November 9, 2011

Honda Clarifies Cutbacks
Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday it would extend North American production cuts through Nov. 23 in the aftermath of parts shortages from massive flooding in Thailand, but it would not delay the launch of its new 2012 Honda CR-V crossover set for next month. Click here for a picture of the new CR-V. Honda said on Nov. 1 it was cutting North American output by 50 percent through this Thursday. The automaker indicated auto production rates will vary at its six North America plants, and some will be above 50 percent. Honda also said it will idle its North American plants on Friday and Nov. 18. According to The Detroit News, Honda withdrew full-year earnings forecasts after reporting second-quarter results below analysts' expectations. A few critical electronic parts are sourced from Thailand and other regions of the world, which is causing the production cuts, the company said. Heavy rains have overwhelmed 10,000 factories in Thailand, flooding more than 80 percent of its 77 provinces since July. Toyota Motor Corp. has said production was disrupted in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and the United States after floods interrupted the supply of components. For the latest on Honda’s production plans, click here.

Mitsubishi Unveils Global Small Car, Near-Production Plug-In Hybrid Crossover
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will unveil a close-to-market version of a plug-in hybrid crossover due next year and its new global small car at this month's Tokyo Motor Show, reports Automotive News. The PX-MiEV II hints strongly at the hybrid version of the Outlander crossover that Mitsubishi plans to launch in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. That vehicle is the next step in the transformation of Mitsubishi's lineup with an assortment of electrified drivetrains. Click here for a picture of the vehicle, which is a two-motor plug-in hybrid system running on a lithium ion battery and a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine. One motor powers the front wheels, the other the rear ones. Mitsubishi is targeting fuel economy of 60 kilometers per liter (140 mpg) under Japan's testing cycle, which is not comparable to the U.S. or European fuel-economy measures, and says the vehicle can cruise 31 miles in electric-only mode. Another feature of the drivetrain is that it can operate in either series or parallel hybrid mode. Under the floorboards is a lithium ion battery with about the same capacity as the i electric vehicle that goes on sale in the United States this month. For more on Mitsubishi’s new plug-in hybrid crossover, click here.

New Lexus Puts the Comfy 'Land Yacht' to Rest
When Lexus launches its 2013 GS sedan early next year, the car will mark a sharp turn for the brand and a milestone for the American luxury-car business. The Wall Street Journal reports that the new model will have aggressive, sharp-angled styling. It will have multitasking digital media and navigation systems that can be upgraded the way consumers download apps for a phone or tablet device. And it will have a new rear suspension that emphasizes control in fast turns. Lexus executives use words such as "dynamic" and "agile" to describe what they want the car to express. A word they don't use: "cushy." This move by Lexus represents the latest nail in the coffin of a high-class motoring concept: big on the outside, but quiet, soft, and pillowy on the inside. The latest luxury cars, by contrast, look sporty, bristle with technology, and put an emphasis on performance and handling for people who like to take curves a little fast. The idea of luxury that Lexus projects promises to be more technology-oriented and more adventurous – just like the rising generation of consumers it hopes to attract. Click here for coverage of Lexus’ move toward a sportier, edgier luxury vehicle.

Much Better Auto Voice-Command Systems Coming Soon
Within a year, automakers will have systems that let you say, "I want dinner for two at Bourbon Steak this Saturday at 2 p.m.," says Ed Chrumka, senior product manager for the connected car for Nuance, a developer of voice technology. You can already do that on many smartphones, such as the iPhone, but you can do it in your car – if at all – only with a clunky, multi-step conversation, reports USA Today. But, he says, service providers and automakers are rapidly improving vehicles' ability to recognize and understand natural language commands. "Everyone has their eyes on the goal to have these natural interactions,” he said. A car communication system ability to handle voice commands is something most customers will soon expect in all new cars to have, says Brigitte Richardson, Ford's lead engineer on its global voice-control technology. And she predicts the basis for such systems will be smartphones. Richardson also says cars will have to be able to quickly and easily connect to Internet-based information and entertainment systems like Pandora internet radio. "I don't know anybody who brings CDs into their car anymore." Read more about the voice-command technology coming to vehicles in the near future here.

Enterprise to Roll Out QR Codes Across Fleet to Promote Vehicles for OEMs, Dealers
On Tuesday, Enterprise Holdings began rolling out a QR code campaign across its vehicle fleet to get customers thinking about their next vehicle purchase. The first vehicle brand to get the QR codes is Mazda, but the company confirmed that other automakers, including Toyota (for the Avalon) and Nissan (for the LEAF and NV), will also be getting these QR codes. According to Auto Remarketing, the Mazda6 vehicles throughout Enterprise's North American fleet will get the codes first. The program, which is called OnRamp, will eventually expand to include nearly 1 million vehicles and could prove particularly advantageous to dealers. By scanning an OnRamp QR code, smartphone users are taken to a mobile-optimized site where they can not only learn more about the vehicle they are renting, but also find a local dealer if they are interested in purchasing a similar car. The QR codes are placed on key tags, as well as on the driver side window of all vehicles, “making vehicle information accessible to more than just the rental vehicle occupants,” the company contends. Highlighting the connection a customer can make with a vehicle that could ultimately lead to a purchase, officials said. Read more about Enterprise’s QR code program by clicking here.

AIADA to Celebrate “A Legacy of Leadership” at 42nd Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Join AIADA, fellow dealers, and industry leaders at our 42nd Annual Meeting and Luncheon in Las Vegas. Together, we’ll consider the Legacy of Leadership that is inspiring today’s international dealer community and what it means for the future of our industry. This year's meeting will include keynote remarks from Mark Templin, Group Vice President and General Manager at Lexus. “Lexus has proven itself a leader in the U.S. auto market, and Mark Templin has played a central role in making it one of today’s most popular luxury brands,” said AIADA President Cody Lusk. “His remarks will provide invaluable perspective for dealers considering how our industry can continue to lead in the U.S.” Read more about Templin and AIADA’s 42nd Annual Meeting and Luncheon here. In addition to Templin’s remarks, the event will include the presentation of the David F. Mungenast Lifetime Achievement Award and the passing of AIADA’s chairman’s gavel from the current chairman, Jim Smail of Pennsylvania to Chairman-Elect Ray Mungenast of Missouri. Don’t miss your chance; register today by clicking here or call 1-800-GO-AIADA.


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