| Video News & Views
PEOPLE & IDEAS TO WATCH | Advantage: Leasing | | Managing ownership costs with a fair market value truck lease is a slam-dunk with a partner like PHH. |
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April 21, 2011
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| Fleet Trends & Issues |
Opportunities & Successful Fleet Management |
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ALG Hosts Webinar on U.S. Auto Industry Outlook and 2011 Residual Value Trends Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time This year -- 2011 -- is expected to mark the beginning of a significant revival for the automotive industry. Historically, low interest rates, an easing of credit requirements and the rise of consumer confidence all point to continued market improvement. To take advantage of these favorable conditions and increase profitability, while reducing risk, a continuous and comprehensive understanding of the current market and its trends is vital. Please join ALG, an industry authority for residual values and depreciation data, to learn how to successfully navigate the automotive industry through the rest of the year. Topics to be discussed on this webinar include: - Industry Outlook, including fuel prices, housing forecast, and wage growth
- Used Supply/Wholesale Market Outlook
- Residual Value Trends
- ALG Metrics.
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG is a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the “Automotive Lease Guide” – the standard for residual value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for over 45 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. ALG is a company of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRAK). Registration is free. Reserve your space by clicking the following link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/140213248
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| Highlights from Charlotte: NAFA 2011 |
Featured Exhibitors, Presenters
& Awards
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| Association News & Views |
Activities, Events & Success Stories |
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2011 ACT EXPO to Showcase Alt Fuels and Advanced Clean Trucks and Vehicles The 2011 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo will showcase the latest information and products in advanced clean truck and vehicle technologies and alternative fuels in Long Beach, Calif. May 4 - 6. A robust lineup of OEMs, fleet operators and service providers will be at 2011 ACT Expo to discuss their investments in alternative fuels and share experiences and best practices. Industry leaders will highlight opportunities for fleet owners to reduce costs, operate more efficiently and reduce environmental impacts by transitioning to alternative fuels with success stories from Ryder, UPS, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Waste Management, City of Chicago, City of Los Angeles, ThyssenKrupp, Enterprise and many more. Leading OEMs such as Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Hino, Ford, General Motors, Honda, and many others will showcase the latest advanced technology product offerings in the ACT Expo hall May 5 and 6. Martin Daum, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, will provide the keynote address during the conference session on Friday, May 6. In addition, Daimler Trucks will showcase its advanced technology truck platforms, including a CNG Freightliner Cascadia, a Freightliner M2 tractor LNG, and a variety of other CNG, LNG, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, and electric vehicles. The 2011 ACT Expo is the largest gathering of alternative fuel and clean vehicle stakeholders this year. To register to attend, visit www.actexpo.com.
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Janice Sutton, Editor
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We thoroughly enjoyed NAFA I&E - the sessions were excellent and the mood was upbeat. We talked to so many nice people; the vast majority of the folks in the commercial fleet sector told us that they were seeing very positive economic trends. The public sector, understandably, not so much. But everyone was focused on results and working a plan to get there. A few words about the NAFA staff: They are nothing short of magnificent. Tirelessly working, extremely accommodating and just plain wonderful. Our deepest thanks to you! Congratulations to the justifiably proud Hino Trucks; their 338 model received the 2011 Medium Duty Commercial Truck of the Year award from the American Truck Dealers (ATD) division of the NADA. Hino's 268 model received the same accolade in 2010. Kudos to Wright Express for their innovative booth/restaurant at I&E. BBQ sliders and slaw...and tables and chairs. Bliss. Thanks Max! Please check out our Fleet Management Weekly Fanpage , become a fan by clicking on the Like button, and follow us on twitter to get the latest Automotive News. Drive safely, Janice
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Last Minute News
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Chevy: Eco version of Malibu targets 38 mpg on highway
General Motors today unveiled an Eco version of the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu that the automaker says will get an estimated 38 mpg on the highway, a level reached by many conventional hybrids. Read more Fast update for Ford Taurus could leave rivals scrambling
Ford Motor has significantly modified its big Taurus sedan, the brand’s flagship, only three years into the slow-selling current model’s life. The revised car is due out early next year as a 2013 model, and the most dramatic feature is the speed at which Ford has changed the engine lineup, suspension, front and rear styling, power steering, brakes and trim. Read more
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| Places, Sites, and People for New Ideas
& Applications |
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Distracted Driving On-The-Job:
31 Important Statistics, Facts & Ideas Presented by ZoomSafer, this eBook explains: - Why distracted driving is a serious problem
- How it creates risk and liability for companies
- What companies can do to reduce that risk
Go here to download the full presentation.
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Steve Gibson
AmeriFleet Transportation
Senior VP, Sales & Marketing
The Full-Service Solution to Moving Work Trucks
AmeriFleet formed their business unit, Work Truck Transports, to bring the same standard of professional practices to this segment of the fleet market. We asked Steve to bring us up to date on the company's focus...and safety is very much a part of it.
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Arnie Braun
AmeriFleet
Director, Client and Vehicle Services
AmeriFleet Transportation announces the appointment of Arnie Braun as Director, Client and Vehicle Services. In his new role, Braun will oversee all title and registration activities and lead AmeriFleet’s vehicle and client services team. Braun joins AmeriFleet from ServiceMaster where he held the position of Manager, Fleet Administration.
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Brent MacLean
Auto Truck Group
Business Development Director
Industry veteran Brent MacLean has joined Auto Truck Group, a leading work truck upfitter, as director, business development. MacLean will be responsible for truck equipment sales to major fleet accounts, dealers and fleet management companies across Canada. These customers will include local, regional and national fleets.
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| Managing Your Fleet Trends, Issues & Opportunities |
Forbes Picks Worst Cars on the Road
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Forbes used a number of Consumer Reports lists to pick the worst vehicles on the road. If a vehicle was among the lowest rated on two or more lists, it moved to the next round of consideration. Nine of the twelve vehicles on the list were GM and Chrysler brands, but Ford had zero cars on the list.
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Supply Shortage Affects Residual and Transaction Prices
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ALG, industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data, predicts as much as a 10% increase in transaction prices on vehicles which experience a 100-day supply disruption. This can also translate to a .2 to .7 increase in residual value on a 36- month lease.
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| Driver Safety Management Practices, Policy, & Training |
Automobile Accidents Number One Cause of Teen Deaths
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A study conducted by State Farm Insurance and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identified the three primary causes of teen accidents. 21% of accidents studied were caused by failure to scan and assess hazards, 21% were driving too fast for road conditions, and 21% were from a distraction either inside or outside the vehicle. Not considered primary factors in teen accidents were environmental conditions such as weather or aggressive driving.
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Increasing Efforts to Curb Distracted Drivers
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The National Safety Council estimates that at least 1.6 million crashes, 28 percent of the total, are caused each year by drivers using cellphones or texting and NHTSA reported that in 2008, approximately one in six fatal vehicle collisions resulted from a driver being distracted. "We take care of a lot of people injured in car accidents, and distracted driving is a substantial contributor to these accidents," said Dr. Daniel Berry, president, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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| Manufacturer Developments Design, Production, & Services |
Chevrolet Z-Spec Concept Car Replaces Aveo
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The Chevrolet Z-Spec concept car will be replacing the Korean-made Chevy Aveo, a car and name without much drawing power. The Aveo is also on the list of Forbes Worst Cars on the Road. Chevrolet executives believe that offering a great deal of customization, similar to the Mini, will appeal to younger buyers as well as improve profit margins.
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The New VW Beetle 'Mans Up'
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The 73-year-old Volkswagen Beetle will roll out this year in a new version that no longer takes on its counterculture image. It’s more of a guy car that goes back to its original style with a less round, bulbous shape. It could anger some fans who loved the four-seater for its huggable curves and perky attitude.
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| Driving Green Initiatives, Actions, & Implementations |
SUVs Are Safer but Also Heavier and Thirsty for Gas
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Federal officials are working to balance regulations regarding safety and fuel economy. NHTSA doesn't want to reverse declining highway deaths, which many partially attribute to the popularity of heavy SUVs. But weight also hampers gas mileage, and EPA wants to boost average fuel economy standards.
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Fast EV Charging Comes at Steep Price
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Although fast charging, also called Level 3 charging, faces obstacles such as high prices and uncertain standards, it could make EV charging much more convenient. Level 3 chargers provide 480 volts and recharge a battery to 80 percent of full charge within 30 minutes, although charger companies are targeting shorter times.
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| The Intelligent Vehicle Telematics, Telecommunications, &
Technology |
New Powertrains Slated for Chrysler Vehicles with Help from Fiat
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Chrysler is bolstering its lineup of fuel-efficient powertrains, thanks to initiatives under Fiat SpA management. Many of the advances involve Fiat technology; the Italian automaker is known as a small-car and small-engine specialist. Work is under way on a variety of propulsion systems, ranging from improved gasoline engines to diesels, hybrids and electric vehicles.
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Ford Making Big Cut – Reducing Vehicle Weight Dramatically
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As automakers face steep demands for fuel economy improvements, finding ways to reduce vehicle weight must be considered. Ford Motor Co. has big plans to reduce hundreds of pounds of vehicle weight from its product fleet in the next five years. It certainly won’t be easy, Ford warns.
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| Fleet Vehicle Remarketing Marketing Strategies, Channels,
& Sales Data |
Used Days' Supply Down, Prices Up
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CNW Research expects the April used-vehicle sales total to jump 10 percent. President Art Spinella also predicted retail prices should edge upward because of short supply. Overall, CNW thinks April's used-vehicle sales total could reach 3.6 million. The figure for the same month a year ago was 3.286 million.
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Assessing Effect of Rising Fuel Costs on Used Vehicle Market
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Experts are looking back to the 2008 gas-price spikes to judge used-vehicle values as fuel prices continue to climb now. KBB says hybrids and small-car prices are jumping upwards of 10% while full-size trucks are holding their own. History showed a quick turnaround of gas prices following the volatile summer of 2008.
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RIMS 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibition
Vancouver Convention Centre West
Vancouver, Canada
May 1-5, 2011
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Alternative Clean Transportation Expo 2011
Long Beach Convention Center
Long Beach, CA
May 4-6, 2011
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NVLA Conference
The Allerton Hotel on Magnificent Mile
Chicago, Ill.
May 11-13, 2011
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The Great West Truck Show
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
June 9-11, 2011
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2011 AFLA Conference
Paradise Point
San Diego, CA
September 14-16, 2011
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Stats and Smart Charts
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Percentage of Volume Imported from Japan to US
[Click to enlarge graphic]
 - New vehicle sales in US for certain Japanese brands will be hit especially hard
- Japanese production for Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Scion, Subaru, and Suzuki models ranges from 50% to 100% of total number of vehicles sold in US
- Acura/Honda, Nissan, and Toyota – although less affected at brand level due to US production – will still face parts shortages across their respective line-ups
- Compact cars, compact and mid-size utilities, and luxury vehicles will be disproportionately impacted
- Japanese production accounts for significant portion of overall US sales in these categories
- 14% of all vehicles sold in US are imported from Japan and another 25% of all vehicles sold are Japanese transplant units
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