DAILY: Japan's Diamond Electric to pay $19 million U.S. fine in parts price-fixing probe | Tesla shares plunge 14% after Goldman sets new price target | Ram tops Consumer Reports' pickup ratings for first time

Click here to open this newsletter in a Web browser       DAILY NEWSLETTER July 16, 2013 Follow Us:          Japan's Diamond Electric to pay $19 million U.S. fine in parts price-fixing probe Justice Department: Supplier rigged prices of ignition coils sold to Ford, Toyota, Subaru A Japanese manufacturer of ignition coils that were sold to Ford Motor, Toyota Motor and Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $19 million fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices of automotive components, the U.S. Department of Justice said. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 11:42 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 3:09 pm ET - adds Diamond statement Tesla shares plunge 14% after Goldman sets new price target The shares of electric carmaker Tesla Motors fell 14 percent today after Goldman Sachs Group set a new price target far below the current trading price. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 2:08 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 4:22 pm ET - adds closing price Advertisement (866) MKT-SCAN (866.658.7226) Revolutionize Your Sales Process Market Scan introduces mQuote, the industry?s only fully digital and interactive multiple-pencil presentation and negotiation tool. mQuote harnesses the power of the iPad and links with mDesking, the most powerful sales management and desking system ever created. Revolutionize your showroom sales process and never leave your customer unattended! Click Here Ram tops Consumer Reports' pickup ratings for first time Ram beats Tundra, F-150; Silverado tests underway The re-engineered 2013 Ram 1500 has topped Consumer Reports' ranking of full-sized pickups, the first time that a Chrysler-made pickup has done so. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 6:00 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 11:16 am ET GM's first-half global sales rise 4% on U.S., China demand General Motors global sales rose almost 4 percent in the first six months of the year as strong demand in the United States and China outweighed sliding sales in Europe, the company said today. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 9:12 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 4:03 pm ET - adds brand results   Automotive News Blogs Mark Rechtin is West Coast editor of Automotive News. L.A. makeover: A plan to restore auto show's world-class star power A series of missed opportunities, frayed automaker relationships and inopportune scheduling have combined to put the reputation of the Los Angeles auto show near that of the typical regional dealer show, but Terri Toennies is out to change that. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jul 15 9:43 pm U.S. Eastern time     » 7/16 - Increase Your Pre-owned Sales by FirstLook » 8/6 - Dealership Market Forecast by Automotive News » 8/8 - Volvo Case Study by IBM » 8/14 - Secrets of Wholesale Acquisition by Manheim     VIRAL VIDEO Viral video rakings for week of 7/16/13 Mitsubishi embraces the All-American road trip Mitsubishi's new "Road Trip" campaign delivers just what the title promises: A series of exotic landscapes featuring the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander.  videos  Published: Jul 16 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time     2013 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW Lexus RC 350 to debut at Tokyo show, arrive in U.S. late next year Lexus will add another coupe to its stable, supplementing its IS C retractable hardtop with a pure coupe, called the RC 350, that will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in November. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 6:37 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 1:34 pm ET - adds details   Lexus shuns lithium batteries, will wait for next-generation Lexus aims to make hybrid technology a hallmark of the brand, but it won't rush to adopt lithium ion power packs. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Renault-Nissan will launch low-cost platform in 2015 Renault-Nissan plan to launch low-cost cars on a jointly developed platform in 2015 aimed at emerging markets such as India. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 8:19 am U.S. Eastern time   IHS closes deal to acquire R.L. Polk The IHS acquisition of global automotive information provider RL Polk closed Monday, a little more than a month after the deal was announced, IHS said in a statement today. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 10:11 am U.S. Eastern time   VW names new global marketing boss Former Nissan executive takes key post as automaker aims for No. 1 spot Volkswagen named its U.K. chief, Simon Thomas, head of global marketing for group and core VW brand. Thomas is a former head of sales and marketing at Nissan Europe. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/16/13 12:34 pm ET - adds details   Suppliers shed units, focus on core products Many are getting out of electronics business Major global suppliers are starting to spin off or sell business units that lack economies of scale. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Chrysler supplier: Diesel future promising Light-duty diesel could spread to other Chrysler Group nameplates if the automaker wants. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   Redesigned Chrysler 200 sedan to begin production in early 2014 Chrysler Group LLC's redesigned 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan will begin production in early 2014 at the automaker's Sterling Heights plant here, Chrysler said today. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 4:05 pm U.S. Eastern time   Avis Budget acquires Payless Car Rental for $50 million Avis Budget Group acquired Payless Car Rental for about $50 million in cash, adding a company that focuses on value customers. Payless has about 120 locations in North America, Europe and South America and generates $80 million in annual revenue, according to a statement on Monday. ... >> story  Published: Jul 16 11:04 am U.S. Eastern time   Geoff Day to leave Mercedes-Benz USA communications post Geoff Day, director of communications for Mercedes-Benz USA for nearly a decade, is leaving the company on Aug. 1. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 4:54 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 7/15/13 5:20 pm ET   Ditch the pitch to make a social media plan click Experts: Dealerships should build customer ties Auto retailers who bombard social media audiences with inventory photos and sales pitches are missing the chance to engage customers and build loyalty. ... >> story  Published: Jul 15 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time   » Sept. 18 - NY Marketing Seminar » -     Automotive News' top 5 news stories of the week 1. Ford's Tony Brown to retire in purchasing shuffle 2. Nissan's new problem: Not enough Leafs 3. Nissan revives Datsun brand with Go hatchback 4. M-B mulls Mexico for CLA 5. NHTSA vows aggressive stance on recalls   To view other breaking news stories throughout the day, visit autonews.com If you wish to cancel your subscription to this newsletter click here Automotive News is located at 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Michigan, 48207