Central City Parts & Accessories

Lola considering Formula One return in 2010

2009-04-22T22:56:00.001-04:00

British race car makers Lola have commenced a major evaluation project aimed at developing a car to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and could formally lodge an entry within the next few weeks. It follows March’s confirmation of FIA plans to introduce of a ‘cost capping’ option to teams next year.Lola’s previous Formula One involvement dates from the 1960s through to the late ‘90s and now the Huntingdon-based company is in discussions with a number of parties with a view to designing, manufacturing and developing a new F1 car, subject to final confirmation of the 2010 regulations. “The announcement that Formula One teams may opt for a prudent, financially responsible ‘cost capped’ regime from 2010 has resulted in us deciding to fully evaluate the opportunity to develop a car to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship,” said Martin Birrane, Executive Chairman of Lola Group.“The current necessity for Formula One to adopt a responsible approach in times of economic uncertainty has created the ideal conditions for us to consider developing a car for the World Championship.”Lola, whose last F1 entry came at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, have appointed new key staff to the project and allocated some of their top engineers to the evaluation. The company already has at its disposal a Formula One standard wind tunnel, latest Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analysis equipment and a seven-post dynamic chassis rig.“Lola possesses the technical resources, capability and know-how to develop cars capable of competing at the very highest levels of international motor sport, including Formula One,” added Birrane. “We are therefore embracing the WMSC’s timely announcements and assessing a relevant programme for F1 with a view to making formal entry in the coming weeks.”In addition to Formula One involvement spanning the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Lola’s racing heritage includes production of championship-winning and one-make formulae cars for Champ Car in America, Formula Nippon in Japan, Formula 3000, Formula 3 and A1GP in Europe. The company currently produces the race-winning LMP1 and LMP2 sports cars competing in both the Le Mans Endurance Series and American Le Mans Series.

UK Scrap Cars

2009-04-22T22:52:00.001-04:00

Drivers with cars and vans at least ten years old will qualify for a £1,000 government grant towards a new one under a scrappage scheme designed to prop up the ailing motor retailing industry.
Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, angered environmental groups by allowing drivers to buy any type of car or van under 3.5 tonnes rather than limiting the grants to greener models with low emissions.
Mr Darling claimed that the scheme would be worth £2,000 per car because car companies would be required to match the Government grant with a £1,000 discount on the list price. In reality, companies already offer discounts of at least that amount on most models and therefore many buyers taking part in the scheme will save only £1,000.
The scheme will start in mid-May and end by March 1 next year, or earlier if the £300 million earmarked by the Government is used up before then.
A maximum of 300,000 drivers will be able to take advantage of the scheme. An estimated 9.5 million cars in Britain are at least ten years old. More than 90 per cent of the new cars purchased under the scheme are likely to be imported. Drivers will have to prove that they have owned the car being scrapped for at least a year and that it has an MoT certificate.
Car dealers will do all the paperwork and arrange for the old vehicle to be scrapped. The grants will be available only for new cars despite requests from dealers for the scheme to include much cheaper one-year-old cars.
The RAC Foundation said that many cars scrapped would be in good condition.
The AA welcomed the scheme but said that drivers would pay for it at the pumps. Edmund King, the president, said that the 2p a litre increase in September would cost drivers £590 million a year, double that being spent on the scheme.

Britain adopts scrappage incentive as U.S. debates

2009-04-22T22:50:00.000-04:00

Britain approved a 10-month program enticing consumers to scrap older vehicles, becoming the latest European country to adopt a sales incentive that's stalled in the U.S. ...

GM Decline

2009-04-22T22:49:00.000-04:00

General Motors, battling a 49 percent decline in U.S. sales through March, plans to shutter most U.S. factories for as long as nine weeks this summer, the Associated Press reported, citing two people familiar with the plan. UAW plant officials say GM plant managers and human resource personnel will meet with the union on Thursday and Friday at some factories to discuss changes in production, according to the AP. 7:11 pm U.S.

Ford Focus RS

2009-04-08T09:52:00.001-04:00

Ford Focus RS.........
Ford may add a 300-plus-hp Focus to its U.S. lineup.
The Focus RS, a three-door hatchback sold in Europe, is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder Volvo engine with 305 hp.
Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Motor Co.'s director of advanced product creation and global performance, says the decision to sell the Focus RS here will depend on reaction from U.S. car enthusiasts, such as Focus SVT owners.
Ford is looking for "feedback from the media and customers," he says. "How much do they like it? Is it really what they want? We are pretty confident that it is."
The restyled, Europe-engineered 2011 Focus goes on sale here in late 2010, replacing the current model. The car will be assembled in North America. The RS model for the United States would be based on that platform, Salenbauch says. He did not say when it would arrive.
The three-door Focus SVT, a high-performance model, was discontinued during the 2004 model year. It had a $19,205 sticker, including shipping. Salenbauch says an RS model would be priced higher.
British magazine AutoCar published a gushing review of the Focus RS: "Remortgage the house, rob a bank, sell yourself, sell your own grandmother, just do whatever it takes to put an RS on your drive."

Content provided by AutoWeek.

GM in 'intense' preparations for bankruptcy

2009-04-08T08:54:00.001-04:00

General Motors (GM) is making "intense" and "earnest" preparations for bankruptcy, which is now seen as the best option, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. The company is operating under a June deadline from the U.S. Treasury to reduce debt and slash costs as part of its $13.4 billion loan and request for an additional $16.6 billion.
It appears the plan to split the company in two is gaining momentum. Known as a "363 sale" because of the relevant section of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy code, this would see GM divided into one company containing healthy brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac and another holding troubled units like Saturn.
Officially, GM continues to work toward an out-of-court restructuring, which is something Ford (F) has been making great progress on. The catalyst for the apparent change of heart is the ongoing difficultly new chief executive Fritz Henderson and his counterparts at Chrysler are having negotiating with bondholders and the labor union. Creditors are holding out for better terms, secure in the belief that a sympathetic Obama administration won't allow a bankruptcy judge to force unattractive terms on the United Auto Workers. Moreover, these secured debt holders have rights to factories and other assets should their stonewalling force a full liquidation.
It is likely that Tuesday's revelations are nothing more than theatrics designed to shake up bondholders -- many of which are recipients of the government's financial rescue money. Currently, GM maintains $62 billion in debt and is looking to cut this down to more manageable levels by slashing commitments to a health benefits fund for retirees ($20.4 billion) and by convincing bondholders to accept a debt-for-equity swap ($27.5 billion).
Discussions hinge on the size and terms of the debt swap and the depth of job cuts. Last month, GM offered bondholders 8 cents on the dollar in cash, 16 cents in new unsecured debt, and a 90% equity stake in the company, according to Reuters. This is a sweeter deal than the one Ford's senior convertible debt holders agreed to.
Previous concessions by the union, including the jobs bank program that paid for idled workers, will help save about $1.1 billion. But these reductions were made with an eye toward profitability at an industrywide annual production rate of 11.5 million cars and trucks. Things have slowed significantly since then: March deliveries clocked in at an annual rate of just 9.9 million vehicles. To survive in this environment, deeper cuts are needed. A recent proposal targeted 47,000 jobs this year, the closure of five U.S. assembly plants, and the elimination of thousands of dealerships.
If there is a silver lining to this story (although it doesn't seem like one to me), it is that the lawyers at Weil Gotshal & Manges are set to earn an estimated $230 million in legal fees should GM file for bankruptcy protection. This will set a new record, surpassing the $209 million the firm earned by guiding Lehman Bros. through the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. Overall, it is estimated that a GM filing would generate $1.2 billion for all types of service professionals, including bankers and accountants.

Anthony Mirhaydari is a contributor to the Strategic Advantage investment newsletter.

Free Car Show In London UK

2009-04-07T08:47:00.003-04:00

Maybe we should take note. The car manufacturers are struggling but they are out to make money and still keep churning out the Hollywood commercials. I love cars, I love economical ones, fast ones and the cars that are now concepts but a vision in someones eyes. Here's what I think is wrong with the US manufacturers, they're late, they've been sleeping, they've been to focused on the big trucks, the looks and not on what the rest of the world is doing.
I watched Top Gear on BBC America a couple of weeks ago and saw the new Diesel Golf. This vehicle was getting up to 75MPG! The second was a big, road hugging, diplomatic looking Jaguar Diesel and third was a Suburu Forestor. Where's the American contingent. The most powerful nation in the world, city names that everyone in the world has heard of, Mc D's hamburgers that rule every corner of the globe, but yet, the big gas guzzling truks are still being produced!
As we say in America, Go Figure!
Mark................CCAP

Check out what's happening in the UK with the latest car show news........
Several key car manufacturers have confirmed they will be taking part in a free motor show in London this year.
Despite the British Motor Show being cancelled for 2010, the Motorexpo event in Canary Wharf will run, and is promising to be bigger and better this year.
Last year 19 new vehicles made their UK show debuts, including the Alfa Romeo Brera S and Aston Martin DBS.
This year, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Aston Martin, Hummer, Jaguar, BMW and Porsche are among the manufacturers already signed up to display their cars.
Land Rover is planning to use the show to debut its 2010 line-up.
The organisers are expecting 325,000 visitors to this year’s show, which takes place from 8-14 June.

Hot Hatches From Across the Pond.

2009-04-07T08:42:00.001-04:00

Who makes Britain's best hot hatch?
To celebrate this week’s UK launch of the new Ford Focus RS, autoexpress.co.uk has gathered together the cars that answer the question... In a special head to head, we reveal our favourite hot hatches of 2009. And with exclusive access to the likes of the RenaultSport Megane 250, as well as the Abarth 500, Mazda 3 MPS and forthcoming VW Golf R20T, you can be sure no stone has been left unturned…
To find out more, click on the link.....http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/235002/hot_hatch_special.html

Thanks to Auto Express UK.....

Our Wraps hit the News!

2009-04-07T08:35:00.001-04:00

In one of my recent newsletters, I asked you to share any little-known... off-the-wall... or surprisingly successful techniques or ads you were using in your business.
One of the responses I received really caught my attention and I want to share it with you. It's proven to be a great marketing tool that has people talking, laughing, and asking questions.
In Mark's words, "Tough times call for unusual marketing campaigns."
How's this for unusual?http://www.eccap.com/central-city-auto-parts-wraps-columbus-ohio.htm
(Be sure to click on the image to see other angles, and to learn more)
Mark actually had the panels removed off of that thing, and used a high resolution camera to create the images. The checkered boxer shorts and purple shoes couldn't be more perfect!
Now, everywhere Mark goes, he's got a marketing tool that's impossible to ignore... complete with product promotions, his phone number, and his website so it can drive new customers to his business.
It's interesting... while so many campaigns fall under the category of one-shot-deal, here's one that keeps working... and working... and working... for as long as that van keeps running.
Keep that engine healthy Mark, and thanks so much for sharing.
And to you Dave, a happy thanksgiving and start to the holiday season. Enjoy.
If you have any more little-known, off-the-wall, or surprisingly successful techniques or ads you'd like to share, please keep them coming.
Enjoy your business,
Alan Saltz
© 2008, Guaranteed Marketing, Inc.

General Motors again, again and again!

2009-04-07T08:33:00.001-04:00

GM asks for $2.6 billion to build hybrids: GM has asked for $2.6 billion of low interest government loans to support the development of three new hybrid vehicles. Source: GM.
Wagoner gets pension: Ousted CEO Rick Wagoner left General Motors with a $22.1 million pension, but that pales compared with what he could have received if GM were in better financial shape. Source: GM.
GM expects 2009 losses to grow: In a report sent to the U.S. Treasury, GM adjusted its planned losses before interest and taxes to deteriorate an additional $1.1 billion. Source: GM.
GM's new CEO, Fritz Henderson says GM will meet the Obama administration's mandate even if it means Chapter 11 bankruptcy: Source: GM.

Car Sales Down!

2009-04-07T08:31:00.000-04:00

Car sales were down 32.2% from the same month in 2008 while trucks were down 36.2%. A Ford truck salesman told me many customers mention that they like the fact Ford did not participate in the bail-out - but then, who can trust anything a salesman would say. Ford's full-size pickup sales were down 37.5% compared to GM's 43.8%. Go figure... I think GM's head was axed because he publicly ridiculed global warming as being a hoax and complete "B.S." Yet the same nightly news that announced his canning followed up with a piece on how GM had done more than any other automaker to update to the "proper" product line up. Why would you can the CEO that was making the most progress? I think the political consideration easily tipped the scales against him at the urging of the same group that has been tormenting GM's board over his political incorrectness. As the OE's battle for survival it will be interesting to see who can make decisions and get back on track more quickly. Will GM be coerced into building unprofitable cars that people don't want, while shutting down truck lines that are profitable? Will GM leaders be more concerned with big brother than anything else? What a mess. Ooops- can I even say that?

GM Delays Innovative New Diesel Truck Engine

2009-03-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

GM Delays Innovative New Diesel Truck EngineBy Richard TruettAutomotive NewsGeneral Motors' deteriorating financial situation has caused the company to delay one of the most advanced engines that it has ever designed, a 4.5-liter diesel for light-duty trucks.Truck enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting the engine, which would have started production next fall at GM's plant in Tonawanda, N.Y. The engine has unique cylinder heads that eliminate the intake and exhaust manifolds. Its lightweight block has advanced castings for the crankshaft-bearing journals and oil-circulation system.
GM had planned to install the engine in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The result would have been a fuel-efficient truck priced for less than the heavy duty diesel-powered trucks available now.
GM has been awarded several patents for the engine design, and early tests have shown the new motor to be as smooth and quiet as a gasoline engine. Development of the engine was far along when the decision was made to put the program on hold.Garavaglia said GM would consider a joint venture with another company to build the engine if it was a "win-win" for both companies.
If GM decides to revive the engine, it would likely take at least a year for it to enter production. Meanwhile, GM will not be out of the diesel truck business. The company will continue to offer the 6.6-liter Duramax engine in heavy-duty pickups and modify it as necessary to meet tougher emissions standards.
GM also has just launched Two Mode hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra, which get an EPA rated 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The 4.5-liter diesel would have raised the trucks' fuel economy into the mid to high 20s mpg.
Last month, GM scrapped plans to build an engine plant for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and Cruze small car. Instead, the engines will initially come from a European factory while an existing factory in Flint, Mich., is retooled to make the new engines. GM Powertrain Group Vice President Tom Stephens recently said that all of GM's future production plans are constantly being re-evaluated.

Daves rant, raves and reviews.

2009-03-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

U.S. auto panel chief says GM, Chrysler may need even more money: The co-leader of the U.S. auto task force said General Motors and Chrysler may need "considerably'' more than the $21.6 billion they're seeking to stay afloat. Source: Automotive News.
GM to cut prices to lure back US buyers: General Motors is preparing a fresh barrage of discounts and other promotions to coax Americans into buying more cars after an upcoming US government decision on further financial aid to the Detroit motor industry. Source: GM.
Ford's Mulally gets option to buy 5 million shares: Ford Motor Co. awarded CEO Alan Mulally stock options for 5 million shares last week. Source: Ford.
GM plant to hire Delphi workers: General Motors' Chevrolet Traverse plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., has taken in 68 workers from a Delphi Corp. steering parts plant in Athens, Ala., and will hire up to 160 more in the coming weeks. Source: GM.
Chrysler sees itself a safer bet that GM: Chrysler's finance chief says his company is better equipped to survive the recession than General Motors and a safer bet for U.S. taxpayers who are keeping both automakers afloat. Source: Chrysler.
Work Truck Show® 2009 Attendance Grows 18.5%: 8,400 work truck industry professionals attended The Work Truck Show® 2009 and 45th Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago, IL, March 3-6.
Creative challenge: Remember in the good old days when you purchased gas for your car and received a drinking glass or a dinner plate? This week's creative idea is from Timm Lovaas of Brown & Bigelow. It's a fact that people are eating and entertaining at home much more often these days. B&B offers closeouts on cookware and dinnerware with prices ranging from under $10 to $30. It's a terrific way to attract people into the showroom to buy, test drive, or as an incentive for a referral. 800-628-1755 or timm@brownandbigelow.com. How creative are you? E-mail me! pr@terrykohl.com
Project "Overcoming Challenges" good news story: It appears that the weakening economy has opened a door for me. I have been shut out of places that accept waste tires from registered haulers in Southern California due to my inability to generate sufficient quantities. For the past 15 years, primarily two large suppliers have contracted to be exclusive suppliers to these firms. In a twist of fate those suppliers have been unable to supply enough waste tires to fill the needs of the user near me. I just happened to inquire at the right time and was offered a very small window through which I will be allowed to take selected sizes of tires for disposal at no cost. This allows me to reestablish a viable business model resulting in buying a limited amount of equipment and hiring at least one full time employee. Submitted by Carl E. Atkinson, Jr. - Wheels Etc aka: Waste Tire Management
Project 'Overcoming Challenges' in process: Keep them coming! Terry Kohl seeks motivating and empowering stories on challenges business/individuals are overcoming in our industry despite, or because of, the economy. Stories will be promoted and posted on www.terrykohl.com for the purpose of supporting one another. E-mail pr@terrykohl.com
Week's quote: Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome. - Samuel Johnson
This Trucking Times Update is compiled and written by Terry Kohl and Dave Herrmeyer

A greener energy plan?

2009-03-24T08:42:00.000-04:00

Though not yet introduced before Congress, President Obama’s Energy Plan has the potential to plant seeds of change in the aftermarket, ones which may grow into lush opportunity for industry members.
Fuel efficiency requirements, reductions on foreign oil dependencies and more efficient and environmental business practices and technologies are just a small taste of the changes sought in the President’s Energy Plan.
Obama’s renewed focus on energy and environmental concerns may be a respite from the Bush administration’s agenda regarding greener initiatives. The current President’s plan is a strongly redirected effort compared to how some have categorized the past eight years — an almost indifference to growing global warming, pollution and oil usage concerns.
But riddled with strict, progressive and seemingly expensive demands for OEMs — most already facing financial uncertainty — the plan’s enactment will put in motion a ripple effect of change that will eventually hit the aftermarket. And though concerns and drawbacks exist — including new inventory challenges — the proposal may in fact serve as a much needed industry sales and sophistication boost.
“The plan will require OEMs to produce significantly more advanced vehicles, which would slightly hurt the do-it-yourself (DIY) segment of the aftermarket and benefit the do-it-for-me (DIFM) segment. Realistically, the average person can’t work on their own cars now, save simple maintenance procedures, because cars are already very complex,” says Andy Sutton with Standard Auto Parts, Baltimore, MD. “Producing more complex vehicles would transform a portion of the DIY segment into the DIFM segment. Theoretically, that should increase perceived value and enable DIFM providers to raise their prices.”
The engineering improvements and vehicle technology enhancements needed to meet the stricter environmental requirements will also improve the sophistication of the industry, says Skip Potter, executive director and CEO of the Chesapeake Automotive Business Association.
“We are moving from a blue-collar industry to a white-collar industry. Technology has changed our need for mechanics to a need for technicians,” he says. “The pressure for business growth on slimmer margins is forcing seat-of-the-pants management aside and replacing success with much more sophisticated styles at all levels of management from store manager to owner.”
The plan will certainly challenge aftermarket companies, but also offer an opportunity for continued industry advancement and improvement, says Jay Burkhart, senior vice president, Global Aftermarket, with manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corp.
The plan will mean “more distribution complexity and ultimately translate into additional electronics. The aftermarket has experienced significant growth during periods of increased distribution complexity — distributors, jobbers and service providers specialize in offering the right parts and services at the right place and time,” he says. “If you look back in history, it has been during periods of significant technological change that the industry has established and grown its share of the service and repair market.”
“The introduction of new technologies creates opportunities for the aftermarket. The transition to more fuel-efficient vehicle configurations could represent another change opportunity for progressive business owners who have made the necessary provisions and investments. The aftermarket companies who are successful will invest in the research necessary to develop viable product line options for customers who have these higher technology vehicles," Burkhart says.
Impact and change will be felt differently in each segment of the industry, but working together as a cohesive unit is necessary for future success, Potter concludes.
“We are all in this together, interconnected as competitors, customers and suppliers,” he says.
The PlanThe greatest American challenge is finding energy independence, not only for the sake of national security, but to ensure the stability of our planet and economy, Obama says.
To get there, he proposes an elaborate, demanding and extremely fast-tracked plan for change that will require immediate action from the automotive industry, among others. The plan is expected to be introduced before summer, but no official legislation has yet hit the Congressional floor. But he is already making more progress than any American president since Carter by positioning energy as a focal issue in his domestic policy plans.
The initiative will put millions into gaining national energy independence, accelerating low-carbon technology efforts, supporting green career opportunities and reducing the vehicle carbon footprint, according to the Obama/Biden Web site, www.mybarackobama.com.
OEMs will have to increase fuel economy standards by 4 percent each year, boost hybrid and electric car saturation in the market to 50 percent of the country’s fleet by 2012, and follow a to-be-developed National Low Carbon Fuel Standard that will require suppliers to reduce the carbon in their fuel by 10 percent in 10 years, according to the site.
New vehicles must be able to run on flexible fuel options, and $4 billion in tax credits will be awarded for the creation of fuel-efficient cars.
But is the automotive industry, or more applicably, the aftermarket, equipped to handle such change? Difficulty is expected, but the plan is feasible, Burkhart says.
“Automotive technology has a history of being driven by both legislation and customer needs. Fuel economy mandates and customer requirements are in sync here. The technologies are and will be introduced, in spite of the present economic environment,” he says. “The capital requirements facing service providers will certainly be a challenge, but the industry has addressed similar challenges in the past.”
Distribution difficulties The parts complexity to come in the future will pose a heightened inventory challenge for resellers who are already scaling back because of economic constraints.
“Newer technologies would probably require more part numbers, but recently newer technologies have meant relatively small, high value parts. Shelf space probably won’t be significantly impacted, but distributors can expect to have more money tied up in inventory,” Sutton says.
Major changes may be just two years away – when distributors will need to begin stocking updated lines for new vehicles coming off of warranty, he says.
“The development of viable aftermarket product lines depends on the ability to commonize the multiple OE technologies in the market. The number of OEMs is expanding, and the technology proliferation is occurring in many directions simultaneously,” Burkhart says. “Until the market stabilizes and the best technologies are identified, the aftermarket segment will have to increase its speed to meet the needs of the customer. Nevertheless, the industry has never shied away from this challenge in the past and in fact has benefited from these periods of increased distribution complexity.”
Adapting to the parts lines to come in the future — meaning a major boost in inventory size — will mean more financial commitments from resellers, but also the opportunities for enhanced sales, says Jeff Blocher, Wix Filters brand manager.
“As technology gets more and more sophisticated, our products have to follow. And when this happens, they get more expensive. Technology drives expense into the chain that some folks aren’t used to,” he says.
“It is a good thing in the sense that we’ll have more parts we’ll have to build and put into the marketplace and different applications to cover. But at the same time, we are going to have to gear up to build them. There will be some trade-offs. Is it good? I guess we’ll see in the long run. But this is what we’ll have to do to survive.”
Change and adaptation at the repair shop level will also be needed, as newer vehicle technologies and advancements will pose training and service challenges, says Bob Redding, Washington representative for the Automotive Service Association.
“One could certainly say that there are opportunities if shops assure that their staffs will be trained and have the proper equipment,” he says. “We want to continue working with the OEs to make sure that we have available to us the same types of training as the car dealers and that we can repair these cars.”
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) will be keeping a close eye on the bill and is most concerned with a potential vehicle scrappage provision that could be included, says Aaron Lowe, AAIA’s vice president of government affairs. If a “Cash for Clunkers”-type clause finds it way into the plan, it will meet with strong AAIA opposition, Lowe says.
Though the idea has been around for more than two decades, it has always been rejected by Congress, says George Zauflick, vice president of government relations for Cardone Industries. A vehicle scrappage provision “would diminish the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts to the low-income drivers. Clunker programs will pose a significant environmental crisis as millions of scrapped vehicles will be shredded and dumped in land fills,” he says. Also, the program would “compete with good charitable organizations such as Purple Heart and the Salvation Army that rely on used-car donations.”
Encouraging consumers to maintain older vehicles is a better way to go, Zauflik says. “We do support tax credits for motor vehicle owners to help them upgrade, repair or maintain an older vehicle using energy-sensible remanufactured parts,” he says.
AAIA agrees. “We’d like to see vouchers for people who take better care of their cars, especially low- and middle-class people. This will save fuel, lower emissions and would be a more appropriate way of spending money than vehicle scrappage. These things could be valuable to reducing emissions and reducing a vehicle’s carbon footprint.”

Staying afloat Obama’s plan comes at a time when economic hardship has peaked, leaving many companies without the luxury of financial stability, strong research budgets or confidence in taking risks with new product developments.
Though aiming — and expected — to reform the automotive industry and propel it forward, the plan could in fact pull the segment farther back, some industry insiders fear.
“In a changing world, only the strong survive. Change is what creates opportunities and the most intelligent, energetic and best capitalized among us will take advantage of them,” Potter says. “But sure, more companies will go out of business.”
Many are concerned about how manufacturers — many of which are facing dire financial realities — can afford to meet such requirements.
“OEs have a great financial risk to develop the technologies to get to these standards. And it seems there are a lot of costs that they can deal with at this point,” Blocher says. “Unless the government will fund some of the research that goes into these things. Even to borrow it, the credit market is so tight. If the government jumps into it and starts to regulate, you would think there have to be some sort of incentives to be able to get there.”
The need for progressive environmental initiatives is apparent. But as economic stability remains a question mark, is it sensible to put so much focus on green advancements? Sutton thinks so.
“It has to be the top focus of the government. If we look to history, we see that [President Franklin Delano Roosevelt] led the country out of the Great Depression with the New Deal, which included a significant investment in the nation’s infrastructure,” he says. “If a similar investment was made in the development of environmentally friendly technologies, we could create new jobs, help clean and restore the environment and stimulate the economy at the same time. I see environmentally friendly technology as an emerging industry that is growing in a recession, which makes it ripe for investment.”
Those companies willing to make an investment in their own future will remain successful, Sutton says.
“These stipulations have been simmering for the past few years. They won’t cause any companies in our industry to go out of business overnight, but any companies that were to go out of business as a result of these new regulations were not built to last in the first place and would have succumbed over time,” he says.
Despite the challenges posed, Obama’s Energy Plan offers more opportunity than obstacles to the aftermarket.“I think the overall effect on the aftermarket will be positive because of the increased perceived value to the consumer and the ability to command a higher price,” Sutton says. “New technologies breed efficiency, which leads to economic growth.”

Search for used automotive parts

2009-03-19T08:02:00.000-04:00

CCAP announces it's new updated website including the very resourceful page allowing it's customers to search their entire used part inventory. If the customer is searching whilst the store is open, the customer can even chat live with one of CCAP's sales team. The new updated site also includes a Bargain Bin page with items that need to be up front, in the eye line of customers. These really are bargains. The site also includes new pages, such as a generic parts page, replacement mirrors and windshields plus a whole bunch of vehicle accessories.
Updates are daily accurrance so make sure you keep going back...... www.eccap.com & www.centralcityautoparts.com

Electric vehicles leading the charge, states report

2009-03-19T07:58:00.001-04:00

The auto industry is in dire straits, particular in the U.S., where money is tight, huge debts still need to be serviced and auto sales continue to slide. Chrysler and General Motors, which received nearly $18 billion from the Bush administration in 2008 and are asking for another $21 billion from the Obama administration, have had to pledge to make greener cars. One route they, and automakers worldwide, are pursuing is the development of new electric cars.
Electric vehicles have been around since the 19th century, but the advent of the electric starter in the early 20th century made internal combustion engines more convenient and safer.
Electric vehicles were sidelined for many years, until increasingly stringent fuel-economy and emission-restricting regulations pushed automakers to reconsider the simplicity of a battery-powered drivetrain. Today, electric vehicles range from simple Neighborhood Electric Vehicles to cars that look quite similar to standard models, and even electric delivery vans, trucks and buses. Despite electric cars’ lengthy history, the market for them remains in its infancy. NextGen Research, in the report “The Market for Electric Vehicles: An Assessment of Plug-in Vehicles, Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies," observes that fewer than 10,000 electric vehicles of all types were sold worldwide in 2008. (In comparison, in January 2009, a “slow month,” more than 300,000 cars were sold in the U.S. alone).
NextGen Research foresees the global market for electric vehicles growing to a hefty 350,000 units by 2013.
Says Larry Fisher, research director of NextGen Research: “A number of developments are coming together to propel the market for electric vehicles. The fuel price spike in late 2007-early 2008 pushed automakers to intensify their R&D outside of standard internal combustion engines. Ongoing battery development also has contributed, as new chemistries promise higher range per charge, which has been a major factor limiting electric cars. Finally, automakers are working with governments and utilities to plan out a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which further extends the viable range of electric vehicles.”
NextGen Research is the emerging technology arm of ABI Research. For more information, call (516) 624.2526 or visit www.NextGenResearch.com.

Emissions standards based on California regulations introduced in Iowa House

2009-03-19T07:54:00.000-04:00

Iowa’s House of Representatives will take a look at legislation that could make Iowa’s emissions standards more similar to those in California.
According to information from the Automotive Service Association (ASA), Iowa State Rep. Nathan Reichert has introduced House Bill 422, which establishes motor vehicle emissions standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2011. The bill is based on the California motor vehicle emissions standards and is consistent with federal law.
Earlier this year, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection has adopted the California Motor Vehicle Emission Standards to establish a Florida Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) program.
The bill includes a provision stating: “The (Iowa Environmental Protection Commission) may decline or adopt all or part of the California motor vehicle emissions standards if it determines in writing, based on substantial evidence and after a public hearing, that the emissions standards and a compliance program similar to that of the state of California will not achieve, in the aggregate, greater motor vehicle pollution reductions than the federal standards and compliance program for any such model year.” To view this legislation, visit ASA’s legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

Go Green

2009-03-19T07:51:00.000-04:00

The auto industry is in dire straits, particular in the U.S., where money is tight, huge debts still need to be serviced and auto sales continue to slide. Chrysler and General Motors, which received nearly $18 billion from the Bush administration in 2008 and are asking for another $21 billion from the Obama administration, have had to pledge to make greener cars. One route they, and automakers worldwide, are pursuing is the development of new electric cars.
Electric vehicles have been around since the 19th century, but the advent of the electric starter in the early 20th century made internal combustion engines more convenient and safer.
Electric vehicles were sidelined for many years, until increasingly stringent fuel-economy and emission-restricting regulations pushed automakers to reconsider the simplicity of a battery-powered drivetrain. Today, electric vehicles range from simple Neighborhood Electric Vehicles to cars that look quite similar to standard models, and even electric delivery vans, trucks and buses.
Despite electric cars’ lengthy history, the market for them remains in its infancy. NextGen Research, in the report “The Market for Electric Vehicles: An Assessment of Plug-in Vehicles, Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies," observes that fewer than 10,000 electric vehicles of all types were sold worldwide in 2008. (In comparison, in January 2009, a “slow month,” more than 300,000 cars were sold in the U.S. alone).
NextGen Research foresees the global market for electric vehicles growing to a hefty 350,000 units by 2013.
Says Larry Fisher, research director of NextGen Research: “A number of developments are coming together to propel the market for electric vehicles. The fuel price spike in late 2007-early 2008 pushed automakers to intensify their R&D outside of standard internal combustion engines. Ongoing battery development also has contributed, as new chemistries promise higher range per charge, which has been a major factor limiting electric cars. Finally, automakers are working with governments and utilities to plan out a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which further extends the viable range of electric vehicles.”

Generic Auto Parts

2009-03-05T23:05:00.000-05:00

In March 2000, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reaffirmed that the source of a car’s cosmetic crash parts is irrelevant to crashworthiness. Using a 1997 Toyota Camry, OEM cosmetic parts were removed and the hood replaced with a CAPA-certified hood from an aftermarket supplier. The crash test results from a 40-mph frontal offset impact were compared with results from an identical crash test performed on an identical Camry with the OEM parts still intact. Both Camrys performed with distinction and earned good crashworthiness ratings according to the Institute’s evaluation procedures. CAPA-certified parts have been proven to perform identically to car company brand parts in every significant aspect. With this data as proof, CAPA uses the term “functionally equivalent” to describe how its parts rank in relation to the OEM cosmetic parts it replaces. This is a much stronger term than “of like kind and quality,” the term used in state and local laws and regulations to describe the standard for replacement parts used in the repair of automobiles.
So with this information to hand, we all believe and find that Generic parts are as "friendly" as those expensive dealer parts.