Wednesday, May 5, 2004

SUVs Earn High 'Grades' in Crash Tests

Report: SUVs Get Highest Possible 'Grades' in Side Crashes; Overall Ranking is a Solid 'B' in Side and Frontal Crashes WASHINGTON, May 5 -- If SUVs were students and their owners were parents, "Mom and Dad" would be very pleased with today's report card from the federal government on SUV crashworthiness. Crash test res ... Continue reading

New Car Review: 2004 Chevrolet SSR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD<br> WITH CAREY RUSS<p> 2004 Chevrolet SSR Every few years one of the leading manufacturers comes out with something that captures the attention of a wide swath of Americans. Other manufacturers have had their turn in the limelight with some now well-known cars; for 2004 it's Chevrolet's turn, with ... Continue reading

R. L. Polk Reports Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet Lead Among Hispanic Americans

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 5 -- In the race to capture the increasingly influential Hispanic American consumer, Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet have distanced themselves from other automotive brands, according to R. L. Polk & Co. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010104/DETH036LOGO ) In calendar year 2003, Ford captu ... Continue reading

'By Owner' Used Car Sales Soar, According to StraightAway

Person-to-Person Used Car Sales in the U.S. Have Grown Over 2 Million Units Since 1999 NAPLES, Fla., May 5 -- Since 1999, person-to-person auto sales have risen 20%, going from 11,448,430 units to over 13,668,383 units in 2003, while used car sales by new car dealers have declined.* "Private sales have matched independ ... Continue reading

Consumers Predict Hybrid Engines Will Represent Almost Half of Powered Vehicles by 2010

GREENWICH, Conn.--May 5, 2004-- Research from TNS Automotive Looks at Interest, Purchase Consideration and Price Expectations for Alternate Fuel Vehicles Already a hit with the Hollywood in-crowd, alternative fuel cars are this year's "must have" item. But not everyone is Brad Pitt or Cameron Diaz, and a new study anno ... Continue reading

Students Put Model Cars to the Test

ARGONNE, Ill., May 4 -- Teams of young engineers will put their skills to the test in the 14th annual model car competition, Saturday, May 8, sponsored by Argonne National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy, CNH and the Society of Automotive Engineers. The competition for middle school students will take place a ... Continue reading

Universal Technical Institute Announces New Automotive Training Program in Orlando

PHOENIX, May 5 -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , one of the nation's leading providers of technical education training, today announced that it has entered into a long-term lease agreement to expand the program offerings at its Orlando, Florida, campus to include automotive training. Through its Motorcycle Mecha ... Continue reading

Amerigon Reports First Quarter Results

Revenues Up 71 Percent From Prior Year Period, Second Consecutive Profitable Quarter DEARBORN, Mich., May 5 -- Amerigon Incorporated today reported strong year-over-year improvements in top- and bottom-line performance for its first quarter ended March 31, 2004. Revenues increased 71 percent from the prior year period, ... Continue reading

Delphi Facility Named One of Europe's Best Plants

DONCHERY, France, May 5 -- Delphi Corp.'s climate control operation in Donchery, France, was recently named one of four laureate winners of the 2004 Industrial Excellence Award -- a challenge recognizing the best plants in Eastern Europe, France and Germany. The challenge was facilitated by INSEAD, one of the most pres ... Continue reading

Delphi Named One of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens

Distinguished honor received for three consecutive years TROY, Mich., May 5 -- Delphi Corporation has been named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2004 by Business Ethics magazine. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020315/DEF002LOGO ) Now in its fifth year, the annual listing of the 100 Best Corpora ... Continue reading

Ford Enlists Music Icon Patti LaBelle in Fight Against Breast Cancer

* As Ford marks the tenth year of support for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the automaker announced it would be teaming with entertainer Patti LaBelle as the singer lends her talents to Ford's 2004 breast cancer awareness initiatives. * Working with fashion powerhouse Lilly Pulitzer(R), Ford raised more ... Continue reading

J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc. Announces First-Quarter Results

MINNEAPOLIS--May 5, 2004--J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc. today announced revenues for its first quarter ended March 31, 2004 of $147.1 million, an increase of 2.4 percent compared with revenues of $143.6 million in the 2003 period. Operating income before restructuring and impairment charges was $17.1 million co ... Continue reading

McDonald Automotive Group Completes Multi-Million Dollar Project

High-Tech Audi and Volkswagen Dealerships Ahead of the Curve Who: * Audi of America and Volkswagen of America top executives * Douglas McDonald and sons, representing three generations of growth and success selling top automotive brands as the McDonald Automotive Group * Hundreds of loyal customers What: Ribbon cutting ... Continue reading

Thousands of Michigan Students Turn Out to Test the State's Water

Students in Five Cities Will Identify Problems; Review, Design & Implement Solutions General Motors Corporation and Earth Force GREEN Begin Spring Student Water-Monitoring Season LANSING, Mich., May 5 -- Thousands of students from five cities across Michigan turned out today to test the water quality of the state's riv ... Continue reading

Universal Automotive Begins Second Phase of Integrating Acquisition

-- Purchase of Assets in January from TRW Automotive Effectively Doubled Universal's Size -- ALSIP, Ill., May 5 -- Universal Automotive Industries, Inc. today said it has begun the second phase of a planned program to integrate the operations of the assets it acquired from TRW Automotive, Inc. in January 2004, which ef ... Continue reading

Survey Reveals How Popular the Car Remains for Getaways

CHICAGO--May 5, 2004--With summer vacation just around the corner, families are ready to get on the road again, according to a survey conducted by CoolSavings, Inc. (OTCBB:CSAV), a leading online direct marketing and media company and sponsored by Thrifty Car Rental. The survey shows that the car is still the most popu ... Continue reading

Pickups Plus, Inc. Completes Acquisition

CINCINNATI--May 5, 2004--Pickups Plus, Inc. (OTCBB:PUPS), a leading retailer and national franchiser in the $38 billion truck and SUV aftermarket accessory industry, today announced it has completed the acquisition of the Auto Preservation Division of Automotive International Inc. ("AI") a privately owned Cincinnati, O ... Continue reading

SmarTire Announces Commercial Availability of Motorcycle Product

Company delivers new tire monitoring system to North American distributors RICHMOND, BC, May 5 -- SmarTire Systems Inc. (OTCBB: SMTR) today announced the commercial availability of SmarTire for Motorcycles and will deliver the first shipments to its U.S. distributors this week. SmarTire for Motorcycles is the latest ad ... Continue reading

Delco Remy International Announces Strong First Quarter 2004 Operating Results

ANDERSON, Ind., May 5 -- Delco Remy International, Inc., a leading worldwide manufacturer and remanufacturer of automotive electrical and drivetrain/powertrain products, today announced record first quarter net sales and strong Adjusted EBITDA performance. Net sales of $293.2 million in the first quarter of 2004 increa ... Continue reading

Automotive Students to Pop Hoods and Vie for State Auto Repair Championship

-- WHAT: The Southland's finest high school auto technology students will square off to diagnose and repair identically bugged Ford Crown Victorias at the 2004 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition at Irwindale Speedway, Friday, May 7. (Northern California has an identical contest the same day.) Highest scoring team ... Continue reading

TRW Automotive Reports First-Quarter 2004 Financial Results

LIVONIA, Mich., May 5 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. , the global leader in active and passive safety systems, today reported first-quarter 2004 results with sales of just over $2.9 billion and net earnings of $2 million or 2 cents per share, which includes expenses of $47 million or 48 cents per share for charges as ... Continue reading

NADAguides.com Offers Towing Know-How

Trailer Boats magazine experts offer helpful towing advice online at NADAguides.com. COSTA MESA, Calif., May 5 -- NADAguides.com, a leading vehicle information website, today announced the launch of a comprehensive Towing Information Center at its website, www.NADAguides.com. The Towing Information Center, powered by t ... Continue reading

Mother's Appreciation Night at SSP on Thursday

Contact: Todd Fisher (717) 292-1696 -FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mother's Appreciation Night at SSP on Thursday NEWBERRYTOWN, PA (May 4, 2004) - This Thursday, May 6 will be Mother's Appreciation Night at the Susquehanna Speedway Park to honor all mothers with a special surprise. Along with "taking Mom to the races" there wi ... Continue reading

Prestolite Electric Acquired

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--May 4, 2004--Prestolite Electric Holding, Inc. ("Prestolite Electric") today announced that the acquisition of Prestolite Electric by an affiliate of First Atlantic Capital, Ltd. has been completed. In conjunction with the acquisition, Prestolite Electric Incorporated, the principal operating subsidia ... Continue reading

ArvinMeritor and Gillig to Collaborate on Emissions Reducing Technologies

TROY, Mich., May 4 -- ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems business today announced plans with Gillig Corporation, one of North America's largest producers of transit buses, based in Hayward, Calif., to collaborate on new emission control technologies for the North American transit bus industry. The announcement w ... Continue reading

Dual Electronics to Offer XM Radio-Ready Car Stereo Products

HEATHROW, Fla. and WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Dual Electronics today announced it will offer Dual car stereo products that are compatible with XM Satellite Radio , the nation's leading provider of satellite radio. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000724/XMSATLOGO ) "The combination of XM Radio's extensive commerc ... Continue reading

Reynolds and Reynolds Declares Regular Third Quarter Dividend, Announces Board of Directors Changes

DAYTON, Ohio, May 4 -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company's board of directors today declared a regular third quarter Class A common stock dividend of 11 cents per share, payable June 10, 2004, to shareholders of record as of May 21, 2004. The company also announced that Donald K. Peterson, 54, chairman and CEO, Avaya, ... Continue reading

Surface Tech Inc. Licensee Accelerates U.S. Franchise Expansion

IRVINE, Calif.--May 4, 2004--Surface Tech Inc. (Pink Sheets:SFCI) announced 13 new wheel repair Franchises awarded by its licensee Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists. The market for the company's patented wheel repair technology continues to accelerate along with the industry's awareness of the availability of this much ne ... Continue reading

Andretti Green Racing 2004 Indianapolis 500 Fact Sheet

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

Auto Dealers and Manufacturers Call For the Immediate Repeal of Antiquated Vicarious Liability Law

Groups Reveal that Law Costs New York Car Buyers $100+ Million NEW YORK, May 4 -- Vicarious liability-the antiquated legal concept that holds a leasing company liable for the actions of a negligent driver-is costing consumers more than $100 million and eroding choice from the market place, according to information to b ... Continue reading

Rockwell Automation Reaffirms Fiscal 2004 Outlook at Analyst Meeting

MILWAUKEE--May 4, 2004--Rockwell Automation, Inc. President and CEO Keith D. Nosbusch will be presenting at the Electrical Products Group of Securities Analysts Conference in Florida, on Wednesday, May 5, 2004. Nosbusch will report that sales in April continued to gradually accelerate and will reaffirm that the company ... Continue reading

Safety, Environmental Issues Highlight SAE Government/Industry Meeting

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Top mobility industry executives and governmental officials will discuss the future of the automotive industry when the Society of Automotive Engineers, International (SAE) convenes its 22nd Government/Industry Meeting next week in Washington, D.C. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/2004033 ... Continue reading

DaimlerChrysler Converts 10.4 Percent Stake in Hyundai Into Global Depositary Receipts

SEOUL, South Korea May 4, 2004; The AP reported that DaimlerChrysler AG has converted its entire 10.4 percent stake in South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. into global depositary receipts, a Hyundai official said Tuesday. The official said DaimlerChrysler changed all of its 22.9 million Hyundai Motor shares into GDRs throug ... Continue reading

2004's Top 20 Selling Vehicles in U.S. January - April

DETROIT, May 4, 2004; Reuters compiled the the 20 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through April of 2004 as reported by the automakers. Total sales of the top 20 vehicles rose 0.5 percent or 8,875 units to 1,828,802. Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units. ... Continue reading