Auto News 5

Pictures 26 Nov, 2012

New vehicle sales in Malaysia increased by close to 21% to 55,358 units in October, compared with 53,615 units sold a year earlier, according to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

Teijin Limited has announced that its 'Eco Circle' plant-fibre based bio-polyester has been selected for use in the seats and interior trim surface of the new Nissan Leaf.

French plastic processing group Plastic Omnium will cut its German output by halting the production of auto fenders, the company said.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Investindustrial, a European private-equity fund based in Switzerland, are reportedly bidding for a substantial stake to take control of Aston Martin.

Research into emission control, process and low carbon technologies by Johnson Matthey will be supported by a GBP100m (US$160m) loan agreed with the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Schaeffler has unveiled revenue for the first nine months of this year up 4.2% to EUR8.4bn (US$10.9bn), with EBIT margin of 13.6% and free cash flow of EUR92m.

Johnson Matthey has posted half year sales excluding precious metals (sales) 1% ahead at GBP1.3bn (US$2.08bn), with underlying profit before tax down 6% at GBP191m and flat underlying earnings per share.

Ford is cutting a shift at the Romanian factory that builds the B-Max model just weeks after launching the small minivan. The automaker will also offer buyouts to some hourly workers.

Ford is cutting a shift at the Romanian factory that builds the B-Max model just weeks after launching the small minivan. The automaker will also offer buyouts to some hourly workers.

The Winged Warrior is back. Dodge is resurrecting one of its most famous namesand#8212;Daytonaand#8212;as an option package on the Hemi-powered

New vehicle sales in Thailand rose by 233% to 142,839 units in October, compared with 42,834 units in the same month last year - when the market was severely affected by severe floods across large parts of the country.

Renault plans a joint venture to build cars in China with Dongfeng Motor, the country's second-largest automaker, a report said.

The weak European market is slowing Kia's growth plans in the region. A target of 3 percent market share, originally set for 2013 and then delayed to 2015, has been postponed to 2016 or 2017.

Whenever Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne appears in public, TV crews jostle to beam his words around the globe. Amid the push and shove it's easy to miss the tall, curly-headed young man who often looks on from the sidelines. He's John Elkann.

Honda's Civic redo, Ford's people-mover version of the Transit Connect and a redesigned Subaru Forester will be among the attention-getters at the Los Angeles Auto Show that begins this week.

Having languished for decades in a crowded field of mass-market nameplates, Mazda will reposition itself as a more premium brand, Mazda Motor Corp. CEO Takashi Yamanouchi said.

Klaus Busse is tall and lanky with giant hands and an outsized smile. His standard attire is a light-gray windbreaker worn over a faded T-shirt and jeans.

Automakers are embracing online video ads for millennials for an obvious reason: That's where young shoppers' eyeballs are; they're buyers who appreciate the offbeat and humorous.

Kasey Kahne, the latest addition to the Hendrick Motorsports' driver lineup will have Great Clips as a primary sponsor for three NASCAR Sprint Cup series races in 2013.


Great Clips was Kahne's co-primary sponsor in the Nov. 4 race at Texas Motor Speedway, marking the company's first-ever Sprint Cup sponsorship. In 2013, the Minneapolis-based company will be the No. 5 Chevrolet SS team's primary sponsor March 17 at Bristol, Tenn., July 28 at Indianapolis and Sept. 22 at Loudon, N.H.

Photo: Great Clips Racing

Kahne had the majority of his Sprint Cup races in 2012 sponsored by Farmer's Insurance.

“It's exciting to have Great Clips come on board the No. 5 for 2013,” Kahne said. “They've been with me for most of my career, supporting me as a driver and a team owner. It's always great to see a partner step up their program, and I'm looking forward to bringing them their first win in the Sprint Cup Series.”

“When you hear the people at Great Clips talk about their business, it's easy to understand why they're so successful,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “The focus on customer service, convenience, value, community and philanthropy is something NASCAR fans appreciate. It's a company that's been committed to our sport and seen a great return on investment over many years. We look forward to building on that at the Cup level.”

“Kasey Kahne has been such an important member of our Great Clips family since we first sponsored him nearly 10 years ago,” said Terri Miller, vice president of marketing for Great Clips. “To have the opportunity to work with Kasey in the Sprint Cup Series is a very proud moment for all of us. We could not ask for a better partner to take this step with than Hendrick Motorsports, a team that shares our company's values. At Great Clips, our tagline is ‘It's gonna be great,' and that's exactly how we feel about this relationship.”

Kahne, 32, has earned 14 career victories and 26 pole positions in Sprint Cup Series competition. In his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, the Enumclaw, Wash., native secured his third career Chase for the Sprint Cup berth and recorded two wins, four poles, 12 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s. He finished the 2012 campaign a career-best fourth in championship points.



Since 2003, the company has supported his Kahne's efforts as both a driver and car owner across multiple racing series.



Great Clips has utilized NASCAR as a marketing platform since 2000. Its relationships have included sponsorship of Turner Motorsports, which will continue in 2013 with Kahne running select events, and the recent Great Clips 200 race entitlement at Phoenix International Raceway.