Is my Autoautomobile informations

BETHESDA, Md., July 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The need for the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) is even more critical to car owners in rural communities and their trusted local repair shops, according to Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe and efficient working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate repair information from the car companies. The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) was introduced in Congress and in many states to ensure that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network.
“The cost of owning and operating a vehicle will significantly increase if motorists are forced back to the dealer for service, making convenient and affordable local auto repair a thing of the past,” said Schmatz. “This is particularly true in rural areas where many motorists may forgo important vehicle repairs due to higher dealer repair costs, plus the additional cost of fuel and travel time required because there is no dealership in the area.”
The cost to consumers when they can only have their car repaired at the dealership is estimated to be as much as 25 percent higher with labor charges alone, according to a study comparing dealer repair tags with those of an independent service center. For motorists in rural communities, the added cost of fuel and travel time to a dealership in other area is an added burden.
“In order for neighborhood repair shops throughout the country to be able to serve their customers, they must have access to the tools, software, safety alerts and repair information necessary to diagnose and repair all systems on modern automobiles,” continued Schmatz. “Right to Repair merely seeks to restore the competitive repair market that has been in place since the invention of the automobile. Clearly, using advances in technology to create a vehicle repair monopoly is a misuse of these computers and certainly not in the consumer’s best interest.”
A complete list of co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) can be found by visiting .
About Right to Repair:
The Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill’s requirements. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit .
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association

TORRANCE, Calif., July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Honeywell , the world’s largest turbo manufacturer, is helping ford find a “replacement for displacement.” As the industry leader in developing advancements in turbo technology, Honeywell has been selected by ford to develop turbochargers for its first introduction of EcoBoost technology on next year’s 2010 Lincoln MKS. The new turbocharged 3.5L V-6 engine will perform like a large V-8, but will deliver the fuel economy of a V-6.
Engine downsizing is big news in the U.S. — thanks to a new, environmentally-friendly engine technology from ford that’s harnessing the power of direct injection and using Honeywell’s advanced gasoline turbo technology. Ford’s EcoBoost engine range is creating a new dynamic in the equation between power, fuel economy and CO2 output. The result will be one of the world’s most powerful, yet fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered luxury sedans.
“It’s fitting that ford asked Honeywell, the world’s largest and most innovative turbo maker in the world, to help launch the first truly efficient downsized turbocharged gasoline engine in the US,” said Adriane Brown, President and CEO, Honeywell Transportation Systems. “Honeywell is proud to partner with ford on its first EcoBoost engine, and to give American drivers a fuel-efficient, lower emitting vehicle that doesn’t compromise on performance.”
To help bring this pioneering engine to market, Honeywell leveraged the latest advances in turbine design and materials to optimize the performance and ensure the reliability of its modern gasoline turbo technology. The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 will deliver upwards of 340-plus lb-ft (461Nm) of torque across a wide engine range — 2,000 to 5,000 rpm — versus 270 to 310 lb-ft (366Nm to 420Nm) of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range.
Honeywell Turbo Technologies produces more than 9 million turbochargers a year. With major manufacturing and engineering sites throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia, the business continues to expand its global footprint to meet the rising global demand for boosted vehicles.
Honeywell expects the global turbocharger segment to grow from 30% of the overall automotive market to more than 38% by 2013 as automakers look to boost engines to help increase fuel-efficiency and reduce harmful exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance.
Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; specialty chemicals; fibers; and electronic and advanced materials. Based in Morris Township, NJ, Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. It is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. For additional information, please visit
This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about future business operations, financial performance and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties inherent in business forecasts as further described in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act.
Honeywell

BROADVIEW, Ill., July 28 /PRNewswire/ — In 1978, it was an innovation. Today, within a short span of 30 years, the electronically controlled antilock braking system, or ABS, has become a standard safety item on most modern vehicles.
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“These safety benefits are most apparent when ABS is used effectively to make an emergency stop,” says Rob Backode, Group Product Manager for Bosch Braking Systems.
Bosch (), which introduced electronically controlled ABS to the automotive market in 1978, is a worldwide supplier of automotive parts and systems to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket.
Imagine driving down a wet and slippery road and a car suddenly enters your lane in front of you. Conventional wisdom tells you to pump the brakes to slow down and avoid crashing into it. Not so, if your car is equipped with ABS.
“If you are in a sharp braking situation and your car is fitted with ABS, apply continuous and firm pressure on the brake pedal and steer as you normally would,” says Backode. “ABS will pump the brakes for you as necessary and keep the car stable, allowing you to steer while braking, and stop safely.”
Taking your foot off the brakes may actually prevent this technology from engaging and ABS from performing its function, Backode says.
Speed sensors fitted at each wheel measure the speed and relay that information to a central computer. If a wheel is about to lock up under heavy braking, the system reduces the pressure on that wheel. Once the wheel turns freely, the brake pressure is increased. This release and increase of pressure continues until the driver reduces the force on the brake pedal or the threat of lock up is over.
To make sure your car has ABS, check your instrument panel for a yellow ABS indicator light when you turn on your ignition, or consult your owner’s manual.
As Bosch celebrates the 30th anniversary of this groundbreaking technology this year, ABS has become the basis for all newer active safety systems such as electronic stability control and traction control. In 2007, more than three-fourths of all new vehicles worldwide were equipped with ABS.

Bosch

DETROIT, July 28 /PRNewswire/ — Chrysler LLC and Henry ford Health System today announced plans to open an onsite health clinic and pharmacy inside Chrysler LLC’s Auburn Hills headquarters, extending the collaboration between the two companies, while providing nearly 12,000 Chrysler employees and contractors with convenient access to high-quality medical care. In hosting the clinic, Chrysler joins a growing number of progressive employers throughout the U.S. who are bringing health care onsite or near the workplace.
The onsite clinic and pharmacy, which is scheduled to open in the fall, will offer diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions in addition to common ailments, such as strep throat and ear infections. The clinic will be staffed by Henry ford Medical Group physicians and professionals. Preventive services will also be provided.
“The onsite clinic and pharmacy allow Chrysler to continue its mission of promoting a healthy work environment,” said Kate Kohn-Parrott, Director - Integrated Health Care and Disability, Chrysler LLC. “We are proud to partner with Henry ford Health System in providing convenient access to high-quality, cost-effective medical care to our employees and contract workers directly in the workplace.”
Treatment costs will be billed through the individual employee’s health care plan, with the same applicable co-pays and deductibles. Because the facility will be independently operated by Henry ford Health System, patient confidentiality will be maintained just as it is at any traditional free-standing Henry ford facility.
“The onsite clinic and pharmacy is a wonderful opportunity for Henry ford Health System to deliver easily accessed, high-quality health care to people working at Chrysler headquarters,” says Nancy Schlichting, Henry ford Health System President and CEO. “It is a model we believe could be successful with many Michigan employers in the future.”
About Chrysler LLC
Chrysler LLC, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mopar(R) brand vehicles and products. Total sales worldwide in 2007 were 2.7 million vehicles. Sales outside of North America were the highest ever with an increase of eight percent over 2006. Its product lineup features some of the world’s most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and Dodge Challenger and Ram. The Chrysler Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, annually supports hundreds of charitable organizations in the United States and throughout the world. In 2007, the Foundation gave approximately $21 million in charitable donations.
About Henry ford Health System
Henry ford Health System is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive, integrated health systems, with 21,500 employees caring for more than 1 million patients annually across southeast Michigan. The health system comprises Henry ford Hospital, its flagship hospital, education and research center in Detroit; a network of five community hospitals, 25 medical centers, pharmacies, home care, medical equipment companies, nursing homes, and numerous other health care-related services throughout the region. Henry ford also owns Health Alliance Plan, which serves more than 2,800 employer groups and 540,700 members. Henry Ford’s revenues in 2007 totaled $3.47 billion, with net income of $105.8 million. For additional information, visit henryford.com.
Henry ford Health System

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24 /PRNewswire/ — SolarCity, a leading provider of solar power financing, design, installation and service, announced it has completed the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco for British Motor car Distributors, Inc. The dramatic, 287 kilowatt installation includes two rooftop carports comprised of 1,606 solar panels.
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“I commend SolarCity and British Motors for building the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Private sector efforts such as this, in combination with our GoSolarSF incentives, will make San Francisco an international leader in solar installations.”
SolarCity designed and installed carports atop two British Motors’ buildings on the 900 block of Van Ness Avenue. British Motors’ historic showroom building at 901 Van Ness Avenue — a designated San Francisco Landmark — originally opened in 1927 and was designed by Bernard Maybeck, the nationally-renowned architect who also designed San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.
“The solar carports are a fantastic addition to our business and look great on our buildings. We’re proud to have the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco, and we have additional solar projects in the works for our other dealerships,” said British Motors’ chairman and owner Kjell Qvale. “We’re on the cutting edge of a green revolution.”
The solar system is expected to generate 370,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 80 San Francisco homes. During the peak months of May through October the system will generate surplus power and earn credits with PG&E, offsetting the less sunny winter months.
“We wanted to do something positive for future generations, and what better way to do it than to adopt clean power,” said Jeff Qvale, president of British Motors. “Thanks to SolarCity for designing functional solar arrays that enhance our buildings aesthetically, protect our inventory and provide most of the electricity we need to run our business.”
Over its lifetime, British Motors’ solar installation is expected to offset an estimated 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting 6,774 trees. In addition to providing clean, renewable power to British Motors, the structure provides ultraviolet and weather protection for the dealership’s automobiles.
“This installation is particularly meaningful to us, because of the historical and aesthetic significance of the buildings,” said Peter Rive, SolarCity’s co-founder and chief operating officer. “We worked closely with British Motors and the city of San Francisco to ensure that the design is consistent with the existing architecture, and we’re delighted with the result.”
SolarCity has completed the largest commercial solar installation in a major Bay Area city for the second time this year. The company completed solar arrays spanning five buildings on eBay’s north campus in May, the largest such installation in San Jose to date.
About British Motors
San Francisco’s British Motor car Distributors is a true reflection of its founder, Kjell Qvale: enterprising, imaginative and at the forefront of meaningful innovations. Qvale, now celebrating over sixty years as a major figure in the auto industry, founded his first car dealership in l946, acquired the MG product line in l947 and opened British Motors in 1949. His dealership today offers Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Lamborghini and Lotus automobiles to customers in its San Francisco and San Jose showrooms. Qvale organized the first Import car Show in San Francisco in 1958 (now, the San Francisco International Auto Show), manufactured the acclaimed Jensen Healey for six years beginning in l970, and more recently, produced the Qvale Mangusto sports car. In 2008, British Motors added another significant “first” to its list of achievements: the largest commercial solar power installation in San Francisco.
About SolarCity
SolarCity matches advanced solar power technology with a suite of installation services. The company’s comprehensive offering removes the technical, regulatory and financing barriers to solar power, helping customers make smart renewable energy choices that can save money. Boasting the industry’s most experienced team in solar system design and installation, and a proven track record of bringing new technologies to market, SolarCity is uniquely positioned to make solar power a practical choice for homeowners and businesses. SolarCity serves communities in California, Oregon and Arizona. Additional information about the company is available on the Web at .

SolarCity

MCLEAN, Va., July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The average wholesale price of used vehicles sold at auctions declined for sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks, crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and vans in the second quarter of 2008 from the first quarter of the year, while used passenger car prices increased, according to NADA AuctionNet data released by the NADA Used car Guide — the industry standard in used-vehicle valuation products and data.
The data reflects a continuing shift in demand by consumers and automobile dealers to more fuel-efficient vehicles as gas prices climb and consumer confidence falls.
Used pickup truck and SUV prices led the declines, with wholesale prices falling 11.2 and 9.6 percent respectively on 1-to-5 year old vehicles. They were followed by CUVs and vans, with values falling 3.8 and 3.0 percent respectively.
Used passenger cars were the only segment showing price gains, up 3.5 percent, driven largely by strong demand in the compact and midsize segments.
As a result, the $3,500 price premium that SUVs and pickup trucks have historically held over passenger cars has diminished significantly. Pickup truck prices have fallen to levels nearly equal to passenger cars, while the gap is closing between SUVs and cars.
The median age of SUVs for sale at auctions increased by more than a year to 42 months from 29 months in the April, May and June quarter compared to the first three months of the year, indicating a continued migration out of this segment and more consumers trading in older SUVs.
“Fuel prices continue to be the dominant factor in resale values,” said Terrence W. Wynne, director of editorial and data services for the NADA Used car Guide.
“Within NADA sub segments, we estimate that for every $1 increase in gas, large pickups decline in value by $2,200, on average,” he added. “By contrast, for intermediate compact cars, a $1 increase in fuel costs lifts resale prices by an estimated $980. These estimates do vary on younger and older vehicles.”
Wynne pointed out that the NADA Used car Guide is responding by making “fairly aggressive” devaluations of SUVs and pickup trucks through the end of this year. “It is evident that this is a long-term depreciation trend as opposed to volatile, near-term price behavior,” he said.
According to the AuctionNet data, average car and light truck quarterly pricing trends were as follows:
car CUV Pickup SUV VAN
Q1 08 Average Price $12,705 $16,434 $14,835 $15,846 $11,727
Q2 08 Average Price** $13,145 $15,814 $13,170 $14,322 $11,380
Percent Change 3.5% -3.8% -11.2% -9.6% -3.0%
Source: AuctionNet Data
** Adjusted for Mileage and Model Mix

AuctionNet(R) is an industry-unique wholesale auction database, available exclusively from NADA Used car Guide, in joint partnership with the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA). Over 80 million records strong and updated weekly, it captures sales from all Manheim, ADESA as well as participating ABC, ServNet and large independent auctions, representing over 80% of nationwide auction activity.
About NADA Used car Guide
Over a 75-year history, NADA Used car Guide has earned its reputation as the leading provider of market-reflective vehicle valuation products, services and information to businesses throughout the U.S. and worldwide. NADA’s editorial team collects and analyzes over one million combined wholesale and retail automotive-related transaction prices per month. Its guidebooks, auction data, analysis, and data solutions offer automotive, financial, insurance, and government professionals the timely information and reliable solutions they need to make better business decisions. For more information, visit .
National Automobile Dealers Association

TULSA, Okla., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Thrifty car Sales, a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. , is adding seven new locations in six states to its national network of franchised used car dealerships. The new markets include locations in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Santa Clara, Calif.; West Palm Beach, Fl.; Twin Falls, Idaho; Melrose Park and Woodstock, Ill.; and Belgrade, MT.
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In Scottsdale, Ariz., Shawn Silver of Scottsdale Motor Company is a third-generation Ford dealer from El Monte Calif. who is opening his first Thrifty car Sales location at 707 N. Scottsdale Rd. A 2006 graduate of the NADA Dealer Academy, Silver has served as Internet Sales Manager and General Sales Manager of El Monte Ford in California. The Thrifty car Sales dealership in Scottsdale has the capacity to display approximately 200 vehicles.
In Santa Clara, Calif., Ron Battistella opens a location at 3939 Stevens Creek Blvd. A 30-year automotive veteran in the Silicon Valley area, Battistella has previously owned Auto San Jose, Celebrity Dodge and Las Gatos and Silicon Valley Hummer. He sold the Hummer franchise to General Motors earlier this year and the property has since been converted to Thrifty car Sales of Santa Clara. The dealership has the ability to display approximately 100 vehicles.
Howard and DoRee Garolsky are opening a Thrifty car Sales dealership in West Palm Beach, Fl., at 71 South Military Trail, on property located about a mile away from the Palm Beach County Airport. The facility opened in June with a showroom that will accommodate six vehicles. They currently have about 50 vehicles on display and five employees, with plans to relocate to a new four-acre site just two miles away from their current location so they can expand to include a service facility. A second location is planned in the next 18 to 24 months. The Garolskys have been in the boat and auto sales business for the last 22 years.
Franchised dealer Gregg Middlekauff is opening his first Thrifty car Sales dealership in Twin Falls, Idaho at 802 North Collage Road. He has been in the automotive business in Twin Falls for the last eight years as owner of the Ford, Honda and Mitsubishi franchises. Previously, Gregg owned and operated Middlekauff Lincoln-Mercury in Salt Lake City, Utah, for 18 years. The new Twin Falls dealership opened with a fleet of 60 cars and 5 employees.
Owners Ohanis Malkon and Steven Gjokaj are opening their first Thrifty car Sales location in Melrose Park, Ill. Malkon got his start in the business of selling cars in 1995, having worked for Olympic Auto Mall and Gateway Chevrolet in Chicago, as well as the General Sales Manager for Rogers Sales Group, also of Chicago. His business partner Steven Gjokaj joined Rogers Auto Group in 2001, serving as Used car Sales Manager and later as Special Finance Director. The Melrose Park dealership has the capacity to display approximately 200 vehicles and they currently have 15 employees.
In Woodstock, Ill., dealer Jim Potts of the Jim Potts Motor Group, Ltd., has opened a new location at 1033 Wanda Lane. An industry veteran with over 30 years in the automotive business, Potts opens Thrifty car Sales with an inventory of up to 100 vehicles and 12 employees. The 10,000-square foot facility shares space with PowerSports, another one of Potts’ business ventures. Potts spent 20 years with Ditardi Pontiac Buick in Woodstock and owned Mitchell Potts Lincoln Mercury in McHenry, Illinois for 12 years.
Dealer Gary Lewis has opened his second Thrifty car Sales location in Belgrade, MT, located at 505 E. Main Street. The dealership will open with an inventory of about 50 vehicles and three employees. Lewis has a long history in the automotive and car rental industries, having operated four Thrifty car Rental locations in Utah, including the Salt Lake City Airport location. He owns nine Thrifty car Rental locations in Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. He is also a franchisee of Dollar Rent A car in Billings and Belgrade/Bozeman, Montana.
“We are building a lot of momentum with the addition of new dealers and the expansion of existing Thrifty car Sales dealers,” said Jeff Cerefice, Vice President of Thrifty car Sales. “They are strong industry players who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we look forward to having them on the Thrifty car Sales team of nationally-franchised dealers.”
About Thrifty car Sales
Thrifty car Sales is a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. , a Fortune 1000 Company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thrifty car Sales, with 46 locations, franchises retail used car sales dealerships throughout the United States. Dealerships offer a wide range of late model, low mileage vehicles. Thrifty Certified(R) vehicles pass extensive inspection and are backed by a limited warranty. Thrifty car Sales was founded in 1999.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

CINCINNATI, July 24 /PRNewswire/ — automobile Consumer Services, Inc. (ACS), the leader in online direct-to-consumer auto leasing, released a list of the top 10 most requested vehicles from its popular auto leasing website . Information was collected during the first half of 2008 from more than three million lease quote requests.
“We have seen a huge increase in requests for hybrid models with the Toyota Prius up over 500% from the last half of 2007,” says Tarry Shebesta, President of ACS and a certified lease consultant. “And, for the first time, used hybrid demand is increasing because of the waiting list for many of the new models.”
The Top 10 Most Requested Models

New Car Rankings

1st Half 2nd Half
2008 2007 Make & Model
1 10 Mini Cooper
2 4 Honda Accord (h)
3 1 Chevrolet Corvette
4 4 Toyota Camry (h)
5 6 Honda Civic (h)
6 nl* BMW M3
7 7 BMW 328
8 nl* Toyota Prius Hybrid
9 10 Nissan Altima (h)
10 nl* Honda CR-V

Used Car Rankings

1st Half 2nd Half
2008 2007 Make & Model
1 1 Chevrolet Corvette
2 2 Porsche 911
3 7 Infiniti G35
4 5 Honda Civic (h)
5 4 Audi A4
6 nl* Mini Cooper
7 9 Honda Accord (h)
8 3 BMW M3
9 nl* BMW 328
10 nl* Nissan Altima (h)

nl* = not previously listed
(h) = hybrid available for this model

A complete list of how every vehicle ranks can be found at .
“High fuel prices are helping to drive demand in hybrid vehicles,” comments Shebesta. “Additionally, smart people realize that leasing, not buying, hybrids make sense, especially right now. With the improvements in technology coming out every year, they know that they can turn in the hybrid at lease-end, and not have to worry about selling a car with out-dated technology.”
Shebesta also notes that, “Leasing protects consumers from fluctuating fuel prices as witnessed by the current drop in values of the pre-owned SUV market. Those who leased are simply walking away at the end of their term and leasing a more fuel efficient vehicle.”
A comparison of all hybrid models and lease payments are available here:
LeaseCompare.com provides an interactive tool to instantly evaluate new and used vehicle leasing options from a number of banks and credit unions. Customers can lock in the lease offer they like and apply for credit online.
About automobile Consumer Services, Inc. ()
Based in Cincinnati, automobile Consumer Services, Inc. (ACS) is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer auto leasing, online vehicle marketing, and auto leasing software development. Founded in 1989, ACS’s mission is to provide services that enhance the experience of buying or leasing a car. ACS achieves this by leading the industry with innovative proprietary technology, superior customer service, and years of industry experience.
Contact:
automobile Consumer Services, Inc.
Tarry Shebesta, 513/527-7700, ext. 11

LeaseCompare.com

LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Brunswick Corporation announced today that Anne E. Belec, director of global marketing for Ford Motor Company , has been elected to Brunswick’s board of directors, effective immediately, and appointed to the human resources and compensation committee. The election of Ms. Belec, 45, brings the number of board members to 11.
Ms. Belec assumed her current position at Ford in March 2008. Most recently, she had been president and chief executive officer of volvo Cars of North America, overseeing volvo operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Ms. Belec also served as vice president of sales operations for the volvo Car Corporation in Sweden.
“With her global and marketing expertise and experience, Anne will prove to be a valuable member of Brunswick’s board as we continue to expand our global presence and strive to create the most coveted products and experiences for fun- and fitness-seekers all over the world — with the goal of helping people live life well,” explained Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy.
Prior to coming to Volvo, Ms. Belec held a variety of leadership positions in brand management, marketing, and sales and service with Ford. As director of North American sales planning & distribution, she worked on the re-engineering of distribution processes and systems to further improve distribution precision. Ms. Belec has also held a broad range of positions and responsibilities, including: network and business development manager, vice president - marketing at Lincoln Mercury; portfolio brand strategy manager, worldwide marketing plans manager for product development, and marketing plans manager at Ford Division; as well as a variety of field positions at Ford of Canada.
Ms. Belec holds an MBA from Fuqua School of Business at Duke University with an emphasis on global business and strategy, and earned both a bachelor of commerce, and a bachelor in business administration from the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Ms. Belec serves on the University of California-Irvine Paul Merage School of Business/Graduate School of Management Advisory Board, has been a trustee of the Marketing Science Institute since 1999, and a member of the Association of National Advertisers. She has been a board member of Industrial Alliance Group, a financial services and insurance company headquartered in Quebec, Canada, since 2006. Ms. Belec recently joined the board of WestStart- CALSTART, a not-for-profit organization supporting a clean transportation industry in the U.S. and Canada.
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill “Genuine Ingenuity”(TM) in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Ornvik, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Savage, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit .
Brunswick Corporation

PLEASANT RIDGE, Mich., July 22 /PRNewswire/ — NextCruise(TM) will take place August 15-16 in the City of Pleasant Ridge, Mich., and is a new automotive event - new in both concept and content. Nine of the world’s largest automakers are supporting this first-of-its-kind event by providing the public with multiple opportunities to check out - and drive - the latest in “Green Machines” (including hybrids, clean diesels and those with other, new super-high-mileage and ultra-low-emission technologies).
NextCruise(TM) provides an additional environmentally friendly and future- looking dimension to the Woodward Dream Cruise, widely viewed as the world’s largest automotive spectator and participation event.
Along with details of the inaugural NextCruise(TM) event, the Wednesday, July 23 news conference will provide additional news opportunities relevant to the times.
Experts from General Motors, ford and Chrysler, including GM Powertrain executive Micky Bly and John Viera, Director of Sustainable Business Strategies, ford Motor Company, will participate in a panel discussion on the future of environmental technology - and discuss why the newest “green machines” are roomy, well-equipped and, in keeping with the spirit of the Woodward Dream Cruise, able to deliver surprising performance and fun.
NextCruise(TM) also will include a look at the next generation of “green” motorsports, including the ethanol-fueled IndyCar Series, and the American Le Mans Series, which features a unique Green Racing Challenge this season. A representative from the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix - which includes both the IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series racing in Detroit on Labor Day weekend, will participate in the news conference.
NextCruise(TM): Lean, Mean … and Green

WHO:
Paul Eisenstein, Chairman, NextCruise(TM)

Representatives of the City of Pleasant Ridge, Oakland County and the Woodward Dream Cruise
Executives responsible for environmental issues and/or engineering from Chrysler, ford and GM, and a representative of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
WHAT:
Examples of environmentally friendly vehicles that will appear at NextCruise(TM)
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Memorial Park, City of Pleasant Ridge, 23925 Woodward Avenue, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan 48069-1199
NextCruise