Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - (Page 27) SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 • 27 July auto output was up in Japan TOKYO — July production by Japan’s automakers rose 24.1 percent compared with July 2007 to 1.09 million vehicles as output rose to meet demand in Asia and emerging markets. It was the 12th straight monthly increase and followed a 4.5 percent gain in June. In July, car production grew 25.9 percent to 929,343 vehicles, while truck production increased 11.1 percent to 144,581 units. Exports rose 20.3 percent to 619,174 vehicles, the 36th straight monthly increase. Domestic shipments rose 3.6 percent to 454,594 vehicles. Remembering Phil Hill, racing’s modest giant Denise McCluggage Race driver Phil Hill died Thursday, Aug. 28, in a Monterey, Calif., hospital as a result of respiratory problems complicated by Parkinson’s disease. He was 81. Whenever I say that my friend Phil Hill was one of the most underrated drivers of his time, I get disbelief: “But he was the only native-born American to be world champion! He was one of the best endurance sports-car drivers ever. He won Le Mans, Sebring and Argentina three times each.” All true, but I think Phil’s real greatness, like Wordsworth’s “violet by a mossy stone,” was half hidden, obscured by circumstances and his own moderate assessment of himself. Before the Grand Prix of Italy at Monza, the last race of his 1961 championship season, he led by only one point. Shooting off the line, he claimed a lead he never lost. But his good friend, teammate and rival Wolfgang von Trips, crashed on the second lap, rushing to make up for a botched start, and died. Thus, some dismiss Phil’s championship as the comment Journalist and race driver Denise McCluggage is a senior contributing editor at AutoWeek. result of tragic happenstance. From early childhood, he would loudly identify every passing car. He got his first car, a Model T, at age 12. At a time when American racing was hardly considered a sport and European road racing had cult status, Phil read everything available on the subject and became a student of world racing history. When he was competing with some of his heroes, such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, he felt “horribly inferior.” Should they appear behind him, he said, “I’d just get out of the way.” Although he gained confidence with repeated successes, he was never his own best advocate. Phil was a driver’s driver, known for Mulally to speak at gadget show DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. CEO Allan Mulally will deliver the keynote address at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. Mulally’s appearance illustrates the convergence of the auto and electronics industries. In a keynote address there last year, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner unveiled the Cadillac Provoq, a concept fuel cell crossover. Wagoner was the first auto CEO to deliver the keynote speech in the show’s 41-year history. his ability to overcome agonizing driving conditions — biblical rains and oven-hot cars — and for his general kindness to machinery. His mechanic’s sensibilities enabled him to nurse ailing cars to a finish. Alas, that ability did not boost his reputation with the general public. Colleagues, when confronted with a car going sour while leading, might hold their pace. If the car died, it was the car’s failure. Phil would baby his car and drift back in the field. The public better understood dramatic DNFs. Phil’s talents also were evident in the absence of disaster. In an era in which driver deaths were perhaps a weekly occurrence, Phil was never seriously injured and scored only three minor “events” in his entire career. For someone who judged both social gatherings and business meetings by how tension-free they were, driving for the Ferrari team was a masochist’s delight. He survived that, too. He also drove Jaguar, Ford, Chaparral, Cooper and MG. He won his very first race in his MG TC (1947) and his very last (1967) in a Chaparral at Brands Hatch. Phil Hill: So low-key it was possible to miss how good he really was. Beyond racing, Phil Hill was one of the most complicated, interesting and entertaining people one could know. His interests ranged from oldcar restoration, player pianos and opera to the absurdities of human behavior, and he brought to each a unique perspective. AUTO ADS Spending plunges; TV, print hit hard continued from Page 1 Ad spending heads south U.S. ad spending by automakers and dealers per new vehicle sold has declined steadily since peaking in 2004. $1,400 Advertising dollars per vehicle sold GM picks Volt battery supplier DETROIT — After more than a year testing lithium ion batteries for the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors has decided on a supplier — which it won’t identify. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters last week that GM will announce the battery maker this year. He wouldn’t say if GM will buy batteries from Compact Power Inc. or Continental Automotive Systems. Last summer, GM awarded development contracts to both companies. Both make lithium ion batteries for consumer electronics. Volt production is scheduled to begin in November 2010. In July, General Motors said it plans to reduce its ad budget by an undisclosed amount. Last year, GM spent $2.1 billion on U.S. advertising, TNS estimates. The company cut its ad spending by nearly $1 billion from mid-2005 through 2007, TNS says. $1,200 their largest ad medium — dropped nearly 10 percent from the first quarter of 2007, TNS says. Nelson Bliss, general manager of Melody Toyota in suburban San Francisco, says the dealership cut its ad budget this year from as much as $50,000 a month to $33,000. About 80 percent of the budget now goes to the Internet, he says. $1,000 ‘I don’t use TV’ $800 Backing away from big events GM has dropped its ad sponsorships of such marquee events as the Academy Awards and this month’s Emmy Awards. GM plans major online ad campaigns for new models such as the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse crossover and 2010 Cadillac CTS wagon. GM marketing spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato says the company looks at direct consumer engagement to assess its return on ad spending. The payback from digital investments is easier to measure than that of traditional mass media, she says. “Where are we getting the biggest bang for our buck?” Cusinato said. “Digital has the advantage of better metrics. And you can tailor the message and be at the place where customers are.” Chrysler LLC also is “making a conscious effort to shift to the Internet” to promote vehicles, says spokeswoman Carrie McElwee. She says Chrysler will go heavily online in the launch campaign for the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram pickup, which arrives in showrooms this month.
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - September 1, 2008 Automotive News - September 1, 2008 'Mr. Big Volume' hit again Auto ad spending plummets American Axle to grow outside U.S. Nissan, Renault aim to share more parts Steven Ribet joins Automotive News in Shanghai Salaried workers face the ax Asbury to challenge verdict Lutz wants loan guarantees VW passes Ford as No. 3 global seller in 1st half Suzuki in disguise Dodge hopes smooth ride of coil springs will distinguish Ram Candidates split on union organizing bill Check in the mail? Toyota, Ford can tell 10 CTS stays true to concept GM shifts some vehicle design work to U.S. Infiniti may add cars, big and small BMW slashes production of big engines Toyota cuts sales forecast Chrysler: Viper lures suitors Honda hybrid plan bets big on small cars Ford starts L-M consolidation meetings Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands U.S. loans could make sense, but can't be a bailout Wanna buy a car? Wanna buy a brand? PPG story recalls Exner's Imperial Toyota goofed on Scion; is Prius next? Editor grows up; import vet pleased Field reps blamed for GM's problems Honda Insight engine isn't noiseless Trucks, Vette fine; rest of GM, blah Reynolds to dealers: Replace aging servers by year end Saddle up! Dem delegates honor slain Arkansas dealer Kia makes a mark of its own Koreans step up; Indians step cautiously; Chinese step back The next batch of new Hyundais: Smaller, more fuel efficient To give fuel economy a boost, Hyundai spends big on r&d U.S. plans fizzle for most Chinese vehicles Mahindra delays U.S. retail launch until 4th quarter of '09 Dealers Personnel Despite tough times, Galpin profits by pimping rides Web service leads grow Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire Remembering Phil Hill, racing's modest giant Mulally to speak at gadget show GM picks Volt battery supplier Split verdict in fraud case July auto output was up in Japan Bob Fisher Dems reopen the CAFE Hummer, king of the desert? MG remains a no-show in North America Mustang silly Protests could bring ta-ta from Tata The politicians (and I) need a new road map Welburn's design journey began in Philly Automotive News - September 1, 2008 Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - American Axle to grow outside U.S. (Page 1) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - American Axle to grow outside U.S. (Page 2) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Suzuki in disguise (Page 3) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - 10 CTS stays true to concept (Page 4) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - 10 CTS stays true to concept (Page 5) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Chrysler: Viper lures suitors (Page 6) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Chrysler: Viper lures suitors (Page 7) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now (Page 8) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now (Page 9) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands (Page 10) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands (Page 11) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Field reps blamed for GM's problems (Page 12) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Field reps blamed for GM's problems (Page 13) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Trucks, Vette fine; rest of GM, blah (Page 14) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Saddle up! (Page 15) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Dem delegates honor slain Arkansas dealer (Page 16) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Koreans step up; Indians step cautiously; Chinese step back (Page 17) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - To give fuel economy a boost, Hyundai spends big on r&d (Page 18) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Mahindra delays U.S. retail launch until 4th quarter of '09 (Page 19) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Personnel (Page 20) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 21) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 22) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 23) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 24) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire (Page 25) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire (Page 26) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - July auto output was up in Japan (Page 27) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Bob Fisher (Page 28) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Bob Fisher (Page 29) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 30) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 31) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 32)
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