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March 2009

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Initial Thoughts on Obama's Moves - EDITORIAL

Initial Thoughts on Obama's Moves - EDITORIAL

By Marc J. Rauch Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher SACRAMENTO – March 30, 2009 (11:30AM EDT) – I agree with and applaud most of what Barak Obama said this morning in his national broadcast. However, I disagree with a couple of items. Firstly, I don’t believe that either General Motors or Chrysler have ac ... Continue reading

Sigma Motorworks, Inc Announces Electric Sports Car Prototype

Sigma Motorworks, Inc Announces Electric Sports Car Prototype

DARIEN, Conn., March 30 -- Sigma Motorworks, Inc, an US-based development stage company, announced the final construction stage of its electric sports car prototype, the Sigma GTE. The GTE brings up innovative features in its electric drive system. The car is powered by two Advance Motors DC motors connected directly ( ... Continue reading

Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and 2008 Fiscal Year Results

Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and 2008 Fiscal Year Results

EXETER, Pa., March 30 -- Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc., a leading distributor and marketer of automotive aftermarket accessories and equipment in North America, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and 2008 fiscal year ended January 3, 2009. Highlights include: -- For the fiscal year ended Ja ... Continue reading

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on American automotive industry

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on American automotive industry

ROME, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the American automotive industry: "I am committed to revitalizing the American auto industry and helping manufacturing communities create new jobs to rebuild local economies. For hardest hit workers ... Continue reading

NADA Urges Obama Administration to Increase Auto Credit Flow to Consumers and Dealers Immediately

NADA Urges Obama Administration to Increase Auto Credit Flow to Consumers and Dealers Immediately

WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from the Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), John McEleney, in response to Obama Announcement on Auto Industry: "We are encouraged by President Obama's commitment to putting the domestic auto industry back on the ro ... Continue reading

SORL Auto Parts Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results

SORL Auto Parts Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results

Reports 13% Increase in Revenues and 15% Increase in Diluted EPS for 2008 ZHEJIANG, China, March 30 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- 2008 Financial Highlights: -- Revenue increased 13.1% year-over-year to US$130.9 million -- Gross profit margin increased to 25.7% compared with 23.3% a year ago -- Net income rose 15.1% ye ... Continue reading

JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha St. Louis Results

JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha St. Louis Results

<b>Josh Grant returns to the podium at the Edward Jones Dome</b> HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. March 22, 2009: The first supercross race held in St. Louis's Edward Jones Dome was on April 27, 1996 and was won by a young racer named Jeff Emig. 13 years later, Emig, now an announcer for SPEED, was on hand calling the action along w ... Continue reading

Yokohama Tire Corporation-Sponsored Cameron Steele Takes Second in SNORE Mint 400

Yokohama Tire Corporation-Sponsored Cameron Steele Takes Second in SNORE Mint 400

FULLERTON, CA March 30, 2009: Amid the glitz of Las Vegas, Cameron Steele had the grit to battle through brake and other mechanical glitches to place second overall and second in the Unlimited Truck class in the March 28 SNORE (Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts) Mint 400. Riding on Yokohama 37-inch Geolandar A/T-SÂ ... Continue reading

Famous Dave's Corner at The Milwaukee Mile Brings Together Racing and Great BBQ In An Affordable, All-Inclusive Package

Famous Dave's Corner at The Milwaukee Mile Brings Together Racing and Great BBQ In An Affordable, All-Inclusive Package

<b>“All-You-Can Eat” Section Including Race Ticket Just Got A Whole Lot Tastier; Discount Pricing For Groups of 10 or More</b> West Allis, Wis. March 30, 2009: Famous Dave’s BBQ will add some mouth-watering barbeque to the hot on-track action in 2009 at The Milwaukee Mile in a unique all-inclusive, track ... Continue reading

Pep Boys' Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call to Be Broadcast on Investorcalendar.com

Pep Boys' Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call to Be Broadcast on Investorcalendar.com

PHILADELPHIA--The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack , the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket service and retail chain, will broadcast its fourth quarter earnings conference call live on Thursday, April 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference call will be broadcast over the Internet at http://www.investorcalendar.co ... Continue reading

IndyCar Series Notes - March 30, 2009

IndyCar Series Notes - March 30, 2009

Luczo Dragon, Team 3G ready to battle established teams: As the IndyCar Series prepares to throw the green flag on the 2009 season, not only are four rookies expected to compete, but two of those rookies are with teams entering their first full season of competition. Raphael Matos will drive the No. 2 entry for Luczo D ... Continue reading

Stoner Dominates Final MotoGP Pre-season Test At Jerez

Stoner Dominates Final MotoGP Pre-season Test At Jerez

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, March 30, 2009 – Casey Stoner completed a clean sweep of three official MotoGP preseason tests, leading the final tune-up for the 2009 season with a dominant performance March 28-29 at Jerez, Spain. 2007 MotoGP World Champion Stoner cemented his status as the series front-runner entering this ... Continue reading

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Statement on Obama Administration Plan for Viable Domestic Auto Industry

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Statement on Obama Administration Plan for Viable Domestic Auto Industry

WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after President Obama announced the Administration's plan for a viable domestic automotive industry: "I share President Obama's goal of a viable and competitive domestic automotive industry, which is an essential p ... Continue reading

President Obama's Remarks on U.S. Auto Industry

President Obama's Remarks on U.S. Auto Industry

This morning the President announced that his Auto Task Force has completed its evaluation of the viability of General Motors and Chrysler in light of their requests for federal assistance. In addition to releasing the viability assessments, he also released a new policy with the American government guaranteeing warran ... Continue reading

GM Statement On Auto Industry Restructuring

GM Statement On Auto Industry Restructuring

DETROIT, March 30 -- Today's announcement by President Obama begins a new era for the U.S. auto industry. It also marks a defining moment in the history of General Motors. The U.S. Treasury will provide working capital financing for GM for 60 days while GM completes a more accelerated and aggressive restructuring to pu ... Continue reading

Stewart Secures Best Finish for SHR at Martinsville

Stewart Secures Best Finish for SHR at Martinsville

Martinsville, march 30, 2009: Tony Stewart scored Stewart-Haas Racing’s first top-10 finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with a solid eighth-place effort. It took just five more races for the driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS to score the ... Continue reading

Goodyear Aviation Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Goodyear Aviation Celebrates 100th Anniversary

AKRON, Ohio, March 30 -- Back in 1903, the Wright Brothers made history with their first successful flight in a self-powered airplane at Kitty Hawk, N.C. In the years that followed, they made great progress in the air, but getting back on the ground was still challenging. Their sled-runner style of landing gear - not t ... Continue reading

Team Falken Tire will debut its Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at Long Beach.

Team Falken Tire will debut its Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at Long Beach.

Braselton, March 30, 2009: Falken Tire Corporation has officially announced a GT2 program for the American Le Mans Series that will see the Fontana, Calif.-based team entering a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for selected events this season. Team Falken Tire will compete at Long Beach, Petit Le Mans and the Monterey Sports Car Ch ... Continue reading

Runner-up Finish Lifts Coughlin To Second Place In Points

Runner-up Finish Lifts Coughlin To Second Place In Points

HOUSTON March 29, 2009: Jeg Coughlin Jr. had the 43rd win of his career in hand after crushing final-round opponent Ron Krisher at the starting line with a massive .025 to .116-second reaction time advantage, but mechanical issues slowed his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt just before halftrack, giving the win to his opponen ... Continue reading

Toyota Motorsports Notes - Martinsville - March 30, 2009

Toyota Motorsports Notes - Martinsville - March 30, 2009

Chesterfield, Va.-native Denny Hamlin earned the top-finish (second) by a Toyota Camry in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin led the most laps (296 of 500 laps) in today's race. There were 14 Camrys that started Sunday's race - the most since Toyota joined the seri ... Continue reading

Chrysler Statement in Response to the Announcement by the Administration

Chrysler Statement in Response to the Announcement by the Administration

Remarks Attributed to Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO, Bob Nardelli AUBURN HILLS - March 30, 2009: Today marks an important milestone for Chrysler LLC. We are encouraged by the commitments of the Administration, U.S. Treasury and President’s Auto Task Force to the American automobile industry and Chrysler’s via ... Continue reading

BBD To Get Compensated $981 Mln By Daimler

BBD To Get Compensated $981 Mln By Daimler

BBD to get compensated $981 mln by Daimler http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009797/BBD-to-get-compensated-981-mln- by-Da imler.html Shanghai, March 30 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing Benz Daimler (BBD, ex-BBDC), a joint venture between Beijing Auto and Daimler Ag, will receive 6.7 billion yuan ($981 million) in compensation from ... Continue reading

Shanghai GKN Drive Shaft To Build NE China Plant

Shanghai GKN Drive Shaft To Build NE China Plant

Shanghai GKN Drive Shaft to build NE China plant http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009801/Shanghai-GKN-Drive-Shaft-to-bui ld-NE -China-plant.html Shanghai, March 30 (Gasgoo.com) Shanghai GKN Drive Shaft Co., Ltd. (SDS) will build a 500-million-yuan manufacturing base of drive shafts in northeastern Chinese city of Chang ... Continue reading

Dongfeng Motor To Launch First Hybrid Model In '09

Dongfeng Motor To Launch First Hybrid Model In '09

Dongfeng Motor to launch first hybrid model in '09 http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009799/Dongfeng-Motor-to-launch-first- hybri d-model-in-09.html Shanghai, March 30 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Motor Group Co, China's third-biggest automaker, said it plans to launch its own-brand hybrid car model this year, Reuters reported ... Continue reading

DealerTrack Schedules Release of First Quarter 2009 Results and Conference Call

DealerTrack Schedules Release of First Quarter 2009 Results and Conference Call

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. today announced that it will release its first quarter 2009 financial results before the market opens on May 8, 2009. A conference call will be hosted by Mark F. O’Neil, chairman and chief executive officer, and Eric Jacobs, senior vice president and chief financial o ... Continue reading

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Schedules Release of Fourth Quarter, Year End Results and Conference Call

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Schedules Release of Fourth Quarter, Year End Results and Conference Call

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 30 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. today announced it will release fiscal 2008 fourth quarter and year end financial results on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 4:30 P.M. (Eastern). Senior management will hold a conference call on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern). To access the live broadcast ... Continue reading

New 2009 Dodge Challenger SE Rallye Earns Its Stripes

New 2009 Dodge Challenger SE Rallye Earns Its Stripes

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 30 -- With six-cylinder fuel efficiency delivering 25 highway mpg and an adaptive five-speed automatic with Auto Stick -- new Challenger SE Rallye builds on the excitement of the new Challenger R/T Classic -- Dodge Challenger SE Rallye features unique design cues including dual body stripes, ... Continue reading

GM Europe Media Statement: The Commitment of the U.S. Administration to Stabilize GM's Future Represents a Positive Development for GM Europe's Restructuring

GM Europe Media Statement: The Commitment of the U.S. Administration to Stabilize GM's Future Represents a Positive Development for GM Europe's Restructuring

Today's announcement from the U.S. Administration affirms that GM will emerge from the present restructuring stronger, leaner and more competitive globally. The news that GM is being strongly backed by the government only strengthens the resolve of the GM European operations in reinventing every part of its business. ... Continue reading

Mazda UK Adds a 'Touch of Red' for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Mazda UK Adds a 'Touch of Red' for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Employees of Mazda UK based on Crossways Industrial Estate in Dartford, Kent, raised over £400 for Ovarian Cancer Awareness on Friday by hosting a 'Wear it Red' Dress Down Day and holding a Make time for TEA party in aid of The Eve Appeal charity, which funds groundbreaking research into gynaecological cancers. ... Continue reading

Monster Motoring Event at Donington Park This Easter

Monster Motoring Event at Donington Park This Easter

Everything about the International Styling and Tuning Show (ISTS) at Donington Park this Easter is big! Biggest modified car show in the UK; Big crowds; Big chance of spotting a celebrity or driving a big power supercar and they don't come much bigger than Big Foot and Thunder Bolt, the Monster Trucks that will be crus ... Continue reading

Hard Times For Indusrty Means Greater Focus On Specialist Car Shows, Says Salon Prive

Hard Times For Indusrty Means Greater Focus On Specialist Car Shows, Says Salon Prive

In the wake of the news that several global car shows have reduced in size or been cancelled completely, many industry commentators are predicting a rise in the role that specialist or 'boutique' shows will provide to the industry in future years. ... Continue reading

Safety Motoring Check Puts Your Mind at Ease

Safety Motoring Check Puts Your Mind at Ease

Before setting off for your next motoring adventure, it makes sense to ensure that your car or MPV is in perfect condition for a safe and trouble-free holiday or trip. ... Continue reading

Correct Car Care Means Value Retention - High Quality Care Agents from Volkswagen Accessories that Are Easy to Use

Correct Car Care Means Value Retention - High Quality Care Agents from Volkswagen Accessories that Are Easy to Use

A high quality care product and the correct use of it are a decisive factor for an optimum cleaning of the car. Volkswagen Accessories offers original Volkswagen care products for the bodywork and interior that retain the value of your vehicle and are also easy to use. Volkswagen Accessories shows you how it works and ... Continue reading

Agila B by Steinmetz

Agila B by Steinmetz

For the next generation Agila, the Steinmetz engineers have taken the 1.2i as the base vehicle and made modifications in key areas. New to the Steinmetz range for the Agila B is the 4-hole alloy wheel ST8 in 17". The 15 spokes in exciting Bicolor design fill the wheelarches to perfection, and form the perfect combinati ... Continue reading

New Agreement to Drive Advanced Automotive R&D And Education Projects In Italy

New Agreement to Drive Advanced Automotive R&D And Education Projects In Italy

GM today, together with Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte, announced an important Accordo di Programma, a frame work agreement on the development of world-leading sustainable mobility, research and education projects in the region. ... Continue reading

Detroit Electric and Proton Announce Strategic Partnership to Produce Affordable and Practical Pure Electric Vehicles

Detroit Electric and Proton Announce Strategic Partnership to Produce Affordable and Practical Pure Electric Vehicles

Detroit Electric to produce and market full line of innovative Pure Electric vehicles in US, UK, EU and China beginning 2010 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Detroit Electric Holdings Ltd and PROTON Holdings Berhad today announced a strategic partnership to mass produce Pure Electric Vehicles ... Continue reading

Japanese automakers worry about GM, Chrysler

Japanese automakers worry about GM, Chrysler

Japanese automakers worry about GM, Chrysler, say collapse would be bad for overall industry TOKYO March 30, 2009; Yuri Kageyama writing for the AP reported that Japanese automakers reacted with anxiety to news that ailing U.S. automakers General Motors and Chrysler had failed to submit acceptable plans to receive more ... Continue reading

GM's Wagner Out - Obama to Give GM 2 Months to Restructure; Chrysler to get 30 days to finish Fiat deal

GM's Wagner Out - Obama to Give GM 2 Months to Restructure; Chrysler to get 30 days to finish Fiat deal

WASHINGTON March 29, 2009; Ken Thomas writing for the AP reported that the White House forced the resignation of General Motors Corp.'s top executive Sunday, on the eve of announcing new aid and a 60-day deadline for the ailing auto giant to restructure. Chrysler LLC will get up to $6 billion and 30 days to complete an ... Continue reading

German Chancellor Visits Opel in Rüsselsheim

German Chancellor Visits Opel in Rüsselsheim

Well more than 100 journalists are expected March 31 at Opel when Federal chancellor Angela Merkel visits the Insignia factory in Rüsselsheim. She will be accompanied by Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung as well as dignitaries from the state of Hessen, including Premiere Roland Koch and Economics Minister Dieter Posch ... Continue reading

Chevrolet Optra Magnum Wins TNS Voice of the Customer Award

Chevrolet Optra Magnum Wins TNS Voice of the Customer Award

General Motors announced that the Chevrolet Optra Magnum has won the TNS Voice of the Customer Award as the 'Best Performing Model' in the Diesel Midsize segment, scoring 99 out of 100 in the TNS Automotive Four-Wheeler Total Customer Satisfaction (2008) Study. ... Continue reading

"Sales Award 2009" for the Audi Center Essen

"Sales Award 2009" for the Audi Center Essen

With its innovative and successful marketing and sales concept the Audi Center Essen has won the "Vertriebs-Award 2009" (Sales Award 2009) amongst 200 German dealerships presented by the trade magazines "kfz-betrieb" and "Gebrauchtwagen Praxis". "This prize shows that Audi not only builds fascinating cars but is equall ... Continue reading

Audi Avant Named "Executive Station Wagon"

Audi Avant Named "Executive Station Wagon"

Audi is the preferred car maker among builders and trade contractors in Germany. The brand was the readers' first choice in both categories for a German-made "Executive Station Wagon of 2009", as surveyed in the trade publications Deutsche Handwerks Zeitung and Handwerk Magazin. While the Audi A4 Avant took the laurels ... Continue reading

Suzuki GB Launches Body and Paint Programme

Suzuki GB Launches Body and Paint Programme

Suzuki GB PLC is pleased to announce the introduction of its Body and Paint programme. The scheme has been initiated to build a network of approved bodyshops where all vehicles are repaired according to Suzuki recommended repair processes and current industry best practice. ... Continue reading

Three Kia Vehicles Commended by MSN Autos for Quality, Space and Comfort

Three Kia Vehicles Commended by MSN Autos for Quality, Space and Comfort

IRVINE, Calif., March 26, 2009 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the 2009 Kia Spectra, Rio5 and Rondo have been included in two MSN Autos Editors’ Top Pick lists. Kia Spectra (LX) and Rio5 are named to the “Top 10 Cars for Less Than $15,000” list and Rondo is a top pick for “Best Famil ... Continue reading

Turbocharged Suzuki SX4s Fly in the Face of Economy

Turbocharged Suzuki SX4s Fly in the Face of Economy

BREA, CA. – American Suzuki Motor Corp. will bring to the New York International Auto Show and the area’s automotive enthusiast community two performance takes on its now well-established volume leaders, the SX4 Crossover and SX4 Sport. In combination with Suzuki’s 2009 production lineup, including the v ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi Signs MoU with the Principality of Monaco Regarding Testing of i MiEV Electric Vehicle

Mitsubishi Signs MoU with the Principality of Monaco Regarding Testing of i MiEV Electric Vehicle

Tokyo, Mar 27, 2009; Following a successful testing exercise conducted in December 2008, the Principality of Monaco, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V. and MC Automobile (Europe) N.V. - a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation - yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding flee ... Continue reading

Valentine's Concourse Carnauba Wax Goes Global

Valentine's Concourse Carnauba Wax Goes Global

Belfast, Northern Ireland March 26, 2009; Launched exclusively for sale in the United Kingdom in November 2009, Valentine's Concours Carnauba wax received immediate praise from motoring press, detailing professionals and individual customers. Despite restricting sales initially to the United Kingdom and Ireland, the co ... Continue reading

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