Automotive News - March 17, 2008 - (Page 32)

32 • MARCH 17, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS 800-388-1800 DEALER SERVICES Judge: Dealer suit over transfer of GM franchise can proceed Eric Freedman freedma5@msu.edu Franchise flap Issue: Did GM wrongfully reject transfer of Saab franchise to Pennsylvania dealership? Where it stands: Federal judge allows suit to proceed. GM has asked court to reconsider the decision. chise to the Cadillac dealership. The suit alleges that GM initially encouraged the acquisition and helped with Bowser’s application but later changed its mind and exercised its right of first refusal under its franchise agreement. GM closed the Saab store last summer. Pennsylvania law prohibits manufacturers from unreasonably blocking a qualified buyer’s purchase of a franchise. The law sets deadlines for manufacturers to act on acquisitions. Bowser’s suit claims GM waited too DEALER SERVICES DEALERSHIP BUSINESS VALUATIONS - How much is your dealership worth? Our comprehensive Business Valuation will tell you! Complying with IRS guidelines our valuations are used for estate tax or litigation purposes. Expert testimony. Please call D.T. Murphy & Company @ 973-746-1122 or www.dtmurphy.com. ProQuotes Forms Forms Building - All Systems We Support Reynolds Legacy www.proquotes.net 800 456-5178 DEALER SERVICES LeaseMaker® NEW version for Palm Handhelds Retail Loans & Leases Fast, Accurate & Easyto-Use, Free Demo 800 843 7766 www.leasemaker.com lm Pa O S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES GROUND FLOOR OPPORTUNITY - EARN $125K PLUS. Recruit and train salespeople for local dealers. Time-freedom, No nights, weekends or travel. Please call 215-757-0808 - Arsta Inc. $19K PROFIT MY 1st MONTH working from home in less than 25 hrs per week! $1K-$8K profit per sale. This is Not MLM! FREE Training & Support Provided. Call 1-888-880-1317 * 24 hrs EARN $200K-$400K Realistic 1st year Income: The most powerful marketing system on the planet! After 4 yrs & $400,000 in research & testing we have the perfect online business opportunity. Our proprietary system generates $1,000s everyday, & 10 Million in commissions over past 8 mths. No calling - No selling; your Grandmother can do this! Join us http://www.DLW-Enterprises.com A lawsuit that accuses General Motors of wrongfully blocking the transfer of a Saab franchise in Pennsylvania to a Cadillac dealership will continue. A federal judge in Pittsburgh refused to dismiss the suit, which also names GM’s Saab Automobile USA subsidiary as a defendant. GM is asking the court to reconsider the decision. Bowser Cadillac in McMurray, Pa., sued GM under Pennsylvania franchise law. The suit is in U.S. District Court because GM and the dealership are based in different states. GM rejected the Bowser dealership’s purchase of assets from P&W Saab in Pittsburgh in 2006. Bowser had agreed to pay P&W $350,000 plus the value of P&W’s new and used vehicles, tools, parts and accessories, according to legal documents. Bowser planned to relocate the Saab fran- long to reject the franchise transfer. It claims Bowser anticipated more than $1 million in profits from selling and servicing Saab vehicles. The suit seeks damages and an order requiring GM to approve the transfer. GM asked U.S. District Judge Nora Fischer to dismiss the case. Fischer instead ordered the case to proceed to discovery. As the prospective purchaser, Bowser has legal standing to pursue the suit, the judge ruled. Fischer said a factual dispute exists over whether GM acted in a timely fashion. Efforts to mediate the dispute failed, she added. In a statement, GM spokeswoman Geri Lama said the company’s actions were timely. The dealership’s claim that GM failed to act within the time limit “is wrong as a matter of fact and as a matter of law,” Lama said. 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NAPLES, FLORIDA 239-643-1116 PARTS FOR SALE ATTENTION PARTS MANAGERS Used Stanley Vidmar Modular Cabinets Used 12” Parts Bins 214.908.5287 / www.nowhandling.com AUCTIONS IF THE ANSWER IS YES Sign on to: WWW.AUTORAPTOR.com for a free 30-day trial or EQUIPMENT AUCTION Triboro Florida megadealer Rick Case, left, founder of the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, and auto racing and retailing entrepreneur Roger Penske flank actor and comedian Bill Cosby, who wasn’t underdressed so much as enthusiastically generous. During the Boca Raton automobile and motorcycle exhibition, Cosby not only performed at the black-tie gala but also sold the shirt off his back in the live auction. Penske, who provided the auction a getaway package to the 2008 Indianapolis 500, received an Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award. 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The Lincoln factory produced a record 314,145 vehicles last year, Pratt said. Honda will begin Ridgeline production trials in Lincoln late this year, he said. In 2007, Ridgeline sales fell 14.7 percent to 42,795. — Ralph Kisiel TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE OVERSTOCKED!!! Great Prices on all types of New & Used Key Control Systems Auction: Mar. 29 10 AM Preview: Mar. 28 10-3 VIEW WEBSITE FOR FULL LISTING WWW.GEYERAUCTIONS.COM Call: Steve D. Singleton Security Key Systems, Inc. www.securitykeysystems.com 800.887.0258 1-800-554-5005 http://www.keytroll.com http://www.leasemaker.com http://www.dtmurphy.com http://www.proquotes.net http://www.chapmanenterprise.com http://www.DLW-Enterprises.com http://www.plastacise.com http://L-master.com http://WWW.AUTORAPTOR.com http://www.nowhandling.com http://www.nowhandling.com http://WWW.GEYERAUCTIONS.COM http://www.securitykeysystems.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 17, 2008

Leases grow as alternative to long loans Toyota dealers balk at upgrades Up for grabs: China importer Testing Chevy's Camaro Escalade first vehicle to get full LED headlamps Hoops fans take a shot at China Toyota will cut Tundra, Sequoia production F-150's risk-reward strategy: Ramp up before the revamp As UAW, American Axle talk, CEO Dauch in Fla. Ex-GM purchasing executive indicted Court allows higher Plastech credit line Saab sticker prices rise as sales fall; will U.S.-built 9-7X offset losses? VW plant capacity in U.S.: 250,000 units Bad cruise control switch haunts Ford Continental plans to bring r&d in-house Rieter expects to increase its global footprint Stadler: Audi considers U.S. plant Another General charges into electric cars Toyota sees its first checkered flag as sign NASCAR's paying off A pickup may figure in Kia's future Analysts: Lampert no threat to AutoNation More likely to be spent to keep suppliers alive in '08 2 suppliers plan Alabama plants UAW seeks job guarantees to end American Axle strike Revolving door continues to spin at Nissan GM, top marketers to share research Electric power steering is grabbing the wheel Delphi completes sale of interiors unit to Renco Mercedes again is true-luxury king How electric power steering works It's time for dealer-factory collaboration Ford must close stores but remain open to diversity The small print Here's a question for Obama, Clinton Didn't you ever hear of a halo? Hurray for affordable performance cars Politics can age a car overnight Good for planet, good for GM What 'scientific consensus'? Lutz may be right but said it wrong Lutz had the courage to tell the truth Big Apple isn't very green 23 finalists in running for PACE honors Canada sales up 14.5% in Feb. RV shipments drop 7.1% in Jan. Wagoner: No sure thing on state air rules Conquest sales, Asia growth boost ADP Brockman: Reynolds focuses on service OEConnection links to ADP Geneva goings-on Judge: Dealer suit over transfer of GM franchise can proceed Honda will build Ridgeline in Alabama So who's running the show at Chamco? GM seeks Plastech tooling Federal-Mogul reports gains Chrysler sells plant to Fiat BMW's new sales boss Odell is named COO at Ford of Europe Strike dents GM truck output Tony Stewart blows a gasket Illingworth leaving — and staying with — Toyota A note to eager auto execs: Invaders sometimes get icy reception in Russia Hush, hush: Baby Nason on board For rent: Ford's PAG palace on the West Coast Chrysler cuts Calif. studio

Automotive News - March 17, 2008

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