Automotive News - May 5, 2008 - (Page 17)

MAY 5, 2008 • 17 Mexico vehicle sales, March & 3 months Car Import truck BMW Car Truck CHRYSLER LLC† Mercedes-Benz import car Mercedes-Benz import truck .. Smart import car DAIMLER AG† FERRARI import car* Fiat import car Fiat import truck FIAT AUTO S.p.A. Ford car Ford truck Jaguar import car Land Rover import truck Volvo import car Volvo import truck FORD Car Truck GENERAL MOTORS Car Truck HONDA ISUZU Import truck Import car Import truck MAZDA Import car Import truck MITSUBISHI Car Truck NISSAN Import car Import truck PEUGEOT Import car Import truck PORSCHE Car Import truck RENAULT Import car Import truck SUBARU Import car Import truck SUZUKI Import car Import truck TOYOTA Audi import car Audi import truck Bentley import car Seat import car Seat import truck VW car VW import truck VOLKSWAGEN Domestic car Import car Total car Domestic truck Import truck Total truck Total domestic Total import TOTAL MEXICO SALES 579 163 742 3,672 6,214 9,886 362 169 73 604 2 184 68 252 2,106 7,263 31 58 82 19 9,559 10,191 6,600 16,791 1,993 1,706 3,699 29 724 788 1,512 568 844 1,412 10,930 6,872 17,802 680 129 809 41 26 67 1,074 212 1,286 56 17 73 313 219 532 2,631 2,525 5,156 305 33 1 837 – 7,947 784 9,907 20,707 24,675 45,382 9,872 24,866 34,738 30,579 49,541 80,120 March 2008 639 203 842 4,257 6,857 11,114 316 279 7 602 1 195 49 244 4,385 10,064 16 50 218 89 14,822 12,175 8,693 20,868 1,936 2,285 4,221 – 655 701 1,356 762 738 1,500 12,020 6,338 18,358 1,028 175 1,203 33 58 91 1,398 244 1,642 27 13 40 144 257 401 2,676 3,128 5,804 334 42 3 1,442 1 10,436 1,088 13,346 25,741 29,362 55,103 8,969 32,383 41,352 34,710 61,745 96,455 March 2007 1,807 540 2,347 11,809 19,315 31,124 1,190 596 229 2,015 6 678 290 968 8,213 23,394 58 217 365 71 32,318 33,893 21,786 55,679 7,503 5,852 13,355 153 2,475 2,554 5,029 1,471 2,864 4,335 35,493 21,691 57,184 2,436 426 2,862 118 87 205 3,285 753 4,038 149 64 213 849 725 1,574 7,558 8,455 16,013 1,004 159 4 3,190 1 27,464 2,702 34,524 66,859 84,388 151,247 30,406 82,289 112,695 97,265 166,677 263,942 3 mos. 2008 1,750 638 2,388 12,547 17,701 30,248 943 763 60 1,766 3 648 110 758 13,282 29,931 44 144 540 215 44,156 37,163 23,409 60,572 5,335 6,924 12,259 – 2,039 1,583 3,622 1,935 2,356 4,291 37,091 18,554 55,645 3,161 542 3,703 103 70 173 3,878 690 4,568 84 45 129 422 831 1,253 7,249 7,078 14,327 1,052 130 7 4,370 11 31,416 3,341 40,327 78,607 86,515 165,122 26,031 89,035 115,066 104,638 175,550 280,188 3 mos. 2007 Hyundai redesigned the Sonata after three years. The 2009 model is shown. Hyundai reworks Sonata sooner rather than later Kathy Jackson kjackson@crain.com LOS ANGELES — Hyundai aims to take a bigger share of the mid-sized car market with a freshened 2009 Sonata that delivers more power and better fuel economy from improved four- and six-cylinder engines. In addition, the interior of the Sonata has been given a total makeover. The Sonata was redesigned for the 2006 model year. Normally the automaker would not make extensive changes after only three years, said John Krafcik, product development vice president for Hyundai Motor America. But he said soaring gasoline prices and strong competition in the mid-sized segment pushed the move. “We spent a substantial amount of money,” Krafcik said at a press event here. “We did substantial surgery on this car in a short period of time.” Hyundai has begun shipping the 2009 models to dealers with a base price of $18,795, including $675 for shipping. Hyundai hopes to sell 140,000 to 150,000 Sonatas annually, with the entry-level GLS trim level accounting for 57 percent of the sales. Hyundai’s John Krafcik: “We did substantial surgery on this car in a short period of time.” The V-6 engine has been tweaked to deliver 249 hp and 229 poundsfeet of torque, up 15 hp and 3 pounds-feet. Fuel economy for city driving remains the same at 19 mpg; highway mileage is up 1 mpg to 29. That’s the same as the Accord’s V-6 and better than the Camry’s V-6 highway mileage, 28 mpg. Sales of the Sonata, Hyundai’s volume leader, fell 18.6 percent to 24,431 units through March. The Sonata needs to pick up if the brand is to reach its 500,000 sales goal this year. The Auto Industry’s #1 Recruiting, Training & Marketing Company Salespeople~BDC~Detailer~Porter~Technician Body Tech~Service Advisor~Service Manager Parts Counter~Parts Manager~Sales Manager Finance Manager~Office Staff~GSM~GM Need Salespeople, Tech’s, Managers & Other Employees? 800-421-4550 www.clickhereforadvice.com Brian C. Hall, President & CEO - 4-cylinders plentiful “Sonata is very important to us,” Krafcik said. “We had a shortage of four-cylinder engines last year, but we have plenty this year, so we should meet sales.” The 2009 model comes in three trim lines: the GLS, SE and Limited. The SE has a new sport-tuned suspension. The redesigned interior includes a new center console and instrument panel. The Sonata also comes with bigger front and rear seats. USB iPod auxiliary inputs are standard on all trim levels. A navigation system will be available for the first time, but only on the Limited version. The exterior has a new grille, bumpers, lights and wheels. Standard safety equipment includes electronic stability control and antilock brakes. c assistant used-car sales manager. In 1966, Spedding became used-car manager at Merollis Chevrolet in East Detroit, Mich. He bought Murphy Mahoney Chevrolet in Denver in 1969, later changing the name to Spedding Chevrolet. He also bought four carrental franchises in Dallas, Detroit, Denver and Orlando, Fla. The most dealerships Spedding owned at one time was 16. He was the first dealer in Colorado to sell to a public dealership group, CrossContinent Auto Retailers Inc. At the time of his death, Spedding owned one dealership, Douglas Nissan in Henderson, Nev. Engine debut Hyundai’s second-generation Theta four-cylinder engine debuts on the Sonata. It delivers 175 hp and 168 pounds-feet of torque, up 13 hp and 4 pounds-feet. A five-speed automatic transmission replaces the four-speed automatic on the four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy on the four-cylinder automatic is 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, up from 21 city/30 highway. That’s better mileage than the segment sales leaders, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. †DaimlerChrysler sold the Chrysler group on Aug. 3, 2007; Chrysler LLC and Daimler AG totals through July 2007 are extracted from DaimlerChrysler. *Estimate Source: Automotive News Data Center and Mexican Automotive Manufacturers Association Mexico sales fall 17% in March Stephen Downer autonews@crain.com Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico fell to 80,120 in March, down 16.9 percent from March 2007. Through the first quarter, retail sales totaled 263,942, down 5.8 percent from the year-earlier period, according to the Mexican Automotive Manufacturers Association. March’s double-digit drop followed a 1.1 percent gain in February. That had been the first sales increase since a 1.1 percent rise in January 2007. Of the five top-selling carmakers in Mexico, Nissan Motor Co. backed into first place as its sales slipped just 3.0 percent, to 17,802 in March. That put it ahead of General Motors, whose sales fell 19.5 percent to 16,791. Nissan’s car sales fell, but its truck sales rose. Volkswagen AG came in third with sales of 9,907 vehicles, down 25.8 percent. Chrysler LLC’s March sales dropped 11.0 percent to 9,886. Ford Motor Co. suffered the biggest contraction among the sales leaders. Its March sales plummeted 35.5 percent to 9,559, dropping Ford from third place in March 2007 to fifth place in March 2008. Mazda Motor Corp. stood out with the only sales increase in March among automakers with sales of at least 1,000 units. Mazda sales jumped 11.5 percent to 1,512. Toyota Motor Corp.’s March sales fell 11.2 percent to 5,156. Honda Motor Co.’s sales fell 12.4 percent to 3,699. Mitsubishi Motor Corp.’s sales fell 5.9 percent to 1,412. Renault SA’s sales slumped 21.7 percent to 1,286. c SELL MORE CARS ! REACH MORE CUSTOMERS! We are the web-based internet management solution for dealers wanting to increase productivity: • reduce expenses • more accountability • faster responses • technical expertise • control costs • better results • internet experienced • remote access 24/7 obituary Doug Spedding DENVER — Doug Spedding, an auto dealer who over his lifetime owned 27 dealerships and two professional sports teams, died here Nov. 11 at age 72. Spedding started his career working in the parts department at Jerry McCarthy Chevrolet in Dearborn, Mich. He began selling cars at Roy O’Brien Ford in St. Clair Shores, Mich., in 1954, eventually selling 500 Fords a year, and moved up to Your own virtual internet department seamlessly integrated into your sales operations (800) 361-9988 • multi-dealer consolidations • customer satisfaction Nemetz & Associates, Inc. Since 1990 www.nemetzandassociates.com http://Leonwatch.com http://www.automaxtraining.com http://www.clickhereforadvice.com http://www.hiousa.com http://www.nemetzandassociates.com

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Automotive News - May 5, 2008 Dodge dealers battle to bust Ram logjam Used-car price slump slams luxury makes INDUSTRY IN DISTRESS Tesla opens first dealership in L.A. Los Angeles Top auto execs to talk marketing at seminar Nader and the Corvair: GM edition tells whole story Dealers take Tundra to the people UAW official expects American Axle buyouts Ford plans more UAW buyouts at 2 plants Honda to some dealers: Upgrade or else Hyundai: Powertrains will take us halfway to mpg target Diesel dynamo Daimler cuts Chrysler value, again Ford domestic dealer count dips below 4,000 Seems like old times: More cash on the hood Toyota sister car poses a challenge for Subaru Suzuki to offer standard navigation in $16,000 car Mpg plan fuels states-rights battle Kerkorian interest buoys Ford stock Henderson: GM will keep tight rein on inventory Is it real, or is it just temporary? Ford Motor must stay focused on recovery 'Have you lost your mind?' Dealers are victims of Axle strike Federal oversight? Good heavens, no Geoff Polites: A salute Save a board seat for the UAW A car for everyone or cut, cut, cut, cut? Think of Buick as part of B-P-G Costs up in China, but bargains still abound Mexico sales fall 17% in March Obituary Hyundai reworks Sonata sooner rather than later Nissan's Dominique gets to the big dance Dana seeks new business with Japanese companies ZF will supply Nissan Certified Tool closes a plant German engineering company plans Ala. factory Dealers A Lexus colossus Used-vehicle leasing boosts showroom traffic Certified buyers opt for extended service contracts Repossessed vehicles offer dealers a profit opening Prepaid plans spark service visits beyond oil changes Key to managing floorplan costs: Be realistic Long-term loans: Convenience or bad deal? Dealers hunt upside-down buyers with leases, incentives and long-term loans Where have all the investors gone? Dealer rebounds from contract mess Dealers must choose: Reynolds, GM — or start over AutoTrader.com makes big pitch to bump up new-vehicle sales CAW, Ford reach extensive early labor deal Infiniti asks: Do you smell something? Sure, Nissan GT-R is impractical — but what a rush Faurecia: We'll break even in N.A. Suppliers join carmakers' charge into Russia Chrysler small cars, Jeep crossovers are hot A dreary April in Detroit Penske earnings rise in 1st quarter Lithia posts $1.9 million loss GM makes 2nd ethanol deal Group 1's earnings slip Magna profits down; sales rise AIADA picks dealer of the year Vox(wagen) populi — plus a sales pitch Wagoner's pension shift: More earlier, less overall COMMENT: Bargaining barbs will sting for a long time Bugging the boss: Who's listening to Porsche CEO? New models from the post office Critics have kind words for Pontiac's G8 Ford can't picture kids at design studio

Automotive News - May 5, 2008

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