DAILY: NHTSA proposes rules to add sound to hybrids, EVs | GE backs off plan to buy 25,000 EVs | Connected car innovations take stage at CES

Click here to open this newsletter in a Web browser

DAILY NEWSLETTER January 7, 2013 Follow Us:

Dear Reader, Automotive News is starting 2013 with a fresh new look for our daily email newsletter. We hope the changes make it even easier for you to get the news you need. If you're not a subscriber to Automotive News, you'll still receive this newsletter every business day, and have access to a limited number of articles per day on the Web site. If that's just not enough, visit autonews.com/subscribe to start your own subscription to Automotive News.

NHTSA proposes rules for automakers to add sound to hybrids, EVs Automakers would need to make hybrids and electric vehicles emit sound under rules that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed today. The rules, ordered by Congress three years ago, are meant to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicles that make little sound when using electric power. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 1:29 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/7/13 2:12 pm ET - adds details GE backs off plan to buy 25,000 EVs Corporate fleet decisions underscore debate about alternative fuel vehicles General Electric's commitment to buy 25,000 electric autos, promoted as the largest ever when it was announced more than two years ago, is taking a detour. The obstacle: Customers of GE's corporate fleet-services unit wanted more options. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 12:06 pm U.S. Eastern time Advertisement Personalized service is key for Exeter Finance Corp. Dealers don't know what they're missing in premier service until they try Exeter Finance Corp. This national subprime auto lender offers local decision makers, flexible financing options and quick funding that keep dealers coming back for more. Click or call 855.4.EXETER today. 2013 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW More connected car innovations take stage at CES At the world's largest technology conference that kicked off today, the most intriguing innovations showcased may be gadgets and technology that turn vehicles into connected, smarter machines. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 4:13 pm U.S. Eastern time 2013 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW Ford to offer Rhapsody online music service in 1 million vehicles Ford will offer Rhapsody International's Internet music service in more than 1 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles, the online company's first tie-in with an automaker. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 10:40 am U.S. Eastern time 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Hyundai hints at fastback-style roofline for next Genesis Hyundai seems poised to adopt a fastback-style roofline similar to those of the Audi A7 and other sedans with coupelike styling for its next-generation rear-wheel-drive premium sedans. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 3:04 pm U.S. Eastern time   Automotive News Blogs James B. Treece is industry editor for Automotive News Remember, trucks make the bucks Car sales rose 18 percent in 2012, twice the gain of light trucks. But trucks are where the money is. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 7 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time     » 1/17 - Mobile Savvy Car Buyers by MAX Systems   Archived Webinars » Beyond the vehicle by Covisint » Internet Dealerships by Automotive News » Manufacturing Excellence by Microsoft » Selling Service Contracts by Automotive News

» Jan. 15-17 - World Congress » March 15 - Best Dealerships entry deadline » April 15 - PACE Awards » May 14 - Marketing Seminar - Los Angeles       Automotive News' top 5 news stories of the week 1. BMW, VW, Mercedes get boost at home from strong company-car market 2. Toyota still hampered by sales slide in China 3. Mercedes' global sales hit record in 2012 on U.S. demand 4. Ford sells 239 acres at former Michigan plant site to developer 5. New Mazda6 to carry base price of $21,675, up $155   KEITH CRAIN Let's not kill the golden goose Last year was a very good year. Nearly everybody ended the year smiling. Dealers saw the best profits in quite a while, and suppliers also did well. Manufacturers had financials that showed healthy profits after a long period of drought. We still aren't back to the volume that the car business had a few years ago, but that may be a good thing Keith Crain is editor-in-chief of Automotive News. ... >> Read the column  Published: Jan 7 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Daimler stake may be acquired by China investment fund China's sovereign wealth fund may buy a stake in Daimler AG, a China media outlet reported today. The state-owned People's Daily newspaper said on its Web site that China Investment Corporation, the country's investment vehicle, was interested in buying a stake in Daimler ranging from 4 to 10 percent. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 10:18 am U.S. Eastern time   BMW, VW, Mercedes get boost at home from strong company-car market BMW, VW and Mercedes are all likely to post record sales for 2012 even as demand for cars in Europe has tumbled. Deutsche Telekom is partly to thank for that. ... >> story  Published: Jan 5 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Coda furloughs workers in new wave of cost cuts In another sign of Coda Automotive's financial woes, the assembler of Chinese-made electric vehicles furloughed employees Friday, its second round of cost-cutting in the last month. ... >> story  Published: Jan 4 6:31 pm U.S. Eastern time   Audi details plans for 2016 start in Mexico Audi is firming up plans for its plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico. In the employee newspaper Audimobil, Mattias Rust, project manager for staff in Mexico, said construction will begin in 2014 and production will start in May 2016 with about 3,800 employees. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Volvo sees challenging year ahead after 2012 sales drop Volvo said its global sales fell 6.1 percent last year, including double digit drops in China and Sweden and a small rise in the United States, and warned of a tough 2013. ... >> story  Published: Jan 7 6:31 am U.S. Eastern time   Mercedes' global sales hit record in 2012 on U.S. demand Sales of Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz luxury brand reached a record in 2012 as rising U.S. demand offset a weaker market in China and pushed December volumes to an all-time high. ... >> story  Published: Jan 4 7:46 am U.S. Eastern time   New Mazda6 to carry base price of $21,675, up $155 Mazda set the starting price of the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 mid-sized sedan at $21,675, including shipping, making it one of the least expensive family sedans in the U.S. market. The base price represents an increase of $155 over the 2013 model. ... >> story  Published: Jan 4 2:46 pm U.S. Eastern time  OBITUARIES   Obituaries Information about Oklahoma City Dodge dealer Lynn Hickey. >> story  Published: Jan 7 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time

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