auto parts manufacturers,auto parts suppliers

May 26 (Bloomberg) — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world’s largest maker of luxury cars, plans to raise prices in the U.S. by 1 percent because of the weak dollar.

The increase for cars such as the X5 sports-utility vehicle and 5-Series luxury sedan will take effect on June 1, Markus Sagemann, a spokesman for the Munich-based company, said today.

“It’s a moderate price increase that reflects the conditions in the market,” Sagemann said in a telephone interview, adding that the last U.S. increase was in March 2007.

The dollar’s drop hurts BMW because the company gets fewer euros for every car it sells in the U.S. The dollar has fallen about 8 percent against the euro this year. This means that for a car like the 5-Series, BMW gets more than 2,000 euros ($3,150) less now for each one it sells than it did at the beginning of the year.

The carmaker took a first-quarter charge of 236 million euros because of bad debts and lower values on cars it sells in the U.S. after leases expire. BMW, which sold 22 percent of its cars in the U.S. in 2007, raised lease rates by about 3 percent on May 1. Higher new car prices typically boost used car values.

The first-quarter charge led to a 17 percent drop in BMW’s net income for the first three months. Four-month U.S. sales fell 4 percent to about 100,000 cars as the financial crisis sours consumers’ desire to make purchases.

HERNDON, Va. - Mass Communications students at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) were recently given the opportunity to participate in the U.S. media launch of the new 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Thirty students from the CU School of Journalism and Mass Communication attended the press briefing which provided an overview of the Tiguan’s technical and marketing specifics. The briefing was then followed by a vehicle “walk-around”, a presentation of its features and a test drive. Students from print and broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising disciplines assisted the Volkswagen launch team in various aspects of the event.

“What better opportunity to give back to our hosts at CU-Boulder than to allow their students the opportunity to take part in a real press event,” said Keith Price, public relations manager for Volkswagen of America Inc. “Boulder reflects the active lifestyle of the Tiguan customer and prospect profile, so the location was a perfect fit and the opportunity to work with the university made it even better for Volkswagen.”

“It’s not often we can give our students hands-on experience in public relations, advertising and magazine journalism in the same event,” said Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Paul Voakes.

In addition, Road & Track magazine will review articles submitted by students about the Boulder event and will consider publishing the best submission on its Web site. “Road & Track magazine, in both print and online media, needs to contribute to the development of the next generation of automotive journalists,” said Matt DeLorenzo, deputy editor, Road & Track. “We are excited about this opportunity”

Courtesy: Volkswagen of America Inc., USA

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Tata Motors Limited will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at the Registered Office of the Company to consider the Audited Annual Accounts and the dividend, if any, for the year ended March 31, 2008.

Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of US$ 7.2 billion in 2006-07. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; the company also distributes Fiat-branded cars in India. Tata Motors’ international footprint include Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pickup vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the UK, and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

Courtesy: Tata Motors Limited, India

Barcelona - Creating the largest solar panel structure for industrial use in Spain has not only reduced Nissan Motor Ibérica’s carbon footprint and lowered its energy bills, but has also won the company an important award.

In recognition of the moves made to improve its energy efficiency, Nissan has won the 2008 Carles Ferrer Salat Award, presented annually by Fomento del Trabajo Nacional, a confederation of Catalan businesses. Continue reading ‘Nissan wins 2008 Carles Ferrer Salat award in Spain’ »