Automotive News - May 26, 2008 - (Page 40)

40 • MAY 26, 2008 Suppliers to the 2008 Nissan Altima ENGINE DRIVE CHAIN Tsubakimoto UK ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACOUSTICS BBi Enterprises BALANCE SHAFT MODULES Metaldyne PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE; ENGINE EXHAUST VALVES TRW TORSIONAL VIBRATION DAMPENERS Vibration Control Technologies ACCESSORY BELT DRIVE SYSTEM TENSIONER Gates NISSAN EMBLEM Siegel-Robert VARIABLE TRANSMISSION JATCO AIR CONDITIONING DUCT (HVAC) ABC Group HEADLAMPS Valeo BRAKE LINES TI Automotive WHEEL SPEED SENSOR Bosch VACUUM BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY Hitachi Cable ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK Nemak FRONT WASHER NOZZLES Bowles Fluidics WASHER SYSTEM Kautex CHEST AIRBAG Autoliv AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS Gentex INSIDE MIRROR Magna International SUNROOF, TILT/SLIDE ROOF SYSTEM Webasto SUNROOF HARNESS Empire Electronics FRONT HEADREST Kongsberg ACOUSTIC BAFFLE Sika EXTERIOR MIRROR Schefenacker REAR PILLAR IAC SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTERS TK Holdings REAR DECK Stabilus TRUNK LID FINISHER Magna BACKLITE MOLDING Rehau FUEL TANK Inergy TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS Schrader Electronics REAR TWINTUBE SHOCKS ZF Friedrichshafen REAR WHEEL BEARING NTN WHEELHOUSE LINERS Carcoustics HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH MODULE Visteon BRAKE PEDAL MODULE KSR International STEERING ANGLE SENSOR Panasonic SEAT POWER RECLINER Keiper SEAT MOTORS Nidec SEATS Johnson Controls FLOOR CARPET UGN SEAT LUMBAR SUPPORT Leggett & Platt Suppliers wanted: If you are a supplier and have questions or want your information considered for our car cutaways, contact Steven Wingett at: automotivenews@supplierbusiness.com AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE CONGRESS PHILIP MEECH VW expects to reap big share of U.S. diesel market Luca Ciferri lciferri@craincom.de Valeo’s Thierry Morin: “Rising raw material costs will change the face of the world, and we have to adapt to it.” Valeo CEO Morin: Pass rising costs to consumers Lawrence J. Speer lspeer@craincom.de TURIN, Italy — The auto industry should consider raising car prices to cover higher raw material costs, Valeo CEO Thierry Morin says. “Rising raw material costs will change the face of the world, and we have to adapt to it,” Morin told the Automotive News Europe Congress here last week. Until now, strong competition among automakers with excess manufacturing capacity has shielded car buyers from rising raw material costs, he said. Morin suggested that better use of existing manufacturing sites could be one of the potential solutions to higher raw material costs. “We all know that factories are bet- ter when running at 90 percent of capacity, as opposed to 70 percent, so volume is a tremendous potential solution,” Morin said. Automakers and suppliers will be forced to modify their material choices to cope with rising prices, he said. “We need to change the products,” he said, adding, “We need to find new materials.” c TURIN, Italy — By 2018, about 30 percent of Volkswagen’s U.S. sales could be diesel vehicles, says Wolfgang Steiger, VW’s director of powertrain research. Rising fuel prices are making diesels more attractive to U.S. car buyers, Steiger told the Automotive News Europe Congress here last week. Steiger said VW’s diesel share in the United States could reach 30 percent in 10 years. “We used to be the leader of diesel sales in the U.S.,” Steiger said. Before VW stopped selling diesel cars in the United States last year to comply with stricter U.S. emission standards for diesels, 15 percent of the carmaker’s U.S. sales were diesels. “Returning this year with clean diesels in 50 U.S. states, we will immediately regain the 15 percent share,” Steiger said. U.S. consumers have not bought diesel vehicles in large numbers in the past because many consider diesels to be dirty and underpowered. Last year, diesels accounted for about 3 percent of U.S. vehicle sales, VW’s Wolfgang Steiger: “We used to be the leader of diesel sales in the U.S.” according to market researcher R.L. Polk & Co. In Europe, 53.3 percent of new-car buyers chose diesels last year, according to ACEA, the European automakers’ association. c PHILIP MEECH

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Automotive News - May 26, 2008 Bad times? Not for CEO paychecks GM seeks Volt tax break to avoid $40k sticker Ford's big cuts aim for a Honda-sized lineup Automotive News gets new marketing communications director Toyota pushes N.A. suppliers to match offshore prices VW predicts 5% U.S. sales gain Toyota plans 3 plants for hybrid batteries GM's American Axle strike tab: $2.82 billion Lawsuit in Florida targets congressman's dealership Orbiting the blogosphere Kia to build small cars in U.S. plant VW Mexico exec will run North American purchasing Fiat mulls 500 minicar for U.S. GM scraps big rwd sedans for Chevrolet and Buick Hyundai spends like never before to launch Genesis luxury sedan Surprise: Suzuki slides as fuel prices rise GM paid Walter Chrysler a whopping $600,000 a year Chrysler sends mystery shoppers to dealerships Toyota owes royalties on some hybrids GM, American Axle to resume output Ford predicts bigger demand for smaller engines in Escape This is Volvo? Ads sell chic, not just safety An overnight success in 50 years Obama's comments were out of line Japan does it; why shouldn't we? 25% is high, but Chrysler is wise to revisit SCORE Safety efforts must focus on the driver Blame the dealer for poor service Don't judge Ford quality by just one car Ford quality is best in many years Mitsubishi considers piggybacking with Caterpillar suppliers to cut costs Nissan to make lithium ion batteries 'Boss Ket,' Connery inspire Tim Jackson Germany leads rise in Europe sales Court: Buyers must act in good faith to win lemon law damages Nissan wants suppliers to reduce utility bills Bajaj: From scooters to autos The next $2,500 car? Infiniti will look different, add engine power in Europe Lamborghini boss wants to keep the big engines Lamborghini ups ante in 'entry' supercars Continental exec: We're done selling VDO assets Honda plans Fit hybrid Outgoing Visteon CEO to receive $2.5 million Audi production chief: Cooperation with Porsche will grow Picture this RV shipments fall in March M-B will buy Chrysler studio Supplier personnel VW expects to reap big share of U.S. diesel market Valeo CEO Morin: Pass rising costs to consumers Suppliers to the 2008 Nissan Altima Dealers Auction workshops demystify Web buying April used-vehicle prices: Light trucks fall and cars rise Volvo certified plan offers free satellite radio Mulally: Full speed toward smaller Toyota plans credit card Sanfilippo switches agencies International idles plant Honda Pilot starts at $28,230 Plastech plans assets auction What counts GM's 2-pronged strategy for Calif. rules: If you can't beat 'em . . . meet 'em New wheels for the cop shop The cost of luxury? For Hyundai, it would have been $2.5 billion New tools allow early design input from consumers Lexus in the sky with carbon: How ex-Beatle's PR effort tanked Buy an '08 . . . get a .44 $4 gasoline gives new cachet to aging econo-beaters Time tips its hat to Tata Car marketers: Magazines must widen ad reach Automakers seek 'one-to-one' approach to magazine ads Auto ads go to the movies Here's the next big thing: Ads tailored to you GMC courts women with Acadia

Automotive News - May 26, 2008

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