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North American Microelectric Vehicle Market’s Launch of 34 New Base Models to Boost Sales by 85 Percent by 2013, Finds Frost & Sullivan

PR Newswire — May 24, 2012

- A-segment vehicles and medium-speed vehicles forecast to become biggest revenue generators by 2017

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Greener agendas, emission-based taxation, parking charge exemptions, and mass-produced electric vehicles are all working together to increase the sales of microelectric vehicles to a phenomenal 118,000 units by 2017 within the North American market.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.automotive.frost.com [http://www.automotive.frost.com/]), Strategic Overview of the North American Microelectric Vehicles Market, forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.30 percent between 2010 and 2017.

If you are interested in more information on this research, please send an email to Jeannette Garcia, Corporate Communications, at jeannette.garcia@frost.com [mailto:jeannette.garcia@frost.com], with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company email address, company website, city, state and country.

By 2013, the total count of microelectric vehicles in North America is likely to increase to 150 types, with the introduction of 34 new base models. The microelectric vehicles market has gained momentum with five out of ten global vehicle manufacturers expected to enter the market as major stakeholders.

Medium-speed vehicles (MSVs) and city electric vehicles (CEVs) are expected to experience tremendous advancement, boosted by infrastructure development, primarily through sales to private consumers.

Consumer preference for features, such as eco-friendliness and reduced vehicle ownership costs, has driven the demand for small urban vehicles powered by alternate fuels. Changing mobility trends dictated by consumers, who are battling increasing fuel prices, are encouraging vehicle manufacturers to launch larger numbers of microelectric vehicles in the North American market. At the same time, their efforts are boosted by many government subsidies and exemptions, which is expected to increase revenue.

Tighter emission controls, heavy investment costs, range anxiety, rising vehicle costs from the addition of new components as per legislative norms, and the limited speed of vehicles in the low-speed vehicle (LSV) and MSV segments restrict the capacity of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Safety is another primary concern; however it can be addressed through the application of stricter levels of vehicle crash-worthiness. Strict federal laws impact the long-term sale and production of MSVs, an increasingly popular category.

“The rising popularity of MSVs is affected by strict federal laws, which hinder the long-term sale and production of these vehicles,” said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Vishwas Shankar. “Currently, low-speed vehicles (LSVs), MSVs and A-segment vehicles are tackling this challenge by incorporating conventional engine variants with carbon dioxide emissions, thereby qualifying them for regional grants and benefits, including access to high occupancy vehicle lanes and parking charge exemptions.”

This development has enabled the entire automotive industry to evolve into an era of microelectric vehicles, which also address parking space availability issues in crowded city centers. New age business models targeted at fleets could also help overcome challenges faced by the increasing sales of microelectric vehicles. Tax breaks will drive consumer sales, as tax credits will reduce vehicle prices by half, on certain low-priced models.

In North America, the focus on alternate fuel driven vehicles, the increasing cost of vehicle ownership and the presence of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) is expected to propel microelectric vehicle sales several fold. Although MSVs are expected to outshine LSVs, the A-segment vehicles are expected to grow faster than LSVs or MSVs, due to their speed and power.

MSVs and A-segment vehicles have clear growth strategies to commercialize electric vehicles and thereby reduce their carbon footprint. The CEV is forecast to be the most popular class, as it meets the needs of a larger consumer group and features lower upfront costs and comparable operating costs.

Strategic Overview of the North American Microelectric Vehicles Market is part of the Automotive & Transportation Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: Strategic Analysis of the European Microcars Market, Sustainable and Innovative Personal Transport Solutions – Strategic Analysis of Carsharing Market in Europe, Strategic Analysis of Passenger Vehicle Market in Malaysia, Russian and CEE Automotive Industry Outlook, Strategic Analysis of Passenger Vehicle Market in Thailand, Strategic Analysis of Passenger Vehicle Market in Indonesia, and Strategic Analysis of Passenger Vehicles Market in Vietnam. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants.

Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

Lotus Engineering and just-auto Continue to be ‘proActive’

PR Newswire — May 24, 2012

BROMSGROVE, England, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

Issue 44 of Lotus Engineering’s quarterly automotive industry e-magazine, proActive, is now available online.

The e-magazine, produced by Lotus Engineering in partnership with leading automotive industry news and research website just-auto.com [http://bit.ly/Lskf27 ], contains exclusive interviews with leading industry figures, updates on new technologies and a digest of selected industry news.

It is free to access and subscribe to.

In the latest issue just-auto editor Dave Leggett interviews Lotus F1 Team Technical Director James Allison and Lord Drayson of Drayson Racing Technologies.

Also, Richard Pearson, Jamie Turner and Peter Edwards of Lotus Engineering discuss the transition towards sustainable energy supply for all sectors. And Jason Buckley takes a look at what is standing in the way of true global vehicle production and whether modern manufacturers will ever achieve the same commonality as was seen in Ford’s famous Model T.

“For this issue, the interviews yielded particularly interesting insights into motorsport from two key figures in the sector,” said just-auto editor Dave Leggett. “Lord Drayson is right at the heart of a new FIA electric car racing series (‘Formula E’), while James Allison was able to give us a real flavour of how things work on the technical side in a leading F1 Team.”

Lotus Engineering has been working with just-auto on the proActive e-magazine since 2004. “It continues to be a great partnership,” said Gary Haddon, Lotus Engineering’s Head of Marketing. “The two teams have worked together very successfully to produce an e-magazine which has grown in stature with a blend of inputs from just-auto’s highly respected editorial team and our own hugely knowledgeable engineers. proActive serves as an ideal platform for keeping the whole industry informed about fast-moving technological change in the automotive business and the Lotus perspective. It’s also a good read.”

To subscribe to the magazine click here, [http://bit.ly/LskESd ] or visit the website [http://bit.ly/LskWbL ] to read Issue 44 and previous issues.

Aboutjust-auto.com

Established in 1999, just-auto is a leading online resource for the global automotive industry, publishing around 50 news articles, analysis features and insights every working day. Under the direction of Managing Editor David Leggett, its experienced team of journalists, consultants and analysts provide a unique blend of automotive news, interviews and research [http://bit.ly/LslbDG ] that is delivered to over 90,000 business executives per month.

Via its website, webinars and QUBE, CONSULT and PLDB research platforms, just-auto offers insight into OEM and supplier corporate strategies, manufacturing developments, in-depth management briefings, supplier technologies and innovations, component market trends and forecasts and current/future car model programmes.

About Lotus Engineering and proActive Magazine

Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy. Global facilities include those in the US, Malaysia, China and offices in Germany and Japan. Lotus is a global high-tech company, committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels. proActive magazine has been running since 2004, providing latest news from within Lotus Engineering and the automotive industry, along with articles written by Lotus Engineers and just-auto.

To subscribe to the magazine click here, [http://bit.ly/LskESd ] , or visit the website [http://bit.ly/LskWbL ] for previous issues.

For details of how just-auto is “helping decision makers make decisions” visit http://www.just-auto.com.

For further information and images please contact Kate Varvedo, Marketing communication manager at Aroq Limited on +44(0)1527-573-616, alternatively email kate.varvedo@aroq.com

Subject Codes: PC/t.120524064250003, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/United_States_of_America, RE/Europe, IN/AUT, IN/MAG, IN/PUB, IN/TRT, SU/PDT

Road rage

All the news about the e-tolling saga…

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If the next-generation Alfa Spider looks like this recent concept, nobody will care that it is made in Hiroshima.

The current tough conditions in the international motor trade have produced some unexpected bedfellows, although this one must rank as one of the more bizarre.

Yet, when you look a little closer, it all makes sense.

Mazda and Fiat have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development and manufacturing of a new roadster for both the Mazda and Alfa Romeo badges, based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel drive platform.

And there’s the light-bulb moment.

Fiat is more aware than most carmakers that, in the eyes of the enthusiasts at which such cars are aimed, real sports cars are rear-wheel drive.

Witness the Mazda MX-5, according to the Guinness Book of World Records the most successful open two-seater in automotive history, and Alfa Romeo’s iconic Spider, which was a cult car among the tifosi even before Dustin Hoffman drove one in The Graduate and propelled it to international stardom.

With the most successful example in the world to its credit, it can be assumed Mazda knows a thing or two about roadsters.

The Spider was introduced in 1966, and stayed in production for almost three decades, becoming one of Alfa Romeo’s longest-running models, and arguably its most recognisable. When it was discontinued in April 1993, it was the last rear-wheel drive Alfa – until the advent of the hand-built 8C Competizione more than a decade later – and Alfa Romeo still does not have a compact rear-wheel drive platform.

Hence the tie-up with Toyo Kogyo, which does.

For Alfa Romeo to develop a new platform for one relatively low-volume model would make it prohibitively expensive, but the company bean-counters are well aware that a front-wheel drive roadster based on the Mito/Giulietta platform won’t cut it.

The memorandum calls for Fiat and Mazda to develop two distinctly differently styled lightweight rear-wheel drive roadsters on the fifth-generation MX-5 chassis, each with a specific own-brand engine.

The memorandum doesn’t say what engines are envisaged, but we would expect to see a tweaked version of the 1.4-litre Fiat MultiAir in the new Spider, and a similarly-sized Mazda SkyActiv engine in the MX-5.

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Prospect of Economies of Cost and Reduced Emissions to Drive Alternate Fuel Vehicles, Says Frost & Sullivan

PR Newswire — May 24, 2012

- Alternate Fuel Vehicles Offer Effective Way to Meet ACEA and EPA Regulations for 2020 and beyond

LONDON, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The low cost of conversion and prospect of significant emission reduction will increase the penetration of alternate fuels in Europe and North America. However, the key to sustained growth in the alternate fuel vehicle market will be legislation and the development of enhanced refuelling infrastructure.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.automotive.frost.com [http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/svcg.pag/AT00]), Executive Analysis of the European and North American LPG and CNG Original Equipment Market, finds that the alternate fuel vehicle market is set for close to 900,000 in unit sales in the European market and nearly 250,000 in unit sales in the North American market by 2018.

“The demand for low-cost emission reduction technologies has given a significant boost to the alternate fuel market,” notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Priyank Aggarwal. “A noticeable trend among upcoming OEMs models is that of chassis architectures and engines being designed to ensure alternate fuel compatibility. This will support easy transition, even as alternate fuel infrastructure improves across Europe and North America.”

In North America, initially at least, conversion will suit fleet owners since running costs are a major factor and fleet owners stand to benefit from up to 50 per cent in savings, along with an improvement of over 25 per cent in terms of emission. However, legislative supports remains to be extended, even as related infrastructure lags behind.

The European market has already witnessed a boom in the alternate fuel vehicle industry with Italy and France trading over 300,000 vehicles, annually. Alternate fuels also offer an opportunity for OEMs struggling to meet ACEA targets. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is still expected to lead for the next four to five years, while the compressed natural gas (CNG) network straggles behind in Europe and North America.

The overall market will be driven by OEMs seeking to reduce their fleet emissions and running costs, which are close to half of gasoline prices. However, engine development and the increased cost of conversion will have a direct impact on OEM and customer preference.

“Insufficient infrastructure, high cost of development and ease of adoption of alternate fuel vehicles represent the main obstacles to market development,” explains Aggarwal. “Competitive pressure from other alternate powertrain technologies also poses a major threat to the alternate fuel industry.”

Promoted as a medium to save costs and reduce emissions, CNG and LPG are linked with certain safety issues in the minds of potential users, making it imperative to increase consumer awareness about safety-related issues. Convincing governments to offer a standardised incentive scheme to ease competitive pressure on alternate fuels, irrespective of the technology, for at least five to ten years, will also support market advancement.

In North America, the alternate fuel market is at a nascent stage. For alternate fuel technology to become popular, OEM interest and product lines will have to increase. The government has to realise the demand for emission reduction and offer long-term incentives. At present, only one product is available in the passenger vehicle segment; once other OEMs decide to introduce their products in this field, consumers may have a wider perspective of the technology.

If you are interested in more information on Frost & Sullivan’s study Executive Analysis of the European and North American LPG and CNG Original Equipment Market, please send an e-mail with your contact details to Katja Feick, Corporate Communications, at katja.feick@frost.com [mailto:katja.feick@frost.com].

Executive Analysis of the European and North American LPG and CNG Original Equipment Market is part of the Automotive & Transportation Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: 2010 Europe Consumer Attitudes and Perceptions toward Sustainability, Environment, and Alternative Powertrains – Key Findings on Transmission Technologies, Analysis of European OEMs Powertrain Strategies for Euro 6 Compliance and 2011 Original Equipment Manufacturers Strategies for Passenger Vehicle Engine Downsizing in Western Europe. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants.

Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

Japan’s Toyota Motor regained its position as the world’s number one automaker in the first quarter of 2012, stealing back the lead from US giant General Motors, according to manufacturers’ figures.

The Japanese firm, which includes the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino, sold 2.49 million vehicles in the three months to 31 March, ahead of General Motors with 2.28 million and Germany’s Volkswagen with 2.16 million.

Toyota spokesperson Dion Corbert said the carmaker had faced major hurdles in recent years, which resulted in it giving up its lead to GM in 2010.

“We had the financial crisis, some quality issues, the (11 March) earthquake and Thai floods in 2011, during which we were not able to produce as many cars as we wanted to,” she told AFP on Tuesday.

Toyota had been the world’s biggest automaker from 2008 and sold 8.42 million vehicles in 2010.

But it was overtaken after slipping to 7.35 million vehicles in the year to March, behind both General Motors, with about 9.0 million unit sales and Volkswagen with more than 8.0 million vehicles sold.

Toyota has been forced into damage control in recent years after recalling millions of vehicles since 2009 over safety defects.

Since then it has been hit hard by a strong yen, the 11 March quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan and flooding in Thailand that affected factories there and caused huge production problems.

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PARIS (REUTERS) – General Motors’ (GM) decision to stop making its second-bestselling European car in Germany may complicate further restructuring and joint production plans with PSA Peugeot Citroen, unions and analysts say.

GM will concentrate assembly of its Opel Astra compact in Britain and Poland from 2015, the company said last Thursday.

Production will halt at the brand’s home plant in Ruesselsheim and increase in Ellesmere Port, England – at a time when the United States (US) automaker is seeking to cut European capacity overall.

The plant choice, while seen as economically rational, raises the remaining hurdles for GM and alliance partner Peugeot by leaving more capacity to be filled – or closed – in Germany and France.

‘It highlights their willingness to make tough decisions, even at the risk of more confrontation in their home markets,’ Barclays Capital analyst Michael Tyndall said.

GM and Peugeot are braced for industrial unrest over planned factory cuts, declining to give assurances beyond 2014 for GM’s Bochum plant in north-west Germany and Peugeot’s Aulnay factory near Paris – earmarked for closure in a company document leaked last year.

The Astra decision fires the starting gun on an expected bout of politically fraught capacity juggling with Peugeot – on which the success of their new alliance partly depends.

Although both companies say their restructuring needs are separate from the alliance plan, the decisions are inevitably intertwined, sources close to the discussions have said.

Peugeot had no comment to make on capacity decisions or the GM alliance plan, a spokesman said. GM also declined to comment.

The French and German governments are watching developments closely.

Peugeot executives are scheduled to hold talks with union officials next week while GM bosses will meet workers’ representatives at a June 28 board meeting.

Under their partnership, which saw GM acquire a 7 per cent Peugeot stake, the automakers have pledged to share future midsize cars built at GM plants and smaller cars based on Peugeot models.

Peugeot aims to halt production of its midsize Citroen C5 in Rennes, western France, factory chief Jean-Luc Perrard told regional newspaper Ouest France earlier this month.

‘The current plan is to build the next C5 in a General Motors plant,’ Mr Perrard was quoted as saying.

In return, Peugeot managers have told workers that Rennes may build another Astra-sized GM model such

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Holyoke, MA, May 23, 2012 –(PR.com)– It’s not easy to find the next television star of Massachusetts, but Gary Rome Auto Group was determined to do so. Contestants from all over the area sent in videos of their children and pets watching Gary Rome Auto Group commercials, hoping for the chance to be the star of the next one. After viewing so many terrific submissions and after much deliberation, Gary Rome Auto Group finally chose their new star: Steve Ferraro’s enthusiastic dog, Tyson, who seems to really love watching Jack Rome on TV.

Tyson is not only getting the opportunity to co-star in the next Gary Rome Auto Group commercial, but Ferraro also won the choice between a $250 American Express gift card or a $250 Dave’s Soda Pet City gift card. Every valid entrant received a stuffed Jack doll for their efforts.

“We’re proud and honored to have so many wonderful fans,” commented Gary Rome, owner and CEO. “Jack is excited to meet Tyson and can’t wait to have another co-star.”

Gary Rome Auto Group would like to thank all of the people who sent in videos of their children and pets enjoying the commercials. Check out http://gotogary.com/video/ to see all of the terrific video submissions.

For more information about Gary Rome Auto Group, visit http://garyromeautogroup.com/.

This press release has been distributed by SalemGlobal Internet Interactive Public Relations. Based in New York City, SalemGlobal optimizes websites to increase traffic from search engines, provides lead generation, and improves conversion of site visitors to buyers. Other services include general website marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), ecommerce solutions, content management systems, website hosting, web design and maintenance. For more information, please contact CEO Raphi Salem at 888-578-6732.

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Kansas City, KS, May 23, 2012 –(PR.com)– Supporting Ford’s ongoing efforts to recognize the service of our military, Matt Ford sales will offer special appreciation incentives around Memorial Day.

Including up to $1000 toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle, these special offers will be available from May 18 through May 29 for active duty or reservist servicemen and women, or those who have been separated from service less than 180 days.

In addition to saving on the cost of a new vehicle, Ford seeks to help buyers save money by investing billions of their own dollars in researching and developing fuel-efficient technologies. Currently, Ford offers four models with fuel economy of at least 40 mpg and 14 vehicle combinations rated 30 mpg or above.

Ford has a long tradition of supporting military service and veterans, dating back to 1922. These include $6 million in monetary donations to veterans’ organizations and $4 million in vehicle donations to the Disabled American Veterans. Ford also provides transportation of veterans to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, and sponsors many volunteer and awareness groups in support of veterans.

This special military offer is only available for a limited time, so visit or contact Matt Ford Sales today for information or a test drive of your new Ford vehicle.

About Matt Ford Sales:
Matt Ford Sales is proud to serve the Kansas City, MO area. Carrying a full line of new and used Ford cars, Matt Ford Sales offers the best selection when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. The knowledgeable, Blue Oval Certified service department at Matt Ford Sales is prepared to assist with repairs and routine maintenance and the Parts Department offers one-stop shopping on a full selection of Ford parts and accessories. Matt Ford strives for 100 percent customer satisfaction for every visit.

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