Wednesday, August 30, 2006
IS the Neon Really Dead?
Alex Gary | ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
The last new 2005 Dodge Neon is out there somewhere in North America, hoping for a buyer.
Sales of the subcompact, assembled at the DaimlerChrysler assembly plant in Belvidere for 11 years until last September, tumbled from 4,068 in March to just 361 in July.
Soon, perhaps Friday when August car sales come out, the Neon sales report will hit zero, the true end of the road.But in the car industry, does any car truly die? Since 1998 when Volkswagen introduced the “New Beetle,” the automotive industry has spent millions on redesigning “retro” cars ranging from the highly recognizable Dodge Challenger, which will come back in 2008 with the look of the 1970 Challenger R/T, to the Chevy HHR, which was based on and named after the almost completely forgotten 1949 Suburban.
That raises the question: Could the Neon ever be retro?
According to automotive analysts, highly doubtful. According to Neon enthusiasts, a firm maybe.
“That car is never going to come back,” said Robyn Eckerd, director of media relations for Irvine, Calif.-based Kelley Blue Book, which compiles automotive resale information. “The car companies are bringing back the ones people had a certain affection for. Look at the Charger, people who are buying it are younger or the baby boomers. The Mini Cooper is an icon. The Neon never had that kind of following.”
The 33-year-old said muscle cars from the 1960s and 70s are the inspiration for most new “retro” vehicles.
U.S. models from the 1980s and 90s lack that cache.
In fact, she could think of just three ‘90s models she’d like to see return and all were foreign made — Volkswagen Corrado, a hatchback in production from 1988 to 1995; the Toyota MR2, a two-seat sports car built from 1984 to 2005; and the Honda Del Sol, a targa top convertible sold in the U.S. from 1993 to 1998.
Erich Merkle of Michigan-based auto market research firm IRN Inc. also doubts the Neon will ever go back into production.
“There wasn’t too much good to write home about in the cars of the ’80s and ’90s,” he said. “What are they going to do, bring back the K car?
“The car companies in the ’80s and ’90s were just trying to survive,” Merkle added. “They were in trouble for a reason — the product. They didn’t introduce anything that memorable.”
Haig Stoddard, manager of industry analysis for Ward’s Communications in Southfield, Mich., held the door open for a Neon return.
“It could happen because the market is moving toward station wagon body styles, from the Dodge Caliber on up to crossover utility vehicles,” Stoddard said. “I could see in 15 to 20 years a nostalgic move to go back to a sedan body style. The Neon was somewhat unique in its design.”
Still, Stoddard put the odds of an eventual Neon return at less than 50 percent.
Neon enthusiasts, though, don’t believe the book is closed on the car that sold more than 2.6 million units in the U.S. under both the Dodge and Plymouth names.
“Based on the number they sold and how many are still out there, I would think they’d want to bring it back someday,” said Bob LaPier, a car salesman at Belvidere Motors, which sells Dodge products. LaPier bought five Neons and believes the 2005 model was the best one yet. “I’ve really dressed up the 2005. It looks like a mini-hot rod.”
Dr. Nesher Asner of Rockford said the Neon’s drivability is its strongest asset.
“It was a small, cheap car but really fun to drive,” said Asner, who joined a nationwide Neon enthusiasts club with his 1998 Plymouth Neon Expresso. “I beat this car into the ground, and it’s still running.”
Another member of the Neon enthusiast club, 35-year-old Benjamin Youman, who lives between Davis Junction and Stillman Valley in Ogle County, said “probably not” when asked if he thinks the Neon will ever be “retro.”
“You’d have to design it to compete with the (Mitsubishi) Lancer or the Subaru WRX,” said Youman, a nuclear engineer at the Byron Exelon generating stations, who gave his 1999 Dodge Neon R/T to his niece. “Make it a high performance car but still tout the great gas mileage.”
Dave Lusz, general manager of Anderson Dodge, said he believes the Neon name might return someday but not as a small subcompact.
“I’ve been here 30 years, and I’ve been surprised a lot of times,” Lusz said. “There are a lot of cars I thought I’d never see again that are being talked about. Names like the Dodge Diplomat and the (Chrysler) Fifth Avenue. It’s a crazy business. You never say never about the Neon because you just don’t know.”
Old car names never die ...
Automakers have increasingly been banking on old favorites in the search for new car sales. Here are a few.
Volkswagen kicked off the retro craze in 1998 by announcing the “New Beetle.”
Chevrolet brought back the Camaro, based closely on the look of the 1967-69 first generation.
Toyota’s FJ Cruiser styling is very similar to the original from the 1960s.
Chevy HHR was based on the little-known 1949 Suburban.
Jeep Commander was reintroduced in 2005, carrying the name from an obscure Jeep sport model from the early 1970s.
Chrysler PT Cruiser was originally based on the 1934 Chrysler Airflow, but the final version resembled the Chrysler CCV and Plymouth Pronto concepts from the late 1990s. Along with VW’s “New Beetle,” it has been the most successful of the retro cars.
Dodge Challenger is coming back in 2008. Its styling is based on the 1970 Challenger R/T.
Dodge Charger is in its third life. DaimlerChrysler brought it back this year as a rear wheel drive sedan.
Ford Thunderbird was revived in 2002 as a two-seater roadster. Enthusiasts say it stayed true to the original 1955-57 roadsters.
Source: Register Star research, Wikipedia and Autobytel.com. To read a full article on the retro craze and see photos of current and past models, type in www.rrstar.com/autobytel/retro
What about the Fury?
Some key Belvidere-built products have been immune to the retro craze.
The Plymouth Fury, Dodge Monaco and Dodge Polara were built in Belvidere from 1965 to 1977, and the Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni, which was put together in Belvidere from 1978 to 1986.
But other cars that had much briefer runs in Belvidere have made comebacks.
Some key Belvidere-built products have been immune to the retro craze.
The Plymouth Fury, Dodge Monaco and Dodge Polara were built in Belvidere from 1965 to 1977, and the Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni, which was put together in Belvidere from 1978 to 1986.
But other cars that had much briefer runs in Belvidere have made comebacks.
The Dodge Charger was brought back this year as a rear wheel drive sedan based more on its 1966-1978 hardtop coupe and personal luxury car days rather than the 1983-1987 era when it was assembled in Belvidere as a front wheel drive subcompact hatchback.
The Chrysler Imperial was first introduced in 1926 and ran under the Imperial name until 1975. In 1990, Chrysler brought it back — and built it in Belvidere — as an upscale version of the Chrysler New Yorker/Fifth Avenue. It was discontinued again at the end of 1993. DaimlerChrysler unveiled a 2006 Chrysler Imperial concept car this year basing the look on the 1960s versions.
The Dodge Rampage was a small front wheel drive pickup built off the Horizon/Omni platform from 1982 to 1984. DaimlerChrysler rolled out a 2006 Dodge Rampage concept that again is a front wheel pickup but this time is a full size truck as large as the Dodge Ram.
You be the designer
If you worked at Daimler-Chrysler and were given the assignment to bring back the Neon, how would you design it? Would you base it closely on one of the Neon models over the years? Or would you take it in a new direction? Send your suggestions to Alex Gary at agary@rrstar.com for us to use in a future story. Please include your name, city of residence and how to reach you during the day.
This Day in Auto History: 29 August
8.29.1888 - Automobile historian Frank Ernest Hill is born in San Jose, CA
8.29.1917 - The Lincoln Motor Company is founded by Henry M. Leland to manufacture Liberty airplane engines
8.29.1934 - Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. reorganizes as the Springfield Manufacturing Company to avoid involving the Rolls-Royce name in bankruptcy proceedings
8.29.1948 - The first 1949 Kaiser is produced
8.29.1993 - Racer Roger McCluskey dies in Indianapolis, IN at age 63
Chrysler opens new supplier-driven Jeep plant
Kevin Krolicki | TOLEDO, Ohio, Aug 28 (Reuters) - - Chrysler Group on Monday began production of a new Jeep at the first auto plant in North America where suppliers have taken over key areas of production to help contain costs for a major automaker.
Chrysler, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, began making dealer-bound versions of its 2007 Jeep Wrangler on Monday as a 100-acre supplier park began operations.
Chrysler Chief Executive Tom LaSorda, who championed the unusual partnership as a way to reduce capital investment and improve Chrysler's manufacturing flexibility, said the automaker would look at similar outsourced arrangements for other plants.
"Suppliers and (automakers) are going to team up where it makes business sense. Not just to do it, but where it makes business sense for all parties to do it," LaSorda told reporters.
Chrysler's Toledo Supplier Park began building both the 2007 Jeep Wrangler and a new four-door Wrangler Unlimited, off- road vehicles expected to compete with the Hummer H3 from General Motors Corp.
But the Toledo facility also has the flexibility to handle a future niche vehicle expected to sell less than 30,000 units per year or other Jeep variants, LaSorda said.
Chrysler sold about 79,000 Jeep Wranglers last year in the U.S. market and the brand's steady track record was one reason the automaker was able to bring in suppliers who will both collect fees based on production units and share in the costs if sales were to falter, LaSorda said.
"The reason we thought this one, we felt worked pretty good was that the Jeep Wrangler, going back 20 years in good times and bad, had pretty consistent volume," LaSorda said. "We're looking at the volume to be in a very steady range."High gas prices have weighed on U.S. truck and SUV sales, including Chrysler's Jeep and Dodge lines, but LaSorda said he hoped fuel prices had retreated from their near-term peak.
At the same time, he said Chrysler would base its product plans on a scenario in which oil prices steadily increase over the next several years and gas prices could hit $4 per gallon.
"I would hope we've hit the peak," LaSorda told reporters. "But we are planning internally as if it's $3 or $4, what would we do."
KUKA Group, a unit of the German engineering and robotics company, is building the Jeep vehicle bodies. Magna International Inc. unit Magna Steyr is running the plant's paint shop.
Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. affiliate Hyundai Mobis will assemble the vehicle chassis, while Chrysler has responsibility for the final assembly at the $900-million supplier park.
Chrysler also makes the Jeep Liberty and the upcoming Dodge Nitro in Toledo.
The collaborative production plan for the Wrangler, announced two years ago, drew strong support from the United Auto Workers union and Ohio politicians eager to keep the Toledo area from losing manufacturing jobs.
Under a ground breaking 2003 agreement with the UAW, Chrysler won a concession allowing it to outsource the chassis line, body shop and paint shop at a new Toledo plant, as well as jobs in other areas such as maintenance.
"The situation we faced was that these jobs were going to go to Mexico, we believed," Lloyd Mahaffey, regional director for the UAW said on MondayOhio kicked in an estimated $200 million in subsidies, including grants, financing and job training funds to encourage Chrysler to keep its Jeep production in the state, drawing a legal challenge that ended up before the Supreme Court.
In May, the justices ruled unanimously that the Ohio taxpayers who had sued claiming the state-funded tax incentives were illegal had no standing to challenge those government spending decisions.
2006-08-29 03:36 (Mb 4.5) OFF COAST OF OREGON 44.5 -129.7
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: OFF COAST OF OREGON
Geographic coordinates: 44.532N, 129.670W
Magnitude: 4.5 Mb
Depth: 10 km
Universal Time (UTC): 29 Aug 2006 03:36:51
Time near the Epicenter: 28 Aug 2006 18:36:51
Local time in your area: 29 Aug 2006 04:36:51
Location with respect to nearby cities:
443 km (275 miles) W (275 degrees) of Yachats, OR
444 km (276 miles) W (268 degrees) of Depoe Bay, OR
445 km (276 miles) W (270 degrees) of Newport, OR
525 km (326 miles) W (278 degrees) of Eugene, OR
563 km (350 miles) W (261 degrees) of Portland, OR
ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID : US rzac
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
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Si Khiong Star Aims To Sell 600 Units Mercedes-Benz This Year
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Si Khiong Star Sdn Bhd has managed to maintain its aim to register sales of 600 units Mercedes-Benz cars this year, according to its chief executive for automotive division, Vincent Lew.
"We are fully aware that the auto market is going to be tough, but we are sticking to this figure (600 units)," he told reporters after the opening of Si Khiong Star Mercedes-Benz Autohaus Service Center in Bandar Kinrara, Monday.
The dealer for the German automotive manufacturer said, to date, it held 20 percent of the Mercedes market in Klang Valley and had sold 300 units for the first half this year, of which 30 units were of the Smart range.
Si Khiong Star sold 400 units of Mercedes-Benz last year.
President and chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler Malaysia, Frank Steinleitner noted that although Mercedes-Benz customer could afford to buy premium cars, the second hand car market needs some push to boost car sales.
However, he said besides the downtrend of in second hand car markets, there were also other factors that could drag down car sales such as tightening of credit finance facilities as well as high oil prices.
"Getting the second hand car market to move is one of the important factors (in boosting sales)," he said.
Si Khiong Star director, David Park said the company has invested in excess of RM70 million to develop its Mercedes-Benz dealership in peninsular Malaysia, especially with the establishment of the Autohaus.
Si Khiong Star is a member of the Hap Seng Consolidated Group and has only been appointed to sell Mercedes cars last two years.
However, Hap Seng's subsidiary Si Khiong Industries has been the main dealer for Mercedes-Benz passenger and commercial vehicles in both Sabah and Sarawak. -- BERNAMA
Daimler Chrysler begins diesel offensive in Japan
BUSINESS NEWS, Tokyo - Daimler Chrysler AG has established another front in its global diesel offensive with a push into Japan.
Hans Tempel, president of Daimler Chrysler Japan, on Monday in Tokyo presented the new E Class Mercedes, which offers a diesel alternative with its E320 CDI model.
The introduction of the E Class with its ''Clean Diesel Technology' represents a milestone for the automobile market in Japan,' Tempel said.
Japan has been a tough nut to crack for diesel carmakers because many of its residents regard diesel cars as slow, loud and sooty, but Germany-based Daimler Chrysler aims to overcome this hurdle with the help of rising oil prices and Japan's discussions over lowering greenhouse-gas emissions. Diesel, for example, is 20 per cent cheaper than petrol in Japan.
Last year, the sales of diesel cars amounted to a mere 0.2 per cent of the country's total car sales, but the Yano Research Institute said it expected that percentage to rise to 11 per cent by 2015.
The only diesel model sold in Japan today is Toyota's Prado Land Cruiser sports utility vehicle, and Daimler Chrysler itself took its last diesel vehicle off the market in 2002 before its launch of the E320 CDI.
'German diesel technology has always led Europe and the world,' said Jochen Legewie, representative of the German Association of the Automotive Industry in Japan. 'It is, therefore, only consistent that a German premium automaker like Mercedes Benz is the first to introduce the new Clean Diesel Technology to Japan.'
Until now, however, hybrid cars have been considered the most environmentally friendly alternative in Japan, but diesel's return to the country caused industry analysts to speculate whether other carmakers would follow Daimler Chrysler's lead and introduce their own diesel models. Many expected Japan's leaders in the industry, like Toyota and Honda, to follow as new emissions standards were due to be enacted in 2009.
Chrysler: Farming out Jeep operations saved $300 million
David Barkholz | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, TOLEDO, Ohio -- The Chrysler group's unique relationship with suppliers at the just-opened Jeep Wrangler assembly plant here saved the carmaker $300 million in capital that was redeployed for product development and other uses, says Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler executive vice president of manufacturing.
Suppliers spent the $300 million to build the plant's body shop, paint shop and chassis-building operation, he said. Those suppliers now are operating those facilities, while the Chrysler group concentrates on assembling on site the redesigned Jeep Wrangler and new Wrangler Unlimited. Both are to go on sale next month.
The Chrysler group spent $600 million to build and equip the assembly portion of the Toledo Supplier Park. The plant replaced an antiquated Jeep assembly plant nearby.
Ewasyshyn said preserving capital was a key component of the new assembly model.
"You can put back what you save in more products," he said before ceremonies marking the opening of the plant today.
Kuka Flexible Production Systems Corp. is producing the Wrangler bodies, Magna International Inc.'s Magna Steyr is running the paint shop, and a subsidiary of Hyundai Mobis is building the chassis. A carmaker traditionally builds the operations and runs them.
But the new model is working out well, said Larry Drake, president of Kuka's North American operations.
Drake said about 85 percent of bodies welded in the plant need no refining or rework. That's a high percentage for a new assembly plant launching a new model, he said.
Kuka is a world leader in building welding lines for body shops. This is its first time as a production parts producer. Drake said that, like any parts producer, Kuka gets paid for its investment as a portion of the piece price for each body. That's different from getting paid when it delivers the machinery and sets it up in a carmaker's assembly plant.
After Kuka builds the vehicle bodies, they are conveyed to the Magna Steyr paint shop. The bodies then are sent by conveyor to the Chrysler group's assembly plant, where they are mated to the finished chassis that the Hyundai Mobis operation sends to assembly. The Wrangler comes in a variety of four-door and two-door versions.
In all, Chrysler is investing $2.1 billion in its Toledo assembly operations, including the costs of developing products there.
Chrysler attacks inventories
Bradford Wernle, Automotive News, AUBURN HILLS MI - - After nearly two months of an employee pricing incentive, the Chrysler group's swollen inventories still exceed the industry average by more than a month.
So Chrysler is offering dealers aggressive financing assistance to help them get rid of their oldest vehicles and to get them to buy more 2006 cars and trucks.
For every vehicle the dealer is carrying over 80 days' supply, Chrysler is offering dealers $150 to $250 per vehicle in monthly floorplan assistance, roughly the average financing cost with a normal 9 percent loan.
Last week, Chrysler added a $1,000 bonus for some models that have been languishing on their lots since March 31, if sold by Thursday, Aug. 31.
Vehicles covered are the Chrysler 300C; Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee; and Dodge Ram, Durango and Magnum RT. In addition, dealers will get $750 for selling a minivan that has been sitting for the same period.
Dealers welcome the cash and say it shows that Chrysler may be turning away from forcing dealers to take vehicles they don't want.
"For the factory to say, 'If you happen to over-order, we're going to cover it for you,' I think it's a huge shot in the arm for small to mid-size dealers with too much inventory," said Cass Burch, owner of Cass Burch Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Quitman, Ga.
Dealers had criticized Chrysler this summer for forcing them to take vehicles they did not want by threatening to withhold more desirable vehicles.
Chrysler has a flood of all-new 2007 products arriving in dealerships, including the Chrysler Sebring and Aspen, Jeep Compass and Patriot, redesigned Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro.
Last week, Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda said Chrysler will cut production of Dodge Durango SUVs and Ram pickups in the fourth quarter. Chrysler already had trimmed between 65,000 and 75,000 units during the third quarter.
Chrysler vehicles that sold from Aug. 1 to Aug. 20 had sat on dealer lots an average of 90 days, according to the Power Information Network.
"Their average is almost a month above the industry," said Tom Libby, Power analyst.
Dealers are eager for a new incentive that will increase floor traffic.
"We're satisfied with the employee pricing," said John Schenden, owner of Pro Chrysler-Jeep in Denver.
"They said it will end on Aug. 31. It will. New incentives start on Sept. 1."
Chrysler and the dealers decline to specify what those incentives will be.
2006-08-26 23:46 (Ml 5.7) ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS. 51.1 -179.5
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
Geographic coordinates: 51.105N, 179.495W
Magnitude: 5.7 Ml
Depth: 100 km
Universal Time (UTC): 26 Aug 2006 23:46:21
Time near the Epicenter: 26 Aug 2006 14:46:21
Local time in your area: 27 Aug 2006 00:46:21
Location with respect to nearby cities:
215 km (134 miles) WSW (247 degrees) of Adak, AK
384 km (239 miles) WSW (254 degrees) of Atka, AK
2128 km (1323 miles) WSW (252 degrees) of Anchorage, AK
2006-08-26 23:44 (Ml 5.5) ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS. 50.8 -179.6
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
Geographic coordinates: 50.824N, 179.623W
Magnitude: 5.5 Ml
Depth: 50 km
Universal Time (UTC): 26 Aug 2006 23:44:34
Time near the Epicenter: 26 Aug 2006 14:44:34
Local time in your area: 27 Aug 2006 00:44:34
Location with respect to nearby cities:
238 km (148 miles) WSW (241 degrees) of Adak, AK
404 km (251 miles) WSW (250 degrees) of Atka, AK
2157 km (1340 miles) WSW (251 degrees) of Anchorage, AK
ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID : AK 00068967
This is a computer-generated message and has not yet been reviewed by a seismologist.
For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/ak00068967.php
Rear shot of the 2008 Jeep Liberty (KK)
Rear shot of the next 2008 Jeep Liberty [provided by Redriderbob]
2008 Jeep Liberty (KK):
DCX factory plans stall
Automaker wants to close Van Horn Road in Trenton for plant that would create 700 jobs.
Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News
TRENTON -- New demands by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group have delayed by at least two weeks a decision on where to locate an $800 million engine factory, prompting further negotiations on a $165 million tax incentive package and giving opponents more time to organize.
City officials hoped to learn this week they'd landed a 1 million-square-foot V-6 engine factory that would create nearly 700 jobs next to the Trenton Engine plant, whose products will phase out around 2010.
Instead, the automaker's late request to permanently close a section of busy Van Horn Road between Fort and Jefferson to make way for the plant has both sides wondering if taxpayers should pay to move natural gas and utility lines beneath the road.
"We are confident, and we will be patient," said Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown. "We are still in the luring process."
The negotiating comes as Chrysler prepares to invest $2 billion in plants in Michigan, Kenosha, Wis., and Toledo for the new V-6. Brown said he believes Trenton is in competition with other cities, but Chrysler spokeswoman Michele Tinson said the company is deciding whether to build, not where.
"At this point, it is a business case," Tinson said. "The decision is whether to move forward."
Tinson said the company is aware of the controversy involving its request to close Van Horn Road and its effect on neighboring Grosse Ile residents, but declined to comment on any impact it might have.
Amid the talks, angry Grosse Ile residents launched a petition drive Thursday to block the closure of Van Horn near the plant. The four-lane road is the most direct connection from the 11,000-resident island to mainland shopping and Interstate 75.
It's a well-connected group. Leaders of the movement last year successfully lobbied Lansing to remove Downriver from consideration for a bridge planned to connect southeast Michigan to Canada by 2013.
"We're not against the (DCX) facility. We just want them to consider us, too," said Tom Burkhart, a 29-year island resident and engineer.
"Why is it have the plant and close the road or have the road and close the plant? There are many ways to design so they can have the plant and the region doesn't have to be physically isolated because of it."
Islander Karin Risko wants planners to consider a bridge or tunnel or other improvements. She said Trenton is "feeling the pressure because it's all about jobs, jobs, jobs in our current economy."
Brown said he sympathizes with Grosse Ile. The city and DaimlerChrysler negotiated for more than three months and the automaker only recently said closing Van Horn was necessary to build the factory.
Brown couldn't estimate how much moving utility lines would cost taxpayers but said they could be covered by selling municipal bonds and reducing tax incentives offered to the automaker.
DaimlerChrysler to give execs only three-year terms
Reuters, STUTTGART, Germany -- DaimlerChrysler will in future give top executives only three-year contract extensions rather than its standard five-year deals, the German-American carmaker said today.
"The supervisory board has decided to award as a rule a term of only three years when renewing the contracts of members of the management board," a spokesman said, citing efforts to improve corporate governance standards.
Most companies in Germany extend senior managers' contracts by five years at a time, and CEO Dieter Zetsche just had his deal renewed until 2010.
New members of the executive board normally got three-year contracts, and even that was longer than the terms many U.S. companies give their top managers.
Tests of the new standard may come later this year as the world's fifth-biggest carmaker decides on extensions for corporate development head Ruediger Grube and trucks division boss Andreas Renschler, whose contracts expire in 2007.
The spokesman would not say whether the new rules that took effect in August will apply to those two current members
Friday, August 25, 2006
Trademark: New Yorker update
(words only): NEW YORKER
Standard Character claim: Yes
Current Status: Opposition period completed, a Notice of Allowance has been issued.
Date of Status: 2006-08-22
Filing Date: 2005-08-25
The Notice of Allowance Date is: 2006-08-22
Transformed into a National Application: No
Registration Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
Register: Principal
Law Office Assigned: LAW OFFICE 113
Attorney Assigned:
AMOS TANYA L Employee Location
Current Location: 700 -Intent To Use Section
Date In Location: 2006-08-22
Trenton wants DaimlerChrysler to build a new engine plant next to its existing one.
The Detroit News, David Coates / The Detroit News - -Trenton's aggressive push to land a DaimlerChrysler engine plant is the type of strategy needed to secure auto jobs in Michigan. But more study of the proposal to permanently close Van Horn Road is in order.
The four-lane road is the main access to Grosse Ile and closing it without a viable alternative leaves island residents in the lurch. About 16,000 cars a day travel along Van Horn between Grosse Ile and Trenton, and it's a main connector to Interstate 75.
Closing it would force island residents to detour about 30 minutes through downtown Trenton, Grosse Ile Supervisor Kurt Kobiljak told The News.
Trenton officials say the land is needed for a new DCX engine plant, which would be situated next to an existing 2 million-square-foot factory. DaimlerChrysler is expected to announce within two weeks where it will locate the $800 million factory. About 700 jobs will be created to build V-6 engines. Kenosha, Wis., and Toledo also are in the running.
Trenton's thinking is in the right frame of mind. Aggressive actions are needed to prove that Michigan is still the best place to locate auto plants. The Downriver city has been working on its plan for three months, and about three weeks ago was told Van Horn had to be closed to accommodate the DCX design, says Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown.
"Right away we thought about Grosse Ile," he says. "I understand the concerns, and we're going to try to find alternatives."
Installing "smart" traffic lights that would better control traffic flow along adjacent roads at a cost of about $1.5 million is one option. Widening other east-west roads and adding turn lanes are others. Wayne County officials also have been involved in the discussions and would have to approve most actions.
A careful balance must be met. Grosse Ile residents shouldn't be massively inconvenienced and Trenton must be willing to shoulder some of the costs to ensure that doesn't happen. If a plan can be hatched that appeases both communities, it will send a strong signal to DaimlerChrysler and other automotive companies that Michigan is willing to be creative to get their business.
This Day in Auto History: 25 AUGUST
8.25.1880 - Albert Gerry Partridge of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is born in Jamestown, NY
8.25.1910 - Walden W. Shaw and John D. Hertz form the Walden W. Shaw Livery Company, ancestor of the Yellow Cab Company
8.25.1922 - Fred Gilbert Secrest of the Ford Motor Company is born in Lakewood, OH
8.25.1941 - The Packard Twentieth Series is introduced
8.25.1958 - The Volvo PV544 is introduced
Default Chrysler CEO Downplays Noise About Auto Maker Alliances
John D. Stoll, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES DETROIT -- The chief executive of DaimlerChrysler AG's (DCX) U.S. unit said Thursday he isn't spending much time evaluating what-if scenarios related to the potential of another major alliance in the global auto industry.
Tom LaSorda, speaking during an interview at Chrysler Group headquarters, said he expects consolidation to take place in the global auto industry in coming years, but said "it will be very slow and calculated." He said he doesn't foresee "a lot" of consolidation between auto companies in the near future and said he expects most of the merger activity to take place on a regional basis.
"I think what you'll find is there may be consolidation taking place in regions of the world that had never had that taking place," he said. Small Japanese companies, such as Suzuki Motor Corp. (7269.TO) or Isuzu Motors Ltd. (7202.TO), may be strong alliance candidates for some auto makers, LaSorda suggested. He also said there are a slew of Chinese companies that might be ripe for partnering up with bigger auto makers looking to make inroads in China.
LaSorda's comments come as the potential of a tie-up involving General Motors Corp. (GM) and the existing alliance between Renault SA (13190.FR) and Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) has dominated auto industry headlines in recent weeks. The possible tie-up was first publicly floated by GM investor Kirk Kerkorian on June 30 and the companies began discussing potential synergies in mid-July. The preliminary talks are set to conclude in October.
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ford Motor Co. (F) Chief Executive Bill Ford has called Renault/Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn concerning forging an alliance if talks with GM fall through.
A new alliance involving any of the companies promises to shake up the global auto industry and would impact key players, including DaimlerChrysler, which is the sixth largest auto maker in the world in terms of production volumes, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
Renault/Nissan is the fifth largest player when production volume is combined for both companies.
LaSorda said a GM/Renault/Nissan alliance would result in a mega-player. Indeed, such an entity would dominate the global production landscape, owning 24% of the world's vehicle output share with a presence in virtually every market in the world.
When asked if Chrysler has followed on the heels of other auto makers, such as Ford, and begun game-planning to prepare for such an alliance, Lasorda said, "No, what I have to game-plan is great products, quality and (market) share. If somebody joins forces with someone else, I wish them limited success."
Chrysler merged with DaimlerBenz in 1998. It has spent the past eight years combining various functions of the company, including engineering, while trying to sharpen the focus of DaimlerChrysler's various high-volume and luxury brands. The company has cited various instances where it has achieved cost savings thanks to the partnership.
DaimlerChrysler is now utilizing the Chrysler business, which includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, to grow in various global markets. Chrysler has begun an aggressive push in China, for instance, and recently launched the Dodge brand in Europe. DaimlerChrysler's Smart brand, run by the Mercedes car unit, is headed for the U.S. in 2008.
LaSorda is preparing the U.S. arm of the company for its next push into global markets as he finalizes a plan to partner with another auto maker to build sub-compact cars in Asia or Europe. LaSorda said the company is in talks with more than one auto maker about the joint-venture and it plans to utilize the small car to grow in various regions, including Europe, while capitalizing on growing demand for fuel-efficient cars in the U.S.
2006-08-25 00:44 (Mw 6.4) SALTA, ARGENTINA -24.3 -66.9
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: SALTA, ARGENTINA
Geographic coordinates: 24.323S, 66.887W
Magnitude: 6.4 Mw
Depth: 156 km
Universal Time (UTC): 25 Aug 2006 00:44:43
Time near the Epicenter: 24 Aug 2006 21:44:43
Local time in your area: 25 Aug 2006 01:44:43
Location with respect to nearby cities:
112 km (69 miles) W (261 degrees) of San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina
152 km (94 miles) WNW (289 degrees) of Salta, Argentina 290 km (180 miles) SE (135 degrees) of Calama, Chile
936 km (582 miles) W (274 degrees) of ASUNCION, Paraguay
ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID : US rvab
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrvab.php
2006-08-24 21:50 (Mw 6.4) NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA 51.2 157.5
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
Geographic coordinates: 51.188N, 157.522E
Magnitude: 6.4 Mw
Depth: 70 km
Universal Time (UTC): 24 Aug 2006 21:50:39
Time near the Epicenter: 25 Aug 2006 10:50:39
Local time in your area: 24 Aug 2006 22:50:39
Location with respect to nearby cities:
113 km (70 miles) ENE (60 degrees) of Severo-Kuril'sk, Kuril Islands, Russia
218 km (135 miles) SSW (201 degrees) of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia
2232 km (1387 miles) NE (34 degrees) of TOKYO, Japan
ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID : US rucu
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrucu.php
Car Sales Indicate Recession
News last Friday that Ford was cutting 20 percent of its production may be the first of coming problems faced by the auto giant ? and industry analysts expect GM and Chrysler to make similar cuts soon.
But the bad news is that falling car sales is one of the strongest indicators of recession.
The New York Times reported this weekend that since World War II, car sales have been a near-perfect barometer of the nation?s economic health.
According to the indicator, if sales by new-car dealers are down by 2 percent or more over 12 months, compared to the 12 previous months and adjusted for inflation, then a recession is either underway or set to begin within a few months.
And the figure stood at minus 2.4 percent when June sales figures were released by the Census Bureau.
The indicator has correctly called five recessions since 1968, and has never warned of a recession that did not occur, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
For instance, the indicator dipped to minus 2.9 percent in November 1979, and a recession began two months later; it dropped to minus 2.6 percent in May 2001, just two months after a recession began.
The indicator measures all sales by new-car dealers, including the sale of used cars, parts, and service. It does not measure sales by dealers who sell only used cars.
The accuracy of the new indicator ?makes sense, in part because there are often cheaper alternatives to new-car dealers, whether for service or for buying used cars that may be older or have more miles than the preowned vehicles that new-car dealers feature on their used-car lots,? the Times reports.
Consumers tend to look for these cheaper alternatives when the economy slumps, and right now they are being pinched by higher fuel prices at the same time the slumping real estate market is making it more difficult to take money out of home equity to purchase a vehicle.
If a recession is indeed underway, the recent economic recovery coming out of the recession that began in 2001 ?will have been the least beneficial one ever for the new-car dealers,? according to the Times.
The best yearly increase in sales during the recovery was a paltry 6.9 percent, ?far below the peaks of other recoveries.?
A key reason for lagging car sales during the recent recovery is the real estate bubble. Residential real estate accounted for more than two-thirds of recent GDP growth ? and other key sectors never saw the same overall rebound. Now, the real estate boom has come to an end . . . and the consequences may be dire for the U.S. economy.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Chrysler chief prepares for $4 gas
"I don't have anything new to report. We're going to keep dialoguing. The third quarter isn't done yet. We've still got a month and half. We know the competition and we know what has to be done," LaSorda told reporters after presiding over a kick-off of the company's United Way Torch Drive.
Moreover, the principal of pattern bargaining, which has long prevailed in the UAW's relations with the Big Three indicates that the Chrysler Group will get the same kind of deal as General Motors and Ford Motor Co.
The UAW signed agreements last year that have placed new limits on health care benefits for both full time employees and retirees at both companies.
The UAW, however, has reacted coolly to Chrysler's request and local union officials representing Chrysler workers have said they doubt they could get an agreement ratified. Failure to act on Chrysler's request could set the stage for a bitter clash during negotiations next year.
LaSorda also said he was pushing the group to put more emphasis on fuel economy. "Internally we're saying 'what if it sits between $3 and $4 per gallon.' I'm telling our team 'assume $3 per gallon and assume $4,' " he said.
"What do we do? I hope it goes down but that's like waiting for disaster so we preplan. We just got some fuel economy ratings on the 2.4 Sebring," he said. "We'll get 32 miles per gallon on the highway, which is great for a mid-sized sedan. We are looking at other applications for how we can use our powertrains and how to mix stuff around and get better fuel economy."
The Sebring built in the company's re-tooled assembly plant in Sterling Heights is due in showrooms this fall.
LaSorda also said the automaker was looking for a subcompact or B-class car to add to its current model line. "Hopefully we'll have a pretty good story," said LaSorda, who along with his other duties has decided to take a lead role in guiding the small car plan to fruition.
"We haven't said China. We've looked at Asia and Europe. We've got a couple of things in dialogue," said LaSorda, noting the company is trimming production of fullsize sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Sales of the big vehicles have stalled as gasoline prices have increased.
"In trucks you can move the market a little. Fully 40 percent of the pickups are in the south. Our (market) share is holding but it's more expensive to hold," LaSorda said. "We have had a swing of about 4 percentage points from trucks and SUVs to mid-sized SUVs and smaller cars. Were adjusting production from bigger trucks to smaller vehicles."
Sales of big SUVs have been particularly slow, he said.
The company's new smaller vehicles are doing well, he added.
"We have 90,000 orders for the Caliber and Jeep Compass."
LaSorda also encouraged employees to give generously to the United Way this year. "It's no secret just how tough it's been for both our community and the United Way of Southeastern Michigan over the past few years. The Chrysler Group is known for its generosity and leadership and I know that I can count on you to maintain this tradition."
DCX puts dealers in a bind - No Calibers without taking overstocks
Dealers say that during a satellite broadcast last week, the company asked them to take on 50% more inventory than they want, or at least 90 days' worth. But it offered to help them foot the financing costs for anything above 80 days' worth.
"They're incentivizing the dealer to take more product," Gary Ran, an analyst at Telemus Capital Partners in Southfield, said Wednesday. "It's just like the incentives Chrysler has already made available to the customer."
Chrysler declined to comment on the specifics of the call, but a spokesman said the company tries to provide a balanced variety of vehicles to its dealers. No dealers are being singled out, and there are no repercussions for not accepting vehicles, he said.
It is not uncommon for automakers and dealers, which are independent but closely linked businesses, to push and pull each other over slow-selling vehicles.
"Dealerships don't have full control of what they're going to get. This is especially true of domestic dealerships," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis at Edmunds.com.
On Wednesday, Chrysler announced that it would offer, for one week, $750 to $1,500 to customers who buy vehicles that haven't sold for at least 146 days -- those with invoice dates of March 31 or earlier.
In July, the automaker revived employee pricing and 0% financing on slower-moving inventory such as the Dodge Durango SUV and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.
A change in what drivers want
Gas prices hovering around $3 per gallon have slowed sales of large vehicles. Customers instead are moving to small vehicles such as the new Dodge Caliber, which can get an estimated 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. all have said in the last week that they will cut production of their large pickups and SUVs in the fourth quarter in response to the decreasing demand for the vehicles.
And Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda said Wednesday in Auburn Hills that the company is "upping production of all the cars and mid-size SUVs."
But dealers and analysts say the companies were too slow to see the turn in the market.
Edmunds.com reports that last month, while the Caliber sold 17 days after arriving on dealer lots, on average, Rams sat for 92 days -- about three months -- before a sale, and Durangos sat for an average of 136 days, or 4 1/2 months.
LaSorda said the incentives should help clear out that old inventory. But dealers and analysts say the incentives aren't good for anybody.
"They're just another indication that things haven't turned around a bit," Ran said.
Two dealers, who wished to remain unnamed to avoid possible repercussions from Chrysler, said the company's offer to share the cost of financing more inventory seems to be a move to unload its own excessive inventories off storage lots near its manufacturing plants. Chrysler offered to pay dealers who carry more than 80 days' worth of inventory a flat per vehicle fee of $100 to $150 per month to cover the cost of financing those vehicles. The amount depends on how long the vehicle sits before it sells.
But dealers said Chrysler's financial incentive doesn't cover the whole cost and doesn't do anything to sell them.
The two dealers said they were hopeful that the offer announced Wednesday would help move old inventory off their lots.
Chrysler's profits fell 91% in the second quarter, and the company has forecast that it could lose $600 million the three months ending Sept. 30.
Chrysler dealers said they believed part of Chrysler's motive for forcing more inventory onto sales lots is to reduce the overall number of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers nationwide, much like Ford said last week that it plans to do.
This Day in Auto Histroy: 24 AUGUST
24.1881 - Vincenzo Lancia is born in Fobello di Valsesia, Italy
8.24.1916 - John Herbert Gerstenmaier of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is born in Saint Paul, MN
8.24.1931 - Eugene John McMullen of Oldsmobile dies at age 44 from injuries resulting from an automobile accident
8.24.1946 - Charles H. McCrea, President of the National Malleable & Steel Castings Company since September 1942, dies in Cleveland, OH at age 56
8.24.1957 - Daniel S. Eddins, President of Oldsmobile 1925-1933 and President of Plymouth 1934-1952, dies at age 70
Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick
Dodge: We will be top ten [Sydney Australia]
Iconic American brand Dodge has returned to Australia full of boasting, bravado and big claims, determined to forge itself a top-ten share of Australian new car sales.
And while long term plans involve muscle cars and coupes the likes of which forged Dodge's reputation in the past, Dodge will initially offer economy-focused cars with more visual aggression than physical power.
The $23,990 Caliber hatchback may be the first Dodge passenger car on sale in Australia since the Phoenix was withdrawn in 1981, but it won't be the only one. Far from it, says Dodge – and Chrysler – managing director Gerry Jenkins.
"We will follow the Caliber with an additional new model roughly every six month," he told drive.com.au at the launch last week. Jenkins confirmed that the next Dodge would be the Nitro four-wheel drive, which shares underbody mechanicals with its Jeep Cherokee stable-mate, but wears its own distinctively Dodge body.
He said a Mazda6-size sedan – quite possibly the replacement for the US-only Sebring model – would land sometime in 2007, followed by a large sedan – Dodge Charger, perhaps – in early 2008.
"Our goal," says Jenkins" is to be among the top ten in Australia."
The entry point for top ten status is more than 25,000 sales per annum, or roughly 2000 per month. That is a lofty aspiration for a brand that expects to sell just 150 Calibers a month in the hot small car market – a segment ruled by the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Holden Astra, each racking up more than 2000 sales every month.
"When I say top ten, I'm not referring to Dodge alone," clarifies Jenkins. "I'm talking about the Chrysler Group which includes Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler".
In 2005 Jeep and Chrysler racked up more than 7500 sales, still a long way short of the top ten. But Jenkins is not deterred. He believes Dodge will slowly but surely build a strong following.
"Our research tells us that customers are tired of the bland offerings,"" said Jenkins. "The Caliber will appeal to owners looking for a car that stands out from the crowd, a car with attitude that gives them the flexibility to do more in terms of seating friends and storing gear".
There are two Caliber five-door hatchback models at launch: a 1.8-litre manual and 2.0-litre CVT automatic. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel and a 2.4-litre R/T sporty version will arrive by year's end.
The Caliber's styling may stand out from the crowd, its engine performance does anything but. The entry model 1.8-litre engine is glacially slow – Dodge's claimed 0-100km/h of 11.9sec seems overly optimistic - and the 'cooking' 2.0-litre model is little better.
The Caliber will enjoy stronger appeal for its fuel economy, rated at a miserly 7.4litres/100km on the combined city/hwy cycle. However, big sales aspirations will no doubt be kept in check by the high $28,490 entry price of the CVT auto – automatic transmission are preferred by small car buyers.
Chrysler to cut fourth quarter output of Durango SUVs, Ram pickups
Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News AUBURN HILLS -- DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will cut fourth-quarter production of Dodge Durango SUVs and Ram pickups as sales continue to slump and the automaker tries to keep bloated truck inventories from growing. Most of the cuts will be at Chrysler's Newark, Del., Durango plant, CEO Tom LaSorda said Wednesday during a charity event at the automaker's Auburn Hills headquarters. Chrysler will also ramp up output of some models to meet consumers' growing demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles amid high gas prices. LaSorda did not specify which models would see a production gain, but they likely will include the Dodge Caliber, a small crossover, and Jeep Compass, a small SUV. "We're adjusting production in the fourth quarter from bigger vehicles to smaller vehicles," LaSorda said. He did not detail how deep the production cuts will be for the three months ending December 31. For the current quarter, which ends Sept. 30, Chrysler is trimming between 65,000 and 75,000 units, or 10 percent of its quarterly output, as it tries to trim ballooning inventory, reduce incentive spending and react to faltering truck sales. The fourth-quarter cut will amount to about 20,000 vehicles, or a 3.3 percent decline compared to the same period last year, when Chrysler built 605,054 cars and trucks, said Catherine Madden, an analyst with Global Insight Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-firm that follows the auto industry. Those figures do not include a 10 new cars and trucks Chrysler is launching mainly in the remainder of the year. "The production schedule should work," Madden said. "But should that situation become worse than what we're forecasting, then it's possible that they'll need to cut more." Chrysler joins Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. in slashing vehicle output.Last Friday, Ford said it would reduce fourth-quarter truck output by 21 percent, or 168,000 vehicles, the automaker's biggest production cut in three decades. Earlier this month, GM said it would slow the production of its biggest SUVs in the second half of the year by eliminating overtime at some factories. GM has not said if it will reduce output of other vehicles in response to sluggish demand. GM is expected to update its fourth-quarter production plans when it releases August sales results early next month Domestic automakers may be moving toward producing vehicles in response to demand rather than driving sales with incentives, said Matt Vicenzi, an analyst with J.D. Power and Associates in Troy. "One of the main issues that is being addressed with some of these production cuts is the extent to which the summertime incentive programs were affected this year," he said. "We didn't see as big a response this year as we did to inventory programs last year." To avoid further output cuts, GM, Ford and Chrysler have to continue to try to attract buyers by pricing vehicles competitively and keeping designs fresh. Chrysler is attempting to do that with its 2007 Dodge Nitro midsize SUV, which arrives in dealerships in November. On Wednesday, the automaker announced that the base price for the Nitro, which comes with a standard 210-horsepower V-6 engine, will start at $19,885 -- less than such competing models as the Ford Escape, Nissan Xterra and Chevrolet Equinox with V-6 engines. "For its competitive set, the pricing seems to be correct," said Christian Wardlaw, an analyst with Autobytel.com, a research Web site for car buyers. "It's lining up very well with the Xterra and the FJ Cruiser. The Nitro has a more moderate design theme so it will appeal to a much broader audience." The Nitro is expected to sell well when it hits the market, which would give Chrysler a much needed boost after sales for its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands slipped 37.4 percent in July, according to Autodata Corp. "There's a contingent of loyal Chrysler buyers in this country who have been waiting for a vehicle like this from Dodge," Wardlaw said. The Nitro, which is built on the same underpinnings as the Jeep Liberty, is Dodge's first midsize SUV. But the heavier Nitro, weighing in at about 4,000 pounds, isn't expected to be as fuel-efficient as its Rubicon Trail-rated Jeep cousin. "Because it's an SUV and not a (crossover), Nitro's appeal could wane quickly after production," Wardlaw said. Increasing its presence in the commercial truck segment, Chrysler also announced a starting price of $22,535 for its 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab -- almost $2,000 less than Ford's F-350 chassis cab. Photo Credit: www.autoviaggiando.com
Chrysler Group's Toledo Supplier Park Opens the Doors to Production of All-New 2007 Jeep(R) Wrangler
* Innovative supplier co-location manufacturing model officially unveiled
* Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda, supplier executives,
Governor Bob Taft and other dignitaries host event announcing
production
* Chrysler Group continues community support with new manufacturing plant
* Media briefing and plant tours scheduled for August 28
WHAT: Announcement of the start of production of the all-new 2007 Jeep(R) Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited at the new DaimlerChrysler Toledo Supplier Park (TSP) Assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio. TSP is the first North American auto plant to have three major vehicle-building operations run and managed by suppliers. The body shop will be operated by KUKA, the paint shop by Magna International's Magna Steyr and chassis assembly by Hyundai Mobis-owned Ohio Module Manufacturing Corp. (OMMC). The Chrysler Group will have the responsibility of final trim and assembly operations of the product. The unique co-location project is part of a $2.1 billion total program investment into Chrysler's Toledo Assembly operations, a $900 million total capital investment.
The event will feature speeches by Chrysler Group executives, the United Auto Workers, dignitaries and supplier representatives. Prior to the press conference, a media tour of the facility will be offered. Following the press conference, media guests are invited to attend a roundtable and luncheon with Chrysler Group executives, the UAW and the supplier partners.
WHO: The following will be available for interviews:
* Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Officer
* Cindy Sidoti, Toledo Supplier Park Plant Manager
* Bruce Baumhower, UAW President Local 12
* Larry Drake, KUKA Flexible Production Systems Corp.
* Manfred Remmel, Magna Steyr
* Kyu-Hwan Han, OMMC
WHEN: Monday, August 28, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Media tour Toledo Supplier Park: 8:30 a.m.
Press conference: 11 a.m.
Media roundtable and lunch: 12 p.m.
WHERE: Toledo Supplier Park
(Enter from Stickney Parkway Road, Gate 3)
4400 Chrysler Drive
Toledo, Ohio
Exit I-75 S at I-280 Closed/Manhattan Blvd. turn left to Chrysler Drive, continue to Expressway Drive, turn left. At Stickney intersection, turn right, proceed to Gate #3 and enter TSP parking lot. Directional signs will be posted.
2006-08-23 23:15 (Mw 5.6) NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G. -4.3 152.8
== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==
Region: NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
Geographic coordinates: 4.274S, 152.833E
Magnitude: 5.6 Mw
Depth: 35 km
Universal Time (UTC): 23 Aug 2006 23:15:21
Time near the Epicenter: 24 Aug 2006 09:15:21
Local time in your area: 24 Aug 2006 00:15:21
Location with respect to nearby cities:
72 km (45 miles) E (95 degrees) of Rabaul, New Britain, PNG
295 km (183 miles) SE (130 degrees) of Kavieng, New Ireland, PNG 370 km (230 miles) NW (306 degrees) of Arawa, Bougainville, PNG
702 km (436 miles) ENE (67 degrees) of Lae, New Guinea, PNG
848 km (527 miles) NE (47 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
________________________________
event ID : US rtci
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrtci.php
Phoenix Engines: Chrysler - Mercedes V6 Engines for 2010 and Beyond
- 1... 3.0L V6 base Phoenix (next gen LX, J1, L2, R2)
- 2... 3.0L V6 premium Phoenix (L2)
- 3... 3.3L V6 base Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, next gen RT Minivan)
- 4... 3.3L V6 premium Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, next gen RT Minivan)
- 5... 3.6L V6 base Phoenix (current gen JS Avenger/Sebring, current and next gen KA Nitro, next gen KK Liberty, next gen RT minivan, next gen LX, Grand Cherokee current and next gen, next gen Commander)
- 6... 3.6L V6 HEV Phoenix Engine (next gen RT minivan)
- 7... 3.6L V6 premium Phoenix Engine (current and next gen LX, next gen RT minivan)
- 8... 3.6L V6 PZEV Phoenix Engine (next gen RT minivan)
- 9... 4.0 V6 base Phoenix (next gen Pacifica, next gen NE Dakota, next gen Ram, next gen KK Liberty, current and next gen KA Nitro, next gen LX, next gen Grand Cherokee, next gen Commander, next gen JL Wrangler)
- 10... 4.0 V6 premium Phoenix (vehicles unknown)
Apparently the design is advanced enough that the oil pan is being subbed out: “Oil pan for a Phoenix Engine from Chrysler had some very odd oil diverters...nothing I've seen before.”
The new Phoenix line of V-6 engines will debut for model-year 2010 vehicles, which is to say, probably in the year 2009. Chrysler has announced details, including the investment in plants ($2 billion, not including engineering of the engines themselves) and the fact that Mercedes will share the basic engine architecture. The Phoenix engines, long discussed on Allpar's news and rumors forum, will be made in Kenosha, Wisconsin and Trenton, Michigan (with parts machined in Toledo, Ohio), as well as in Germany for Mercedes. Allpar at least is happy that development of these engines appears to be centered in the US though no doubt Mercedes will get most of the credit for their success.
The old Trenton Engine plant will close in 2014; the new Trenton Engine plant, if one is indeed built within Trenton, will cost $800 million and open in time for the 2010 model year, with groundbreaking scheduled for or before November 1, 2006.
At the latest, the current V6 engines (dating back to around 1990 but with strong reliability and nice power/economy) will be phased out in 2013 and the 3.8 and 4.0 V6 should finished by 2014.
Dieter Zetsche, DCX and Mercedes CEO, said the new engine family would operate on a modular base, reducing the corporation's V6 engine families to one (from five - four at Chrysler and one at Mercedes). The World Engine experience may provide some illustration of how that will be done, though hopefully the Phoenix will prove to be quieter and less peaky. The world's best V6 engines are being benchmarked; and Mercedes has a camless design that may be integrated into Auburn Hills’ work, since Zetsche is determined that all corporate divisions share technology as needed.
The engines will, not surprisingly, be built on flexible assembly lines that will allow the mix to be changed quickly and easily, to adjust to market demands.
Plants will switch to new job rules that include 10 hour four-day work weeks and a much smaller number of job classifications (two). Production will begin for the 2010 model year, with final phaseout of the existing Chrysler V6 engines in calendar-year 2012.
Mercedes versions will most likely have more expensive features such as direct injection.
NYPD to Add Dodge Chargers to Fleet
FLEET NEWS,
According to the NYPD, it is trying to diversify its fleet. “If you only have one or two makes and there’s a recall, it can really cause problems,” said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
“This is the last car I’m introducing to the NYPD,” said Leonard Lesko, director of NYPD Fleet Services, who is retiring in November. “The first car I brought in was the 1972 black, green, and white Plymouth Fury with no power steering or air conditioning.”
Ciotech up sign DaimlerChysler
Citotech Systems Inc. has entered into a proprietary rights agreement with DaimlerChrysler Corp. to develop automotive engine starter/restarter technology that could reduce the cost and weight of future vehicles, to provide increased function and improved fuel economy, and to reduce emissions.
Citotech will grant to DaimlerChrysler certain intellectual property rights with respect to its proprietary information, including the Microstart engine starting system. Accordingly, Citotech entered into a license agreement with the owner of intellectual property which authorizes it to enter into the proprietary rights agreement.
Microstart is both an apparatus and a method for starting an internal combustion engine. It eliminates the need for a starting motor/flywheel arrangement and significantly reduces the size and power supply required from the vehicle battery. Engine starts with this new system will not require battery power for engine cranking. Microstart technology would allow for the automotive engine to be turned off at idle and when the vehicle is stopped, resulting in greater fuel economy. The engine will restart and the system will operate in a manner totally transparent to the driver.
Citotech is continuing to work towards the acquisition of the intellectual property and continues to engage in discussions with the Canadian Venture Exchange and the British Columbia Securities Commission regarding details of the proposed transaction.
Chyrsler Sticking to Second Quarter Plan
John D. Stoll, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES DETROIT -- Chrysler Group Chief Executive Tom LaSorda said Wednesday that the company is sticking to a plan to cut its production in the third and fourth quarters in order to deal with rising inventory of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Chrysler, the U.S. unit of DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX), is weathering a downturn in U.S. sales and, like its domestic competitors General Motors Corp. (GM) and Ford Motor Co. (F), is trying to cope with falling demand for its highest-profit models.
LaSorda, speaking to reporters at a charity event at the company's U.S. headquarters, said the auto maker hasn't been surprised by the significant shift by consumers away from large SUVs and pickups. He said the auto maker is planning to offset the shortfall by introducing a spate of more-fuel-efficient models in coming months.
Chrysler plans to cut approximately 10% of its production in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2005. LaSorda declined to give specifics of the fourth-quarter cuts, but said the cut will be smaller than the current quarter and "slightly down" from year-ago.
In recent years, the majority of Chrysler's sales mix has been made up of trucks and SUVs, but the balance is changing. "We've had a swing of about 4% from trucks and big SUVs to midsize SUVs and smaller cars, so we're adjusting from that," LaSorda said. He said the Dodge Durango large SUV has seen the highest production cuts.
Chrysler expects to lose as much as $600 million in the third quarter on an operating basis but return to profitability in the final three months of the year as new-model launches take root. "Eight of our launches are starting now until the end of the year," LaSorda said. For instance, the company kicks off production of a redesigned Jeep Wrangler on Monday.
Chrysler's downturn comes after a relatively healthy run for the auto maker. The company in recent years unveiled popular products in key segments, such as the 300 sedan that often sold with an expensive "Hemi" engine option.
The auto maker's effort to supplement falling volume of certain products is gaining steam already, LaSorda said. The company's Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber small hatchback cars are based on the same platform, or chassis, and have receieved 90,000 dealer orders since recently being launched.
Chrysler plans to eventually launch a sub-compact car that is smaller than the Caliber, but has not yet firmed up plans for the model. The company is in talks with a joint-venture partner on the project and is looking at building the car in Europe or Asia, LaSorda said.
Products like the Compass and Caliber are meeting a strong reception because of high gasoline prices that continue to sit around $3 a gallon. Gas prices in the U.S. have backed off in recent weeks, but still influence consumer buying patterns.
Consistently high gasoline prices have been a major factor in the sales slowdown, but LaSorda said the company is prepared to see higher gas prices in the future.
"Internally, we're saying `what if it sits between $3 and $4 (a gallon)?,'" LaSorda said. He said that assuming gasoline prices will continue to fall could lead to "disaster."
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
DaimlerChrysler Smart Fortwo spy video
Edmunds has a video of the fortwo undergoing hot weather testing. It seems to be prime time in Death Valley right now, so if you've ever been tempted to take some spy shots of your own then you'd better plan your trip now! In fact somebody should offer a spy shot themed tour, kinda like whale watching for car nuts.
Click here to view the video. Click here to plan your trip.
DaimlerChrysler Smart fortwo interior spy shot
ALL CARS, ALL THE TIME NEWS - - Here is a semi-decent shot of the next smart fortwo's interior from Auto Express. If you watched the spy video earlier this week, there was another shot of the interior. As you can see by comparing the current interior, the new car will have a much less quirky interior. Of interest in the Auto Express story is a mention that the next generation smart will have a press preview in November. I was my understanding that the fortwo would make it's grand entrance in Geneva next March.
Dodge Announces Pricing for Two All-new 2007 Vehicles
Dodge Announces Pricing for Two All-new 2007 Vehicles
* Starting at $19,885, all-new 2007 Dodge Nitro priced to spice up mid-size SUV marketSOURCE Chrysler Group
* All-new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab starts at $22,535, priced nearly $2,000 below comparable Ford F-350 chassis cab
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On the heels of the hot-selling all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber, two additional all-new vehicles
are about to arrive in Dodge showrooms. Today Dodge announced pricing for the 2007 Dodge Nitro and Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab.
"Nitro and Ram 3500 Chassis Cab effectively expand the Dodge brand portfolio," said Tom Loveless, Director - Dodge Marketing and Global
Communications, Chrysler Group. "Nitro is the brand's first mid-size SUV while Ram 3500 Chassis Cab further builds on Dodge's growing presence in
the ultra- competitive commercial vehicle market."
All-New 2007 Dodge Nitro: Bold style and sporty performance starting at $19,885
The base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2007 Dodge Nitro is $19,885, which includes $660 for destination. Dodge
Nitro arrives in showrooms this October.
Nitro comes loaded with performance, space, functionality, flexibility,and safety. With a fold-flat first-row passenger seat and fold-flat
second-row seats, Nitro offers a variety of loading options. Nitro also offers the segment's only LOAD 'N GO(TM) cargo floor, which holds up to 400
pounds and slides 18 inches rearward for easy loading and unloading.
Optional features include heated leather seats, a DVD-based navigation system, and a cutting- edge entertainment system that stores up to 2,500
songs. Standard safety features include electronic stability program (ESP), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic roll mitigation and side-curtain
air bags.
"The five-passenger Nitro will appeal to customers seeking distinctive style and sporty performance combined with passenger- and cargo-carrying
flexibility," said Loveless. "Dodge Nitro offers many features not found in a typical mid-size SUV, including a choice of two V-6 engines, 20-inch
chromed- clad aluminum wheels and tires, and a performance suspension."
Three models are available: Dodge Nitro SXT, Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T. Standard on the Dodge Nitro SXT and Dodge Nitro SLT is a
3.7-liter SOHC V-6 engine which generates 210 horsepower (157 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N*m) of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Dodge Nitro R/T
features a new 4.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 255 horsepower (190 kW)at 6,000 rpm and 265 lb.-ft. (359 N*m) of torque at 4,200 rpm. Standard on
the Dodge Nitro R/T and optional on the SLT are a new performance suspension, 20-inch tires and chromed-clad aluminum wheels.
2007 Dodge Nitro SXT
Dodge Nitro SXT comes standard with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated to a six- speed manual transmission.
Additional standard features include a chromed grille, 16-inch steel wheels, P225/75R16 all-season tires, ABS, ESP, electronic roll mitigation,
all-speed traction control, sport suspension, tire pressure monitor, side roof rails, low-back two-tone cloth seats, supplemental side-curtain air
bags in the first and second rows, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo, fold-flat front-passenger seat, reclining rear seat, power-folding mirrors, 12-volt
power outlet, and cargo floor with a reversible cargo tray.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Nitro SXT. All prices include $660 for destination.
Dodge Nitro SXT 4x2 $19,885
Dodge Nitro SXT 4x4 $21,395
2007 Dodge Nitro SLT
Dodge Nitro SLT comes standard with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
Additional standard features include body-color fender flares and fascias, P235/65R17 performance tires, 17-inch aluminum wheels, LOAD 'N GO
cargo floor, two-tone seats with Yes Essentials(R) seat fabric, six-way power driver seat, electronic vehicle information with tire pressure
monitor display, power/heated/folding exterior mirrors, leather-wrapped steering wheel with remote audio controls, and chromed interior accents.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Nitro SLT. All prices include $660 for destination.
Dodge Nitro SLT 4x2 $23,295
Dodge Nitro SLT 4x4 $24,805
Dodge Nitro R/T
Dodge Nitro R/T comes standard with a 4.0-liter V-6 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Additional standard features include a performance suspension, 20-inch chromed-clad aluminum wheels, P245/50R20 performance tires, body-color
grille with bright billets, body-color air dam and sill molding, stitched R/T logo on front seats, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T. All prices include $660 for destination.
Dodge Nitro R/T 4x2 $25,970
Dodge Nitro R/T 4x4 $27,630
Dodge Nitro is built at the Toledo North Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio.All-new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab starts at $22,535, offers
commercial customers abundance of capability, versatility and value The base MSRP for the all-new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab is
$22,535, which includes $900 for destination.
The MSRP for the all-new 2007
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab with the available new 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engine is $28,090, which also includes $900 for destination. Dodge's
all-new heavy- duty work truck arrives this October.
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab boasts numerous class-leading attributes including the highest single-rear-wheel Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
of 10,200 lbs., best-in-class rear frame steel strength (50,000 psi), largest standard fuel tank (52 gallons), best-in-class standard V-8 power
(HEMI with 330 horsepower), and best-in-class interior cab room of 121.7 cubic feet for Quad Cab models. All chassis components are below the top of
the frame surface -- a segment exclusive -- providing versatility for virtually any upfit application.
"We built Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab for the commercial customer looking for more in terms of power, capability, dependability, space,
comfort, upfit- friendliness and overall value," said Loveless. "Armed with a powerful lineup of renowned engines and an all-new commercial-grade
chassis, Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab was built from the ground up for the traditional chassis cab buyer as a tough, heavyweight truck that gets the
job done."
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab comes standard with the legendary HEMI V-8 engine, while a Cummins engine -- a new 6.7-liter turbo diesel -- is also
available. The all-new Ram 3500 Chassis Cab offers a six-speed automatic transmission (diesel only) with Power Take Off (PTO) capability and a six-
speed manual transmission with PTO capability.
Dodge's latest Ram is available in both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models, two available cab-axle lengths (60 inches and 84 inches),
single-rear-wheel and dual-rear-wheel versions, regular cab and Quad Cab configurations, and three trim lines -- ST, SLT and Laramie.
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST
Powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission, standard features on the Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST
include an argent front bumper, argent grille, argent steel wheels, four-wheel anti-lock brake system, black bezel instrument panel, tilt
wheel, trailer tow wiring (seven wires), two speakers, vinyl floor covering, 40/20/40 vinyl seats, and 7x10-inch manual exterior mirrors.
Optional features, which are available on all models, include a new 6.7- liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and new six-speed automatic transmission, a
five- speed automatic transmission, 22-gallon mid-ship fuel tank, 220-amp alternator, an exhaust brake option, Power Take Off (PTO) capability, snow
plow prep package, spare tire and tools, vinyl seats and flooring (SLT only), and Limited Production Options (LPO) that include passenger air bag
delete, radio delete, power window/lock/mirror option with ST, and unique exterior paint colors.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST. All prices include $900 for destination.
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST Regular Cab 4x2 $22,535
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST Regular Cab 4x4 $25,485
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST Quad Cab 4x2 $25,285
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab ST Quad Cab 4x4 $28,225
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT
In addition to standard features on the ST model, the Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT adds air conditioning, carpet, floor mats, four speakers,
bright chrome grille with black inserts, keyless entry, power-heated mirrors, power windows and locks, Sentry Key(R) Engine Immobilizer, speed
control, bright skins/chrome center cap wheels, 17-inch chromed-clad steel wheels, and 40/20/40 cloth seats.
Optional features include adjustable pedals, AM/FM radio with six-disc CD player, leather bucket seats, Infinity(R) sound system, SIRIUS Satellite
Radio, six-way power driver seat, UConnect(R) hands-free communication system, and 17-inch chromed-clad aluminum wheels.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Ram Chassis Cab SLT. All prices include $900 for destination.
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT Regular Cab 4x2 $25,905
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT Regular Cab 4x4 $28,855
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT Quad Cab 4x2 $28,865
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab SLT Quad Cab 4x4 $31,805
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Laramie
In addition to standard features on SLT, Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Laramie adds AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD player and Infinity speaker system,
SIRIUS Satellite Radio, dual-zone temperature control, fog lamps, glove box, ashtray, under-the-hood lamp, chromed grille with chromed inserts,
leather power-heated seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-sliding rear window, security alarm, steering wheel-mounted radio controls, and
wood-grain instrument panel bezel.
Optional equipment includes bucket seats, navigation radio and UConnect hands-free wireless communication system with Bluetooth(TM) technology.
Following are prices for the 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Laramie. All prices include $900 for destination.
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Laramie Quad Cab 4x2 $33,280
Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Laramie Quad Cab 4x4 $36,465
The all-new 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis Cab will be built at Chrysler Group's Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico.
DCx Trademark: SRT8 [update]
(words only): SRT8
Standard Character claim: Yes
Current Status: Approved by the examining attorney for publication for opposition. This is NOT the beginning of the Opposition period. In approximately two months, please visit the web site to learn the actual date of publication for opposition in the Trademark Official Gazette.
Date of Status: 2006-08-22
Filing Date: 2006-02-17
Transformed into a National Application: No
Registration Date: (DATE NOT AVAILABLE)
Register: Principal
Law Office Assigned: LAW OFFICE 108
Attorney Assigned:
FATHY DOMINIC Employee Location
Current Location: L8X -TMEG Law Office 108 - Examining Attorney Assigned
Date In Location: 2006-08-22
