|
|
LATE & BREAKING NEWS
 FEDS LOBBY AGAINST FUEL PLAN: The U.S. Department of Transportation secretly lobbied dozens of members of Congress in recent weeks, urging them to join the Bush administration in opposing California's request to impose its own strict fuel efficiency regulations, according to a House investigative committee.
Using a one-page script and a list of auto facilities obtained from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group that represents automakers, staffers at the Department of Transportation called nearly every congressional member from Michigan and Ohio, urging them to oppose California's request, according to records released this week by the House Oversight Committee.
Detroit News, July 05, 2007
 SAY 'HYBRID' AND MANY PEOPLE WILL HEAR 'PRIUS': A riddle: Why has the Toyota Prius enjoyed such success, with sales of more than 400,000 in the United States, when most other hybrid models struggle to find buyers? One answer may be that buyers of the Prius want everyone to know they are driving a hybrid.
The New York Times, July 4, 2007
Videos & Voices of Significance This Week
 NEW 'DRIVING GREEN' E-NEWSLETTER TO BE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER: The current and long-standing electronic newsletter, Vehicle Fuels and Environmental Management Weekly will be replaced by a newly redesigned and repositioned format on October 1, 2007. The re-launched enewsletter will continue to focus on "green" issues as it has for several years, but with new emphasis on the latest news, trends, issues, developments, and opportunities for alternatively powered vehicles in the automotive market. This exciting and timely e-publication will have a new look, topical content, and an interesting visual layout.
For the next 90 days, or for the duration of the summer, the industry news and editorial content from Vehicle Fuels and Environmental Management Weekly will be rolled into Fleet Management Weekly starting the second week of July.
|
|
=========================================Advertisement=========================================
| |
This Week: David Maxsimic |
|
David Maxsimic
Senior VP of Sales and Marketing
Wright Express
David_Maxsimic@WrightExpress.com
|
David D. Maxsimic is Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. He joined Wright Express in 1997 and has 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and managing customer relationships, in addition to managing and executing sales of complex financial services.
1. Please tell us what's going on at Wright Express and what is your role there?
I lead the sales and marketing product teams. We went public in February of 2005. Now we have to focus as much on 90 days as we try to balance what we have to do three and five years out. We've been centered on that while trying to maintain focus on all of our key customers.
We've been busy researching the market. That's always been a passion - to really drive things from a customer point of view. We try to figure out what their requirements are, where they want to see the industry go, and the products that they need. From an opportunity standpoint, I think we will see Wright Express going further down-market, quite frankly. If you look at the population and the demographics of what's in that market place, there are probably a little over 40 million commercial vehicles today. Looking at the segments, you're probably talking about businesses that have up to six vehicles in a fleet; with a total of about 16 million vehicles. It's our core expertise
2. Do you have a sales team that's dedicated to smaller fleets?
We do. We're uniquely positioned in our industry. We have a top marketing team and we build our own predictive models to look at the universe of businesses that might have a commercial vehicle. We have an inside sales organization that works exclusively with that group. Then we'll go out with a direct mail campaign and attract that new business.
3. One of the big issues of the day is the price of fuel.
Next to depreciation, fuel is becoming a bigger and bigger player every day. Our responsibility is to provide data to help fleets reduce costs; whether it's showing them where to buy fuel for the best pricing through a mapping program that we have, or aligning them through our telematics products so they can measure their idling time. From a green footprint, we think it's a great contribution to society to help people realize how much they are idling. If we're able to provide the data they may ask what else they can be doing. Are there alternative ways for their equipment to run – maybe in a cleaner, more economical, more feasible fashion?
4. Have you been able to take that information to a fleet and then have them act on that and see a difference?
We've just started by partnering with one firm and we're going to continue to do research. I don't think there's one product that fits all, but by taking diagnostic information, such as idle time, or the vehicles not running correctly, and integrating it into their fuel data, it's going to give it all back to the asset information on a real time basis.
Fraud is another concern. You worry about people driving off or people trying to get multiple transactions. Today, we're able to get real time data; we're talking seconds from the time that you would procure fuel to the time that we get the actual transaction information. We create an alert and electronically send it back to the driver or the regional manager; these are the types of tools we're building and using.
|
=========================================Advertisement=========================================
| SIGNIFICANT NEWS |
News digested 06/25/2007 -- 06/29/2007 |
|
|
|
|
=========================================Advertisement=========================================
|
|
=========================================Advertisement=========================================
|
|
National and Regional Fuel Prices |
|
|
|
12 Month Average For Regular Unleaded |
|
 |
|
 AAA's
Daily Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey
available. Everyday over 60,000 self-serve stations are surveyed.
Sourced from
http://www.aaa.com
Data provided in cooperation with
OPIS Energy Group and
Wright Express, LLC (*Prices are in US dollars per gallon.) |
| |
|
U.S. Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices |
  |
|
  |
|
 Weekly
Price estimates for gasoline and diesel fuels from the Energy Information
Administration
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
|
|
Link to Gasoline Price Data For Major US Cities
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/index.shtml
|
|
|
Industry Conferences Coming Up |
FedFleet
Orlando, FL, July 24 - July 26, 2007
2007 I-CAR International Annual Meeting
ChampionsGate, FL, July 26 - July 28, 2007
NAFC 2007 Fall/Winter Meeting
Boulder, CO, August 6 - August 10, 2007
Boulder, CO, August 15 - August 18, 2007
AAMVA 2007 Annual International Conference
Rapid City, SD, August 19 - August 22, 2007
Great American Trucking Show
Dallas, TX, August 23 - August 25, 2007
39th Annual AFLA Conference
Tucson, Arizona, September 5 - September 7, 2007
13th Annual Fleet Fueling Conference & Exhibition
Dallas, TX, September 9 - September 11, 2007
CVSA 2007 Fall Workshop
Pittsburgh, PA, September 15 - September 19, 2007
NAAA 59th Annual Convention & Equipment & Services Expo
Chicago, IL, September 18 - September 23, 2007
23rd Annual Clean Air Conference
Breckenridge, Colorado, September 24 - September 27, 2007
International Trucking Show
Los Angeles, CA, September 28 - September 30, 2007
Visit Calendar of Industry Events for More Information on These Events
http://www.automotivedigest.com/calendar.asp?mod=calendar
Return to top
|
=========================================Advertisement=========================================
|
|
Press Releases Worthy of Read |
|
|
People Going Places |
| WHO: | Peter Whitehead |  |
| WHERE: | Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc |
| WHAT: | Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc recently announced that Peter Whitehead has joined its Research and Development Group as Chief Engineer - Vision Systems. He previously worked as Principal Engineer for Hadley where he was responsible for bus, RV and truck mirror engineering. Whitehead brings extensive experience in global vision systems development and component sourcing covering both the automotive and heavy-truck industries. |
| | READ ABOUT MORE PEOPLE! |
|
|
What Industry Leaders are Saying |
|
Senate Heads for Higher Fuel Efficiency but House Steers Clear:
- "When automobile manufacturers told me they could not meet the increased standards, I listened. I listened year after year, and now I have listened for more than 20 years. After 20 years, I firmly do believe it is time for a change." -- Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), senator, US Senate
- "Beyond petroleum has to be more than a television commercial." -- Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senator, US Senate
Sourced From: Houston Chronicle, June 29, 2007; The New York Times, June 23, 2007
Return to top
|
|
Elite Wheels Vehicle Reviews |
|
BMW Weighs in With Midsize SUV
Return to top |
|
1) Will Proposed New Fuel Economy Regulations Sink Detroit? |
Situation
- Fortune senior editor Alex Taylor III says it's possible new CAFE rules may sink Detroit
- Tab for Detroit to meet proposed 35 mpg regs by 2020 could reach $83B
- Taylor: That's a lot of money even for prosperous Google or Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway
- Some sources figure Toyota has five-year lead in hybrids
- Detroit mpg leader GM, at 29.3, trails Toyota w/ 34.9
- Cerberus may walk from Chrysler deal if tough new regs go through
|  |
Significant Points
- Public opinion not running in Detroit's favor, partly its own fault, by reflexively opposing every standard on safety, emissions and fuel economy since 1960s
- Detroit can't cut prices to sell high mpg cars because they already are at a huge cost disadvantage
- One-third of Detroit's cars go to low-profit fleet sales vs 15% for Japanese
- Taylor's solution: Gradually raise the gas tax, perhaps w/ rebate for low-income consumers and high-mileage buyers
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Fortune, June 29, 2007
Return to top |
|
2) Worldwide Political Turmoil May Hamper Oil Output |
Situation
- Some analysts fear oil output has peaked, just as hefty production increases are needed
- Bigger problem is tempestuous politics in trouble spots around the world
- Venezuela seized control of its oil fields from global companies in late June; Russia forced BP to sell controlling stake in gas field
- Iraq war has dropped output to below prewar levels; Iran's output falling, squabble w/ US limits foreign investment there
- Mexico starving Pemex, its state oil company, for capital; output has dropped
|  |
Significant Points
- Fast-growing consumption, especially w/ strong demand in China and India; world production may not keep up, resulting in ongoing price pressures
- W/ high prices, countries w/ large reserves less inclined to share profits w/ big oil companies
- Result: in US, Europe and Japan, increased dependence on producers who don't share their interests, and higher prices ahead - whether or not global oil output has reached its physical peak
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Business Week, June 28, 2007
Return to top |
|
3) Senate Heads for Higher Fuel Efficiency but House Steers Clear |
Situation
- Senate approved higher fuel efficiency standards by 65-37 vote
- Senate Dems fended off last-minute MI lawmakers alternative to fuel efficiency bill
- House Dems rolled out energy package w/ array of "green energy" proposals
- But no mention of higher fuel mileage requirements for cars/trucks
- Package emphasizes conservation, rolls back tax breaks for energy companies
- Republicans say proposals do nothing to encourage domestic production
|  |
Significant Points
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has expressed support for higher fuel efficiency
- Says will consider fuel mileage standards in fall
- Faces industry advocate John Dingell (D-MI), House Energy/Commerce Committee Chairman
- Bi-partisan Senate support of higher CAFE standards emblematic of cultural shift
- Approval occurred in face of intense lobbying by auto industry
- Automakers now scrambling to head off similar defeat in House
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Houston Chronicle, June 29, 2007; The New York Times, June 23, 2007
Return to top |
|
4) Toyota Keeps Pressure On With New Hybrid |
Situation
- According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Toyota planning new dedicated hybrid-only model for 2009
- Toyota sells 7 models that use hybrid technology; Prius only 1 offered exclusively as hybrid
- New model would give Toyota 2nd dedicated hybrid; likely produced at plant in Fukuoka
- New hybrid will offer better riding quality; larger size and engine displacement of 2 to 3 liters
- Will likely follow introduction of 3rd-generation Prius, expected in later 2008 or early 2009
- Annual sales target for new model is 100K; Toyota's total hybrid sales of 310,000 in 2006
|  |
Significant Points
- Details in Nihon Keizai Shimbun report scant; benefits outweigh risks
- Extra sales to help Toyota reach target to sell 1M hybrids / year by early 2010s
- The 2- to 3-liter engine could put new model into competition w/ Camry Hybrid
- Increased sales will help Toyota raise scale efficiencies
- New model will help prepare Toyota's hybrids for coming battle w/ "clean" diesels
- Lack of "green" recognition factor behind weak sales of Honda's Accord Hybrid
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Business Week, June 25, 2007
Return to top |
|
5) Enterprise, GM Join in Ethanol Vehicle Push |
Situation
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car, GM focus target on use of ethanol as fuel alternative
- Enterprise opening E85/FlexFuel branch in Washington, DC high rental area
- E85 fueling station close to Enterprise location, has 50 GM flex-fuel vehicles
- Detroit-3 to double output of flex-fuel vehicles, to about 2M, by 2010
|  |
Significant Points
- Enterprise moves follow similar "green" initiatives from rivals Hertz, Avis
- Push comes as Detroit automakers push Congress to raise available E85 levels
- Obstacles in way include limited distribution system, few E85 stations
- Japanese step into flex-fuel market; Toyota Tundra E85-capable coming 2008
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2007
Return to top |
|
6) Subnormal Oil Refinery Levels Ending |
Situation
- US refiners set to dramatically increase fuel production over next few weeks
- At least 6 oil refineries restarting major processing units, 3% of US capacity
- Should cause gasoline prices to drop as supply increases
- Crude demand will increase now that refineries coming back on line
- But July 4th peak driving season increases demand
- Crude already up $1/bbl on anticipation of stronger demand
|  |
Significant Points
- Stretch of refinery maintenance, unplanned outages plagued industry since winter
- Resulting in gasoline stockpile crunch in middle of summer driving season
- Raw crude inventories climbed to highest level since 1998
- Oil refineries running at 89.4% of capacity in week ended June 22, norm 95%
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Reuters, June 29, 2007
Return to top |
|
7) Slow Progress as Fuel-Economy Technology Moves Forward |
Situation
- Under various names, cylinder deactivation being applied by more automakers
- GM, Chrysler, Honda offering system on some models, Ford sees no benefit
- System shuts off fuel to some of vehicle's cylinders when only partial power needed
- Cylinder cutoff said to boost mileage about 6% or about 1 mile per gallon
|  |
Significant Points
- Consumer Reports says vehicles operate in full-cylinder mode most of time
- Cadillac tried similar system in 1981, process proved lax on durability
- Automakers: computer-controlled engines, fuel-injection systems fix problem today
- Chrysler pioneered deactivation system on Chrysler 300 w/ Hemi, Dodge Magnum
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: USA Today, June 25, 2007
Return to top |
|
| |
Reducing Vehicle Idling Time
