A top US Commerce Department official, beginning on Monday, will lead 13 auto parts and service companies on a trade mission to Moscow, Samara and St. Petersburg in search of new sales. Fender and gasket manufacturers are jointing companies that offer emission reduction and heating induction systems.

Russian car ownership has leapt about 70 percent over the past decade, from 140 cars per 1,000 people in 2001 to 244 cars per 1,000 people in 2010. That compares to about 850 cars for every 1,000 Americans, the Commerce Department said.

Theres an expectation that Russia will become the worlds sixth largest car market by 2020. Its currently number ten, US Commerce Deputy Under Secretary Michelle ONeill told Reuters ahead of the trip. Its going to be the largest car market in Europe within the next three years.

US carmakers Ford (F.N) and General Motors (GM.N) have already been pouring investment into Russia along with Toyota (7203.T), Nissan (7201.T), Hyundai (005380.KS), Volkswagen (VOLVb.ST), Volvo (VOLVb.ST) and Renault (RENA.PA).

We want to sell to them all, ONeill said, emphasizing the trade mission is not focused just on Russias own auto producers, like AvtoVaz (AVAZ.MM) and GAZ (GAZA.RTS).

The trip comes as Obama is facing a tight race with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for votes in the industrial Midwest. Seven of the firms going with ONeill are from battleground states of Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

WTO ACCESSION

With Russia on the verge of joining the World Trade Organization in July, the White House is also trying to persuade a skeptical Congress to repeal a Cold War-era trade measure known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment in order to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).

The vote is important because unless Congress takes that step Moscow could deny US exporters the market opening-benefits of Russias accession to the WTO, while granting them to US competitors around the world.

Russias fast-growing auto market is certainly a great example of why we need to go ahead with terminating Jackson-Vanik and granting PNTR, ONeill said.

Thats expected to be difficult because of concerns in Congress about Moscows record on human rights and its foreign policy, which is often at odds with the United States.

In addition, some lawmakers are unhappy with the automotive terms of Russias entry into the WTO, even though Detroits Big Three automakers have endorsed the pact.

The Russian government, to encourage more domestic auto production, began a program in 2005 that reduced tariffs on auto parts for companies that produced at least 25,000 cars per year in Russia and used at least 30 percent local content.

Those domestic production requirements were increased last year to 350,000 cars annually and 60 percent local content, triggering a storm of protests from US lawmakers from automotive industry states.

The United States got a commitment from Russia during the WTO accession negotiations to end the program by 2018 and the European Union, already a major auto parts supplier to Russia, got further concessions.

But Representative Sander Levin, a senior Democrat from Michigan, said recently the issue was still a concern.

STRONG DEMAND, SOME DIFFICULTIES

Companies headed to Russia this week with ONeill said it made sense to get into the country now.

As the market continues to grow, there will be more Russians that want to baby their car, said Lynne Branigan, vice president for international sales at Warren Distribution, an Omaha-based manufacturer that makes a top-quality line of auto lubricants under the brand MAG1.

I want to come away from Russia with at least a couple of very good distributors, Branigan said.

The trip is Warrens first foray in Russia and Branigan said she hoped it was easier than doing business in China, where customs officials make it a complete frickin nightmare every time we want to ship oil and chemicals over there.

But Oleg Gostomelsky, vice president of East European business development for Hoosier Gasket Corp. based in Indianapolis, said US companies should expect some difficulties getting their product into Russia.

Even if youre told there are six steps, there are probably nine or ten, said Gostomelsky, whose parents emigrated from the Ukraine when he was a child.

Still, there is strong demand for a higher quality of auto parts than most Russian manufacturers can currently provide, so its worth taking the time to learn the system and develop the personal contacts that are key to success, he said.

One reason the Russia market is growing so rapidly is the relatively recent introduction of auto financing, which has made it possible for many more people to buy cars.

Until about five or six years ago, if you were living in St. Petersburg or Moscow and you wanted to buy a $20,000 car you better bring $20,000 to the dealer in cash, Gostomelsky said.

(Reporting By Doug Palmer; editing by Todd Eastham)

#13;

The 16-year-old boys allegedly stole a Dodge Charger from a Petaluma address earlier Friday, California Highway Officer Officer Eric Hohmeister said. The teens then drove in the Dodge with two acquaintances, 18-year-old Monique Ellen and 24-year-old Edgar Figueroa, both of Petaluma, at a high rate of speed north on Point Reyes-Petaluma Road near the Nicasio Reservoir around 11 pm, Hohmeister said.

#13;

A Marin County sheriffs deputy tried to stop the speeding Dodge but slowed down for safety reasons, Hohmeister said. The deputy then saw the Dodge collide with a dirt embankment at the intersection of San Antonio Road
and D Street.

#13;

Ellen and Figueroa were located on San Antonio Road, Hohmeister said. Both were determined to be occupants of the Dodge and they were turned over to the sheriffs office for questioning, Hohmeister said. The two suspects said they did not know the Dodge had been stolen and they were intending to go to Petaluma, Hohmeister said.

#13;

Meanwhile, the two other teenage boys fled on foot to a nearby residence and found the Chevrolet pickup with the keys inside. But as they were driving on San Antonio Road, they were spotted by a CHP officer who pulled them over.

#13;

As the CHP officer approached the pickup, it sped off on northbound San Antonio Road, crossed the southbound lanes of traffic and continued north on US Highway 101, Hohmeister said.

#13;

The pickup reached speeds of 90 mph in light traffic and used both lanes of the highway to evade the CHP sergeant, Hohmeister said. The Sonoma County CHP and Sonoma County Sheriffs Office then pursued the Chevrolet pickup when it left Marin County, Hohmeister said.

#13;

Sonoma County sheriffs deputies laid spike strips on the highway near the Wilfred Avenue onramp, damaging all four wheels of the pickup, Hohmeister said. A Sonoma County CHP officer used the push bumpers of a patrol car
to cause the slowed pickup to spin backwards out of control, Hohmeister said.

#13;

Both teens were arrested and taken to Novato Community Hospital for medical clearance before they were booked into Sonoma County juvenile hall for evading police via reckless driving, unlawfully taking and driving a vehicle and possession of stolen property, Hohmeister said.

#13;

The driver also was arrested for driving without a license and being a minor driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.01 percent or above, Hohmeister said.

#13;

-Bay City News

BEIJING, April 22, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
A changing economic and regulatory environment, coupled with more products and dealerships, have led China vehicle dealers to report lower profits on 2011 operations, compared with 2010, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 China Dealer Attitude Study(SM).

Findings from this annual study on automotive dealer sentiment, which this year includes 1,605 dealers of 38 different brands in 59 cities in China, indicate the percentage of dealers reporting they were profitable in 2011 fell to 63 percent, compared with 81 percent a year ago, and 20 percent of dealers report they lost money on their operations–up from 9 percent in the 2011 study.

“These profit findings are troubling to more than just dealers,” said Charles Mills, vice president, global retail experience at J.D. Power and Associates. “Brands need dealers to continue to invest to meet their market potentials, and China customers increasingly expect more from their dealership experiences. This puts brands with lower dealer profitability at a disadvantage relative to competitors.”

Entry-Level Segment Sales Hardest HitChina new-vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2012 increased by just 2 percent from the same period last year. The sluggish sales growth has affected entry-level vehicle segments more than other segments, despite a continued increase in retail gas prices in China. Fuel prices in China are now more than 20 percent higher than the average price in the United States.

Typically, consumers trade down to smaller, cheaper and more fuel-efficient vehicles when gas prices rise, but current China market dynamics are challenging this trend. Luxury vehicle sales are continuing to surge, driven by consumers with deep pockets who are less price sensitive, and manufacturer-provided dealer incentives have lowered consumer-facing transaction prices. By contrast, entry-level vehicles are falling victim to the gas-price hype as consumers exhibit a greater level of price sensitivity.

The three entry-level vehicle segments–minicars, sub-compact and compact–account for 55-60 percent of China passenger-vehicle sales, according to LMC Automotive’s China analyst, John Zeng. Sales of entry-level vehicles in the first three months of 2012 declined by 5 percent from the same period last year. Minicars led the deceleration among these three segments, with a 30 percent decline in sales versus the same three-month period in 2011. China domestic-brand sales have been strongly impacted by this situation, as has their dealerships’ profitability.

On average, dealerships in China currently derive 40 percent of their profits from new-vehicle sales, a proportion significantly higher than in mature markets. As the China automotive market continues to evolve, it is expected that dealerships will gain greater profits from vehicle financing, used-vehicle sales and service and parts. These revenue streams tend to be more profitable than new-vehicle sales, enabling dealerships’ profitability to better weather any sales volatility.

The World’s Largest Auto Market Shifts GearCurrently, new-vehicle shoppers in China have the world’s widest range of choices, with 94 brands and 476 models from which to choose. That compares with fewer than 40 brands and nearly 100 fewer models available in the U.S. market, the second-largest automotive market in the world in 2011.

LMC Automotive forecasts a nine percent growth in passenger-vehicle sales in 2012, a much lower rate than in previous years when China’s new-vehicle sales surged at double-digit rates. China’s passenger-vehicle market is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 12.4 percent during the next four years and will reach an estimated 20.9 million units annually by 2015.

Voice of the Dealer Critical to AutomakersOther findings from the 2012 Dealer Attitude Study provide indicators for what dealers perceive is required for improved profitability. Greater support from automakers, in the form of marketing and incentives; continued focus on product quality; and personnel training are all areas of great importance to dealers this year. The importance of automaker support is emphasized by a finding that indicates there is a strong relationship between dealer perceptions of automakers’ performance and dealer profitability, with dealers who are “delighted” (providing a satisfaction rating of 10 on a 10-point scale) with their brand indicating they are more profitable, compared with dealers who provide lower ratings for satisfaction. The brands with the highest level of dealers who are “delighted” also tend to perform well in J.D. Power studies on China automotive customer satisfaction.

“Great products are critical, but are only one part of the long-term success equation. Healthy, vibrant dealerships that help differentiate products in this incredibly competitive market are also critical to protecting automotive investments,” said Mills.

About J.D. Power Asia PacificThe 2012 J.D. Power Asia Pacific China Dealer Attitude Study will be released on April 27. J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts customer satisfaction research and provides consulting services in the automotive, information technology and finance industries, from its offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok. Together, the five offices bring the language of customer satisfaction to consumers and businesses in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Information regarding J.D. Power Asia Pacific and its products can be accessed through the Internet at
www.jdpower.com . Media e-mail contact: ellen_wang@jdpa.com.

About J.D. Power and AssociatesHeadquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial’s leading brands include Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2010, the Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/ .

About LMC Automotive LMC Automotive, formerly J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting, is the premier supplier of automotive forecasts and intelligence to an extensive client base of automotive manufacturer, component suppliers, logistics and distribution companies, as well as financial and government institutions around the world. Its global forecasting services encompass automotive sales, production and powertrain expertise, as well as advisory capability. LMC Automotive has offices in the U.S., the UK, Germany, China and Thailand. It is part of the Oxford, UK-based LMC group, the global leader in economic and business consultancy for the agribusiness sector.

J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts:Ms. Ellen Wang; Public Relations Supervisor; J.D. Power Asia Pacific; Shanghai, 200040 China; +86 186 0160 4921; ellen_wang@jdpa.com

Ms. Helen Rong; Director, Marketing Communications, J.D. Power Asia Pacific; Shanghai, 200040 China; +86 159 0086 7996; helen_rong@jdpa.com

John Tews; Director, Media Relations; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Michigan 48098 USA; 001 248 680 6218; john.tews@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Financial Glossary

Words used in this article:

It is the third different excuse for blocking the correspondence between Stagecoach tycoon Brian Souter and ministers.

Souter, who has given pound;1million to the SNP, was knighted last year.

Under freedom of information laws, Labour asked for details of the Scottish Governments communications with Souter.

But they insist it would cost more than the pound;600 limit for retrieving information to provide the correspondence.

This conflicts with previous reasons given that Buckingham Palace banned publishing details and that Labour had not clearly identified the information they were looking for.

Scottish Labours Paul Martin said: The SNP Government are now not even being consistent with their excuses.

At every stage throughout the Souter cash-for-honours controversy, Alex Salmond has tried to cover up the SNP Governments involvement.

The public rightly demand and deserve the highest level of openness and transparency from their elected members.

The longer Alex desperately tries to keep these documents secret, the more people will think he has something to hide.

The SNP refusal comes just weeks after information commissioner Kevin Dunion said the Scottish Government failed to comply with the law by blocking the request.

The Court of Session earlier ruled that, under freedom of information laws, there is a right of access to information, not copies of actual documents.

Now the Scottish Government have said it would cost more than the pound;600 limit to provide the information.

An official wrote: This is because to locate and retrieve the information you have requested, we would need to conduct a search of all the records of the Scottish Government.

We file our information according to the subject matter, not by reference to the names of individuals with whom we have corresponded.

Souter was knighted last year for services to transport and the voluntary sector.

Questions were raised because he announced that he would donate pound;500,000 to the SNP shortly after the knighthood shy; nomination was made.

But a report by Lord Fraser last November found that allegations that ministers directed Souters nomination were wrong and ill-founded.

BEIJING, April 22 (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co (F.N), seeking to tap into Chinas growing appetite for brawny sport utility vehicles, will quadruple its offerings in that segment over the next year.

The US automaker, a latecomer in the worlds largest automotive market, will add the Kuga, the Chinese version of the Escape, and EcoSport small SUVs, and the larger Explorer to its sparse China SUV portfolio, Ford Asia chief Joe Hinrichs said on Sunday.

Ford currently sells only the Edge in China, leaving it under-represented in a category that offers higher profit margins for automakers.

The next phase of our product portfolio growth really is the three SUVs and its so important to China because of the SUV segmentation growth were seeing, he told Reuters ahead of the Beijing auto show. He declined to identify when each of the SUVs will go on sale in China.

Ford, which makes Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and other vehicles in China in a three-way tie-up with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd 000625.SZ and Japans Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T), is joining a growing number of automakers pushing out SUVs to meet the rising demand for the vehicles. The rollout is part of Fords plan to introduce 15 new vehicles into China by 2015.

Chinese consumers bought 2.1 million SUVs last year, an increase of 25 percent and representing almost 12 percent of total light vehicle sales, according to JD Power and LMC Automotive. That total is about half the 4.1 million SUVs sold in the United States, where such vehicles make up almost one third of the market.

Buyers and industry officials have said the desire of drivers to sit above Chinas crowded traffic in an expensive off-road vehicle is a strong draw in the status-conscious society, especially for younger buyers.

In addition, female SUV drivers, mostly young professionals, have been increasing steadily in China, to 19 percent last year from 14 percent in 2007, JD Power and LMC said.

Analysts also say the surging SUV sales indicate the Chinese market is maturing.

SUVs have a long history in China, dating back more than two decades to when Chrysler built Jeep Cherokees at a joint venture with Beijing Automotive. However, the market today is led by Japanese and South Korean automakers in the compact segment, and the German brands in the luxury market. Hondas CR-V led the way last year with overall sales of some 160,000.

Ford has invested or made commitments to spend almost $5 billion in China to date, including its announcement last week to build a $760 million plant in Hangzhou in eastern China.

The Hangzhou plant is scheduled to begin building vehicles in 2015, and is meant to help Ford close the gap with its larger rivals. Ford sold 320,658 vehicles in China last year, compared with Volkswagen AGs (VOWG_p.DE) annual tally of 2.26 million and General Motors Cos (GM.N) 2.55 million.

RAPID EXPANSION

Fords rapid expansion in China – it will double annual production capacity to 1.2 million vehicles in 2015 — led the company to say this month it would realize a small loss in Asia in the first quarter.

Executives cited major investments in new products like the redesigned Focus small car and a new factory in Chongqing, but added Asian operations will be profitable for the full year in 2012.

Ford plans to build the small Kuga and slightly smaller EcoSport SUVs in Chongqing, Hinrichs said. The larger Explorer, which seats up to seven people, will be the first Ford vehicle exported from the United States into China.

Fords Chinese dealers, which have been limited to selling only five vehicles before this months rollout of the new Focus, cannot get the SUVs fast enough. At a dealership in Shanghai last Saturday, salesman Hu Jun said the reasons for consumers growing desire for SUVs were no surprise.

Its high and big and safe, and its very convenient if the family wants to go out, he said.

SUVs also are the next frontier for image-conscious Chinese buyers, which will translate to healthier profit margins for automakers.

Its more powerful, masculine and big, Shaun Rein, managing director of consulting firm China Market Research Group, said of SUVs. People like to be in an environment that just seems big.

(Editing by Ron Popeski)

Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 21, 2012

Entrepreneurs need an easy gold guide full of expert information and advice, said the latest article from AbsouteWealth.com. That way, they can take full advantage of the record-high precious metal prices. Scrap gold and silver are earning dealers far more than ever imagined, and learning how to make the big bucks has never been so appealing.

Absolute Wealth is currently offering more than just a guide, but a full buying and selling system with the Gold Profit Formula. Its an innovative and educational training course for becoming a successful personal gold dealer. Using videos, audio files, and a mix of additional resources and information, the Gold Profit Formula erases any doubt that working with gold will earn major profits.

In fact, the article said that gold dealing is outpacing gold investing. Instead of trading volatile gold stocks, intelligent entrepreneurs are realizing the huge potential in gold dealing. Gold Profit Formula is feeding that realization with tried and true methods of building wealth and accumulating business as a personal gold dealer, said the article.

People who take the Gold Profit Formula course will be taught how to use specialized tools and equipment to measure, weigh, and test gold for its quality and value. It also shows them how to use a household, $5 device to pick out real gold from a supply of mix-matched jewelry and trinkets.

All the percentages and formulas used to determine the scrap value of gold are shared within the course. They provide the information needed to make a proper offer, and will add expertise to the most novice dealers.

Along with the training course, Gold Profit Formula owners will receive a wealth of business-owning information through additional bonus modules, the article said. Business launching, marketing, and fundraising are all covered in the bonus trainings, and are all integral to a proper start of a scrap gold buying business.

With gold prices predicted to continue rising into next year, the article said theres never been a better opportunity to learn how to buy and sell scrap gold for incredible profits. In order to do it correctly and successfully, the Gold Profit Formula is an essential ingredient. An easy gold guide is hard to come by, but now that Gold Profit Formula is here, its available to anyone willing to learn.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebeasy_gold/guide/prweb9425010.htm

Green Delivery allows Jackson policyholders and representatives to
lessen the number of paper documents they receive by selecting
electronic delivery, ultimately reducing waste while positively
impacting the environment. Since its inception in 2009, Jackson’s Green
Delivery efforts have saved the company millions of dollars and
decreased its paper and postage consumption.

Jackson’s promotion of paperless delivery helps our environment and
raises awareness among their customers of how they can help, said Lea
Sloan, American Forests’ vice president of communications and marketing.
By partnering with American Forests to also plant 100,000 trees,
Jackson will help restore some of America’s forests, which bring
significant environmental benefits to all, such as cleaner air and
water, increased wildlife habitat and reduced soil erosion and storm
water run-off.

American Forests was founded in 1875, and is the oldest national
nonprofit conservation organization in the country. The organization
restores and protects urban and rural forests and has served as a
catalyst for many of the most important milestones in the conservation
movement, including the founding of the USDA Forest Service, the
national forest and national park systems and thousands of forest
ecosystem restoration projects and public education efforts. Since 1990,
American Forests has planted more than 40 million trees in forests
throughout the US and in 38 countries, resulting in cleaner air and
drinking water, restored habitat for wildlife and fish, and the removal
of millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

]]> http://www.unemb.com/jacksons-green-delivery-efforts-spark-100000-donation-to-american-forests/feed/ 0 http://www.unemb.com/shredding-documents-to-secure-identity/ http://www.unemb.com/shredding-documents-to-secure-identity/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 04:25:26 +0000 admin http://www.unemb.com/?p=332 DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – In correspondence with Earth Day, MONCO will host a free opportunity to shred personal documents, old tax information, and confidential papers from 9 am to 1 pm Saturday at their shredding operations center at 700 Liberty Lane in Dayton.

Saturdays event is a safe way to discard any personal documentation while protecting your identity. Documents that are shredded will be recycled.

MONCO is a non-profit organization administered by the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services that helps adults with disabilities find employment. The companys Secure Document Destruction Center gives people with disabilities the chance to serve the community and work hard for a pay check.

MONCOs Secure Document Destruction Center is a permanent facility dedicated to the document shredding process. The sorting and shredding equipment is partially funded by a $65,000 grant from the Solid Waste District. It is able to shred 4,000 pounds of documents each hour. The shredded paper is sold to a reprocessing business for recycling, and the proceeds go to workers at the facility.

Calvin Griffin, a suspect in a November slaying in Lynwood, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in 6th District Circuit Court in Markham this week. But the hearing became moot when prosecutors informed the court a grand jury had returned an indictment against him, said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County states attorneys office.

Griffin is a suspect in a separate shooting in Chicago Heights and was arrested on a separate charge in Gary.

Simonton said the 81 counts pending against Griffin include charges of murder, home invasion, attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint.

Prior to Griffins indictment, the charges he faced were murder, home invasion and kidnapping related to crimes in late November in the south suburbs.

Lynwood police said they believe two people were involved in the shooting death of Eugene White Jr., of Lynwood. No information was available on the second suspect.

Prosecutors previously have said a female relative of White met Griffin at a party Nov. 28 and drove him to a Ford Heights gas station. Once there, the other suspect allegedly forced the relative at gunpoint to drive to a local home.

At that point, prosecutors said, the relative was forced into the back seat of the car and was raped.

Prosecutors said the two suspects then forced the woman to give them Whites home address in Lynwood and to go inside his house and call him out. The two men attacked White, firing several shots at him, prosecutors said. He was shot and killed.

After robbing the house, they drove the woman to Chicago Heights and raped her again, prosecutors said.

The men stuffed the woman into the trunk of the car and tried to set it afire, prosecutors said. But the woman was able to free herself and contact police.

Griffin is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday for arraignment — where he will enter his plea to the charges. He is being held at Cook County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail.