One thing about car thieves, they will make all the necessary modifications to stolen cars to avoid being caught. Unfortunately, the robbers who had stolen a 2007 Cadillac Escalade were not so lucky. Originally stolen last February 1, 2008, special agents and the NICB had recovered the said vehicle but this time sporting a new look, a stretched limo look!

Apparently this transformation went under a complicated process. In fact, it was manufactured by a limo company, unsuspecting that the car they are transforming was actually stolen. It eventually landed in the hands of a businessman in Texas which was sold for $125,000. A vehicle identification number actually gave it away.

“Consumers need to exercise sound judgment when buying used vehicles from private parties or online services,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and chief executive officer. “In this case an innocent purchaser may be out thousands of dollars as a result of this transaction. So, if in doubt, check it out carefully before you hand over the cash.”

This quote may seem contradicting to the rampant push for online car buying. If this is one of the thing that they will encounter, it will severely affect the business intent of online car sellers for sure.

(Source) Press

Tags: 2007 cadillac escalade, business intent, businessman, Cadillac, car thieves, chief executive officer, doubt, limo company, necessary modifications, nicb, online car sellers, private parties, purchaser, robbers, sound judgment, thousands of dollars, transformation, vehicle identification number, wehrle

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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

Tags: authorities, automotive industry, automotive technology, carbon e7, chief executive officer, class customer service, driving safety, first responders, homeland security, improvements, inclusion, law enforcement vehicles, new partner, private vehicles, safety source, santana, service strategy, snap on, world class customer, world class customer service

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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

Tags: automotive industry, autonation, Bankruptcy, chief executive officer, Chrysler, chrysler dealerships, Closure, consolidation plan, debt covenants, franchises, General Motors, necessary measure, operating income, profitability, retail industry, retail landscape, term strategy, time charges

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General Motors will be closing down about 1,000 dealerships and though they have yet to be named, AutioNation has revealed that six of their dealerships will be affected by this unfortunate turn. Autonation today announced that General Motors notified AutoNation that six of its dealerships were identified for potential closing by GM.

The notification is part of GM’s communication today to approximately 1,100 dealers that GM does not expect to continue as GM dealerships past October 2010. The AutoNation stores potentially impacted by the consolidation plan represent 0% 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 GM’s consolidation plan is a difficult but positive step that will strengthen America’s dealer network and improve dealer profitability over the long term. 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

Tags: autonation, axe, chief executive officer, consolidation plan, debt covenants, franchises, General Motors, GM, gm dealership, gm dealerships, operating income, profitability, retail landscape, term strategy, time charges

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To help address the growing problems that vehicle batteries have to cope up with, Trojan Battery has announced their new technology called Hydrolink Watering System. Its new patented HydroLink Watering System is made for all 6 volt, 8 volt and 12 volt golf car batteries.

Trojan’s HydroLink system delivers accurate battery watering to help maximize battery life, provides significant time savings with a complete set of batteries filled in less than 30 seconds, protects the value of golf cars by reducing damage from corrosion and improves overall battery watering safety.

“With the introduction of HydroLink, Trojan Battery is addressing a major customer need which is the ability to easily maintain Trojan deep-cycle batteries,” states Rick Godber, President and Chief Executive Officer for Trojan Battery. “Trojan selected Flow-Rite as our partner because they manufacture the highest quality watering system in the industry, which aligns with Trojan’s premium batteries. All three major golf car manufacturers install only Trojan batteries into their electric vehicles and we believe their customers will benefit from maximum battery life and major time savings with the Trojan HydroLink Watering System.”

HydroLink will also be offered into Trojan’s other core markets utilizing golf size batteries, including Floor Machine, Material Handling and Renewable Energy applications.

(Source) Press

Tags: car manufacturers, chief executive officer, core markets, customer need, deep cycle batteries, electric vehicles, flow rite, godber, golf car batteries, golf cars, material handling, maximum battery life, renewable energy applications, significant time, size batteries, time savings, trojan batteries, trojan battery, vehicle batteries, watering system

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