“Our new name better reflects GM’s critical role in customer retention and service after the sale,” said Steve Hill who was named this week to succeed Kevin Williams, who was named President and General Manager of GM Canada.

“It’s going to be less about selling parts and more about taking care of customers, hence the name customer care,” Hill said of the former SPO. “All successful organizations are centered on the customer. If you’re not customer focused, you’re just not going to win.”

Hill noted the importance of past Saturn, Hummer and Saab owners. “If we’re not taking care of these customers and their service needs, they’ve told us flat-out to forget about selling them a new car. If you’re not meeting their needs, there’s a zero chance of selling them a new car. Our name change is a signal that we’ve changed the way we’re doing business.”

Source: http://publish.media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Mar/0305_spo

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Designed in all respects to help protect the global environment, the “dB super E-spec” is the ultimate eco tire, and is sold in Japan as the “DNA dB super E-spec.” Together with its excellent environmental performance, Yokohama’s new technical innovations, including a next-generation inner liner, “AIRTEX,” which provides superior air retention and thus improves fuel efficiency, and a “Super Nano-Power Rubber Compound” with Orange Oil, to enhance both fuel efficiency and gripping, are demonstrated. The “C.drive2″ - to be presented at the show - is the model replacing the high-performance and-comfort “C.drive” tire in the “.drive” series - already popular in Europe - and delivers excellent performance on wet surfaces as well as fuel efficiency. The full lineup of the “.drive” series will be on hand: the “C.drive,” the High-Performance and Sporty “S.drive,” the All-Round Standard Tire, “A.drive” and the “W.drive” for winter driving.

Yokohama’s flagship ADVAN brand will be represented by the premium sport tire, “ADVAN Sport” and the street sport tire, “ADVAN NEOVA AD08.” In addition, a specially prepared display board will illustrate how the brand has earned a place as original equipment on many pace-setting vehicles around the world. Moreover, for the first time at a European motor show, Yokohama will be showing its own brand of alloy wheels, which have been well received in Japan. Three models from the ADVAN Racing series and the AVS MODEL series will be on display.

The Geneva International Motor Show, one of the five largest motor shows in the world, is an international event with a history dating back to 1905. This will be the 80th show, and approximately 250 companies in the automotive industry will exhibit cars, parts, production-related equipment, and products and supplies for repair and maintenance.

Source: http://www.yrc-pressroom.jp/english/html/201022515tr001.html

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Below are the highlights of the activity plan.

[FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)]
In 2005, the WTCC joined the F1 and WRC as the third FIA world championship. This is the sixth year it has been held. Yokohama Rubber has supplied ADVAN racing tires to the race as its one-make supplier since 2006. It has earned high marks for the balance that its tires bring to FF and FR cars and has decided to continue to supply them through 2012. Beginning this year, it will supply all 35 teams with eco-racing tires that give excellent grip with better environmental performance in both dry and wet conditions. The tires will be used in a total of 24 races, including the 12 rounds that begin in Brazil on March 7 and finish up Macau. The event will be held at the Okayama International Circuit once again this year, giving Japanese fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of one of the world’s top races at home.

The company plans to supply WTCC spec tires to the “European Touring Car Championship” (ETCC) and to touring car races in Sweden, Denmark, Russia and other countries.

[International F3 Macau Grand Prix (China)]
Yokohama Rubber is the one-make supplier of tires to the WTCC’s final event, the Macau F3 Grand Prix, now in its 28th year. In addition to the F3 Grand Prix and WTCC, ADVAN racing tires enjoy a share of more than 50% in the support races for the Grand Prix.

[China Circuit Championship (touring car race) and China Rally Championship]
From this year through 2012, Yokohama Rubber is the one-make supplier to the China Circuit Championship and will be supplying Super 2000 class and Super 1600 class ADVAN racing tires. For the China Rally Championship, we will be supplying the “ADVAN A053″ and “ADVAN A006T” tires originally developed in the “FIA Production Car World Rally Championship” (PCWRC) for six cars driven by the “Subaru Rally Team China” and “Honghe”teams. Both are scheduled for launch international markets in May.

[Le mans 24 Hours]
We support “JAGUAR RSR,” which has been performed well in the American Le Mans series, for Le Mans 24 Hours. As it celebrates its 75 year, Jaguar is returning to Le Mans to enter the “XKR GT2″ in the LM-GT2 class.

[Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)]
Yokohama Rubber enjoys a partnership with the “Cusco World Rally Team,” which is racing here for the fifth time and aiming for the series championship. Out of six events, the team plans to compete in all but the fifth (New Caledonia).

[SUPER GT]
In the GT500, we continue to support “KONDO Racing,” which has used ADVAN racing tires to achieve a string of wins in 2007, 2008 (Sepang, Malaysia) and the opener in 2009. In the GT300 class, we supply ADVAN racing tires to approximately 60% of the teams, including the 2009 series champion, “RACING PROJECT BANDOH.”

[All Japan Rally Championship]
We will continue our partnership with the 2009 series champion, “ADVAN-PIAA RALLY TEAM.” The team will be seeking another victory this year in its Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X decorated with the red and black ADVAN colors.

[Super Taikyu Series]
This is the only full-fledged endurance race in Japan, and in 2009 cars equipped with ADVAN racing tires won championships in all classes. This year, the series will be introducing an “official tire,” and we are pleased that their strong track record won that position for ADVAN racing tires in the first year. We will be supplying eco-racing tires designed specifically for super endurance racing that offer improved environmental performance and, thanks to the use of “orange oil,” excellent grip too.

Yokohama Rubber will be supporting a number of other categories as well, including the “All Japan GYMKHANA Championship” (championships in seven classes in 2009) and “All Japan Dirt Trial” (championship in one class in 2009 ).

[One-Make Tire Category]
We will supply ADVAN racing tires to the following categories.

• Porsche GT3 One-Make Race (the United States, Brazil) : Porsche GT3 race held in the United States and Brazil. Eco-racing tires will be supplied to the US race. The Brazil race is growing in popularity thanks to the introduction of new classes.
• Seat Leon One-Make Race (Spain, Germany) : Seat Leon One-Make Races are held in many European countries. ADVAN racing tires will be supplied on a “one-make” basis to the series in Spain and Germany.
• German F3 (Germany) : F3 race held in Germany.
• Civic One-Make Race (Japan) : Honda Civic (FD2) race.
• Corolla Axio GT One-Make Race (Japan) : Corolla Axio GT (NZE141) race held at Fuji International Speedway.
• F4 Championship, Super FJ, Racing Kart etc. : We also support entry categories in motor sports. We have signed a 3-year supply contract for Super FJ that begins in 2010.

We look forward to supporting teams with ADVAN tires throughout the world and using the data obtained from racing in the development of consumer-market tires.

Source: http://www.yrc-pressroom.jp/english/html/20103515ms001.html

New and Used Japanese Auto Parts

C.drive2 represents a basic change from the original C.drive model, Yokohama’s high-performance and-comfort tire, after an interval of six years. Retaining the basic concept behind the previous model, which is grounded in delivery of confidence in the rain and superb handling capabilities, C.drive2 was developed for a better wet grip while maintaining a low rolling resistance for the fuel efficiency. The handling stability under both dry and wet conditions has been heightened to meet the European safety requirement.

C.drive2 will fulfill the “.drive” series lineup, which also includes S.drive (high-performance sport tire), A.drive (all-round standard tire), and W.drive (winter tire) models.

Source: http://www.yrc-pressroom.jp/english/html/201022513tr001.html

New and Used Japanese Auto Parts

2. As much as possible promote your website to all free & if possible paid search engines & directories, so that your website can gain visitors from all sort of the world. The best thing is to promote your company details in Automobile trade directories portals sites like JapanAutoPages.com which are only related to Japanese automobile industries and having thousands of members around the world looking for used vehicles, machineries, bikes & parts etc.
3. Try to display your stock of used vehicles, machineries, bikes & parts etc. in maximum sites, it means try to take the membership with those websites or portals who can help you to display your stock in different sites related to different keywords search, so that they can be available with all searchable possibilities by the buyers. Like the services provided by Japanese Car Portal
4. Try to post your company profiling as much as possible in online websites and if possible try to display them maximum to the automobile industry, so that relevant visitors or buyers can approach your company avoiding unnecessary communications. Some of the companies are providing these services to their members specially to provide exporters best exposure online.
5. Try writing articles on different topics of automobile industries which a normal buyer or importer want to know and in between provide your own companies reference for further informations.
6. Try posting different classifieds related to different types of vehicles, makes, models etc.
7. Try sending your business offers to the importers listed at different automobile portals like Japanese Used Vehicles

In response to Mr. Gilbert’s claim as communicated to Toyota, Toyota confirmed that what Mr. Gilbert described would not cause unintended acceleration to occur. In fact, under the abnormal condition described last week by Mr. Gilbert, if there is a short with low resistance between the two signals, the electronic throttle control system illuminates the “check engine” light and the vehicle enters into a fail-safe mode of engine idle operation. If there is a short with high resistance, outside the range of “check engine” light illumination, the accelerator pedal continues to be responsive to driver input and the vehicle will return to the idle condition when the foot is taken off of the accelerator pedal. Unintended acceleration would not occur.

After watching the story today on ABC News featuring Mr. Gilbert, Toyota was surprised to learn that Mr. Gilbert appears now to be making a different claim regarding the electronic throttle control system and in a vehicle other than as described to Toyota last week. Although it is difficult to tell from the footage used in the story, Mr. Gilbert appears to be introducing a different external and artificial method to manipulate the throttle. In order to set the record straight, Toyota welcomes the opportunity to evaluate the Toyota Avalon shown in today’s story and the method by which Mr. Gilbert allegedly caused the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally. We welcome the attendance of ABC News at any such evaluation of this vehicle and Mr. Gilbert’s testing.

Source: http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-s-statement-in-regard-to-154197.aspx

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Nokian tests in the most extreme conditions of the north and is multiple test winner
Nokian Z G2: nine new sizes and “very recommendable” from ADAC in the last UHP summer tyre test

ADAC rates Nokian H also “very recommendable”

New DSI Satisfaction by Nokian

The most important criteria for buying tyres are safety and environmental friendliness. Safety pays above all in dangerous situations, and particularly on wet roads.

The Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres tests tyres in the most extreme conditions of the north. Roads in poor condition with holes and uneven surface, wet because of the heavy rain with suddenly changing demanding conditions are its test tracks. Large fluctuations in temperature are typical. Nokian is the expert for extreme conditions and tests summer tyres also in cool temperatures which is unique. As its premium tyres are very safe in these hard conditions, they run excellently in nice weather as well as on sound asphalt and have enough reserves for dangerous situations.

Excellent wet grip for high safety
Testing on wet roads is very important because here the tyres have lower road holding than on dry. On its own proving ground in Nokia, situated in the south of Finland, the company tests the wet grip on a circle to measure a tyre’s latitudinal grip. This simulates driving in a curve. The car shall not drift too far to the outside. In wet handling the driver evaluates the characteristics of the tyres, additionally the lap times give information about the quality. The tyres shall be predictable to prevent the car driver from experiencing dangerous surprises.

A short braking distance on wet roads can prevent an accident, as braking distances in rain are longer than many car drivers believe. Nokian tests the braking performance on several different surface types with different friction coefficients, this means under hardest loads, too.

No car driver wants to aquaplane on wet roads, as here the wagon can not be steered and can not brake any more, either. The best way to avoid aquaplaning is with new tyres where the tread geometry pumps the water away from under the tyre. Once tyres have less than 4 millimetres of groove depth their ability to grip in the wet weakens significantly.

Longitudinal aquaplaning, which occurs during driving straight ahead, is tested on a track that features a tank in which test cars are driven in a straight line. The speed at which the car aquaplanes and therefore looses the grip is measured. The water depth can be up to 15 millimetres and make increased demands on the tyres, as in the tests of the most important magazines the water is only seven millimetres deep. During lateral aquaplaning it is measured when the wagon is drifting out of the curve. Eight millimetres are again increased demands, as normally testing is done only with four millimetres. The curve inclination accounts to few per cent, therefore simulating an additional danger. The outer part of the curve lies lower and the inner higher, it is „hanging“. This is why you can take off there more quickly.

Speed, grip and precise reaction decide in the dry tests
During the dry trials on the handling track the test driver evaluates subjectively the driving behaviour in varying conditions. Quick shifts in direction by lane changes and elk tests show the limits among the others. These correspond to the typical driving situations during taking over and avoiding, where speed gives high safety and where the grip and the stability of the tyres are crucial. They shall at once react precisely to the steering wheel movements. The slalom measures the lane stability during sudden changes of direction. Heavy duty, the rear can be pulling.

Additionally to all this intensive driving Nokian Tyres tests also worldwide for years on high speed tracks like Papenburg, Germany, Idiada, Spain, and in South Africa. This is necessary to improve tyre properties under maximum speeds loadings. Especially in case of UHP tyres (UHP = ultra high performance).

Nokian Z G2 rated “very recommendable” in ADAC tyre test
Because of the tests in extreme conditions the premium tyres have a high quality. Nokian is multiple test winner with more than 70 years of experience. The tests of the leading magazines do prove this. The ultra high speed tyre Nokian Z G2 is “very recommendable” according to the “ADAC judgement” in the UHP summer tyre test 2009 of the German automobile association ADAC. The Finnish premium tyre is praised very positively in the “short comments”: “+ Very balanced summer tyre”, “+ Very good on wet road”, “+ Very good on dry road / asphalt”. In the test criteria “dry conditions” the Nokian Z G2 got the mark 1.7, in “wet conditions” 2.2 and in durability 2.5. The fuel consumption is also low: 2.9 which is below the “very recommendable” mark limit, too. Nokian’s tyre proves its high safety excellently in the important driving qualities stability with mark 1.4, handling 1.5 and braking on wet road with 1.9.

16 tyres of size 205/55 R 16 W competed in the test of the biggest automobile association in the world. “Very recommendable” is the best possible judgement.

Nokian H rated “very recommendable” in ADAC tyre test
The “ADAC judgement” for the Nokian H in the summer tyre test 2010 of the ADAC is also “very recommendable”. The nice “short comments” are: “+ Very balanced summer tyre with best mark on dry road + good on wet road”. In the different test criteria the Nokian H got these fine marks: dry 1.8, wet 2.3, fuel consumption 2.6 and durability 2.7. The top judgements in the important driving properties show the high safety of the Nokian tyre in handling wet with mark 1.5, driving stability dry 1.6 and curve wet with 2.0.

„The Nokian H combines driving safety, precision and environmental parameters in an excellent way,“ says Teppo Huovila, Vice President Research & Development of Nokian Tyres. “This is the second time in row that Nokian tyres are honoured with “very recommendable” as 2009 Nokian Z G2 got this ADAC rating in the UHP test. Furthermore you protect the environment with the Nokian-branded tyres twice, because they are produced only with harmless low-aromatic oils. 19 tyres of size 185/65 R 15 H have been compared in the test.

The ADAC executed the test together with the renowned consumer protection organisation Stiftung Warentest. The “test quality judgement: Nokian H good (2.4)”, whereas “good” was the best judgement. Only two tyres got the top recommendations “very recommendable” and “our advice” in both magazines, one of them is Nokian H. Additionally Nokian H was the overwhelming winner of the ACE/GTÜ summer tyre test 2009 (ACE = European Automobile Association).

New DSI satisfaction by Nokian
The tyres of Nokian Tyres are developed, tested and manufactured in the demanding conditions of the north. They offer the best possible performance even in the most extreme conditions. If a buyer is not content with his new summer tyres of Nokian by any reason, he is allowed to exchange them for another set of tyres at his dealer within 14 days. Mounting and balancing are free of charge. This is the Nokian DSI satisfaction concept.

Nanotechnology: outstanding wet grip, precise driving response

Thanks to nanotechnology the premium tyre Nokian Z G2 immediately reacts quicker to steering movements and convinces with precise handling as well as outstanding wet grip. It is high-performing, safe, wear resistant and in demanding driving conditions considerably stronger than competitor products, as its development engineers of Nokian Tyres say.

More safety: aquaplaning indicator and driving safety indicator

An aquaplaning indicator warns of aquaplaning with a drop symbol in the DSI driving safety indicator. It fades when the remaining profile is only four millimetres, pointing to a higher risk. To avoid aquaplaning the main grooves must have a minimum depth of four millimetres. The car driver can easily read the profile depth as number of 8 to 2.

Environmentally friendly: saves fuel and without high-aromatic oils

Car drivers should choose tyres, which are safe, but also environmentally friendly at the same time. The “very recommendable” premium tyre Nokian Z G2 saves even half a litre of fuel per 100 kilometres compared to other comparable tyres, as it has a lower rolling resistance. 40 per cent difference in rolling resistance saves six per cent fuel. This is 300 Euros less over a normal driving distance of 40,000 kilometres,“ knows R & D expert Huovila. Furthermore this eco tyre produces fewer CO2 emissions. Moreover it does not contain harmful high-aromatic oils. Like all tyres from the own factories it is produced environmentally friendly only with purified oils.

Environmentally friendliness belongs to the core values of Nokian Tyres, all its tyres are green and have high mileages. The company is the world’s first tyre manufacturer to have introduced purified, low-aromatic oils in its production, and this already since the end of 2004. All tyres produced with high-aromatic oils after 1 January 2010 are not allowed to be sold any longer according to the EU regulation.

Actually the Scandinavian specialist and multiple test winner Nokian Tyres is known for its excellent winter tyres, but it also produces outstanding summer tyres performing well in three very different seasons – spring, summer and autumn.

Source: http://www.nokiantyres.com/release?id=16785880

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„The Nokian H combines driving safety, precision and environmental parameters in an excellent way,“ knows Teppo Huovila, Vice President Research & Development of Nokian Tyres. “This is the second time in row that Nokian tyres are honoured with “very recommendable” as 2009 Nokian Z G2 got the ADAC rating in the UHP (ultra high performance) test. Furthermore you protect the environment with the Nokian-branded tyres twice, because they are produced only with harmless low-aromatic oils. 19 tyres of size 185/65 R 15 H competed in the test of the biggest automobile association in the world. “Very recommendable” is the best possible judgement.

The ADAC executed the test together with the renowned consumer protection organisation Stiftung Warentest. The “test quality judgement: Nokian H good (2.4)”, whereas “good” was the best judgement. Only two tyres got the top recommendations “very recommendable” and “our advice” in both magazines, one of them is Nokian H.

The Scandinavian winter tyre specialist Nokian Tyres is multiple test winner. Nokian H was the overwhelming winner of the ACE/GTÜ summer tyre test 2009 (ACE = European Automobile Association). The company tests its premium tyres in the most extreme conditions of the north and produces outstanding summer tyres performing well in three very different seasons – spring, summer and autumn.

Nearly every forth tyre failed the ADAC test. The person who buys cheap tyres is driving in highest danger of accident. The braking distance is nearly 40 metres longer with low-cost tyres on wet road – this is 70 per cent more.

Source: http://www.nokiantyres.com/release?id=16773800

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The change in representative directors, to be effective from April 1, 2010, will be finalized after resolution at the Ordinary General Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held in late June 2010 and the board of directors’ meeting to be held afterwards.

New Representative Directors
The new representative director, his title, and area of responsibility from April 1 are as follows:

Ikuhiro Yamaguchi

Current title	Executive Officer
New title	Executive Vice President & Representative Director
New area of responsibility	Head of the Iron & Steel Business *

Continuing Representative Directors

Hiroshi Sato

Title

President, CEO & Representative Director

Tomoyuki Kaya

Title

Executive Vice President & Representative Director

New areas of responsibility

Supervises the Audit Department, Legal Department, Human Resources Department, Accounting Department and Finance Department. Supervises company-wide corporate compliance. Oversees the Secretariat & Publicity Department, General Administration Department, Corporate Planning Department, IT Planning Department, Marketing Planning Department, domestic branch offices and sales offices (including Takasago Works), and overseas offices (under the head office).

Takashi Matsutani

Title	Executive Vice President & Representative Director
New area of responsibility	Head of the Natural Resources & Engineering Business *

Kazuo Shigekawa

Current Title	Senior Managing Director & Representative Director
New Title	Executive Vice President & Representative Director
New area of responsibility	Head of the Machinery Business *

* Denotes provisional names in English

Source: http://www.kobelco.co.jp/english/topics/2010/03/1183062_9226.html

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An increase in Nokian Tyres’ share capital relating to 2004C option rights totalling 367,004 euros was entered into the Trade Register on 25 February, 2010. After the increase, the number of shares rose to 126,686,410, and thus the ownership of Black Rock Investment Management (UK) Limited decreased below the level of 10% to 9.92% of shares and voting rights.

Source: http://www.nokiantyres.com/release?id=16665894

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