California dealer takes Nissan to court over dealership relocation

Sacramento, California - A Sacramento-area automobile dealer is taking Nissan to court, alleging that the automaker is violating California law by forcing dealers to relocate near Honda and Toyota stores before selling their dealerships. Gary A. Hamner will be heard in Superior Court on November 26, after nearly a decade-long battle with Nissan. Hamner claims that Nissan cost him millions of dollars by imposing unreasonable requirements before he could sell his dealership, according to the lawsuit. Hamner alleges that Nissan required him to purchase the land he was leasing for his auto dealership and told him he would lose his franchise if he did not. After he bought the land and notified Nissan that he planned to sell the dealership, Nissan told him that any buyer would have to agree to move the dealership so that it was located near Honda and Toyota dealerships in nearby Stockton, the lawsuit says. "Nissan's actions cost Mr. Hamner and his companies millions of dollars," said Michael Sieving, Hamner's attorney. "He purchased the land where his dealership was located only to be told by Nissan that, if he sold the dealership, it had to move. Buyers who were interested in buying the dealership refused to agree to Nissan's added conditions. California law specifically protects owners of auto franchises against unreasonable demands such as those imposed by Nissan." Sieving, who specializes in representing auto dealers, said Nissan has made it a practice to withhold its approval on dealership sales if the buyers do not agree to move the dealership to be near Honda and Toyota dealerships.

Cadillac CTS named 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year

Los Angeles, California - Motor Trend has named the Cadillac CTS as its 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The statement follows an October announcement naming the Mazda CX-9 as Sport/Utility of the Year. "The Cadillac CTS marks the first time in decades an American automobile has been designed and engineered with an eye on the global marketplace," said Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief. "Among its many excellent qualities, perhaps the most valuable one is that it shows Detroit can build a world class car to compete with the best Munich, Stuttgart and Toyota City have to offer. With the CTS, Detroit is officially back in the car business, not just the truck or SUV business." To be eligible for Car of the Year, a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned, and released in the twelve months prior to January 1, 2008. Other contenders for this year's award were the Audi S5/A5, Audi TT, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Avenger, Ford Focus, Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mini Cooper, Mitsubishi Lancer, Scion xB, Scion xD, Subaru Impreza, Volvo C30 and Volvo XC70. Cadillac received the first Motor Trend Car of the Year award in 1949.

Rise in precious metal prices results in rash of catalytic converter thefts in suburbs south of Boston

Theives hack-saw 20 catalytic converters from SUVs on the lot at Bourne’s Auto Center in Easton, MA. Just the latest in many such thefts. With the rise in prices paid for salvaged platinum, which has doubled over the past two years, car dealers and other auto related businesses have been experiencing the increased attention of thieves interested in harvesting the precious metal for resale to scrap dealers. Over last weekend, reports The Enterprise a local newspaper, thieves hit the Bourne Auto Center lots twice, harvesting 10 catalytic converters with each visit. Jason Bourne of the auto center estimates that the converters will set the dealership back about $500 a piece. The newspaper also reports that there were at least four other similar thefts in the area in just the past month. Thefts include stealing catalytic converters from parts inventories as well as sawing them off vehicles. At the Bourne Auto Center, apparently the thieves made their first pass at the dealer’s lot in the early hours of last Saturday, netting 10 converters hack-sawed from a number of SUVs in the lot. Finding that to be rather easy, it looks like they decided to return some time between Saturday night and Sunday morning to bag another 10.
In spite of the paper’s report of multiple thefts in the area over the last month, the local police chief is reported to have said that this was the first time he has heard of catalytic converters being stolen in town. Rrising platinum, other precious metals contained in a catalytic converter include palladium and rhodium- although their values have not increased as dramatically as has platinum.

Ontario driver wins Bridgestone Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award

Mississauga, Ontario - Tim Ferguson, a driver for Mackinnon Transport in Guelph, Ontario, has been named the 2007 recipient of the Bridgestone Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. Ferguson directly saved one life and possibly that of several other drivers. The award, now in its 51st year, recognizes bravery, quick thinking and compassion on the part of truck drivers. The winner is selected from nominees submitted by Canadian trucking companies. Ferguson has received a $3,000 award and commemorative trophy, with an additional $3,000 donated by Bridgestone Firestone to the charity of his choice. While he was driving toward an overpass, Ferguson saw a pedestrian who allegedly attempted to commit suicide by running out into the truck's lane. Ferguson braked and brought his truck to a stop on the shoulder, in front of the pedestrian, and led the individual to the truck. The person jumped out and headed back toward the highway. Ferguson gave chase across the highway, motioning for cars to stop, and finally caught and calmed the individual before getting the person back to the truck. According to the police report, Ferguson's actions and driving skills prevented the incident from becoming a fatal motor vehicle collision. "A hero, by definition, is a person who commits a remarkable act of bravery, displays courage or strength of character," said David Scheklesky, General Manager, Commercial Truck Tires, Bridgestone Firestone Canada. "Tim Ferguson certainly fits this description. His professionalism, compassion, and complete unselfishness at a time of crisis were truly extraordinary. He is a most worthy recipient of our Truck Hero Award."

Honda unveils new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle

Honda will begin selling the fuel cell vehicle in the U.S. in mid-2008Honda unveiled its new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, reports Energy Currents. The company plans to begin limited retail marketing in the summer of 2008. The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. The vehicle features improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency. American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California with the first deliveries taking place in the summer of 2008. Full details of the lease program will be set closer to launch, but current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month, including maintenance and collision insurance. American Honda also is developing a service infrastructure that would allow customers to bring the car to their local Honda dealer for periodic maintenance. The vehicle then would be transported to the fuel cell service facility in the greater Los Angeles area. Upon completion of the work, the customer would pick up the car from the dealer.