Automotive News - June 9, 2008 - (Page 31)

JUNE 9, 2008 • 31 Audi’s U.S. chief: Brand can handle high gas prices Craig Trudell autonews@crain.com DETROIT — Audi is well positioned to weather the recent rise in fuel prices, its top American executive said. But the German luxury brand is still pondering whether U.S. manufacturing is the answer to its currency exchange rate problems, said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president of Audi of America Inc. De Nysschen said the automaker doesn’t expect to change plans for its product mix even though gasoline and diesel prices have doubled in the past few years. That’s because the luxury sector hasn’t seen the same dramatic shift in buying behavior as the overall market, he said. “If the current fuel price environment continues to stay this way — and all indications are that even if it improves, it won’t improve by much — we could begin to see shifts in buying behaviors in the U.S.,” de Nysschen told a group of Automotive News editors and reporters here. The compact A3 is Audi’s cheapest model. De Nysschen said the segment for the A3 and other small luxury cars is in its infancy and could gain momentum as customers pursue fuel efficiency. Audi has seen the biggest impact from higher fuel prices in the luxury SUV sector. The Q5, a compact luxury SUV that will go on sale next year, should fill a growing demand for the Denver, Aurora, Colo.; Manheim Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Minn.; Manheim Pittsburgh, Cranberry Township, Pa.; Manheim San Antonio, San Antonio; Southern Auto Auction, East Windsor, Conn.; Tri-State Auto Auction, Cicero, N.Y. June 12 — Manheim Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio; Manheim Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Va. June 13 — ADESA Sarasota, Tampa, Fla. June 17 — ADESA Golden Gate, Tracy, Calif.; ADESA Indianapolis, Plainfield, Ind.; ADESA Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; ADESA Seattle, Auburn, Wash.; Manheim Arena Illinois, Bolingbrook, Ill.; Manheim Detroit, Carleton, Mich.; Manheim New England, North Dighton, Mass.; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla.; Manheim Philadelphia, Hatfield, Pa.; Manheim Riverside, Riverside, Calif.; Manheim St. Louis, Bridgeton, Mo. Audi of America’s Johan de Nysschen said the small luxurycar segment could gain momentum as customers seek fuel efficiency. smaller SUV segment, de Nysschen said. Scott Keogh, Audi of America’s chief marketing officer, said fuel efficiency is a strength for Audi that consumers can expect to see highlighted by the upcoming ad campaign for the A4. “We think the market is actually Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 11 — ADESA Indianapolis, Plainfield, Ind.; ADESA Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Brasher’s Idaho Auto Auction, Boise, Idaho; Manheim Atlanta, Red Oak, Ga.; Manheim Baltimore-Washington, Elkridge, Md.; Manheim Darlington, Darlington, S.C.; Manheim Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Manheim New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.; Manheim Southern California, Fontana, Calif. June 12 — ADESA Boston, Framingham, Mass.; ADESA Tri-State Auto Auction, Fargo, N.D.; ADESA Seattle, Auburn, Wash.; Manheim Detroit, Carleton, Mich.; Manheim St Louis, Bridgeton, Mo.; Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas; Manheim Pittsburgh, Cranberry Township, Pa. June 16 — Manheim Houston, Houston June 17 — ADESA Birmingham, Moody, Ala.; Columbus Fair Auto Auction, Obetz, Ohio; Manheim Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City; Manheim Minnesota, Shakopee, Minn.; Manheim Utah, West Bountiful, Utah; Southern Auto Auction, East Windsor, Conn. swinging into our sweet spot,” Keogh said. “We have a strong four-cylinder; we have lightweight use of aluminum, and we have fuel efficiency. “I think you’re going to see this with the launch of A4 (small sedan) in September. We have a really strong message on fuel efficiency.” That message will be unique to the A4 at first and then will expand to other products, Keogh said. Audi and its parent, Volkswagen AG, have expressed interest in at least one U.S. manufacturing plant to combat the weaker U.S. dollar. Despite increasing U.S. sales by more than 20 percent in the past three years, Audi still doesn’t sell enough cars in this country to perJune 17 — ADESA Cincinnati Dayton, Franklin, Ohio; Manheim Colorado, Commerce City, Colo.; Manheim Georgia, Atlanta; Manheim Greater Chicago, Matteson, Ill.; Manheim Riverside, Riverside, Calif. suade European suppliers to follow the automaker to the United States. Audi sold 93,506 vehicles in the United States last year. “As we grow our business,” de Nysschen said, “I think we get closer and closer to the point where it may become financially viable to look at local manufacturing, but we aren’t there yet.” It hasn’t been decided whether Volkswagen’s plans for a U.S. assembly plant will include Audi vehicle production, de Nysschen said. VW AG Chairman Martin Winterkorn said last month that the carmaker will decide in mid-July whether it will set up a U.S. assembly plant for the VW brand. c Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Manheim Riverside, Riverside, Calif.; Manheim Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Fla. June 13 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas June 17 — ADESA Cincinnati Dayton, Franklin, Ohio; Manheim Colorado, Commerce City, Colo.; Manheim Georgia, Atlanta; Manheim Greater Chicago, Matteson, Ill.; Manheim Riverside, Riverside, Calif. Acura June 12 — Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas; Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa. Jaguar June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas June 17 — Manheim Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas American Honda Finance Corp. June 10 — ADESA Golden Gate, Tracy, Calif.; ABC Minneapolis, Dayton, Minn.; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. June 11 — ADESA Tri-State Auto Auction, Cicero, N.Y.; Southern Auto Auction, East Windsor, Conn. June 12 — Complete Auto Service, Marysville, Ohio; ADESA Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C. June 13 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 17 — ADESA Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Manheim Detroit, Carleton, Mich. Kia Motors America Inc. June 11 — Manheim Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.; ADESA Concord, Acton, Mass.; Manheim South Seattle, Kent, Wash. June 17 — Manheim St. Louis, Bridgeton, Mo. Saab Financial Services Corp. June 10 — ADESA Indianapolis, Plainfield, Ind.; Manheim Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas June 11 — Manheim Denver, Aurora, Colo. June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 17 — ADESA Boston, Framingham, Mass. Chrysler LLC June 10 — ADESA Atlanta, Fairburn, Ga.; Manheim Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Minn.; Manheim Pittsburgh, Cranberry Township, Pa.; Manheim San Antonio, San Antonio June 11 — Manheim Hawaii, Honolulu; Manheim Riverside, Riverside, Calif.; Manheim St. Louis, Bridgeton, Mo. June 12 — Manheim Arena Illinois, Bolingbrook, Ill.; Manheim Denver, Aurora, Colo.; Manheim Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Va.; ADESA Sarasota, Tampa, Fla. June 16 — ADESA Indianapolis, Plainfield, Ind.; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. June 17 — Manheim Dallas, Dallas; Manheim Phoenix, Tolleson, Ariz. Land Rover North America June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas June 17 — Manheim Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas Subaru of America Inc. June 10 — Manheim Phoenix, Tolleson, Ariz. June 11 — Greensboro Auto Auction, Greensboro, N.C. June 17 — Columbus Fair Auto Auction, Obetz, Ohio Audi Financial Services June 10 — Manheim Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas; Manheim Arena Illinois, Bolingbrook, Ill.; Manheim Toronto, Milton, Ontario June 11 — ADESA Washington, D.C., Dulles, Va.; Manheim Hawaii, Honolulu June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Brasher’s Cascade Auto Auction, Wood Village, Ore. June 17 — ADESA Boston, Framingham, Mass.; Manheim Phoenix, Tolleson, Ariz. Hyundai Motor America June 10 — Manheim Colorado, Commerce City, Colo.; ADESA Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. June 11 — Manheim San Francisco Bay, Hayward, Calif.; Columbus Fair Auto Auction, Obetz, Ohio; Greensboro Auto Auction, Greensboro, N.C. June 12 — Manheim Southern California, Fontana, Calif.; Manheim Texas Hobby, Houston Lexus Financial Services June 9 — Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. June 10 — Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. June 11 — Manheim South Seattle, Kent, Wash. June 12 — Manheim Pensylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 17 — Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. Toyota Financial Services June 10 — Manheim Georgia, Atlanta; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla.; Manheim Statesville, Statesville, N.C. June 11 — Manheim Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.; Manheim South Seattle, Kent, Wash.; Manheim Metro Milwaukee, Caledonia, Wis. June 12 — ADESA Dallas, Mesquite, Texas; ADESA New Jersey, Manville, N.J.; Manheim Arizona, Tolleson, Ariz. June 13 — ADESA Boston, Framingham, Mass.; ADESA Los Angeles, Mira Loma, Calif.; Manheim Pensylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 17 — Manheim Georgia, Atlanta; Manheim Orlando, Ocoee, Fla.; Manheim Statesville, Statesville, N.C. Mercedes-Benz Financial June 10 — Manheim Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas June 11 — ADESA Washington, D.C., Dulles, Va.; Manheim Atlanta, Red Oak, Ga.; Manheim South Seattle, Kent, Wash. June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Manheim Greater Nevada, Las Vegas BMW Financial Services June 11 — ADESA Washington, D.C., Dulles, Va.; South Seattle Auto Auction, Kent, Wash.; Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa. June 12 — Manheim Pennsylvania, Manheim, Pa.; Greater Nevada Auto Auction, Las Vegas June 17 — Florida Auto Auction of Orlando, Ocoee, Fla. Ford Motor Co. June 9 — Manheim Nashville, Mount Juliet, Tenn. June 10 — Manheim Greater Chicago, Matteson, Ill. June 11 — ADESA Boston, Framingham, Mass.; Manheim Metro Detroit, Flat Rock, Mich.; Manheim Texas Hobby, Houston; Manheim Greater Tampa Bay, Tampa, Fla. June 12 — Manheim Denver, Aurora, Colo.; Greensboro Auto Auction, Greensboro, N.C.; Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction, Rio Linda, Calif.; DAA Northwest, Spokane, Wash. June 16 — Manheim Georgia, Atlanta June 17 — Kansas City Auto Auction, Kansas City, Mo.; ADESA Phoenix, Chandler, Ariz.; Manheim South Seattle, Kent, Wash.; Manheim New http://www.mightycure.com http://www.mightycure.com

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Automotive News - June 9, 2008 Hummer Bummer: A death sentence? New F-150, Ram in peril as big pickups collapse Japanese can add small cars faster than Detroit 3 Battery shortage hurts hybrid sales 2 key overseas staffers move to Automotive News in the U.S. Toyota may add Camry to Indiana truck plant Mazda extends warranty on RX-8 rotary engine CAW to consider strike against GM Porsche's new 911 GM plans big ad push for its big hybrid SUVs Chrysler cuts fees to outside service firms 5% Toyota considering 'Made in U.S.A.' Prius Congress, Bush square off over rollover suits GM finance whiz changed the industry GM's big SUVs may get lighter Harbour Report: Chrysler, Toyota most efficient Spring intros can be dicey Ford spends big on MKS ad launch Media buyer for GM cuts 25 jobs Sources: GM poised to buy Cobasys GM dealer program rebounds Mazda updates the RX-8 New Maxima is a tad smaller — but more buff Congress must balance safety, mpg concerns Is the gas crisis real or just temporary? What about poor driving? There's no substitute for safe driving Lack of regulation foils safety laws Sticker law cleaned up a pricing mess Lithia to sell outlets, delay used-car stores Nielsen likes to step off the beaten path GM union local strives to pull parts jobs in-house JCI will open Ga. plant to supply Kia Dealers: Be open about credit problems Finance venture has $1 billion Picture this Personnel Dealers BMW purchasing chief 'looking for waste' Nissan Mexicana gets new chief Ford Flex output begins Hyundai Genesis: $33,000 Ford buys more from minorities Audi's U.S. chief: Brand can handle high gas prices May in Detroit: Scary, not merry Infiniti FX starts at $41,765 Lincoln: 8,600 MKS orders Plastics supplier sees growth Jenkins gets Aston Martin post Smith is CEO of Jaguar, Land Rover Kremlin watching, Chrysler style Toyota breathing down GM's neck on monthly U.S. sales PR chief Steve Harris: At GM through '08 Small-car surge is a replay of 1979 Auto execs would benefit from some store experience Mini's mixed results: Sales soar, quality stumbles Nice car — so what's the ppmpg? Volt's good PR got struck by lightning

Automotive News - June 9, 2008

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