DAILY: U.S. automakers urge Obama to punish Japan for weak yen | Malibu refresh will address rear seating, report says | GM's Reuss says electric vehicles' day will come

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DAILY NEWSLETTER January 17, 2013 Follow Us:

U.S. automakers urge Obama to punish Japan for weak yen President Barack Obama should tell Japan's new government that the United States will retaliate for policies aimed at weakening the yen, a group representing Ford, GM and Chrysler said today. ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 11:09 am U.S. Eastern time Malibu refresh will address rear seating, report says General Motors, seeking to revive sales of its new Chevrolet Malibu, is working on speedy design changes to the sedan -- including the rear seating -- to make it more competitive with other midsize models, two people familiar with the effort said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 10:29 am U.S. Eastern time 2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS GM's Reuss: Electric vehicles' day will come GM's top U.S. executive delivered a staunch defense of electric vehicles and the Chevrolet Volt, noting that the plug-in hybrid's sales tripled in 2012. Mark Reuss, head of GM North America, acknowledged the hurdles to broader adoption of EVs and plug-ins, including high prices. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 8:20 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/16/13 10:09 p.m. ET -- adds more detail 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Carmakers get creative with crossovers as SUV alternative The 2013 Detroit auto show demonstrates an increasing diversity in crossovers, or car-based vehicles that provide the space, styling and functionality of a truck-based sport-utility vehicle without the penalty at the gas pump. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 6:46 pm U.S. Eastern time 2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS Mercedes-Benz addresses its culture in bid to improve buyers' experience Thank or blame the digital world and social media, but there's no hiding a bad dealership experience today. Marketers used to believe people shared good experiences with three others and bad ones with 10 other people, Steve Cannon, 51, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told the Automotive News World Congress. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 6:02 pm U.S. Eastern time   Automotive News Blogs Mike Colias covers General Motors for Automotive News. Why Caddy has 2 ways to play the ELR pricing game The most common question on the lips of onlookers who saw Cadillac unveil its flashy and fuel-sipping ELR plug-in hybrid at the auto show was: "How much?" It's too early for General Motors execs to discuss price. The coupe won't hit showrooms for about a year. But the guessing has begun. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 17 2:47 pm U.S. Eastern time   JAMES B. TREECE Monsters (ELR) vs. dogs (Corvette) in car design  Read the blog      » 1/17 - Mobile Savvy Car Buyers by MAX Systems » 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 January 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. Honda's Mendel chides automakers for inaccurate fuel-economy claims 2. Ford Atlas concept signals next F series, fuel-economy advances 3. A Detroit legend roils Russian vehicle making 4. Ford says U.S. may change hybrid fuel-economy test procedures 5. Chrysler's Bigland: Dealers' 'methodical' response to online leads is boosting sales     2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS Wilbur Ross cautions against automakers' expanding their lineups Automakers' attempts to boost sales and profits by broadening their U.S.product lineups could backfire, billionaire private-equity investor Wilbur Ross said Wednesday. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 9:44 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/17/13 12:37 p.m. ET   2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS Panel: Industry can meet 54.5 mpg, but at what price? It's not yet clear how automakers will achieve the federally mandated 54.5 mpg fuel-economy standard in 2025, but the industry and consumers are likely -- though not guaranteed -- to adjust to the requirement. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 7:47 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/16/13 8:10 a.m. ET   2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS Panel: Online experience new battleground for buyers With brand competition so close these days on vehicle quality, cost and styling, the customer shopping experience online and in the store has become a key battleground for automakers, panelists from Google, Hyundai and TrueCar said at the Automotive News World Congress. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 6:50 pm U.S. Eastern time   Ford says 2013 Fusion Energi gets range of 620 miles New plug-in hybrid said to achieve 108 mpg-e city rating The hybrid wars continue after the Detroit auto show, and Ford has thrown it latest punch: the 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 12:22 pm U.S. Eastern time   Marchionne predicts fast rise for Jeep production in China Fiat and Chrysler expect to make at least 100,000 Jeeps in China soon after production starts in 2014 as they seek to catch up with rivals in the world's biggest car market. Output could quickly double, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 8:46 am U.S. Eastern time   Kia picks new agency to improve digital presence Kia Motors America said today it has picked a new digital ad agency to revamp its online presence while the brand boosts spending on Internet and mobile marketing. Kia tapped Publicis Groupe-owned Denuo as its digital agency of record after bidding that took six months ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 1:52 pm U.S. Eastern time   2013 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS WORLD CONGRESS Amid home-market turmoil, Europeans top shareholder value Two German automakers and two European suppliers have delivered the best shareholder return in the industry this year, despite troubling economic conditions in Europe. For the past 12 months, Volkswagen AG provided the best shareholder value of any automaker, returning 64. ... >> story  Published: Jan 16 8:38 pm U.S. Eastern time   Aston Martin seeks development partner to build high-end engines Aston Martin, the British maker of sports cars featured in James Bond movies, is in talks with potential partners to jointly develop high-end engines and electronic parts to strengthen its sports-car lineup. ... >> story  Published: Jan 17 3:50 pm U.S. Eastern time

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