01/05/07

• Employee Updates
• LaSorda: Chrysler sales bank dips below 10,000
• Chrysler group to recall 62,400 vehicles
• Toyota on track to surpass Ford again
• NAIAS 2007 Dealership Employee Day
• CPR Classes

Employee Updates
The Huvaere Group would like to recognize those associates with employment anniversaries in January: Johnny Cariveau, 2 years; Tim Connors, 1 year; Ashley Furton, 1 year; Harold Heckendorn, 2 years; Bev Manchik, 2 years; Mike Saigh, 1 year; Dan Tober, 4 years; Ken Yee, 2 years. Congratulations!
LaSorda: Chrysler sales bank dips below 10,000
Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda said this morning that the number of vehicles in the auto maker's so-called sales bank had dropped below 10,000, a promise he made last month under heavy criticism from dealers and analysts who maintain that the company had built far more vehicles than dealers had ordered, the Detroit Free Press reports. "I said in December that we would bring down our inventory of unassigned vehicles back to historical normal levels in the low five digits," LaSorda said during a conference call with journalists. "Our number of unassigned vehicles is below 10,000 at the end of December which is, in fact, in the normal-level category." On Wednesday the Auburn Hills-based unit of DaimlerChrysler AG reported December sales figures were up 1 percent. Full-year sales fell 7 percent compared with 2005.
Chrysler group to recall 62,400 vehicles
The Chrysler Group is recalling about 62,400 2007 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles in which the braking system may fail to work, the Detroit Free Press reports. The recall includes 62,369 model year 2007 Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Jeep Commander, Jeep Compass, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Dodge Caliber vehicles to re-program a brake system Electronic Control Unit computer.
Toyota on track to surpass Ford again
Ford Motor Co. is likely to see a big sales drop in December, while Toyota Motor Corp. could gain enough to take over Ford's traditional role as the No. 2 auto company in the United States for the month, the The Detroit News reports today. Edmunds.com, a research Web site for car buyers that tracks sales data from dealers, is predicting a stunning 19.6 percent drop in Ford sales compared with last December based on data from the first half of the month, while Bank of America analyst Ronald Tadross expects Ford's dip to be in the 10 to 12 percent range. If Toyota does unseat Ford, it would be for the second consecutive month and the third month of 2006. Toyota passed Ford in U.S. sales for the first time in July.
NAIAS 2007 Dealership Employee Day
Dealership Employee Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2007 will be on Tuesday, January 16. Employees will be admitted, along with their families, as special guests on that day (show hours on Tuesday are from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).
One ticket will allow entry for the employee and up to six (6) immediate family members. This ticket will only be honored on Tuesday, January 16. Tickets for employee day at the NAIAS are still available, contact Jim Simpson.
We look forward to seeing employees and their family members at the NAIAS 2007.
The NAIAS Photo Contest - Sponsored by WWJ.  Show attendees can photograph the auto show and enter their photo to win a prize at www.naias.com.  Attendees can gain special "Photo Contest" access to the show at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16.  Entries will be accepted through Sunday, January 21 at 7 p.m.  Visit the Photo Contest section of naias.com for more information.
CPR Classes
CPR classes are again being held. The next class will be January 13th 2007 at the EMS hall. The latest in CPR techniques will be taught, as well as the proper use of a defibrillator. Anyone interested in attending can contact Terri Grzanka at extension 9802.
Today's Motivational Quote
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. "
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)