Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - (Page 18I) JULY 7, 2008 • 18I Lear purchases majority stake in New Trend’s China fabric unit Lan Lan lanlan@autonewschina.com China work is key for Pininfarina GUANGZHOU, China — China has become a key market for Pininfarina S.p.A. Of all the contracts the Italian design and engineering company signed in 2007, 30 percent came from Chinese clients, the company says. “China, India and Japan are Pininfarina’s three major markets in Asia, and China is the largest,” said a source with Pininfarina’s China representative office in Beijing. Pininfarina’s clients in China include Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co., Chery Automobile Co., Hafei Motor Co., Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. and Changfeng Motor Co. The latest models Pininfarina has designed for Chinese automakers BEIJING — Lear Corp. has acquired a 75 percent share of the automotive fabric operations of its trim supplier, New Trend Group Co., in Ruian city, Zhejiang province. Through the acquisition, Lear secures a low-cost fabric supply for its existing operations. Lear also plans to export New Trend’s automotive fabric outside Asia. “We see an opportunity to launch our fabric portfolio with American and European customers,” says Lou CEO Robert Rossiter says Lear wants to source more parts from lowcost countries. Salvatore, president of Lear’s global seating operations. Lear wants to source more parts from low-cost countries, CEO Robert Rossiter told Automotive News China in April at the Beijing auto show. Lear predicts its seat sales in China will reach $1 billion in 2008. New Trend has two automotive textile manufacturing plants in China with a combined annual capacity of 10 million meters of automotive interior fabric, according to its Web site. As a Tier 2 supplier, New Trend produces the fabric used for seat covers, vehicle headliners and door panels for major automakers in China. Besides automotive fabric, New Trend also produces plastic fittings and PVC plates for nonautomotive industries. c Pininfarina designed the Chery A3. include Brilliance’s BS4 station wagon, Jianghuai’s A108 sedan and A107 small hatchback and Chery’s A3 sedan. The cars were shown at the Beijing auto show in late April. — Kevin Huang and Lan Lan 3 paint companies form global alliance PELHAM, N.Y. — Spraylat Corp., of Pelham, signed an agreement with Maeder Group, of Lille, France, and Ohashi Chemical Industries Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, to share manufacturing facilities and technology. The three paint manufacturers say their newly formed Automotive Coatings World Alliance will help them compete in the automotive interior coating business. The companies’ combined revenue totals $450 million, including $100 million from plastics coating materials such as those used in automotive interiors. Citation cuts production DETROIT — Citation Corp. is cutting production at its Lufkin, Texas, foundry and shifting some of that work to another plant in Brewton, Ala., to cope with lower demand. Citation, of suburban Detroit, plans to lay off 128 hourly and salaried employees in Lufkin in August. Citation makes chassis, transmission, engine, brake, aluminum and cast iron components. Bekaert sells coatings business KORTRIJK, Belgium — N.V. Bekaert SA has agreed to sell its diamondlike coatings business to Sulzer Ltd., of Winterthur, Switzerland. Diamondlike coatings are used to reduce wear and friction in automotive components and other applications. The business accounted for less than 1 percent of Bekaert’s 2007 consolidated sales of 2.2 billion euros, or $3.47 billion at current exchange rates. Bekaert, of Belgium, said the deal with Sulzer covers all 164 employees of the business, including those at its plants in Amherst, N.Y., and Research Triangle Park, N.C. http://www.autonewschina.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Turnaround trouble: Mitsubishi back on the skids It's a panic — but don't panic CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED Japan's new diet plan: Slim down, ounce by ounce Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans Reynolds sues dealer over computer upgrade Chrysler and dealers to improve Internet marketing strategies Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts Nissan: Despite a truck glut, Titan gets no more incentives American Axle cuts staff; boosts India business, CEO bonus Bosch sees N.A. red ink this year Bill Mitchell's designs blew away the past Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder GM Europe exec: Curbing CO2 is 'around the clock' effort Supplier input varies in Nissan's tech plans Great Wall becomes Chrysler's 2nd Chinese partner Steel prices nudge up Nano's costs Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund Automakers create opportunities for Mexican molders Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs Researchers test capturing CO2 before it leaves the car Some execs win even when their companies lose Tata's personal touch Show me the money Obituaries Study: Dealership service shops extend their hours New Web tool promotes GM service Fiat CEO Marchionne is Industry Leader of Year Jim O'Sullivan Johan de Nysschen Sergio Marchionne Ratan Tata Dick Colliver Fritz Henderson Martin Thall Jim Farley Jack Stavana Roger Penske Walter de' Silva Mike Stanton Tim Manganello David Friedman Jim Hallett Larry Jutte Kim Kosak Ron Gettelfinger Tom Stephens Bob Lutz Tom Shoupe Jay Amestoy June caps a dismal first half Personnel Auto roof rule due by Oct. 1 Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations Small-car transaction prices rise in June Turbo taboo may end for BMW M's The mpg fracas: Pick your favorite fairy tale Great news? Analysts shun the Kool-Aid at Chrysler And now, from Wall Street, a short tale of terror VW tells builders: Plan for Southeast plant Dodging a bullet: Half-off deal busts dealer's Ram jam To run the train, should you be an engineer? Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 1) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 2) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans (Page 3) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 4) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 5) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 6) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 7) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 8) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 9) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 10) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 11) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 12) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 13) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 14) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 15) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 16) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 17) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18A) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18B) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18C) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18D) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18E) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18F) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18G) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18H) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18I) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18J) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18K) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18L) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - New Web tool promotes GM service (Page 19) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Dick Colliver (Page 20) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Walter de' Silva (Page 21) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Larry Jutte (Page 22) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 23) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 24) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 25) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 26) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 27) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 28) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - June caps a dismal first half (Page 29) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations (Page 31) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 32) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 33) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 34) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 35) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 36)
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