Today's News - March 5, 2010

 

**KBB in the News**

 

U.S reviewing more complaints Toyota fixes didn’t work (Reuters story was syndicated to multiple publications nationwide)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0412911920100305

 

Toyota incentives turn lookers into buyers, survey finds

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/03/toyota-incentives-will-turn-lookers-into-buyers/1

 

Toyota incentives rouse would-be buyers

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/04/autos/toyota_purchase_intent/

 

WINS-AM (ABC/AP) Ch./Freq. 10   New York, NY   03/04/2010 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM

mms://streaming.vmsnews.com/media/INSIGHT/20100304-505405-04A1C832-4D9C-406E-8015-57B383EAA1E7.wsx

 

Toyota boosters, detractors make cases

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10064/1040445-185.stm

 

Toyota offers incentives to entice buyers

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/toyota-offers-incentives-to-entice-buyers.aspx

 

 

**Top News**

 

GM dismisses Cadillac managers in overhaul

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100304/OEM02/100309923/1179

 

Toyota owners file 60 complaints after recall fixes

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601209&sid=arjLGt20Fcjk

 

Toyota: No evidence of throttle failure in fixed cars

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100305/RETAIL05/303059972/1329

 

Toyota fix in question amid complaints

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/03/autos/Toyota_complaints_after_fix/index.htm

 

Are Toyota complaints real life horror stories or over-sensitive hype?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/35706706

 

NHTSA says more than 60 post-recall Toyota complaints

http://www.freep.com/article/20100304/BUSINESS0104/100304057/1331/business01/Over-60-post-recall-Toyota-complaints-NHTSA-says

 

Toyota recall issues persist

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100304/AUTO01/3040355/1148/auto01/Toyota-recall-issues-persist

 

Toyota Evaluates Unintended Acceleration Complaints in Remedied Vehicles

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-evaluates-unintended-acceleration-complaints-in-remedied-vehicles-86474747.html

 

Panel head under fire over Toyota documents

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100305/AUTO01/3050342/1148/auto01/Panel-head-under-fire-over-Toyota-documents

 

India’s Mahindra to set date for U.S. launch

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100305/COPY01/303059975/1193

 

 

**KBB Commentary on Top News**

 

GM…Meet Voldemort

 

News broke late last night that several key people within the Cadillac division have been released or reassigned.  This followed on the heels of a massive reorganization in their Sales and Marketing departments at the very highest level.  And, do not forget the retirement of Bob Lutz earlier this week.

 

This came as a big shock to many of us, as a) Cadillac has been revered as the model for Buick, GMC and Chevrolet to follow, and b) the suddenness of the announcement and the implications on those involved was unexpected.  While we express regret for those negatively impacted, all of this news as a whole tells a good story for the health and potential success for GM.  There are those who will argue that the unrest will cause chaos among the troops and take eyes of the ultimate goal.  My view is that this will allow those left standing to know EXACTLY what is expected of them – utter success.  GM was famously known to have a corporate culture that was slow to move and hamstrung by too many layers of decision-making processes.  The assignment of Mark Reuss, a confirmed and celebrated “car guy” at the helm of GM’s automotive operations late last year, signaled that these were new days at GM…under the careful yet direct eye of Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre.  I am sure there are many within GM who speak of Mr. Whitacre in ways similar to how characters in the Harry Potter series speak of “Voldemort.”  The truth is that GM was taken to the very edge of insolvency not very long ago, and it is important to keep that fact in perspective when trying to understand how important “success now” is to Whitacre and his ability to pay back the loans provided to GM by taxpayers like you and me.

 

-      James Bell, executive market analyst, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

 

 

*OEM/Vehicle News**

 

World Car of the Year finalists revealed

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100305/OPINION03/3050406/1148/auto01/World-Car-of-the-Year-finalists-revealed

 

Lawmakers ask Chrysler to halt new franchises in rejected-store markets

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100304/RETAIL07/100309930/1400

 

SRX runs with the best, offers value

http://www.freep.com/article/20100304/COL14/3040450/1015/business01/SRX-runs-with-the-best-offers-value

 

Mazda5 crossover will get a wavy sculpted look

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/03/mazda5-will-give-crossovers-a-bold-sculpted-look/1

 

Mitsubishi to offer smaller crossover in Outlander Sport

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/03/mitsubishi-to-offer-smaller-crossover-in-outlander-sport/1

 

Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid Continue Momentum in 2010; More than 60 Percent of Buyers New to Ford

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-fusion-and-fusion-hybrid-continue-momentum-in-2010-more-than-60-percent-of-buyers-new-to-ford-86477512.html

 

 

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

 

GM let go of three Cadillac execs

http://adage.com/article?article_id=142602

 

GM to intro vehicles to people who make them

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123677

 

GM recalls 1.3 million cars, prompting no outcry from anyone

http://adage.com/adages/post?article_id=142597

 

Lexus Hybrids hit 5.5 Billion Mile Mark

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lexus/42749/

 

Mercedes-Benz Premieres New Environmentally Themed Ad Campaign During the Academy Awards

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-premieres-new-environmentally-themed-ad-campaign-during-the-academy-awards-86554087.html

 

Targeting to become dominant online marketing tool

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123571

 

Why metrics are killing creativity in advertising

http://adage.com/columns/article?article_id=142600

 

Investors bet on price of Facebook IPO

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/03/04/investors-bet-on-price-of-facebook-ipo/

 

Google rolls out ‘Above the Fold’ targeting on content network

http://www.clickz.com/3639686

 

FarmVille ad helps Bing zoom past Google on Facebook

http://www.clickz.com/3639700

 

Google moves YouTube auto-caption into mainstream

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123730

 

Partnership to track impact of social media

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123724

 

Oscar advertisers hope to build buzz on Twitter, Facebook

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2010-03-05-oscarsocial05_ST_N.htm