Automobile Industry

"Interior of the Year" Awards & Ford Purchasing Panel Key Highlights

DETROIT, June 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th annual Auto Interiors Show opens tomorrow (Wednesday, June 4) at Detroit's Cobo Center. It brings together leading manufacturers and automotive design and engineering talent who will share their vision of the road ahead in styling, safety, recycling, smart-car technology for vehicle interiors, OEM-supplier relations and more.

Executives from GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Toyota's Design Center, and numerous Tier One interior suppliers such as Visteon, Faurecia, DuPont, TRW, Lear, Magna, JCI, Key Safety Systems, and many others will be participating on panels or giving keynotes. (For a complete conference and show schedule, see autointeriors.com)

29 May 2008 -- ISO 14001 certification (by the International Organization for Standardization) attests to a site’s commitment to continually improve its environmental management and reduce the ecological impact of its operations. Certification is issued on successful completion of an in-depth audit by independent accredited organizations (UTAC1 and SGS2, for Renault sites).

Highlights:
• Through wide-scale implementation of network-based environmental management practices, ISO 14001 certification now extends to 100% of Renault industrial sites and industrial subsidiaries worldwide.

Total shareholder return also highest in Europe

Wolfsburg/Turin, 21 May 2008 - The Volkswagen Group has achieved the highest increase in shareholder value of all stock market listed companies in the European automotive industry. The auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) presented this year’s European Automotive Shareholder Value Award to Europe’s largest automaker in Turin on Tuesday evening. Volkswagen had already received the award for the highest increase in shareholder value in a global comparison in January.

15th May 2008 -- Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive engineering consultancy, announces the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures, following the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited today.

Lotus Lightweight Structures, which employs 120 skilled engineers, technicians and sales staff, will be based at the former Holden Lightweight Structures Limited site in Worcester, UK and will continue to manufacture light weight aluminium and composite structures and components for its extensive client base as well as growing its business globally through the company’s association with Group Lotus plc.

Ford Offers Customers Unmatched Coverage

Dearborn, Mich., April 25, 2008 – Ford Motor Company's (NYSE: F) Ford and Lincoln Mercury divisions are launching improved and expanded Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle programs designed to enhance the appeal of the company's newest products like the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKX and Mercury Mariner in the used vehicle market.

March 17, 2008, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Bill Rhodes, chairman, president and CEO of AutoZone Inc., will address the Executive Breakfast presented by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, the kick-off event at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, Nev.

Rhodes will be the featured speaker at the fourth annual event offered by AASA on the opening day of AAPEX. The breakfast is sponsored by Ernst & Young.

“We are pleased that Bill is joining us for the 2008 AASA Executive Breakfast. AutoZone is one of the leading retailers in the automotive aftermarket, and Bill’s insights will be of particular interest to our members,” said Steve Handschuh, president and COO of AASA.

March 17, 2008, Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Early bird registration for the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) ends Monday, March 24. By registering now, attendees save $200 and can hear an exciting lineup of speakers and industry leaders as they discuss “Shift Forward” on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Ill.

Registration fees are $745 for the sponsoring associations’ members’ first registrant and $645 for each additional representative. After Monday, March 24, fees increase to $945 for an association member company’s first registrant and $845 for each additional representative.

NEW-CAR SHOPPERS DO NOT SEE DIESEL AS A LIKELY MAINSTREAM FUEL SOURCE

IRVINE, Calif., January 28, 2008 – According to the latest Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Marketing Research study, the vast majority of in-market new-vehicle shoppers do not see diesel as a likely mainstream fuel source in the future. The January 2008 results reveal that only six percent of shoppers think diesel is most likely to succeed in becoming a mainstream vehicle powertrain type, compared with 40 percent saying hybrids, 20 percent saying hydrogen fuel cell and 17 percent citing flexible-fuel systems.

2007-12-03 -- Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO, General Motors:

"There are tough, new CAFE standards contained in the energy bill before Congress that pose a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry. But, it's a challenge that GM is prepared to put forth its best effort to meet with an array of engineering, research and development resources. We will continue our aggressive pursuit of advance technologies that will deliver more products with more energy solutions to our customers."

Background

WARRENDALE, Pa., Oct. 12, 2007 - Richard E. “Ric” Kleine is the nominee for the Commercial Vehicle Vice President of SAE International.

This elected position entails serving a three-year term on the SAE Board of Directors beginning in January 2008. Kleine succeeds Mark R. Pflederer, Vice President, Heavy Construction & Mining Products Division of Caterpillar Inc. who was the inaugural SAE Commercial Vehicle Vice President.