DAILY: Toyota near final deal to license fuel-cell technology to BMW | GM steps up cost-cutting pressure at Opel | Social media emerge as tool to find vehicle defects, complaints

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DAILY NEWSLETTER January 22, 2013 Follow Us:

Toyota near final deal to license fuel-cell technology to BMW, report says Toyota is nearing a final agreement to license its fuel-cell vehicle technology to BMW, the Nikkei reported today. Under the agreement, to be made official as early as Thursday, Toyota will provide the world's largest premium carmaker with drivetrain and hydrogen storage technology, the business daily said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 1:31 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/22/13 4:26 pm ET - adds detail, links GM steps up cost-cutting pressure at Opel Girsky says Bochum plant may close two years earlier than planned General Motors is increasing cost-cutting pressure at its money-losing Opel/Vauxhall unit, threatening to close a German factory two years earlier than planned, reports said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 6:38 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/22/13 3:05 pm ET - adds details, union reaction Advertisement Naked Lime is a complete, full-service agency offering data-driven digital and traditional marketing, advertising, and web services for automotive dealers. Attending NADA? Stop by our booth, #1074, to learn how we give your dealership the one-of-a-kind personal touch and expertise to inspire consumer action and customer loyalty. Click Here Social media emerge as tool to find vehicle defects, complaints Using the auto industry's newest tool to detect vehicle defects is as simple as logging on to Twitter, Facebook or other social media Web sites. And federal regulators already are doing it, too. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 10:15 am U.S. Eastern time Vehicle navigation systems frustrate more car owners, study says Smart phone apps grow in popularity Owners' satisfaction with their new vehicles' navigation systems declined in 2012 as complex menu systems, voice-control commands and entering destinations frustrated users, according to J.D. Power and Associates. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 10:54 am U.S. Eastern time   Automotive News Blogs Why TrueCar's Painter can chill out at Davos this week DAVID BARKHOLZ: TrueCar CEO Scott Painter is scheduled to present Thursday at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, without the dark cloud that accompanied his visit last year. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 22 3:41 pm U.S. Eastern time     » 1/22 - Operations Case Study by Microsoft » 1/24 - Online Reputation by Auto News

Is your dealership 5-star rated? 70% of car buyers say online dealership reviews influence where they shop. Many are willing to drive extra miles to connect with dealers with positive reviews. Attend this Webinar on Thursday, Jan. 24, with social media expert Alexi Venneri to learn how to maximize your business pages on Google+, Yelp and other high-traffic review sites. Click here to get started enhancing your dealership's reputation.

» 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. $30,000 is the new luxury-car hot spot 2. Prime time for big pickups 3. Seattle startup tied to Wagoner delivers cars for test drives 4. Sizing up Detroit 5. Nissan Leaf price cut puts heat on rivals     GM looks to Encore small crossover to expand Buick's reach GM is counting on the new Encore small crossover vehicle to bring more new customers to its premium Buick brand. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 1:10 pm U.S. Eastern time   INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Enough mandates, already! IT micromanaging is unnecessary, costly, Texas GM dealer says Texas Chevrolet dealer Greg May says he could do without the latest mandate from General Motors to hire a firm to handle his online reputation management. May said GM's intentions are good but the execution is ham-handed. ... >> story  Published: Jan 21 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Renault denies it may close two French plants Renault denied a union claim that it plans to shutter two of its French factories unless it reaches an agreement on increasing productivity, holding back pay and cutting the workforce. ... >> story  Published: Jan 22 12:34 pm U.S. Eastern time

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