General Motors recently announced that it has reached a joint venture agreement with Penske Corporation to purchase 50% equity of VM Motori S.p.A, a designer and manufacturer of diesel engines based in Cento, Italy. This investment builds on GM’s existing relationship with VM Motori, GM’s diesel...

Kelley Blue Book recently revealed the most-researched new cars on its website during the first half of 2007. Information was collected among more than 70 million unique visitors to www.kbb.com. Consumers typically turn to Internet sites to research products, in this case new cars, prior to making...

Forecasting the demand of specialty-equipment parts and accessories provides an invaluable tool for strategic market planners and helps answer one ongoing question: How will industry sales do in the coming months? To help answer this question, SEMA commissioned the market-research firm TechnoMetrica...

The 2008 Cadillac CTS will launch in late-August with a higher level of technology, luxury and performance, says Cadillac. With many new standard features and a long list of new options, the automaker notes that the all-new 2008 CTS, Cadillac’s most affordable product, also delivers compelling value...

Scion recently announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for its all-new 2008 xD. xD models with a manual transmission will have an MSRP of $14,550, while models with an automatic transmission will be $15,350. The xD will reach Scion dealers in early August.

Ford Motor Company and Lear Corporation will mark an automotive milestone in August when production of soy-based foam for seats begins in the 2008 model year Ford Mustang. America’s beloved pony car will use the industry’s first soy-based flexible foam in the seat backs and seat cushions beginning...

Whether you contact your prospects via direct mail, print advertising, e-mail, sales calls, podcasts...no matter how you contact them, it’s important that you contact them frequently, according to a recent article by Larry Merserearu—small business consultant, speaker and author in the field of...

The U.S. Department of Commerce is sponsoring a webinar on the emerging automotive markets in China, which will take place on Thursday, August 2, 2007, at 7 p.m. (EST). This webinar will focus on the tremendous automotive market opportunities outside of primary cities such as Shanghai and Beijing...

Below is this week’s list of SEMA Show 2007 exhibitors offering products to project-vehicle builders for free or at a discounted rate. To see previous submissions, click here.

97 Days Until the Show INNOVATIONS DAY: MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2007 SHOW DAYS: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2007 DEADLINES (Refer to the SEMA Show Exhibitor Services Manual and corresponding tabs) August 10 Complimentary Banquet Tickets Request Due – Tab 1 (Show Facts) August 24