Automotive News - May 12, 2008 - (Page 16)

16 • MAY 12, 2008 ADVERTISING STAFF Nissan: N.A. off the hot seat Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com Nissan North America can exhale now. After nine years of high-pressure emphasis on North America, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor Co., says the automaker will not be so critically reliant on that market going forward. Just days before unveiling his next multiyear plan for the company, Ghosn said Nissan is entering an era in which profits will flow from new corners of the world, including China, India and Russia. “The U.S. will continue to grow and be a main pillar for us,” Ghosn said in an interview with Automotive News. “But it will no longer be the main pillar of Nissan profitability and growth.” The automaker has transformed under Ghosn, from near-bankruptcy in the late 1990s to one of the industry’s most profitable players. That turnaround has come in large part from rising market share, swelling profits and cost-cutting in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ghosn said Nissan North America, with 1,070 Nissan-brand retailers and 180 Infiniti dealers, has been delivering two-thirds of Nissan’s profits for the past two fiscal years. “I think the relative importance of (Nissan North America) is going to diminish because of the booming of China, the booming of Russia, the booming of India and the investment we’re making in the Mideast,” he said. Without revealing details of the socalled midterm plan he will announce Tuesday, May 13, Ghosn alluded to Nissan’s expectations to grow and invest more in emerging markets such as China, India, Russia and the Middle East. He said Japan has slipped to the company’s No. 2 market after North America. He predicted that Nissan’s business in China will eclipse Japan “within the next midterm plan.” c Circulation 313-446-0450 Advertising 313-446-6050 Classified Advertising 313-446-6065, 800-388-1800 E-mail rgreer@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com ADVERTISING AND SALES DETROIT 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 313-446-6790 Fax: 313-446-8030 HEAT UP YOUR SALES! AUTO PEOPLE Maserati North America taps luxury-segment veteran Eulberg as CEO Marti Eulberg has been named president and CEO of Maserati North America. She will report to Raffaele Fusilli, commercial director of Maserati S.p.A. in Italy. Eulberg replaces James Selwa, who left in February after less than three years. Maserati CEO Roberto Ronchi oversaw U.S. operations while the brand searched for a replacement. Eulberg joins Maserati after about 20 years with luxury automakers. She was vice president of marketing and sales for Jaguar Cars North America, a position she held since August 2006. Previously she was vice president of Volvo’s European sales. Eulberg, a Texas native, joined Volvo in June 2001 as vice president Marti Eulberg joins Maserati after about 20 years with luxury automakers. of Volvo Cars of North America Inc. She began her career with a nineyear managerial stint with BMW of North America Inc., of Woodcliff Lake, N.J. While there, Eulberg was responsible for business-to-business, commercial and daily rentals; used-vehicle programs; retail training; and coordination of field activities. — Diana T. Kurylko and Philip Nussel We approve every customer in writing in 30 seconds or less… so you can convert your turndowns into approvals and sales. Our Guaranteed Credit Approval Program allows you to eliminate customer turndowns and provides 3 different financing programs to meet your customers’ needs and your profit requirements. Isn’t it time for you to heat up your sales and profits with Credit Acceptance? 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 Bryan Foster, Marketing Director bfoster@crain.com, 313-446-6013 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 Marie Hingst Classified Advertising Manager mhingst@crain.com, 313-446-6065 Dolores Lanivich, Denise Hendricks Classified Advertising Sales LOS ANGELES Justus Breese jbreese@crain.com, 323-370-2446 Pacific Region Sales Manager Lauren Ford, lford@crain.com 323-370-2447 Todd Landau, tlandau@crain.com 323-370-2466 Regional Sales Managers 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 Fax: 323-655-8157 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 Libby Irwin, Conference Director lirwin@crain.com, 313-446-0420 Shauna Vercher-Morrow Special Events Manager svercher-morrow@crain.com, 313-446-0485 NASDAQ: CACC Changing lives since 1972. creditacceptance.com or 1-800-873-0512 WWW.AUTONEWS.COM Nissan N.A. unit gets new head of communications Nissan North America Inc. has named Alan Buddendeck vice president of corporate communications. Buddendeck replaces Frederique Le Greves, 40, who held the position for four years. Buddendeck, 42, joins Nissan after 11 years with Motorola Inc. mobile devices, most recently as senior director of global public relations and corporate communications. Le Greves will assist with the transition until mid-June and transfer to Renault headquarters. Her new position will be announced later, NisFrederique Le Greves, Nissan North America’s communications chief for four years, will move to Renault headquarters. san said in a press release. Le Greves had served a year as vice president of communications for Nissan Europe after joining the company in 2003. — Craig Trudell John Fitzgerald, Director of Business Planning and Online Commerce jfitzgerald@crain.com, 313-446-1679 DEVELOPMENT J Ferron, Director of Strategic Development jferron@crain.com, 313-446-0434 CIRCULATION subs@crain.com 888-446-1422 (U.S. & Canada) 313-446-1662 (all other locations) Fax: 313-446-6777 To subscribe via the Web www.autonews.com/subscribe.htm Patrick Sheposh, Circulation Director Lauren Cialella, Circulation Manager Jennifer Natone, Circulation Coordinator Subscriptions U.S. 1 year, $155; 2 years, $266. Canada $239 (U.S.); other countries, $395. Single copy sales, $5 per issue plus shipping. Reprints Mike Shober, The YGS Group, 800-494-9051, Ext. 100 automotivenews@theygsgroup.com Microfilm ProQuest Information and Learning Co. 800-521-0600 ® PRODUCTION Former GM PR chief joins BMW Tom Kowaleski, former head of General Motors communications, became vice president of corporate communications for BMW of North America LLC effective May 1. He replaces Robert Mitchell, who retired April 30. Kowaleski will manage the corporate communications department. He resigned the top PR post at GM in early 2006 and has more than 30 years of experience at GM, Chrysler Corp. and AMC-Renault. Tom Salkowsky has been appointed manager of BMW corporate communications, with responsibility for the BMW automotive brand. He previously was manager of experiential marketing. — Dave Guilford Terry Driscoll, Production Manager tdriscoll@crain.com, 313-446-6062 Larry Williams, Production Supervisor AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE www.autonewseurope.com Jason Stein, Publisher jstein@craincom.de/+49-8153-907522 Nina Sauer, Sales and Marketing Director nsauer@craincom.de/+49-6992-884646 AUTOMOBILWOCHE SM ACTION INTEGRATED MARKETING PROVIDES FULL-SERVICE & EVENT MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOR DEALERSHIPS NATIONWIDE www.automobilwoche.de Helmut Kluger, Publisher hkluger@craincom.de/+49-8153-907402 Thomas Heringer Sales and Marketing Director theringer@craincom.de/+49-8153-907404 http://Leonwatch.com http://www.autonews.com http://www.automaxtraining.com http://creditacceptance.com http://WWW.AUTONEWS.COM http://creditacceptance.com http://www.autonews.com/subscribe.htm http://www.autonewseurope.com http://www.automobilwoche.de

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - May 12, 2008

Automotive News - May 12, 2008 Factories Punish Rogue Exporters U.S. Firms Sink on Supplier List Clarke: Buyers Don't Know Saturn Brand Greer Takes Top Sales Post At Automotive News Sonic Sues Mercedes-Benz Fiat Ponders Mexico Plant Ford: Wait on Kerkorian Going Green: It's No Longer An Option LaSorda Reaffirms Axle Plant Plan Chrysler: Jeep Seats From India Make Sense Toyota Exec: Maybe It's Time to Raise a Prius Hybrid Gamily Chevy Traverse, Ford Flex Face Off This Year As U.S. Waits, Chrysler Sends Cars Made in China to Mexico Nissan Plans Wide Range of Electric Vehicles Honda: Sales are Flat, But Market Share Soars Kia to Bring Small Car to U.S. Changing Models Yearly Created Object of Desire Fla. Law: Automakers Can't Force Dealer Upgrades Partnership Seeks "Premier" Stores GM Payback for Axle Bailout: Lower Prices, Innovation UAW Vote May Be Nearing a Honda's Alabama Plant Suddenly, Small Was Big in April GM's Big Problem: Too Many Brands Irvin Was Smart, Friendly, Helpful Dealers Are Tuned in to Absorption Figures Dealers Should Sell Alternative Fuels Museum Funding is Bold Watch Your Car-Truck Inventory In Tough Times Dealers Must Coddle Customers Ford's Challenge: Long-term Reliability Nissan N.A. Unit Gets New Head of Communications Maserati North America Taps Luxury-Segment Veteran Eulberg as CEO Former GM PR Chief Joins BMW Nissan: N.A. Off the Hot Seat VW Uses Free Service to Improve Sales, Image Shops Cited For Labor Violations Survey: Consumers Like Indie Shops Report Cites Trends in Repair Costs Aftermarket Center Opens at Mich. College Dealers Mich. Stores Merge Under Project Genesis VW is Europe's Top Seller Honda Exec Red-Flags Detroit 3 Aid Court: Auction Not Liable for Truck Defect Retail Personnel Canada Sales Post 3.8 Percent Gain in April Chrysler Asks Dealers to Donate to Museum Obituaries Complaint Will Delay UAW Revote at JCI Plant Supplier Deals are Smaller, Fewer GM's Truck Inventories Up Despite Strike Profits Up at Superior Industries Autobytel Post $2 MIllion Loss eBay Motors Courts Automakers Ford Touts 6-Speed Transmissions Toyota Raises Some Prices No Pickup for Hyundai, Kia April Output Drops 7.8 Percent Trustee Must Untangle the Chamco Debacle Scientists Say Chysler's Gas Plan is Just a Dodge From Cookie Sales to Auto Dough? In Europe, Small SUVs Soar; GM's Snore Daimler Seems to Be Betting On Peace in Iraq When Soccer Booms, VW Will Be Ready Molder AMP is a Case Study in Auto-Suppliers' Travail Spinoff Dismatles ArvinMeritor Ambitions GKN Driveline to Grow in China Kia Supplier Builds Ga. Plant BorgWarner Adds Turbo Capacity Supplier Personnel Supplier IAC Consolidates Operations and Know-How Mann + Hummel Sees Growth

Automotive News - May 12, 2008

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