Think Big : Designing the message

Want to hook customers? Remember that good design isn't simply about the product, it' about the entire business.

Behind every great customer experience is a tight coupling of product, service brand expression and business system. Designing for business - both the product and the message that go with it - is essential because a great experience should not be a veneer or hollow shell built to disguise an otherwise unremarkable product or service. A customer experience is the sum of many things working in concerto to create something true, authentic,, and compelling. User delight must be designed into every element. Not just the user-facing offering , but the product line, information systems, service and support, marketing communications - everything that will influence what customers hear, see, and feel.

Click here to read the full story and other marketing concepts at Ideacircus

2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT 4-Door Review (USA)

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
With carey Russ

2007 Chevrolet Aveo LT 4-Door

Subcompact sedans may not be high-profile dream machines, but they do meet a need. As inexpensive transportation, both in price and operating cost, a subcompact sedan works for people with modest budgets who want a new car, not a used one. And a subcompact can also work well as a dedicated commute vehicle, especially if it's roomy enough inside for a four-person carpool.
With rising fuel costs, subcompacts have been getting more attention in this country recently, and Chevrolet has the Aveo as its entry in this competitive segment. Like many of its competitors, the Aveo is offered in hatchback or sedan form. 2007 sees significant upgrades to the Aveo, and this bodes well.
I drove one of the original Aveo hatchbacks when it was new a couple of years ago. In its first year, it was decent but not great, lacking suspension refinement. Subsequent refinements to the engine, suspension, and safety systems improved it, and having Chevy's extensive distribution network behind it helped make it popular. But the 2007 model is improved further, and the Aveo is now a solid contender in the subcompact class.

from : www.theautochannel.com, 21 Jan'2007
Klick : http://theautochannel.com/F/news/2007/01/21/034703.html

The Australian : Holden Captiva

Holden's SUV line-up has suffered a big gap for several years – but now has a vehicle worthy of the place, writes Robert Wilson

SELL the sizzle, not the steak, is one of the oldest maxims of marketing. Now Holden at last has something to get the juices flowing among those with an appetite for SUVs.

For two years Holden's SUV offering has been meaty but unappealing. The Adventra was a modified Commodore wagon, and while a reasonable choice for a trans-Outback expedition it never captured the imagination of suburbia – where most SUVs are sold.

With hindsight, it's not hard to see why. The Adventra's undoubted dirt road touring ability was the steak, but where was the sizzle? Without the tough styling and high driving position of other SUVs it seemed a bit undercooked in most potential buyers' eyes.e imagination of suburbia – where most SUVs are sold.

The Australian..

Strong Earnings Seen For GM

Market Scan R.M. Schneiderman, 01.16.07, 11:47 AM ET


Ailing auto giant General Motors should see solid earnings over the next two quarters, according to a Monday report by Goldman Sachs. "GM's outlook and strategy update at the Detroit Auto Show on January 11 reinforced our expectation for positive earnings momentum in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007," said Robert Barry, an analyst for the research firm.

The reason: cost savings from job and benefit cuts as well as stronger-than-expected SUV pricing and sales. "Anecdotally, GM management seems to have more spring in its step - no doubt in anticipation of what is set to be its strongest lineup in years," said the analyst. He added that the company's planned fleet sale cuts should also weight positively on earnings.

Nonetheless, he cautioned that GM (nyse: GM - news - people ) still faces long-term problems and that foreign competition may continue to eat away at marketshare."We do not think GM's current product cadence strength and related benefits will drive a sustainable 'turnaround,'" said Barry. He has a "neutral" rating on the company.

GM is set to report earnings on Jan. 30

Read the article at Forbes.com..

The order books have opened -New Chevrolet Captiva from only £16,995 on-the-road

By Nigel Bernhard (The Autocannel.com)
London, January 15, 2007

With an impressive equipment list, stylish good looks, up to seven seats and brilliant all-round flexibility, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Captiva would cost a lot more than it does – yet prices start at just £16,995 on-the-road.

What’s more, even the entry-level model is superbly equipped – the front-wheel drive 2.4-litre LS 5-speed manual comes with air conditioning, a six-speaker radio-CD with MP3 capability and remote controls, electrically-adjustable mirrors, tailgate with separate opening rear window, front, side and roof airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, five full-size three-point seatbelts, charcoal-coloured roof rails, remote two-stage central locking and a Thatcham-approved security system with deadlocks.

Click for the the rest of the article..

AutoWeek Editors Choice Awards : Chevy Volt

The Best of Detroit 2007 North American International Auto Show

"MOST SIGNIFICANT" : Chevrolet Volt

“The idea behind the car—a pure electric powertrain that gets its energy from plugging in at home or work, or from an on-board generator powered by a small gasoline engine—is surprisingly simple,” said Gritzinger. “GM says they’ll be ready to build this car by 2010 or 2012, and unless battery companies can’t come through, Volt and GM’s E-flex System could spell the beginning of the end of America’s addiction to foreign oil.”

The Volt's interior..
The Awards article at Autoweek.com..

GM Indonesia : Fresh face for 2007 confirmed

JAKARTA: Tahun 2007 ini tampaknya akan menjadi milik SUV mengingat banyaknya model baru yang dipasarkan di segmen ini. Setelah Daihatsu Terios dan Toyota Rush dirilis ke pasar, kini giliran PT General Motors Indonesia (GMI) bersiap memasarkan produk andalannya, New Chevrolet Captiva.

Saat dikonfirmasi, Pulic Relation Manager PT GMI Kiki Fajar memastikan pihaknya akan segera mendatangkan pengganti Chevrolet Blazer bagi pencinta model sport utility vehicle (SUV) di Indonesia pada tahun ini. Model yang dimaksud adalah New Chevrolet Captiva, mobil sport multiguna dengan kapasitas mesin 2.000 cc.

“Kami rencanakan awal semester II atau sekitar Juli akan merilis New Chevrolet Captiva di Indonesia. Kemungkinan kami akan mengimpornya secara CBU [completely built-up] dari Thailand,” ungkapnya, akhir pekan lalu.

Sejak PT GMI menghentikan produksi Blazer di pabriknya di Pondok Ungu, Bekasi, pada Maret 2005, perusahaan ini belum memiliki model mobil SUV baru di Indonesia.

Coba bandingkan si Chevy Captiva (kanan) dengan BMW X5 (klik link ini untuk gambar), boleh juga kan.

Baca artikel lengkapnya di KampoengNews..

Lutz: GM’s Image is Changing

Images aren't easy to change, but there's little doubt that General Motors' got a real boost from this year's North American International Auto Show, said the automaker's outspoken car czar, Bob Lutz. It has received wide praise for its new models, as well as kudos jurors on the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury who picked the Chevrolet Silverado as top truck and the Saturn Aura as best car during the opening session of the Detroit Auto Show.

"That shows that perceptions about General Motors are changing, especially among the media," said the septuagenarian executive, adding that positive coverage will help GM improve its image among potential buyers. "You can't do that with advertising anymore, even with all the money in the world." There's an internal payoff, as well, stressed Lutz. With the GM team "energized," he suggested, "that drives performance."

Even so, the vice chairman admitted there are some speedbumps in GM's path. Another surge in oil prices could hurt sales of the new Silverado and other full-size trucks. And while the company has trimmed about $9 billion out of its fixed, annual costs, it still has a severe cost penalty compared to competitors like GM. So-called "legacy" costs including retiree health care, puts the Detroit maker several thousand dollars behind the likes of Toyota in terms of what it costs to build a vehicle like the new Aura.

Read the full article at The Carconnection.com ..

Car Awards of the year

After last year's double victory by Honda winning both awards, this year is GM's turn to win both with the "Saturn Aura" and the "Chevrolet Silverado".

This was however not an expected outcome. Since the creation of the awards in 1994, the American manufacturers have managed to bring home seven "car of the year"-awards, and 9 "Truck of the year"-awards. the jury is comprised of 49 journalists representing both Canada and the U.S.

Nominees 2007 North American Car of the Year Nominees 2007 North American Truck of the Year :
Chrysler Sebring Acura MDX Dodge Caliber Acura RDX Honda Fit Audi Q7 Hyundai Elantra BMW X5 Infiniti G35 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Jaguar XK/XKR Chevrolet Silverado Lexus LS 460 Dodge Nitro Mercedes-Benz S-class Ford Edge Nissan Altima GMC Acadia Nissan Versa Honda CR-V Saturn Aura Hyundai Santa Fe Toyota Camry Jeep Wrangler Mazda CX-7 Saturn Vue Green Line Toyota FJ Cruiser

List of the winners since 1994 :
1994 : Mercedes Classe C / Dodge Ram
1995 : Chrysler Cirrus / Chevrolet Blazer
1996 : Chrysler minivan / Ford F150
1997 : Mercedes SLK / Ford Expedition
1998 : Chevrolet Corvette / Mercedes Classe M
1999 : Volkswagen Beetle / Jeep Grand Cherokee
2000 : Ford Focus / Nissan XTerra 2001 : Chrysler PT Cruiser / Acura MDX
2002 : Nissan Altima / Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2003 : Mini / Volvo XC90
2004 : Toyota Prius / Ford F150
2005 : Chrysler 300 / Ford Escape Hybrid
2006 : Honda Civic / Honda Ridgeline

Read the original at www.leblogauto.com (French)...

Other articles on the awards :
www.mobilku.com...
www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat...

Chevrolet SS Concept

Concept : Contemporary Chevy Muscle

The 2003 Chevrolet SS concept showcases a new generation of Chevy muscle, with dynamic design, race-proven technology and balanced performance.

A modern interpretation of Chevrolet's Super Sport heritage, the Chevy SS is a contemporary four-door family sedan turned sports car. It packs rear-wheel drive with a high-technology version of the legendary small-block V-8, and high-performance suspension and brakes to match.

"It's a vehicle to be shared with your family or with your buddies," said Franz von Holzhausen, the SS's exterior designer. "It builds on Chevrolet's great performance heritage, while updating the SS concept for a whole new generation."

Read the story at www.rsportscars.com..

Chevrolet Borrego

Chevrolet developed the Transformer-like Borrego concept vehicle to target youthful, active drivers

Targeting youthful, active drivers, Chevrolet has developed the Transformer-like Borrego concept vehicle. With partner Subaru supplying the drivetrain, it's hard not to see the Borrego as a 21st-century Brat, though the Gen-Y target audience never heard of that bite-sized pickup.

In cargo mode, the Borrego is a two-seater with a six-foot bed. Activate the Avalanche-inspired midgate via remote control to create four-place seating, reducing the cargo box to three feet. A roof panel that is stored under the cargo bed is then installed to cover these two new seats, and the rear window can be raised again, if desired. Self-inflating seals keep the compartment watertight regardless of whether it's set up for two passengers or four.

Read the full story at www.motortrend.com...

Revisited : The GM Concept Cars

From Radical to more radical..

One of our most popular articles has been our coverage of some of the GM Concept cars of the 1950s and 1960s. In this expanded and revised article, we renew our acquaintance with some of those fantastic looking cars - and add a whole lot more, some shown in rare colour pictures.

1938 Buick Y-Job Concept Car

The 1938 Buick Y-Job is generally considered the industry's first concept car. Created by General Motors Styling and Buick Engineering, it was designed by Harley J. Earl, GM's first design chief, and built on a production Buick chassis modified by Charlie Chayne, then Buick's chief engineer. Buick called it "Y" because so many makers dubbed experimental cars "X." Styling and mechanical features of the "Y Job" showed up on GM products, particularly Buick and Cadillac, throughout the '40's...

Read the full article (Autospeed Magazine) with concepts from the thirties till now...

Ini Dia! Gudang Buku Otomotif

OtoBooks

Kesulitan mencari buku manual mobil kesayangan Anda? Atau, membutuhkan buku panduan restorasi mobil vintage? Sambangi saja OtoBooks di kawasan Bona Indah, Lebak Bulus, Jakarta, atau kontak ke 0812 966 6270. "OtoBooks yang dimulai pada 2000 ini berawal dari hobi," ujar Herman Haryadi, sang pemilik toko buku. "Namun seiring peningkatan minat konsumen, kini menjadi komersial." Koleksi OtoBooks terbilang lengkap, dengan lebih dari 1.500 judul buku. Sebut saja buku manual Land Rover, Toyota Hardtop, BMW, sampai buku model sepeda motor Harley Davidson. Sejumlah pelanggan dari luar kota juga sangat terbantu lantaran OtoBooks menyediakan layanan pengiriman.

Sumber : Hang Tuah Blog (Click link)

Happy New Year 2007

Impala - The American answer to the Camry to come to Indonesia?

Rule three of automotive journalism: When a domestic carmaker introduces a new midsize, midprice sedan, reviewers are to write, "They're now as good as Camry and Accord." So here goes. The 2008 Chevy Malibu, which Chevrolet will introduce at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, looks like it's now as good as the Camry and Accord.


Our obligation to the profession complete, it's only fair that we ask you to check back a few months from now to see what we think of the new 'Bu after we actually drive the thing. But, we must say, the completely restyled, more powerful Malibu sedan really does look pretty good.


Read the article at www.edmunds.com..

KENAPA BUTUH SOLAR BAGUS?

Otomotif, 25 Desember 2006

Prinsip kerja CR (Common Rail) sebenarnya mirip dengan mesin bensin yang sudah mengusung sis­tem fuel injection. Penyemprotan bahan bakarnya diatur se­cara electronic dengan perantara ECU (electronic control unity atau bisa dibilang komputer.

Di CR mempunyai satu pompa yang diatur oleh solenoid valve un­tuk menyalurkan solar ke setiap silinder.
Tekanan penyernprotannya pun sangat tinggi (± 1.800 bar). Begitupun komponen-komponen seperti injektor di CR didesain lebih akurat ketimbang injector konvensional. "Sehingga membutuh­kan bahan bakar spek tinggi," tegas Aloysius Oentoro, general manager parts & service PT Multi France Motor, ATPM Peugeot.

Jadi jika kualitas solar jelek atau sulfur tinggi, akibatnya rawan terhadap kinerja mesin. "Tekanan yang dikeluarkan tidak akan maksimal," jelas Budi Sujanto, aftersales manager PT Auto Euro Indonesia, ATPM Renault.

Memang, sebagai tahap awal solar sudah disaring oleh filter solar. Namun jika dibiarkan atau jarang dicek saringanya itu tak tertutup kemungkinan bisa menjalar ke injektor dan komponen lain. "Filter solar lebih cepat mampet dibanding mesin diesel biasa. Karena punya lubang yang sangat ke­cil di CR," lanjut Dendy Tjahjaindra.

Lebih lanjutnya, pengendara akan merasakan tenaga mesin yang kurang maksimal. Lebih detailnya, "Kemung­kinan mesin jadi pincang atau mbrebet," imbuh Dendy.

Memang sangat disayangkan, saat pemerintah sedang mengikrarkan efisiensi pemakaian bahan bakar namuntidak disertai dengan penga­wasan kualitas. Padahal teknologi CR ini diklaim bisa menghemat bahan bakar dan rendah emisi.

Nah, efisiensi kan tidak hanya dari mesinnya, tapi juga kualitas ba­han bakar. Kalau mesin bisa efisien kan pemakaian bahan bakar bisa lebih hemat alias enggak boros.

Bukan begitu, Bos?

· Pi

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone

Kompas 22 December 2006

The Manifesto

Markets have undergone a profound transformation after decades of top-down corporate messaging. As you read this, the marketing world is changing, and with it the way business will be conducted for decades to come. This change is being demanded by the enlightened and empowered consumer – the so-called prosumer – who no longer responds to a media-propelled “brand essence.” Most current advertising still relies on obsessive proliferation of the brand through mass media that seek economies of scale – the more eyeballs, the better. But consumers want more than mass messages sent to eyeballs. They want respect, recognition and relevant communication, and they've indicated that the best way to give it to them is through experiences that are personally relevant, memorable, sensory, emotional and meaningful. Consumers have changed dramatically, and the brand world must change to meet their needs and desires, or lose them to those that recognize the unique influences shaping the evolving marketplace.

“Today, customers take product quality and a positive brand image as a given,” writes Columbia Business School guru Bernd H. Schmitt in the seminal book Experiential Marketing. “What they want is products, communications, and marketing campaigns that dazzle their senses, touch their hearts, and stimulate their minds – that deliver an experience.”

The question isn't which industries will be transformed by the focus on customer experience, but only which will be first. Companies who do not recognize this change will perish. Those who see the necessity for change and embrace XM will be embraced in turn by the most empowered consumer base in the history of the world. At the IXMA, an international cadre of forward-thinkers is building and propagating the experiential marketing (XM) revolution.

Read the complete manifesto..

Answer by GM Indonesia to Cry for help by Blazer User community

CLICK ini untuk Jawaban/Minta Maaf GM atas isu promosi servis ini ...






Mohon hak jawab dari GM digunakan segera atas kesempatan
Posted by: "Diaz@office" tomikris@gmail.com tomikris Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:12 pm (PST)

Yang Kami hormati bapak bapak Petinggi GM,

Mohon tanggapan dari bapak bapak untuk segera menggunakan hak jawab yang diberikan ketua umum BIC kami dimilis ini,

Seperti kita ketahui bersama, bahwa jika Ketua Umum kami bersabda, maka titah beliau. akan segera dipatuhi seluruh anggota BIC di Indonesia.

Secara pribadi yang saya ketahui saat ini, Ketua Umum kami sedang sibuk menyabarkan para anggota BIC untuk tidak segera bertindak sendiri sendiri, karena hingga detik ini pihak GM belum juga menggunakan hak jawabnya.
Kami mengetahui bahwa pihak GM memonitor milis ini dan kami juga sudah melakukan cross check bahwa issue ini sudah diketahui oleh pihak GM.

Ini hanyalah gently reminder dari kami komunitas pengguna blazer di Indonesia yang sangat prihatin mutu service yang diberikan GM pada customernya di Indonesia

Salam
Tomi Diaz

Elegant solutions - Let Learning Lead

BreaktroughThinking
Learnng and innovation go hand in hand, but learning comes first.

Real learning is a cycle of questioning, experimenting and reflecting. It's how we convert curiosity into an innovative solution, so learning must BE the work, not something separate from it. Learning triggers creativity down the line, and makes the other practices work.

Learning cycles come naturally. But they were replaced by institutional education as we grew up. So all we really have to do is get back in touch with them and practice. And learning cycles aren't complicated. they are all around us. so much so that we often discount them.

The next time you see an infant in a high chair throwing food on the floor, know that you are watching a learning cycle in action...

Download the Manifesto...

Chevrolet Epica - Will we see this likely competitor for the Camry in Indonesia?

With its sporty yet elegant contours, the Epica complies exactly with the taste of Europe’s car drivers. In the distinctly arranged front section, particular highlights include the large wrap-around clear-glass headlamps and the substantial cross bar carrying the large Chevrolet bow tie in the chrome grille.

The side view of Chevrolet’s new top-of-the-line sedan is strikingly modern with its rising, wedge-shaped profile. It is marked by a striking character line that extends to the front and rear wings. The designers have positioned the grip-type chrome door handles and the large outer mirrors with integrated indicator lamps precisely on this character line. The rear is dominated by the large bumper and the dominant chrome strip that joins up the two tail lamps with their circular lenses.

The generous amount of space is one of the strengths of the front-wheel driven Epica (length/width/height: 4,805 / 1,810 / 1,450 mm, wheelbase: 2,700 mm).

Compare to the Toyota Camry's dimensions of 4805 / 1821 mm, wheelbase : 2776 mm, which is vertually identical.

Read the full article at www.topspeed.com

Brand Perception

By Michel Hogan, www.changethis.com - Business manifestos

We Need a New Word for Brand
To unlock the brand's true potential, today’s companies need to let go of slick superficiality and embrace authenticity! more

Brand perception
Specfically,customer perception - what they think you are is who you are. the Holy Grail of brand today is to create the right customer perception-the perfect mix of emotion and smarts that will drive boatloads of customers your way. And the best way to create that perception - a louder, bigger message that is put in more places! Slapped on t-shirts and caps for employees and splashed across the pagesof magazines and TV screens, how could anyone resist? Thankfully, this is not the end of the story...

The next wave
There is a new wave on the horizon. Let's call it the authentic brand. Authentic brands are deeply rooted inside the company. They are much more than the marketing veneer applied to the exterior face of the company. Authentic brands are honest. They are powerful mechanisms guiding decisions and direction across all functions of a company. they naturally filter out to the customer and everyone the company touches through those decisions and actions. This is the brand I love!

Download the complete manifesto..

Program ramah Chevrolet Indonesia

(15/12/2006) - PT. General Motors Autoworld Indonesia (GMAW Indonesia) selaku Agen Tunggal Pemegang Merek Chevrolet menggelar aktivitas aftersales khas Chevrolet bertajuk CHEVY CARE di areal parkir Kelapa Gading Mall I, Jakarta Utara. Chevy Care digelar mulai tanggal 15 hingga 17 Desember 2006 (Jumat-Sabtu-Minggu).

CHEVY CARE merupakan program differensiasi aftersales dari GMAW yang mengemas kegiatan aftersales dengan cara berbeda melalui Chevrolet Care program.

Aktivitas program CHEVY CARE selama 3 hari tersebut mencakup pengecekan kondisi gratis (10 items) untuk mobil Chevrolet jenis Trooper, Zafira, Optra, Blazer, Montera, Tavera, Aveo, Spark, Kalos dan Estate. Selain itu, Chevy Care juga memberikan pelayanan salon mobil gratis, yang pengerjaannya akan dibantu oleh Chevy Babes yang cantik dan smart.

Baca Artikel di "www.mobilku.com"...

The Challenge of Changing GM

Even the most gung-ho General Motors executive will admit that one of the company’s most vexing problems is changing the image of its brands with many consumers, especially those on the coasts who swore off American cars of every stripe years ago. The tough part, says GM car czar Robert A. “Bob” Lutz, is that it can’t be done with simple marketing. In a recent interview, Lutz said that “there isn’t enough marketing money in the world to change the perception of some of our brands overnight.”



Read the article at Autobeat ..

2007 Chevy Aveo (U.S.A. Test)

by Rex Roy - www.thecarconnection.com

New styling inside and out looks better than the outgoing model.

The base Aveo LS is a basic car … maybe too basic?

Front seats and cup holders should be better.

That jingling you hear isn't sleigh bells - it's actually the change left in your pocket after filling the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo's 45 Liter (11.9-gallon) fuel tank. This is but one of the joys of driving Chevy's small-but-tall people hauler. The fact that it is (actually) not bad to drive is another.

If you're a car-type person, you may remember that the Aveo was all-new in 2004. In a move that shows just how competitive today's automotive world is, General Motors elected to refurbish their entry-level model for its fourth model year. Good thing, too, as the Aveo's competition is just as fresh, and includes solid players such as the Hyundai Accent, the Honda Fit, and the Toyota Yaris.

Read the full story from "The Car Connection"..

Chevy Optra (Lacetti) in action

BMW Indonesia gelar lomba teknisi

(30/11/2006) - Lebih dari 100 teknisi dari seluruh dealer BMW se-Indonesia menunjukkan keahliannya pada BMW Technician Challenge yang berlangsung untuk pertama kali, mulai Juli hingga 23 November 2006 di BMW Training Center, German Center, Bumi Serpong Damai, demikian rilis PT BMW Indonesia, Rabu (29/11).

Baca Artikel "Mobilku.com" yang lengkap..

J.D. Power: Makin banyak keluhan terhadap mobil baru di Indonesia

(01/12/2006) - J.D Power Asia Pacific 2006 Indonesia Initial Quality Studi menyimpulkan Yaris, Vios, Fortuner dan Innova paling sedikit dilaporkan bermasalah ditap segmenya. Hasil studi ini diumumkan Kamis (30/11).

Complete article di www.mobilku.com..

J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts the CSI study annually in markets across the Asia-Pacific region to measure customer satisfaction with maintenance and repair service at authorized dealer service centers. The 2006 study measures overall customer satisfaction with after-sales service based on 35 dealer performance attributes, which are grouped into seven factors. The factors are (in order of importance): service quality; problems experienced; user-friendly service; service advisor; service initiation; service delivery; and in-service experience. CSI performance is reported as an index score based on a 1,000-point scale. A higher CSI score indicates greater customer satisfaction with the after-sales service experience at authorized dealer service centers.

The overall industry CSI score this year is 754 points. The overall industry has remained relatively stable since 2004, registering only a marginal two-point decline.

“Providing an after-sales service experience that meets or exceeds customer expectations is imperative for authorized dealer service centers to further strengthen their relationship with customers,” said Rajeev Nair, country manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific. “Apart from contributing to repeat business for the dealer, satisfied customers create positive word-of-mouth recommendations that drive first-time sales for the brand.”

“A delightful service experience contributes toward ensuring that customers do not defect to non-authorized service facilities, especially once the warranty period is over,” said Nair. “The study finds that only 4 percent of customers who provide CSI scores at or above industry average state they are likely to defect to a non-authorized service facility for maintenance once the warranty period is over. This statistic triples to 13 percent among customers who provide below-average satisfaction scores, further reinforcing the business case for authorized dealerships to invest in customer satisfaction.”
J.D. Powers Asia Link ..

LA Auto Show : Ulang Tahun ke 100

LA Autoshow berlangsung dari 1 sampai dengan 10 Desember di Los Angeles Convention Center di Los Angeles A.S.

debut : BMW X5

BMW redesigns and enlarges its full-size popular SUV. Thanks to the additional passenger space, the X5 sports a new optional third-row seat. New safety and handling enhancements include adaptive steering and suspension systems, rearview camera, Active Roll Stabilization, Adaptive Drive and Dynamic Traction Control.

Untuk delails2 yang lain cek di website LA autoshow..

When It Comes To Cars: Color Is Everything.

David Kiley (Autobeat Blog)

I didn’t used to think too much about paint color with cars. But it’s been on my mind more these days. Perhaps as vehicles get more expressive in their designs, colors matter more. Does that make sense? I mean…does anyone care if their 1999 Camry is silver or Champagne?

Volkswagen produces the best blues. Hand down. I saw a Dodge Charger, which I like, in Gray, and hated it. The Ford Edge I just drove looked great in this deep copper color.

Into my mailbox today came the DuPont car color report. The findings: Silver (BOOOORRRRING) is the top color globally. Silver has been the top choice since 2000 when it overtook…..Green?

According to DuPont, the bottom half of the top ten colors forecasts future color leaders. A clear trend for the future, says the chemical giant, includes warmer tones such as red as well as the continued strength of blue. That makes sense to me. If you have a hot design in your driveway, I’d rather see it with an expressive color than silver or Champagne.

Red surfaced as the top color choice in the compact vehicle segment in South Korea, with 22 percent, as well as in the North American market compact/sport category, from 9 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2006. Black remains a top choice across the global landscape. It is among the top five colors in the regions examined and has gained ground in specific segments in North America. The 2006 color popularity report sees growth of black in the North American luxury segment with 22 percent, mirroring
black’s longstanding first place among European luxury vehicles with 37 percent.

Its amazing how bad some cars look in certain colors. Remember the Chrysler LH cars that preceded the 300c. The Chrysler Concorde in Champagne was one of the nastiest pieces of work to come down the pike in a while. The Ticonderoga pencil yellow Pontiac Aztek? Ouch! That looked worse than I do in horizontal stripes.

This seems pretty self serving for DuPont. But the company says that 40 percent of consumers willing to switch brands for a specific color, according to a national poll it commissioned. Would you?

For comments, how about some candidates for the worst design/color combo you can recall.

Original Article (Autobeat Blog) ..

New Models: First-ever diesel Chevy on show

www.channel4/4car

The first diesel-engined Chevrolet, the Lacetti (Optra/Estate?) TDCi, will make its debut at the Bologna Motor Show next week. The latest-generation Lacetti, a car formerly sold as a Daewoo, will be available by next summer with GM's all-new 2.0-litre diesel engine, producing 121bhp and 206lb-ft of torque. This engine will take the Lacetti up to 117mph, giving 0-62mph acceleration in 9.8 seconds, and a return of 49.5mpg (five-door hatch) or 47 mpg (station wagon). Carbon dioxide outputs are 149g/km (hatch) and 158 g/km (estate), so annual car tax or company car tax won't be too punitive, either.

article continues below

Chevrolet Spark Concept di Auto China 2006

(28/11/2006) - ww.mobilku.com
Chery QQ yang baru saja diluncurkan di Indonesia, pernah berurusan dengan Chevrolet. Produsen otomotif USA ini menuding QQ menjiplak Chevrolet Spark dan membawa kasus ini ke pengadilan. Pengadilan memenangkan gugatan Chevrolet.

Tahun ini, Chevrolet mengeluarkan kreasi terbarunya, Spark Concept di Auto China 2006 di Beijing Terlihat seperti Smart dengan ukuran sedikit lebih besar, Spark Concept tampil dengan disain lampu utama yang unik dan grille baru. Dibelakang kombinasi lampu belakang dipasang vertikal. Mobil mini ini tetap dirancang untuk mengakomodasi empat penumpang.


Tidak ada informasi tentang powertrain maupun kapan versi produksinya akan dipasarkan.

Baca di :
Mobilku.com
Hangtuah Blog

Offre “satisfait ou remboursé” chez Chevrolet : gare…

Par Raphael Caplan le 26 novembre 2006 | wwwleblogauto.com

On n'a pas de diesel, sauf sur le Captiva, mais on a des idées chez Chevrolet Europe (anciennement Daewoo). Pour dynamiser les ventes de la vieillissante Kalos, on propose au client de la ramener si elle ne lui plait pas. Bon évidemment, ce n'est pas une offre pérenne, puisqu'elle n'est valable que du 7 novembre au 31 décembre, pour des voitures livrables avant mars 2007, et ne concerne pas les versions GPL. Autre restriction, le client mécontent ne devra pas avoir parcouru plus de 3000 km, ni avoir possédé sa voiture plus d'un mois. Ce n'est pas tout : il lui faudra aussi présenter le bon de commande pour un modèle équivalent acheté chez la concurrence. Autrement dit, le nombre de véhicules repris par Chevrolet devrait être très faible, ce qui rend cette opération "satisfait ou remboursé" peut-être plus intéressante pour le constructeur, qui va attirer le chaland à moindre coût dans ses points de vente, que pour le client, qui au total n'a pas grand chose à gagner. Prix de base de la Kalos : 7990 €, soit moins qu'une Panda, une Twingo ou une C1.

Classé dans: Général| Chevrolet

Evaluasi Captiva (Inggris + Belanda)

Road Test UK: Chevrolet Captiva (2006)

With the upcoming introduction of the Chevy Captiva in Indonesia as the replacement of the discontinued Blazer, we hereby submit several articles with in-depth evaluations of the unit which is ach is already on sale in Europe.

Rating

Assets
Roomy with a versatile interior, well made with a surprising quality feel, comfortable on bad roads, some off-road ability, well-equipped, very good value

Drawbacks
Petrol version feels gutless, soggy dynamics, hardly an invigorating drive

Verdict
Decent compact SUV, doesn't move the game on but gets a four-star rating because it's such good value

Price range £16,000 to £25,000 approx. On sale in UK first quarter 2007

Read the complete Article..


Dutch Evaluation under Indonesia-like road conditions (www.autozine.nl). Very interesting..
Unfortunately the article is in Dutch. If you are interested in a translation, let me know and I will see if I can find the time. very interesting article.

One more Ductch article (www.vandermolen.nl) ...

GM Looks Forward in China

There's no telling how fast China car sales will grow, GM says. by Joseph Szczesny (2006-11-20)
After watching sales inChina increase 37 percent this year, GM expects more double-digit growth in 2007 as the Chinese market continues its rapid expansion. GM sales in the People's Republic of China, including those made by Shanghai GM, SAIC-GM-Wuling and a small but growing number of imported vehicles, are expected to reach around 950,000 units, according to Michael Bernhard, the chief financial officer for the GM China Group.

What about Indonesia with its huge potential market? When will this potential be explored?

Read the article at "Thecarconnection.com"

Indonesia Basis Produksi General Motors

posted or edited by Hotsaritua Situmorang — last modified 09-11-2006 10:08

'Kami masih menghitung berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk mengoperasikan pabrik baru itu.' Perusahaan otomotif asal Detroit, Amerika Serikat, General Motors (GM) berencana mengaktifkan kembali pabriknya di Indonesia tahun depan. Pengoperasian pabrik yang sempat berhenti sejak Maret 2005 itu membuat Indonesia menjadi basis produksi mobil GM kedua setelah Thailand. President South East Asia Operations GM William S Botwick menegaskan hal itu di Jakarta, kemarin. Ia mengungkapkan pihaknya sedang mengkaji pengaktifan kembali pabrik di Bekasi, Jawa Barat, yang berhenti beroperasi sejak Maret 2005. Pengkajian itu, menurut William, bertujuan menentukan model mobil yang nantinya diproduksi di pabrik itu. Pihak GM juga tengah menghitung berapa kapasitas produksi yang akan dijalankan dan berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk aktivasi kembali pabrik Bekasi. "Kami masih menghitung berapa investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk mengoperasikan pabrik baru itu. Yang jelas, jika aktivasi pabrik jadi dilakukan, itu berarti kami harus melakukan investasi baru," papar William. Proses pengkajian itu, ujar William, akan selesai pada akhir kuartal I 2007. Jika sudah beroperasi, tidak tertutup kemungkinan mobil hasil produksi pabrik di Bekasi akan diekspor ke luar negeri.

Dari proyek itu, GM berharap bisa menjual 15 ribu-25 ribu unit mobil di Indonesia, dalam lima tahun ke depan. Pabrik GM di Bekasi didirikan pada 1993. Ketika itu, GM menginvestasikan dana US$110 juta dan bekerja sama dengan Garmak Motor untuk mendirikan General Motors Buana Indonesia. Sebelum ditutup Maret 2005, pabrik itu mampu memproduksi 15 ribu mobil merek Chevrolet dan Opel. Pasca-penutupan pabrik di Bekasi, General Motors Indonesia (GMI) terpaksa mengimpor mobil merek Chevrolet dari Thailand. Di Asia Tenggara, pangsa pasar mobil produksi GM termasuk kecil jika dibanding¦ kan dengan pabrikan mobil asal Jepang atau Eropa, hanya berkisar 3% atau kurang lebih 45 ribu mobil. Di pasar nasional, penjualan GM baru mencapai 750 unit pada tahun lalu dan 680 pada periode Januari-Oktober 2006. Selain menyampaikan rencana pengoperasian kembali pabriknya, William juga mengkritik kebijakan penerapan pajak penjualan barang mewah (PPnBM) produk otomotif, yang besarannya didasarkan atas kapasitas mesin dan asal negara. "Seharusnya pemerintah menerapkan PPnBM berdasarkan harga jual kendaraan. Dengan demikian, konsumen Indonesia bisa menikmati mobil impor dengan harga yang lebih terjangkau," kata William. Pemerintah langsung merespons usulan ini. Kini beberapa instansi mengkaji utang soal kebijakan PPnBM.

Sumber : Media Indonesia, 09 November 2006

Ghosn Talks Alliances in Detroit

Associated Press By TOM KRISHER 11.16.06

Ghosn predicted that the automotive business would continue to be tough in five or 10 years with new competitors entering the market. To be successful, auto companies are going to have to appeal more to the emotions of car buyers as opposed to rationality, he said. "It's gonna require a lot of innovation, a lot of change," he said. Nissan and Renault are watching to see how the domestic Big Three deal with their high labor costs, including health care and pensions, because Asian carmakers with U.S. plants are going to have the same expenses as their work forces age, Ghosn said. "If you don't pay attention, if you don't react today, you're going to face the same problem," he said.

Read the full article..

Chevrolet Prisma “Y” Concept

Text & Photos edited by Clinton Deacon
2 November 2006


Based on the newly launched Sedan Prisma, it is a very versatile multipurpose vehicle

Inspired in the new model recently launched by Chevrolet, Sedan Prisma, General Motors do Brasil’s Design Area created Prisma “Y”, a stylish vehicle which was carefully conceived with a view to developing an adventurous version.

Prisma “Y” is a model aimed at young consumers who are very interested in adventures”, emphasized Carlos Barba, GM Design Director for LAAM Division, encompassing Latin America, Africa and Middle East regions.

The design was totally developed by using the modern GM Design Department’s virtual reality room – the only existing one in the automotive sector all around Country -, and the letter “Y” is the initial of the English word “young” or “youth”.

“For developing Prisma “Y”, we focused on finding out the current directions of the Brazilian market. Our challenge was to find out the Brazilian tendencies and lifestyle”, commented Carlos Barba.

According to Barba, Prisma “Y” is a sportive and versatile vehicle, with capacity to carry not only five people, but also several camping and surfing equipment, including surfboards and bikes. “Everything that reminds us of weekend recreation and leisure is what our concept vehicle aims at”, added Barba.

Read the full article..