DAILY: Nissan shifting Murano output to Miss. from Japan | Ford doubles stock dividend to 7-year high | Obama signs bill to let dealers toss out insurance booklets

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DAILY NEWSLETTER January 10, 2013 Follow Us:

Nissan shifting Murano output to Miss. from Japan Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, following through on a vow to lessen the company's reliance on expensive Japanese manufacturing and compete better in North America, has ordered output of the Murano crossover shifted to Canton, Miss. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 4:15 pm U.S. Eastern time Ford, citing stronger finances, doubles stock dividend to 7-year high Ford doubled its quarterly dividend to 10 cents per share, its highest in seven years, on the back of strong sales in North America and a healthy balance sheet. The first-quarter payout, which will cost the automaker about $370 million, comes despite recent market share losses and weakness in its European business. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 9:31 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/10/13 4:36 pm ET - adds closing stock price 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. Obama signs bill to let dealers toss out insurance booklets President Obama today signed into law a bill allowing dealerships to stop stocking copies of a government booklet on insurance costs, the White House said. The measure, which dealers sought as a way to save time and money, cleared the House of Representatives in July without a dissenting vote. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 3:28 pm U.S. Eastern time GM in talks with UAW on lump-sum offer for hourly retirees GM is in discussions with the UAW on offering lump-sum pension payouts to hourly retirees in the United States. GM CEO and Chairman Dan Akerson made a comment on the discussions at a briefing with reporters today at the company's headquarters in Detroit. ... >> story  Published: Jan 9 5:12 pm U.S. Eastern time GM exec complains about Hewlett-Packard depositions of tech workers GM Chief Information Officer Randy Mott today called Hewlett-Packard's efforts to question two technology workers hired by the automaker “retaliatory” and a “fishing expedition.” ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 11:12 am U.S. Eastern time   Automotive News Blogs Hans Greimel is Asia editor for Automotive News. Mazda's diesel gambit pays in Japan. But in the U.S.? Here's a good omen for Mazda Motor's gamble on delving into diesels in the United States later this year. In Japan, a country where diesels are all but non-existent, the diesel version of Mazda's CX-5 sold like crazy in 2012. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 10 12:51 pm U.S. Eastern time   Sherri Begin is a reporter for Crain's Detroit Business, an affiliate of Automotive News. Detroit show backers roll out red carpet to more dealers nationwide The Detroit Auto Dealers Association's push to attract more auto dealers to the Detroit auto show is paying off, with as many as 800 expected next week for the event. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 10 2:12 pm U.S. Eastern time   » 1/24 - Online Reputation by Auto News » 1/22 - Operations Case Study by Microsoft » 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. GM expects 'modest' U.S. market share gains in 2013, Akerson says 2. Ram boosts towing capacity on heavy-duty pickup 3. How Honda hustled to redo Civic 4. Jack Teahen -- friend, mentor, 'numbers nut,' curmudgeon, cornerstone of Automotive News -- dies at 87 5. Auto execs discount overcapacity, eye new global investments     Honda plans $23M Ohio expansion to build Accord Hybrid Honda will spend $23 million to expand its Marysville, Ohio, plant to build the 2014 Accord Hybrid, the company said today. The plant will add about 50 workers for production of the hybrid sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale this fall, the company said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 10:39 am U.S. Eastern time   Toyota wins order dismissing Prius brakes class-action claims Toyota has won a federal judge’s ruling blocking a class-action lawsuit by owners of Prius and Lexus models who sued over a 2010 recall to install a software update that fixed a concern with the cars’ anti-lock braking system. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 12:33 pm U.S. Eastern time   Toyota tries carbon fiber roof in family sedan Toyota is taking another stab at using carbon fiber, following the retirement of the Lexus LFA sports car. This time, it is rolling out a concept sports version of the Japan-market Toyota Mark X sedan with a carbon fiber roof. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 10:59 am U.S. Eastern time   BMW aims for record 2013 sales despite 'headwinds' BMW Group predicts 2013 will be an even better sales year than 2012, during which it sold a record 1.85 million vehicles worldwide. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 3:16 am U.S. Eastern time   Mexico auto production stalls in December while annual output hits record Mexico's auto production was little changed in December as exports fell 9.7 percent on fewer shipments to other Latin American countries and the United States, an industry trade group said. Mexico's annual production climbed 13 percent to a record 2.88 million vehicles in 2012. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 1:19 pm U.S. Eastern time   Korea's Halla to buy Visteon's auto climate businesses in China, India South Korea's Halla Climate Control has decided to buy Visteon's automotive climate units, almost four months after the American auto-parts supplier announced the plan for combining the businesses to make them more competitive. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 11:48 am U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW App provides updates from the show floor Spectators with smartphones will be able to download the Detroit auto show's first official mobile app this year. iPhone and Android users will have access to breaking news, photos and live-stream video coverage of more than 50 vehicle unveilings at the North American International Auto Show next week. ... >> story  Published: Jan 10 3:46 pm U.S. Eastern time   REMEMBERING JACK TEAHEN How Jack steered us away from stupidity I don't think I realized how much I enjoyed having Jack Teahen around. I guess I'll realize that more now that he won't be stopping in for his periodic newsroom visits. ... >> story  Published: Jan 9 9:34 pm U.S. Eastern time   The curmudgeon and the copy editor When I got to Automotive News about 15 years ago, Jack Teahen and I hit it off right away. We had some things in common: Irish backgrounds; experience at the Detroit Free Press; a fondness for grammar, punctuation and syntax; and the reputation of being just a bit curmudgeonly. Who, me? ... >> story  Published: Jan 9 9:51 pm U.S. Eastern time

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