Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Kia Soul recognized by Texas Auto Writers Association as "Best Value" - VIDEO ENHANCED

Soul named to annual awards list chosen specifically by journalists Latest award adds to growing praise for Kia's funky urban crossover SEOUL - May 4, 2009 – Kia Motors America (KMA) announced yesterday that the 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle has been named ‘Best Value’ in the Writer’s Choice ... Continue reading

Beijing Auto in talks to buy Lifan: report

Beijing Auto in talks to buy Lifan: report http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010320/Beijing-Auto-in-talks-to-b uy-Li fan-report.html Shanghai, May 5 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese automaker Beijing Automotive Industry Co is in talks to acquire Chongqing Lifan Automobile Co, Lifan Group's auto making subsidiary, the Economic ... Continue reading

Shanghai GM April sales up 35% to 55,246 units

Shanghai GM April sales up 35% to 55,246 units http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010331/Shanghai-GM-April-sales-up -35-t o-55-246-units.html Shanghai, May 5 (Gasgoo.com) Last month, Shanghai GM, General Motors' passenger vehicle joint venture in China, saw its sales rise 34.7% from the same month last year to 55,24 ... Continue reading

Changan Auto continues partnership with Volvo

Changan Auto continues partnership with Volvo http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010321/Changan-Auto-continues-par tners hip-with-Volvo.html Shanghai, May 5 (Gasgoo.com) Changan Automobile (Group) Ltd recently said that its production partnership with Volvo will continue, even if its U.S. partner Ford Motor may sell ... Continue reading

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Declares 149th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend

FINDLAY, Ohio, May 5 -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock, payable June 30, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business June 2, 2009. This will mark the 149th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. (Logo: ... Continue reading

ArvinMeritor Reports Second-Quarter Fiscal Year 2009 Results

TROY, Mich., May 5 -- ArvinMeritor, Inc. today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009. Quarterly Highlights -- Sales of $1.1 billion, down approximately $671 million, or 38 percent, from the same period last year (down 32 percent on a constant currency basis). -- On a GAAP basis, ... Continue reading

Pelosi Statement on 'Cash for Clunkers' Agreement

WASHINGTON, May 5 Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement regarding the White House and the House Energy and Commerce Committee's agreement on a "cash for clunkers" proposal that will provide incentives for Americans to trade in older vehicles for more fuel efficient cars and trucks: "'Cash for clunkers' is ... Continue reading

NACCO Industries, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2009 Results

CLEVELAND, May 5 -- NACCO Industries, Inc. today announced financial results for first quarter 2009. Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $558.6 million, 35 percent lower than the $865.0 million in the prior-year period. The revenue decline was primarily attributable to lower volumes at NACCO's materials handlin ... Continue reading

Bienes Turgon and Katcon Announce the Closing of the First Stage of the Acquisition of Delphi's Global Exhaust System Business

MONTERREY, Mexico, May 5 -- Bienes Turgon, S.A., a holding company based in Monterrey, Mexico with presence in the automotive industry, through Katcon in Mexico and Venezuela, announces that, in accordance with the proposed schedule, it has successfully closed the first stage of the acquisition of Delphi's global busin ... Continue reading

Penske Automotive Interested in GM's Saturn Brand

DETROIT, May 5, 2009; Soyoung Kim writing for Reuters reported that Penske Automotive Group (PAG.N), the No.2 U.S. dealership group, said on Tuesday it is interested in acquiring General Motors Corp's (GM.N) Saturn brand and distribution network in a bid to grow its business. Penske, which has 310 retail automotive fra ... Continue reading

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Schedules Release of First Quarter Results and Conference Call

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. today announced it will release fiscal 2009 first quarter financial results on Friday, May 8, 2009 at 7:30 A.M. (Eastern). Senior management will hold a conference call at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern). To access the live broadcast of the call over the Internet go to: www.earning ... Continue reading

Azure Dynamics Announces Adoption of Shareholder Rights Plan

OAK PARK, MI, May 5 -- Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD) - ("Azure") or (the "Company"), a leading developer of innovative hybrid green technologies that address environmental and cost issues for operators of commercial vehicle fleets, today announced that its board of directors (the "Board") has approved the adopt ... Continue reading

EPA Proposes New Regulations for the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2010 and Beyond

EPA Proposes New Regulations for the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2010 and Beyond EPA-420-F-09-023, May 2009 Download PDF Version formatted for printing (9 pp, 574K, About PDF Files) Introduction General Background New Renewable Volume Standards EISA Expands Coverage to Include Diesel and Nonroad Fuels ... Continue reading

EPA Lays out a Plan for USA's Increase in Renewable fuels

Release date: 05/05/2009 Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn, 202-564-4355 / 7849 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov (Washington, D.C. – May 5, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing its strategy for increasing the supply of renewable fuels, poised to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, as mandated by the ... Continue reading

Plug-In To Detroit October 19-21 2009

The first plug-in electric vehicle conference to be held in Detroit – The Business of Plugging Insm Dearborn, Mich., May 5, 2009; Detroit put the “D” in Drive and the world on wheels. Now, it is once again driving the future of automotive technology as it plays host to The Business of Plugging In, its in ... Continue reading

Limited Edition Energy Drink Inspired by NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Now on Store Shelves

PURCHASE, May 5, 2009: AMP Energy has announced the launch of Tradin' Paint, a new limited time only Dale Earnhardt Jr. themed energy drink. The beverage is a collision of three flavors: Orange, Lime and Berry, with all the energy ingredients and great taste that consumers expect from AMP. "Dale Jr. was very involved i ... Continue reading

IndyCar Interactive Feature - May 5, 2009

IndyCar have kindly given TACH an interactive information application associated with the up-coming Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. To active the various features please click on any of the highlighted "blue ball" options on the active page. Once you have the video or text window open, right-click and Zoom In. ... Continue reading

Indy 500 Notebook - Tagliani Joins Conquest - May 5, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, May 4, 2009 – Experienced open-wheel driver Alex Tagliani will attempt to race in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in the No. 34 Conquest Racing entry, team officials announced May 4. Tagliani, 36, from Lachenaie, Quebec, will attempt to qualify for “The Greatest Spectacle in Raci ... Continue reading

Phoenix, AZ-based inventor, Nelson Grist, puts his flagship product to the test on national television

Scottsdale, May 5, 2009: Inventor Nelson Grist puts his flagship consumer product, What Odor?®, in the hands of the two most notorious infomercial personalities on the May 6th episode of Discovery Channel’s weekly TV series, Pitchmen. Grist, a graduate of Plattsburgh State University, has spent 20 years success ... Continue reading

New Powerful ABT AS5-R Now Available in the U.S. through GGI European Tuning

Miami, May 5, 2009: GGI European Tuning, the exclusive North American importer of ABT Sportsline tuning products for Audi automobiles, announced that they will be offering ABT’s new AS5-R in the U.S. Recently debuting at the Geneva Motor Show, the AS5-R is a real sports car hiding under the body of a coupe. A big ... Continue reading

Corsa Hybrid Following In Footsteps Of Panoz Q9

Corsa Motorsports' Ginetta-Zytek hybrid prototype will debut a decade after the Panoz Q9 turned a wheel at Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. The Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek 09SH hybrid prototype that will debut at the American Le Mans Series’ Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix is a revolutionary entry that l ... Continue reading

All-New 2009 Nissan Cube On Sale Now

- Innovative Marketing Launch Drives Consumers to 'cube Mobile Hub' for Information, Videos, Music, Wallpapers and Multi-Player iPhone App - FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 5 -- The all-new 2009 Nissan cube goes on sale today at Nissan retailers nationwide, sporting an engaging asymmetrical exterior design, socially oriented loun ... Continue reading

Ford Motor Company Awards $100,000 in Scholarship Funds to Student Entrepreneurs

Teams from Florida A&M and Howard University Take Home Top Prizes in the 2009 HBCU Business Classic DETROIT, May 5 -- The next generation of business leaders took home top prizes at the 2009 Ford HBCU Business Classic in Atlanta, GA on April 17. The business plan competition was held at Clark Atlanta University and sho ... Continue reading

Toyota Boosts Incentives to Counter 41% April Drop

Toyota will respond to a 41.1 percent April slide in U.S. sales by pushing more leases, reducing interest rates, and offering more consumer cash. Due to dealer request, the company also has plans this month to boost production of its best-selling car, the Camry, as well as the RAV4 SUV. Automotive News reports that the ... Continue reading

Chrysler LLC Receives Interim Approval for $4.1 Billion DIP Financing and Cash Collateral of $400 Million

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 5 -- Chrysler LLC announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court yesterday gave interim approval to Chrysler for $4.1 billion of Debtor-In-Possession (DIP) financing, funded by the U.S. Treasury and Export Development Canada, and the use of $400 million of cash collateral, enabling the company to mee ... Continue reading

Federal-Mogul Reports Q1 2009 Net Loss on Reduced Revenue

Sales Better than Global Market Production Decline Company Liquidity Remains Strong SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 5 -- Federal-Mogul Corporation today reported its first quarter 2009 financial performance, with sales of $1,238 million. Federal-Mogul's sales in Q1 2009 declined 27 percent on a constant dollar basis, or 33 perc ... Continue reading

Penske Automotive Reports First Quarter Results

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--Penske Automotive Group, Inc. , an international automotive retailer, today reported first quarter income from continuing operations of $16.2 million, or $0.18 per share. This compares to income from continuing operations of $32.3 million, or $0.33 per share, in the first quarter last year. In ... Continue reading

GMAC Financial Services Reports Preliminary First Quarter 2009 Financial Results

- First quarter net loss of $675 million - Weak economic conditions and legacy credit costs adversely affected results - Increased levels of consumer credit extended in the quarter: $3.8 billion in auto and $13.4 billion in mortgage - Tier 1 capital ratio of 10.6 percent; Tier 1 common ratio of 7.3 percent - GMAC Mortg ... Continue reading

Fuel Expert Picks Ford Fusion Hybrid

WARRINGTON, Pa.--When the Sokolis Group needed a new company car, they chose Ford for a host of reasons—including the fact that it offered the fuel management and fuel consulting company simply the best option on the planet. Company president Glen Sokolis says, “We did a lot of research and found that the 201 ... Continue reading

BIO Applauds President Obama for Sending a Strong Positive Signal on Biofuels

WASHINGTON--Creation of a federal working group promises the government commitment needed by industry to ensure that biofuels will become a significant part of the U.S. transportation energy mix. The proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard confirms that biofuels done the right way can reduce greenhouse gas emissi ... Continue reading

Proterra Electric Transit Bus Powered by UQM® Electric Propulsion System Achieves over 20 Miles Per Gallon in Independent Testing

FREDERICK, Colo.--UQM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMEX:UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today that an all-electric version of the 35-foot Proterra FCBE 35 transit bus powered by a UQM® PowerPhase® 150 electric propulsion system achieved over 20 miles per gallon in fuel economy equivalency testi ... Continue reading

Economic Decline to Continue Throughout 2009

TEMPE, Ariz.--Economic decline to continue in the United States throughout the remainder of 2009, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their spring 2009 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder of 2009 have weakened in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. These proje ... Continue reading

Visteon Wins Quality Excellence Performance Award from Toyota for Components Supplied in Brazil

SAU PAULO, May 5, 2009 -- Visteon in Brazil recently received Toyota's Quality Excellence Performance Award, at Toyota's Seventh Annual Mercosul Suppliers Conference. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) This award recognizes outstanding performance in 2008. The Quality Excellence Performanc ... Continue reading

STRATEGY ANALYTICS: Traffic Sign Recognition Offers Additional Driver Safety

BOSTON--The Strategy Analytics Insight, “Windshield Cameras Offer Potential Growth For Traffic Sign Recognition Systems,” reports on how the growth in front windshield cameras, used in Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS), will support the development of Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) systems. While challeng ... Continue reading

TRW Steering Wheel Enhancements Provide A Personal Touch

ASCHAFFENBURG, Germany, May 5 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has introduced a range of steering wheels to enhance driver comfort and provide customers with a more personalised vehicle interior. The new range includes heated steering wheels, coloured wheels and seamless leather steering wheels. Jaime Fernandez, direct ... Continue reading

Advanced Engineering Tools Guide Student Teams to Develop ‘Green’ Cars of the Future

DETROIT--EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge today announced that three of the competition’s Platinum Sponsors, dSPACE, National Instruments and The MathWorks, are providing more than $2,300,000 of cutting edge hardware and software tools to help student teams design the green cars of the future. EcoCAR teams learn real-wo ... Continue reading

Fuel Efficiency of Vehicles on the Road: Little Progress Since the 1920s

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Vehicles on America's roads today get only about three miles more per gallon than vehicles back in 1923, University of Michigan researchers say. A new study in the journal Energy Policy by Michael Sivak and Omer Tsimhoni of the U-M Transportation Research Institute shows that overall fuel efficiency ... Continue reading

AK Steel Updates Second Quarter 2009 Outlook

Update Provided in 10-Q Filing Today Reflects Automotive Customer Developments WEST CHESTER, Ohio, May 5 -- In its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2009 filed today, AK Steel provided an update to the guidance for the second quarter that it previously provided in connection with its first quarter ... Continue reading

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Successful Debt Restructuring

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. , the nation's third-largest automotive retailer, today announced that it has entered into agreements with the holders of over 85% of the Company's 5.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due May 2009 to refinance such notes with a combination of cash, common shares ... Continue reading

Texas Instruments introduces 60-V, 2.2 MHz DC/DC converter that reduces overall solution size and cost in automotive designs

Power management IC provides 65-microamps quiescent current DALLAS May 5 -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) today introduced an automotive-qualified DC/DC step-down converter that offers a leading combination of high voltage up to 60 V, a switching frequency up to 2-MHz, and ultra-low quiescent current of 65-microa ... Continue reading

Meta System and Wavecom to Jointly Develop Solutions for Automotive Telematics

REGGIO EMILIA, Italy & ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France--Meta System Spa and Wavecom today announced that they are collaborating to develop two joint automotive telematics solutions. The companies are both leading suppliers to the automotive market: Meta System, a MetaSystem Group company specializes in research, developmen ... Continue reading

DealerSocket Honored Among This Year's Most Promising Private Technology Companies in North America

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., May 5 -- Leading automotive CRM provider DealerSocket, announced today it has added a new distinction to a long list of accolades by being named as a finalist for the "Red Herring 100 North America" award, a prestigious list honoring the year's most promising private technology ventures in North A ... Continue reading

WABCO Introduces ESCsmart, a Breakthrough Technology and Industry's Most Efficient Method to Certify Electronic Stability Control for Trucks and Buses

BRUSSELS, May 5 -- WABCO Holdings Inc. [http://www.wabco-auto.com] , a global technology leader and tier-one supplier to the commercial vehicle industry, today announced WABCO's ESCsmart(TM) system, the global commercial vehicle industry's first technology that uses computational simulation to homologate electronic sta ... Continue reading

Amerigon Climate Control Seat(R) System Selected as Option for Rear Seats of 2010 KIA Opirus

First KIA Vehicle to Offer Heated and Cooled Seat System NORTHVILLE, Mich., May 5 -- Amerigon Incorporated , a leader in developing and marketing products based on advanced thermoelectric (TE) technologies, today announced that its proprietary Climate Control Seat(R) (CCS(R)) system will be offered as an option for the ... Continue reading

Frost & Sullivan Sees China Heading Toward 'Green' Cars

SHANGHAI, May 5 -- Held on April 22-28, the 13th International Automobile Industry Exhibition has become one of the most important global automotive industry events. 'Green' vehicles seem to be one of the highlights of the just-concluded show. In response to the alleviation of oil dependence and ever-increasing emissio ... Continue reading

Semcon – Development Partner for Concept Car in Germany

STOCKHOLM--Regulatory News: A German automotive manufacturer has chosen Semcon (STO:SEMC) as its development partner in a pilot study for a new concept car. The combined order for 2009 amounts to around SEK 50 million and the first phase of the project will run for the duration of the year. The development is at the ab ... Continue reading

Scientific Insight - Honda Teams Up with the Science Museum to Showcase Insight

Honda's all-new Insight is being put to work by the Science Museum. The more affordable hybrid car will be an example of environmental technology used by the museum on a daily basis as part of a drive to improve the museum's energy efficiency. ... Continue reading

New Renault Clio Campus: from €9,999

To mark the renewal of the Clio Campus range, Renault has introduced Clio Campus.com, an extensively-equipped exclusive series with a price tag starting from €9,999. ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz SUV Models with BlueTEC Technology are Coming to Europe

An American dream has come true. The BlueTEC models of Mercedes-Benz have achieved what no-one ever thought possible: American car drivers find diesel-powered passenger car models attractive. With this success under its belt, Mercedes-Benz is now bringing its BlueTEC SUVs to the European market. This is a guaranteed ho ... Continue reading

Gentex Ships One-Millionth Smartbeam System; Announces New Functionality

Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, announced today that it has shipped its one-millionth SmartBeam High-Beam Assist system and expanded the SmartBeam product line to include new levels of camera-based forward-lighting functionality. ... Continue reading

MINI Fresh Up Collection. Style for the Sun.

Bring on the summer! The new MINI Fresh Up collection features a wide range of materials and accessories to ensure that you have the perfect outfit for the warmth and sun. Devotees of good taste will find all they require for anything from an urban stroll through the city to a refreshing trip into the countryside. This ... Continue reading

Fiat's Marchionne : Opel Alliance Would Create 'Immense' Cost Savings

BERLIN May 5, 2009; The AP reported that a Fiat tie-up with General Motors Corp.'s Opel unit would allow "immense" cost savings, the Italian auto maker's boss was quoted Tuesday as saying, arguing the two companies would be a good fit. Fiat Group SpA is trying to build a global automaking powerhouse. Last week, it stru ... Continue reading

A True Professional - The Ford Capri at Forty

The Ford car designed for the young at heart is refusing to grow old gracefully as the Ford Capri celebrates it 40th anniversary. ... Continue reading

Odd Couple: How Honda and Total Could Make a Winning 'Green' Investment

by: Bill Paul SeekingAlpha May 05, 2009 If they ever write a rule book for green investing, Rule One should be: don’t get your advice from a traditional financial analyst. When Enron came a cropper several years back, the Street soured on alternative energy. A generation of green financial experts who would now be ... Continue reading

Ford's UK Technical Centre Renews Green Power Supply

Ford's Dunton Technical Centre, in Essex, will continue to be powered by electricity from renewable sources after a new sourcing contract was signed. ... Continue reading

Hay Fever Relief from Volvo

Volvo is offering relief to millions of hay fever sufferers facing another summer of streaming eyes and sudden sneezes by providing a cabin of safe haven. All new Volvo models are fitted as standard with pollen filters and cabin air quality monitoring systems to create the healthiest passenger environment possible. ... Continue reading

Astra Ecoflex is First Choice for Farming Conservation Charity

Very low CO2 emission levels combined with good fuel economy have led leading countryside conservation organisation The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) to select the Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX 1.7 CDTi 16v as its preferred fleet car. ... Continue reading

Stars and Cars Head for Festival as Part of Major Audi Centenary Celebration

Former double world rally champion Walter Röhrl and six-time Le Mans 24 Hour race winner Jacky Ickx will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer to drive two icons of Audi's extensive motorsport heritage. ... Continue reading

NADA Responds to Consumer Reports Survey on Auto Maintenance and Repair Satisfaction

WASHINGTON May 4, 2009; The following is a statement from the National Automobile Dealers Association in response to the Consumer Reports survey on vehicle maintenance and repair satisfaction: The good news is consumers have choices when it comes to auto repair and maintenance. Today's vehicles are becoming increasingl ... Continue reading