Executive Interview with Bill Thompson, President of IMR
Bill Thompson is the president of IMR. He joined the company in 2003 and immediately recognized the extraordinary potential in both the amount of research the company does, and the volume of data it collects. As a result, he has led the way into innovative new research venues, and developed new ways of using the data for a variety of automotive customers. Among the places IMR data can be seen is the weekly research article “The Pulse,” published every Friday on aftermarketNews. Under his leadership, the company continues to grow its portfolio of aftermarket research products and services. Bill is currently a member of the AASA, AAIA and SEMA and currently sits on the AAIA market research committee. In this exclusive Executive Interview, Thompson explains the role of IMR in the aftermarket and how market research data can provide companies with the competitive edge.
U.S. Automakers’ Market Share is Lowest Ever
The Detroit automakers’ share of the U.S. market dropped below 50 percent in July for the first time in history, according to two analysts who track industry numbers. Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for the Edmunds.com automotive website, and Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates, each said that foreign-based automakers took more than half the U.S. market for the first time, citing sales data released by the companies Wednesday.
Honda Ends Production of Hybrid Accord Models
From United Press International TORRANCE, CA — Honda Motor Co. will stop making the hybrid version of its Accord sedan at the end of the model year due to poor sales, the No. 2 Japanese automaker said. "The reason it didn’t sell is because the price premium wasn’t justified by the gas mileage," Edmunds.com automotive
Are Hybrid Sales Running Out of Gas?
Every car company hopes for hit models that are in high demand, and long windows of time in which it doesn’t have to offer sales incentives. Hybrid cars and SUVs have been among that exclusive club. But auto makers investing in the vehicles are seeing some cracks in consumer demand as more people question hybrids’ financial payback.
Chinese to Enter U.S. Auto Market
With one humble car, a modest sedan called the Geely CK 1.5, parked Tuesday in the lobby of the North American International Auto Show, a Chinese automaker announced it’s coming to the U.S. And it has other automakers concerned, not only the now-struggling U.S. manufacturers but also those from Japan and South Korea.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry: Predictions for the U.S. Auto Industry in 2006
With all the struggles the automotive industry has faced this past year, do you foresee a better, stronger industry in 2006 or one that is worse for the wear, and why?
Honda Reveals Rare Price Increase, Cites Rising Steel Costs Among Factors
Prices of most Honda and luxury-brand Acura models being delivered to dealerships starting this week will be an average $150 higher, Honda said Monday. Honda has said its first general price increase since 1994 is because of rising costs for steel and currency exchange factors. The sticker boost affects all models except the Acura NSX and Honda Element, Insight and Civic LX SE.
Flow of Auto Data Restricted
Under pressure from automakers, the affiliate of J. D. Power and Associates that regularly provides pricing, demographic and other key automotive data to the media no longer will do so. Power Information Network, or PIN, which handles about 60 requests a month from television, radio and newspapers, such as the Detroit Free Press, will stop in a move the company labeled a “business decision.” The company has been notifying journalists of the change, effective Sept. 1, for the last week.
Info on Car Safety Off-Limits to Public
The federal agency that oversees auto safety has decided — based largely on arguments from automakers and their Washington, D.C., lobbyists — that reams of data relating to unsafe automobiles or defective parts will not be available to the public. Specifically, the government has banned the release of car and truck warranty-claims information, customer complaints and early-warning reports about defects from dealers, automakers and rental car companies, even if media outlets or other groups push for it under the Freedom of Information Act.
TI Automotive Selects Hart County, Georgia, for New Plant
TI Automotive has selected Hart County, Ga., as the site for a new facility to manufacture automotive fuel system components.