Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 16) 16 • NOVEMBER 10, 2008 ADVERTISING STAFF Chrysler’s 1st electric: Probably a cargo van Bradford Wernle bwernle@crain.com WINDSOR, Ontario — Chrysler’s first electric vehicle likely will be a cargo version of one of its minivan twins, sold to fleet customers late next year for tests in heavy-duty commercial use. But the company says it’s testing two other possibilities as well: a Jeep and a sports car. Douglas Quigley, executive for product engineering for Chrysler’s ENVI electric vehicle operation, said Chrysler will select its first electric vehicle based on cost and factors such as durability, crashworthiness and the ability to operate in extreme weather conditions. Chrysler has been testing prototypes of three models for six to eight months. Chrysler has not discussed the price premium for an electric vehicle. Quigley said Chrysler likely will pick its first electric vehicle by mid-2009. Quigley said there has been high consumer interest in the Chrysler EV electric minivan, one of three electric vehicle concepts Chrysler unveiled Sept. 23. The EV is based on the Chrysler Town & Country; the automaker’s other minivan is the Dodge Caravan. The other two were the Jeep EV, based on the Wrangler, and the Dodge EV. The Dodge EV is an all-electric sports car based on a Lotus platform. The Chrysler and Jeep are powered by electric motors but carry small gasoline engines that act as generators to extend the life of the battery pack. “We’re looking at what can be produced and what can be produced quickly,” Quigley told reporters at a ceremony here last week to mark the 25th anniversary of the production of the first Chrysler minivan. Chrysler plans to sell its first electric vehicles to commercial fleet customers in the fourth quarter of 2009. Chrysler wants to see what issues arise when commercial customers put the vehicles through heavy-duty use. That suggests that the likely choice is an electric version of the 2009 Dodge Caravan cargo van, which Chrysler has just begun building in Windsor. Quigley said fitting the minivan with an electric powertrain was easy. The company pulled the Stow ’n Go tubs, where the second row of seats can be folded into the floor, and replaced them with a lithium ion battery pack. The gasoline engine was replaced with a 190-kilowatt (255-hp) electric motor. The EV’s small gasoline motor extends the life of the batteries for up to a 400-mile range. The Chrysler EV can go 40 miles on electric power alone. An electric version of the Town & Country now being tested weighs 450 pounds more than a comparable gasoline-powered version, said Quigley. Chrysler’s strategy is to put electric powertrains into as many of its vehicles as possible without major alterations to save time and development costs. c Circulation 313-446-0450 Advertising 313-446-6050 Classified Advertising 313-446-6065, 800-388-1800 Web site www.autonews.com ADVERTISING AND SALES DETROIT 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 313-446-6790 Fax: 313-446-8030 Need Leadership? StepJones.com Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record The financial meltdown hasn’t affected Daimler AG’s ability to finance dealers or customers, but MercedesBenz sales are slowing. Klaus Maier, Mercedes’ executive vice president for sales and marketing, said last month that the brand has backed away from its prediction of record U.S. sales in 2008. Maier also said Mercedes-Benz will need smaller, four-cylinder engines in the United States and said a derivative of the subcompact B class will come to the United States in 2010. He was interviewed by Staff Reporter Diana T. Kurylko. How will the financial crisis and Wall Street meltdown affect Mercedes’ sales in the United States? We were quite strong in a very volatile environment, as you have How Green is Your Tranny? Increase vehicle range by about 15%! The X-Dive is a new , outside the box concept in multi ratio gearing: High efficiency throughput w ith up to 13 rations, yet much smaller and lighter; manual or automatic, for fuel, electric or hybrid vehicles. Confidential queries are now being accepted for a few , diverse, roll out applications and from transmission OEM ’s. Just the buzz w ill be w orth it. Green Buzz. For info, corporate principals only, please reply to: i.w ant.the.x.drive@gmail.com questionanswer “ We were quite strong in a very volatile environment, as you have seen in the last months. Of course, we have seen that our plan to set a new sales record was unrealistic. KLAUS MAIER Mercedes-Benz ” Rick Greer Director of Sales and Marketing rgreer@crain.com 313-446-6050 Kathleen C. Lightbody, klightbody@crain.com, 313-446-6037 Russ Procassini, rprocassini@crain.com 313-446-0350 Karen Rentschler, krentschler@crain.com 313-446-6058 Jerry Salame, jsalame@crain.com 313-446-0481 Regional Sales Managers Colleen Robar Director of Marketing Communications crobar@crain.com, 313-446-0331 Ellen Dennehy Director of Relationship Marketing edennehy@crain.com, 313-446-6039 Cheryl Rothe, Marketing Manager crothe@crain.com, 313-446-6767 Lance Graves, Promotion Art Director lgraves@crain.com, 313-446-0469 Brandi Johnson, Marketing Coordinator bnjohnson@crain.com, 313-446-0326 Classified Advertising Sales Jim McCarter Marketplace Advertising Director jmccarter@autonews.com, 313-446-6065 Melissa McKay Classified Sales Manager mmckay@autonews.com, 313-446-1642 Denise Hendricks, 313-446-6066 LOS ANGELES Justus Breese jbreese@crain.com, 323-370-2446 Pacific Region Sales Manager Todd Landau, tlandau@crain.com 323-370-2466 Fax: 323-655-8157 Regional Sales Manager 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 NEW YORK Scott Ghedine sghedine@crain.com, 212-210-0126 Henry Woodhouse hwoodhouse@crain.com, 212-210-0125 Regional Sales Managers 711 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017-4036 Fax: 212-210-0489 CHICAGO Jim Farnan, Regional Sales Manager jfarnan@crain.com, 312-649-5257 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601-3806 Fax: 312-649-5265 CONFERENCES seen in the last months. Of course, we have seen that our plan to set a new sales record was unrealistic. Is cutting the allocation to the United States an alternative as well? Cutting allocation is a very shortsighted method. We have profitable dealers all over the world to whom we have to supply good volume. Even with the currency exchange ratios, we have not pursued these kinds of strategies because we need our dealers to survive. If they don’t survive, how can I run my business? In the meantime, the European market is shrinking even faster than the U.S. market, so there is no absorption. The emerging markets are also affected to some extent by the financial crisis. How is your ability to finance in America? The Detroit 3 have tremendous difficulty with dealer financing. Toyota says it has good sources of cheap capital. Where are you? We are like Toyota. I have not had any signs of difficulty. Leasing is not a financing issue; it is residuals. The absorption of the pre-owned market is another issue. Does Mercedes-Benz need smaller vehicles and smaller engines in the United States than it has now, in light of the economic situation and coming pressures by CAFE legislation for high fuel economy? We will not limit the U.S. market to six cylinders. Four-cylinder engines are on our table as well. We have four-cylinder products proposed. There is a clear intention to go this way. What is your strategy to meet the CAFE regulations in 2015? To a certain extent, it will be to improve combustion engines. Fourcylinder diesels will come next year, and they have better fuel consumption. For the bigger vehicles, you need some kind of hybridization for European, U.S. and other regulations around the world. We have our zero-emissions vehicles not only for Smart but with other vehicles. The first electric production (car) will be in 2010 on the A/B products. But have you decided to send the new generation of the A or B class to the United States? For the U.S. we will have some activity on the B-class platform in 2010. That has been decided for some time. We will definitely look at zeroemissions vehicles, depending on the demand. The battery technology needs to be improved, and we have to see if the private customer can afford these vehicles. We’ll see in the next three to five years, but we are bending toward a volume production vehicle. 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Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Life at 11 million: Slash, rethink The options: Bailout or disaster Can Toyota reheat the frozen Tundra? Chrysler dealers cheer halt to merger talk VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show BMW boosts dealers' year-end ad money Mercedes' $220 million flagship Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold Mercedes will kill CLK, add larger coupe, convertible Mitsubishi reclaims its finance business Toyota's Esmond to speak at congress Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market Cash burn rates threaten GM, Ford GMAC: We're nobody's captive As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV U.S. aid is needed now, but not to help Cerberus They are too big to fail Why should we help GM and Chrysler? First and foremost, you must be flexible U.S. trade policy gives it all away To the Editor: A rough ride is nothing new for autos Dealer's politics were pertinent Chrysler's 1st electric: Probably a cargo van Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too Adding up the tab for fuel economy Camaro Black: Eye-catching, affordable and available Honda sees green in Civic HFP's street performance Honda offers peek at future Fit Ford F-150 Raptor flies off-road Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom Report: Toyota plans $5,000 car Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 Report: Past-due subprime loans jump Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card Study: Car buyers turn green for different reasons Thanks, buddy Hyundai helps Dealers Metaldyne offers pennies to bondholders Obituaries Personnel As expected, Oct. sales sank Another Chinese automaker plans Mexico factory Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels Industry pal, foe vie for key post in Congress Industry expects more activism from D.C. N.A. output falls 19.9% Toyota moves in striking distance of GM's U.S. sales crown Going, going . . . An ex-GM exec's view: It's going to get nasty Sex, Nazis, chicken and BMW: A scandal that puts fiction writers to shame Recession rips up roadster market Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' Want to boost mpg? Turn up the heat on AC Cutting energy loss: A nibble here, a nibble there ... Carbon slashes weight, but it's still too pricey Carmakers shift to gears in search of mpg gains Natural gas draws interest as alternative fuel Friction? Ay, there's the rub Electric for a week Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show (Page 3) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 4) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 5) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 6) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 7) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 8) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 9) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 10) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 11) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 12) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 13) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 14) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 15) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record (Page 16) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 17) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 18) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 19) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 20) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 21) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22a) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22b) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22c) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22d) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22e) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22f) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22g) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22h) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22i) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22j) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22k) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22l) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 23) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom (Page 24) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 (Page 25) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card (Page 26) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Hyundai helps (Page 27) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealers (Page 28) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 29) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 31) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 32) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 33) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 34) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 35) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 36) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As expected, Oct. sales sank (Page 37) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels (Page 38) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 39) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 40) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - N.A. output falls 19.9% (Page 41) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 42) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 43) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 44)
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