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Sales down at Ford; up at Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan
Incomplete sales numbers for the industry released on Monday provided a mixed bag of results, with Ford down, Chrysler up, and Toyota maintaining its ongoing sales surge. While GM held its numbers until today, due to a computer error that delayed some regional sales numbers, Ford reported that its sales were off by four percent, with cars down eight percent and trucks down two percent; the F-150, however, once again increased its sales as a critical component of Ford's financial revival. DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group turned in slightly higher sales — up one percent — while its Mercedes-Benz unit saw sales increase by three percent. Meanwhile, Toyota-brand sales were up 10.1 percent and Nissan's were up 14 percent, but Japan's now-third-largest car company Honda watched its sales slump by 2.4 percent, with Acura's strength offset by a drop in sales of Honda-brand vehicles. BMW's numbers increased by 10.7 percent, and VW mustered a slight increase.
Daimler to sell stake back to Hyundai?
A Reuters report on Monday suggests DaimlerChrysler will sell its 10.5-percent stake in Hyundai Motor Co. back to the Korean carmaker. In the wake of its refusal of new investment at Mitsubishi, DaimlerChrysler has been reevaluating its troubled relationship with Hyundai, which includes a joint-venture project for new four-cylinder engines to begin production next year. The news agency reports that a Hyundai official confirms the upcoming sale, which could net DaimlerChrysler $1 billion. In the past week, DaimlerChrysler has declined to invest more in Japanese partner Mitsubishi's turnaround plan, has declined an offer from DC chairman Juergen Schrempp to step down, and has blocked the accession of former Chrysler executive Wolfgang Bernhard to the helm at Mercedes-Benz.
DCX Spins: Schrempp In, Bernhard Out by Jim Burt (5/3/2004)
Changes rumble on through German-American company.
DC to build Benzes in China
While DaimlerChrysler's Asian strategy is faltering in terms of alliances, it's making progress in what could be the largest market for vehicles on the planet. The German company says it's received permission from the Chinese government to build Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country, in a joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. The companies will build C-Class and E-Class sedans in a new plant in the capital of Beijing. The plant will be capable of building 25,000 vehicles a year, DaimlerChrysler said. Production will start by 2006.
China's Geely Takes On the World by Michael J. Dunne (3/29/2004)
A dark horse tries to win in the nascent Chinese car industry.
GM Ups Ad Spending
General Motors Corp. is planning to continue the communications offensive that has become one of the cornerstones of the company's corporate strategy ever since the "Keep America Rolling" campaign was launched back in the autumn of 2001 as the U.S. economy recovered from the aftershocks of 9/11. Roger Adams, General Motors' director of corporate advertising, says GM will spend more on advertising this year but it also is looking for more for its money. "Innovation, integration, and diversity, that what we're all about," he said. Thus GM's new push will include spending on network television, print ads, the Internet, as well as heavy doses of event marketing and product placements in films and on television, Adams told a group of reporters over dinner recently. "This is what people see. Some of it's traditional advertising; some of it's promotion; some is movies; some of it's public relations activity," said Adams. The campaigns will include more spending in minority communities that haven't always been addressed directly be GM advertising as well as advertising and promotions with a large entertainment value, Adams said.
GM Ups Ad Spending by Joseph Szczesny (5/3/2004)
GM juices up the airwaves for the latest wave of new products.
Runyon, former Ford and Nissan exec, dies
Marvin Runyon, a former auto executive with Ford and Nissan as well as a recent head of the U.S. Post Office, has died at 79. Reuters reports that Runyon died on Monday of cancer at home in Nashville. Runyon worked at Ford's Dallas plant in 1943 and worked for the company for 37 years before retiring in 1980. He un-retired in the same year to join Nissan at its new plant in Tennessee. Runyon also worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority before being named the U.S. Postmaster General during the presidency of George H.W. Bush.
Nissan adds Cube; Mazda nixes hybrid Tribute
On the product proliferation front, Nissan has said "yes" to its mini-compact Cube as a U.S. rival to the Scion xB, but Mazda has ruled out a hybrid engine edition of its Tribute SUV, which is a sibling of the Ford Escape.
Nissan Motor CEO Carlos Ghosn announced in Tokyo (Automotive News, May 3) that the next generation Cube would be a "global" vehicle aimed at the Scion now rolling out across the U.S. Ghosn indicated at a news conference that all Nissan dealers would handle the Cube line, which would become the entry-level vehicle as the next-generation Sentra increases in size. Scions are sold separately by Toyota dealers in special showrooms. Tokyo analyst Kunihiko Shiohara expects the Cube to be assembled at Nissan's Aguascalientes Mexico plant, where Renault Clio and Nissan Sentra cars are built, starting in mid-2006.
Mazda North America senior marketing vice-president Robert T. Davis disclosed (Ward's Automotive Reports, May 3) the decision to "pass" on a Tribute hybrid. The Tribute is a twin of the Ford Escape, which will join the hybrid-engine club this summer. David said the 701 Mazda dealers in the U.S. lack facilities to service hybrid cars, meaning an expensive investment would be needed to accommodate Tributes so equipped.
"We can tap in the hybrid market at any time if demand jumps off the map and we need to get in," Davis said, "but we'd rather hold off until the technology mates better on hybrids with our 'zoom-zoom' brand image. Hybrids are not anywhere close to 'zoom-zoom.' They're whuzz whuzz." Davis said Mazda in Japan has developed a rotary hydrogen engine that it is pursuing rather aggressively. —Mac Gordon
WORLD REPORT: Brazil
Ford is celebrating 85 years in Brazil with the prediction that it's close to operating at break-even. The company's South American operations managed to achieve a symbolic $1 million profit this first quarter, reverting chronic losses. Although the Brazilian subsidiary revenues represent over 70 percent of that of the continent, its annual financial report is not country-split. The company will kick in next August the third shift at its two-year old Camaçari, state of Bahia plant, thus creating over 2000 jobs in the process, direct and indirect. It is the only make today to make full use of a facility, although in S. Bernardo, state of São Paulo excess capacity is over 55 percent….Anfavea, the association that gathers 26 brands of light and heavy vehicles and tractors, had a troubled change of hands the week before last. Inside break-ups have always happened, but for the first time ever they have turned public. GM is seeking bigger tax slash incentives for ethanol-gasoline flex-engine models, which represent 16 percent of gross sales already. Besides, the company is not happy at all with the eventual government's industrial policy. The major part of the media has showed sympathy for GM's position on alternate fuel engines… The only one out of the big four in-country auto makers that has been profiting from the Brazilian operations since 1997 has displayed balance sheet loss for the first time. Fiat's red ink in 2003 was $90 million, the consequence of a price war against GM for the passenger car and light commercial command of the market. In that segment, Fiat ended up on top by barely 7000 units. This is one more worry for the indebted mother-Company in Italy. Its subsidiary here accounts for almost 20 percent of the group's production worldwide. — Fernando Calmon
FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases
PRNewswire
SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI), known for delivering the very best in commercial-free music and premium broadcast entertainment to cars and homes across the country, today announced that the Chrysler Group's all-new 2005 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum will feature SIRIUS Satellite Radio as a factory-installed option, with an included one-year subscription, for $195 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
Spring is in the air and more motorcyclists are on the road than ever, yet highway crashes continue to claim the lives of thousands. That's why the month of May has been designated Motorcycle Safety Month, and an opportune time to educate both new and seasoned riders about safe riding skills. Harley-Davidson invites riders everywhere to hone their skills through courses offered in cities nationwide.
| Name | Symbol | Last | Change |
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| Autobytel, Inc. | ABTL | 10.12 | |
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| Autoliv Inc. | ALV | 42.32 | |
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| AutoNation Inc. | AN | 17.02 | |
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| ArvinMeritor Inc. | ARM | 20.67 | |
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| American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc. | AXL | 38.34 | |
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| Ballard Power Systems Inc. | BLDP | 10.57 | |
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| BorgWarner Inc. | BWA | 82.80 | |
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| Collins & Aikman Corporation | CKC | 6.15 | |
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| Cummins Inc. | CMI | 61.19 | |
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| Dana Corporation | DCN | 20.31 | |
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| DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR) | DCX | 45.11 | |
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| Delphi Corporation | DPH | 10.45 | |
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| Dura Automotive Systems | DRRA | 12.49 | |
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| Eaton Corporation | ETN | 60.50 | |
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| Ford Motor Company | F | 15.27 | |
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| General Motors Corporation | GM | 48.29 | |
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| Gentex Corporation | GNTX | 39.75 | |
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| Goodyear Tire & Rubber | GT | 8.68 | |
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| Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR) | HMC | 19.77 | |
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| Johnson Controls Inc. | JCI | 55.43 | |
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| Lear Corporation | LEA | 60.62 | |
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| Magna International Inc. | MGA | 78.60 | |
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| Motorola Inc. | MOT | 18.22 | |
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| Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR) | NSANY | 22.03 | |
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| Sonic Automotive Inc. | SAH | 24.88 | |
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| Sirius Satellite Radio | SIRI | 3.43 | |
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| Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) | TM | 72.48 | |
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| Tower Automotive Inc. | TWR | 5.27 | |
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| United Auto Group Inc. | UAG | 30.77 | |
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| Visteon Corporation | VC | 10.76 | |
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| XM Satellite Radio Hold. | XMSR | 25.32 | |
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