TJAA Professional:Canada’s Automotive Business

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COVER STORY: Of Age and Cars - The Forgotten Opportunities

by Michael Pistol

In the ever-increasing mad rush to hit vehicle sales targets, most OEMs and especially their advertising and marketing arms, are leaving behind one of the most affluent segment of the market - the 50 plus seniors. A delicate subject to tread on, the seniors market is still in many respects a restricted territory for the automotive planners. We're not talking planners here as in design and vehicle manufacturing - great improvements and advances have been made in this area in the last few years, but of actual sales planning to this market.

A very recent Canadian insurance conference, ‘Aging Driver Mobility Forum' sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Ontario Safety League and Ontario Seniors' Secretariat, shows that at least the insurance sector is taking this market very seriously.

Let's look at the numbers first:
The general consensus is that baby boomers - anyone between 41 to 60 years of age, are the most affluent Canadians as they are controlling about three-quarters of the country's financial assets. So far, boomers control more than half of all discretionary income and the expectations are that this group will become even more affluent as they will inherit a great amount from their parents.

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Business Class Review ®

2008 Honda Accord EX-L

So, what's the difference between a small and a big idea? Implementation, most would agree. When considering its eight-generation Accord, Honda Corp. not only had a big idea, but it also walked the talk and delivered flawlessly.
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Ipso Facto - Fundamentals

PARTNERSHIP: FORD PARTNERS WITH YAHOO!

In an unprecedented move, Ford Canada and Yahoo! Canada have announced the unveiling of a global and industry-first feature on www.ford.ca.
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EVENT: 2008 APMA Conference Review

The APMA's theme for this year's Conference, "Developing 2020 Vision, is meant to challenge participants to focus on today's industry issues while reflecting on future opportunities as our industry restructures"...
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ENVIRONMENT: "The Transport Sector and Climate Change"- Online Debate

The International Transport Forum has launched its second online debate on "The Transport Sector and Climate Change" in preparation for its upcoming Forum...
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POLICY: Government of Canada announces ecoFREIGHT funding

Eight projects will receive $2.4 million in funding under Transport Canada's Freight Technology Demonstration Fund, and a further 15 projects will receive $3.7 million...
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MANUFACTURING: Canadian Manufacturing Pays the Price

Arguments abound as to whether Canada can avoid being dragged down into recession with the U.S. Until recently many U.S. representatives denied an American recession was in the works...
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TRADE: Stagnant Trade Integration With The United States Threatens Canadian Living Standards

Following a dramatic increase in the 1990s, Canada-U.S. trade has actually stagnated since 2000, and the process of Canada-U.S. economic integration has stopped...
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RESOURCES 2009

CANADIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RESOURCES

Need results? Meet our industry's key players.
Essential data, contacts, website.

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Seven Days

PRODUCT: Chrysler starts Dodge Challenger production in Brampton, ON.

Chrysler LLC announced it has started the production of the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger...
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MARKETING ALLIANCE: Mercedes-Benz Canada and The Hazelton Hotel

M.B. Canada and The Hazelton Hotel have announced the launch of a new marketing...
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AGREEMENT: Subaru Canada signs with Sirius.

SIRIUS Canada and Subaru Canada have announced that Subaru will offer SIRIUS Satellite...
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APPOINTMENT: Takao Oishi to become Corporate Officer of YTC

Mr. Takao Oishi will be promoted to Corporate Officer of The Yokohama Rubber Company...
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RESTRUCTURING: GM’s Windsor plant to close, 1,400 jobs to be cut

GM has announced it would close its Windsor transmission manufacturing facility...
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PURCHASING: Canada's 83rd Supply Chain Conference

The theme of this year's conference, On the Crest of a New Wave, will focus on creating flexible...
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STRATEGIC/MACRO DAILY INFORMATION for Canadian automotive business

TJAAautoinfo FASTWEBLINK

Thursday - Sept. 09, 2010

FOCUS: BMW August unit sales up 12.5% - MarketWatch

FOCUS II: Honda Aims to Boost Odyssey Appeal by Ditching ‘Boxy' Van Look - Bloomberg

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: European Crisis Flares Up in Ireland - WSJ

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS II: OECD Says Economy Slowdown ‘More Pronounced' Than Anticipated - BusinessWeek

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS III: Morgan Stanley: Europe's Sovereign Debt Crisis Could Next Hit France And Germany - BusinessInsider

CANADA

BMW, Mercedes battle for top spot in luxury autos - Reportonbusiness

Canada's AAA Credit Ratings, Stable Outlook Affirmed by Fitch - Bloomberg

‘Unusual uncertainty:' Where does the economy go from here? - TheStar

Canada's banks raise prime rate to 3% - FinancialPost

‘Canada won't be immune': Nouriel Roubini: U.S. still faces double-dip threat - Reportonbusiness

INTERNATIONAL

Japan to turn down 52,000 car subsidy requests - Reuters

Officially, Official: Chevrolet to unveil 2012 Aveo at Paris Motor Show - Autobloggreen

Car companies race to innovate - DetroitNews

China's August Passenger-Car Sales Growth Accelerates - Bloomberg

Opel to Bring Astra GTC Concept to Paris - WardsAuto

Kia denies report of new China plant - Reuters

Wednesday - Sept. 08, 2010

FOCUS: GM's OnStar Said to Consider Free Services, Targeting Ford - Bloomberg

FOCUS II: Why carmakers aren't coming back anytime soon - Fortune

ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: Japan officials voice concern over economy as yen rallies - MarketWatch

CANADA

At the end of '09, total household liabilities in Canada stood at a historic high of 146.2% of disposable income: Rising debts cancel low-rate savings - FinancialPost

Carney May Raise Canada Rate Before Pausing to Gauge Recovery - Bloomberg

Manpower Inc: Fewer Canadian firms hiring in Q4 - CBC

Stocks: Canada snaps eight-session advance on Europe woes - MarketWatch

David Suzuki: Why even electric vehicles won't save us - Autobloggreen

INTERNATIONAL

Bentley unveils newest version of Continental - DetroitNews

Dongfeng Nissan unveils new China brand Venucia - Reuters

What peak oil? Why an oil glut is ahead - Fortune

VW to Extend Winterkorn's Contract, Board Member Says - Bloomberg

Navistar swings to profit, cuts revenue guidance - MarketWatch

Tuesday - Sept. 07, 2010

FOCUS: The rise and fall in China's auto production and sales growth since 2006: Shifting Gears - Caixin