“Promising Auto Market - Zawya.com” plus 4 more |
- Promising Auto Market - Zawya.com
- Steven Cole Smith AUTOMOTIVE - Orlando Sentinel
- Chicago embraces solar technologies - NWITimes.com
- STRATEGY ANALYTICS: Sony Best Recognized Brand for Automotive ... - PR Inside
- Hayes Automotive co-founder dies - Access North GA
| Promising Auto Market - Zawya.com Posted: 05 Sep 2009 09:25 PM PDT 06 September 2009 JEDDAH - The Middle Eastern automotive sector remains buoyant despite the global financial crisis, driven by a robust GCC market that accounts for an estimated four million passenger cars, more than 1.8 million of which are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom, currently the biggest automotive market in the region, imported more than SR38 billion worth of cars and spare parts in 2008. Auto sales in the Kingdom are expected to further increase by 5 percent in 2009 to surpass the 545,000 units sold last year. Furthermore, with an estimated GDP per capita of SR89,700 as of 2008, according to figures from the World Bank, the country's strong spending power has helped make Saudi Arabia one of the most lucrative automotive markets in the world. In addition, up to 59.5 percent of the country's population of over 25 million belong to the 15-64 age bracket - the prime target group of the automotive industry - creating a massive market base for all industry players. "Around 60 percent of the Kingdom's population is made up of young individuals who have a strong interest in automotive vehicles and accessories - a trend that is contributing to the automotive sector's record growth. The Saudi government has also greatly influenced the expansion of the automotive and auto parts sectors by offering attractive financial plans and investment incentives," said Kamil Al Jawhari, project manager of Riyadh Motor Show at Riyadh Exhibitions CompanyRiyadh Exhibitions Company "These factors open up huge opportunities for dealers, car parts and accessories distributors, retailers and aftermarket service providers," he said. "In this regard, the Kingdom will clearly benefit from comprehensive and reputable industry forums such as the Riyadh Motor Show 2009, which will gather all stakeholders to showcase market best practices, trends, products, technologies, and prospects," he added. The advantageous automotive market conditions are reflected in this year's edition of the Riyadh Motor Show, one of the biggest auto industry events in the Middle East, being held concurrently with Saudi Auto shop. The two events, being organized by Riyadh Exhibitions CompanyRiyadh Exhibitions Company Riyadh Motor Show 2009, the 27th International Exhibition for Motor Vehicles, will display the latest models of passenger cars, station wagons, sports utility vehicles (SUV), pick-up trucks, motorcycles, special purpose vehicles, 4x4 vehicles, SUV trucks and eco-friendly vehicles. It will also include automobile financing and insurance services. Saudi Autoshop 2009, the 13th International Exhibition for Auto Repair Equipment, Tools, Parts and Accessories, will feature the latest automobile accessories and repair service equipment; gas station equipment; automobile parts; tires, exhausts and batteries; and automobile care products of 55 exhibitors within a total of 15,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. The back-to-back events are expected to gather a global participation of individual automobile and automotive companies from the Kingdom, Turkey, China, Thailand, UAE, Germany and other countries.
© The Saudi Gazette 2009  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Steven Cole Smith AUTOMOTIVE - Orlando Sentinel Posted: 05 Sep 2009 12:35 PM PDT About 15 new-car dealerships have closed across Central Florida in the past few years, and if you believe the analysts, more will close in the next two years. Which, in most cases, leaves some large holes in the local landscape. In a climate where financing is tight and auto sales are down, few investors are looking to re-open closed dealers. So what becomes of that property? Not much, if you tour some of the area's closed dealers. McNamara Pontiac- Isuzu closed its store at 1010 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando in 2006, after more than 40 years. The property remains vacant. An auto dealership "is a single-use facility," said Mark Johnson, president of M.D. Johnson Inc., a Seattle-based company that advises auto dealers, and handles mergers and acquisitions. Johnson has done a lot of business in Florida, and said it is tough to find buyers for existing dealerships with a franchise in place, much less a closed-down dealer. "The value of the store is in its franchise to sell new vehicles," Johnson said. "Once the franchise is gone, it's just a building and a big parking lot." Which, he said, presents limited possibilities. In two local cases — at closed-down Chrysler dealerships in Clermont and St. Cloud — the local government bought the stores to serve as offices, and maintenance facility for city- or county-owned vehicles. But those are the exceptions. Let's look at two facing bigger challenges — one on a modest scale, and one that is, by no means, modest. On the smaller side, Saturn of Orlando-Osceola, located a half-mile from the Florida's Turnpike on U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, closed last November. It's a typical Florida stucco-and-palm trees Florida dealership: The buildings and 14.71 acres are listed for $3.69 million. But a hint of what might be its future is the fact that the listing says that price is less than $270,000 an acre, and that "the building and parking areas will help reduce the impact fees that will be realized by a new development." It seems even the listing agents aren't expecting it to re-open as a car dealership: It's just 14.71 acres of property that happens to have some buildings on it. Buyers of property like that, Johnson said, "are likely to tear down the buildings and start over." A much bigger project is the sale of the closed-down Bill Heard Chevrolet dealership on Sanford, located on what was once arguably the best location of any area car dealer: 27.7 corner-lot acres on Interstate 4 in Sanford. It opened in 2001, closed a year ago this month after the entire Georgia-based Heard chain went bankrupt. It's an enormous dealership, befitting Heard's self-ascribed nickname, "Mr. Big Volume." The Sanford store's inventory was financed by a division of General Electric, which foreclosed on the property and put it up for bid. There were none. Last month, a new broker was hired to market the property, calling it "an excellent redevelopment site for an office, multifamily, retail or hotel project." How much? You have to fax a confidentiality agreement to the real estate office to find out. But, I'm willing to bet, it's negotiable. That said, there are investors buying auto dealerships, Johnson said. For big chains such as Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation, it has to be a deal "that makes perfect sense in every area," or they aren't interested. Smaller investors, such as the New York-based company that, with Johnson's help, recently bought the Mercedes-Benz dealership in West Palm Beach, are finding down-economy bargains that they just can't pass up. As you would expect, Johnson said, the buying and selling of car dealerships is a challenge in any economy, given who the buyers and sellers are. No car dealer wants to sell too cheap, and no car dealer wants to pay more than he or she has to. "You just don't leave money on the table in that business," Johnson said. "It's considered bad form — like rude behavior at a party."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Chicago embraces solar technologies - NWITimes.com Posted: 05 Sep 2009 09:46 PM PDT CHICAGO | As the nation's economic forecasters discussed the "green shoots" of growth in the U.S. fiscal landscape, a new tuft of green technology sprouted up near the shores of Lake Michigan. A single solar "plug-in" station, distributed by Carbon Day Automotive, was installed by the Chicago Park District on the city's South Side in April. And with that, Chicago became one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement a solar-powered energy unit for recharging electric vehicles. Mayor Richard M. Daley has voiced his commitment to bringing environmental technologies to the city, saying he hopes to make Chicago "the greenest city in the nation." But despite the installation of the plug-in station, as well as solar-powered trash compactors and parking meters, Chicago is falling behind Philadelphia, Madison and Minneapolis when it comes to solar power. In July, the Chicago Office of Fleet Management followed the park district's lead, installing a power station on the banks of the Chicago River near the borders of Logan Square and Lincoln Park. The station will help power the office's cache of seven "NEVs" -- or neighborhood electric vehicles -- 90 Segways, and one Toyota Hybrid Prius. According to Eileen Joyce, a representative from the office of fleet management, the city chose to go solar on the power station project to "promote the green agenda." The power station produces about 10 kilowatts of power per sunny day, roughly enough to recharge 10 Segway vehicles. Scott Emalfarb, CEO of Carbon Day Automotive, called Chicago a "very forward looking city," and claimed more projects were planned for later this year. Despite such initiatives, Chicago still lags behind many U.S. cities when it comes to solar technologies. Over the past two years, the Solar Energy Technologies Program, run by the U.S. Department of Energy, has named 25 Solar American Cities award winners. Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis were among the Midwest cities presented with the award for a commitment "to solar technology adoption." Chicago has not yet been recognized. The Windy City has demonstrated an eagerness to experiment with new solar technologies, such as the plug-in power stations. But, as evidenced by some of the area's other solar initiatives, Chicago has not always been willing or fiscally able to take the next steps toward broad implementation. Consider the Chicago Park District's solar-powered trash compactor program. In 2007, the park district installed 25 new "Big Belly" garbage compactors by the lakefront. The trash cans help limit the amount of garbage blowing around the beach, said Ellen Sargent, the district's deputy director of natural resources. The Big Belly compactors hold as much as four times more trash than traditional waste receptacles, and their postal-drop-box-style design ensures the refuse stays put. Big Belly receptacles "were being used in cities like Boston and were working well, and we thought they could work well along the Chicago lakefront," Sargent said. Sargent said the park district was very pleased with the program's results. But, due to budget constraints, no future purchases are planned. While the park district has rested on its solar waste-can laurels, other cities have rolled out programs surpassing Chicago's modest installments. According to Jim Poss, CEO and inventor of the Big Belly trash can, Philadelphia -- one of the Solar American Cities award recipients -- has purchased 500 trash cans and 200 recycling units just this year. "They're saving about $800,000 a year in their collection operation," Poss said. When asked about the park district's return on investment using the Big Belly compactors along the lakefront, Sargent said the park district has not calculated the savings in collection operations, or even assessed whether or not collection trips could be scaled back thanks to the greater capacity of the solar trash compactors. Although the Big Belly program has stagnated, and the solar power station program is, according to Joyce, still in a "pilot evaluation stage," the city and park district's use of another piece of solar-powered technology has flourished. Chicago has installed some 2,500 solar parking meters, and plans to roll out another 500 before the end of the year, Department of Revenue representative Ed Walsh said. The success and expansion of the parking meter program is likely due to the city's ability to track the program's cost savings and environmental benefits. "The boxes wirelessly notify crews when they require collection or maintenance. This notification means collection and maintenance crews need to visit meters less often," Walsh said. "Travel reductions shrink the carbon footprint of collectors and mechanics and reduce congestion (and) the boxes are solar-powered, eliminating the need to dispose of thousands of lithium and 9-volt batteries each year."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| STRATEGY ANALYTICS: Sony Best Recognized Brand for Automotive ... - PR Inside Posted: 31 Aug 2009 08:37 AM PDT 2009-08-31 17:36:02 -
When choosing an automotive entertainment system, more US, UK, and French consumers trust the Sony brand than any other brand. However, owners of Sony automotive entertainment systems are less satisfied than owners of Bose and Pioneer systems, which were also popular brand names for automotive entertainment. These findings were based on surveys with 625 automotive consumers in the US and Western Europe. Details may be found in the Strategy Analytics Automotive Consumer Insights report, " Sony Ahead in Entertainment Brand Recognition : ." Joanne Blight, Director in the Strategy Analytics Global Automotive Practice, added, "While Sony led in brand recognition among US, UK, and French consumers, German consumers preferred the German manufacturer Blauplunkt."
Strategy Analytics, Inc.US Contact:Chris Schreiner, +1 716-714-5333 cschreiner@strategyanalytics.com : mailto:cschreiner@strategyanalytics.com orEuropean  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Hayes Automotive co-founder dies - Access North GA Posted: 31 Aug 2009 08:59 AM PDT UNDATED - Funeral services will be held Wednesday for one of the co-founders of Hayes Automotive - which has new car dealerships in Oakwood, Lawrenceville, Toccoa and Baldwin. . A.D. Hayes, who lived in Braselton, died early Monday. Hayes, 81, co-founded Hayes Automotive with his brother, Don. Hayes was also president of Hayes Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep of Lawrenceville and Gainesville. He was a founding member of Independent Garage Owners. He was on the board of directors for the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. Hayes who also raised registered Charolais cattle was president of the Georgia Florida Charolais Cattleman Association. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 Wednesday at Blackshear Place Baptist Church. (A full obituary can be found on the accessnorthga.com obituary page.)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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