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WAYNE, Mich., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — ford Motor Company will invest $75 million in Michigan Truck Plant’s body shop to prepare for small-vehicle production.
The plant will begin converting its body shop in November when the tooling and equipment specific to the ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator will be disassembled and transferred to Kentucky Truck Plant, which begins producing the large SUVs in the second quarter of 2009.
The move paves the way for Michigan Truck to convert to a car plant that will begin producing global C-car based vehicles in 2010.
In the interim, the plant’s 1,000 employees will be transferred next door to Wayne Assembly Plant where a third crew will be added in January to accommodate increased production of the hot-selling ford Focus. When completed, Michigan Truck’s flexibility will allow it to augment current ford Focus production if necessary.
“This is the best plan to meet consumer demand and utilize our assets at Michigan Truck and other facilities, both in the near term and long term,” said Joe Hinrichs, ford group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “Consumers will benefit through increased production of the strong-selling Focus at Wayne, the continuation of the popular Expedition and Navigator for those who need a large SUV at Kentucky Truck, and more world-class C-cars at Michigan Truck.”
Michigan Truck is one of three truck and SUV plants in North America that will be converted to build small fuel-efficient compact and subcompact vehicles. In 2010, Cuautitlan Assembly, which currently produces F-Series pickups, will begin building the new Fiesta subcompact car for North America. Louisville Assembly, home of the ford Explorer mid-size SUV, is slated to start production of yet more unique small vehicles from the automaker’s global C-car platform the following year.
At the heart of this manufacturing transformation is a flexible operation, which uses reprogrammable tooling in the body shop, standardized equipment in the paint shop and common-build sequence in final assembly, enabling production of multiple models in the same plant.
Aiding the implementation of flexible manufacturing is Ford’s industry-leading virtual manufacturing technology. In the virtual world, engineers and plant operators evaluate tooling and product interfaces before costly installations are made on the plant floor. This method of collaboration improves launch quality and enables speed of execution.
In a flexible body shop, at least 80 percent of the robotic equipment can be reprogrammed to weld various sized vehicles. This “non-product specific” equipment gives the body shop its flexibility and provides more efficient use of the facility.
In 2005, ford invested $300 million in Michigan Truck to build a new, flexible body shop. That investment will help streamline the conversion to small vehicles and will require an additional body shop investment of approximately $75 million. This is part of a larger investment planned for the plant. Meanwhile, ford continues to work with state and local governments on the scope of incentive support.
Today, nearly 87 percent of Ford’s assembly plants around the world have flexible body shops. By 2012, the number will grow to 100 percent.
Michigan Truck Plant Facts:
Location: Wayne, Michigan
Number of Employees: 1,000
Year Opened: 1957
Plant Size (Sq. Ft.): 2,866,000
Current Products: ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator
Future Products: Small vehicles based on Ford’s global C-car platform

About ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit .
Ford Motor Company

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ — With the election quickly approaching, it’s time for car enthusiasts and shoppers everywhere to get to the real issue for the next presidential term: What’s going to be cool to drive for the next four years?
The two leading candidates for president, Sen. John McCain from Arizona and Sen. Barack Obama from Illinois, have both voiced strong opinions on the auto industry in recent months. Obama, for example, says he’ll give Detroit money to stop building SUVs and start building 35-mpg cars; McCain’s been a champion of higher fuel economy laws and wants $300 million for a new generation of electric cars.
Marty Padgett and Bengt Halvorson of TheCarConnection.com analyzed the candidates’ preferences and proposed policies to predict which cars, trucks and SUVs would be more popular with each of the candidates in the running.
Though the Illinois senator is clearly in favor with the green movement, Halvorson says the Chrysler 300C might get a bump from an Obama administration: “He may drive a ford Escape Hybrid now, but it’s hard to forget the blingy Chrysler 300C was his whip until his media handlers took charge.” As for McCain, Padgett says Toyota’s popular Prius is set for a bigger slice of the market. “Like McCain himself, it’s getting a second wind thanks to rising gas prices.”
These are TheCarConnection.com’s predictions for the vehicles most likely to be a hit under the next President of the United States:
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
Diesel pickups. Big pickups aren’t going away, Halvorson says, but neither are drastic new fuel economy standards. “Obama has been a vocal supporter of biodiesel, and each of the Detroit carmakers is planning diesel for their big trucks,” he says.
Honda Accord diesel. The diesel lead in cars might be with Volkswagen for now, but Halvorson says just wait until the segment-killing Honda Accord gets in on the action. “It’s a new turbo diesel estimated at 50 mpg on the highway,” he points out. “Obamacans will flock to it, along with some of the other 300,000-plus buyers who line up for the Accord each year.”

Ford Fiesta. It’s coming in 2010, and Ford’s new subcompact is just the ticket for an Obama administration. “Obama wants $4 billion for Detroit to build new small cars, and ford is already planning on building it in North America,” Halvorson says. “They could use the incentives to make a hybrid or diesel version for real 50-mpg capability.”

Chrysler 300C HEMI. Be like Barack? Last year Obama was singled out by the media for driving this stylish sedan. “It was perhaps a little too extravagant for a Democrat,” Halvorson observes. “Now he’s driving the politician’s stand-by, a ford Escape Hybrid, but he hasn’t been able to shake the 300C image.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Like McCain, “It’s green and it’s tough as nails,” Padgett says. “Throw Mitt Romney in the back seat, have him come up with a way to lop $5000 off the sticker price and it’s a deal.”

Toyota Prius. McCain’s come out in favor of across-the-board incentives for high-mileage cars — and the Prius’ tax credits expired long ago. “The Prius is poised for an even stronger second wind under McCain,” Padgett points out.

Honda Civic GX. Natural gas is one way to divert cars from the oil stream — and McCain’s spoken out for more compressed-natural-gas vehicles like the ones your city’s bus system probably uses today. The Honda Civic GX uses compressed natural gas (CNG); “you can refill it at home and you can get natural gas from domestic sources,” Padgett says, making it a more friendly alternative to more offshore drilling.

Chevrolet Volt. The GM PR machine has been working overtime on the gas-electric Volt, the plug-in hybrid they hope to launch by late 2009. They can expect McCain to be an ally, Padgett says: “McCain wants more nuclear power, which will help keep the Volt charged up, and he’s in favor of tax credits for zero-carbon-emission cars.” 2011-chevrolet-volt/
Nissan EV. With his $300 million plan to fund a new generation of electric-car batteries, McCain might be giving a lift to Nissan, which wants to sell mainstream electric vehicles by 2012. “Giving power to the people doesn’t have to involve fossil fuels,” Padgett says, “and this proves McCain is as green as Republicans come.”
For more predictions, go to: next-four-years/
About TheCarConnection.com
TheCarConnection.com is the Web’s Automotive Authority, offering car buyers the reviews, spy shots and shopping guides, tips and expert advice they need to buy the right car.
TheCarConnection.com

ATLANTA, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ — AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, ranks highest in satisfying dealers with new-vehicle leads for the second year in a row, according to results from the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study released Tuesday. The company scored 637 points on a 1,000-point scale in the study, higher than any other online automotive new-vehicle lead service and nine points higher than last year, when AutoTrader.com also scored highest in this category.
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“For many years, AutoTrader.com has been known as the No. 1 place for people to buy and sell used cars,” said AutoTrader.com CEO Chip Perry. “For 2008, we focused our efforts on letting the public know that AutoTrader.com is the best place to buy and sell new cars as well. We built new functionality on our site to make new car shopping easy and launched a national marketing campaign that specifically highlighted our new car offerings to get the word out.”
Major site enhancements launched in 2008 that helped improve the new-car shopping experience on AutoTrader.com included:
– Enhanced “Research and Compare” functionality. Brand new features include consumer generated car reviews, 360-degree interior and exterior spin views, new car photos with color-change capability and additional content and articles about specific car makes and models. AutoTrader.com also gives car buyers the opportunity to search for and view both new and used cars vs. splitting searches into just “new” or “used” categories.
– Lifestyle Central “interest centers.” These five interest centers allow car buyers to learn more about specific car segments and to search for new, used and certified pre-owned cars in these specific categories. The five lifestyle centers are: “Going Green,” which focuses on high gas mileage, hybrid and alternative fuel automobiles; “Family Focus” aimed at buyers looking for large automobiles to meet family transportation needs; “Trend Watch,” for customers searching for cars with the very latest in design and options; “Work & Play,” that focuses on SUV’s and recreational vehicles; and “Smart Saver,” aimed at people looking for the best deal possible, including new car specials.
– Redesigned search results page. These redesigned pages, which compile the cars a buyer has searched for, now feature larger thumbnail photos and more comprehensive listing information and functionality.
– More car videos every day. Currently, AutoTrader.com has video overviews posted for 200 car makes and models, with new videos posting every day.
According to the study, AutoTrader.com ranks highest in three of four satisfaction factors which comprise the index. The company receives the new-vehicle lead industry’s highest scores in Business Generation, Dealer Support / Service and Transmission of Leads. Dealers answering the survey estimate that 60% of their ATC leads arrive offline, with 34% being phone calls and 26% being walk-ins.
“The Dealer Satisfaction with Online Buying Services Study clearly demonstrates AutoTrader.com’s leadership and second-to-none commitment to facilitate new-vehicle sales, while delivering a superior advertising value, for our dealership customers,” said Perry. “As the ultimate automotive marketplace, it’s our pledge to continue to connect our dealer customers with the most in-market vehicle shoppers across the country while providing industry-leading customer service and support to help our dealer customers not only achieve, but exceed their sales objectives.”
About AutoTrader.com
AutoTrader.com, created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is the Internet’s leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website. AutoTrader.com aggregates in a single location about 4 million new, used and certified pre-owned vehicle listings from 40,000 dealers and 250,000 private owners and the site attracts about 14 million unique monthly visitors. Through innovative merchandising functionality such as multiple photos, videos, detailed descriptions and comprehensive research and compare tools, AutoTrader.com unites new and used car buyers and sellers online to improving the way people research, locate and advertise vehicles. AutoTrader.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. The venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is also an investor. For more information, please visit .
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phones and more, please visit . J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

AutoTrader.com

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Summer is almost over, but the fight to eliminate pediatric cancer charges ahead. The world’s first virtual lemonade stand, was launched by volvo Cars of North America in June and continues to sell very special cups of lemonade on behalf of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF).
Volvo kicked off the grand opening of the stand by purchasing the first 200,000 cups. Since then thousands of generous virtual lemonade stand patrons from all over the U.S. have bought cups of their own on the site. Each cup cost only $1 and 100 percent of the proceeds funds pediatric cancer research. So far, $207,772 has been raised.
Anyone, 24/7, can purchase virtual cups of lemonade at the online lemonade stand. And to help spread the word about the important work that ALSF is doing, purchasers can share cups of lemonade from the stand — via email — with family and friends.
Volvo is getting the word out in August with the hope to pass the 210,000 cups sold mark by Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2008.
“The virtual lemonade stand is off to a great start,” said Doug Speck, president and chief executive officer for volvo Cars of North America. “Volvo retailers, our customers and our employees at our headquarters have rallied behind this effort and we are very grateful. Now we want to finish off the summer in a big way by reaching 210,000 cups sold by Labor Day. There is no easier way to get involved in finding a cure for pediatric cancer.”
Lemonade Stand for life is just one click away at . Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
About volvo and ALSF
Alex and her lemonade stands first caught the attention of volvo in 2002 when she received an inaugural volvo for life Award nomination. The awards program honors hometown heroes doing extraordinary things in their communities. Alex’s determination and unwavering support for pediatric cancer research earned her a volvo for life Award at the 2003 ceremony in New York City. Despite her deteriorating health, Alex continued to raise money through her stands.
In 2004, Alex set a remarkable goal: call upon the nation to raise $1 million to fight pediatric cancer before the year’s end. Sadly, Alex died Aug. 1 at the age of 8, having raised an amazing $700,000. volvo promised to help Alex reach her $1 million goal, and the company’s employees and retailers did so in October of that year — by selling lemonade.
By the end of 2004, one little girl had made a world of difference, raising $1.5 million. Since then, volvo has shown unwavering support of ALSF, helping to keep the inspiration and legacy of Alex alive. To date, ALSF has raised more than $19 million.
More About Volvo
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) is a subsidiary of volvo Car Corp. of Goteborg, Sweden. VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees volvo operations in Canada and Mexico.
More About ALSF
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). At the age of 4, Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $19 million towards fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 80 research projects nationally including those examining leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, Wilm’s tumor, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma among others.
Volvo Cars of North America

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Last night, McKeel Hagerty announced the winners of Hagerty’s inaugural National Youth Model-Building Contest. The final judging took place during the company’s annual cocktail party at The Lodge at Pebble Beach. The VIP judging panel consisted of McKeel Hagerty CEO of Hagerty Insurance, Jay Leno host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC, Manfred Fitzgerald Head of Brand and Design at Automobili Lamborghini, KC Crain Publisher of AutoWeek Magazine and Ed Gilbertson Chief Judge of prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
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The top five finalists and a parent traveled to Monterey, Calif. courtesy of Hagerty for the final judging and to experience the famed Monterey classic car weekend. Nine-year-old Tyler Urrutia from Miami, Florida was awarded the top prize from the judges for his model of a 1932 Ford Woody.
“We created this contest as a way to get young kids excited about classic cars and to offer a taste of the collector car hobby,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance Inc. “We were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming cheer and applause from the crowd as each youth participant was handed the award by a member of the judging panel. I can remember building model cars as a kid with my own customizations and am thrilled to provide that same excitement to younger generations while exposing them to one of the greatest classic car events of the year.”
Hagerty’s National Youth Model-Building Contest was created by Hagerty Plus — a membership program for collector car owners. Earlier this year, Hagerty Plus mailed out nearly 400 model car kits to more than 30 car clubs throughout the United States to host their own youth model-building competition. The winning car from each club was shipped back to Hagerty and photos were placed on for voting by the general public.
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. is the leading insurance agency for collector vehicles in the world and host to the largest network of collector car owners. Hagerty Insurance Agency offers insurance for collector cars, motorcycles and motorcycle safety equipment, tractors, automotive tools and spare parts, and even “automobilia” (any historic or collectible item linked with motor vehicles). Hagerty Insurance Agency also offers overseas shipping/touring insurance coverage, commercial coverage and club liability coverage.
Hagerty Plus, LLC is the largest collector car membership organization in the country. Hagerty Plus offers its members 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, a subscription to Hagerty’s quarterly magazine, access to the “Ask Hagerty” Concierge service and product discounts, in addition to a variety of other informational and educational resources. Hagerty Plus also works proactively on hobby legislation and supports the Collectors Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preservation of the hobby. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit

Hagerty Plus, LLC

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — If your son or daughter is driving back to college in the next few weeks, now’s the time to test their knowledge about how to get the best gas mileage while away from home. The car Care Council’s short Gas Saving 101 Quiz is a reminder to students, as well as all motorists, that the number of miles per gallon (mpg) a car gets is directly related to driving behavior and vehicle maintenance.
“College students are usually on limited budgets and they can very easily save money on gas by driving smarter, and keeping an eye on a few of the vehicle components that affect fuel economy,” said Rich White, executive director, car Care Council.
TRUE OR FALSE
Q.1 - Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage.

A.1 - True. When tires are not properly inflated, fuel costs can be as much as three to five cents higher per gallon. Tire pressure should be checked at least monthly, including the spare.
Q.2 - Aggressive driving and jackrabbit starts do not affect fuel economy.
A.2 - False. Aggressive driving and rapid acceleration can reduce gas mileage as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets. When a vehicle is left idling, it wastes gas and gets zero mpg.
Q.3 - Speeding has little effect on gas mileage.
A.3 - False. In speeds above 60 mph, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly. For maximum fuel economy, stay below 60 mph.
Q.4 - It’s no big deal if the gas cap gets lost or cracked.
A.4 - False. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
Q.5 - Extra weight in the car causes an increase in gas usage.
A.5 - True. Items that are not needed weigh down the vehicle, causing an increase in gas usage and unnecessary wear and tear on the car. Get the stuff out of the car and trunk but remember to keep important emergency items, such as a spare tire, flares and a first-aid kit.
In addition, air filters can become clogged with dirt, dust or bugs, which choke off the air and create a “rich” mixture that wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. The air filter should be inspected at each oil change.
The car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s car Care Guide or for more information, visit .
Car Care Council

PORTLAND, Maine, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ — The BMW Hydrogen 7 — the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan — joins an unprecedented cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world’s leading automakers in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour.
From August 11 - 23, the hydrogen powered convoy will travel from Portland, Maine to Santa Monica, California with one goal: to call on congressional leaders to support the creation of a nationwide hydrogen fueling station infrastructure.
The Hydrogen Road Tour is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association. In addition to BMW, participants include Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and VW. Also part of this broad coalition are hydrogen fuel providers Linde, BMW’s hydrogen fuel partner for the Tour, and Air Products.
“BMW has already logged nearly 2 million miles in our fleet of 100 BMW Hydrogen 7s. Being on this tour will show more people that hydrogen is truly the best alternative transportation fuel. An internal combustion engine, powered by hydrogen should play an important role in the future of sustainable mobility,” said Tom Baloga, BMW Vice President of Engineering, U.S.
What is most unusual about the Hydrogen Road Tour is the partnership between the world’s leading automakers, key federal departments, influential non-governmental organizations and hydrogen fuel providers to bring the reality of practical, clean energy to our nation’s legislators and the public. The tour will visit key members of Congress in their home states to allow them the opportunity to see and drive these cars.
BMW Hydrogen 7 is the only car on the tour that stores liquid hydrogen to power an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen is one of the cleanest energy sources available producing zero emissions. Essentially the only tailpipe emission is water vapor.
Mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 actually cleans the air
The tour fleet will include the mono-fuel version of the BMW Hydrogen 7, equipped with a V12 internal combustion engine (ICE) which has been engineered to run exclusively on hydrogen. It was created to showcase the zero CO2 and low emissions potential and feasibility of a dedicated hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE).
The Hydrogen 7’s V12 mono-fuel ICE produces no CO2 and near-zero emissions, while not sacrificing performance. In fact, the tailpipe emissions are so infinitesimal they pushed the limits of current emission testing technology.
Independent authorities, including the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), have confirmed these results. ANL conducted emission tests on BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel vehicles in early March 2008 and found that not only were the emissions infinitesimally small but when running, the vehicle actually cleaned the air.
Exhaust emissions clean enough to drink
Recent studies have also confirmed the water emitted by the Hydrogen 7 is, in fact, safe to drink.
Exhaust from the mono-fuel Hydrogen 7 tested by FGL Environmental was found to be well within the limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for safe drinking water standards. The Maximum Contaminant Limit, abbreviated MCL, is the maximum limit set by the EPA for chemicals found in drinking water. Results showed the MCL from mono-fuel H7 emissions to be in compliance with the health safety standards.
BMW Hydrogen 7 on the road
For more than a year, the BMW fleet of bi-fuel Hydrogen 7s has been an important milestone on the road to a hydrogen future, with more than 150 people driving nearly 2 million miles so far. The Pioneer Program, as it is called, has provided the flexibility of being able to gather real-world driving experience driving on hydrogen with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won’t run out of fuel. In addition to the BMW hydrogen pioneers, hundreds of people from academia, students, media, as well as the general public, have had the opportunity to experience the BMW Hydrogen 7.
Follow the Tour online at . Learn more about the BMW Hydrogen 7 at . With a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure in place — the goal of the Hydrogen Road Tour — the hydrogen future would be a reality.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

BMW of North America, LLC

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to the make of a vehicle, hybrid car owners are the most loyal buyers, with 47 percent purchasing another vehicle of the same make, according to recent research from Experian Automotive, a part of global information services company Experian. This loyalty to a vehicle’s make among hybrid owners comes in significantly higher than the 35 percent average of consumer loyalty to all vehicle classes combined.
With gas prices remaining high and green buying habits among consumers continuing to rise, hybrid vehicle sales have increased 130 percent in the past three years, according to Experian Automotive. As sales have increased, hybrid vehicle buyers have shown they are not only the most loyal segment of buyers to the make (e.g. Mercury) of a vehicle, but to a specific vehicle model (e.g. Mercury Mariner) as well. Eighteen percent of hybrid car buyers were found to purchase another vehicle of the same model; higher than any other vehicle class and the combined average loyalty of all vehicle classes of 12 percent. Toyota Prius owners were found to be the most loyal to vehicle model among hybrid car buyers, with one in four returning to purchase another Prius. When compared to all Toyota buyers, Toyota hybrid car owners ranked highest when it came to vehicle make, model and class loyalty.
“There is no doubt that economic and environmental factors are significantly changing which vehicles individuals buy and, even more interestingly, the types of vehicles they choose to purchase again,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. “Our data has shown that hybrid manufacturers have a clear advantage in reaching and keeping the more loyal vehicle buyers on the road today.”
The Experian Automotive study, which examined vehicle sales from January 2007 to March 2008, also found hybrid truck buyers (including SUVs) showed above-average loyalty to vehicle make with 37 percent purchasing another vehicle of the same make when compared to the 35-percent average of all vehicle classes combined.
Experian Automotive provides the information and insight that drives decisions across the entire vehicle sales cycle, ranging from market and vehicle history reporting to credit and marketing services. Experian Automotive assists manufacturers, dealers, lenders, and consumers in making sound decisions in buying and selling vehicles by helping them understand their market, manage lending risks, find new customers and provide the information needed to feel confident about their purchases.
For more information on Experian Automotive’s study of hybrid vehicle loyalty, visit . For more information on Experian Automotive’s loyalty and marketing services for the automotive industry, visit or call 888-891-1191.
About Experian Automotive
Experian Automotive, a part of Experian, delivers information services to manufacturers, dealers, finance and insurance companies, and consumers. Experian(R) helps automotive clients increase customer loyalty, target and win new business, and make better lending and vehicle purchase decisions. Its National Vehicle Database, housing more than 500 million vehicles, along with Experian’s credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry’s growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian’s advanced decision support services help clients turn this information into improved business results. Experian technology supports several top automotive Web sites, including eBay Motors, CarsDirect.com, CarMax.com and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Web site at .
Experian Automotive

“EcoDriving” Can ReduceYour Fuel Use by 15 Percent
The Alliance of automobile Manufacturers has announced the launch of EcoDriving(TM), a groundbreaking new nationwide initiative to save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce fuel use and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The industry also applauded Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) for representing the first states to support this consumer awareness program. The Environmental Defense Fund also participated in the initiative’s launch.
Americans can save money and save the environment by driving green. The EcoDriving consumer awareness campaign includes an interactive website, , to help drivers learn practical tips to improving their mileage and reducing their carbon footprint. Drivers don’t have to wait to buy a new, fuel-efficient vehicle to start reducing fuel costs and CO2, either. By following a set of easy-to-use best practices for driving and vehicle maintenance, a typical EcoDriver(TM) can improve mileage by about 15 percent, regardless of vehicle size and age. This includes:
* Not tailgating, knowing the proper way to accelerate and brake, using synchronized traffic lights to a driver’s advantage, driving at the optimum highway speed, understanding when to use air conditioning
* Knowing which motor oil to use, understanding the importance of proper tire pressure and what affects tire pressure, understanding aerodynamics
In conjunction with the unveiling of EcoDriving, September will be free “Green Check-up Month” nationwide. As part of their national campaign, automakers pledged to reach out to government, business, educators and more. California and Colorado are the first states to support this consumer awareness program, and Alliance members hope to engage all 50 states, as well as major consumer organizations, in EcoDriving.
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NEWS: LEARN HOW TO SAVE MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ECODRIVING

FORMAT: B-roll and Soundbites

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video, contact information and more available at:
SOUNDBITES:
* Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D)
* California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)
* Dave McCurdy, President & CEO, Alliance of automobile Manufacturers

B-ROLL INCLUDES:
* Press conference footage
* Speakers at podium
* Demonstrations of EcoDriving

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: The Alliance of automobile Manufacturers

Contact: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: MultiVu Media Relations, 1-800-653-5313 EXT. 3

The Alliance of automobile Manufacturers

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — No matter where the presidential candidates are on the campaign trail, the issue of skyrocketing gas prices is always a top concern. The car Care Council applauds both candidates who have recently discussed vehicle maintenance as a way to save energy, citing proper tire inflation and regular tune-ups. In fact, according to the survey by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), 75 percent of drivers said they are better maintaining their vehicles because of rising gas prices.
“We commend Senators McCain and Obama for shedding light on the importance of vehicle maintenance as Americans seek to save energy,” said Rich White, executive director, car Care Council. “You can’t control the price of gas, but you can control how much gas you burn. Performing simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance does not only save gas money, perhaps as much as $1,200 per year, but it also improves a vehicle’s safety and dependability.”
The car Care Council offers these maintenance tips that can add up to big savings:
– When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s like driving with the parking brake on, and can save 12 cents per gallon, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site, .
– An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture — too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents on a gallon.
– A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as three million times each 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat, electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
– Keep your car properly tuned. A 21st Century tune-up can improve your gas mileage by an average of 4 percent. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
The car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a free copy of the council’s car Care Guide or for more information, visit .
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association