Greed Done 'Em In
Former GM dealer Robert Horvath, who sold Oldsmobiles for 40 years and watched the brand go from best to worst in just 20, claims to put GM's current problems in perspective in his book, "Project 2000: The Rise and Fall of Oldsmobile, a Division of GM." Horvath maintains Project 2000, aimed at eliminating small dealers, contributed to the loss of 34,000 jobs, 12 plants, and sales domination.
ITFIGURES - NEWS BY THE NUMBERS
Trucks Mean Bucks
According to SEMA, the light truck was the leading performance sales niche from 2000 through 2004, after which compact performance car took the top spot. Still, the light-truck performance aftermarket accounts for $450 million in yearly sales.
And according to a Foresight Research report commissioned by SEMA, truck owners reported that 50 percent had spent or planned to spend $500 or more on accessories, ranging from a high of 63 percent for Dodge Ram owners to a low of 27 percent for Cadillac Escalade EXT owners. However, those EXT owners that did accessorize were most likely to do so at a certain dealership and invest the most.
Building The Most Trucks
On The Continent
Using the government's definition of truck and trade journal Automotive News rounded-off data for North American unit production, here are the top five truck builders for the first three quarters of 2007.
BMW X6, Audi Q7, M-B ML450 Hybrids Deliver Greenery at Frankfurt
At the Frankfurt auto show, BMW announced the new X6 will be its first vehicle with a two-mode hybrid system, due in 2009. The X6 is a sport activity coupe with a footprint similar to that of an X5. Not to be outdone, Audi says late 2008 will see two new Q7 offerings, a hybrid (280-horse gasoline 3.6 V-6 plus electric motor) with fuel-economy increases typical of full hybrids, and a 50-state 3.0-liter diesel of about 230 horsepower and 400 pound-feet. The Q5 is scheduled for 2009, with a smaller crossover expected to follow. And Mercedes-Benz's ML450 hybrid will likely use a 280-horsepower V-6 gasoline engine and electric motor between engine and transmission, not the two-mode system expected in the X6 and used in the 2008 Tahoe/Yukon.
LEGALWATCH
Who Benefits?
The ink wasn't dry on the agreement between GM and the UAW when Dr. Carl Horowitz, director of the Organized Labor Accountability Project and editor of Union Corruption Update, said, "This is a great deal for GM. It gets to shed billions in obligations made to former workers. It's a great deal for the UAW. Gettelfinger and his cronies get to control billions in health-care dollars. It's a lousy deal for retirees and future retirees who may lose some or all of their benefits." He closed by recommending: "Congress should hold hearings on what this deal means to the tens of thousands of GM retirees and future retirees. Neither GM nor the UAW can be counted on to act in the best interests of workers. Putting the union in charge of this health fund creates a potentially huge conflict of interest for UAW leaders."
Murano Shows L.A.
Nissan's next-generation Murano made its debut at the Los Angeles auto show. In addition to the redesigned exterior, ride and performance were upgraded. Visit www.trucktrend.com for more details.