Fleet Daily

HINO TRUCKS HONORED AT NATIONAL BIODIESEL CONFERENCE

2012-02-07T16:19:00.002-05:00

NOVI, MI – During a ceremony today at the National Biodiesel Conference in Orlando, Hino Trucks
was recognized by the National Biodiesel Board with the 2012 “Eye on Biodiesel Impact Award”.
The “I-Awards” represent the biodiesel industry’s top honors, and are bestowed upon companies,
groups or individuals who have helped carry the biodiesel torch, fostering understanding, mentoring
others and encouraging broader use of this cleaner burning, sustainable fuel. Hino Trucks was
nominated for an award this year for serving as a trailblazer among manufacturers as well as among
hybrid truck manufacturers in supporting the use of B20 biodiesel blends.

Hino Trucks was honored in the Impact category by becoming the first manufacturer to support the
use of B20 biodiesel blends in a hybrid-electric truck, as well as in its complete product line of class
6 and 7 conventional trucks. Not only will Hino’s COE 195h hybrid truck be a part of the event’s
Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase, but Hino was invited to be a part of a general session OEM panel
entitled “The Future is Unwritten: Energy Policy, Diesel Technology, and B20” as well as the
technical session discussing “Biodiesel Engines of Today and the Future – Development of Super
High Efficiency Diesel Engines”.

All 2011 and later model conventional trucks powered exclusively with Hino’s proprietary J-Series
engines are approved to use B20 biodiesel blends that contain biofuel blend stock (B100) compliant
to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6751, and blended fuel compliant to ASTM
D975. B20 biodiesel meeting these standards is also approved for use in Hino’s newly announced
diesel and diesel-electric hybrid cab overs due to enter the market late this summer.

“It is our strong commitment to design and assemble trucks that are at the forefront of environmental
friendliness and that help to reduce our overall dependency on foreign oils,” said Glenn Ellis, Vice
President of Marketing and Dealer Operations for Hino Trucks. Hino offers the only class 6 and 7
conventional truck to meet the stringent 2010 EPA emission requirements without the use of credits.

“By offering the class 5 market a diesel-electric hybrid cab over that can use up to B20 biodiesel, our
customers now have an option for a commercially acceptable alternative fuel truck,” added Ellis.
“Biodiesel, America’s advanced biofuel, would not be what it is today without champions and
supporters like the Eye on Biodiesel honorees,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board.
“We are proud to recognize these leaders from all facets of the biodiesel industry.” Additional
information about biodiesel is available online at www.biodiesel.org.

About Hino: Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, assembles, sells, and services Class 4-7
conventional commercial trucks in the United States. The headquarters is located in Novi, Michigan
and boasts a network of over 160 dealers nationwide committed to achieving excellence in customer
service and support. Hino Trucks is the premier medium duty nameplate in the United States with a
product lineup that offers the lowest total cost of ownership, superior fuel economy, industry-leading
environmental friendliness, unmatched reliability and maneuverability, and the most comprehensive
bundle of standard features in the market. For more information, visit our internet home page at
www.hino.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

New ATD Chairman Richard Witcher Says Communication Is Key to Success

2012-02-07T16:18:00.002-05:00

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 6, 2012) – Richard W. Witcher, the new chairman of the AmericanTruck Dealers (ATD), rallied the nation’s truck dealers to become even moreinvolved in the association after a rousing introduction by outgoing chairmanKyle Treadway.

“I am humbled to accept Kyle’sgavel,” said Witcher, CEO of Minuteman Trucks in Walpole, Mass.,who said he plans to continue many of the strategic goals that Treadway hadbegun.

Witcher encouraged members toinform themselves about relevant state and local legislative initiatives, helpnurture the next generation of dealers and set future industry standards.Witcher also is committed to increasing ATD membership from 80 percent to 90percent, which is what NADA represents for automobile dealers.

Witcher’s remarks showed that hehopes to continue ATD’s commitment to be pro-active rather than reactive. AndWitcher asked all ATD dealers, especially those who have been nominated forTruck Dealer of the Year awards, to help him set the pace for excellence.

About ATD

The American Truck Dealers represents about 2,000 medium- and heavy-duty truckdealers. ATD members share in NADA’s programs, services and benefits. ATD hostsan annual convention and expo for dealers and dealership managers. For moreinformation, visit www.atd.org.

Terry L. Dotson Named ATD/Heavy Duty Trucking Dealer of the Year

2012-02-07T16:17:00.005-05:00

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 6, 2012) – Terry Dotson, president, chairman and CEOof Prestonburg, Ky.-based Worldwide Equipment Enterprises, was named the 2012Truck Dealer of the Year, a national award co-sponsored by the American TruckDealers (ATD) and Heavy DutyTrucking magazine.

Dotsonreceived this highest honor out of a select group of dealers from across the countryand was recognized at the 49th Annual ATD Convention in Las Vegas on Feb. 4. The ATD division of theNational Automobile Dealers Association is the only national organizationrepresenting dealers selling and servicing new medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Nomineesfor the ATD/Heavy DutyTrucking Truck Dealer of the Year are evaluated on severalcategories, including dealership performance, civic contributions and industryleadership. A panel of professors from Indiana University'sKelley School of Business chose the winner and runner-up.

Therunner up was John C. Arscott, president and CEO of The Pete Store, LLC, in Baltimore, Md.

TheATD convention concluded today.

About ATD

TheAmerican Truck Dealers represents about 2,000 medium- and heavy-duty truckdealers. ATD members share in NADA’s programs, services and benefits. ATD hostsan annual convention and expo for dealers and dealership managers. For moreinformation, visit www.atd.org.

EPA Recognizes DoD Facilities for Emission Reductions and Energy Savings

2012-02-07T16:17:00.002-05:00

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizedtwo Department of Defense (DoD) facilities with the Energy Star Combined Heatand Power (CHP) award for taking an efficient, clean, and reliable approach togenerating power and thermal energy from a single source. By using CHPtechnology, the award winners demonstrated leadership and a commitment toprotecting people's health and the environment while reporting annual energysavings of $6.8 million.

“I congratulatethese military bases for leading by example in the efforts to reduce pollution,improve energy efficiency, and cut energy costs,” said Gina McCarthy, assistantadministrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “These advanced CHPsystems give us reliable, clean and cost cutting ways to keep our militarybases powered and our environment protected.”

TheCHP awards were presented to the following facilities at today’s InternationalDistrict Energy Association’s Annual Campus Energy Conference in Arlington,Va.:

• U.S.Army Garrison Fort Bragg, N.C.

• U.S. Marine CorpsAir Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

CHP technology produces both electricity and steam/hot water from a single heatsource, using fuels such as natural gas, biomass, or wasted energy. By usingthis technology, the bases' CHP systems achieved operating efficiencies ofnearly 65 percent, much higher than the efficiency of separate production ofelectricity and thermal energy (typically less than 50 percent). Based on thiscomparison, the CHP systems avoided carbon pollution equal to that from theelectricity used by more than 4,000 homes. The CHP systems also increase thebases’ energy security and reliability because the systems can runindependently in the event of a power outage. As the largest U.S. energyconsumer, DoD recognizes that reliable energy supplies for its militaryinstallations are critical to our nation’s security.

Established in 2001, EPA’s CHP Partnership is a voluntary program thatencourages the use of CHP to reduce the environmental impact of power generation.The partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state andlocal governments, and other energy stakeholders to facilitate the developmentof new projects and to promote energy, environmental and economic benefits.

More information about the CHP Partnership: http://www.epa.gov/chp/
More information about the Energy Star CHP Awards: http://epa.gov/chp/public-recognition/current_winners.html

Lincoln Celebrates The 54th Annual Grammy Awards By Honoring ‘Black Women In Music’

2012-02-07T16:16:00.002-05:00

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 7, 2012 – Lincoln and ESSENCE will honor Grammy nominee Kelly Rowland and music industry executive Sylvia Rhone on Wednesday to help celebrate the most exciting week in music.

The 2012 Lincoln MKX premium two-row utility is the official vehicle for Black Women in Music and will chauffer the two stars to the red carpet. This is the third year that Lincoln and ESSENCE have collaborated for the exclusive affair.

“Lincoln is pleased to be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the ESSENCE Black Women in Music event for the third year,” says Shawn Lollie, Lincoln manager of Multicultural Marketing. “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the magazine in honoring these talented women, and participate in events like these that speak to the Lincoln customer.”

Rowland is nominated for a Grammy this year for her song “Motivation.” The singer began her career in the ’90s with the iconic all-female group Destiny’s Child, which has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. Rowland is also one of the judges on the British reality television competition The X Factor.

Rhone’s career in the music industry spans more than three decades. Most recently, she served as the president of Universal Motown records. Her roster of artists includes multi-platinum artists Stevie Wonder, Missy Elliott and Nelly.

“Kelly and Sylvia are two very influential women in the music industry and having Lincoln sponsor an event honoring them is a great fit as we expose the luxury brand to influential buyers,” says Lollie. “This is a great way for modern consumers, like African-American women, to engage with our vehicles in a fun, fresh and glamorous way.”

Rowland will perform with special guest Grammy Award-winner Eve and the legendary MC Lyte will DJ for the evening.

The 54^th Annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday on CBS.

For more information about Lincoln and the MKX visit media.lincoln.com.

PHH ARVAL INTRODUCES NEW FLEET PROGRAM THROUGH ALLIANCE WITH FLEETCOR

2012-02-07T16:15:00.002-05:00

Sparks,Md. (Feb. 7, 2012) – PHH Arval today announced a strategic alliance with FleetCor (NYSE: FLT), a leading global provider of fuelcards and specialized payment products. As part ofthe strategic alliance, PHH Arval will now offer a new corporate universal PHHMasterCard^®, powered byComdata.

“ThePHH MasterCard is unlike any other fleet program in the Canadian market today,” said Jim Halliday, President PHH Canada. “As aleader in fleet management solutions, PHH is always looking for opportunitiessuch as this to provide our clients the best solutions to manage costs andreduce purchase fraud.”

The new fleet program will be available for PHH Arval clients inCanada and deliver a comprehensive North American fuel program for PHH Arvalheavy truck fleets, as well as enhanced coverage in Puerto Rico.

Withthe new card, managers can specifically designa program for their company, which includes many fraud prevention and costreduction features. For example:

· Purchaselevel controls including transaction limits, blocked hours, locations, or days

· Robustsecurity capabilities to stop fraud

· Truckstop specific services and Comdata proprietary network advantages

“Inthe U.S. and Canada, the PHH MasterCard is ideal for our heavy truck fleetsthat need customizable solutions,” said Rob Stowers,Senior Vice President and General Manager of PHH FirstFleet, the truck andequipment division of PHH Arval.

"Paymentcards are an essential tool in managing fleet operations, and we are delightedto partner with PHH Arval to provide the company’s fleet clients withbest-of-breed card features,” said Ron Clarke, FleetCor’s CEO. “With this card,PHH Arval clients can optimize their ability to identify fraudulenttransactions and minimize costs.”

About PHH Arval

PHH Arval, a subsidiary of PHH Corporation (NYSE:PHH), is a leading fleet management services provider in the United States andCanada. PHH Arval provides outsourced fleet management solutions to corporateclients, including nearly one-third of the Fortune 500 companies. Throughconsultative expertise, flexible customer service, and award-winning Internettechnology, PHH Arval helps clients reduce costs and increase productivity. Formore information, visit www.phharval.com, or call 800 ONLYPHH.

MANHEIM’S SIMULCAST EVERYWHERE TAKES THE AUCTION TO THE CAR, REVOLUTIONIZING VEHICLE REMARKETING

2012-02-06T12:43:00.002-05:00

ATLANTA -- Today,Manheim unveiled Simulcast Everywhere, a revolutionary digital auction platformthat brings the auction to the car, anywhere in the world, with liveauctioneer-led sales. The new Simulcast product -- launched during the NationalAutomobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in Las Vegas -- makes buyingand selling significantly easier for customers. It is a first for both Manheimand the vehicle remarketing industry.

Unlike any product on themarket, Simulcast Everywhere features competitive bidding within anOVE.com-style environment, bringing the in-lane excitement of sale day to theonline experience. With Simulcast Everywhere, the auction, vehicles and buyersall can be located anywhere.

“The idea for SimulcastEverywhere really came from listening to our customers and learning what kindsof digital tools would make it easier for them to buy and sell cars,” said JoeGeorge, group vice president of Manheim Digital. “Building upon those insights,we developed Simulcast Everywhere. This past fall we piloted the product inclosed sales with Nissan, Infiniti and Asbury, which gave us the opportunity toget great customer feedback and refine Simulcast Everywhere before rolling outthis game-changing offering.”

Simulcast Everywhere works likethis: A still picture of the vehicle is displayed with a live audio stream ofthe auctioneer calling each vehicle. A vehicle bid log constantly keeps saleactivity up-to-date. In addition, general vehicle details, quick access tocondition reports and the full run list of vehicles are available onscreen at aglance.

The unprecedented auctionplatform delivers distinct advantages to buyers and sellers. Buyers gain accessto a larger pool of inventory in a familiar, fully transparent marketplacewhere they can see everyone who is participating in the sale. This level oftransparency gives customers a high level of confidence during SimulcastEverywhere events. Also, vehicles come with condition reports so buyers haveall of the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.

Simulcast Everywhere’scompetitive bidding environment enables sellers to find the best market pricefor their vehicles, in real-time price discovery. The digital auction platformalso exposes sellers’ inventory to a wider buyer marketplace, includingvehicles not on Manheim’s property, saving sellers transportation feesassociated with bringing vehicles to the auction.

At NADA, dealers will be among the first to experienceSimulcast Everywhere during live mock sales at the Manheim booth. Toparticipate and win great prizes, they should register at booth #1169.

Simulcast Everywhere is a natural extension of the Simulcastproduct suite launched in Manheim’s lanes during 2002. “We are proud tocelebrate our 10th anniversary of employing a platform that changed the waypeople buy and sell cars in the remarketing wholesale industry,” said George.“With the launch of Simulcast Everywhere, Manheim continues its commitment toinnovate products that help customers do business with us anytime, anywhere andin any way they like.”

For more information aboutSimulcast Everywhere and to watch a video of the product in action, click here.

About Manheim (www.manheim.com)

Manheim is the world’s leading provider of vehicleremarketing services. Through its 118 worldwide wholesale operating locations,Manheim impacts every stage of a used vehicle’s life cycle, helping commercialsellers and automobile dealers maximize the full value of their vehicles.Drawing from its auction transaction volume, Manheim Consulting publishes theannual Used Car Market Report, the definitive source of data for the used carindustry. Manheim Consulting offers a wide range of services includingcustom analytics, business optimization and macro economic analysis.

Manheim is the online vehicle remarketing leader, connectingbuyers and sellers to the world’s largest, most comprehensive wholesalemarketplace through its extensive in-lane and online offerings. Manheim.com receives nearly 900,000 visits each week.

Additionally, Manheim offers services includingreconditioning, certification, inspections, dealer financing, title managementand marshaling, among others. Through its wide array of services andtechnologies, industry publications, customer support and educationalofferings, Manheim gives its customers maximum control over how they buy andsell vehicles, helping them to conduct business in the most efficient waypossible. In 2011, Manheim handled nearly 8 million used vehicles, facilitatingtransactions worth more than $50 billion in value.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of CoxEnterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.

Chrysler Group Airs "It's Halftime in America" Commercial During 2012 NFL Championship Game

2012-02-06T12:42:00.002-05:00

February 5, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group television commercial titled "It's Halftime in America" that aired during the 2012 NFL Championship game plus still images. Video and images are downloadable via links on the right side of this page.

The following is the script from the commercial:
It’s Halftime in America Script
It’s halftime. Both teams are in their locker room discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half.
It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.

The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together, now Motor City is fighting again.

I’ve seen a lot of tough eras, a lot of downturns in my life. And, times when we didn’t understand each other. It seems like we’ve lost our heart at times. When the fog of division, discord, and blame made it hard to see what lies ahead.
But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll make one.

All that matters now is what’s ahead. How do we come from behind? How do we come together? And, how do we win?

Detroit’s showing us it can be done. And, what’s true about them is true about all of us.

This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin.

MANHEIM PRESENTS ANNUAL BARBARA COX ANTHONY AUTOMOTIVE WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD TO RACHEL M. RICHARDS

2012-02-06T12:41:00.005-05:00

ATLANTA – Manheim (www.manheim.com) presented its eighth annual Barbara CoxAnthony Automotive Woman of the Year Award today to Rachel M. Richards, vicepresident of retail strategy and chief marketing officer for Sonic Automotive.The honor recognizes the diverse contributions Richards has made to theautomotive industry and service to her Charlotte, N.C. community. ManheimPresident Sandy Schwartz presented the award during Northwood University’sannual breakfast at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention inLas Vegas.

“Rachel is a passionate advocate for our industry, hercustomers and her community,” said Schwartz. “In addition to her manyprofessional accomplishments, she has been instrumental in developinginnovative business solutions, demonstrating a commitment to automotiveeducation and serving as a role model to women in this industry. I’mlooking forward to personally presenting her this award on behalf of Manheimand Cox Enterprises.”

Richards joined Sonic in 2006 as the director of retailstrategy and project management. In this role, she redefined the Fortune 400company’s retail online and digital strategy, as well as helped develop dealermanagement system business requirements and processes. Prior to joining Sonic,Richards held various field, regional management and corporate positions withinFord Motor Company and the Ford Motor Credit Company.

“I am truly honored to receive this very prestigious awardand be recognized for my accomplishments in our field. Upon entering theautomotive industry, after my graduation from college, I would never havedreamed that my contributions and body of work would be recognized and honoredin this way. I am grateful for having the opportunity to have learned frommany hard working and very smart men and women and that I continue to work withso many wonderful people in this great industry of ours. Giving back to thosethat work and aspire to enter the automotive industry is very important to me.Knowing that in conjunction with this award, a scholarship is granted to adeserving college student makes it even more special!”

Richards is a member of the Women’s Automotive AssociationInternational, which recognizes the achievements of women in theindustry, as well as provides counsel and education on automotive careers. Shewas honored with an Automotive Excellence Award last year by Auto Remarketingas one of the top ten women in automotive remarketing, as well as named one ofthe Top 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry in 2010. A yearearlier, Richards was recognized as a recipient of the Top 25 Women in BusinessAchievement award in Charlotte, NC.

In addition to her dedication to the automotive industry,Richards gives back to her community as a Girl Scout leader, supporter ofHabitat for Humanity, annual sponsor of CHAMP (Children Achieving MaximumPotential), which enables underprivileged children to participate in anafterschool educational and mentoring program, as well as numerous volunteeractivities throughout her daughter’s school years.

Richards is in excellent company as previous winners ofManheim’s Barbara Cox Anthony Automotive Woman of the Year Award include:Tamara Darvish, executive vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group; LorraineSchultz, Women’s Automotive Association International’s founder and chiefexecutive officer; Independent Dealership owner Sandra Moss; Toyota executiveTracey Doi; Pam Nicholson, Enterprise Rent-A-Car executive vice president andchief operating officer; Maguire Automotive Group President Marcy H. Maguire;and Columbus Fair Auto Auction owner Alexis Jacobs.

In conjunction with the award presented to Richards, Manheimwill make a scholarship contribution to a deserving junior or senior student atNorthwood University.

About Manheim (www.manheim.com)

Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of CoxEnterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.

CARFAX REPORTS INCREASE ONLINE SALES LEADS

2012-02-06T12:41:00.002-05:00

CENTREVILLE, Va. (February 5, 2012)– Dealers that include Carfax Vehicle History Reports with their onlinelistings get more sales leads per day. A joint study from Lemonfree.com andCarfax shows that dealers get 73% more daily customer leads by linking CarfaxReports to their listings. Giving online shoppers the information they need upfront helps them buy faster and with greater confidence.

“Havingfree Carfax Reports available on Lemonfree.com saves our users time and moneywhen buying a car." said Dan Legal, COO of LemonFree. "With just aclick of a button, the user sees an overview of the car’s history and that'sreally powerful information for the consumer to have.”

Lemonfree.comand Carfax reviewed nearly five million vehicles listed on the lemonfree.comwebsite for the study. Beginning Aug. 1 last year, Lemonfree.com gives onlineshoppers free access to Carfax Reports run by dealers directly from theirvehicle listings.

“Consumerstrust the Carfax name and look for Carfax information when making their dealerchoice,” said Bill Eager, vice president of Carfax. “This study is furtherproof that Carfax Reports help dealers sell more cars.”

Lemonfree.comlists millions of used cars annually from sellers across the U.S. and Canada.For more information, visit www.lemonfree.com.

About Lemonfree.com, Inc. (www.lemonfree.com)

Byutilizing a fresh and simple approach and a vision to be the most trusted automarketplace online, Lemonfree.com helps more than 1.5 million auto buyers shopfor a vehicle every month. Over 26,000 dealers list 40 thousand autos daily onLemonfree.com, making it one of the fastest growing auto marketplaces on theweb.

AboutCarfax (www.carfax.com)

Carfaxis the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotiveindustry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Reportin 1986 and is trusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire,advertise and retail used cars. Carfax is integrated with over 250 acquisitionand inventory companies and is the vehicle history provider of choice for 32manufacturer Certified programs plus 2,000 automotive Web sites. Onlineshoppers view Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™included with dealer listings more than 85 million times a year to buy withmore confidence. Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealeror learn how Carfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com.

MANHEIM CONSULTING RELEASES ANNUAL USED CAR MARKET REPORT

2012-02-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

ATLANTA – Auto manufacturers, rental car companies, lenders and dealers increased revenues and earnings in 2011 despite a weak economic backdrop. This resulted from business restructurings, productivity gains, effective use of new technologies and good old-fashioned customer service, says Manheim Consulting Chief Economist Tom Webb in the Used Car Market Report (UCMR), released today at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in Las Vegas.

A closer look at these and other trends that shaped the used vehicle industry in 2011 are explored in detail in the 17th annual Report, which also offers forecasts for the year ahead. In addition to a year-in-review/outlook and a chapter on the remarketing industry as a whole, the book features chapters on dealers, rental, leasing, repossessions, commercial and government fleets, and salvage. The Report also includes an introductory letter from Manheim President Sandy Schwartz, interviews with NADA and NIADA leaders, and a collection of case studies drawing on Manheim Consulting analysis of customer challenges.

The UCMR is available online at www.manheim.com/consulting. Those who purchase the Report ($250) not only will be able to download a PDF, but also will receive access to a free app that allows them to view the Report on iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

“The wholesale automotive industry has probably never experienced a year like 2011,” said Schwartz. “The strong demand for used vehicles, digital and mobile technology advances, and changes in how customers want to do business all combined to create a challenging and exciting year. Through our analysis, our goal was to examine the factors that influenced the industry and provide readers with a clear understanding of what’s happened and what they can expect in the year to come.”

Among the facts and trends discussed in the Report:

Retail Sales
New car and light-duty truck sales were up 10% over 2010, to 12.8 million units. This fell short of Manheim’s 13.1 million projection due to lost sales resulting from inventory shortages after the Japanese earthquake. New vehicles sold at a 13.1 million annualized rate in the first four months of the year and at a 13.3 million annualized clip in the final four months. It was the 11.9 million sales pace in the middle four months that dampened the annual total. Meanwhile, used vehicle sales were 38.8 million in 2011, the strongest level in four years. Manufacturer pre-owned sales totaled 1.7 million, a record high. Likewise, used vehicles retailed by the seven publicly traded dealership groups also reached a record high in 2011, at just under 1 million units.

Wholesale Market
A significant reduction in commercial assignment volumes more than offset the increase in dealer consignment in 2011. Preliminary numbers suggest the number of vehicles remarketed through National Auto Auction Association member-auctions declined by about 8% in 2011 to just under 7.8 million units, marking the fourth consecutive year of falling volumes. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index topped out in May 2011 at 127.8 and remained at historically high levels, adjusted for mileage and seasonality, through year-end. For the year, the Index averaged 124.9, up from 120.5 in 2010, for a gain of 3.7%.

Small and midsized cars had substantially higher prices in 2011 than in 2010, while all other market segments showed flat pricing or declines. Technology continues to transform the wholesale marketplace.
For example, online transactions now account for 25% of all Manheim sales. The launch of Simulcast Everywhere in 2011 allows for real-time bidding in live auctions conducted from anywhere vehicles are located – dealerships, car rental lots or marshaling yards.
In 2011, 118,000 users logged into OVE.com each week, an increase of 11% over the same period in 2010.
Manheim received over 4 million visits to its Mobile Web site, iPhone app, and Android app in 2011. The iPhone and iPad accounted for 64% of mobile visits, and Android devices accounted for 32% of mobile visits.

Dealers
Used vehicle sales by franchised dealers increased 8% to slightly more than 13.8 million units, while sales by independent dealers increased by 6% to just under 13.8 million. Private-party sales (11.2 million) rose only 1%. With vehicle owners finding dealers willing to pay top dollar for their car or truck and also finding credit readily available through them, dealers gained share in the used vehicle market at the expense of private party transactions.

Rental
The rental industry generated record revenues ($22.4 billion) in 2011, up from 20.6 billion in 2010. Increased airline travel led to a larger number of transaction days, but a sharp increase in the size of the rental fleet resulted in more competition and lower rates. The rental industry purchased slightly fewer new vehicles than in 2010, so the increase in fleet size reflected longer lengths of service.

Leasing
The number of new leases written in 2011 totaled 2.11 million, an increase of 17% from 2010. As a result of the past pattern in new lease originations, total off-lease volumes will decline in 2012 as they did in 2011. Off-lease volumes will grow in 2013 and then accelerate significantly in 2014. It is likely, however, that a declining percentage of off-lease vehicles will be remarketed through auctions and will instead be purchased by the grounding dealers or lessees.

Repossessions
After a record number of repossessions occurred in 2009, there was a steep decline. The peak-to-trough swing was from an estimated 1.9 million units in 2009 to 1.3 million in 2011, a drop of 32%. Given the recent growth in originations and some easing in lending standards, repossession volumes will likely grow in future years.

Commercial and Government Fleets
In 2011, new vehicle purchases by commercial fleets rose by 16% to more than 531,000 units. On the remarketing side, commercial fleet managers took advantage of strong demand from both independent and franchised dealers, and high prices for their end-of-service units. In fact, mileage- and seasonally adjusted auction prices for end-of-service midsize cars and pickup trucks reached an all-time high in April 2011. Government fleets acquired 214,500 units in 2011, down 1% from 2010 and well off the peak of 313,000 units in 2007. Government fleet demand will likely remain weak as a result of mandates to reduce fleet costs. Government fleets remarketed slightly more vehicles than they bought in 2011, usually through live Simulcast auctions.

Salvage
In 2011, salvage auction participants found conditions comparable to whole-car auctions, with tight supply and strong demand leading to higher prices. These conditions should persist through 2012. The export market for salvage vehicles softened in early 2011 as demand from Europe weakened, but picked up in the second half with increased buying from Mexico and Latin America.

About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim is the world’s leading provider of vehicle remarketing services. Through its 118 worldwide wholesale operating locations, Manheim impacts every stage of a used vehicle’s life cycle, helping commercial sellers and automobile dealers maximize the full value of their vehicles. Drawing from its auction transaction volume, Manheim Consulting publishes the annual Used Car Market Report, the definitive source of data for the used car industry. Manheim Consulting offers a wide range of services including custom analytics, business optimization and macro economic analysis.

Manheim is the online vehicle remarketing leader, connecting buyers and sellers to the world’s largest, most comprehensive wholesale marketplace through its extensive in-lane and online offerings. Manheim.com receives nearly 900,000 visits each week.

Additionally, Manheim offers services including reconditioning, certification, inspections, dealer financing, title management and marshaling, among others. Through its wide array of services and technologies, industry publications, customer support and educational offerings, Manheim gives its customers maximum control over how they buy and sell vehicles, helping them to conduct business in the most efficient way possible. In 2011, Manheim handled nearly 8 million used vehicles, facilitating transactions worth more than $50 billion in value.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company.

CARSDIRECT ENHANCES ONLINE LISTINGS WITH CARFAX REPORTS

2012-02-06T12:38:00.002-05:00

LAS VEGAS, NV. (February 4, 2012)– CarsDirect has enhanced its used car listings at carsdirect.com and sellmycar.com with Carfax Vehicle HistoryReports so dealers can sell cars faster. Online shoppers get free CarfaxReports with every vehicle listed by a Carfax-subscribing dealer. Previousstudies show that Carfax Reports greatly influence a buyers’ dealer choice andimprove inventory turn by 12 days on average.

“CarsDirecthas always carefully evaluated new features to ensure that all innovations wemake are truly mutually beneficial to both consumers and to our dealerpartners,” said Curt Cozadd, Vice President of Marketing at CarsDirect. “Theaddition of free Carfax Vehicle History Reports on our used listings is aperfect example of such a feature. Consumers benefit from the added peace ofmind a vehicle history report provides, while dealers benefit from potentiallyfaster sales from informed buyers.”

CarsDirectautomatically links Carfax Reports dealers run to the search results andvehicle details pages on carsdirect.com and sellmycar.com. Online shoppers cansee all the Carfax information for a particular vehicle with a single mouseclick. Other CarsDirect improvements include identifying Carfax 1-Owner cars,premium vehicles that have had only one owner and may be worth more to buyers.

“Carfax andCarsDirect are meeting the needs of our customers,” said Larry Gamache,communications director at Carfax. “Consumers and dealers alike want CarfaxReports included with vehicles listed online. This decisive choice byCarsDirect helps online shoppers buy with greater confidence and dealers sellcars faster.”

AboutCarsDirect (www.carsdirect.com)

CarsDirect is a leading multi-brandonline car buying service and research portal, providing new and usedautomobiles and related products and services. As the pioneer of the directonline car buying model more than a decade ago, CarsDirect has become thenatural choice for consumers who demand objectivity, selection and upfrontpricing, and for dealers who want to leverage the Internet for cost-effectiveincremental sales and revenue.

About Carfax (www.carfax.com)

Carfax is the vehicle historyexpert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and istrusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire, advertise andretail used cars. Carfax is integrated with over 250 acquisition and inventorycompanies and is the vehicle history provider of choice for 32 manufacturerCertified programs plus 2,000 automotive Web sites. Online shoppers viewCarfax® Vehicle History Reports™ included withdealer listings more than 85 million times a year to buy with more confidence.Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealer or learn howCarfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com.

FleetCor Signs Agreement with PHH Arval, a Leading North American Fleet Leasing Provider

2012-02-06T12:37:00.002-05:00

NORCROSS, Ga., Feb 06, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --FleetCor Technologies, Inc. FLT +1.27% , a leading provider of fuel cards and specialized payment products to businesses, announced today that it has signed an agreement with PHH Arval to provide a new universal fuel card program to their customers across North America.

PHH Arval provides outsourced fleet services to nearly one-third of the Fortune 500 companies. In this new agreement, FleetCor will provide a new universal fuel card program for PHH Arval's Canadian business as well as its North American heavy truck business.

"We are delighted to announce this new relationship with PHH Arval. We hope to provide an advantaged fuel card solution for PHH Arval's customers that will ultimately lead to additional business for FleetCor in this very important fleet leasing market segment," said Ron Clarke, Chairman and CEO of FleetCor.

About PHH Arval

PHH Arval, a subsidiary of PHH Corporation PHH +1.26% , is a leading fleet management services provider in the United States and Canada. PHH Arval provides outsourced fleet management solutions to corporate clients, including nearly one-third of the Fortune 500 companies. Through consultative expertise, flexible customer service, and award-winning Internet technology, PHH Arval helps clients reduce costs and increase productivity. For more information, visit http://www.phharval.com , or call 800 ONLY PHH.

About FleetCor

FleetCor is a leading global provider of fuel cards and specialized payment products to businesses. FleetCor's payment programs enable businesses to better control employee spending and provide card-accepting merchants with a high volume customer base that can increase their sales and customer loyalty. FleetCor serves commercial accounts in North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, please visit http://www.fleetcor.com .

Alliance AutoGas Adds Five New Certified Conversion Centers to Nationwide Partner Network

2012-02-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

ASHEVILLE,N.C. – February 1, 2012 – Alliance AutoGas, the only complete program to getAmerica’s fleets running on clean-burning propane autogas, welcomes five newcertified conversion centers to its growing national network of partners. ArkEnterprises 2, Braggs Truck Repair, Green Tech Energy Solutions, Grimes AutoService Inc., and NDMJ Transportation are joining Alliance to provide fleetswith EPA-certified autogas vehicle conversions, as well as ongoing service andtechnical support.

"FromVirginia to Texas, these new partners help strengthen Alliance AutoGas as wecontinue expanding nationwide, helping our nation's fleets save money and driveclean," says Stuart Weidie, president of Alliance AutoGas and founder of Autogas for America.

"AllianceAutoGas brings together the best autogas vehicle technologies with theexpertise fleets need to switch fuels," he says. "The new autogasconversion centers will bring our complete program to even more American fleetsthat need a better, more affordable alternative to gasoline."

CertifiedAlliance AutoGas conversion centers are equipped to implement both bi -fuel and dedicated propane vehicle conversions usingPrins vapor and liquid injection technology. Alliance has the largest privatelyfinanced portfolio of autogas vehicle certifications in the U.S., with morethan 200 vehicle types eligible for autogas conversions. The new Allianceconversion center partners include:

ArkEnterprises2 Braggs Truck Repair NDMJ Ltd. Transportation

Churchville,VA Berryville,VA Tyler, Texas

Green Tech EnergySolutions Grimes Auto Service Inc.

Miami,FL Tifton, GA

Fleetsthat convert to autogas will save on both fuel and maintenance costs. Becauseautogas is a cleaner-burning fuel than gasoline, many fleets report reducedmaintenance needs for vehicles, like fewer oil changes and an extended enginelife. Autogas costs an average of $1 per gallon less than gasoline, andinstalling an autogas fuel station is often more cost-effective compared toother alternative fuels. Alliance AutoGas provides leasing and financingoptions that allow fleets to start saving immediately, with zero up-frontcost—including for an on-site autogas station.

Autogasis not only affordable, it’s environmentally friendly and American-made. Ninetypercent of the U.S. autogas supply is made in America, and vehicles running onthis domestically produced fuel release significantly fewer harmful pollutantsinto our nation’s air than gasoline vehicles.

About AllianceAutoGas

Alliance AutoGas enables fleet managersnationwide to use clean, economical, American-made autogas through vehicleconversions, on-site fueling and ongoing safety training and technical support.The Alliance partner network of U.S. propane marketers and conversion centersis experiencing tremendous growth, currently spanning 34 states across thenation. Learn more at: www.allianceautogas.com.For general questions, contact David Finder, National Energy Programs Manager, dmfinder@allianceautogas.comor (828) 251-0027.

Commercial Truck Dealers Convene in Las Vegas for ATD Convention

2012-02-01T09:43:00.001-05:00

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 1,2012) – U.S. medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers will convene in Las Vegas forthe American Truck Dealers (ATD) Convention and Expo Feb. 3-6, which is beingheld for the first time in conjunction with the annual convention of thenation’s new-car dealers.

More than 20,000 new-car and -truck dealers, industry executives andexhibitors, including 1,500 international dealers from 36 countries, areexpected to attend the 2012 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) andATD conventions.

Keynote speakers at the 49th annual convention include ATD Chairman KyleTreadway; Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America; Michael Card,president of Combined Transport Inc.; and retired Navy Captain and best-sellingauthor Gerald Coffee. Ford dealer Richard Witcher, president of MinutemanTrucks Inc., in Walpole, Mass., will begin a two-year term as ATD chairman onMonday, Feb. 6.

Dealers will also have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with manufacturerexecutives at 12 franchise meetings and with suppliers in the sold out exhibithall. Twelve workshop sessions will be offered for dealers and their managers tolearn ways to improve their business operations.

ATD attendees can also attend any of the NADA workshops and general sessions,featuring keynote speakers Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, NADA ChairmanStephen W. Wade and incoming NADA Chairman Bill Underriner.

Here are some convention highlights:

Workshop Program Focuses on Federal Policy Changes, Boosting Profitability

The ATD workshop program kicks off at the Las Vegas Convention Center onFriday, Feb. 3, with a presentation by Eric Starks, president of FTRAssociates, on the state of the commercial vehicle industry, followed byseveral sessions over the weekend on topics, such as CSA compliance,alternative fuels and technician apprenticeships. The convention will alsofeature two sessions for medium-duty truck dealers on leasing and managingsalespeople.

NextGen ATD to Host Reception for Future Dealers

NextGen ATD, a professional development network for the association’s futureleaders, will host a reception at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (formerly theLas Vegas Hilton) on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 5-6 p.m. Eric Guenther, generalmarketing manager for Ford Fleet and Commercial Trucks, will be the featuredspeaker. NextGen ATD is designed to help prepare future dealers throughnetworking opportunities and meeting dealers with similar backgrounds.

Winner of National Truck Dealer of the Year Award Announced Saturday

Seven commercial truck dealers from the United States and Canada were nominatedby their peers for a national industry award presented by ATD and Heavy DutyTrucking magazine. The winner will be announced during the opening generalsession at the Las Vegas Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The 2012 nominees are John C. Arscott, president and CEO of the Pete Store,LLC, in Baltimore, Md.; Steve Bassett, president of General Truck Sales, inMuncie, Ind.; Terry L. Dotson, president, chairman, and CEO of WorldwideEquipment Enterprises, Inc., in Prestonburg, Ky.; Eugene W. Hieber, presidentof Bucks County International Inc., in Langhorne, Pa.; Brent Leach, presidentof Custom Truck Sales, Inc., in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; Trey Mytty,president and CEO of Omaha Truck Center, Inc., of Omaha, Neb.; and Timothy E.Reilly, president and dealer principal of Miami Valley International, inDayton, Ohio.

ATD Commercial Truck of the Year Winners Announced Sunday

The winners of the ATD Commercial Truck of the Year will be announced at theLas Vegas Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 5. The award recognizes the top truck entriesin the heavy- and medium-duty categories. Nine trucks were nominated for theaward.

The heavy-duty (Class 8) truck entries are Freightliner 114SD conventional dumptruck, International ProStar+ tractor with MaxxForce 15 engine, Kenworth T660Regional Hauler with Paccar MX engine and Peterbilt 587 SmartWay conventionaltractor. The medium-duty (Class 3-7) truck entries are the Fuso Canter FE160low cab forward, Isuzu NPR-HD Gas, Kenworth T440 Conventional, Peterbilt Model210 low cab forward and UD 2600 low cab forward.

Trucks were judged on overall appearance, cab comfort, noise levels, roominess,ease of getting in and out of the truck and convenience of maintenance.

Incoming ATD Chairman to Outline Plans for Future on Monday

Incoming ATD Chairman Richard Witcher will discuss ATD’s 2011 accomplishmentsand the association’s legislative and regulatory goals for 2012 during thegeneral session at the Las Vegas Hotel on Monday, Feb. 6. Witcher is presidentof Minuteman Trucks Inc., in Walpole, Mass.

For more information about the 2012 NADA-ATD convention, visit www.nadaconventionandexpo.org.

About ATD

The American Truck Dealers represents about 2,000 medium- and heavy-duty truckdealers. ATD members share in NADA’s programs, services and benefits. ATD hostsan annual convention and expo for dealers and dealership managers. For moreinformation, visit www.atd.org.

The NADA Story

The NADA story began in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation’scapital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. Theysuccessfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not aluxury. From that experience was born the National Automobile DealersAssociation. Today, NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truckdealerships with 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international. For moreinformation, visit www.nada.org.

Chrysler Group Reports Full Year 2011 Net Income of $183 Million

2012-02-01T09:38:00.001-05:00

Chrysler Group's Full Year 2011 Modified Operating Profit More Than Doubled to $2 Billion With Free Cash Flow of $1.9 Billion

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Chrysler Group full year 2011 net income improved to $183 million from a net loss of $652 million in 2010 and despite a $551 million loss on extinguishment of debt in Q2 2011; fourth quarter net income was $225 million, the highest quarterly net income since the Company began operations in 2009
Net revenue for the year was $55.0 billion, up 31 percent from a year ago; fourth quarter net revenue increased 41 percent to $15.1 billion
Modified Operating Profit(b) grew to $2.0 billion for the year, 2.5 times higher than 2010, and $508 million in the fourth quarter
Free Cash Flow(e) for full year 2011 totaled $1.9 billion driving Cash(d) at year end 2011 to $9.6 billion compared with $7.3 billion a year ago
Net industrial debt(f) was reduced by nearly 50 percent to $2.9 billion at December 31, 2011, from $5.8 billion a year ago
Worldwide vehicle sales for full year 2011 totaled 1,855,000, up 22 percent from 2010; fourth quarter worldwide vehicle sales were 479,000, up 28 percent compared with a year ago
U.S. market share increased to 10.5 percent for full year 2011, up from 9.2 percent a year ago, driven primarily by a 43 percent increase in U.S. retail sales
Worldwide vehicle shipments were 2.0 million for full year 2011, up from 1.6 million a year ago
Chrysler Group achieved its third and final performance event in January 2012 by committing to produce its new fuel-efficient vehicle, increasing Fiat S.p.A.'s ownership interest to 58.5 percent

Chrysler Group LLC today reported preliminary net income of $183 million for the full year 2011, up from a net loss of $652 million a year ago, exceeding the objective set in November 2009.

CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
($Mils)	FY 2011	B/(W) FY 2010	Q4 2011	B/(W) Q4 2010
Net Revenue	54,981	13,035	15,129	4,366
Modified Operating Profit	1,975	1,212	508	310
Modified EBITDA	4,754	1,293	1,171	289
Net Income	183	835	225	424
Add back:
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	551	551	-	-
Adjusted Net Income	734	1,386	225	424
Cash	9,601	2,254	9,601	2,254
Note - See definitions of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Information and Other Items included in the press release

The Company's full year net income included a $551 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized in the second quarter of 2011, when the Company repaid its outstanding obligations to the U.S. Treasury and Canadian governments in full, with interest, six years early. Excluding the charge, Adjusted Net Income(a) for the full year 2011 was $734 million, exceeding the Company's 2011 guidance and further delivering on the goals established two years ago.

For the fourth quarter, net income was $225 million, up from a loss of $199 million a year earlier, as the Company continues to increase sales of its successful new and significantly refreshed vehicles.
As of January 2012, Chrysler Group has achieved all three performance events set forth in its Amended and Restated LLC Operating Agreement. As a result of achieving these events, and in combination with other transactions, Fiat S.p.A. now owns 58.5 percent of the membership interests in Chrysler Group.

"The house is in good order. We are proud of the work we've done," said Sergio Marchionne, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler Group LLC. "Now we greet a new year of high expectations with our heads down, forging ahead and focused on executing the goals we've set for ourselves as a company."
Full year 2011 net revenue totaled $55.0 billion, a 31 percent increase from 2010, driven by increased consumer demand for Chrysler Group's new and significantly refreshed vehicles. In the fourth quarter, net revenue was $15.1 billion, up 41 percent from the prior year.

The Company reported a full year 2011 Modified Operating Profit of $2.0 billion, more than 2.5 times the prior year's level. The increase resulted from higher sales volume and improved pricing and mix, partially offset by increased advertising and industrial costs. Modified Operating Profit for the fourth quarter 2011 was $508 million, or 3.4 percent of net revenue, up from $198 million, or 1.8 percent of net revenue, in the fourth quarter 2010.

Modified EBITDA(c) was $4.8 billion for full year 2011, or 8.6 percent of net revenue, an increase of 37 percent versus the prior year. Fourth quarter 2011 Modified EBITDA increased 33 percent to $1.2 billion.
Interest expense for the full year 2011 totaled $1.2 billion, including $170 million of non-cash interest accretion, versus $1.3 billion in 2010, including non-cash interest accretion of $229 million. Fourth quarter 2011 interest expense was $280 million, including non-cash interest accretion of $32 million. This compares with $336 million of interest expense, including non-cash interest accretion of $57 million, in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Cashas of December 31, 2011, was $9.6 billion compared with $9.5 billion as of September 30, 2011, and $7.3 billion as of December 31, 2010. Total available liquidity totaled $10.9 billion, including $1.3 billion available under a revolving credit facility. Free Cash Flow totaled a positive $1.9 billion for the full year 2011, and a negative $54 million for the fourth quarter 2011.

Gross Industrial Debt(f) at December 31, 2011, totaled $12.5 billion, slightly higher than the $12.3 billion at September 30, 2011, and lower than the $13.1 billion at December 31, 2010. Net Industrial Debt(f) was $2.9 billion at the end of the quarter, consistent with the level at September 30, 2011, and reduced by nearly 50 percent from the $5.8 billion at December 31, 2010.

Worldwide vehicle sales were 1,855,000 for the full year 2011, up 22 percent from 1,516,000 vehicles in 2010, driven primarily by a 43 percent increase in U.S. retail sales. The improvement reflects increased consumer confidence in our new and significantly refreshed products. Chrysler Group's U.S. market share increased to 10.5 percent for the year from 9.2 percent in 2010. Fourth quarter 2011 U.S. market share was 10.8 percent, up 2.0 percentage points from the fourth quarter 2010.

Worldwide vehicle shipments for full year and fourth quarter 2011 were 2,011,000 and 543,000, respectively, an increase of 26 percent and 42 percent compared with the full year and fourth quarter 2010, respectively.

2012 Guidance
The targets for 2012 are as follows:

Net revenue of ~$65 billion
Modified Operating Profit of greater than or equal to $3.0 billion
Net income of ~$1.5 billion
Free Cash Flowof greater than or equal to $1 billion

Significant Corporate Events Since Third Quarter 2011
Oct. 18: Chrysler Group committed to invest $165 million to add a body shop at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, Michigan.

Oct. 26: The UAW ratified a new four-year national labor agreement with Chrysler Group.

Nov. 16: Chrysler Group announced a $1.7 billion investment for the next generation Jeep SUV and added a second shift of production at its Toledo, Ohio, complex.

Dec. 13: Chrysler Group announced it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit to produce the next generation SRT Viper. The plant's reopening will bring nearly 150 jobs back to the city of Detroit.

Jan. 5, 2012: Chrysler Group announced it had achieved its third performance event outlined in its Amended and Restated LLC Operating Agreement, by committing to produce a vehicle built in the United States based on Fiat technology that achieves an unadjusted combined fuel-economy rating of at least 40 mpg. Chrysler Group achieved this milestone with a pre-production version of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart in December 2011. The unadjusted combined fuel-economy rating may vary from the rating disclosed to consumers at point of sale. The achievement resulted in Fiat's ownership interest in Chrysler Group increasing to 58.5 percent from 53.5 percent (fully diluted). The VEBA Trust owns the remaining 41.5 percent of the membership interests in the Company.

Jan. 5: Chrysler Group strengthened ties with the city of Detroit, announcing it will add a third crew and 1,100 new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. Further, the Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup will be expanded with a diesel version for North America which will be built at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant.

Jan. 6: Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne was named as the new campaign chair for the 2012 United Way for Southeastern Michigan campaign. As campaign chair, Marchionne will work to promote the growth and impact of the campaign among businesses and individuals.

Product and Corporate News

All-new 2013 Dodge Dart, revealed at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on Jan. 9, won the Autoweek Editors' Choice Award as the "Most Significant Vehicle" of the auto show
Chrysler Group was named "Company of the Year" at the 16th annual Urban Wheel Awards for its leadership in promoting diversity in the area of workforce development. It also achieved a perfect score on the Human Rights Commission's 2012 Corporate Equality Index
Jeep Wrangler named "2012 SUV of the Year" by Autobytel; "2011 SUV of the Year – North America" by Overland Journal; "Best Cars for the Money – Off-Road SUV" by U.S. News & World Report; and "Play Car of the Year" (Off-Roaders and Sun Lovers categories) by Cars.com
New 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Named "4x4 of the Year" by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 named The Fast Lane Car's (TFLCar.com) "Top-10 2012 Most Fun to Drive Cars"
2012 Vehix New Car Buying Guide, recommends Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee named "SUV of Texas" and 2012 Dodge Durango named "Full-size SUV of Texas" by the Texas Auto Writers Association
Jeep Brand named Polk Automotive Loyalty Award – "Most Improved Loyalty to Make"
2011 Chrysler Town & Country won the "2012 Polk Automotive Loyalty Award" in the minivan category
2012 Ram 2500 Power Wagon named Four Wheeler "Pickup Truck of the Year"
Consumers Digest named Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Challenger, Ram 1500 and Fiat 500 to its "Best Buy" list for the 2012 Model Year
Consumer Guide named to its "Best Buy and Recommended Awards" list the Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Charger, Dodge Journey, Dodge Durango, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ram 1500 and Fiat 500

JIM PAINTER NAMED PRESIDENT OF POLAR TANK TRAILER

2012-01-31T13:25:00.001-05:00

ST. CLOUD, Minn., January 31, 2012—PolarCorporation today appointed Jim Painter president of Polar Tank Trailer, NorthAmerica’s largest manufacturer of aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steeltank trailers.

Painter will be responsible for overall performance of the division, includingthree manufacturing plants, the dealer network, and several strategicinitiatives related to the dramatic growth of the tank trailer industry. Hewill be based at Polar Tank Trailer’s headquarters in Opole, Minn., and reportto Ted Fick, Polar Corporation president and CEO.

Painter was president of Quality Trailer Products, a Polar company, since 2000.

“Jim is an accomplished senior executive whose leadership within Polar over thelast 11 years has been outstanding,” said Fick. "As president of PolarTank Trailer, his immediate focus will be on advancing our fastest-growingbusiness unit.”

Polar Tank Trailer builds custom tank trailers for dry and liquid bulk cargoesincluding oil and fuel, food products, asphalt, chemicals, andcorrosives. Quality Trailer Products manufactures and distributes both originaland aftermarket components for commercial trailers.

Before joining Quality Trailer Products, Painter was an officer and vicepresident at Simpson Industries where he was responsible for the EngineProducts group, a global manufacturing operation. He also held positions ofincreasing management and executive responsibilities at Rockwell International,including president of the Rockwell Clutch Co. and general manager of theSpecialty Axle Division.

Painter earned an M.B.A. from Xavier University and a bachelor’s degree fromGeneral Motors Institute.

About Polar Corporation
Polar Corporation consists of three companies, all leaders in their respectivemarkets. Polar Tank Trailer builds custom tank trailers for dry and liquid bulkcargoes including oil and fuel, food products, asphalt, chemicals,and corrosives. Polar Service Centers provide tank trailer parts, repair,services, and designs and builds custom up-fits for the propane and pressuretruck-mounted tank market. Quality Trailer Products manufactures and sellsparts and components for the light-duty trailer industry. More informationabout the company can be found at www.polarcorp.com.

Clean Cities Alt Fuel Program Trains Regional Fleets in Safe, Effective Propane Autogas Vehicle Maintenance

2012-01-31T13:21:00.001-05:00

HARRISONBURG,Va. – January 31, 2012 – As more American fleets hit the road with alternativefuel vehicles, U.S. automotive workers need the technical expertise to safelyand effectively maintain them. Virginia Clean Cities, which helps fleets switchto clean propane fuel through the Southeast Propane Autogas DevelopmentProgram, is coordinating training classes this week to ensure Program fleetshave the knowledge to correctly perform maintenance and repairs on propaneautogas vehicles.

“Safetytraining is essential for technicians, mechanics and other fleet personnel whowork with propane autogas vehicles, just as it is with traditional gasoline ordiesel vehicles,” says Peter Denbigh, projects director at Virginia Clean Cities. “Autogas vehiclesare no more complicated to operate thangasoline vehicles, but the technology is different. Especially when a fleet hasan in-house service center, their staff should learn how to properly maintainthe vehicles from autogas experts.”

Thetwo-day training sessions are being held in Spotsylvania, Va., January 31—Feb.1, and Iredell County, N.C., February 2—3.

Hostorganization American Alternative Fuel is a co-founding member of Alliance AutoGas, which providesautogas fueling infrastructure and conversion equipment for Program fleets,with fellow co-founding partner Blossman Gas supplying fuel. Ongoing technicaltraining and support for fleets is part of the Alliance AutoGas complete program.The Program will complete at least 1,195 total propane autogas vehicleconversions by spring 2012.

Fleetsrunning on clean-burning autogas will save on fuel and maintenance costs,reduce harmful pollutants and enhance national energy security. The most widelyused alternative fuel in the world, 90 percent of the U.S. autogas supply ismade in America. Propane autogas costs around $1-per-gallon less than gasoline,and vehicle conversions and fueling infrastructure are cost-effective forfleets.

AboutThe Program

TheSoutheast Propane Autogas Development Program is comprised of public andprivate partnerships throughout 10 states in the Southeast U.S. and Washington,DC. Over its four-year span, the Program will put nearly 1,200 clean autogasvehicles on the road and implement more than 30 autogas fueling stations.Supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and theU.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, it is managed andadministered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and VCCat James Madison University. To learn more, visit www .usepropaneautogas .com or email info @usepropaneautogas .com.

Biodiesel Industry Calls for Quick Action on Tax Extenders

2012-01-31T13:20:00.003-05:00

WASHINGTON - The U.S. biodiesel industry's record growth and resulting jobcreation is at risk without immediate action from Congress to reinstate theindustry's tax incentive, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) said in writtentestimony submitted Tuesday to the Senate Finance Committee.

The $1-per-gallon biodieseltax incentive expired on Dec. 31 for the second time in three years, despiteclear evidence that the incentive is working to stimulate production andeconomic activity.

In her testimony, NBB VicePresident of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel emphasized that when the incentivewas reinstated last year after a lapse in 2010, it helped boost biodieselproduction to a record volume of nearly 1.1 billion gallons in 2011. Thatvolume - triple the production in 2010 - supported more than 39,027 jobs and$3.8 billion in GDP, according to a recent study conducted by Cardno ENTRIX, aninternational economics consulting firm.

"The biodiesel industryis poised to continue that momentum so long as Congress and the Administrationcontinue supporting strong policies such as the biodiesel tax incentive,"she said. "The recent expiration of the $1 per gallon biodiesel taxincentive poses a significant threat to the industry's continued growth."

Under projected expansion,with the tax incentive in place, the industry is expected to support more than74,000 jobs by 2015 and some $7.3 billion in GDP.

Bipartisan legislation hasbeen introduced in the House and Senate to extend the tax incentive for threeyears. Wednesday's hearing before the Finance Committee was titled,"Extenders and Tax Reform: Seeking Long-Term Solutions."

Made from an increasinglydiverse mix of resources such as agricultural oils, recycled cooking oil andanimal fats, biodiesel is the first and only commercial-scale fuel used acrossthe U.S. to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's definition as an AdvancedBiofuel. It is produced in nearly every state in the country. Biodiesel is arenewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing dieselengines. NBB is the national trade association representing the biodieselindustry.

LITTELFUSE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES 12V LED VEHICLE PILOT LIGHTS

2012-01-31T13:20:00.001-05:00

Cole Hersee, the Commercial Vehicle Products division of Littelfuse,Inc., announced that it has launched a new line of 12VLED vehicle pilot lights. The solid-state LED pilot lights last longer thanincandescent bulbs, and may never need replacing. They run cooler, making themsafer and less susceptible to heat buildup that may have the potential to causefires. The energy efficient LED also reduces battery drain.

Thenew 12V LED pilot lights come in a wide variety of bezel sizes and terminalhole diameters. They are offered in red, amber, and green, with some modelsavailable in blue or white LED. Most feature ¼-inch blade terminals, availableas screw terminals by special order. The PL-525/526 snap-in series is offered inboth steady and blinking versions.

Withno bulb to work loose, the lights are unaffected by vibration, contributing totheir longevity. With LED lights, fleet managers no longer need to maintain anextensive inventory of replacement bulbs and use up valuable maintenance timereplacing bulbs. Less downtime for vehicles means more revenue-producing hoursper vehicle. LEDs are also unaffected by on-off cycling, and their brightness doesn’t diminish over time.

“LEDscan function over a wider range of temperatures, from desert conditions tofrigid weather,” said Graeme Marsden, marketing communications manager for LittelfuseCVP. “They are not susceptible to the corrosion that may occur in bulb basesand sockets and they draw far fewer watts from your batteries for the amount oflight emitted.”

Cole Hersee is a brand name ofChicago, IL-based Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection,offering the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protectionproducts and solutions. Cole Hersee is now Littelfuse’s Commercial VehicleProducts division.

AT&T Orders 1,200 CNG-powered Chevrolet Express Vans

2012-01-31T13:19:00.001-05:00

DETROIT– AT&T plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express compressed naturalgas (CNG) dedicated cargo vansto be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-everorder of CNG vehicles from General Motors.

AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-yearperiod through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications,high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week,the company announced the milestone deployment of its5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of thecommitment.

“CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce ourfleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president ofFleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in ourcountry right now.”š

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produceapproximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasolineand diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment tominimize its impact on the environment.

“There are millions of fleet vehicles on the road today and we want to be acritical part of this sustainable revolution, helping make these conversions aseasy as possible,” said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and CommercialOperations.

Chevrolet Express CNG vans are powered by a Vortec 6.0L V8 engine equipped withhardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wearresistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems. The vans are factoryordered and delivered to customers with their factory-engineered and fullyintegrated gaseous fuel system in place, completely ready for work.š

The CNG option is available for order on ChevroletExpress 2500 and 3500 Cargo vans. Each van is covered by GM’s three-year,36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limitedpowertrain warranty, and meets all Environmental Protection Agency andCalifornia Air Resources Board emission certification requirements.

The GM Fleet and Commercial Customer Service LinkedIn group offers a discussion forum for Chevy,Buick, GMC and Cadillac fleet vehicle owners.

Auto/Mate Launches Guard/Mate, First-of-Its-Kind Data Protection Service for Auto Dealers

2012-01-31T13:18:00.003-05:00

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y., Jan. 30, 2012 -- Booth #320, NADA2012 Convention & Expo -- Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (www.automate.com)today launched Guard/Mate, the industry's first data protection service forauto dealerships. In response to the growing concerns of many auto dealersabout third-party vendors' access to dealership data, Auto/Mate is taking aproactive approach to help dealers manage vendor access.

"Everyone in the industry agrees that dealers owntheir data and should have the right to grant access to any company they chooseand that the DMS vendor should not sell, share or trade the dealers'data," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate. "However,the problem is that dealers change third-party vendors and may not know who isactually accessing their data nor do they know what type of data a vendor ismining from the dealer database."

Guard/Mate provides dealers with the information theyneed to regain control of their data. Guard/Mate audits the vendors that haveaccess to Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS). On a monthly basis,every dealer receives a list of all the vendors who have access to the dealer'sdata, as well as when they access it and from which part of the system the datawas pulled.

"At Auto/Mate we feel that this issue is ofparamount importance to our dealers and want to ensure that all of our dealershave Guard/Mate so for that reason Auto/Mate is not charging its dealers forGuard/Mate," said Esposito.

With a list of previously authorized vendors from Auto/Mateas a starting point, dealers can first notify Auto/Mate if any vendors arepulling data that shouldn't be. Often when dealers cancel an agreement with athird-party vendor, they fail to notify their DMS provider. Withoutnotification, the DMS provider could unwittingly allow continued access to thatvendor.

Jim Ziegler, President and CEO of Ziegler SuperSystems,has encountered this in his practice. "A large Chrysler dealer I dobusiness with recently audited their DMS," he said. "We found 87different vendors extracting data from his DMS.

Some of these vendors he wasn't even doing business withanymore."

Upon notification from the dealer of unauthorized access,Auto/Mate will immediately shut off that vendor's access.

For the vendors who are allowed to access the dealer'sDMS, Auto/Mate recommends that dealers review their contracts and demand theremoval of any language that grants the vendors any rights or license to shareor re-sell their data in any way.

Guard/Mate will be rolled out to Auto/Mate customersbeginning in February. To learn more about Guard/Mate, stop by Booth #320 atNADA 2012 or set an appointment here:

www.automate.com/nada.html

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider ofdealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships.Its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly,feature-rich dealership management software in use by more than 700 autodealers nationwide. Auto/Mate offers the best customer service in the industry;the company received top satisfaction rankings in NADA's most recent DMSprovider survey. Auto/Mate's employees have more than 300 years of combinedexperience working in auto dealerships - the foundation of its "designedby car people, for car people"

slogan. For more information, visit www.automate.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/AutoMateDMS.

ECOtality Applauds California Air Resources Board’s Landmark Decision to Adopt Historic Clean Car Standards

2012-01-31T13:18:00.001-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO – Monday, January 30, 2012 – ECOtality, Inc.(NASDAQ:ECTY),a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, announcedtoday the company’s support of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB)unanimous decision to adopt a strong suite of Clean Cars Standards designed tofurther the deployment of advanced vehicle technology, cut air pollution and saveconsumer dollars.

“Today, we are especially proud to be a California company,” stated JonathanRead, President and CEO of ECOtality. “This historic decision substantiatesCalifornia’s continued visionary leadership in reducing the emissions of passengercars and its support for innovative vehicle technologies. The qualified supportexpressed by leading automakers validates the future growth of electric vehicleadoption. We look forward to this regulation’s impact resonating with otherstates throughout the nation.”

For additional information, visit www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=280

About ECOtality, Inc.
ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY),headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leader in clean electrictransportation and storage technologies. Through innovation, acquisitions, andstrategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability ofadvanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels. For moreinformation about ECOtality, Inc., please visit www.ecotality.com.