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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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Going. Going. Gone. Any day now, a revered 83-year-old brand -- Pontiac -- will be a relic of the past, and a relic of what General Motors used to be. John K. Teahen Jr. is senior editor of Automotive News.
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As a small business owner, I have seen a lot of programs meant to fix our economy come and go. Tax cuts and hikes, bank bailouts, TARP funding, TALF funding and cash for clunkers have all passed us by. The silver bullet remains elusive. One of the real keys to ending this recession has been staring us in the face all along. To borrow a phrase: It's trade, stupid Russ Darrow is chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association.
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This year the math adds up to 110%
Two weeks ago, Chrysler held a marathon press event orchestrated by the management of Fiat, which controls Chrysler these days. It was too bad it lasted so long. The Europeans didn't understand that they could have communicated the entire plan in a couple of hours. We wish Chrysler and Fiat well with their forecasts. But to say that they might be a tad optimistic would be an understatement Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 16
Once again, it's back to basics
For a long time, new-car dealers spent most of their time trying to increase their market share or simply increase sales in their communities. Today, that's not enough. With new-car sales a fraction of what they were a couple of years ago, dealers have to go back to the basics one more time. That means taking a look at all their profit centers and making sure that they are profit centers, not just service centers Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 9
It's a week of revival for car people
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. It's an unbridled time for car companies, their dealers, the aftermarket and distributors, parts dealers -- just about anyone who has a passion for or a business with cars Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 2
Whatever happened to ethical behavior?
Last week, Fortune magazine published a “kiss and tell” story by Steven Rattner about his experiences as part of the U.S. auto task force, a post he resigned last summer. He followed up with a speech and several interviews. Rattner's article and his public statements are conduct unbecoming any past or present federal official. Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 9:03 am U.S. ET | Oct. 26
Is it too late to let the Opel deal die?
General Motors Co. seems content to keep cutting off its fingers and toes. Perhaps the worst deal GM ever made was selling 51 percent of GMAC to Cerberus Capital Management. Now the new GM seems intent on selling control of Opel to the Canadian supplier Magna and Russia's Sberbank. It doesn't make sense Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 26
Goodbye to customers, market share
Millions of dollars are spent by manufacturers trying to figure out just the right places to put their franchises. Whether it's a Subway or a McDonald's or a car company, having the right dealer in the right place is important. Now a couple of car companies have tossed away any chance of maintaining customer loyalty, sales and market share Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 19
Was history telling us the truth?
U.S. auto sales are bumping along at an annualized rate below 10 million vehicles a year. Not so long ago, sales hovered at around 17 million, and everyone assumed that 20 million new vehicles a year wasn't too far away. But since the sky fell, no one is thinking about those kinds of numbers. Most folks talk about a normal year being way below our vehicle sales of just a few years ago Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 12
Credit makes the auto world go round
I had breakfast last week with Bill Muir and Tim Russi, top executives of GMAC. We had an interesting conversation about the car business and credit. The most obvious thing I came away with: After all the morphing that has been going on within GMAC, it's now a bank, and it's trying to service all the General Motors and Chrysler Group dealers with a portfolio of financial products for them and their customers Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Oct. 5
Time for GM to get back to business
It's nice of General Motors to reward the new chairman, Edward Whitacre by trying to make him famous. It's amazing what a few million dollars will do to let the world know who you are. But it's a waste of money and it's causing more harm than good Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 28 | UPDATED: 9/28/09 4:07 p.m. ET
Carlos Ghosn should throw a party
It wasn't too long after I became publisher of Automotive News, a few decades ago, that I had the good fortune of meeting Yutaka Katayama, then the head of Datsun in America. Last week, Mr. K, as he is warmly known in the United States, celebrated his 100th birthday. We all wish him many more birthdays Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21
GM: Just add up the numbers
General Motors -- the new one, not the old one -- is shedding Saab, Hummer, Saturn and Pontiac. Besides getting rid of those four brands and their dealers, GM is shedding about 1,350 other dealerships that still can operate for another year or so but can't order cars from GM and are in the process of winding down. In other words, the cars and trucks normally sold by those dealers already have disappeared from the sales charts Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 14
Closing dealerships? Be careful
Driving through Ohio and Michigan recently, I was stunned to see so many new-car dealerships that were closed, abandoned or selling only used cars. There were too many not to notice in cities large and small. If there were a competitive event to measure the philanthropy of businesses in America, the local car dealer would always take the top prize Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 7
So what comes after clunkers?
We have seen a bubble in car sales, thanks to the cash-for-clunkers bonus from Washington. While the executive branch of our federal government will take credit for this program, I hope the automobile industry reminds everyone that those are the same folks who want to take over our health care. Cash for clunkers may just be the most successful program that the government has come up with to stimulate the economy Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 31
A recession? Not in Pebble Beach
The 18th hole at Pebble Beach is the best place to showcase a couple of hundred classic cars. It's a weekend that has no relationship to the real world. They don't know about the travails of the global automobile industry. Maybe that's what makes it so nice. It's sort of a fairyland for cars Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 24
We need a new way of measuring
Last week, General Motors announced that the Chevrolet Volt would get the equivalent of more than 200 miles per gallon. Meanwhile, the lowly gasoline-powered vehicle would still face the ugly Los Angeles loop, which by anyone's standards will give that car a tough time with fuel economy. Somewhere in between will be the popular hybrid Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 17
Thank goodness for dealer optimism
I am always cheered by the optimism of automobile dealers. When they were facing a long spell of less-than-great business, there always seemed to be someone who could see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, once it had stopped raining. Well, I'm not sure it has stopped raining, but I am pleased to note that many car dealers see the cash-for-clunkers program as the beginning of an automotive revival. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 10
We need more money and more cars
It's not perfect, but the cash-for-clunkers program has given the new-car market a shot in the arm it desperately needed. The boost has been so big and so fast that Washington is scrambling to find more money Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 3
We need more money and more cars
It's not perfect, but the cash-for-clunkers program has given the new-car market a shot in the arm it desperately needed. The boost has been so big and so fast that Washington is scrambling to find more money. Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 31 | UPDATED: 3 p.m. ET, 7/31/09
We still need GMAC version 2.0
It is obvious that the folks in Washington don't have a clue about how the automobile business functions. A good example of the lack of understanding in Washington was shown by letting GMAC recreate itself as a bank. The sole purpose for making GMAC a bank was to get some of the TARP funds, primarily for the benefit of its owners. If anyone in Washington had done some reading, he would understand why General Motors created General Motors Acceptance Corp. in the first place Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 27
Shouldn't the dealers get something?
American automobile dealers are a powerful force in Washington, and they are going to demonstrate that fact. One way or another, it's going to cost the new GM and the new Chrysler. Never underestimate the power of the American car dealer Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 20
Don't expect normalcy anytime soon
It doesn't look like this economic downturn, otherwise known as a depression, will end anytime soon. The politicians can't seem to decide whether the nation needs another stimulus package. Meanwhile, it would be absurd to imagine that the bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors -- once both are completed -- will put everything back to normal Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 13
Cash for clunkers: Let's hope it works
The Europeans have been giving government incentives for turning in old cars for quite some time. It seems to have worked in Europe. A government incentive to trade in an older vehicle for a new, more fuel-efficient model seems to be a good idea on the face of it. A lot of little regulations will make it complicated to administer, but it is worth the effort. Anything that can get our automotive economy up and running is worth a try Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 6
Look ahead: Imports will dominate
I drove by one of the newer, more modern Pontiac dealerships in the Detroit area recently and was surprised that it was no longer a Pontiac store. It had become a Toyota dealership, with a prime location and a modern facility. Score one run for Toyota, one error for Cadillac Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 29
Ford: Between devil and deep blue sea
Chrysler is out of Chapter 11 with new owners, new management and a lot fewer dealers. And, magically, debt has been turned into equity or disappeared. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 22
The bloodbath continues
Fiat is now in charge of Chrysler. The only thing we know for certain is that Chrysler will sell a lot fewer vehicles after canceling 789 dealerships and forcing the unemployment of tens of thousands of dealership employees. All of this is meant to save jobs Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 15
The feds must save us from the feds
If we're not careful, the domestic ownership of Government Motors, aka General Motors, is going to become a quagmire. If GM has any chance of success, it must be able to make good corporate decisions. Those decisions must not be hampered by a board hand-picked by the White House or Treasury or the UAW Keith Crain is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News. 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 8
