This week’s list of top news stories, as dictated by number of reader clicks, covers a diverse range of topics, starting with the most popular article this week announcing the North American Car and Truck of the Year winners. A jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada selected the Hyundai Genesis as the 2009 North American Car of the Year and the Ford F-150 as the 2009 North American Truck of the Year. This year was the first time a Korean automaker has won; and the fifth time Ford has won the North American Truck of the Year. It is the third win for the F-150.
Another article of high interest this week was the notice from the Automotive Distribution Network that the host hotel for its upcoming National Convention has sold out. The convention will take place Feb. 26–March 1, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, with more than 1,300 attendees expected for the event. According to Mike Lambert, president of the Network, “While the Renaissance has sold out, we have secured more rooms at the Hilton Suites Hotel, right across the street. If more customers want to come, we will accommodate them.”
Also in the top news of the week, Deeza Chassis announced the appointment of new independent sales reps in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. Deeza recently signed agreements with KMS Automotive Marketing Co., which will represent Deeza in New England, New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia; and CAN-AM Marketing Co., which will represent Deeza in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and the Greater Chicagoland markets.
In other partnership news, Ford has signed on with aftermarket software provider Illumaware to use its online data authoring tool — Evokat version 2.5 PIES and ACES — to ensure ACES 2.0 and PIES 6.1.1 compliance. The move is intended to enhance Ford Motorcraft’s brand presence in the automotive aftermarket through better, faster and more accurate data. Illumaware’s latest version of Evokat comes with increased performance and many significant upgrades, according to president Adrian Klingel.
The final story in our round-up of the week’s top news brings a little good news about Tenneco’s current restructuring initiatives. Tenneco said it is postponing its plans to close an original equipment (OE) ride control plant in the United States as part of the company’s current global restructuring program. The company said it intends to accelerate efforts to maximize efficiency and flex operations at its Cozad, Neb., and Hartwell, Ga., OE ride control plants in lieu of closing one of these facilities at this time.
