Collision Repair Newsfeed

Industry Related News from Various News Sources

January 2004 Press Releases and Articles:

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January 30, 2004

Keystone Automotive Industries to Report Fiscal 2004 Third Quarter Results (PrimeZone) Charles J. Hogarty, president and chief executive officer, and John M. Palumbo, chief financial officer, will host an investor conference call the same day to discuss the company's financial results and operations for the quarter.
Travelers sets March 19 for St. Paul deal vote (Reuters) Travelers Property Casualty Corp. said on Thursday its planned $16.4 billion purchase by insurer St. Paul Cos. Inc. could be completed by the second quarter of 2004.
State Farm Rating (week.com) A new J.D. Power and Associates survey ranks State Farm highest overall for customer satisfaction when it comes to getting policyholder back on the road after a car crash.
FullCircle Registry Announces Strategic Marketing Alliance With Safelite of America Inc. (PRNewswire) Emergency Notification Service Will Be Available to Over 20,000 Automobile Dealers in U.S.
Two Visteon Employees to be Honored by Society of Automotive Engineers (PRNewswire) Bryan Dodson, associate director of Product Development Quality Engineering, and Jack Stein, systems engineer, Advanced Cross-Systems Engineering, will be presented with the McFarland Award, inaugurated at the 1980 SAE World Congress.
Bumper crop of claims coming to auto body shops (Fayetteville Online) Ice storms turned roads into ice rinks, automobiles into bumper cars and a slow time of the year into rush hour for many businesses.

January 29, 2004

GMAC Insurance and OnStar Create Innovative Insurance Products (PRNewswire) GMAC Insurance and OnStar are partnering to create new and innovative insurance products for their joint customers. Under the collaboration, GMAC Insurance will utilize the capabilities of OnStar's in-vehicle safety and security system to offer OnStar subscribers unique insurance products and significant premium discounts.
CCC Information Services Group Inc. Announces 4th Quarter Earnings Webcast (Business Wire) The webcast will be available on Wednesday, February 27th at 11:00 a.m. EST -- A recording of the conference call will also be available on Wednesday, February 27th, beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST, and will be available through February 11th, at 11:59 a.m. EST.
Ruling – T.D.D. (Entertainment Law Digest) An auto body shop owner who just wanted to buy a jingle to advertise his business and then had to pay $5,000 to settle a copyright claim now finds owing another $65,000 in fees because he did not settle readily enough.
DaimlerChrysler Offers Ultra-Clean Passenger Cars (PRNewswire) DaimlerChrysler begins production this month of Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus sedans meeting California's stringent clean air standards, making them among the cleanest-running internal combustion vehicles in the world.
Garamendi claims bias in auto insurance pricing (San Diego Union Tribune) State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi said yesterday that auto insurance pricing guidelines used in California are discriminatory and can cause a wide discrepancy in the cost of insurance from one neighborhood to the next.
ArvinMeritor profit falls on costs of failed Dana buyout bid (PRNewswire) Troy-based ArvinMeritor had net income of $19 million, or 28 cents a share, for the first quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with $32 million, or 47 cents a share, a year ago.
Progressive's Q4 Profit 135% Higher Than Year Ago (Insurance Journal) Mayfield Village, Ohio-based vehicle insurer Progressive Corp. reported fourth-quarter 2003 net income of $357.8 million, or $1.63 per share, 135 percent higher than last year's $152.2 million, or 69 cents per share, in the fourth quarter.
State Farm exec quits, considers mayoral run (Bloomington Pantagraph) Steve Stockton, vice president strategic resources, announced Monday he had elected to take early retirement to explore opportunities for community service, including researching a possible candidacy for mayor in 2005.
St. Paul earnings fall, Travelers posts profit (Reuters) St. Paul, which agreed to buy Travelers in November for $16.4 billion in stock, was stung by a $228 million charge to boost reserves for medical malpractice claims. The larger Travelers also took a $269.4 million charge to add to reserves at businesses including its Gulf Insurance, which writes directors and officers liability coverage.
Hartford fourth-quarter earnings rise (Newsday) Records set in property-casualty and life operations; a 76 percent increase in net income from 2002
Auto salvage yards come to car restorers' rescue (Fort Wayne News Sentinel) When John Shuck bought a 1953 Chevrolet Club Coupe from a friend a few years ago, he knew its restoration was going to take a lot of work and some hard-to-find parts.
More job concerns in Greenville (WOOD-TV) At stake is some 310 jobs at car parts maker, Federal Mogul. The company says the decision is because it can find other people to do the same job for a lot less money.
LKQ Corporation Acquires Metro East Salvage, Inc. (Business Wire) LKQ Corporation announced that it has acquired Metro East Salvage, Inc., a privately held company that operates a recycled OEM automotive replacement parts facility. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

January 28, 2004

Body shops brace for surge of demand (News Observer) More than 7,000 wrecks have been reported statewide since the first snowflake fell Sunday. -- Consumers are likely to encounter higher prices, whether they pay directly or indirectly through increased auto-insurance premiums.
Group 1 Automotive's Chief Financial Officer Steps Down (Business Wire) Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, announced that its executive vice president - chief financial officer, Scott L. Thompson, has resigned effective March 31, 2004. Thompson has decided to step down in order to spend time with his father, who is in poor health. Michael J. Poppe, vice president - corporate controller, will be promoted to the new position of chief accounting officer. Poppe has served as corporate controller of the company since 1997. A search for a new chief financial officer is currently under way.
Weather spawns mostly fender benders (Greensboro News Record) In Greensboro, police responded to more than 200 wrecks. -- The Highway Patrol responded to more than 280 wrecks in the past two days in Guilford and surrounding counties. -- Body shops expect cars to pour in starting later this week.
NYSID Reports Record Fraud Fighting Year (Insurance Journal) The Bureau racked up a record number of fraud arrests, put more fraud investigators in prosecutors' offices, and had a key a court decision on Regulation 68 upheld, strengthening its commitment to identifying and stopping fraud.

January 27, 2004

Ford F-150 sets a new standard (Detroit News) Who would have thought America's modern workhorse, the pickup truck, would ever boast a better interior than many a car sold today? Well, the day has arrived and the truck in question is Ford's F-150, new for 2004.
Tower CEO sees more consolidations (Detroit News) Kathleen Ligocki, CEO of auto parts maker Tower Automotive Inc., predicts that there will be another round of restructurings and consolidations among auto parts makers looking for an advantage in an intensely competitive market.
DuPont Profit Shows 82 Percent Rise (Reuters) DuPont Co., the second-largest U.S. chemicals maker, said Tuesday its fourth-quarter profit rose 82 percent after recording a large gain, and forecast that resurgent business will fuel its results next year.
GM To Invest $240 Million In Brazil, Creating 1,500 Jobs (Dow Jones) The U.S. giant said Tuesday it would use the factory, to build and export a car starting 2006. The model isn't yet known.
The Most Expensive Cars To Insure (Forbes) This year, more than ten million U.S. households will buy a new vehicle. But while consumers may spend a lot of time researching which automobile they want to buy, few consider how much it will cost them to insure--which could be a lot more than they realize.
NHTSA Opens Investigation Into Crown Vic Axle Fractures (Dow Jones) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into 2003 model year Crown Victorias after two police fleets reported unusual axle wear on a "significant" number of their police cars.
Automobile insurance, safety data are right at your fingertips (Fort Worth Star Telegram) Figuring out the safety record of your vehicle, along with its injury, collision and theft rates is now just a click away on the Internet.
Taking a risk (Battle Creek Enquirer) More and more, girls are entering classes such as auto mechanics, auto collision repair and welding.
Safeco 4th-Quarter Earnings Nearly Triple (Reuters) Safeco, a property and casualty insurer, on Monday said its quarterly earnings nearly tripled, driven by higher insurance rates and improved investment returns, and its shares jumped on the news.
Federman & Sherwood Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against General Motors (PRNewswire) A class action lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on behalf of purchasers of 1999 through 2003 model year GM vehicles with 3.1, 3.4, 4.8, 5.3, 5.7(LS1), 6.0 or 8.1 liter engines exhibiting piston slap.
25 charged with insurance fraud (Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin) False claims, staged accidents focus of upstate sweep

January 23, 2004

Steel Prices Jump, Spurring Protests From Customers (Dow Jones) Steel companies are passing on double-digit price increases to their customers, prompting protest from buyers, including General Motors Corp., about both the pace of the run-up and the addition of supplemental surcharges to existing contracts, Friday's Wall Street Journal reported.
Philadelphia latest to sue Ford over police cars (Reuters) The city of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Ford Motor Co.demanding that the automaker fix its Crown Victoria police cars, which have been involved in the deaths of at least 16 U.S. police officers.
Visteon posts heavy loss on restructuring (Reuters) Auto parts maker Visteon Corp. on Friday reported a large fourth-quarter loss due to a restructuring of its deals with its largest customer and former parent, Ford Motor Co., aimed at making Visteon more competitive.
Earl Scheib Elects Robert Smiland as Independent Chairman of the Board and Adopts an Independent Nominating Process (Business Wire) Mr. Smiland has been a member of the Board of Directors since December 2001. Mr. Smiland is Chief Executive Officer of Smiland Paint Company and a partner in Smiland Land Company. Mr. Smiland also serves in various fiduciary capacities in a number of civic and community organizations, including as a Trustee of the University of California Foundation at Berkeley.
Ford Misses Target Of Cutting 6 Top Positions (Dow Jones) Ford spokeswoman Ann Marie Gattari confirmed that Ford now has 53 top executives. She said the number has not dipped to 46 since the announcement.
Technology Demand, Successfully Joined (33Metalproducing) Automakers are using tailor-welded blanks to make cars safer, lighter, and more environmentally efficient; tailored blanks have become the future of automaking.
Warrantech Selects TitleGuard to Provide Insured Vehicle Title History Information for its Independence Vehicle Service Contracts on Used Cars (PRNewswire) Warrantech's New Service Contract Protects Consumers Against the Unknown Future While Insuring Them Against a Vehicle's Hidden DMV Past
Slight cut approved for two auto insurance companies (Times Picayune) The Insurance Rating Commission approved the combined rate decrease for United Services Auto Association, which provides automobile insurance for military officers and their families, and USAA Casualty Insurance Co., which insures mainly enlisted personnel and their dependents.
Auto Parts Maker Adds 300 Jobs To E-town Plant (WAVE, KY) Dana Corp., which builds frames for the popular Ford F-150 and sport utility vehicles, now employees 1,190 people.
Autoliv Financial Report Q4, 2003; Record Sales, Earnings and Cash Flow (PrimeZone) Autoliv Inc. -- the world-wide leader in automotive safety systems -- reported record sales, earnings and cash flow for the three-month period which ended December 31, 2003. Consolidated sales rose by 25% to $1,476 million including an organic growth of 9% compared to a 1% decline in the underlying vehicle production.
Companies Benefit When Employees Die (Fox News) The practice of company-owned life insurance has gained the nickname "janitor insurance" and "dead peasant policy" and caught the attention of some lawmakers and attorneys, who say firms shouldn't be capitalizing on their employees' deaths.
Auto Insurance Premiums Higher On The 'Wrong Side' Of ZIPCODE (NBC4.TV) Could you be paying more for car insurance than your friend who lives across the valley? A new report says you could be -- despite the fact that the practice is banned.

January 22, 2004

Restructuring, Visteon deal hurt Ford's 4Q results (AP) Ford Motor Co. lost $793 million in the fourth quarter, $663 million more than a year ago, as charges for continued restructuring in Europe and a new agreement with its top supplier hurt the bottom line.
ADP Reports Second Fiscal Quarter Results (Business Wire) Revenues Increase 9%, EPS Declines 12% - Fiscal 2004 EPS Guidance Narrowed to $1.53 - $1.58
Auto body shop blast kills one, critically injures two others (Miami Herald) MIAMI - An unexplained explosion at an auto body shop fatally injured one man and left two others in extremely critically condition, rescue officials said Wednesday.
Jaguar Continues To Utilize I-CAR Training For Repair Of New Aluminum XJ (I-CAR) In 2003, with the assistance of Jaguar franchise retailers and retailer nominated independent body shops, Jaguar North America has established the world's largest aluminum repair network to support the 2004 XJ.
Products claim to help clear snow, sleet from windshield (Lawrence Journal World) According to PPG, what makes Aquapel special is how it makes water droplets bead up and roll right off a treated windshield. -- At the recent 2003 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, one of the highlights was Guardian Industries' RainBan-treated glass.
Lear Seat Quality Improves for Fourth Consecutive Year In J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Seat Quality Report(SM) (PRNewswire) For the fourth straight year, Lear Corporation showed improvement in automotive seat quality based on the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Seat Quality Report(SM), an analysis of consumer experiences with the quality, design and features of automotive seats.
Non-profit's auto shop aids low-income families (The Arizona Republic) Labor's Community Service Agency, a non-profit group helps low-income and homeless families stabilize and succeed.
Snap-on sees lower profit on higher costs, soft markets (Business Journal) Its worldwide equipment business posted a $6 million decline in operating income, related primarily to its North American collision repair business. A corporate restructuring added $12 million in costs, including $6 million for the closure of two U.S. hand-tool plants.
GM lets Lynn Myers slip way, one of its real 'car guys' (Detroit News) At the moment, I'm having a hard time figuring out how two young men with a total of 10 years experience between them in the auto industry have been plugged into such prominent positions at the world's largest auto company while a woman with more than 30 years under her belt at GM is taking "early retirement."
Delphi Mexico sees car part sales stable in 2004(Reuters) U.S. auto parts maker Delphi Corp. said on Wednesday it expects sales at its Mexican unit to be around $9.0 billion this year, similar to the level in 2003.
Kerkorian Disputes Daimler Suit Evidence (AP) Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian on Wednesday challenged the findings of a probe into an evidence fumble that halted the trial of his fraud lawsuit against DaimlerChrysler AG.
Progressive Quarterly Report Soars (Reuters) Auto insurer Progressive Corp. on Wednesday said its quarterly earnings soared, helped by higher insurance rates.

January 21, 2004

Nissan Motor To Recall 76,000 Vehicles (Dow Jones) In a report presented to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Nissan said eight of the nine models were recalled in 2001 due to defects in engine parts but are being recalled again as other parts have been found to be the cause of defects.
Lear opens books for SEC inquiry (Detrtoit News) Auto interiors maker Lear Corp. said it is cooperating “fully” with a Securities and Exchange Commission probe of employment and business practices involving relatives of the supplier’s directors and officers.
Auto classes in high gear (Jackson Sun) Berry's auto tech program is certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence and participates in the Automotive Youth Educational Systems. AYES places students with body shops and dealerships for summer jobs and additional experience.
Body shop owner says rivals helped foil expansion (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) A Waukesha County body shop owner who wants to expand into Mequon says officials rejected his plans after competitors - hiding "under the guise of their residency" in the city - pressured them into denying the project.
AAA Names ADP Claims Services Group Preferred Supplier, Extends Benefits To AAA Clubs (PRNewswire) ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced today that AAA has chosen ADP as the preferred provider of computerized estimating systems for AAA Approved Auto Body shops across the United States.
GM to take over S.Africa's Delta Motor Corp (Reuters) GM, the world's largest automaker, has a 49 percent stake in the Eastern Cape-based automotive manufacturer, acquired in 1997 when it returned to South Africa after 11 years. Negotiations for the takeover of Delta Motor Corporation resumed last year.
Suzuki Motor sees car output up 2 pct in 2004 (Reuters) Suzuki, owned one-fifth by General Motors Corp, expects to build 1.935 million vehicles excluding motorcycles this year, with a three percent rise in domestic output to 949,000 units. It expects overseas output to remain unchanged at 986,000 units
Asbury Automotive Group Announces Changes in Its Board of Directors (PRNewswire) Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today announced that the Board of Directors has elected Michael J. Durham as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Thomas R. Gibson as Chairman Emeritus.
The Cobalt Group Expands and Extends Agreement with Subaru; Leading car company to enhance national parts locator database with Cobalt's PartsVoice (Business Wire) The Cobalt Group today announced they have expanded and extended their agreement with leading car company Subaru of America, Inc. Under the terms of the new agreement, Subaru of America, Inc. will utilize Cobalt's PartsVoice(R), a comprehensive parts locating solution for automotive dealers, to enhance its Subaru National Parts Locator (SNPL).
Magna announces management changes (PRNewswire) Magna International Inc. announced that, effective this morning, Ms. Belinda Stronach has resigned as its President and Chief Executive Officer and that Mr. Frank Stronach has assumed the position of Interim President.
OEConnection Introduces D2D Plus(SM), a New Inventory Management and Idle Inventory Reduction Tool for Automotive Parts Businesses (PRNewswire) OEConnection, LLC, provider of online supply chain solutions to automotive dealerships in the original equipment replacement parts business, announced today the introduction of a new parts department productivity tool, D2D Plus(SM). The D2D Plus tool is designed to help parts departments increase profits, reduce idle inventory and carrying costs, increase inventory turns, and better control stock levels and parts assortment.
ASA Announces Dates, Location, Theme for CARS 2004 (ASA) The 2004 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will be held Nov. 4-6 at the Flamingo Las Vegas. CARS 2004, sponsored by the Automotive Service Association's Mechanical Division, is an official event of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), held annually in Las Vegas.
Ariba to Host Free Online Seminar on Spend Management Visibility; Executives from PPG Industries, Aberdeen Research, and Ariba will Showcase Best Practices from PPG Industries (PRNewswire) Ariba(R), Inc., the leading Enterprise Spend Management (ESM) solutions provider, announced it will host a free online seminar entitled: "Spend Management Visibility Drives Purchasing Success -- Best Practices from PPG Industries," at 8:00 a.m. PST/11:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 22, 2004.
New auto law could be smooth ride (Philadelphia Inquirer) Before New Jersey lawmakers adopted California's strict auto-emissions standards last week, car dealers painted a dire picture of low-pollution vehicles gathering dust on showroom floors.
Insurance Auto Auctions Announces Opening of Greenfield Facility in Tucson, Arizona (PRNewswire) This new 16-acre facility will provide needed coverage in the southern part of the state and will leverage IAA's existing location in Phoenix. The new facility will also improve IAA's regional coverage, complementing other existing locations in southern California and New Mexico.

January 20, 2004

Corrosion Away (AutoGlass Magazine) A digital camera has become one of the “tickets of entry” into the business of offering corrosion treatment as an additional service performed by auto-glass shops, said Dale Malcolm, technical services supervisor for Dow Automotive in Dayton, OH, during a presentation with Mark Rizzi, owner of ACR Glass in Alliance, NE.
Suppliers may drop by 50% (Detroit News) The Original Equipment Suppliers Association predicts half will go under by 2010 over fierce cost-cut pressure by automakers.
Corporate 'spies' cull data at auto show (Detroit News) Automakers' agents overhear and record reactions people have to the new products
Plastics firm prospers under pressure (Detroit News) Last November, Jeffrey Owen figured there was no time like the present to buy an auto parts company — despite a faltering economy and pricing pressures that are squeezing auto suppliers’ profits.
Delphi Continues Strong Cash Generation in Q4, CY 2003 (PRNewswire) "Our strategy continues to focus on strong operating cash flow through growth in our non-GM revenues, which were up 16 percent for the calendar year, as well as our focus on operational efficiencies and aggressive structural cost reduction efforts," said J.T. Battenberg III, Delphi's chairman, CEO and president.
Automotive supplier set to build plant in Greenville (Biloxi Sun Herald, MS) A Michigan-based automotive supplier has announced plans to build a $35 million plant in Greenville, creating 500 jobs.
Auto show is 'successful' despite snow (Lansing State Journal) More than 300,000 people visited the show on its final weekend, pushing attendance near or just past the 800,000 mark.
NAMIC Applauds Mass. Governor's Call for Auto Insurance Reform (Insurance Journal) In his State of the State address, the governor blamed the state's regulatory system for the high cost of auto insurance suffered by Massachusetts' families. "Our system is so inefficient that most of the major national insurance companies won't do business here. So, our premiums just keep going up," Romney stated. "This is the year for auto insurance reform."
IRC Study Reports Skyrocketing Auto Injury Losses Despite Drop in Serious Injuries (Insurance Journal) In the past five years, increases in the average amounts that auto injury claimants report for expenses stemming from their injuries, particularly among personal injury protection and medical payments first-party claimants, are nearly double the annualized growth in medical inflation. Additionally, they are three times higher than increases in general inflation.
Proposed bill could mean higher auto insurance rates (Times-Herald, CA) A proposed auto insurance reform measure that would change the rating formula to put less emphasis on drivers' places of residence might mean higher rates for motorists in semi-rural areas such as Solano and Yolo counties, according to state Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Solano.

January 19, 2004

Ford offers real-life training (Detroit News) Students are gaining real-life engineering and teamwork experiences, thanks to a Ford Motor Co. Fund program at West Bloomfield High School that will serve as a blueprint for other schools nationally.
Hummer's success drawing copycats (Indy Star) Ford and Chrysler working on own rugged rivals; GM isn't standing still with its profitable Indiana-built line.
Don't look for Isuzu in U.S. after '05 (Journal and Courier) American Isuzu Motors Inc. has closed the books on a disastrous domestic sales year.
Auto dealership pays millions to settle lawsuit (Coshocton Tribune, OH) A Ricart auto dealership affiliate will pay up to $17 million to settle a federal class-action lawsuit accusing it of wrongfully charging customers for a theft-deterrent system and misleading them about finance charges.
Auto stores pay back overtime after audit (Rapid City Journal, SD) W.E. Lahr Co., which operates a chain of automobile parts stores in Wyoming and four other states, has paid more than $131,000 in back overtime wages to 127 employees, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
GM hopes changes bring smooth launch (Warren Tribune Chronicle, OH) For all the auto industry's favorite gadgets and buzzwords, union and management leaders say the key to a smooth launch of the brand-new Chevrolet Cobalt in October is helping the roughly 4,000 workers avoid a repeat of the infamous 1995 launch.
ST. Louis auto industry still could be headed for crash (The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO) The auto industry suffers from excess capacity, and foreign automakers are opening more U.S. plants to build light trucks, which are the specialty of the assembly plants in St. Louis.
Nippon Auto Paint Output In Thailand To Rise (Nikkei/Yahoo) Nippon Paint Co. plans to invest Y300 million to increase production of automobile paint in Thailand, primarily to serve the foreign automakers.
Which vehicle gives drivers the most legroom? (USA Today) The next time your buddy brags about the legroom in his big bad sport-utility vehicle, tell him he might have been duped.
AGRSS Starts Series of Meeting With Insurance Companies (AutoGlass Magazine) The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) Council is beginning a series of individual meetings with key members of the insurance industry to help educate them about the standard and the benefits to consumers of using AGRSS-registered companies for auto glass replacement work.
Insurance fraud is big business (Montery Herald) Five arrested on suspicion of making false claims.
Leach wins release from Ford (Detroit Free Press) Former Ford Motor Co. executive Martin Leach won his controversial case against the Dearborn automaker Friday, allowing him to seek employment with other automakers despite a non-compete clause he signed with Ford.
Re-Structuring for Renewal (AutoBodyOnline) Regardless of how many panels are being repaired, a frame or unibody that is out of alignment must be corrected or a repair won't be complete. Similarly a procedural or marketing change must be based on a structural change.

January 16, 2004

Nebraska Legislative Bill 849 FOR AN ACT relating to insurance; to provide requirements and duties relating to motor vehicle repairs.
Auto classifications dupe drivers (AJC) As a matter of professional pride, magicians don't tell audiences how their tricks are performed because it would spoil the illusion. -- Not to be outdone, the auto industry is learning a few tricks of its own.
PPG Industries 4th-quarter profit rises (Reuters) PPG Industries Inc., which makes glass and chemicals, on Thursday said fourth-quarter profit rose, helped by increased volumes, higher prices for its commodity chemicals and the the strengthening of the euro.
Michigan firm sues Toyota, Hyundai (Detroit News) Toyota Motor Co.p.’s U.S. unit and Hyundai Motor Co. have been sued by a Michigan auto parts company that alleges the Asian automakers infringed a patent for an interior light dimmer.
Sales of redesigned Durango halted because of throttle problem (Detroit News) Chrysler Group Tuesday ordered its dealers to stop selling its redesigned 2004 Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle because of a defect that could cause the vehicle to crash.
Clinton plant site eyed by auto-parts maker (Knoxville News Sentinel, TN) Anderson County commissioners Tuesday will be asked to chip in up to $270,000 to match state grants for an unnamed industry eyeing a location in the Clinton/Interstate 75 Industrial Park.
ST. Johns tries to save factory jobs (Lansing State Journal, MI) Federal-Mogul wants breaks from labor, city
Court invalidates auto insurance discount law (AP) LOS ANGELES - A judge invalidated a state law Thursday that would have allowed discounts for longtime auto insurance customers who switch insurers.
Report: Auto insurers profited (Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ) The auto insurance industry in New Jersey - where drivers, on average, pay the nation's highest rates - scored healthy profits over most of the past decade while publicly complaining it lost money, according to a confidential report viewed Thursday.

January 15, 2004

Federal Court Stops Enforcement of Texas H.B. 1131 Provisions; U.S. District Court Judge Calls H.B. 1131 Restrictions ``Unlawful'' (Business Wire) The United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted Allstate Insurance Company and Sterling Autobody Centers' request for a preliminary injunction against enforcement of several provisions of Texas House Bill 1131, saying the restrictions violate Allstate's and Sterling's First Amendment rights to free speech.
Suppliers, automakers turn to freight as cost-saver (Detroit News) Controlling the expense of transporting raw materials and finished products could provide a new means of cost savings for auto suppliers as automakers still pressure their vendors to reduce prices.
Missouri Forms Group To Keep Auto Manufacturing Jobs (St Louis Today) Gov. Bob Holden on Wednesday created a privately funded, nonprofit corporation meant to bolster the state's auto industry, looking for the partnership to "work together to keep this industry strong and vibrant in Missouri."
Tiers of a Crown - The Ever-Changing Face of Automotive Tier Supplier Economics (Business Wire) In the early 1990's, automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers' (OEM) began to rethink their overall operating premise.
New Toyota hybrid auto parks itself (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA) Your hands don't even need to be touching the steering wheel for it to start spinning back and forth aggressively, all by itself - slowly guiding the car into the parking spot.
Unfair terms on parts demand drastic action - VBRA (Auto Industry, UK) The Vehicle Body Repairer's Association (VBRA) has issued a news release noting it had previously alerted its members, and the rest of the collision repair industry, to the fact that some vehicle manufacturers would be reducing their parts margins to their main agents and how this would impact on the discounts that would be available to motor traders including body repairers. The VBRA reports repairers are reporting that discounts are being reduced.

January 14, 2004

Chrysler recalls 2.7 million cars to fix shifter (Reuters) DaimlerChrylser's Chrysler division said on Tuesday it was recalling 2.7 million cars to fix a potential problem with the floor-mounted gear shift.
Tower Auto CEO Seeks Collaboration On Price Cuts -Report (Dow Jones) Tower Automotive Inc. Chief Executive Kathleen Ligocki said auto makers need to work with their suppliers to cut out waste, rather than just insist on price cuts.
OEConnection Takes D2DLink(R) Nationwide for Nissan Dealers (PRNewswire) The D2DLink online service helps dealers to streamline their parts procurement process and helps parts counter people to locate needed parts quickly and efficiently. This easy-to-use parts locator provides dealerships with daily-updated parts inventory and e-commerce ordering capabilities, and is available to participating dealerships 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who's On First: Chevy Or Ford? (Forbes) The big war in the automobile world used to be Ford versus Chevy.
Auto shop owner uses billboard to blast city officials (Lacrosse Tribune, WI) John Reget is mad at the city of La Crosse. And he's spent big bucks to let everybody know it.
Students write estimates for repairs and complete the work (Youngstown Vindicator, OH) Body shops and collision repair facilities are where many students get jobs after graduation.
Auto supplier drops $160 million Salem Township plan (Detroit News) Johnson Controls Inc. canceled its plans to build a $160 million headquarters for nearly 2,000 employees in its automotive group, citing the project’s timing and costs.
AAA brings trusted name to auto repair industry (Detroit News) Chapters recognize consumer need, open independent shops

January 13, 2004

Keystone Automotive Acquires Auto Parts Distributor in Toronto (PrimeZone) Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. today announced that it has acquired Quinte Bumper & Fender, Inc., a privately held company based in Ontario, Canada, that distributes automobile collision replacement parts. Quinte recorded sales of approximately $8.7 million CAD ($6.5 million USD) during its most recent fiscal year. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Daimler cleared of concealing evidence in lawsuit (Reuters) DaimlerChrysler was cleared on Monday of allegations that it concealed evidence from billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, who is suing the automaker over the 1998 link-up between Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corp.
GM recalls 824,000 cars to fix power steering (Reuters) 824,000 cars built from January 1996 through October 1997 are being recalled.
Glass shops shops can make repairs, bill insurance (The Morning Call, PA) ''Many people think that calling their insurance agent is the place to start, but today you can accomplish the complete job with just one call to a quality glass shop,'' according to Jack Braden, president of Jack's Glass of Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading.
Windows Auto demo (Seattle PI) The computer system lets you use voice commands to do all sorts of things hands-free while driving, like finding points of interest, making phone calls and getting driving directions. In the concept car, the technology works via an onboard computer running Microsoft software.
Survey Finds New Car Owners Knowledgeable About Transmissions, Air Bags and Cylinders, but 'Out Of Gas' When It Comes to Auto Insurance (PRNewswire) Progressive Survey Reveals What Consumers Pay Attention to When Buying a New Car; Most and Least Expensive 2004 Vehicles to Insure Are Announced
As manager, you can make attitude a friend or enemy (JS Online) The way we manage a business, a department or a service depends greatly on the attitude, the frame of mind, we bring to the situation. We can be our own supporters or our own adversaries when it comes to creating that frame of mind.

January 12, 2004

Phony claims boost auto insurance rates (The State) The fraudulent claims are most prevalent in parts of New York, New Jersey, Florida, California and Massachusetts, largely because of organized crime rings.
Shop owners arrested on fraud charges (Monterey County Herald, CA) The Monterey County Sheriff's Office has arrested five business owners in a sting that concluded one of the largest undercover insurance fraud investigations in the county.
Auto repair group awards scholarships (Sioux City Journal, IA) The Siouxland Auto Repair Association (SARA) has awarded two scholarships to students enrolled in the auto collision repair technology program of Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC).
Moving in the right direction (Bloomington Pantagraph, IL) During the past 2 1/2 years, State Farm Insurance Cos. has spent a lot of time in front of the mirror.
They got them ol' insurance Blues (Wilmington Morning Star, NC) Anybody's who's been hassled by a health insurance company lately – and who hasn't? – will be rooting for the N.C. Medical Association in its lawsuit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Local firm is latest to sue Ford (St Petersburg Times) In a sudden acceleration lawsuit, a minivan's malfunctioning cruise control is blamed for a woman's paralysis.
DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes Recalls 33,000 Cars (Detroit News) Mercedes-Benz, a division of DaimlerChrysler AG, Friday said it is recalling about 33,000 cars worldwide to check for possible malfunctions in seat belt buckles.
Madras Auto Repair Shop Bookkeeper Arrested In Embezzlement (Bend.com, OR) The bookkeeper for a Madras auto-repair shop was arrested Friday night, accused of embezzling more than $15,000 from the business over a 16-month period, police said.
Ford Shelby Cobra surprised the auto show (Duluth Budgeteer News, MN) The traditional United States “Big Three” automotive manufacturers are trusting their oldest icons to refocus their aim on the car market; the question is, have they waited too long or can they make up for lost time just by making such a decision?
Claims tied to disparity in auto insurance rates (Boston Globe) The town of Plymouth is 125 square miles. Hull is about 2 square miles. Plymouth has about 835 miles of road, Hull has 53 miles. But guess where you pay more for auto insurance.

January 9, 2004

Gentlemen, start your lobbying (The Hill) Auto shops prepare to battle carmakers over information for repair work
Visteon sees return to profit in 2004 (Reuters) Automotive parts supplier Visteon Corp. said on Thursday it expects to return to profits this year after suffering record losses in 2003 due to restructuring charges.
Auto Glass Industry Publication, NAGC Update Changes the Name to Salient (Salient) According to Custer, "NAGC," the company’s acromyn for National Automotive Glass Consultants, is repeatedly getting confused with another company that establishes the list prices for the auto glass industry. The National Auto Glass Specifications, referred to as NAGS, publishes periodic books and CD’s with suggested retail list prices of auto glass parts as well as information that enables someone to look up a particular part.
Finishline Body and Paint Shop changes hands (Zwire) New name - Finishline Body and Paint Shop. New owner - Matt Hidlebaugh. Everything else - staying the same.
Female car buyers seek features that fit their lives (Detroit News) Despite research that shows women purchase 50 percent of new cars and influence 80 percent of car-buying decisions, their preferences in vehicle design often have been overlooked by the auto industry.
Will success breed arrogance at Toyota? Only time will tell (Detroit News) Can the cultures of Toyota and Nissan resist the arrogance of success that have badly damaged each of Detroit’s automakers? And can the Americans who work for those companies in this market — by far the most important for Japan’s Big 3 — resist falling prey to the overweening pride that has often crippled GM, Ford and Chrysler?
PPG Unveils Latest Colors and Textures in TrendCast Styling Kit (Business Wire) The TrendCast kit offers more than 200 examples of next-generation color and effects in finishing technologies. It also demonstrates the newest textures to enhance the user experience.
Dana Corporation Achieves Industry First with Five-Layer Thermal Shielding on New Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey Minivans (PRNewswire) Dana Corporation announced today it is providing a new five-layer thermal-acoustic protective shielding (TAPS) for the exhaust manifold on the new Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. This is believed to be the first application of a five-layer fully isolated TAPS on any vehicle in the automotive industry.
Autoliv plans to close Dutch facility (PrimeZone) Autoliv BV. in Landgraaf (Netherlands), which is a subsidiary of the world-leading supplier of automotive safety systems, Autoliv Inc., plans to end all of its activities by the end of 2004. This is due to the pricing pressure in the automotive industry and Autoliv's strategy to meet this pressure by moving more production to Eastern Europe and other low-labor-cost countries.
No decision yet on State Farm offices in Tulsa (KOTV) Tulsa could be in danger of losing another company. State Farm is in the midst of reorganizing its Central Zone, which includes offices in Tulsa, Missouri and Louisiana. One or even two of those offices could close.
DuPont Ordered to Restore Wages and Jobs to Workers in Western New York (PRNewswire) After 15 days of hearings, the judge found that under federal labor law, the 53 workers who lost their jobs as a result of DuPont subcontracting the milling and finishing work in July of 2001 must be returned to work and paid for all lost wages and benefits. DuPont was also ordered to re-install the milling and finishing machinery that had been dismantled in 2001.
Police uncover latest 'chop shop' in Glendale (The Arizona Republic) At least $150,000 worth of parts was discovered. -- The inventory included 19 air safety bags.
Jury: Auto plant death accidental, avoidable (Bloomington Pantagraph) Jurors ruled the death avoidable because Mitsubishi did not have better safety procedures, and Foster was out of his immediate work area when he was killed.

January 8, 2004

Auto shop owners, workers arraigned on fraud charges (Whittier Daily News) Arraignments took place Wednesday for most of the owners and employees of auto repair shops in La Puente, El Monte and other cities arrested last month on auto insurance fraud allegations.
Tow Companies And Auto Body Shops Doing A Booming Business (KOMO, WA) Tow companies and auto body shops are burning the midnight oil trying to get to all those banged up cars.
Texas judge hears objections to Firestone settlement (Detroit News) A state district judge on Wednesday considered objections from critics who want changes made to a proposed $149 million settlement that would resolve 30 class-action lawsuits against Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire.
NHTSA: Safety wins as Big 3 focus on cars (Detroit News) Dr. Jeffrey Runge, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, specifically applauded Detroit automakers, who are rolling out more than 10 new passenger car models this year in an effort to reclaim lost share in the U.S. car market.
Judge Dents Buttafuoco Body Shop (New York Post) Joey Buttafuoco pleaded not guilty yesterday to a string of insurance-fraud charges, and a judge ordered the former Long Island lothario to steer clear of running his own auto-body shop.
Visteon Lighting System Complements 2005 Corvette (PRNewswire) Visteon Corporation will provide bright "eyes" in the form of High Intensity Discharge (HID) Projector headlamps as part of a full front and rear lighting system on the all new 2005 Chevrolet Corvette.
Cooperation emerges in deal to attract Geico (Business Journal) The deal to bring Geico Direct and its 2,500 jobs to Amherst is proving to be a very valuable lesson to the Buffalo Niagara region.
Officials confident Marshall will survive State Farm loss (Battle Creek Enquirer, MI) State Farm is leaving and revenue from the state is being cut.
Auto makers whistle past the graveyard (The Globe and Mail) At Detroit's International Auto Show, the major U.S. auto makers are busy unveiling all the shiny new cars and trucks they hope will bring them good fortune in 2004 -– and some industry analysts are even starting to feel a bit more optimistic about the Big Three and their prospects.
Council likely to reject plan to allow auto shops in recharge zone (My San Antonio) “If these auto dealers are allowed to operate paint and body shops, then the independent operators will rightfully be able to complain that they should be allowed the same right,” Alles said. -- The recharge zone is where surface water enters directly into the aquifer through caves, sinkholes and other openings.
Midas Completes 2003 Restructuring Actions on Schedule (Business Wire) Exceeds $33 Million Term Debt Reduction Target by $7 Million
Magna Announces 2004 Outlook (PRNewswire) Magna's products include: automotive interior and closure components, systems and modules through Intier Automotive Inc.; metal body systems, components, assemblies and modules through Cosma International; exterior and interior mirror and engineered glass systems through Magna Donnelly; fascias, front and rear end modules, plastic body panels, exterior trim components and systems, greenhouse and sealing systems, roof modules and lighting components through Decoma International Inc.; various engine, transmission and fueling systems and components through Tesma International Inc.; and a variety of drivetrain components and complete vehicle engineering and assembly through Magna Steyr.
Chrysler Head Is Optimistic About Outlook (Dow Jones) "Now we are there where we want to be," Mr. Zetsche said during in a presentation to automotive-industry analysts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "I'm finally satisfied. I wasn't ever before. That's the kind of satisfaction I was dreaming of."
Magellan RoadMate Series Redefines Portable Vehicle Navigation (Business Wire) First with Built-In, Nationwide Maps and WAAS-Enabled Accuracy; Magellan RoadMate Garners Industry Acclaim

January 7, 2004

Former Employees Sue Visteon, Say They Were Misled (Business Wire) Charging, among other counts, fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty, good faith and fair dealing.
AUTOSHOW-Ford says $1.5 bln in overhead costs cut so far (Reuters) Ford Motor Co.'s cost-cutting efforts have yielded nearly $1.5 billion in savings on overhead and other non-production costs over the past 18 months, company executives said on Tuesday.
Automotive supplier to open plant in Giles County (Review Appeal, TN) A Canadian automotive supplier will open an injection molding plant in Pulaski, creating up to 60 jobs, officials said Monday.
Poor driving conditions just what auto shops like (Tahoe Daily Tribune, CA) Campbell, who works at Welcome's Auto Body & Towing, had about 20 cars waiting for six employees to replace parts, pop dents and paint over scratches caused by winter accidents.
NHTSA: Safety wins as Big 3 focus on cars (Detroit News) The nation’s top automotive safety official — a prominent critic of rollover-prone SUVs — Tuesday praised the industry’s renewed emphasis on selling and enhancing the safety of passenger cars, which he said were the safest vehicles for Americans.
Ford, Nissan, Toyota vans do well in safety tests (Reuters) Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, and Toyota Sienna vans earned top ratings in driver and front passenger safety in frontal impact crash tests, the U.S. government said on Tuesday.
Auto business is in her blood (Roanoke.com) Sheena Reedy has been working hard at her father's body shop and hopes to one day take over the business.
Snow Accidents Can Be Costly For Consumers (KIROtv.com, WA) Fender benders between cars sliding in snow all across Western Washington created the busiest day of the year for auto body shops Tuesday.
PPG fire minor (Carlisle Sentinel, PA) The company was testing its oil fuel supply, a backup to be used if its natural gas supply fails. The system, located in PPG's "tank area," is checked every six to seven months, Schiappa says, but this was the first time a fire was started during the test.
Towing Companies Hit By Scam (WNNE-TV, VT) Authorities said a tow truck company in Newport, N.H., is the latest victim of a scam that has operated up and down the East Coast for more than four years.
Blanco offers $33 million to keep State Farm facility (Times-Picayune, LA) Blanco said besides making a pitch to keep the jobs in Monroe, she tried to persuade State Farm to move workers from Columbia or Tulsa to northeast Louisiana. The centers in Tulsa and Columbia each employ about 720 workers, Stephenson said.

January 6, 2004

Visteon Innovations Help 'Make Driving What It Should Be' (PRNewswire) Every consumer and automaker has a different definition of what driving should be. Visteon Corporation applies its experience, innovation and consumer research to deliver what the consumer expects with distinctive features for each make and model.
Analysts divided on Visteon's shares (Detroit News) Deal with Ford may improve supplier's financial position
Mazda MX-Micro Sport Concept Joins Five New Mazda Production Models at 2004 North American International Auto Show (PRNewswire) Mazda's Strongest Showroom in History on Display in Detroit
Apogee completes Harmon AutoGlass sale (Business Journal) Bloomington-based Apogee had put Harmon on the market in September and announced in November the division had been bought by Synergistic International Inc., doing business as Glass Doctor. Terms of the transaction were not released.
Ford Brings it at the LA Auto Show (Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords Magazine) Four vehicles, not previously seen on media days, provide a unique opportunity for the West Coast public to get an up close and personal look at these trend-setting cars.
EnTire Solutions, LLC, Joint Venture of Michelin and TRW Automotive, Announces Honda and Fiat Contracts for its Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (PRNewswire) Launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, EnTire Solutions, LLC is now supplying tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the 2004 Acura MDX luxury sport utility vehicle, and has also been selected by Fiat to provide advanced TPMS for a range of its upcoming European models.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Makes North American Debut (PRNewswire) The SLR features a full carbon fiber monocoque, crash structures and body panels as well as a 617-horsepower supercharged V8 that rockets the new SLR from zero to 60 miles per hour in under 3.8 seconds, and to a top speed exceeding 200 mph.
Tiny autos muscle way into spotlight (Detroit News) In an auto show stuffed with hulking pickups and supersize SUVs, the most refreshing new products come in small packages.
GM: No layoffs planned in '04 (Detroit News) A combination of cost reductions, productivity improvements and attrition at General Motors Corp. has been so effective the automaker will hold the line this year on job cuts, executives said Monday.
Whole '04 may be great sum in car parts (JSOnline) Analysts expect solid gains for suppliers' sales
12 hidden ways to save on auto insurance (MSN) Knowledge is power, and knowing some details about auto coverage can save you money. Here are some little-known insights about what's covered, how insurance companies tally up premiums and more.
Top 20 selling vehicles in U.S. through December (MSN) Total sales of the top 20 vehicles rose 1.6 percent or 90,342 units to 5,854,810.
Insurance agents association to target fraud, liability laws (Business Journal) The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc. has released a 2004 legislative agenda that includes fighting auto insurance fraud and changing the law as it pertains to liability for construction accidents.
Court Rules on Preliminary Injunction Request in Allstate Case (ASA) The U.S. District Court of North Texas, Dallas County, has ruled on the motion for a preliminary injunction as requested by the plaintiffs in Allstate Insurance Co. and Sterling Collision Centers Inc. v. Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas.

January 5, 2004

Nebraska Senators have their work cut out for them (Grand Island Independent, NE) Aguilar has plans to introduce two or three bills. One piece of legislation is a consumer protection bill that would prevent insurance companies from directing their clients to use certain auto repair shops for auto body and windshield work. -- "It's so your insurance company can't tell you where to go to get your car fixed," Aguilar said.
Auto show's new gadgets are wrapped in titanium (Detroit Free Press) Titanium gleams everywhere throughout the auto show. Every car manufacturer showed several cars in titanium.
Parts suppliers shift into overdrive (Detroit News) Companies alter way they do business to stay competitive
Ford awaits U.S. response to rugged revamped Bronco concept (Detroit News) S. America-built SUV shares little with old namesake
Pontiac Solstice gets the green light (Detroit News) GM unit will build roadster that was hit at 2002 auto show
Japanese automakers' latest concept: Size does matter (Detroit News) New vehicles target America's legions of truck, SUV lovers
Anatomy of the Geico deal (Buffalo News) State development officials working on the deal gave it the code name "Project Eagle."
GM Announces Its Latest Breakthrough Promotion (PRNewswire) General Motors introduced its Hot Button marketing program today, the latest in a line of ground-breaking marketing initiatives aimed at reaching consumers more effectively. Combining a breakthrough concept with tightly integrated marketing strategies, GM has created a first-of-a-kind program featuring the largest vehicle giveaway in history in a two-month period.
Alabama Lands on Top Automotive List (WFSA, AL) Automotive projects helped Alabama finish third among states in a trade magazine's annual rankings for business expansions. Alabama placed behind Virginia and South Carolina in Plants Sites and Parks magazine's 2003 survey. North Carolina was fourth, according to the rankings in the magazine's January issue.
Carmakers' competitive streaks soon could catch up with them (Detroit Free Press) Think of the 2004 North American International Auto Show as a delirious orgy of style, power and speed.
Corvette, Mustang revamped for '05, will make debut at Detroit auto show (The Mercury News) New versions of two icons of the American auto industry -- the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Corvette -- will be unveiled when the country's most-important auto show opens in Detroit this weekend.
Combat negatives with positive influencers (Business Journal) If anyone ever told you running or managing a business would be easy, let me assure you it isn't. You are always competing for customers and for market share, which means you are constantly trying to maintain the customer base you already have, while also attempting to take customers away from other businesses. If you accomplish this during a long period of time, you should succeed. If you don't, you will surely fail.
Despite costs, family-friendly benefits still growing trend (Business Journal) Helping employees find a happy medium between work responsibilities and their personal lives is all part of the growing trend of companies providing more family-friendly benefits. -- PPG's work-site intervention will provide depression education seminars, wellness programs and online-access to self-management support. The goal is to treat depression before it leads to disruptions at work and home.

January 2, 2004

More mergers seen in auto parts industry (National Post) Canadian automotive parts makers, suffering from continued cost pressures and weak profitability, can expect more mergers and acquisitions in the $30-billion per year industry, accounting firm KPMG LLP predicts. -- The survey found executives foresee a continued decline in global market share for U.S. brands, with more than half expecting General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit will continue to lose share over the next five years.
European auto sector ripe for consolidation (Reuters) Europe's auto sector is set for a bout of rapid consolidation over the next five years as firms battle to cut costs, with more cross-border deals between suppliers likely, according to a survey of industry executives.
Colma Creek didn't flood, but businesses still have damage (San Mateo County Times, CA) It was a deja vu Monday for two auto body repair shops next to Colma Creek.
New model stays true to American icon's legacy (Detroit News) Beloved Vette gets a face-lift
State Farm, Blanco talk Tuesday (Monroe News Star, LA) State Farm's chairman and top regional executive will each meet with Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco on Tuesday in Baton Rouge to discuss the future of the company's Monroe Operations Center and industry reforms in Louisiana.
With new models, GM's ready to bring it on (USA Today) The Los Angeles Auto Show is usually a showcase for import-car makers who view it as a more hospitable environment for their wares than the Detroit show a week later. But this year, it's General Motors (GM) dominating in L.A. with four new products.
Nissan to recall 276,000 Sentras for engine fix (Reuters) Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.will recall 276,000 Sentra cars to replace a faulty engine part, one of several vehicle recalls announced on Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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