Direct Connect

The goal of the 2008 SYNC Tour of Ford was to let consumers experience a new technology, SYNC, which was designed by Microsoft and which lets motorists control car stereos and mobile phones with voice commands. The technology will be available in 85% of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars by early 2009.

Ford’s challenge was to reach people not ready to be “sold to” at state fairs, NASCAR races and other events. SYNC helps motorists control their in-vehicle communications, their calls, texting and also helps them find songs, all while keeping their eyes on the road. Ford has a three-fold mission with this tour: show off the products; highlight the Microsoft alliance; and demonstrate Ford’s innovative technologies to consumers and show off the hands-free capability of SYNC.

The tour kicked off at the 2008 Super Bowl and hit 28 cities around the country. Their target consumers were those that do not know about Ford but are tech-savvy. Rather than attend traditional auto shows, the Ford team went to lifestyle events like air shows, blues festivals, NASCAR events and the Minnesota State Fair. Controlling costs while delivering showmanship is critical in today’s meeting environment, as is being sensitive to the needs of hard-pressed clients during this troubled economic climate.

When moving, many people have found that shipping their vehicle is an excellent way to stay within their auto relocation budget. One can also save a significant amount of money if they buy a vehicle from a dealer in a remote location and have the vehicle shipped to their home location. Using car hauling companies can make this process even easier.

One has to keep track of many things while relocating. For example, how big a vehicle is needed? Who will drive it? How will it be loaded and unloaded? There is also the question of the vehicle or cars one takes to the new home – how will they get there? Often, people ask someone to drive their vehicle to their new home, but this can be a difficult process. In addition to finding someone, there is also the task of attaching a car trailer or dolly to the moving truck.

One may opt to have their vehicle shipped with a professional auto transport company. Professional car hauler companies transport cars for private individuals as well as companies and vehicle dealers. The desirable vehicle may not be available in one’s area but affordable in another location.

The recession-plagued climate has caused a downturn in car manufacturing which has, in turn, created serious problems in the automotive logistics sector. Carriers are experiencing unprecedented declines in business. Last week, Honda announced a four-month closure at its Swindon factory in the UK after its net profit dropped by 89%. New-vehicle logistics operators warn that hundreds of auto transporters could be forced to pack up because demand has fallen dramatically.

However, the UK government has decided to offer a £2.3 billion loan package to support car manufacturing. One parts transporter claims that the investment should be used to encourage customers to scrap older, more polluting cars in favor of greener vehicles. Car transporter ECM believes that the market has gotten worse since January and expects volumes to fall by an average of 38%.

The company has already laid off 80 employees and introduced short-time working and a freeze on capital expenditure. They believe that if the plight of carriers is not helped, many will disappear. Those that remain will have depleted their fleets so much that there will be a dire shortfall in the supply of transport to cope with an economic recovery. Acumen Distribution, which works for first-tier suppliers, says that its volumes are down significantly and it has shifted focus to remodeling its logistics schedules.

Western Auto LLC is a Dubai-based company and part of the $7 billion ETA Star Group, a leading automobile trading, leasing, marketing and consulting company with global presence, including India. Western Auto sells 12,000 vehicles, in addition to construction equipment, auto components and commercial vehicles.

Western Auto got its start two years ago by importing spare parts for European trucks and buses and selling them on the Indian aftermarket. They started dealing in Telma brake retarders two years ago and this has now become an important business unit within their Indian operations. Telma retarders are a frictionless electromagnetic braking system. Western Auto has started a new innovative initiative in India, RACE, which is involved in research, analysis, consulting, and engineering services in automotive applications and transportation.

Recently, most truck and bus manufacturers have started addressing the customer’s needs through completely built units. Currently, only 10% of the total sales come from fully built units (FBVs) and the other 90% are spread across a few organized and other largely unorganized body builders. Studies report that customers buy FBVs for convenience, ready delivery and full finance availability.

Allied Automotive Group, another Janesville company linked to the closed General Motors plant, is shutting down. The motor carrier company hauled the SUVs made at the GM plant and terminated its Janesville operation on December 23, 2008, putting all 117 employees out of work.

Allied Automotive Group is a subsidiary of Allied Systems Holdings and is the largest motor carrier in North America transporting cars and light trucks. They move approximately nine million cars and trucks a year on their 4,000 car haulers. The closing was announced by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the city of Janesville was notified. The closing coincided with the shutting of the GM plant on December 23 and was one of a host of GM suppliers of parts and services to end operations in Janesville.

Lear Corp. with 371 employees, LSI with 159 employees, and Flint Special Services with 28 employees is among other Janesville companies that either shut down or have cut back. The closing of GM’s Janesville facility, the oldest plant in the company, put approximately 1,250 people out of work.