The 2009 St. Louis Auto Show, at the Edward Jones Dome and America's Center, provided a sneak peak at what the next generation of muscle cars will be like. The 2008 Dodge ZEO Concept, a four-passenger sport wagon designed for driving enthusiasts and tree-huggers alike is equipped with an all-electric, lithium-ion battery powerplant that can go up to 250 miles before needing to be recharged. And even though it doesn't burn gas, it certainly can burn rubber, going from 0-60 miles per hour in under six seconds.
As local auto dealers struggle with lagging sales, hundreds of car enthusiasts turned out Saturday, January 31, to get an up close look at new models, including the 2010 Chevy Camaro Coupe, which will be offered with a choice of either a 300hp DOHC V6, 400hp V8, or 422hp V8 engine.
The 2010 Lincoln MKS, featuring an Eco-Boost sytem to improve fuel economy and projected horsepower well into the 300s, received enthusiastic response from young and old.
Justin (10 yrs old), son of David and Diane Slemmer, was thrilled with an opportunity to experience the action in the Ford F150 SVT Raptor off-road simulator.
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St. Louis Auto Dealers Brace for Rough Ride
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 1, 2009 - With 2009 expected to be one of the toughest years yet for auto retailing, the incoming chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association issued a call-to-action, urging dealers to make their voices heard in the debate over how to return the industry to economic viability and how new emission standards should be implemented.
"The nation's new car dealers have already made strides in communicating the importance of the franchise network, the need for federal bridge loans and the necessity of stable credit markets, but the work must continue," said 2009 NADA Chairman John McEleney and Iowa dealer.
"The next two months are critical to the future of our industry as we know it - the future of GM and Chrysler, availability of credit and the return of stability to our economy," he said.
"In a 17-million-sales year, it may be enough for us to share that we sponsor Little League teams or that we helped to fund the new wing at the local hospital," McEleney said. "In a 12-million-sales year, we've got to tell how we contribute to our community's bottom line."
-- "Tell how many of our employees' kids we helped send to college."
-- "Tell how many people were able to get healthcare through us."
-- "Tell how many people picked up lifelong skills - technical skills,
people skills and management skills in the time they've worked for
us."
"The unprecedented nature of the times we find ourselves living in has been both a blessing and a curse," he said. "It's drawn the kind of attention to our industry that we haven't encountered in years."
McEleney said some pundits characterized dealers as a drain on the books of automakers and suggested it was time to do away with the franchise system.
"...we had to inform people about the model of our business," he said. "...it's our money we invest in buildings and staff and training, not the manufacturers. It's our investments that are on the line to get their products distributed to buyers."
With much attention being paid to the industry, it's incumbent upon dealers to inform the public about auto retailing's impact on local, state and national economies. Sales taxes collected at auto dealerships nationwide total in the billions of dollars each year. And auto sales make up nearly 20 percent of all retail spending in the U.S.
President Obama has directed the Environmental Protection Agency to review whether to authorize state efforts to regulate vehicle emissions. NADA welcomes that review, McEleney said, but is urging the administration to carefully examine how those rules would actually be implemented. That kind of review will reveal that the California Air Resources Board's rule is in direct competition with the federal CAFE program, he said.
"We hope that the president and the EPA administrator will realize that a single national fuel-economy standard is smarter than a patchwork of state regulations that will only further endanger our industry," McEleney said.
With the auto industry undergoing drastic changes, the coming year could be one of the most challenging ever. But the auto industry is cyclical, and dealers will continue to succeed if they focus on things they can control, he said.
"Our job is to protect and strengthen our dealerships so that as the cycle turns upward, we are in a position to thrive," McEleney said.
Amtrak Trains Renamed 'Missouri River Runner'
JEFFERSON CITY - Nearly 5,500 votes cast to rename MoDOT's Amtrak trains. The public has spoken: Missouri River Runner is the new name for the state-supported Amtrak trains between St. Louis and Kansas City. The name evokes the river that parallels much of the route, plus the Mississippi River at the eastern terminus and the Kansas River at the western end. It was submitted by Keith Kohler of Glendale, Mo., and it received 2,036 votes, or 37 percent of the votes cast.
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Phishing Scam Targeting Missourians With Bogus 'Card Services' Calls
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), February 1, 2009 - Attorney General Chris Koster is warning Missourians of a phishing scam disguised as an offer to lower their credit card interest rate. Consumers have contacted Koster's office saying a caller claims to be from a company called Card Services, asking them to enter their credit card number to see if they qualify for a better rate. This is simply an attempt by thieves to steal credit card numbers.
In the phone call, consumers are led to believe they're being contacted by their credit card company and they are asked to dial a number, usually 9, if they are interested in trying to get a lower interest rate. Koster says in phishing scams like this, with thieves fishing for personal information, the crooks can steal credit card numbers, use them in a matter of minutes through online purchases and run up big charges that appear later on the consumer's credit card statement.
"This is a typical phishing scam, in that it tries to play on consumers' emotions and excitement at the idea of saving money," Koster said. "But as always, consumers should never give out their personal information to anyone who contacts them."
Koster says consumers should only give out sensitive information, such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, when they initiate the contact. He says any call claiming to be a financial institution or other trusted organization asking for personal information should be seen as a scam.
Consumers can report phishing, identity theft or other fraud at Koster's Consumer Protection Hotline, 1-800-392-8222 or his web site, ago.mo.gov.
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