Car Chute

Hertz Adds Award-Winning Electric Vauxhall Ampere to its Car Share Club in London

PR Newswire — May 16, 2012

LONDON, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

Hertz and longstanding partner Vauxhall Motors add the 2012 European Car of the Year to Hertz on Demand car sharing fleet in London

The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world’s largest general use car rental brand, has announced that through its partnership with Vauxhall Motors, customers will be able to rent the stylish, electric Ampera from the Hertz on Demand EV car sharing fleet in London. The revolutionary vehicle has a sophisticated propulsion system, including an extended range of up to 360 miles. The Ampera will be available to rent from next month at http://www.hertzondemand.co.uk.

Michel Taride, President, Hertz International and Executive Vice President, Hertz Corporation, said: “We are delighted to be introducing the Ampera to our growing fleet of electric vehicles. At Hertz, we are excited about new technology and innovations in smart, eco-friendly travel. This sleek car is perfect for our customers; not only is it fun to drive but also its range extender allows for longer trips.”

Voted the Car of the Year 2012, Vauxhall Ampera delivers between 25-50 miles of battery-powered electric drive with zero tailpipe emissions while driving. Customers wanting to use the electric vehicle on longer trips can do so with the Ampera’s on-board range-extending engine which helps to sustain the battery life, allowing the car to be used on distances of up to 360 miles in a single journey. A small 1.4-litre petrol-fuelled engine/generator runs at optimum efficiency, generating enough electricity to power the electric motor (but not the wheels) and operates seamlessly as part of the Ampera’s powertrain. The car seats four adults in comfort and its hatchback design offers excellent practicality.

The Ampera will incorporate Hertz On Demand’s leading, proprietary in-car technology which provides members a safe and superior car sharing experience. In the car, a hands-free audio kit connects members to an in-house Member Care Center representative – available 24/7, 365 days a year – should they have questions, need assistance or need to extend their use of the car. Hertz On Demand is able to “communicate” with the vehicle, enabling representatives to unlock, engage and locate vehicles and cars are equipped with iPod connectivity, along with Bluetooth capabilities for hands free driving.

James Taylor, Vauxhall’s Fleet Sales Director said: “At Vauxhall we are passionate about investing in state-of-the-art efficient technology so that customers have access to fun, stylish and more environmentally friendly mobility. The partnership with Hertz means that even more people can experience first-hand the latest in electric technology by renting the Ampera.”

Hertz on Demand launched the first international car sharing club in December 2008 and has grown to more than 800 vehicles, 70,000 members and more than 300 locations worldwide, including corporate offices and universities. Corporate customers include Marriott International, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and London Heathrow Airport. The Hertz on Demand fleet features electric vehicles and plug-n hybrids. As well as the Vauxhall Ampera, its EVs include the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs in London and Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, and smart fortwo electric drive in the US.

About Hertz

Hertz is the world’s largest general use car rental company, operating from over 8,500 corporate locations in 150 countries worldwide. Hertz is in its 93rd year of delivering quality car rental solutions to leisure and corporate customers. Product and service innovations such as Hertz #1 Club Gold, Worldwide Online Check-in, specially designed NeverLost(R) satellite navigation systems, and unique cars offered through the company’s Prestige, Family, Fun/Adrenaline and Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition. For more information please go to http://www.hertz.com.

About Hertz On Demand

Hertz On Demand has more than 800 vehicles available to drive from more than 250 locations worldwide, including corporate offices and universities. Hertz On Demand offers vehicles equipped with keyless entry, and benefits covered by the competitive hourly rate including fuel, insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and 24-hour in car Member Care Center communication. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.hertzondemand.com or http://www.hertzondemand.co.uk, or call Member Care Services at 877-654-4400 in the US or 08708-45-45-45 in the UK.

About Vauxhall Motors

Vauxhall Motors has been manufacturing motor vehicles in the UK continuously since 1903. Vauxhall’s range spans all mainstream sectors of the vehicle market with best-selling model names such as Corsa, Astra, Meriva, Zafira and Insignia regularly topping the sales charts. Vauxhall is also the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the UK and its parent company General Motors’ 4th largest global market. The company employs around 5000 people in the UK and exports three quarters of its production. It is headquartered in Luton, Bedfordshire where it also manufactures the Vivaro light commercial vehicle. A second plant at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire produces the Astra.

Hertz Press Contacts Caroline Trotman Dickenson Ketchum Pleon T: +44(0)20-7611-3686 E:caroline.trotman-dickenson@ketchumpleon.com

Luke Campbell Ketchum Pleon T: +44(0)207-611-3835 E: luke.campbell @ketchumpleon.com [jana.kapeller@ketchumpleon.com ]

Subject Codes: PC/t.120516060216020, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, PC/ticker, PC/ticker.bloomberg, PC/ticker.rics, RE/United_States_of_America, RE/United_Kingdom, IN/AUT, IN/TRN, IN/TRA, IN/TRT, SU/PDT

Company Codes: NYSE:HTZ, Bloomberg:HTZ@US, RICS:HTZ.N

Hertz to Promote Source London’s Electric Vehicle Charging Network

PR Newswire — May 16, 2012

LONDON, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world’s largest general use car rental brand, has announced that it will help promote Source London’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network to Hertz customers in support of London’s vision of becoming an electric capital of Europe. As well as continuing to provide free access to Source London’s network to Hertz customers when they rent Hertz On Demand car share EVs, Hertz will also promote Source London at its London EV rental locations and on http://www.hertz.co.uk.

Michel Taride, President, Hertz International and Executive Vice President, Hertz Corporation, said: “We’re excited to support Source London in its efforts to build an electric vehicle charging network across Greater London. At Hertz we’ve committed to pioneering smart mobility, including rentals of electric vehicles, which can benefit from Source London’s extensive network.”

The move comes as part of Hertz’s on-going commitment to sustainable motoring. The first global rental car company to provide Electric Vehicles across three continents and offering the most diverse range of EV’s on the market, Hertz launched ‘Living Journey’, the global sustainability strategy underpinning all areas of its business, in 2011. More recently it has announced a range of agreements to expand upon its fleet of electric cars and vans, including the Vauxhall Ampera announced today.

In the UK, Hertz operates 16 Source London funded charging points at six locations across Greater London including London Heathrow and London City Airport.

About Hertz

Hertz is the world’s largest general use car rental company, operating from over 8,500 corporate locations in 150 countries worldwide. Hertz is in its 93rd year of delivering quality car rental solutions to leisure and corporate customers. Product and service innovations such as Hertz #1 Club Gold, Worldwide Online Check-in, specially designed NeverLost(R) satellite navigation systems, and unique cars offered through the company’s Prestige, Family, Fun/Adrenaline and Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition. For more information please go to http://www.hertz.com

About Hertz On Demand

Hertz On Demand has more than 800 vehicles available to drive from more than 250 locations worldwide, including corporate offices and universities. Hertz On Demand offers vehicles equipped with keyless entry, and benefits covered by the competitive hourly rate including fuel, insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and 24-hour in car Member Care Center communication. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.hertzondemand.com or http://www.hertzondemand.co.uk, or call Member Care Services at 877-654-4400 in the US or 08708-45-45-45 in the UK.

About Source London

- Transport for London, as the Mayor’s transport authority, oversees the delivery and operation of the Source London network. – Membership of Source London allows for limitless re-charging of its publicly accessible network in locations across the city. – For more information or to register with Source London go to https://www.sourcelondon.net

Hertz Press Contacts

Caroline Trotman Dickenson Ketchum Pleon T: +44(0)20-7611-3686 E: caroline.trotman-dickenson@ketchumpleon.com

Luke Campbell Ketchum Pleon T: +44(0)207-611-3835 E: luke.campbell@ketchumpleon.com

Subject Codes: PC/t.120516060126851, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, PC/ticker, PC/ticker.bloomberg, PC/ticker.rics, RE/United_States_of_America, RE/United_Kingdom, IN/AUT, IN/TRN, IN/EUT, IN/TRT, SU/PDT, SU/ENI

Company Codes: NYSE:HTZ, Bloomberg:HTZ@US, RICS:HTZ.N

BRITAIN has sold more cars abroad than it’s imported for the first time since 1976.

Car plants are motoring, with exports surging 20% in the first three months of the year.

Factories made 401,412 cars, up 12.3% on the previous quarter. Around 80% of these were exported.

Some £6.1billion worth of ­vehicles were shipped abroad, £561million more than arrived.

Toyota, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover are among manufacturers that have car factories across the UK.

But while they’re in top gear, there are worrying signs the wider economy is hitting the skids.

Grim figures from the Office for National Statistics showed exports to Europe, where we sell the most products in general, were flat in March.

With the eurozone crisis ­deepening and concerns that Greece will be booted out of the single currency, that’s the last thing we need.

The UK trade deficit – the gap between what goods and services we import and export – narrowed from £2.9bn in February to £2.7bn in March.

But, on goods alone, we still bought a staggering £8.6bn more than we sold.

Exports to non-EU countries were up 12% in March, particularly to China, Russia and the US.

But experts fear it won’t be enough to stop the economy, which has plunged back into recession, going further into reverse.

Alan Clarke, a top economist at Scotiabank, said: “There is precious little light at the end of the tunnel.”

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Government must take action to address the issues faced by our exporters.

“British companies – particularly small and medium-sized firms – have huge untapped potential to increase exports.”

Paul Everitt, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, added: “It is essential Government and industry continue the partnership that has helped deliver new investment and supply chain opportunities to secure long-term prosperity and jobs.”

Article source: Article Source

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As far as the Porsche fans at IOL Motoring are concerned, they can leave the 918 body just like it is.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road. The first street-legal prototypes, dressed in camouflage bodies reminiscent of the iconic 917 endurance racers of the 1970s, have begun testing and development on the roads around Stuttgart.

The 918 will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before the end of the year 2013 is out.

The focus of road testing is on the interplay between the individual drive components; the combination of a big combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drivetrain, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on both mechanical and electronic control systems.

BIG NUMBERS

The car’s hybrid powertrain – a 419kW 4.6-litre V8 engine, an 80kW electric motor on the front axle and a 90 kW electric motor on the rear axle – represents a new set of engineering challenges.

The prototypes have a combined output of more than 566kW, taking them from 0-100 km/h in less than three seconds and and on to more than 325km/h flat out. Using a 6.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, the 918 can travel more than 25km on electricity alone at up to 150km/h.

Porsche board member for research and development Wolfgang Hatz explained: “The control systems are a critical component of this car, requiring all our expertise in development.”

‘FUN TO DRIVE’

“These control systems and the development of the software to go with them will have a major influence on the feel of the car – that elusive ‘fun-to-drive’ factor which, for me, is not negotiable.”

“They will also have to deliver a combination of minimal fuel consumption and maximum performance that is the reason for the car’s existence.”

The 918 has been designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for supercar performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a 566kW racing machine; on the other, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres.

Part of that ‘fun-to-drive’ factor is down to light weight,

Article source: Article Source

REUTERS

GM’s Opel plant in Bochum, Germany remains a candidate for closure.

Under the lights of the Geneva motor show in March, Europe’s top auto executives boasted about the new features of their latest models and tried to out-hype their rivals.

The next morning, in a hotel conference room just across the way from Geneva’s convention centre, the same executives all sat down to work out how to fix their huge overcapacity problem.

At a board meeting of the European automaker’s lobby group ACEA, the bosses of Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW, Peugeot, Renault, Fiat and Opel decided it was time to discuss the elephant in the room: plant closures.

“Their fear was of an all-out price war,” said a source who was briefed about the meeting but declined to be named. “The negative fallout from that would be terrible.”

The hard truth is that after more than four years of falling demand and profits, Europe’s carmakers have yet to restructure or consolidate. Many factories are running at partial capacity – analysts estimate automakers have cut some 3 million cars, or 20 percent, from their production lines – and still producers struggle to sell their wares.

At the Geneva meeting, ACEA President Sergio Marchionne pressed members to call on Brussels for political cover to start shutting down factories.

“Closures should be co-ordinated at EU level,” the Fiat and Chrysler boss told them, according to the person briefed on the meeting, to get around “a game of chicken” played by the producers where the first company to close plants would take the brunt of the cost and leave the rest to benefit.

A GAME OF CHICKEN

Europe’s carmakers survived the initial economic downturn in 2009 by turning to national governments for help.

Germany, France, Britain and other countries offered some €30 billion (R316 billion) in financing and incentives to companies and car buyers to support an industry upon which 12 million families depend for their livelihoods. But there was a conspicuous lack of pressure for companies to restructure or merge – governments battling the financial crisis did not want to have to deal with yet more job losses. In France the government explicitly awarded the

Article source: Article Source

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Article source: Article Source

West Point, VA, May 13, 2012 –(PR.com)– Medlin Ford is proud to sponsor Relay for Life of King William, Virginia. The event, part of a national fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, takes place at King William High School on June 16 from noon to midnight.

Relay for Life is a volunteer-driven fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Volunteer walkers raise funds through pledges and donations. In addition to fundraising, the event spreads cancer awareness and celebrates the lives of cancer patients, both survivors and those who have lost their lives to the disease. With these donations, the American Cancer Society performs valuable cancer research, helps to fund cancer prevention and treatment services, and provides assistance to those living with the disease.

Participants may form a team online, or sign up for one of several teams forming now. Attendants can purchase luminary bags in honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of loved ones. The bags will be placed around the track to during a luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. In addition to the relay walk, silent auctions, 50/50 raffles, corn hole tournaments, carnival games and more will make the event fun for the whole family. To join a team, make a donation, or find out more, go to www.relayforlife.org/kingwilliam.

Medlin Ford is proud to sponsor Relay for Life of King William, Virginia. The event, part of a national fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, takes place at King William High School on June 16 from noon to midnight.

Relay for Life is a volunteer-driven fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Volunteer walkers raise funds through pledges and donations. In addition to fundraising, the event spreads cancer awareness and celebrates the lives of cancer patients, both survivors and those who have lost their lives to the disease. With these donations, the American Cancer Society performs valuable cancer research, helps to fund cancer prevention and treatment services, and provides assistance to those living with the disease.

Participants may form a team online, or sign up for one of several teams forming now. Attendants can purchase luminary bags in honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of loved ones. The bags will be placed around the track to during a luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. In addition to the relay walk, silent auctions, 50/50 raffles, corn hole tournaments, carnival games and more will make the event fun for the whole family. To join a team, make a donation, or find out more, go to www.relayforlife.org/kingwilliam.

Article source: Article Source

Paris, TX, May 13, 2012 –(PR.com)– James Hodge Motors is pleased to announce that they have reduced the price on select 2012 Jeep models in stock at their Paris, Texas dealership. In order to make it more affordable and practical for its valued customers to buy a new car, James Hodge Motors has taken thousands of dollars of MSRP for its Jeep cars.

The 2012 Jeep Compass is a compact SUV fitted with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. James Hodge Motors has all three trims in stock: the Sport, Latitude, and Limited. Here are the sale prices they are currently offering on the 2012 Compass:

Jeep Compass Sport: $1,748 off
Jeep Compass Latitude: $2,229 off
Jeep Compass Limited: $2,316 off

Customers will also find low prices on the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty. James Hodge Motors has the Grand Cherokee Laredo trim in stock as well as the Liberty Sport and Limited. Here are their respective sale prices:

Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo: $3,472 off
Jeep Liberty Sport: $4,042 off
Jeep Liberty Limited: $4,503 off

The 2012 Jeep Patriot is powered by a 2.4-liter Dual VVT engine and offers an abundance of cargo space. James Hodge Motors has both the Sport and Latitude in stock. The 2012 Jeep Wrangler has also received a price slash. This model offers top-notch off-roading abilities and a uniquely styled design. Customers can choose from the Sport, Unlimited Sport, and Unlimited Sahara trims. Their discount prices are as follows:

Jeep Patriot Sport: $1,906 off
Jeep Patriot Latitude: $2,047 off
Jeep Wrangler Sport: $1,561 off
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport: $1,554 off
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara: $2,158 off

Stop by James Hodge Motors’ showroom to take a look at these new Jeep models. These specials and more can also be found on their website at http://www.jameshodgemotors.net/new-inventory/index.htm?reset=InventoryListing.

To keep up to date with all dealership news and sales, like James Hodge Motor Company on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JamesHodgeMotors and follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/JamesHodgeMotor.

About James Hodge Motor Company
James Hodge Motor Company, http://www.jameshodgemotors.net/, of the Dallas area carries an extensive inventory of new and used Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles. In addition, the Texas dealer provides auto service, parts, and auto financing. James Hodge Motor Company strives for 100 percent customer satisfaction every time.

Article source: Article Source

Cleveland, OH, May 15, 2012 –(PR.com)– Mobile Awareness LLC, a provider of leading-edge transportation safety products, announces the appointment of Kevin M. Kuhn as VP of Sales Marketing.

A veteran of the transportation industry, Kevin Kuhn has previously led sales and marketing for TravelCenters of America as Director of Fleet Maintenance Sales, the largest full service truck stop chain in North America. Prior to which he spent several years with Agilysis Inc. (formerly Pioneer Standard Electronics), developing his tactical marketing skills.

“Kevin adds a wealth of practical experience and strategic knowledge that will aid in the further development of our TireStat, VisionStat, and SenseStat product lines,” stated Gary Rothstein, President of Mobile Awareness.

“We are extremely excited that Kevin will be managing the team responsible for our sales and marketing efforts as we continue to innovate affordable transportation safety solutions.”

Kevin will be responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing including brand development. His initial focus will be on our soon to be released, next generation, tire monitoring, maintenance and tracking system.

About Mobile Awareness
Cleveland, Ohio based Mobile Awareness, LLC designs and markets leading edge, affordable transportation safety products. The company provides integrated accident prevention solutions for commercial transportation professionals with its VisionStat® Vehicle Video Systems, TireStat® Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) and SenseStat® Obstacle Detection Sensor Systems. For more information, please contact Mobile Awareness at 866-653-5036 or visit www.MobileAwareness.com

Mobile Awareness…Reducing the Total Cost of Safety®

Article source: Article Source

Frost & Sullivan’s On-Demand Analyst Briefing – European Motor Services: Paradigm Shift towards Predictive Maintenance Aids Growth

PR Newswire — May 15, 2012

LONDON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Raaj Thilak Raveendran completed extensive analysis on the European Motor Services Market. The research expert led a short teleconference about new findings that affect the market.

The European motor services market grew at a healthy rate in 2011. However, the outlook for 2012 is gloomy due to the impact of the ongoing debt crisis in Europe. The need to improve uptime, increase plant profitability, process efficiency and complexity of the manufacturing process resulted in the need for increased service requirements.

Adoption of motor management, predictive maintenance systems and online data capture are the key growth factors. However, high competition between the private service companies and tier 1 companies triggers a price war that indirectly affects the total revenue of the services segment.

Highlights of the briefing included analyses of technology trends, competitive structure, customer expectation and end-user trends related to the motor services segment.

The briefing benefited motor manufacturers, private service providers, service partners and consultants who aspire to capitalize on the growing motor services market in Europe, by discussing the current scenario and providing forward projections for the European motor services market across different end-user industries.

Supporting Quote “Motor services have transformed from a regular maintenance solution that can increase the lifespan of motors into a strategic business discipline, which can improve the overall efficiency of the asset. Increased technological changes such as predictive maintenance systems and bundled service package options provided by motor manufacturers are some of the key driving factors,” observes Research Analyst Raaj Thilak Raveendran.

Supporting Resources For more information on Frost & Sullivan’s Industrial Automation and Process Control practice, please visit: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/svcg.pag/IP00 [http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/svcg.pag/IP00]

Recordings To receive a recorded version of the briefing, please send an email to anna.zanchi@frost.com [mailto:anna.zanchi@frost.com] with your contact details, or click on the following link: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/analyst-briefing-detail.pag?mode=open&sid=259989164 [http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/analyst-briefing-detail.pag?mode=open&sid=259989164]

About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on 6 continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com [http://www.frost.com/]

Contact Anna Zanchi Corporate Communications – Europe Frost & Sullivan P: +39-02-46514819 E: anna.zanchi@frost.com [mailto:anna.zanchi@frost.com] www.frost.com [http://www.frost.com/]

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