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August 2007

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Thursday, August 2, 2007

Cleveland Auto Show Adds 400,000 Sq. Ft. of Exhibit Space for '08

Cleveland Auto Show Adds 400,000 Sq. Ft. of Exhibit Space for '08

CLEVELAND, Aug. 2 -- Already considered one of the largest automotive expositions in the country at 900,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, the 2008 Cleveland Auto Show presented by AutoTrader.com has added 400,000 sq. ft. ... Continue reading

Audi Ranks Top in China For Customer Satisfaction

Audi Ranks Top in China For Customer Satisfaction

INGOLSTADT, Germany - August 2, 2007: For the second time in succession, Audi is ranked top in the "J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 China Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Study," which has now been released. As in the 2006 comparative study, the J.D. Power Asia Pacific report viewed the company with the four rings as the ... Continue reading

Where is the Fairness USA Today? - From the Chrysler Media Blog

Where is the Fairness USA Today? - From the Chrysler Media Blog

By Jason Vines Call me crazy – many people do - but I thought an op-ed page was for voicing debate (and you know I love a good dust up.) But apparently that’s not the case when the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers tries to get a fair word into the USA Today. Remember that USA Today columnist who invited a ... Continue reading

'Wings+Wheels: Crawford Memories in Motion' Exhibit Opens September 1

'Wings+Wheels: Crawford Memories in Motion' Exhibit Opens September 1

CLEVELAND, Aug. 2 -- The "Wings+Wheels: Crawford Memories in Motion" exhibit sponsored by the 2008 Cleveland Auto Show presented by AutoTrader.com celebrates the legacy of Cleveland-industrialist Frederick C. Crawford (1891-1994) and the 140th anniversary of the Western Reserve Historical Society (1867-2007). The new e ... Continue reading

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5 Review

2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 2.5 Review

Pat The Bunny: The 2007 Rabbit 2.5 By Rex Roy Photos by Rex Roy and the manufacturer There's a children's book generations old called "Pat The Bunny." It's a tactile wonder between the hard covers. Just like the 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit. This is a fine car to drive. It has the spirit and quality of the higher-performance ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group Announces International Sales and Marketing Appointments

Chrysler Group Announces International Sales and Marketing Appointments

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, August 2 -- -- Judith K. Wheeler appointed Director - International Marketing and Communications -- Stephane Labous appointed Chrysler Managing Director - DaimlerChrysler France Chrysler Group has announced a series of senior level appointments within its International Sales, Marketing and Busin ... Continue reading

Chrysler Introduces New 'Best-in-Industry' Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge Vehicles

Chrysler Introduces New 'Best-in-Industry' Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge Vehicles

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 -- Chrysler recently announced that the company would extend its powertrain warranty from the 3-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty to a new Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty applies to most new Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles purchased from dealer inv ... Continue reading

Iteris, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2007 Revenue Growth

Iteris, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2007 Revenue Growth

ANAHEIM, Calif.--Iteris, Inc. (AMEX:ITI), a leader in machine vision technologies and Intelligent Transportation Systems that optimize traffic flow and enhance driver safety, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the first quarter ended June 30, 2007, Iteris, Inc. (the “Co ... Continue reading

LoJack System Helps Police Discover Major Construction Theft Ring; Nearly $900k in Stolen Equipment Recovered

LoJack System Helps Police Discover Major Construction Theft Ring; Nearly $900k in Stolen Equipment Recovered

WESTWOOD, Mass., Aug 2 -- LoJack Corporation's Stolen Vehicle Recovery System helped Chicago-area police find a major construction theft ring and recover more than 30 pieces of construction equipment/commercial vehicles valued at nearly $900,000. The recovery was made at a chop shop in East Chicago, Indiana, on June 14 ... Continue reading

Air Products' Mobile Fueler Powers New York Conference Hydrogen Vehicle Public Ride and Drive Event

Air Products' Mobile Fueler Powers New York Conference Hydrogen Vehicle Public Ride and Drive Event

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Aug. 2 -- Air Products' mobile hydrogen fueler pulled double duty and showed its versatility in making the short trek from its current base fueling State of New York fuel cell automobiles in Albany, N.Y. to another location in the state's capital city. The relocation to the second fueling area was t ... Continue reading

Recent Crashes Reminders That Texting and Driving Don't Mix

Recent Crashes Reminders That Texting and Driving Don't Mix

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recent tragedies involving teenagers texting while driving are painful reminders of the dangers of distracted driving, especially for new drivers. "All drivers, but particularly teens, need to focus solely on driving -- and that means the cell phone needs to be off," says C ... Continue reading

NASCAR NNCS (DAYTONA) - Every Position Counts

NASCAR NNCS (DAYTONA) - Every Position Counts

The new “seeding” process, instituted for this season’s Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, has drivers competing for every position. After the Sept. 8 race at Richmond International Raceway, the top 12 drivers will be re-seeded according to two performance standards – wins and finishing positions thro ... Continue reading

GRAND AM (THE GLEN) - KINETIC MOTORSPORTS TO BUILD ON MOMENTUM...

GRAND AM (THE GLEN) - KINETIC MOTORSPORTS TO BUILD ON MOMENTUM...

After a successful weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Kinetic Motorsports is on the way to Watkins Glen International to compete on the 3.4 mile long road course at the next KONI Challenge event. Coming off a recent 4th place finish in Ohio, the team is looking to continue the positive momentum in New York with dri ... Continue reading

China Citroën to be Mass Produced in France

China Citroën to be Mass Produced in France

SHANGHAI - August 2, 2007: The mid segment model C-Triomphe developed by Chinese and French researchers will be mass produced in France and launched in Europe soon, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile announced yesterday. Powered with either a diesel or a gasoline engine, C-Triomphe will also feature integrated advance ... Continue reading

NASCAR NNCS (POCONO) - Cup Series News & Notes

NASCAR NNCS (POCONO) - Cup Series News & Notes

Carl Edwards Ready For Busy Weekend<P> Seeding Becomes More Important Each Week<P> Gordon Goes For A Sweep At Pocono<P> Gibbs Teammates Heating Up<P> In the Loop: Denny Hamlin And Kurt Busch<P> Rookie Standings: Montoya Setting The Pace<P> <P> Welcome to the weekly NASCAR teleconference in advance of this weekend’ ... Continue reading

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY(SPEEDWAY) - CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON MotoGP ROAD COURSE

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY(SPEEDWAY) - CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON MotoGP ROAD COURSE

Construction on the new, 2.601-mile road course to be used for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP motorcycle race has started at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IMS officials plan to have all construction completed by Opening Day for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 in early May. “Our motorcycle event is Sept. 14, 2 ... Continue reading

Harman/Becker Automotive Systems Introduces New GPS Unit to the U.S. Market

Harman/Becker Automotive Systems Introduces New GPS Unit to the U.S. Market

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--Harman/Becker Automotive Systems, a division of U.S.-based Harman International Industries , announced today the U.S. launch of a new, technologically advanced mobile navigation system, the Traffic Assist Highspeed 7934. The new product is available exclusively at Office Depot retail stores nat ... Continue reading

2007's Top 20 Selling Vehicles in U.S. Through July

2007's Top 20 Selling Vehicles in U.S. Through July

Detroit August 2, 2007; Reuters published the 20 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through July of 2007 as reported by the automakers. Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units. ... Continue reading

U.S. Online Auto Consumers Can't Face the Gas Crisis

U.S. Online Auto Consumers Can't Face the Gas Crisis

70% of 2007 top 10 most popular cars on CarGurus are utility vehicles or sports cars. None of the top 10 exceed the minimum CAFE mileage guidelines Jeep Wrangler and Ford Mustang top the list, Prius only #15 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 2 -- CarGurus (www.cargurus.com), a leading online automotive community, today announced ... Continue reading

Midas Reports 24 Percent Increase in Second QuarterEarnings Per Share to $0.21 after Special Chargesof $0.04 Per Share

Midas Reports 24 Percent Increase in Second QuarterEarnings Per Share to $0.21 after Special Chargesof $0.04 Per Share

ITASCA, Ill.--Midas, Inc. reported net earnings of $3.0 million—or $0.21 per diluted share—for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007. Second quarter results included business transformation charges of $0.04 per share primarily related to the fee paid to AutoZone for the early termination of its supply agreem ... Continue reading

Axion Power Licensed to Produce Batteries for Vintage Ford Muscle Cars

Axion Power Licensed to Produce Batteries for Vintage Ford Muscle Cars

NEW CASTLE, Pa., Aug. 2 -- Axion Power International Inc (OTC Pink Sheets: AXPW), a supplier of lightweight, quickly rechargeable and lead-reduced lead-acid batteries, said today that it has expanded the brand horizons of its Specialty Battery business, which concentrates on race-car batteries and batteries for vintage ... Continue reading

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:Hybrid Vehicle Sales on Pace to Reach Record Sales in 2007

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:Hybrid Vehicle Sales on Pace to Reach Record Sales in 2007

Seven New Hybrid Models to Enter the Market in the Second Half of 2007 WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 2 August 2007 — Hybrid vehicles are on course to achieve record sales in 2007, increasing by 35 percent compared with 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 U.S. Hybrid Vehicle Forecast Second Quarter Up ... Continue reading

Infinity Property and Casualty Reports 11.6% Growth in Gross Written Premiums and Announces Additional $100 Million Share Repurchase Program

Infinity Property and Casualty Reports 11.6% Growth in Gross Written Premiums and Announces Additional $100 Million Share Repurchase Program

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 2 -- Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation , a national provider of personal automobile insurance, today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30 (in millions, except per share amounts % % and ratios) 2007 2006 Ch ... Continue reading

Nissan Reveals New "Pop-Up Engine Hood" Safety Technology

Nissan Reveals New "Pop-Up Engine Hood" Safety Technology

TOKYO, August 2 -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has developed an innovative "pop-up engine hood" to help reduce head impact injuries in the event of a pedestrian collision. The new safety feature will debut on the new Skyline coupe, set for release this fall in Japan. The concept of the pop-up hood is based on a very simple ... Continue reading

ZAP, Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. Join Forces to Commercialize Nanotech Batteries for Electric Cars

ZAP, Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. Join Forces to Commercialize Nanotech Batteries for Electric Cars

Joint Office Opens in Beijing to Focus on Nanotechnology for Advanced Electric Car Batteries BEIJING, Aug. 2 -- Advanced nanotech batteries are becoming a driving force in making electric cars that go farther and faster between charges, up to five times farther than today's conventional batteries, and China may play a ... Continue reading

Lear Reports Improved Second-Quarter Financial Results and Updates Full-Year Outlook

Lear Reports Improved Second-Quarter Financial Results and Updates Full-Year Outlook

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., August 2 -- Lear Corporation , a leading global supplier of automotive seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronic products, today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2007 and updated its full-year 2007 financial outlook. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh ... Continue reading

Insurance Commissioner Poizner to Congratulate GEICO Aug. 3 for Offering California Policyholders $65.8 in Savings

Insurance Commissioner Poizner to Congratulate GEICO Aug. 3 for Offering California Policyholders $65.8 in Savings

SAN DIEGO--California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner plans to visit GEICO’s Poway, Calif., regional office to congratulate GEICO for its recent auto insurance rate decrease. GEICO’s decrease represents $65.8 million in savings for its California policyholders. The statewide average rate decrease is 10.8 ... Continue reading

Noble Posts Second Quarter EPS of $0.13

Noble Posts Second Quarter EPS of $0.13

Including Negative Impact of TBA Acquisition Hedges of $0.08 per Share WARREN, Mich., Aug. 2 -- Noble International, Ltd. ("Noble" or the "Company") reported net earnings of $0.13 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2007 compared to $0.31 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2006. Net earnings for the seco ... Continue reading

Automobile Sectors Provide Sustainable Growth Opportunities for Electronic Chemicals in Europe

Automobile Sectors Provide Sustainable Growth Opportunities for Electronic Chemicals in Europe

LONDON, August 2 -- With printed circuit boards (PCB's) experiencing reduced demand in many industrial applications as a result of being overtaken by newer and more advanced technologies, it is not surprising that the electronic chemicals market is facing a similar situation considering the close link between the two i ... Continue reading

SPECIAL EVENTS (GLENDORA) - OKUMA RENEWS OFFICIAL MACHINE TOOL SPONSORSHIP WITH NHRA

SPECIAL EVENTS (GLENDORA) - OKUMA RENEWS OFFICIAL MACHINE TOOL SPONSORSHIP WITH NHRA

Okuma America, a world-class leader in machine tool technology and manufacturing, has renewed its sponsorship as the Official Machine Tool of the NHRA, it was announced today by NHRA officials. The official marketing partnership continues Okuma’s commitment to NHRA Championship Drag Racing. The company also is the ... Continue reading

Chevrolet SUV's To Re-Enter China

Chevrolet SUV's To Re-Enter China

SHANGHAI - August 2, 2007: "Chevrolet SUV will come to the Chinese market by the end of this year." said Sun Xiaodong, Shanghai GM marketing director. "The new SUV is an Opel SUV model, but branded Chevrolet, and there are two versions: 2.4L and 3.2L engine for consumers to choose. Shanghai GM will not produce this mod ... Continue reading

Environmental Concerns Grow Hybrid Car Sector - VIDEO FEATURE

Environmental Concerns Grow Hybrid Car Sector - VIDEO FEATURE

MADISON, WI - August 2, 2007: As concerns over the environment continue to grow, so does the hybrid vehicle sector - as seen at this year's Hybridfest in Madison, WI. The hybrid, electric car show showcases automakers' solutions for sustainable transportation and highlights issues such as climate change and air quality ... Continue reading

Acquisition of Vanguard Car Rental Complete

Acquisition of Vanguard Car Rental Complete

ST. LOUIS--The owners of Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced today they have completed the purchase of Vanguard Car Rental and its National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car businesses from Cerberus Capital Management LP. Terms of the transaction between the two privately held companies were not disclosed. On March 30, 2007, ... Continue reading

The Carlyle Group Closes Purchase of Engineered Products Division From The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

The Carlyle Group Closes Purchase of Engineered Products Division From The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Products Will Continue to Carry Goodyear Brand While Company Legal Name Changes to "Veyance Technologies, Inc." WASHINGTON and AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 1 -- Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced that it has closed its purchase of substantially all of the Engineered Products Division of The Goodyear Tire ... Continue reading

News From USW: Judge Orders Continental Tire to Fulfill Contract, Pay Health Care Costs for Retired Workers

News From USW: Judge Orders Continental Tire to Fulfill Contract, Pay Health Care Costs for Retired Workers

PITTSBURGH--News From USW: A federal judge yesterday issued a summary judgment ordering Continental Tire Co. to pay medical premiums for 2,000 retired United Steelworkers who filed a class action lawsuit against their employer after Continental arbitrarily cut the benefit. Federal Judge Jack Zouhary of the U.S. Distric ... Continue reading

Tecumseh Products Company Announces Appointment of Edwin L. 'Ed' Buker as Chief Executive Officer

Tecumseh Products Company Announces Appointment of Edwin L. 'Ed' Buker as Chief Executive Officer

TECUMSEH, Mich., Aug. 1 -- Tecumseh Products Company ("Tecumseh" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Edwin "Ed" L. Buker as the Company's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Buker, whose appointment is effective August 13, 2007, joins Tecumseh from Citation Corporation, a leading supplier of metal components ... Continue reading

Mass. Insurance Commissioner's Plan Would Allow Discrimination in Sale of Auto Insurance, says FTCR

Mass. Insurance Commissioner's Plan Would Allow Discrimination in Sale of Auto Insurance, says FTCR

10 Consumer Groups Send Letter Denouncing Plan to Commissioner Burnes, Governor Patrick SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Massachusetts drivers will be unfairly denied auto insurance unless the state continues its long-standing ban on unfair and discriminatory insurance practices, said the Foundat ... Continue reading

Dana Corporation to Supply Spicer(R) Axles to Renault Trucks

Dana Corporation to Supply Spicer(R) Axles to Renault Trucks

TOLEDO, Ohio, Aug. 1 -- Dana Corporation announced today that it has been selected to supply Spicer(R) rear beam axles for the new Renault Mascott rear-wheel-drive vans and chassis-cab vehicles produced by Renault Trucks. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA ) Dana earned this new business by offeri ... Continue reading

China Auto Export Volume Up 71.2% In H1, Unit Price Up 23%

China Auto Export Volume Up 71.2% In H1, Unit Price Up 23%

SHANGHAI - August 2, 2007: China exported 241,000 automobiles in the first six month of this year, up 71.2% from a year earlier; while China's total auto export revenue reached $2.7 billion, up 110.7% from a year earlier, China Securities Journal reported yesterday. The price of China's exported automobiles averages $1 ... Continue reading

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