Toyota Names New Texas President

ERLANGER, Ky., April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., today announced that Kenji Fukuta will become the new president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX) effective Tuesday, May 1, 2007.

Current TMMTX president Hidehiko "TJ" Tajima will return to Japan for his new assignment at Toyota Motor Corporation as General Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Affairs Division. As TMMTX's president since October 2003, Tajima successfully oversaw planning and construction of Toyota's sixth vehicle manufacturing plant in North America. In November 2006, TMMTX began assembly of the next-generation Toyota Tundra pickup truck.

Fukuta, who is a 20-year Toyota veteran, comes to TMMTX as former General Manager at Toyota's Tsutsumi plant in Japan, which produces the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry and Scion tC vehicles.

TMMTX employs 2,000 team members and has the annual capacity to produce 200,000 Tundras.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) established operations in North America in 1957 and will operate 15 manufacturing plants in North America by 2010. There are more than 1,700 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships in North America which sold more than 2.8 million vehicles in 2006. Toyota directly employs over 41,000 in North America and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18.6 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totals more than $28.5 billion. Toyota currently produces 11 vehicles in North America, including the Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350. By 2010, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build approximately 2.2 million cars and trucks, 1.45 million engines and 600,000 automatic transmissions.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com

Source: Toyota

Ford Motor Company Joins TOMS Shoes' Crusade

Help Improve Quality of Life for Thousands of Children

DEARBORN, Mich., April 26 – Ford Motor Company is making tracks to more than 25 cities with TOMS Shoes and Airstream International Travel Trailers as part of a spring tour aimed at helping disadvantaged children step into better, healthier lives.

TOMS is donating a pair of shoes to a needy child for each pair it sells. TOMS’s shoe samples as well as information about the program and the company will be packed into an Airstream trailer – and towed cross-country by an all-new 2007 Ford Expedition.

“American icons Ford and Airstream are recognized for helping people explore and discover new territories, and this groundbreaking connection with TOMS Shoes seemed only natural,” said Michael Laquere, Ford SUV communications manager. “The 2007 Ford Expedition is comfortable, flexible and capable, making it the perfect fit for long-haul journeys that involve both moving people and a lot of gear.”

TOMS was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie out of a commitment to produce stylish, comfortable and practical footwear while improving the lives of children.

In 2006, while vacationing in Argentina, Mycoskie volunteered in poverty-stricken areas and was disheartened to see the severity of the poor living conditions. Each day men, women and children have to walk miles for fresh water with no shoes, leaving their feet injured and infected. Also, children without shoes are denied schooling.

“I was inspired by a traditional Argentine shoe and challenged by a continent’s poverty and heath issues, so I created TOMS with a singular mission: To make life more comfortable,” says Mycoskie. “I wanted to personally share my ‘fashion with a conscious’ concept with our retail partners and consumers, so we’re taking our TOMS and our ‘Shoes for Tomorrow’ program on the road, with help from Ford and Airstream.”

Earlier this year, Ford and Airstream also teamed up to reveal the Ford Airstream Concept, a futuristic crossover vehicle powered by powered by a new plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell – called HySeries Drive – that operates under electric power at all times and delivers the combined city/highway equivalent fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon. Media hailed the Ford Airstream Concept as a bold, thought-leading crossover for the 21st century following its reveal at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

Also internationally recognized and appearing on the feet of Hollywood’s elite, TOMS has already given away more than 10,000 pairs to underprivileged children in Argentina and hopes to do more after the spring tour.

TOMS is instant hit not only for its philanthropic mission but for its style. The fashionable canvas shoe comes in a variety of colors and patterns, inspired by the traditional rope-soled, Argentine shoe.

“This really is a dream come true for me. To travel cross-country spreading the message of TOMS, and to do it with such style, is wonderful. At such an early stage in our company, we feel incredibly blessed to have such blue chip partners like Ford and Airstream, and to know 10,000 more children will have shoes once we finish makes each mile traveled that much more rewarding,” says Mycoskie.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company.

For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com

TOMS Shoes

Inspired by an Argentine shoe with a hundred year history and the continent's poverty and health issues, TOMS was created with a singular mission: To make life more comfortable. TOMS accomplishes this through it's ultra lightweight design and the company's commitment to match every pair purchased with a donated pair to a child in need...there are no complicated formulas, it's simple - you buy a pair of TOMS and the company gives a pair to a child on your behalf. The vibrant colors and patterns in the debut collection depict Blake Mycoskie's life changing experiences in his travels to South America where he embraced the lifestyle wholeheartedly and therefore gave back by creating TOMS - shoes for Tomorrow. www.tomsSHOES.com

Airstream

The First Airstreams, known for their high-quality riveted aluminium shells and state-of-the-art interiors, were built in 1931 by Wally Byam. Airstream, a subsidiary of THOR Industries Inc. since 1980, is world-renowned for quality, innovation and design. An Airstream is more than just a trendy product; it’s a way of life embraced by thousands around the world for more than seven decades. Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, the company continues the legacy today with its world-class travel trailers, motorhomes, and services.

For additional information about Airstream, please visit www.Airstream.com



Source: Ford Motor Company

DOE Requests Information on Early Markets for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

April 26, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program released a “request for information” (RFI) that focuses on opportunities for the early adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and supporting activities.

The RFI seeks public comment on three main topics:

* Early market financial assistance
* Fuel cell performance testing
* Community partnerships.

This RFI is part of the Hydrogen Program’s effort to facilitate market transformation. Visit DOE's E-Center to view the full RFI and for information on how to provide comments.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program
Printer Friendly Page

Ford's New "Parts Plus" Internet Site Goes Live

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 26 April, 2007 – Ford’s Parts Plus website has been launched with an all-new look to promote its aftermarket parts programme.

The site supports Ford Parts Plus, which addresses the requirements of Independent Motor Traders (IMTs) and independent bodyshops. Ford Parts Plus aims to provide a competitive alternative to motor factors with the key advantage of offering original equipment parts.

Unlike some non-original parts, Ford parts are easier and quicker to fit, saving on labour and costs. Also Ford original parts are manufactured to the company's specifications to guarantee reliability. While many non-original parts might appear to be good value, they do not always offer the same quality and can affect a car’s safety.

The new Ford Parts Plus site highlights the importance of using original Ford parts. It contains information about the parts offered and it provides a dealer locator as well.

www.Fordpartsplus.co.uk features the Blue Oval Club, Ford’s parts trade club, and the current promotions available. In response to customers’ requests for more technical support and information, the Ford Blue Oval Club was created to provide the key information required to repair and maintain the entire Ford vehicle range.

"Our new Ford Parts Plus website will be Ford's online link to trade customers, recognising the increasing importance of the internet in the automotive repair business," said Axel Wilke, European marketing director of Ford Customer Service Division. "Ford Parts Plus has become a strong brand and proposition for parts trade customers in Britain and across Europe since its launch in 1994. It represents a professional parts delivery service through the Ford Parts Plus dealer network – the preferred source of genuine Ford parts for many IMTs and independent body shops."


Source: Ford Motor Company

GM Schedules First Quarter 2007 Financial Results Release

2007-04-26 -- General Motors has scheduled the release of its first-quarter 2007 financial results for 7:00 a.m. EDT, Thursday, May 3, 2007, via PR Newswire and GM Media Online.

GM Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson will conduct a conference call at 9:30 a.m. EDT. A question-and-answer session with financial analysts and the media will follow a brief review of the results. The call is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.

Conference Call Information: To participate in North America, dial 1-800-718-6845. To participate outside North America, dial 1-212-231-6043. The conference call will also be webcast live on GM's Investor website http://investor.gm.com in the Calendar/Events section. Charts will be posted in the Earnings Release section.

Archive: A taped replay of this call will be made available from 12:45 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2007, until 12:45 p.m. EDT, May 7, 2007. In North America, please dial 1-800-633-8284 (or +1-402-977-9140 for access outside North America ) and enter reservation number 21336756 to access the taped replay.

Source: GM

Tenth Anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class: Premiere at the Tuscaloosa Plant in 1997

* Mercedes-Benz M-Class produced for the world market only in Tuscaloosa in Alabama/USA initially

* The Sport Utility Vehicle conquers the market

* Second-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Mercedes-Benz R-Class produced in Tuscaloosa since 2005, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class since 2006

Stuttgart/Tuscaloosa, Apr 24, 2007 -- On May 21, 1997, Mercedes-Benz presented the first generation of its M-Class at the Tuscaloosa plant in Alabama/USA, where the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) from the W 163 series was produced. One half of the cars completed here was destined for the US market, the other for the rest of the world. Since 2005, the second-generation M-Class (W 164) has been produced in Alabama, and the plant’s capacity was expanded to accommodate production of the R-Class (W 251) and, since 2006, of the GL-Class (X 164) as well. Tuscaloosa was the Mercedes-Benz brand’s first passenger car production plant outside Germany.

Decision in favor of America

Construction of a Mercedes-Benz plant in the USA – this decision was made by the then Daimler-Benz AG in 1993, and the project was completed between 1995 and 1997. Assembly of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars outside Germany had already been started way back in 1935, in Denmark, but production volumes had been small. The plant in Alabama was the first production location outside Germany where Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were produced for the entire world market.

The plant was built for an all-new car from Mercedes-Benz. In January 1996, the brand displayed the AA Vision at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This design study already featured important elements of the M-Class and was elected “Best of Show“. The AA Vision made its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show a few weeks later. Here, Mercedes-Benz also announced the name of the future model series: M-Class. Its development was the responsibility of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) founded in 1994 and domiciled in Tuscaloosa.

The M-Class was launched at the Tuscaloosa plant on May 21, 1997. In the presence of 5,000 guests – among them Fob James, Governor of Alabama – the plant was officially inaugurated on this occasion. The new production location on 810,000 square meters of land had 93,000 square meters of roofed area and accommodated body-in-white assembly, paint shop, assembly, training center and customer center. Daimler-Benz invested over 300 million US-dollars in the plant; the development of the M-Class incurred costs of around 700 million US-dollars.

The new model was a major milestone in the Mercedes-Benz product drive: in 1997 the Stuttgart-based brand also launched the CLK and the A-Class. The highly comfortable M-Class, featuring a chassis with a separate box-section frame, was designed for both road and offroad operation. Auxiliary frames for the front and rear wheel suspension and ten rubber mounts dampened the transfer of road bumps and noise to the bodywork. Independent wheel suspension all round was a special feature of this chassis which was unique in this vehicle category.

The powertrain was specially designed for permanent four-wheel drive, with a modified variant of the electronic traction system, ETS, being used instead of conventional differential locks in the M-Class. The anti-lock braking system (ABS) was equally adapted to offroad operation. The result of this innovative vehicle concept was a car which combined the comfort and handling safety of a Mercedes-Benz passenger car with the all-terrain mobility and robustness of an offroader and the spaciousness and variability of a Sport Utility Vehicle.

Successful model: The M-Class

The enthusiasm for the new car was so great that Mercedes-Benz initially had difficulties in satisfying the demand. The new model was marketed in North America from September 1997 and in Europe from March 1998. The ML 320 with a V6 engine developing 218 hp (160 kW) was available throughout the world while the ML 230 with four-cylinder engine (150 hp/110 kW) was reserved for Europe. The top model was the ML 430 (270 hp/199 kW) launched in 1998 before AMG presented the ML 55 AMG with an output of 347 hp (255 kW) in 1999. In the same year, a diesel-engined version – the ML 270 CDI with a 163 hp (120 kW) five-cylinder in-line unit – made its debut and proved to be extremely successful, especially in Europe.

In 1999, Mercedes-Benz invested some 80 million US-dollars in the expansion of capacity in Tuscaloosa. The M-Class received the “World Car Award” – a distinction for the ideal car on a global scale. Numerous other awards followed. As early as 1999, some 100,000 units of this series had already been sold. In August 2000, DaimlerChrysler decided to invest more than 600 million US-dollars in the plant to raise annual production capacity to some 160,000 cars. Today, the M-Class is sold in 135 countries around the world.

After the model refinement in 2001, the ML 500 with an output of 292 hp (215 kW) replaced the ML 430, and a new top-of-the-line diesel model, the ML 400 CDI with a 250 hp (184 kW) V8 CDI engine, was launched onto the market. Production of the ML 230 was discontinued. Overall, more than 570,000 units of the first M-Class generation were built in Tuscaloosa. Between 1999 and 2002, another 77,100 M-Class units for the European market were produced at Magna Steyr in Graz/Austria.

The new M-Class

In 2005, the M-Class from the W 164 series replaced the first generation of this successful SUV in Tuscaloosa. The Sport Utility Vehicle comes in a decidedly sporty design with a flat windshield, distinctive fenders and an upward-sweeping shoulder line. The new model also boasts ultra-modern engineering, including the standard 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission which transfers engine power to the road via an even higher-performance 4MATIC four-wheel drive. AIRMATIC air suspension is equally included in the standard specifications while the PRE-SAFE® occupant protection system is optionally available.

R-Class and GL-Class

The expansion of the Tuscaloosa plant prepared the location for the production of the new M-Class, the Mercedes-Benz R-Class (since 2005) and the GL-Class (since 2006). The R-Class, a new Grand Sports Tourer from Mercedes-Benz, is based on the Vision GST presented in Detroit in 2002 as well as on the Vision GST II and Vision R of 2004. In 2006, a third series was added to the product range in Tuscaloosa: the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

In the ten years since the official inauguration of the plant, the production location in Tuscaloosa has established itself with products of a high standard of quality. “Mercedes Quality – made in the USA” has become a trademark for the Mercedes-Benz cars from Alabama.

The plant also assumes social responsibility: in August 2005, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, in cooperation with the American Red Cross, offered emergency accommodation for victims of hurricane Katrina.

The relations between the old and the new world are also demonstrated by the fact that Tuscaloosa is the twin town of Schorndorf in Germany, where Gottlieb Daimler was born.

Source: DaimlerChrysler

Mitsubishi Motors Announces Names of Two Models Due for Japanese Domestic Market Release this Fall

"GALANT FORTIS" sedan & "LANCER EVOLUTION X" high-performance 4WD sedan

Tokyo, 26 April, 2007 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced the names of two new models. The U.S.-market Lancer will be renamed "GALANT FORTIS" for the Japan domestic market. Also, Mitsubishi's rally-inspired, high-performance 4WD sedan will carry the name "LANCER EVOLUTION X".

The development concept for the new Mitsubishi Galant Fortis(1) calls for a "new-generation global sedan with world-class levels of safety, environmental performance and comfort". Distinguishing features include: a high-rigidity platform that delivers excellent crashworthiness; a new 2-liter engine with aluminum cylinder block that delivers high power output and returns excellent fuel efficiency; exterior styling that imparts a broad stance and sporty lines; and a spacious, well-appointed cabin.

The development concept for the all-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X2 specifies a "new-generation high-performance 4WD global sedan that allows all levels of driver to enjoy the car's speed and handling with ease and in safety".

The new model features Mitsubishi's S-AWC3 traction and handling system, that integrates the control of drive torque and braking management with the four-wheel drive system to help realize highly responsive and intuitive handling in addition to outstanding vehicle attitude stability.

Other examples of Mitsubishi Motors' latest automotive technology to be featured in the new model include a new lightweight and high-performance 2.0-liter turbocharged MIVEC4 engine with aluminum cylinder block and a 6-speed automated manual transmission that contributes to exceptional performance with improved fuel economy.



The performance-driven design makes the car's extreme potential clear, while cockpit design focuses the driver's attention on operating his machine.

1 Latin for strong, steadfast, courageous.
2 "X" ("Ten") stands for the tenth iteration of the Lancer Evolution released on the Japan domestic market. (In other markets the car will be called "LANCER EVOLUTION".)
3 Super All Wheel Control
4 Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and lift Electronic Control System: Mitsubishi Motors variable valve system

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation