The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

April 2004

Select Another Month

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

UTStarcom Firma Acuerdo para Adquirir Portafolio de Propiedad Intelectual de la Pionera en CDMA Coreana Hyundai Syscomm

UTStarcom Firma Acuerdo para Adquirir Portafolio de Propiedad Intelectual de la Pionera en CDMA Coreana Hyundai Syscomm

La compañía extiende su portafolio de productos inalámbricos de clase mundial enfocados en IP con una solución completa de infraestructura CDMA para ofrecer mayor flexibilidad a los operadores en todo el mundo MIRAMAR, Florida, 14 de abril /PR Newswire/ -- UTStarcom, Inc. , líder global en redes y servicios de acc ... Continue reading

DENSO Obtiene el Premio a la Protección Climática 2004 de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos

DENSO Obtiene el Premio a la Protección Climática 2004 de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos

Tercer premio de EPA para DENSO TOKIO, 14 de abril /PR Newswire/ -- La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA por sus siglas inglés), anoche concedió un Premio a la Protección Climática 2004 al Electrical Inverter Air Conditioning Team (Equipo de Aire Acondicionado con Transformador Eléctrico), co ... Continue reading

ABI Research Predicts 500% Growth Rate For Automotive Diesel Particulate Filters By 2010

ABI Research Predicts 500% Growth Rate For Automotive Diesel Particulate Filters By 2010

LONDON--April 14, 2004--Stronger emissions standards worldwide are poised to substantially increase the demand for automotive catalysts. Upcoming Euro 4 emissions standards mean that many premium, diesel-powered vehicles will need to be outfitted with diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems from the factory. ABI Resear ... Continue reading

American Standard Reports 31 Percent Rise in Diluted EPS on 12 Percent Sales Gain

American Standard Reports 31 Percent Rise in Diluted EPS on 12 Percent Sales Gain

PISCATAWAY, N.J., April 14 -- American Standard Companies Inc. today announced record first-quarter sales, net income and diluted earnings per share. Earnings were $1.14 per diluted share, up 31 percent from first quarter last year. In March, the company had raised its first-quarter earnings range to $1.09-$1.15 per di ... Continue reading

Automotive Communicators Discuss Preparing for and Dealing With Crisis

Automotive Communicators Discuss Preparing for and Dealing With Crisis

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 14 -- Dealing with Crisis is the focus of the Spring Conference of the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC), which will be held Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich. This event will provide insight on how automotive public relations professi ... Continue reading

CBC and ARI Launch S(2) - A New Joint Venture

CBC and ARI Launch S(2) - A New Joint Venture

Partnership Brings Two Industry Leaders Together to Develop Innovative Recovery Solutions SADDLE RIVER, N.J., April 14 -- S(2), a new service offering from CBC National, Inc. and ARI (Automotive Resources International) was launched today as part of a strategic partnership between two powerful subrogation recovery and ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group Celebrates Cars, Cigars and Cuisine with National Art of Driving Tour; Second-Annual Tour Stops in Chicago, May 15-16

Chrysler Group Celebrates Cars, Cigars and Cuisine with National Art of Driving Tour; Second-Annual Tour Stops in Chicago, May 15-16

CHICAGO, April 14 -- Chrysler is inviting people across the country to taste a few of the finer things in life this summer. The Art of Driving tour takes place May 15-16 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The 12- city tour officially kicked off in Los Angeles early last month. In addition to Chicago, the tour will stop ... Continue reading

DSSI to Provide Indirect Procurement Services to DURA

DSSI to Provide Indirect Procurement Services to DURA

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 14 -- DSSI LLC announced today an agreement to provide outsourced procurement services to DURA Automotive Systems, Inc. . The estimated $60 million agreement spans three years and covers DURA's North American locations. DURA will utilize DSSI's hosted e-procurement system and buying organizatio ... Continue reading

Fleetwood Announces Result of Special Shareholders' Meeting

Fleetwood Announces Result of Special Shareholders' Meeting

RIVERSIDE, Calif., April 13 -- Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. , the nation's leader in recreational vehicle sales and a leading producer and retailer of manufactured housing, announced today that its special shareholders' meeting was held on April 12, 2004. At the meeting, the shareholders approved the proposal to increas ... Continue reading

Harris Interactive Automotive Consumer Market Research Conference Debuts May 17, 2004, Ritz-Carlton Dearborn

Harris Interactive Automotive Consumer Market Research Conference Debuts May 17, 2004, Ritz-Carlton Dearborn

Vehicle Manufacturers, Tier 1-2-3 Suppliers and Automotive Ad Agency Executives Invited to Event Offering Automotive Industry Research Perspectives And Latest Online Methods From MR and Media Experts ROCHESTER, N.Y., and DETROIT, April 14 -- Harris Interactive(R), a worldwide market research and consulting firm, invite ... Continue reading

J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Record Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter of 2004

J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Record Revenues and Earnings for the First Quarter of 2004

LOWELL, Ark.--April 14, 2004--J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., announced record first quarter net earnings of $33 million for 2004, or diluted earnings per share of 40 cents, compared with 2003 first quarter earnings of $11 million, or 14 cents per diluted share on 3% higher average diluted shares outstanding in th ... Continue reading

Material Sciences Corporation Launches Online E-Store to Meet Demand for RV and Marine Products

Material Sciences Corporation Launches Online E-Store to Meet Demand for RV and Marine Products

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.--April 14, 2004--Material Sciences Corporation , Electronic Materials and Devices Group, Inc. (EMD) has launched an online E-Store to open an additional channel to market for its recreational vehicle and marine liquid level sensing systems. MSC-EMD's products are already available at aftermarket ... Continue reading

N.Technology Invests in MSC.Software MasterKey Licensing System to Improve Virtual Product Development Process for Race Cars

N.Technology Invests in MSC.Software MasterKey Licensing System to Improve Virtual Product Development Process for Race Cars

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 14 -- MSC.Software Corp. , the leading global provider of virtual product development (VPD) products including simulation software and services, today announced that N.Technology, an Italian developer of race cars and part of FIAT AUTO, is expanding its use of MSC.Software products under the MS ... Continue reading

President/General Manager of LanpherWilson Business Consulting to Address Attendees at Global Automotive Conference

President/General Manager of LanpherWilson Business Consulting to Address Attendees at Global Automotive Conference

RESTON, Va., April 14 -- LanpherWilson Corporation, an experienced and savvy consulting firm built in response to client demands for exceptional value in business operations, process architecture and human capital management, today announced that Richard Iler, a 17-year veteran of the "Big 5" and President/General Mana ... Continue reading

Prolong International Corporation Announces 2003 Year-End Financial Results; Utilizing New Funding to Promote Sales

Prolong International Corporation Announces 2003 Year-End Financial Results; Utilizing New Funding to Promote Sales

IRVINE, Calif.--April 14, 2004--Prolong International Corporation (AMEX:PRL) (http://www.prolong.com), a technology driven consumer products holding company and parent of Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of patented consumer automotive, commercial/industrial and household products, announced to ... Continue reading

Record Number of Convenience Stores Now Selling Gasoline, According to NACS

Record Number of Convenience Stores Now Selling Gasoline, According to NACS

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--April 14, 2004--While the total number of U.S. convenience stores fell 1.3 percent to 130,659 stores, the number of convenience stores selling motor fuels grew 4.3 percent in 2003 to reach a record 106,240 stores, according to the new National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)/TDLinx Official In ... Continue reading

Superior Industries International, Inc. To Release First Quarter 2004 Results on Friday, April 16, 2004; Webcast Set For 1:00 p.m. EDT

Superior Industries International, Inc. To Release First Quarter 2004 Results on Friday, April 16, 2004; Webcast Set For 1:00 p.m. EDT

VAN NUYS, Calif.--April 14, 2004--Superior Industries International, Inc. plans to release financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004 at approximately 8:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 16, 2004. Superior has scheduled a conference call at 1:00 p.m. EDT that day to discuss its results for the quarter. A l ... Continue reading

The Champ Car World Series to Spin More Laps on Fox Sports en Espanol; Spanish Telecasts To Feature Four of Mexico's Top Drivers in 2004 Series

The Champ Car World Series to Spin More Laps on Fox Sports en Espanol; Spanish Telecasts To Feature Four of Mexico's Top Drivers in 2004 Series

LOS ANGELES--April 14, 2004--The "Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered By Ford" will take another spin in Spanish on Fox Sports en Espanol beginning with the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 18, at 9:00 p.m. PT/12:00 a.m. ET. All 16 races will be televised exclusively in Spanish on Fox Sport ... Continue reading

United Defense Announces 1st Quarter 2004 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Information

United Defense Announces 1st Quarter 2004 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Information

ARLINGTON, Va.--April 14, 2004--United Defense Industries, Inc. announced today that it will release its earnings for 1st quarter 2004 on Thursday, April 22, 2004 before the open of the market. In conjunction with this release, United Defense will host a conference call on the same day at 10:00 AM ET, which will be sim ... Continue reading

SCCA Milwaukee Region: Save Elkhart Lake Street Course

SCCA Milwaukee Region: Save Elkhart Lake Street Course

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Mother Nature Forces SSP Season Opener to Sunday

Mother Nature Forces SSP Season Opener to Sunday

Contact: Todd Fisher Phone (717) 292-1696 - For Immediate Release Mother Nature Forces SSP Season Opener to Sunday Night NEWBERRYTOWN, PA (April 14, 2004) – Due to four days of continuous rain and extremely saturated grounds in the pits and parking areas, officials at the Susquehanna Speedway Park have decide ... Continue reading

Kawasaki, Hayden Brothers Ready to Roll in Sonoma

Kawasaki, Hayden Brothers Ready to Roll in Sonoma

Contact: John Cardinale (707) 933-3907 Kawasaki, Hayden Brothers Ready to Roll in Sonoma SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Kawasaki has jumped to the top of the pack in the AMA's Pro Honda Oils Supersport class in 2004, thanks in large part to two brothers from the small town of Owensboro, Ky. Tommy Hayden has certa ... Continue reading

News Release: Andrew Firestone To Participate In Toyota Pro/Celeb rity Race At Grand Prix Of Long Beach

News Release: Andrew Firestone To Participate In Toyota Pro/Celeb rity Race At Grand Prix Of Long Beach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Media Center (877) 201-2373 ANDREW FIRESTONE TO PARTICIPATE IN TOYOTA PRO/CELEBRITY RACE AT GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH Will next face competitors in Tire Rack(tm) Cannonball(r) One Lap of America event NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 14, 2004) - Andrew Firestone, great-grandson of The Firestone Tir ... Continue reading

ORIS Automotive Grand Opening Ceremonies

ORIS Automotive Grand Opening Ceremonies

-- Grand Opening ceremonies for ORIS Automotive's new $10 million headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Bessemer, Alabama, at 6324 Bay Drive, will begin on Thursday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. Ceremony participants include Alabama Governor Bob Riley; Hans-Heinrich Weingarten, executive vice president of the Mercedes ... Continue reading

smart Brand Vehicles to Lead Runners in the 108th Boston Marathon

smart Brand Vehicles to Lead Runners in the 108th Boston Marathon

BOSTON, April 14 -- Smiles In Boston-- smart, the global automotive brand that is revolutionizing the design, production and marketing of premium small vehicles around the world is the official car sponsor of the 108th Boston Marathon running on Monday, April 19, 2004. This marks the first appearance ever of the smart ... Continue reading

Gas Prices Highest in Three Years, According to AAA Chicago

Gas Prices Highest in Three Years, According to AAA Chicago

AURORA, Ill., April 14 -- According to AAA Chicago's most recent fuel gauge report, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois now averages $1.82 per gallon, which is up 10 cents from this time last month and up 27 cents from last year's prices. Prices have not been at these levels since September 11, 2 ... Continue reading

First smart Model for The U.S. Named 'formore'

First smart Model for The U.S. Named 'formore'

Unique Four-Wheel Drive SUV Arrives in 2006 BOSTON, April 14 -- smart, the global automotive brand that is revolutionizing the design, production and marketing of premium small vehicles around the world, will launch in the United States in 2006 with a new type of SUV -- a smart utility vehicle. Called the smart formore ... Continue reading

smart Brand to Launch in U.S. in 2006 With Unique SUV Model

smart Brand to Launch in U.S. in 2006 With Unique SUV Model

Global smart Line Grows to Six Models BOSTON, April 14 -- smart, the global automotive brand that is revolutionizing the design, production and marketing of premium small vehicles around the world, will enter the U.S. market in 2006 with a new sport utility specifically designed for the American consumer. Named the sma ... Continue reading

JC Whitney Hires Search Engine Marketing Firm

JC Whitney Hires Search Engine Marketing Firm

SUTTONS BAY, Mich.--April 14, 2004--Oneupweb, a leading top-tier search engine marketing firm, today announced a new client relationship with JC Whitney, the largest direct marketer of automotive accessories and parts. Like many of Oneupweb's clients, JC Whitney continues to keep ahead of its customers' needs, using se ... Continue reading

Shelby Factory to Host 40th Anniversary of Mustang Celebration in North Texas

Shelby Factory to Host 40th Anniversary of Mustang Celebration in North Texas

DALLAS--April 14, 2004--The North Texas celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Ford Mustang will kick off at the Unique Performance Shelby Continuation Facility on April 22, 2004 in Dallas. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the arrival of "The Great American Pony Drive II," which is comprised of European and A ... Continue reading

Recall of Acura MDX and Honda Light Truck Vehicles to Repair Automatic Transmissions

Recall of Acura MDX and Honda Light Truck Vehicles to Repair Automatic Transmissions

TORRANCE, Calif., April 14 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of certain Honda and Acura light truck models equipped with V6 engines and five-speed automatic transmissions to inspect and repair a potential defect in the transmission. The recall involves approximately 600,000 light tru ... Continue reading

AutoZone Completes Purchase of ABC Discount Auto Parts

AutoZone Completes Purchase of ABC Discount Auto Parts

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 14 -- AutoZone, Inc. , today announced it completed the purchase of selected assets of ABC Discount Auto Parts located in Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The asset purchase of 12 stores, previously owned by Lou and Carla Fishman, fits perfectly with AutoZone's desire to develop marke ... Continue reading

The Major Automotive Companies Reports Year-End Results

The Major Automotive Companies Reports Year-End Results

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.--April 14, 2004--The Major Automotive Companies, Inc. -- Revenue $380 million in 2003 compared with $398 million in 2002 -- Gross Profits in 2003 $60.6 Million from $64.1 Million in 2002 -- Net Loss in 2003 of $1.1 million vs. Net Loss in 2002 of $290,000 The Major Automotive Companies, Inc. toda ... Continue reading

New Car Review : 2004 Acura MDX

New Car Review : 2004 Acura MDX

By Bruce Hidaka-Gordon Far East Bureau Chief As the parents of two young, very hip and fashion conscious boys, aged 4 and 6, my wife Sugano and I are always looking out for their best interests, one of which, the "cool factor" tends to be very important to them (and to my wife and my self as well). So when the opportun ... Continue reading

``Driving Down the Cost of Vehicle Crashes;'' Root Causes of Crashes and Preventative Measures for Commercial Fleets

``Driving Down the Cost of Vehicle Crashes;'' Root Causes of Crashes and Preventative Measures for Commercial Fleets

SAN DIEGO--April 14, 2004--DriveCam Video Systems, a developer of fleet safety technology, today announced the availability of the white paper "Bringing Down the Cost of Vehicle Crashes: The Impact of the DriveCam Driving Feedback System on Insurance Costs for Commercial Fleets." Intended for insurance executives, risk ... Continue reading

DENSO Earns 2004 Climate Protection Award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

DENSO Earns 2004 Climate Protection Award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Third EPA Award for DENSO TOKYO, April 14 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last night awarded a 2004 Climate Protection Award to the Electrical Inverter Air Conditioning Team, comprised of DENSO Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Toyota Industries Corporation, at the agency's annual Earth Techn ... Continue reading

Harley-Davidson Roars Into Its Second Century With Another Record Quarter

Harley-Davidson Roars Into Its Second Century With Another Record Quarter

MILWAUKEE, April 14 -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 28, 2004. Revenue for the quarter was $1.17 billion compared with $1.11 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 4.7 percent increase. First quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) was 68 cents, an 11.5 ... Continue reading

New Magellan RoadMate 500 Plus Boasts Twice the Map Coverage Capacity of Competing Portable Vehicle Navigation Devices

New Magellan RoadMate 500 Plus Boasts Twice the Map Coverage Capacity of Competing Portable Vehicle Navigation Devices

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--April 14, 2004-- Magellan RoadMate Series Offers Added Convenience with New Accessories: Mounting Options, Travel Carrying Cases, Faceplates and More Now Available for Magellan RoadMate 500 Plus and 700 Models Just in time for spring break and summer travel, drivers have a new portable vehicle navi ... Continue reading

ABI Research Predicts 500% Growth Rate For Automotive Diesel Particulate Filters By 2010

ABI Research Predicts 500% Growth Rate For Automotive Diesel Particulate Filters By 2010

LONDON, UK — April 14, 2004 — Stronger emissions standards worldwide are poised to substantially increase the demand for automotive catalysts. Upcoming Euro 4 emissions standards mean that many premium, diesel-powered vehicles will need to be outfitted with diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems from the f ... Continue reading

Rolls-Royce Celebrates 100 Years of Innovation in its Centenary Year

Rolls-Royce Celebrates 100 Years of Innovation in its Centenary Year

LONDON, April 14 -- - By Richard Haigh, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust - With pictures Tuesday 4 May 2004 marks the centenary of the first meeting of Henry Royce and the Hon Charles Rolls, a partnership the name of which was to become the symbol of quality and engineering excellence - Rolls-Royce. Follow ... Continue reading

Kelley Blue Book Launches Phase I of Redesigned Web Site

Kelley Blue Book Launches Phase I of Redesigned Web Site

No. 1 Automotive Information Site Maintains Leadership by Going From Clutter to Clarity IRVINE, Calif., April 14 -- Today, Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com reveals its new face to the world. (www.kbb.com/beforeandafter) A comprehensive redesign of the home page and several subsequent pages brings clarity to the No. 1 visited ... Continue reading

Nashville Hosts Mustang's 40th Birthday Party

Nashville Hosts Mustang's 40th Birthday Party

By: Brad Nevin | Ford Communications Network DEARBORN, April 13, 2004 -- In one of the largest gatherings of its kind, Mustangs of all types of years and models will fill the streets of Nashville the weekend of April 16-18 as the Opryland Hotel Complex hosts the Mustang Club of America’s 40th Anniversary event. A ... Continue reading

New Tunneling Study Shows Bullet Train Route Through Grapevine Poses Greater Earthquake Hazard, Costs More

New Tunneling Study Shows Bullet Train Route Through Grapevine Poses Greater Earthquake Hazard, Costs More

Palmdale, L.A. Support Antelope Valley Route LOS ANGELES, April 13 -- Citing an engineering study released today and other data Palmdale Mayor James C. Ledford Jr. testified at a hearing here today that routing a proposed bullet train through the Antelope Valley would be safer from earthquake hazards and far better ser ... Continue reading

Search The Auto Channel

The Auto Channel content library (since 1996) has grown to become the world’s most extensive and complete interactive archive of automotive centric news, articles, reviews and intense event coverage, presented to viewers as Text, Video and Images.

The Auto Channel Content by Topic

Vehicle manufacturers and alt fuels.