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July 2007

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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Porsche Commemorates Production of 100,000 Units of Latest 911 Generation

Porsche Commemorates Production of 100,000 Units of Latest 911 Generation

ATLANTA--Porsche continues the amazing success story of its iconic 911 sports car with the 100,000th unit built since production began in April 2004. The landmark was achieved with the latest (997) model produced at the Company’s main plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany. “It is with great pride that we celebrate t ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Plant in Alabama Celebrates Ten Year Production Anniversary with the 'Edition10' Special Edition M-Class

Mercedes-Benz Plant in Alabama Celebrates Ten Year Production Anniversary with the 'Edition10' Special Edition M-Class

- Tuscaloosa plant is the cradle of Mercedes-Benz SUVs - all available with state-of-the-art diesel technology - Number of employees and plant capacity has more than doubled since production launch - More than $1 billion of total investment up to date - Governor Bob Riley, Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche and Plant Director ... Continue reading

Toyota Announces Partnership With the National FFA Foundation

Toyota Announces Partnership With the National FFA Foundation

TORRANCE, Calif., July 11 -- Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and the National FFA Foundation have announced a two year agreement between Toyota and the FFA that marks a significant enhancement to the over 30-year- old partnership. The partnership will allow Toyota's increased participation in FFA activities and will allo ... Continue reading

John Snow, Head of Firm Buying Chrysler, to Address the National Press Club

John Snow, Head of Firm Buying Chrysler, to Address the National Press Club

'How Private Equity Is Reviving U.S. Manufacturing and the Global Economy' WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John Snow, chairman of the company buying Chrysler and former U.S. Treasury Secretary, will discuss the role of private equity in U.S. manufacturing and the global economy at a National Press Club l ... Continue reading

Japanese Automakers Expand Exports, Plant Capacity at Home While Vehicle Sales Inside Japan Hit Record Lows

Japanese Automakers Expand Exports, Plant Capacity at Home While Vehicle Sales Inside Japan Hit Record Lows

WASHINGTON--Japanese domestic auto sales have hit a 30-year low, even while the country’s artificially weak yen helps drive record levels of exports to the U.S., according to the latest auto industry company sales reports. “The huge misalignment of Japan yen – is giving Japanese auto manufacturers an unf ... Continue reading

Gerald L. Shaheen Joins Ford Board of Directors

Gerald L. Shaheen Joins Ford Board of Directors

DEARBORN, Mich., July 11 -- Ford Motor Company announced today the election of Gerald L. Shaheen to the company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Shaheen is a group president at Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Ill. "Gerry is a respected business leader with more than 40 years of service in a variety of managemen ... Continue reading

Honda Dealers Clamor for Fit

Honda Dealers Clamor for Fit

Wshington DC July 11, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that the Fit is in, but Honda dealers are unlikely to get all they want. Dealers will receive about 54,000 units of the Japan-built Fit this year. "But that’s about the best we can do," Dan Bonawitz, VP of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda ... Continue reading

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. Announces Dates for the 2007 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. Announces Dates for the 2007 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company”) announces the release date for second quarter 2007 earnings as Tuesday, July 24, 2007, with a conference call to follow Wednesday, July 25, 2007. The Company’s second quarter 2007 earnings will be released after 5:30 p.m. central time on Tu ... Continue reading

Celadon Group to Release Financial Results and Hold Investor Conference Call

Celadon Group to Release Financial Results and Hold Investor Conference Call

INDIANAPOLIS--Celadon Group Inc. announced today that it will release its fiscal fourth quarter financial results after the close of the market on Wednesday, July 25. The company will hold an investor conference call to discuss the quarter on Thursday, July 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Participants may join the conference by d ... Continue reading

Cooper Tire Names New Investor Relations Director

Cooper Tire Names New Investor Relations Director

FINDLAY, Ohio, July 11 -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has named Curtis Schneekloth as new investor relations director, functioning as a spokesman on financial issues as he communicates with stock market analysts and investors. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010404/COOPERLOGO ) Speaking of the appointment ... Continue reading

Big Excitement for Tiny smart Car

Big Excitement for Tiny smart Car

Washington DC July 11, 2007; The AIADA newsletter reported that prospective buyers are forming a long line to buy a very short car. The Detroit News reports that more than 20,000 people have put down $99 deposits to buy Smart cars, built by DaimlerChrysler AG, when they go on sale in January. "The response has been ove ... Continue reading

NASCAR (MONTREAL) - PATRICK CARPENTIER TO BE SPONSORED BY ZELLERS, KOMATSU, DODGE & CINEMAS GUZZO

NASCAR (MONTREAL) - PATRICK CARPENTIER TO BE SPONSORED BY ZELLERS, KOMATSU, DODGE & CINEMAS GUZZO

MONTREAL Patrick Carpentier officially announced Tuesday at a press conference held in Montreal that he will compete in the inaugural NASCAR Series Busch race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on August 4, 2007. Sitting next to his new sponsors on the podium, the Quebec-born driver made public his plans to race in front of ... Continue reading

NASCAR (DAYTONA) - CURRENT NOTES

NASCAR (DAYTONA) - CURRENT NOTES

McMurray Nears Chase Position<p> Chicagoland Started Gordon’s Top 10 Streak<p> Close Competition Abound In 2007<P> Drivers Participate In Fourth Annual Softball Challenge<p> Around Town: Plenty Of Action Away From The Track<p> <P> McMurray’s Win Propels Him Back Into Chase Contention <P> Jamie McMurray’s ... Continue reading

NHRA (LAS VEGAS) - SPORT FWD BRINGS DRIVERS OUT

NHRA (LAS VEGAS) - SPORT FWD BRINGS DRIVERS OUT

No other head-to-head category in the NHRA Xpl&#333;d Sport Compact Racing Series will have more cars competing in the Las Vegas NHRA Sport Compact Nationals this weekend, July 13-14, than UrbanRacer.Com Sport FWD. This has been historically true due to the close proximity of teams in the western region of the United S ... Continue reading

INDYCAR (INDIANAPOLIS) - INDY RACING LEAGUE PENALIZES TEAMS, DRIVERS AND OTHERS

INDYCAR (INDIANAPOLIS) - INDY RACING LEAGUE PENALIZES TEAMS, DRIVERS AND OTHERS

The Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series, today announced penalties for the teams, drivers and non-uniformed hard card credential holders involved in a post-race altercation on pit road immediately following the IndyCar Series Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix on July 8. Team Penske and A ... Continue reading

GRAND AM (DAYTONA) - Fogarty, Gurney Gunning For Consecutive Win Record

GRAND AM (DAYTONA) - Fogarty, Gurney Gunning For Consecutive Win Record

Since the establishment of the class in 2003, no team has captured four consecutive Daytona Prototype races in Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve competition, but co-drivers Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney of the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley are eyeing history thi ... Continue reading

NASCAR BCS (CHICAGO) - GANASSI RACE PREVIEW

NASCAR BCS (CHICAGO) - GANASSI RACE PREVIEW

Reed Sorenson and the No. 41 Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Dodge Team Facts: · Take Me Out to the Ball Game: After they are done racing at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) drivers Reed Sorenson, David Stremme and Juan Pablo Montoya will head out to Wrigley Field to take ... Continue reading

Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan Tops LeaseTrader.com Index for Second Straight Month

Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan Tops LeaseTrader.com Index for Second Straight Month

Index monitors the most popular transferred lease vehicles in America MIAMI, July 11 -- LeaseTrader.com, the company that helps consumers transfer in and out of their car lease, announces its monthly Index for June, with the Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan topping the list for the second straight month. (Logo: http://www.new ... Continue reading

EaglePicher Corporation Retains Credit Suisse to Explore Refinancing Options

EaglePicher Corporation Retains Credit Suisse to Explore Refinancing Options

INKSTER, Mich., July 11 -- EaglePicher Corporation (EaglePicher) today announced that it has engaged Credit Suisse to act as its advisor in evaluating refinancing opportunities. EaglePicher's agreement to sell EP Boron should enable the company to favorably refinance its existing debt. EP Boron is an EaglePicher compan ... Continue reading

Palladium Equity Partners Makes $10 Million Commitment to Starfire Systems

Palladium Equity Partners Makes $10 Million Commitment to Starfire Systems

NEW YORK and MALTA, N.Y., July 11 -- Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, and Starfire Systems, Inc., a leading global developer and manufacturer of nanostructured advanced ceramic materials and finished products, today announced that Palladium has committed to invest up to $10 million ... Continue reading

Summer Fun on the Open Road: Prepare Your Vehicle for Summer Road Trips with Tips

Summer Fun on the Open Road: Prepare Your Vehicle for Summer Road Trips with Tips

ATLANTA--The summer season is filled with many fun activities - trips to the neighborhood pool, picnics and amusement park visits – but one summertime favorite is packing up the car and hitting the open road. Before heading out, Kit Johnson, NAPA’s 2007 Technician of the Year from East Helena, Montana, offers ... Continue reading

Progressive’s Direct Business Lowers Auto Insurance Rates in Colorado Seven Times since 2003

Progressive’s Direct Business Lowers Auto Insurance Rates in Colorado Seven Times since 2003

DENVER--The Direct Business of the Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, which sells insurance by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737) and online at progressive.com, announced today that it is lowering auto insurance premiums in Colorado by an average of 5.2 percent for new and renewing customers effective J ... Continue reading

Ceradyne, Inc. Acquires Raw Materials Supplier Minco, Inc.

Ceradyne, Inc. Acquires Raw Materials Supplier Minco, Inc.

COSTA MESA, Calif.--Ceradyne, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Minco, Inc. in Midway, Tennessee, for approximately $27.5 million in cash. Minco was founded in 1977 to manufacture and market fused silica powders for a wide range of industrial applications. Minco’s fusing process, which is the basis of its ... Continue reading

High Net Worth Individuals Rank "Luxury Collectibles" as Top on List of ``Investments of Passion''

High Net Worth Individuals Rank "Luxury Collectibles" as Top on List of ``Investments of Passion''

NEW YORK--As the world’s 9.5 million High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) develop an increasingly more global outlook with diversified interests, “investments of passion” have become an important portfolio allocation, according to the 2007 World Wealth Report, issued recently by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini ... Continue reading

GM Europe Works to Increase "Green" Efforts, Decrease CO2 Emissions - VIDEO STORY

GM Europe Works to Increase "Green" Efforts, Decrease CO2 Emissions - VIDEO STORY

BERLIN - July 11, 2007: As concerns over global warming continue to increase, General Motors Europe has unveiled a new environmental strategy aimed at decreasing and eventually eliminating CO2 emissions. Under its short-term plan, GM’s Opel/Vauxhall will introduce an ecoFLEX variant that emits lower CO2 levels in ... Continue reading

Nissan Opens New European Field Quality Center

Nissan Opens New European Field Quality Center

TRAPPES, France, July 11 -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced the official opening of a state-of-the-art field quality centre (FQC) at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe located in Cranfield, Bedfordshire in the UK. Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070711/264680 The new facility, which was built at a ... Continue reading

Continental Automotive Systems to Build an Engineering Center in Shanghai, China

Continental Automotive Systems to Build an Engineering Center in Shanghai, China

Asia Headquarters office to move to the new location in 2009 SHANGHAI, China, July 10 -- The Automotive Systems Division of the international automotive supplier Continental AG has announced plans to build a dedicated Engineering Center in Shanghai, China. As outlined during the signing ceremony held in Shanghai today, ... Continue reading

Mini Coopers to Heavy-Duty Pickups - Feature Electronic Stability Control from TRW Automotive

Mini Coopers to Heavy-Duty Pickups - Feature Electronic Stability Control from TRW Automotive

LIVONIA, Mich., July 10 -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. - the global leader in active and passive safety systems - has announced that it is supplying its Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system to several new vehicles, including the MINI Cooper and Cooper S hardtops, the Saab 9-3, and various General Motors heavy-du ... Continue reading

HUMMER.com Ranks Highest in Usefulness to New-Vehicle Shoppers Among Manufacturer Web Sites

HUMMER.com Ranks Highest in Usefulness to New-Vehicle Shoppers Among Manufacturer Web Sites

Redesigned Web Sites Can Bounce Back from Initial Stumbles in Visitor Satisfaction WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 10 -- HUMMER.com earns the highest ranking among automotive manufacturer Web sites for usefulness in new- vehicle shopping, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation S ... Continue reading

President Bush Views Fuel Cell Powered Lift Truck at GrafTech Facility Near Cleveland

President Bush Views Fuel Cell Powered Lift Truck at GrafTech Facility Near Cleveland

PARMA, Ohio, July 10 -- President George W. Bush today viewed a demonstration of a fuel cell powered lift truck while touring the GrafTech International Ltd. facility in Parma, Ohio. GrafTech manufactures graphite material for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power unit made by Cellex Power Products Inc., a ... Continue reading

Winnebago Itasca Travelers Club Hosts Week-Long Tailgate Party at Annual Grand National Rally

Winnebago Itasca Travelers Club Hosts Week-Long Tailgate Party at Annual Grand National Rally

FOREST CITY, Iowa--It’s the ultimate tailgate party at the 38th annual Winnebago-Itasca Travelers (WIT) Club Grand National Rally! Winnebago Industries, Inc. will welcome home approximately 1,450 Winnebago and Itasca owners to Forest City July 15-20 for a week-long celebration full of seminars, games, entertainmen ... Continue reading

Federal Settlement Targets Illegal Emission Control 'Defeat Devices' Sold for Autos

Federal Settlement Targets Illegal Emission Control 'Defeat Devices' Sold for Autos

Company Will Pay Penalties and Recall Devices WASHINGTON, July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today a landmark settlement requiring Casper's Electronics, of Mundelein, Ill., to pay a penalty and stop selling devices that allow cars to rel ... Continue reading

Liberty Renewable Fuels Gives Michigan Chance to Invest in Ethanol

Liberty Renewable Fuels Gives Michigan Chance to Invest in Ethanol

ITHACA, Mich., July 10 -- Liberty Renewable Fuels, LLC, announced today it is giving local investors an opportunity to help drive America's energy independence by investing in Michigan's largest ethanol plant, a 110 million gallon a year project near Ithaca, in Gratiot County. "We are thrilled to have progressed to thi ... Continue reading

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