TJAA Professional:Canada’s Automotive Business

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August 22, 2008: Summer's End - Now What?

by Michael Pistol

As September is just a short week away, we thought that a quick look ahead at the fall season and what it may bring to us would be in order.
Brutal media headlines aside, the Canadian automotive sector seems to be in relatively good shape, except perhaps the auto parts manufacturers tied too close for comfort to the restructuring of Detroit's Three.

Here are a few trends and developments that will warrant our attention in the coming months:

Vehicle Sales Numbers
So far, the sales numbers are surprisingly positive - the July Canadian auto sales have risen 5% for the month, and for this year the volume is already up by 2.7%. It is surprising, because the Canadian performance contrasts sharply with the worsening situation in the United States - July produced numbers not seen since April 1992. The U.S. automotive sales fell to a 12.5 million-unit rate, and according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report, "retail sales accounted for the bulk of the decline, falling to a 9.8 million-unit selling rate. That was down from a 10.8 million-unit rate in June and much lower than an 11.9 million-unit selling rate in July 2007." The consensus for the US market gravitates now around the 14-million mark, down from the mid 16-million last year. But in some more pessimistic corners, the 13-million number is also tossed around - just in case.

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Business Class Review

BUSINESS CLASS REVIEW: 2008 Toyota RAV4

From the Cute Ute to Intelligent Design
Being ‘clever' or ‘smart' is not the same as being intelligent. Depending on what you're referring to, this statement can have a lot of meanings, but in the case of the 2008 iteration of Toyota's RAV4 there is little doubt of what it means...

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Ipso Facto - Fundamentals August 2008

CONSUMER DEBT RISES: Canadian Household Credit Analysis – CIBC World Markets

According to the latest Household Credit Analysis, authored by Benjamin Tal - Senior Economist at CIBC World Markets, "the household credit market is starting to reflect developments in the real economy. While on a year-over-year basis the growth numbers are still impressive, the monthly figures clearly suggest that...
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STUDY: Canadian Trends in Vehicle Longevity

Vehicle longevity is an area we cover every year, but it still tends to fly under the radar for many industry watchers. I find this difficult to understand, since so many lessons - so much fundamental knowledge and insight...
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CONSUMER SATISFACTION: American Automakers Fall Further Behind Foreign Competition - ACSI

"The American consumer has long been the single biggest force propping up the U.S. and the global economy," said Professor Claes Fornell, head of the ACSI at the University of Michigan. "But declining customer satisfaction combined with weaker demand for U.S. exports, may make it difficult for American households...
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TAXES: Canada's GST System Ranks in Top 10 for Global Businesses - KPMG Survey

Canada's GST system ranks seventh easiest for businesses among indirect tax systems in 32 countries including the U.S., according to a KPMG-commissioned survey of senior finance professionals on more than 500 large corporations in countries around the world...
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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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NEWS - Seven Days_____________August 23 - 29, 2008

APPOINTMENT: Montreal-raised Ralph Gilles Named Vice President – Design, Chrysler LLC

PRODUCT: VW Introduces the 2009 Routan, Honda launches 2009 Fit, Cadillac shows off Sport Wagon

LABOUR: CAW National Skilled Trades Council endorses Lewenza and Kennedy

DEPARTURE: Ford Canada's President and CEO Engle leaving after only six months.

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RETAIL 101 - The Forgotten Opportunities

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ADVERTISING: Where to spend your money?

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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