plus 3, Chrysler to keep Mich. plant open through 2012 - Miami Herald

Chrysler to keep Mich. plant open through 2012 - Miami Herald
Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle
Toyota recalls may close nagging perception gap - Detroit Free Press
Alkane, Inc.'s Monster Diesel to Sponsor #01 Stock Car in NASCAR ... - Stockhouse

Chrysler to keep Mich. plant open through 2012 - Miami Herald

Posted: 19 Feb 2010 08:02 AM PST

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DETROIT -- Chrysler Group LLC plans to keep its Sterling Heights, Mich., assembly plant open through 2012, preserving 1,200 jobs building the Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize cars, the automaker said Friday.

The plant near Detroit had been set to close in 2011. But Chrysler agreed to acquire it for $20 million from the company that has managed the automaker's remaining assets since its emergence from bankruptcy last year.

"There is no commitment on the future ... beyond 2012," Chrysler said in a statement.

In court documents filed Thursday, Old Carco LLC - the so-called old Chrysler - requested an order allowing it to sell the plant to Chrysler Group. The Italian automaker Fiat SpA owns a partial stake in Chrysler Group.

A hearing is scheduled for March 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said after the automaker's exit from bankruptcy in June that the plant would close at the end of 2010. But in December, he said the company would keep the plant open into 2011.

Michael Robinet, an auto industry analyst for the CSM Worldwide consulting firm near Detroit, said Chrysler likely has looked ahead and decided it needed the extra production capacity from the plant. Robinet said the plant was retrofitted about three years ago with new equipment.

"The facility from a vehicle production perspective is actually relatively new," Robinet said.

In 2009, Sebring sales dropped 62 percent to 27,460 while sales of the Avenger fell 37 percent to 38,922 as automakers in the U.S. posted their worst year in almost three decades and Chrysler had its worst showing since 1962.

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., said Marchionne told her and other Michigan members of Congress in December that Chrysler would evaluate in 2011 where future models would be produced and that he expected versions of the Sebring to be built in the United States.

Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan said the Sterling Heights City Council has twice extended tax breaks on the plant while Chrysler negotiated for the purchase from Old Chrysler. In its statement Friday, Chrysler said it will accept Sterling Heights' offer to transfer property tax abatements to the company.

The decision means Sterling Heights will still get $2.6 million a year in taxes from Chrysler and leaves open the possibility that Chrysler might make a longer-term commitment, the city said. Chrysler has operated the plant since 1983, and it is credited for supporting parts suppliers and merchants in the surrounding areas.

"Loss of the plant would have created a huge void in the middle of our industrial corridor, which would have been difficult and very costly to fill in these tough economic times," City Manager Mark D. Vanderpool said.

Chrysler intends to "refresh and renew" the Sebring and Avenger. It is looking at improvements to the interior and how to make the engine and transmission quieter.

After that, Chrysler plans to build a new midsize car based on Fiat's C-EVO frame and suspension, with a Fiat-based engine and transmission. The frame, being designed for a European compact car, can be stretched to serve as a U.S. midsize car, a person briefed on the plans had said previously. The person asked not to be identified because the plans have not officially been made public.

The person also said Chrysler is trying to get the car on the U.S. market sometime in the middle of 2011.

Morgan would not say if the Sterling Heights plant will make the new car.

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Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle

Posted: 19 Feb 2010 08:53 AM PST

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Toyota recalls may close nagging perception gap - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 19 Feb 2010 07:48 AM PST

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In an interview Thursday, Dave Sargent, vice president of vehicle research at J.D. Power, acknowledged: "A statistician would say they're not that different."

The gap remains wide

Sargent said the best measure of quality issues an owner will experience during the life of a vehicle is J.D. Power's long-term durability survey. That measures 202 problems after three years of ownership, and there is a little more variation in that one.

The study's top performer — GM's Buick brand — had 1.22 problems reported per vehicle. The worse performer, which was Japanese automaker Suzuki, had 2.63 problems per vehicle.

That means, after three years of ownerships, consumers reported between 1 and 3 problems per vehicle.

More specifically, consumers reported 1.85 problems per Chevrolet, 1.59 problems per Ford and 1.29 problems per Toyota.

After three years, then, the difference between a Chevy and a Toyota was about half a problem, or 0.56.

The whole auto industry should give itself a round of applause for these results. And Americans should take note and ask themselves: Does your perception match up with reality? For too long, it has not.

"In most parts of the country, the perception gap is still pretty wide," Sargent told me. "When we ask people why they bought a vehicle, a high proportion of people who purchased Japanese products give high perception of quality as a reason why they bought. It's lower for the domestics."

Is perception reality? Unfortunately, for Detroit's three automakers, perception — not reality — is king when it comes to car-shopping. When consumers browse dealer showrooms, they're swayed by all sorts of deeply entrenched perceptions that lead them to chose one brand over another.

Ultimately, this perception gap has been quite expensive to all of us living in Michigan, and really, in this country. It has cost Detroit automakers, and their parts suppliers, untold sales, profits and, especially painful now, jobs.

Japanese automakers such as Toyota have largely been the beneficiaries of Detroit's losses.

As I was watching Toyota's recent "Commitment" commercial apologizing for not living up to its own standards, I wondered:

Isn't it about time Americans shake that nagging feeling that a Chevy or a Ford isn't as good as a Toyota or a Honda?

Because, according to the recent consumer surveys, every automaker makes a few mistakes.

Contact SARAH A. WEBSTER: 313-222-5394 or swebster@freepress.com.

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Alkane, Inc.'s Monster Diesel to Sponsor #01 Stock Car in NASCAR ... - Stockhouse

Posted: 19 Feb 2010 07:05 AM PST

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Brand Awareness Campaign Builds Brand Nationally

LUTHERVILLE, Md., Feb 19, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Alkane, Inc. (ALKN.PK) announced today its flagship product, Monster Diesel(TM), has entered into an agreement with JD Motorsports, LLC for the primary name rights of the NASCAR(R) Nationwide(R) Series #01 Chevrolet race car driven by Michael Wallace for the next two NASCAR(R) Nationwide(R) Series races.

The agreement with Monster Diesel(TM) covers the February 20 Stater Brothers 300 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA and the February 27 Sam's Town 300 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. There will be an option to secure name rights for ten subsequent Nationwide(R) Series races.

This year's Nationwide(R) Series began with a bang last weekend with unprecedented television viewership. Driver Michael Wallace's record boasts over 600 NASCAR(R) starts and over 300 wins in the Nationwide(R) Series, Camping World Truck Series, ARCA(R) Racing Series, and other stock car events. Monster Diesel(TM) hopes to capitalize on the heightened popularity of the series and Wallace's longstanding history with the sport by gaining awareness among millions of potential users of the product. Both races will be televised live on ESPN.

"NASCAR's fan base is one of our target markets," said Christina Angel, Director of Marketing for Monster Diesel(TM). "NASCAR enthusiasts make up one of the most knowledgeable sectors of society in regards to engine performance and mechanics. They have the base knowledge to appreciate Monster Diesel's differentiators." Known for being among the most loyal to their sport, the company hopes to make an impression on and build relationships with NASCAR(R) fans. "NASCAR fans tend to support their favorite drivers, teams and sponsors understanding it is essential to the sport," Angel added.

The partnership comes on the heels of a major endorsement of Monster Diesel(TM) by Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers(TM). "We are thrilled with the level of interest around the product. Our involvement with NASCAR will only continue the momentum we have seen mounting over the past year," said Mathew Zuckerman, Ph.D., CEO & President of Monster Diesel(TM).

About Monster Diesel(TM)

Monster Diesel(TM) is a patent pending high energy "green" alternative fuel additive which boosts diesel fuel's quality to premium levels and is designed for use in any diesel powered motor. The additive offers a comprehensive, cost effective solution to address each of the challenges common to diesel powered engines, all in one product. Monster Diesel(TM) increases mileage per gallon by as much as 15%, reduces emissions by 23%, boosts power, reduces wear, and winterizes fuel.

Visit www.MonsterDiesel.com for more product information, news and analysis, and information on how to order Monster Diesel(TM) branded products.

Monster Diesel(TM) and the logo are trademarks and are property of Alkane, Inc.

About JD Motorsports, LLC

JD Motorsports specializes in sponsor relationships built on mutual trust. The company is among only a few strictly Nationwide(R) Series teams with nearly a decade of history in the sport. JD Motorsports is a family owned racing team with all operations contained in family owned and operated facilities.

About Alkane, Inc.

Alkane, Inc. is dedicated to the development of a family of alternative fuels and additives which, collectively, will contribute to a solution to the global energy crisis. Additional benefits of Alkane, Inc.'s product offerings include positive environmental impact through the reduction of harmful emissions and reduced vehicle operation and maintenance costs.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.

SOURCE: Alkane, Inc.

Brokers and Analysts Contact: Orion Financial Group, LLC Ryan Miller, 800-400-1290 Rmiller@Orionir.com or Media Contact: Barb Clapp Advertising & Marketing Beth Mullennex, 410-561-8886 beth@barbclapp.com

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