Automotive News - February 4, 2008 - (Page 87) FEBRUARY 4, 2008 • 87 GM forms hybrid, electric vehicle unit 400 engineers to be part of global team Leslie J. Allen lallen@crain.com RV shipments down 7.7% in Nov. Ryan Beene rbeene@crain.com DETROIT — General Motors is putting all global engineering for hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles under one umbrella. GM is setting up an engineering organization dedicated to those vehicles and to advanced battery technology. Fuel cell vehicles will not be part of the new team. About 400 engineers will be part of the team, which will be in two suburban Detroit locations, plus MainzKastel, Germany, and Shanghai. The team has engineering responsibility for the upcoming Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid, GM’s other hybrids and the Chevrolet Volt extendedrange electric vehicle. Robert Kruse, 48, will become executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries. Kruse had been executive director of vehicle integration, safety, regional chief engineers and performance division for GM’s North American engineering staff. He reports to Dennis Mooney, vice president for global vehicle systems and integration. Previously, the chief engineer of a given architecture, such as full-sized trucks, was responsible for all vehicles using that architecture, including any alternative versions. Now, engineering for those alternative vehicles will be handled by the new global team. c Retail shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes fell 7.7 percent from a year ago to 21,500 units in November, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. The month’s decline followed an increase in October, the first monthly increase since July 2006. November shipments of towable RVs slipped 5.7 percent compared with a year earlier to 18,200 units. Through the first 11 months of 2007, 279,700 towable RVs were shipped to retailers, down 11.3 percent. Shipments of motor homes fell 17.5 percent to 3,300 units. Year-to-date shipments totaled 51,300, down 1.0 percent. Through 11 months in 2007, 331,000 RVs and motor homes were shipped to retailers, 9.9 percent below the first 11 months of 2006. These totals do not include conversion vehicles. The RV association stopped including conversion vehicles in its monthly shipment totals in October. Manufacturers of conversion vehicles have cut ties with the association. Manufacturers are considering whether to join the National Truck and Equipment Association. c RV wholesale deliveries, November & 11 months Nov. 2007 Nov. 2006 Percent change 11 mos. 2007 11 mos. 2006 Percent change Travel trailers 11,000 Travel trailers-fifth wheel 5,500 Folding camping trailers 1,300 Truck campers 400 Towable RV total 18,200 Conventional (Type A) 1,900 Van campers (Type B) 200 Mini (Type C) 1,200 Motorhome total 3,300 Shipments to RV retailers 21,500 11,700 5,500 1,600 500 19,300 2,600 300 1,100 4,000 23,300 –6.0 – –18.8 –20.0 –5.7 –26.9 –33.3 9.1 –17.5 –7.7 169,200 76,400 27,100 7,000 279,700 30,200 2,900 18,200 51,300 331,000 192,400 83,600 31,900 7,600 315,500 30,000 2,700 19,100 51,800 367,300 –12.1 –8.6 –15.0 –7.9 –11.3 0.7 7.4 –4.7 –1.0 –9.9 Note: Conversion vehicles figures no longer reported. These manufacturers have changed their affiliation from Recreation Vehicle Industry Association to National Truck and Equipment Association, which is not releasing numbers. Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association Autobytel sheds data, CRM software unit LOS ANGELES — Autobytel Inc. has sold certain assets and liabilities of its Applied Virtual Vision Inc. unit to Dominion Enterprises for $22.75 million. Dominion also will pay Autobytel working capital of about $1.1 million, subject to adjustment. Autobytel is divesting noncore operations while launching its flagship Web site, MyRide.com. Autobytel bought Applied Virtual Vision in 2003. Applied Virtual Vision develops and markets data extraction and customer relationship management software under the brand name Web Control. The software is designed to make the management of prospects, sales and customer relationships more efficient and effective for auto dealers. Dominion, of Norfolk, Va., is a division of Landmark Communications. The marketing services company serves the automotive, real estate, apartment, recruitment and marine markets. It has nearly 6,000 employees nationwide and more than $946 million in annual revenue.c http://www.izmocars.com http://MyRide.com http://www.izmocars.com
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