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St. Louis Business & Technology News
www.slfp.com/SLFPBIZp.htm "When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. 
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DETROIT, (PRNewswire) December 11, 2002 - Come January, there will be another reason to seek professional help - the Venturi Fetish, on display at the 2003 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) as part of the Michelin Challenge Design exhibit on the main floor of Cobo Center. The Venturi Fetish will be one of four full-size vehicles presented by Michelin as part of the first official Challenge Design. In addition, 10 scale models and 17 two- dimensional drawings will be displayed during show press and public days in Michigan Hall, the Michelin Media Center and on the main floor of Cobo Center. The Michelin Challenge Design was established in 2002 as a way to bring forward and display significant design work, much of which would not normally have the opportunity to be displayed at a major international auto show. At the 2002 NAIAS, works based upon the theme of Italian design were displayed during press and public days. The theme for the 2003 NAIAS brings together works representative of the past, present and future of French design. "Venturi is a true French marque that is known and respected throughout the world of sports cars and racing," said John Grimaldi, president, Passenger and Light Truck Tires OE Worldwide for Michelin. "Bringing together Venturi and our other automakers along with individual designers across the globe through Challenge Design is Michelin's way of sharing our passion for design with the world." One of the few remaining independent brands in the world, Venturi has set its sights on the future of the French sports car with the Fetish. Originally debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland last year, the Fetish is 100 percent new and original in its concept as a "Grand Tourismo Light" or "GT Light" sports car with a deliberate emphasis on design. Built from the ground up with an aluminum chassis, the Fetish is intended as a serious performance vehicle but serves well as a comfortable touring car with its easy access, trunk, designed-in comfort and Michelin Pilot Sport tires (P205/45R17 front and P225/40R18 rear). In making the Fetish, Venturi made use of composite materials and aluminum, a modern engine and Brembo brakes. The interior aluminum is complemented by neoprene, asymmetrical, ergonomic seats. A pocket computer offers both GPS and an MP3 player. "The Fetish is a rare item, designed to stand the test of time, unlike the mass produced vehicles which are constantly being superseded by newer models," said Gildo Pallanca Pastor, president of Venturi Automobiles. "Fetish is destined to become a collector's item, but for the time being it is the symbol of an era aspiring to perfection and the perfect item to display as part of Michelin Challenge Design." Pastor added that from the design stage right through assembly, original and innovative methods were employed to create a vehicle that would be reliable and safe, but would also belong to the very essence of motor vehicle tradition: rarity, character and passion. Michelin Challenge Design will display the works of 17 individuals and companies representing 13 countries including Argentina, Australia, China, Colombia, England, France, India, Monaco, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, The United States and Venezuela. A six-person international jury reviewed more than 125 entries from 40 countries to select the finalists for display at the North American International Auto Show. 2003 North American Automotive Production Forecast Lowered ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) December 11, 2002 - According to J.D. Power and Associates, the traditional Big Three share of production is expected to fall to an all-time low of 73 percent, down from 75 percent in 2002. Even with respectable redesign and new model activity at General Motors and DaimlerChrysler, J.D. Power and Associates has lowered its 2003 North American light-vehicle production forecast to 16.1 million units. The forecast leverages Power Information Network (PIN) real-time transaction data coupled with the firm's Automotive Forecasting Services. "Our concerns with growing domestic inventories and the fact that consumers are becoming numb to a $2,000 average sales incentive have led us to lower our North American production forecast to 16.1 million units for 2003," said Jeff Schuster, director of North American forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "With a slowdown in sales going into 2003 being the primary driver, we expect production to be down nearly 350,000 units, or 4 percent, in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2002. The lost volume will not be shared equally among producers, as new model activity at Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi will drive their production volume higher in 2003," said Schuster. "PIN Pulse Forecast data produced a phenomenal 99 percent accuracy during the last six months in the forecast of monthly seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) volumes," said Walter McManus, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. "Incorporating vehicle transaction data directly from dealers, these highly accurate monthly forecasts allow us to provide our clients with market changes as they occur." Changing Travel Patterns Force Industry to Re-Think Marketing Plans ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) December 9, 2002 - The travel industry, struggling with the continuing decline in international business air travel, is now focusing marketing efforts on consumer travel closer to home. A recent survey of the Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA) 2,300 member organizations shows that changes in consumer travel patterns have greatly affected how they market their destinations and services. Three-fourths of TIA members see closer to home travel and more last minute travel among their customers. Nearly as many report fewer international visitors, more car travel, and lower travel expenditures. On the plus side, nearly half of TIA members are enjoying increased use of their web sites by potential customers. In the past year, most (87%) TIA member organizations have made changes to marketing and/or promotion programs. The study is a follow up of TIA's September, 2001 examination of the immediate impacts following September 11 and the economic downturn. Seventy-seven percent have focused their marketing and promotion efforts on closer, drive-to markets in the past 12 months. And 66 percent have offered new discounted rates and packages. But while 68 percent of TIA members are optimistic that their businesses will improve in 2003, 40 percent report reductions in staff, salaries, or bonuses in the previous 12 months. In a statement, Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association of America, remarked "The current economic situation, combined with a sluggish travel recovery and a decrease in traveler spending has forced the industry to employ a number of strategies, such as focusing on in-state or in-region markets. And just as TIA is doing on a national level, about half of our members are involved in more partnerships as a way to leverage scarce resources and make more impact." One-third of TIA members have increased their marketing and advertising budgets in 2002, and a similar percentage say that they will be increasing them also in 2003. While about one-quarter have cut those budgets in 2002, only 9 percent plan to do so next year. In 2001, 64 percent of TIA members suffered declines in business. However, nearly one-third of respondents actually did better in 2001 than the year before. In 2002, travel industry recovery continues to be a mixed bag, with nearly half of respondents enjoying increases in business over last year. On the other hand, 41 percent continue to suffer declines. The biggest declines in travel volume are reported by organizations that primarily serve international inbound visitors, by travel agencies and tour operators, and by larger businesses with 100 employees or more. However, travel businesses in the Midwest, as well as attractions and domestic marketing organizations operating in more rural areas of the country are doing better than others. While the decline in air travel negatively affected two-thirds of TIA members, it was actually beneficial to about 16 percent. Specifically, places close to major population centers that were able to attract visitors who shifted to closer-to-home travel by car. Not surprisingly, the continuing decline in business travel and business travel spending has negatively affected 68 percent of TIA member businesses. TIA, based in Washington, D.C., is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $537 billion travel industry. Can You Hear Me Now? Texas Court Sends Clear Message to Cell Phone Companies DALLAS, (PRNewswire) December 8, 2002 - In a landmark decision, the Dallas Court of Appeals issued an opinion Tuesday concluding that wireless carriers have to abide by state consumer protection and contract laws or face liability in state courts. The proposed class-action case of Bryceland v. AT&T Wireless, the first of its kind in the state, alleges that AT&T misrepresented the quality of its services, intentionally "overbooked" its network and failed to credit customers for dropped calls. AT&T customers Charles Bryceland, Darrin Brawner and Trey Christensen brought suit in 1999 after becoming outraged with AT&T's service. "Three out of every four calls that I tried to make were either dropped or not connected in the first place," says Brawner. Christensen, a Dallas resident, was upset by AT&T's practice of "overbooking" its network. "They intentionally signed up more subscribers than they could handle, like selling 1,000 tickets to a theater with only 800 seats," says Christensen. AT&T argued that, under the Federal Communication Act, consumers had no right to sue in state courts for violation of state contract and consumer protection laws. The Court of Appeals did not agree, holding that cell phone companies could be sued in Texas courts. Dallas attorney Rob Scott, who represented the plaintiffs in court, believes this decision sends an important message to all cell phone companies offering services in the state of Texas. "This case makes it clear that the courts will not give these companies special treatment," says Scott. "The Federal Communications Act does not protect cell phone companies from being held to the same consumer protection and state contract laws that govern all companies. Now these companies will be held responsible for false advertising and other deceptive trade practices." The Dallas Court of Appeals remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings.  Return to St. Louis Front Page 
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