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This week is for SEMA. That's the Specialty Equipment Market Association. I remember when it stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association, but that was before the first energy crisis almost killed the aftermarket business. This week the auto industry conducts its annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas.
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Someday, decades from now, we may look back on this nasty 2009 not as the bottom of a global financial crisis but as a dramatic tipping point, when outmoded 20th century business models were tossed out like the trash and replaced with radical models for the new millennium. Or maybe we won't Peter Brown is associate publisher and editorial director of Automotive News.
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The buzz around this year's Tokyo Motor Show has centered on who's not here, instead of who is. Now we hear that Tokyo show organizers, who earlier this year contemplated canceling the bi-annual event, are polling the no-shows to figure out how to attract more attention in 2011.
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How can Geely, a young Chinese company making cheap cars, revive a troubled global premium brand like Volvo? Yang Jian is the managing editor of Automotive News China
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COMMENT: GM's college of hard knocks
Don't expect to see any tailgate parties with burgers, brats and beer. But General Motors University is alive and well, having survived the automaker's slide through Chapter 11. General Motors University was created to teach GM employees -- especially fast-track managers on their way to the top -- things they needed to know about the company, its policies and procedures, plus on-the-job leadership skills. You know, things about GM's culture Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 2
COMMENT: Are cars like sex? Hell, yes
I spent a couple of interesting days in Hell last week. No, it wasn't payback for some snarky column. As one of the 50 jurors for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards I was driving some of the best new cars and trucks on roads in and around Hell, Mich Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 26
COMMENT: Back to the future: New DeLoreans?
A town named Humble seems an unlikely place for anything to do with John DeLorean. But DeLorean Motor Co. has been growing in the Houston suburb of Humble, Texas, mostly by selling parts, paraphernalia and refurbished stainless-steel DeLoreans. Now the company wants to sell a DeLorean Solstice Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 19
COMMENT: Hal Sperlich's vision altered lives and lifestyles
Seeing Hal Sperlich inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame last week was great fun. It's nice when people are honored and they're still around to appreciate it. Especially Sperlich Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 12
COMMENT: Let's pick a new name for GMAC!
It won't be long before some overpaid consultant or government bigwig says it's time to give GMAC Financial Services a new name. After all, what once was the most highly respected blue-chip finance company on Wall Street is now a big-time bank holding company. And as such, GMAC needs to sever all ties that remind potential investors about its simple past as the captive finance company of General Motors Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 5
COMMENT: How to help save Buick? It's a tough question
I had lunch the other day with a GM dealer who is worried that Buick might not survive. He has been selling cars for quite a while and fondly remembers when Buicks were big, substantial automobiles. To him, that's what a Buick is: substantial. And, by the way, it's what he says Buick needs to be if the brand is to survive. He's frustrated because General Motors' product planners don't seem to agree with his view of the automotive universe. "What can I do to save Buick?'' he asked me and another luncheon companion Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 28
COMMENT: Whitacre caught the disease: He's an instant car guy
What is it about the automobile business that makes people believe they can come to town and magically be transformed into car guys? Now Ed Whitacre, the nonexecutive chairman of General Motors Co., wants to be Lee Iacocca. Whitacre will pitch GM's products on TV Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 14
COMMENT: NADA creates used-car dealer group
Once upon a time, you had to be a franchised new-car dealer to be a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association. Not any more. The association has created a sustaining-member category for NADA members who have lost their new-vehicle franchises this year but are still in business as used-car dealers. It's a way for dealers rejected by General Motors and Chrysler and without other franchises to stay close to the business Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 7
COMMENT: Dealer struggle: Starling has seen it before
The current squabble among dealers over the campaign to restore General Motors and Chrysler dealerships is perplexing. The key elements involve politics, haves vs. have-nots, factory pressure and diverse business interests. When such strong dealers as Jack Fitzgerald and Tammy Darvish are at odds with the National Automobile Dealers Association, you know it's a mess Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 31
Come 2010, will GM snub NADA meeting in Orlando?
As of Friday, General Motors Co. had not committed to exhibiting at the 2010 National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Orlando. A conspiracy theorist might say the delay has something to do with NADA's support of legislation that would restore rejected GM and Chrysler dealers Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 24
COMMENT: If Ford can revive Taurus, how about a little horse sense?
Over lunch the other day, a friend hit me with an interesting idea: Somebody should build a real off-road vehicle for hunters, fishermen and others who are serious about the time they spend in the great out-of-doors. I reminded him that just about every automaker that sells pickups offers some sort of rugged, off-road version. Heck, I have one. This friend, who owns a PR firm that does work for automakers and suppliers, made a face Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 17
If Ford can revive Taurus, how about a little horse sense?
Over lunch the other day, a friend hit me with an interesting idea: Somebody should build a real off-road vehicle for hunters, fishermen and others. We're not talking about rugged pickups, we're talking about an International Scout type vehicle. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 10:22 am U.S. ET | Aug. 14
COMMENT: Factories would speed up clunker payments
A dealer I know had an interesting idea: Now that Congress has renewed the cash-for-clunkers program, why not let the automakers administer it? To Adam Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls in Maine, it's simple: The factories know how to run incentive programs. Efficiently Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 10
Clunkers incentive fixes safety ills, too
I'll come clean. I wasn't impressed with the cash-for-clunkers incentive program. It could have been simpler and easier to understand. It should have made every car and truck that's at least 12 years old eligible, without all the mumbo jumbo about fuel economy. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 4:20 pm U.S. ET | Aug. 5
Will cash-for-clunkers whittle away more dealers?
The cash-for-clunkers program could put a lot of dealers out of business. Believe it or not, that's what a dealer in Ohio told me. How is this possible? The dealer told me how he's been interviewed and talked about how great it is for the economy that all those cars are being sold and how wonderful it is for the auto industry to have this kind of excitement again. But the reality for some dealerships is different. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 11:21 am U.S. ET | Aug. 4 | UPDATED: 8/4/09 12:10 p.m. ET
Let the factory run cash for clunkers
A dealer I know had an interesting idea: When Congress renews the cash-for-clunkers program, why not let the automakers administer it? Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 3:59 pm U.S. ET | Aug. 3
COMMENT: Dealers suspend Ford-Chevy war for buy-local ads
Most of the time when you think of Chevrolet and Ford, it's about competition. For decades the two brands have slugged it out, vying to be America's favorite nameplate. But sometimes their dealers find common cause. This summer, the Chevy and Ford dealerships in Ludington, Mich., launched a joint ad campaign. Their message: Buy from a local dealership that gives back to the community Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 3
Lightening the org chart and shifting focus
I couldn't help but notice that when General Motors restructured its upper management there were a lot of title changes. You expect that at times like these. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 3:03 pm U.S. ET | July 31
COMMENT: Inaba's goal: Restore Toyota's focus in U.S.
When 63-year-old Yoshi Inaba came back in June as Toyota's top honcho in North America, his mission was to get Toyota's U.S. operations back on track. Though Inaba says Toyoda didn't directly invite him back, it's clear the two executives agree that Toyota needs to get its mojo back Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 27
Will things get fouled up, again?
"The change it had to come, we knew it all along" -- 'Won't Get Fooled Again' by The Who When Pete Townshend penned those words nearly 40 years ago, I'm sure restructuring a multinational manufacturer wasn't top of mind, but from my perspective his observation was mighty prescient.Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 3:23 pm U.S. ET | July 24
COMMENT: GM doesn't need any more pet rocks
Decades ago, when entrepreneur Ross Perot was on the General Motors board, he famously called his fellow GM directors a bunch of pet rocks because they lacked the gumption to challenge management. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 6
COMMENT: Chrysler: Out of Chapter 11 -- and into the fire
Just because Chrysler has marched out of Chapter 11, doesn't mean the restructured automaker can keep from slipping back into the Big Muddy. Three recent revelations hammered home just how challenging the next several months will be for Chrysler Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 29
Out of Chapter 11 and into the fire for Chrysler
Just because Chrysler has marched out of Chapter 11, doesn't mean the restructured automaker can keep from slipping back into the Big Muddy. Three revelations last week hammered home just how challenging the next several months will be for Chrysler. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 22
Dealers lost a true friend in Ray Cohen
Ray Cohen told me he would never forgive Ralph Nader for running for president because he figured that's what gave the presidency to George W. Bush. I don't know if Nader and Cohen were close, though they traveled in similar political circles. But while Nader attacked automakers on safety problems, Cohen's prime issue was what he considered the lousy way automakers treat their dealers. Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 19
COMMENT: Saturn dealer catches break, awaits Penske
Stuart Lasser has won the right to sell Kias in one of his Saturn dealerships -- at least for a while. It's a small victory that may help keep his Saturn dealerships in business until a white knight arrives to save the brand Edward Lapham is executive editor of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 8
Style is everything, even in 'aught nine'
A dealer I know rang me up yesterday and asked what the next model year is. 2:30 pm U.S. ET | June 5
