WEEKLY: To hit U.S. sales goal, VW needs crossover success | Hyundai thrives against better-stocked rivals | Honda all-in with 2013 Accord | VW Group future products

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Sept. 10, 2012

» Tell a colleague about this newsletter    » Open this newsletter in a web browser    » Home page » Webinars » Contact Us ShareThis Click here to view this week's digital edition EDITOR'S PICKS Crossing Over To hit its goal of 1 million U.S. sales, VW Group must become a player in the hot crossover market So how do Volkswagen and Audi figure to hit their much talked-about U.S. volume target of a combined 1 million sales by 2018? One key is a big push in ...  FULL STORY   Less is more for Hyundai dealerships  Honda goes all-in with 2013 Accord  Subprime time  VW plans multibrand product blitz as it pursues sales title  Hyundai ratchets up U.S. output to meet demand  Somebody has a short memory  China's carmakers are much weaker than they appear  Andersson revives Russia's GAZ  Battery maker looks beyond EVs for profits Learn how to turn surfers into showroom shoppers in just 30 minute A live chat feature can help dealers turn Web shoppers into showroom shoppers -- when managed properly. Todd Smith, who has provided e-commerce tips to 1,500 U.S. dealers, will share his expertise in a 30-minute Automotive News PowerTRAINING Webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. EDT.  LEARN MORE  Advertisement Turning to the Cloud? Turn to T-Systems. Experience counts when implementing major Cloud projects. That's why leading automotive organizations turn to T-Systems for technology that revolutionizes business. T-Systems delivers SAP implementation expertise, Cloud Readiness, and fail-safe IT infrastructure -- essential to compete and thrive. Learn more about T-Systems unparalleled track record in the delivery of cloud services. FINAL ASSEMBLY FINAL ASSEMBLY Ex-minister: China's addicted to foreign auto savvy It's rare for senior officials in China -- even former ones -- to criticize government policy out loud. But former industry minister He Guangyuan has ...  FULL STORY  FINAL ASSEMBLY : South China's Motown puts lid on car sales FINAL ASSEMBLY : Exec transplants may be a sign Audi's maverick days are over FINAL ASSEMBLY : WANTED: The next GM design superstar FINAL ASSEMBLY : CarMax founder hails Obama auto policy at Dems' shindig FINAL ASSEMBLY : Renault’s new halo car: A holy roller BACK TO TOP DEALERS Software glitch halts sale of 8 GM vehicles General Motors last week stopped the sale of several of its most popular 2013 vehicles because of a software glitch that affects their OnStar communic ...  FULL STORY   Chrysler charges dealers $25,000 to sell the Viper  Selling mobility brings extra satisfaction  Toyota, Honda lead auto sales surge in August  Dealership Buy/Sell  Former retailer sentenced for defrauding Ford Credit  Ex-Ford dealer falsified financials to stay afloat  Ex-comptroller's choice: Repayment or prison  Dealers BACK TO TOP AUTOMAKERS AND SUPPLIERS Ford to fill minivan void with a version of the Transit van Ford Motor Co. plans to market the next-generation Transit Connect Wagon as a minivan alternative when it arrives in North America in the fourth quart ...  FULL STORY   As Japan ends sales subsidies, exports to U.S. could surge  A plan to tackle Lincoln's 'burden'  Toyota: No sacred cows in supplier shake-up  With technology, being first is a risky business  Ford designs C-Max Hybrid to be fun to drive, practical  MILD IMPACT  Forecasts: Japan's 2011 quake could be merely a prelude to the Big One  GM sees its CPO sales flat this year, industry up 5%  N.A. output up 17% in Aug. BACK TO TOP FUTURE PRODUCTS FUTURE PRODUCTS -- VOLKSWAGEN GROUP VW: Mid-sized crossover to join U.S. lineup Phaeton flagship -- priced well below $70,000 -- likely to return As the Volkswagen brand strives to sell 800,000 vehicles in the United States by 2018 -- up from a projected 420,000 this year -- the focus will be th ...  FULL STORY   Mexico-built Q5, U.S. version of Q3 in the works at Audi  Porsche looks beyond sports cars  Bentley plans a big crossover  Sedan on ice; Lambo SUV looks like a go  Bugatti's limited-edition Veyron gets more variants BACK TO TOP NADA New NADA guide lists CPO values NADA Used Car Guide has added manufacturer-certified used-vehicle retail values to its guidebook. Jonathan Banks, an analyst with NADA guide, says the ...  FULL STORY  BACK TO TOP FINANCE & INSURANCE Dealers pump subprime sales with Web leads Dealers are gobbling up finance leads generated by Web sites that help many subprime car shoppers determine what they can afford. Auto Credit Express, ...  FULL STORY   Subprime lenders rising after recession-era cuts  Savvy F&I managers match menus to their customers  Orange Motors teams F&I and sales staffs to win big  Lease push in downturn gives Toyota 'a real advantage'  Honda Finance's next big move: Taking dealers digital  Ford Credit stays on mission -- and gets results  Survey: Ally gets back to dealers fastest  AutoNation's pilot subprime unit rescues deals in South Florida BACK TO TOP PEOPLE Q&A: BARB SAMARDZICH, FORD OF EUROPE How Ford taps N.A., Europe for world cars Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally put in place the One Ford strategy for global product development, but Barb Samardzich plays a key role in putting tha ...  FULL STORY   Oge to retire from EPA post  Martinez joins consulting firm  Ulrich Fuehrer dies at 68; was pioneer in accident research in Germany BACK TO TOP CHINA EDITORIAL Saab redux? There seems to be a new chapter in the Saab saga now that National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB is buying most of Saab's assets, including the primary a ...  FULL STORY  BACK TO TOP DESIGN GM tries 'front loading' to speed new products Key elements: Early decisions, fewer layers of approval It's the sort of late-in-the-game fiddling that for years has bogged down vehicle-development programs at General Motors: A designer repositions the h ...  FULL STORY   Mitsubishi's plug-in crossover achieves Prius-like mpg stats  3-cylinder Fiesta may be U.S. preview  How Golf got bigger but not bland  Welburn: More contours in next Caddy CTS  A hint of Cadillac’s plug-in hybrid  Hyundai bills Santa Fe as family-friendly  Getting in gear gets interesting  Plug-in Accord will precede conventional hybrid next year  Honda keeps Accord Coupe, makes it 'passionate and adult' BACK TO TOP WEBINARS MARKETPLACE JOB LISTINGS Hello, how may I help you today? – The Power of Live Chat September 11, 2 p.m. EDT Last year, General Motors took live chat expert Todd Smith on a cross-country speaking tour to show what passion for e-commerce is all about. In his concise 30-minute presentation, Todd will spell out what you can do to join the innovative dealers who have learned to convert shoppers on their websites into shoppers in their showrooms using the power of live chat. Cost: $69 New Research in Best Practices for Increasing Customer-Pay Service Dollars September 18, 2 p.m. EDT Increasing coveted customer-pay service revenue is critical to the success of your dealership. But what's the best way to make it happen? What does this all mean for your dealership? Learn best practices for driving customer pay service revenue through “bread-and-butter” services like break, tire and battery sales, and techniques to use to attract customer whose need these services. Cost: FREE Driving Traffic… When Traffic Is Online September 20, 2 p.m. EDT 88% of car buyers research their new vehicle on the Internet, spending an average of 6 1/2 hours online before making their purchase. In fact, the “amateur” customer often knows more than the “pro” in the dealership. Get cutting edge insights on online auto shopper habits, including how they choose where to buy and decide how much they're willing to pay. Cost: FREE Global Technology Outlook - Shaping Up Innovation September 25, 11 a.m. EDT The Global Technology Outlook (GTO) is an annual study conducted by IBM Research to investigate the future of information technology. Attend to learn the current global and automotive technology trends, and high impact disruptive technologies that will lead to game-changing products and services over the next decade. Plus, find out where cyber security is headed in the automotive industry. Cost: FREE Webinar Archives Library   Auto Owner Email Postal and Phone Data-All Verified Media One   North America's leading automotive newspaper! Automotive News   Integrated perspectives into info. and insights. Experian Automotive   Let us show you how AutoRaptor You have many choices when it comes to a CRM   Electronic and no wires to test, tap or cut. The Widget   Increase your customer paid labor and parts sales Service Advisor Training   Automotive insight and marketing solutions. Polk   OEM Parts Locator and Marketing Service PartsVoice   Largest provider of retail auto data in N. America Digital Motorworks, Inc.   Flexible Solutions to Meet Your Needs. QBE FIRST   ll Auto Auction Services Corporation Fixed-Operations Consultant for a Tier-1 luxury make: J.D. Power & Associates Location: Los Angeles/Orange County, CA, United States Various Positions: vAuto NA, United States TECHS: NEED TECHS Location: NA, United States Director of Digital Media: Performance Automotive Group Omaha, NE, United States Collision Repair Assistant Manager: Large multi franchise, family operated dealership Location: FL, United States General Sales Manager: **Virginia Beach Ford Dealer** VA, United States Various Positions: Plattner Automotive Group Location: Sarasota, FL, United States RV SERVICE MANAGER: Long-time established dealer Houston, TX, United States Automotive Consultant & Facilitator: Maritz LLC Location: Unknown, NA, United States Sales Professional: ZURICH NA, United States To view other breaking news stories throughout the day, visit autonews.com To unsubscribe from this email newsletter, or to sign up for more email products, please click here. Automotive News is located at 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Michigan, 48207