Automotive News - June 23, 2008 - (Page 30)

30 • JUNE 23, 2008 RV sales drop 8.5% in April Wholesale shipments of towable RVs and motor homes fell 8.5 percent in April from a year earlier to 31,400, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Travel trailers, the largest segment of the RV market, fell 7.3 percent to 16,600 units. That helped drag shipments of all towable RVs down 6.8 percent to 27,400. Motor home shipments dropped 18.4 percent to 4,000. Shipments of RV wholesale deliveries, April & 4 months April 2008 April 2007 Percent change 4 months 2008 4 months 2007 Percent change Travel trailers 16,600 Travel trailers-fifth wheel 7,100 Folding camping trailers 3,100 Truck campers 600 Towable RV total 27,400 Conventional (Type A) 1,800 Van campers (Type B) 300 Mini (Type C) 1,900 Motor home total 4,000 Shipments to RV retailers 31,400 Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association 17,900 7,500 3,300 700 29,400 2,800 200 1,900 4,900 34,300 –7.3 –5.3 –6.1 –14.3 ± 6.8 –35.7 50.0 – ± 18.4 ± 8.5 60,100 27,200 9,400 2,300 99,000 7,700 900 6,400 15,000 114,000 64,800 29,800 11,100 2,700 108,400 11,800 1,200 6,500 19,500 127,900 –7.3 –8.7 –15.3 –14.8 ± 8.7 –34.7 –25.0 –1.5 ± 23.1 ± 10.9 Hyundai plans Elantra hybrid for Korea in ’09 Gary Anglebrandt autonews@crain.com Type A motor homes slumped 35.7 percent to 1,800. RV shipments through April declined 10.9 percent from the yearearlier period to 114,000. The totals do not include conver- sion vehicles. Last October, the RV association stopped including those in its monthly shipment totals. Manufacturers of conversion vehicles have cut ties with the association. — Andrew Grossman SEOUL — Hyundai Motor Co. plans to launch a hybrid version of the Elantra sedan next year in Korea. The Avante, the Elantra’s name in Korea, will be the first hybrid vehicle to be produced, the company said in a press release. Hyundai hybrid strategy for the United States will be revealed at the Los Angeles auto show in November, spokesman Oles Gadacz said. The Avante hybrid is powered by liquefied petroleum gas, which is Liquefied petroleum gas will fuel the hybrid Elantra, called the Avante in Korea. mainly propane or a mix of propane and butane. Liquefied petroleum gas is an inexpensive fuel used in China, Australia and some European countries, such as Italy. Hyundai plans a gasoline hybrid in 2010 and larger hybrid vehicles later. Hybrids use an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors to power the wheels. The Avante will use lithium ion batteries, which are lighter and more powerful than nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the Toyota Prius hybrid. Hyundai predicts hybrid sales of at least 50,000 in the first full year of sales in Korea. Exports could begin as soon as 2010. So far, only next year’s domestic launch has been announced. Plans also are in the works for a fuel cell car to be launched in 2012. Fuel cell cars are powered by electricity produced on board with hydrogen fuel. Since 2004, Hyundai has supplied about 3,000 hybrid versions of its Getz and Accent small cars to government fleets as part of a testing program. Apart from that, Hyundai usually points to the government as a problem. Korea lacks tax benefits for consumers who buy hybrids, but Hyundai expects the tax situation to change next year. c Bosch-Samsung venture to make lithium batteries Gary Anglebrandt autonews@crain.com SEOUL — Robert Bosch GmbH and the South Korean company Samsung SDI plan to manufacture lithium ion batteries for use in hybrid vehicles globally. The 50-50 joint venture, SB LiMotive Co. Ltd., is to start in September, pending regulatory approval. Bosch and Samsung SDI initially will invest $10 million apiece, with $500 million to follow over the next four to five years, said Seo Hae-soo, a Samsung SDI spokesman. The goal: Grab 30 percent of the hybrid battery market. The deal was signed in Germany this month and announced in Korea on June 16. A plant location is being sought; factory capacity details were undisclosed. The factory would produce battery cells first, and pack units of batteries are planned for 2011, Seo said. Samsung SDI, a division of Samsung Electronics, produces lithium ion batteries for manufacturers of laptops, mobile phones and power tools. Automotive News Europe reported that Samsung supplies batteries for Bosch power tools. c http://autonews.com/green http://autonews.com/green

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - June 23, 2008

TRW exec: We're in the 'sweet spot' for growth 'Like house of cards,' used trucks fall Detroit 3 a big drag in global supplier race Ford rethinks big-block V-8 plan Looters and broken levees Plastech's Brown stands to get $9.25 million Lawmakers: Redo roof rule Hunt takes job at Gallup Lawmakers urge roof rule rewrite Webinar offers tips on going green Lawmakers: Redo roof rule Webasto sees more demand for retractable hard tops Why small isn't always big To move metal, hire an Ironman Chevy limits ZR1 Corvette to top dealers Lithium ion battery is key to hybrid growth With Russia hot, Ford will boost Europe production BMW exec: We can grow in U.S. The man who put the wind in GM's sales GM's parts ordering comes down to Earth More Fits for U.S. in fall GM: Volt buyers deserve tax credit Mercedes exec seeks more exclusive technology from suppliers Bosch, Mahle execs to lead turbo venture Supplier personnel ZF moves steering operations in Ky. Slowing Volvo, Saab add to Sweden's industry woes Feds: Drivers don't have to hang up phones Magna eyes new growth strategy: Powertrain-driveline modules Alleged sales scam snares Ohio dealers GM center troubleshoots IT in plants around the world Senator: Plants have capacity for plug-ins Lots of talk but little to show Going green pays off The Detroit 3 are smart to cut sales to fleets Drop Mercury? No; Ford needs it Awareness isn't GM's problem Leno was off base in bashing U.S. cars Roofs, rollovers and reckless driving Big-truck sales fall 15.2% in May Serra deal reflects GM channel strategy No. 2 vehicle hauler to go out of business Chinese company's car looks a lot like a Mini Honda taps star power for fuel cell car Dealer wanted media attention — and got it Dealers European sales dip 7.8% in May Merger gives Hughes Telematics a cash boost Mexico sales bounce back in April Suzuki dealers test system to turn Web leads into sales Bosch-Samsung venture to make lithium batteries Hyundai plans Elantra hybrid for Korea in '09 RV sales drop 8.5% in April Japan’s best-kept secret Utilities join automakers for plug-in r&d Ford likely to build '11 Focus at 2 plants Glut of '08 Ford F-150s delays launch of '09s '09 Porsche SUV prices rise Ford calls off Ohio plant sale Ford idles Mich. truck plant CarMax net earnings decline Dodge Journeys recalled 2009 Chrysler hybrid SUVs start at $45,340 GOP: Climate bills would make $4 gas look cheap EVs on eBay: It's all the rage In terms of market value, the General is a buck private Sign of the times: Hummer store to be used-car lot Bob Stempel's legacy is the future Flying 1 series? It's BMW's joke Dealer hurt in sky-dive navigates the road to recovery Opel car recognizes signs; BMW plans similar system JCI, Magna unit buy main parts of Plastech The little engines that could Suppliers to the 2008 Dodge Viper

Automotive News - June 23, 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.