“Memories ride in these cars - Seattle Times” plus 4 more |
- Memories ride in these cars - Seattle Times
- Honda Commemorates 30 Years of Manufacturing in America - PR Inside
- Honda Celebrates 30 Years In Ohio - WHIO TV
- Carsales makes strong market debut - News.com.au
- Dentsu Loses Remainder of Suzuki America Business to Questus - Advertising Age
| Memories ride in these cars - Seattle Times Posted: 11 Sep 2009 05:54 AM PDT A moment, please, to remember the Pontiac Firebird. It was the wing-hooded vessel that contained so many stoner moments, the sounds of Billy Squier and the sweet stench of piña colada air freshener. There will never be another. Its parent company, General Motors, is shutting down the Pontiac brand this year. Same with the El Camino, the flat-bedded weekend warrior owned by the likes of Bill Clinton and Frank Sinatra (really?). It was about to come back as a G8 sport truck before General Motors ran out of money and turned its back. They join the ranks of America's orphan cars: automobiles we loved, but then lost to their own failings, the economy, or our own fickle American tastes. There are so many now that Sunday's Kirkland Concours D'Elegance, which celebrates vintage automobile, motorcycle and wooden-boat design, has created an entire category around orphan cars. LaSalle. Graham. Nash. DeSoto. They are names that, in automotive circles, are often followed with a sigh. Packard. Hudson. Tucker. Studebaker. There will even be something called a Hupmobile. "In 1900, there were more than 1,000 automotive manufacturers in the United States," said Peter Hageman, one of the founders of the Kirkland Concours, now in its seventh year. "Now, there's the Big Three, and a couple of boutique manufacturers," he said. "Big difference."
Sue Plummer Loveridge's 1951 Studebaker Commander V-8 Convertible will be at Kirkland. She brought it up from her other home in Arizona. But her car really isn't an orphan at all. Loveridge literally grew up with the car back home in Illinois. It was the Commander that brought her home from the hospital. The earliest picture Loveridge has of herself is at 6 months old — being held in front of the Commander. The car was bought for $2,857.28 from a dealership owned by her aunt. Loveridge worked at the dealership and, later, at her father's gas station, where the Commander stood by. When she was homecoming queen, Loveridge rode in the back of the Commander. When she was out with friends, she used the spotlights on either side of the hood to find beer hidden in the bushes. When Marilyn Monroe came to Bement, Ill., she almost rode in the Commander, until Loveridge's uncle reasoned that fans could get to the bombshell too easily in a convertible, and put her in a sedan instead. And when Loveridge towed the car to Arizona for the restoration, she found her father's and brother's dog tags in the glove box. Both men are long gone. "It's a lifetime of memories," she said. Memories are all we're going to have of a lot of cars, as automotive companies eliminate brands in an effort to right themselves from a 26-year sales low, and as consumers trade in their "clunkers" for those with better mileage and performance. But a simple stroll through the Kirkland Concours can show us what came before the bankruptcies and the bailouts. It could help you see cars for the beauty — and the memories — they inspire. Said Hageman: "These cars tell us what we've lost." Nicole Brodeur's column appears Tuesday and Friday. Reach her at 206-464-2334 or nbrodeur@seattletimes.com. She's made it through the year.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Honda Commemorates 30 Years of Manufacturing in America - PR Inside Posted: 10 Sep 2009 01:48 PM PDT 2009-09-10 22:44:02 -
Honda of America Mfg. marked 30 years of manufacturing in America today with a symbolic tree planting ceremony that represents the company's deep roots in America and its longstanding relationships with the communities that have hosted the company's operations. "On behalf of the thousands of Honda associates in Ohio, past and present, I want to thank our local communities and the people of Ohio for their support and friendship during the past 30 years," said Honda of America President and CEO Hidenobu Iwata. "The significant growth we have experienced in Ohio would not have been possible without the trust and support of our community partners." "We have continued to advance our products, and the flexible and efficient manufacturing capabilities that build them, to create new value for Honda and Acura customers," said Iwata, who leads Honda's manufacturing operations in North America. "The addition of the Accord Crosstour not only signifies our commitment to the state, but also our trust in the Ohio associates to build this top-of-the-line new Honda vehicle." In addition to the East Liberty Auto Plant, other major Honda operations in Ohio will play significant roles in the Accord Crosstour project. Honda's auto engine plant near Anna, Ohio, will produce its engine and Honda's transmission plant near Russells Point, Ohio, will be the production site for its automatic transmission. "Honda's automotive operations in Ohio continue to grow in importance as they provide support to our manufacturing plants in North America and around the world," said Tom Shoupe, Honda of America senior vice president. "In addition to starting Honda motorcycle and auto production in America, Ohio is where we first began North American engine and transmission manufacturing, and where we have established a major R&D center to develop many of the products we make in North America." Construction is under way to transform the former motorcycle plant into a consolidation center to deliver automotive parts and components directly to assembly lines at the Marysville Auto Plant. Locating this consolidation activity adjacent to the plant advances quality and efficiency by significantly reducing parts handling and shipping. The new center also has a pronounced environmental benefit by reducing truck traffic and resulting CO2 emissions. This consolidation center project is one of many other activities involving Honda production and support associates to advance the company's automobile manufacturing in Ohio and North America. Based on Honda's philosophy of creating new value for its customers, Honda associates are focused on further enhancing quality, cost and on-time delivery during the economic downturn. "During these challenging times, the key to a company's survival is to respond quickly to rapid changes," Iwata said. "I am proud of the efforts by Honda associates to strengthen our operations. This puts us in a good position as the market returns to provide our customers with top quality and value in the fuel-efficient products that customers want to buy." Honda became the first Japanese automaker to manufacture products in America when it opened its first U.S. plant in Marysville, Ohio. On Sept. 10, 1979, 64 Honda associates began producing the CR250 Elsinore off-road motorcycle in Marysville. The startup was so successful that Honda quickly announced plans to build an adjacent auto plant. The first Japanese auto plant in America, the Marysville Auto Plant started producing four-door Honda Accords in November 1982. Over the past 30 years, Honda plants in Ohio have produced more than 13 million automobiles, 17 million engines, 1 million motorcycles, 2 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and nearly 13 million automatic transmissions. Today, the Marysville Auto Plant produces the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe models, and the Acura TL Sedan and Acura RDX crossover vehicle. The East Liberty Auto Plant opened 20 years ago in December 1989. In addition to the upcoming Accord Crosstour, the plant is the major production site in North America for the Honda CR-V and exclusively produces the Honda Element. Honda's success at manufacturing quality products in Ohio set Honda's course to add more production in North America to meet increasing customer demand for Honda products. Utilizing its production systems and the skills of its associates to adjust quickly to changing market conditions, Honda's North American plants manufacture more than 80% of the passenger cars and light trucks that the company sells in America. Earlier this year, Honda marked the 50 th anniversary of doing business in America, keyed to the June 11, 1959 establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Today, Honda operates nine major manufacturing facilities in America, working with 545 U.S. parts and material suppliers to produce more than 3 million products each year, including Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda all-terrain vehicles, general purpose engines and power equipment products. The company has two additional plants under construction in North Carolina, for the production of the HondaJet advanced light jet and GE Honda turbofan jet engines. *Honda and Acura products are produced using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda of America Mfg.'s media Press Room contains company information and hi-res photos at: www.ohio.honda.com : Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6047385&lang=en : For More InformationRon Lietzke, ron_lietzke@ham.honda.com : mailto:ron_lietzke@ham.honda.com , (937) 644-6627Ed Miller, ed_miller@ahm.honda.com : mailto:ed_miller@ahm.honda.com ,  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Honda Celebrates 30 Years In Ohio - WHIO TV Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:46 AM PDT Posted: 2:49 pm EDT September 10, 2009Updated: 10:05 am EDT September 11, 2009 MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Honda of America Mfg. marked 30 years of manufacturing in America Thursday with a symbolic tree planting ceremony that represents the companys deep roots in America and its longstanding relationships with Ohio.On behalf of the thousands of Honda associates in Ohio, past and present, I want to thank our local communities and the people of Ohio for their support and friendship during the past 30 years, said Honda of America President and CEO Hidenobu Iwata. The significant growth we have experienced in Ohio would not have been possible without the trust and support of our community partners.During the tree-planting event, Iwata announced that Hondas auto plant in East Liberty, Ohio, will be the production site for the new Honda Accord Crosstour crossover utility vehicle (CUV). The East Liberty Auto Plant recently earned the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Gold Plant Award for having the highest quality of any auto plant in North America. The Accord Crosstour will go on sale this fall.We have continued to advance our products, and the flexible and efficient manufacturing capabilities that build them, to create new value for Honda and Acura customers, said Iwata, who leads Hondas manufacturing operations in North America. The addition of the Accord Crosstour not only signifies our commitment to the state, but also our trust in the Ohio associates to build this top-of-the-line new Honda vehicle.In addition to the East Liberty Auto Plant, other major Honda operations in Ohio will play big roles in the Accord Crosstour project. Hondas auto engine plant near Anna will produce its engine and Hondas transmission plant near Russells Point will be the production site for its automatic transmission. Hondas automotive operations in Ohio continue to grow in importance as they provide support to our manufacturing plants in North America and around the world, said Tom Shoupe, Honda of America senior vice president. In addition to starting Honda motorcycle and auto production in America, Ohio is where we first began North American engine and transmission manufacturing, and where we have established a major R&D center to develop many of the products we make in North America.Honda ended motorcycle production in Marysville last June and is focusing its local operations on automobile and powertrain production. Construction is under way to transform the former motorcycle plant into a consolidation center to deliver automotive parts and components directly to assembly lines at the Marysville Auto Plant.During these challenging times, the key to a companys survival is to respond quickly to rapid changes, Iwata said. I am proud of the efforts by Honda associates to strengthen our operations. This puts us in a good position as the market returns to provide our customers with top quality and value in the fuel-efficient products that customers want to buy.Honda became the first Japanese automaker to manufacture products in America when it opened its first U.S. plant in Marysville.On Sept. 10, 1979, 64 Honda associates began producing the CR250 Elsinore off-road motorcycle in Marysville. The startup was so successful that Honda quickly announced plans to build an adjacent auto plant. The first Japanese auto plant in America, the Marysville Auto Plant started producing four-door Honda Accords in November 1982.Over the past 30 years, Honda plants in Ohio have produced more than 13 million automobiles, 17 million engines, 1 million motorcycles, 2 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and nearly 13 million automatic transmissions.Today, the Marysville Auto Plant produces the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe models, and the Acura TL Sedan and Acura RDX crossover vehicle. The East Liberty Auto Plant opened 20 years ago in December 1989. In addition to the upcoming Accord Crosstour, the plant is the major production site in North America for the Honda CR-V and exclusively produces the Honda Element. Copyright 2009 by WHIOTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Carsales makes strong market debut - News.com.au Posted: 10 Sep 2009 10:20 AM PDT Carsales.com (crz.ASX:Quote,News) shares opened at $3.92, a 12 per cent premium to its issue price of $3.50, when it began trading at 11.30am AEST today. At 14.38pm AEST its shares were trading at $3.88, after moving between a low of $3.85 and a high of $3.96. The company's shares closed at $3.99. Under its initial public offer (IPO), carsales.com sold 46 million existing shares and 350,000 new shares to investors. The company raised $164 million from the offer to give it a market value upon listing of $812 million. Chief executive Greg Roebuck said he was pleased the company's shares had opened above the offer price. "It was a good result, I was a bit nervous. I wanted to make sure our new investors got a good result as well as our long-term investors," Mr Roebuck said. "Now that this is behind us, I want to get back to running the business." The company covers automotive, motorcycle, marine and display advertising. Mr Roebuck said a key growth opportunity for the business was to get more display advertising into online from print media. "I think the private advertisers realised four or five years ago that the web was the place to sell their car, dealers realised it two years ago," he said. "The people we still need to work on are the car companies and their agencies to get their print spin online." Carsales.com operates 27 websites, launches an average of one new website every six months and expects that trend to continue. "Online overall is continuing to do well for us and for others," Mr Roebuck said. The proceeds from the new shares issued will be used by the company to pay some of the costs of the offer. The proceeds from the sale of the existing shares will be received by the selling shareholders. Brokers welcomed the listing, saying successful IPOs were another sign of a more positive economic environment. "Any kind of situation where you're seeing IPO activity is a big thumbs up to the actual market situation," IG Markets dealer Chris Weston said. "This would also be encouraging for Myer." Department store group Myer releases its annual result on Friday and is expected to announces further details of its planned float on the exchange. Austock Securities senior client adviser Michael Heffernan said carsales.com could sustain its Thursday share price. "The economy is picking and they have a great franchise selling new and used cars as oppose to The Sydney Morning Herald Morning and The Age," Mr Heffernan said. "They're in a sector also that's doing very well, when you look at other comparable stocks like realestate.com.au, wotif and seek. "They're listing at probably one of the best times you could list at over the last 18 months." Carsales.com's largest shareholder, PBL Media, will retain its 49.3 per cent interest, which is held through its subsidiary ACP Magazines. Australian car dealers comprise most of carsales.com's other 400 shareholders. Carsales.com expects to generate revenue of $115 million in the 2009/10 financial year, representing a 36 per cent rise on the previous year.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Dentsu Loses Remainder of Suzuki America Business to Questus - Advertising Age Posted: 09 Sep 2009 04:05 PM PDT Motor Company Hands Entire Account to Digital Agency of Record With Focus on Online-Advertising SynergiesNEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- A San Francisco-based digital shop just grabbed what was left of Dentsu's Suzuki America business. Dentsu lost the majority of the account, the brand's automotive advertising duties, to Siltanen & Partners last year. Digital agency Questus has gone from being Suzuki power-sports' digital agency of record to handling all advertising, including TV and print, for North America. The 50-person shop was handed the business, estimated at $10 million to $15 million for the remainder of 2009, without review. Dentsu Next was shuttered in January, after losing American Suzuki in 2008. At that time, the power-sports business, which includes motorcycles and ATVs, was moved to Dentsu, Los Angeles. "Questus brings us the combination of heavier digital and the synergy of doing our digital and then being able to bridge that gap between print, TV and social media," said Steve Bortolamedi, senior advertising manager, American Suzuki Motor Corp.'s power-sports division. "Our digital and social media is leading the way, and TV and print is supporting, while in the past, TV and print led advertising efforts. We feel most confident with having Questus leading to that end." Questus has been Suzuki America power-sports' digital agency of record since 2003, when the agency said the brand dedicated less than 5% of its budget to online. "This is the first client we've ever taken from digital lead to full lead," said Questus partner Joey Dumont. The agency, which reports $30 million in revenue including creative fees and media, has created non-digital work for an undisclosed banking client, Verizon and Salesforce.com. For Suzuki, Questus created the Hayabusa sports bike social-media campaign targeting hip-hop enthusiasts, along with numerous websites in the U.S. and Canada.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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See how Questus is slashing production time and boosting performance for Suzuki. http://www.eyeblaster.com/Content.aspx?page=press_releases&id=74