plus 4, Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle

Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle
Volvo sale deal passes intellectual property test - Detroit Free Press
Auto dealers hope restructuring will make companies healthier - NWI.com
Celebrating 100th Detroit-Automotive-Technology Article - Examiner
Update on GM Saab selling deal - SteelGuru

Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle

Posted: 28 Nov 2009 10:27 PM PST

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Volvo sale deal passes intellectual property test - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 29 Nov 2009 12:00 AM PST

One year after Ford Motor Co. announced its intent to sell its Swedish Volvo brand, the Dearborn automaker has completed a key aspect of the deal with the Chinese buyer -- signaling that the sale is on its way to being completed.

Ford has not provided a timeframe for completing the deal.

But on Friday, Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group told journalists in Beijing that it had reached a deal with Ford on the terms of Volvo's intellectual property.

Geely executives also recently visited Volvo facilities in Sweden and met with union officials in Brussels, Belgium.

Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, in an e-mail Friday to the Detroit Free Press, called the intellectual property development progress.

Geely's announcement "probably signals that they are nearing completion," said Marcus Sprow, a patent attorney and intellectual property expert with the Detroit offices of Foley & Lardner LLP, which is not involved with the deal.

Meanwhile, General Motors Co. said Tuesday its effort to sell Swedish automaker Saab Automobile fell apart after Koenigsegg Group backed out of the deal.

Geely is hoping to acquire full ownership of Volvo, whose operations have been tightly wound with Ford's over the past decade.

In a statement, Geely said it would have ownership of key Volvo technologies and intellectual property, including those related to safety and the environment.

Ford first announced its intent to sell Volvo last December.

In October, Ford named Geely as the preferred bidder and said it did not plan to remain a Volvo shareholder after the sale.

However, Ford spokesman John Gardiner said the deal would protect the engineering, manufacturing and supply relationship between Ford and Volvo.

"Our objective in our ongoing discussions with Geely is to secure an agreement that is in the best interests of all parties," Gardiner said in a statement e-mailed to the Free Press.

The sale of Volvo would complete Ford's exit from its former portfolio of luxury brands, once called Premier Automotive Group, which was part of the vision of former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser.

Ford acquired Volvo for $6.4 billion in 1999 and combined it with Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover under that luxury group.

Ford disbanded Premier Automotive Group in early 2008 after selling Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion.

Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com

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Auto dealers hope restructuring will make companies healthier - NWI.com

Posted: 28 Nov 2009 09:51 PM PST

AUTOMOTIVE: Tim Roper, president, Smith Auto Group, Hammond/Lowell

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By Bowdeya Tweh - bowdeya.tweh@nwi.com, (219) 933.3316 | Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009 12:00 am | Loading…

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Tight bank lending to customers and a high unemployment rate are tempering sales expectations for automobile dealerships, said Tim Roper, who has three dealerships in Hammond and Lowell.

On the automaker side, the Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcies did shake consumers' confidence in the industry, but the companies benefited from reducing their costs through restructuring.

Cash for Clunkers definitely had a positive impact for dealerships of all automotive brands, because it helped reduce inventory capacity by temporarily boosting new car sales and helped manufacturers produce more vehicles. The program's downside was that it brought people to the market earlier than expected and took momentum from sales later in the year.

Uncertainty about future sales and automotive production levels are still plaguing the industry, but Roper said dealers can cope "with the lower sales rate that exists today, knowing there will be a better tomorrow."

Posted in Local on Sunday, November 29, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 7:00 pm. | Tags: Illinois, Indiana, Business, Board Of Economists

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Celebrating 100th Detroit-Automotive-Technology Article - Examiner

Posted: 28 Nov 2009 04:43 PM PST

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As author of books, ebooks and multiple articles, it's always good to stop and assess what has been accomplished, good and bad. In this case, my 100th article for Examiner.com is intended to be a message to you of "thanks" for reading. Without you as a reader and clicking the links, my articles would appear like signs laying face down on I-75.

Applying to Examiner in mid-January, 2009, my first article made the web on February 15, 2009. Since that day, I have covered a wide range of auto-related technical subjects; and I'm still here writing, because you have had the kindness and time to read. I've really enjoyed covering the auto shows and cruises, looking for cool and unique tech wherever I can find it.

I especially tried to remain tech focused on every assignment, but my personal insights about the auto industry in general often came into play; but that was my intention all along. Let me explain.

As a writer for Examiner, I do not feel that I should just report on regurgitated news. You can do that yourself on the web with a simple search using Bing and Google. I prefer to give you the news by providing relevant details and balancing that with my personal insights based on my automotive experiences. Otherwise, I'm just another blog-head on the web

Fact is I have a hard time even preventing myself from doing writing any other way. My only alternative would be to write about day trading, which I practice and love equally.

Examiner Final Comments

For the record, my resume showing 39 years as a designer in the automotive industry is what gave Examiner.com the idea to assign me automotive technology in the first place. It was a great fit. As a checker and an author, my need for intelligible research is matched only by other's need for speed.

I do not know if you always agree with my style or approach, but the number of readers have yet to complain, at least openly. So, let me offer that opportunity now. Let know what you like, dislike and what you prefer. Make those comments. I need them; I want them; and I respect them!

I do know you like to see lots of pictures of cars, because August was a blow-away month for visitors due to the auto cruises. I only provide pics and videos when it makes sense, though. I'm already planning for more.

Fact is not every article is directly about cars or technology. Sometimes it's about business, money, corporate character, etc. that associate with people as they develop automotive technology. As author of "Perfecting Corporate Character" I think mu insights are indeed relevant. Those are times when I especially have to write from my viewpoint. Unless I missed the mark, I thought that's what being a Detroit Automotive Technology Examiner was all about.

My next article, #101 by the way, will cover EVs; and there is a reason. 2010 will be a key year in automotive history. For certain we will see the electrification of the automobile take center stage. Specifically, we will also see the mainstream arrival of a plethora of plug-in hybrid vehicles, not to mention great gas-mileage advances in internal combustion engines.

That is why I will especially cover the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) in January. For the first time, the show will have an electric alley, where full EVs and Hybrids will have a place to showcase the technology.

I will also review some of my favorite pics I took at the summer cruises. That will keep our juices going for the Autorama that comes after the NAIAS.

Again, the bottom line for this 100th article is to simply say "Thank You" for reading. Write me anytime with your ideas.

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Update on GM Saab selling deal - SteelGuru

Posted: 28 Nov 2009 08:54 PM PST

The Detroit News reported that potential suitors for General Motors Co's Saab Automobile are surfacing a week after the collapse of a deal to sell the Swedish carmaker to Koenigsegg Group.

As per report, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co, Merbanco Inc and Renco Group Inc are sounding out a possible deal. However, the parties have not submitted written proposals for GM's board to review at its monthly meeting next week.

GM was expected to wind down Saab after Koenigsegg pulled out of a deal to buy the Trollhaettan based carmaker. Beijing Automotive was a partner in that deal. It planned to take a stake in Koenigsegg, a Swedish super car manufacturer, and previously showed interest in GM's German Adam Opel GmbH. Merbanco, a Wyoming based investor group, and Renco expressed interest in Saab in June 2009.

Mr Christopher Johnston president of Merbanco said that he and other investors in Wyoming were considering putting together a deal along the lines of the agreement that had been struck with Koenigsegg. He added that "We're interested in picking it up and seeing if we can get it done quickly. We haven't had any conversations with GM."

Saab lost money in most of its 20 years as part of GM. Its sales are down 59% in Europe this year and 62% in the United States. The Swedish government has ruled out taking over Saab to keep it afloat.

(Sourced from www.detnews.com)

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