25000 sq ft approximately of parking area which includes a hi-tech customer delivery bay.

Toyota started with a network of 30 outlets in India in 2000 and plans to expand its dealer network to 150 by 2010. Toyota’s dealerships today cover not just the tier 1 Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, but also tier 2 cities.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Aside from aggressively trying to move up in the automotive industry, Subaru of America Inc. has now added a new feather in its cap as being one of the generous companies in the world today. Subaru of America, Inc., long known for building vehicles well-suited for families, is also building something else – a reputation for generous adoption assistance benefits for its employees. Subaru is ranked #1 in the automotive industry category on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s “Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in America” list, released today.

“Subaru places a high value on its employees, and our adoption assistance program is one of the ways the Company gives back to them,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president of Subaru of America, Inc. “As a family-focused organization, we recognize the importance of providing our employees with strong benefits. To provide them with the financial assistance necessary to welcome children into their homes is truly a rewarding experience.”

“Subaru’s adoption assistance program changed our lives by providing us the assistance necessary to become parents,” says Ken Money, a Subaru of America employee. “Subaru really cares about the quality of life for its employees and their families. We greatly appreciate Subaru’s generous financial contribution.”

(Source) Press

Continue reading...