November 24, 2010

Winterkorn Says VW will Crack 7 Million Global Sales in 2010
Volkswagen AG expects to sell more than 7 million vehicles for the first time this year, the German carmaker's CEO said on Tuesday. "The Volkswagen Group is benefiting disproportionately from the upswing in the most important car markets," Martin Winterkorn told Reuters. According to Automotive News, VW Group, which includes the VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley and Lamborghini brands, sold a record 6.29 million vehicles last year, ranking it No. 3 in the world. VW was the only major automaker in the world to post a global sales gain in 2009 - it improved sales by 1 percent from 6.27 million vehicles sold in 2008. VW aims to dethrone Toyota Motor Corp. as the world's top-selling automaker by 2018. Toyota sold 7.81 million vehicles globally in 2009, down 13 percent from 2008. "This new delivery record is an important milestone for the implementation of our Strategy 2018," Winterkorn said, referring to the group's plan to sell more than 10 million cars by that year. Standing between VW and Toyota is General Motors Co., which sold 7.48 million vehicles globally in 2009, down 11 percent from 2009. Ford Motor Co. ranked a distant No. 4 last year with 4.75 million vehicles sold around the world, an 11 percent drop from 2008. For more on VW, click here.

Utilities Thrilled, Worried about Electric Cars
The first mass-market electric cars go on sale next month, and the nation's electric utilities couldn't be more thrilled - or worried. MSNBC reports that plugged into a socket, an electric car can draw as much power as a small house. The surge in demand could knock out power to a home, or even a neighborhood. That has utilities in parts of California, Texas, and North Carolina scrambling to upgrade transformers and other equipment in neighborhoods where the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are expected to be in high demand. Not since air conditioning spread across the country in the 1950s and 1960s has the power industry faced such a growth opportunity. Last year, Americans spent $325 billion on gasoline, and utilities would love even a small piece of that market. The main obstacles to wide-scale use of electric cars are high cost and limited range, at least until a network of charging stations is built. But utility executives fret that difficulties keeping the lights on for the first crop of buyers - and their neighbors - could slow the growth of this new niche. For more on electric vehicles, including the type of neighborhood that is expected to see an influx of Volts and Leafs, click here.

Honda Releases Statement Regarding NHTSA Investigation
Yesterday, AIADA's FirstUp included links to an Associated Press story stating that the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration is investigating reports of unintended acceleration in Honda's 2005 Accord Hybrid. In fact, while the petition discussed in the article references unintended acceleration, NHTSA is only considering an investigation related to possible problems with the antilock brake controls, NOT unintended acceleration. Honda has released the following statement regarding this issue: "American Honda was recently informed by NHTSA of a pending investigation into allegations of poor braking performance with certain Honda hybrid vehicles. It is too early to comment on any specific allegations, but is important to note that all Honda hybrid vehicles are equipped with the same type of redundant hydraulic brake system found in every Honda automobile powered by a conventional internal combustion engine. In addition, they are equipped with a regenerative braking system that uses the electric motor of the Integrated Motor Assist^TM (IMA^TM) system to slow the vehicle while recharging the IMA system battery. Finally, while the instigating petition includes an assertion of unintended acceleration, NHTSA's defect investigation concerns brake performance, not unintended acceleration. (In general, Honda has a relatively low number of reports to NHTSA for sudden unintended acceleration)."

New Generation of Elderly Drivers Stirs Safety Concerns
Baby boomers caused trouble with their muscle cars in the 1960s and '70s. Now, they're leading a surge in the numbers of older drivers that's stirring a new generation of safety concerns. According to the Wall Street Journal, by 2025, one in five drivers on the road will be 65 years old or older. The challenges for federal and state highway safety officials start with this: It's not clear what the most critical problems with having so many elderly motorists will be. Elderly drivers aren't necessarily more of a safety menace than teens or middle-aged drivers. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that fatality rates among older drivers have been declining in recent years faster than the fatality rates for middle-aged drivers. The same study found evidence that older drivers are less likely to have non-fatal crashes. At the same time, many older people don't see as well as they once did, don't react as quickly to road hazards, or have health problems that undermine their driving ability. "There should be protocols (for) drivers who are no longer safe," says Eleanor Ginzler of the AARP, the powerful senior advocacy group. "We're not doing a good job of that in the U.S." For more on how state and federal officials are addressing issues related to older drivers, click here.

Today's New Cars, Tomorrow's Collectibles
Most new cars go on to become used cars and, eventually, high-grade scrap metal, but a few become sought-after collectibles. The experts at collector car insurer Hagerty Insurance have provided CNN with 10 models most likely to attract future car collectors based on a handful of merits. Collectible cars tend not to be those that were extremely popular in their own day. Most new car buyers have fairly mundane, practical needs. They aren't after design flair, excitement, or outrageous performance -- the very attributes car collectors crave. A prime example is the Cadillac CTS-V coupe, the most impractical Caddy on your dealer's lot. With its radically chiseled body lines and 556-horsepower supercharged V8 this car is all about looks and performance. Your backseat passengers be damned. Click here for a picture. Also consider the BMW 3-series. The 335IS is a new take on the 3-series that splits its mission between the out-and-out performance of the M3 and the base model 3-series. Collectors of the future looking for a something fun but mellower than the M3 might be hunting for one of these, Hagerty believes. Wondering if you already own a future collectable? Click here for the complete list.

In the Driver's Seat: Register Now for AIADA's 41st Annual Meeting & Luncheon
Every year, dealers and industry leaders gather together during NADA's annual convention to meet under AIADA's banner and get a glimpse at what the next year holds for the international nameplate industry. This year, AIADA will hold its 41st Annual Meeting and Luncheon in San Francisco, CA. The meeting will center on the theme "In the Driver's Seat," as international nameplate dealers and industry insiders look to what lies ahead for the U.S. international auto retail industry. With internationally branded vehicles leading the industry in styling, reliability, fuel efficiency, and performance, it is more important than ever that dealers of these cutting-edge brands stay informed on the issues impacting their bottom line. This year's keynote speaker will be John Mendel, Executive Vice President of American Honda. As an executive 'In the Driver's Seat,' Mendel will provide an important perspective to dealers and industry leaders looking to understand the challenges and opportunities facing our industry. In addition to Mendel's remarks, AIADA's 41st Annual Meeting and Luncheon will include the presentation of the David F. Mungenast Lifetime Achievement Award and the passing of AIADA's chairman's gavel from current AIADA chairman Rick DeSilva of New Jersey to Chairman Elect Jim Smail of Pennsylvania. Click here to register or call 1-800-GO-AIADA.

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2010 Sportec Porsche SPR1R [Got Broken]