SANTA MONICA, Calif. — April 26, 2017 — Edmunds, the leading car shopping and information platform, forecasts that 1,431,695 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in April for an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 17.0 million. This reflects nearly an 8 percent decrease in sales from March 2017, and a 4 percent decrease from April 2016.

“The industry has been holding its breath to see if the days of peak sales are over, and while Q1 sales managed to remain stable, we’re starting to see the slowdown in 2017 we’ve been anticipating,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of industry analysis. “These year-over-year declines may become more typical as the year progresses, but there’s no reason to be in panic mode. Historically, car sales are still strong.”

SALES VOLUME FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER

*NOTE: April 2017 had 26 selling days, April 2016 had 27 and March 2016 had 27.

Edmunds estimates that retail SAAR will come in at 13.6 million vehicles in April 2017, with fleet transactions accounting for 19.5 percent of total sales. An estimated 3.6 million used vehicles will be sold in April 2017, for a SAAR of 38.4 million (compared to 3.4 million – or a SAAR of 38.4 million – in March).

MARKET SHARE FORECAST, BY MANUFACTURER

More insight into recent auto industry trends can be found in the Edmunds Industry Center at http://www.edmunds.com/industry-center/.

About Edmunds
Edmunds is the leading car information and shopping platform, helping millions of visitors each month find their perfect car. With products like Edmunds Your Price, Your Lease and Used+, shoppers can buy smarter with instant, upfront prices for cars and trucks currently for sale at more than 13,000 dealer franchises across the U.S. Edmunds’ in-house team of unbiased car shopping experts provide industry-leading vehicle reviews and shopping tips, as well as welcome all car-shopping questions to the free Shopper Advice line at 1-855-782-4711, via email at help@edmunds.com, via text at ED411 and on Twitter and Facebook. The company is regarded as one of America's best workplaces by Fortune and Great Places to Work. Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, Calif. and has a satellite office in downtown Detroit, Mich.

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Prioritize Your Prospects: Uncover Clues to Predict Who Will Buy Next

Each year, the average customer test drives fewer vehicles. Given the fewer opportunities and limited time available to sales people, the key question for them is: which prospects do I contact first? AutoLoop surveyed over 50K customers in 2016 who didn't buy on their initial visit to a dealer and we found significant differences in post-visit purchase rates based on a variety of factors, including the advertising they were exposed to, the reason they didn't buy on their initial visit, and even the color of vehicle they were seeking. Armed with a better understanding of who is likely to buy and when they will make a decision, sales associates will increase the effectiveness of their follow-up communications and convert more leads to sales after their initial visit to a dealer.

This will increase revenue from unsold prospects by over $1M per year, increase sales person effectiveness, and reduce days in inventory.

At AutoLoop, Doug is responsible for using customer analytics and insights to improve digital and multi-channel acquisition, retention and loyalty programs across leading OEMs and dealer groups. Prior to AutoLoop, Doug developed innovative marketing programs for automotive dealers and aftermarket providers as VP of strategy at DMEautomotive and VP of analytics at 3Birds Marketing. Doug also established the customer insights and online marketing functions at Dick's™ Sporting Goods, and he provided performance improvement consulting to Fortune 500 companies while at Ernst & Young Management Consulting. Doug earned his BS from Miami University in Ohio and his MBA from Indiana University.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Prioritize Customer Engagement

If only one salesman came to work today, what is the first opportunity he should act upon that is most likely to sell a car today?. If two salespeople show up, who show perform the task?

Using a combination of public service 911 to dispatch customer engagement one at a time and deep machine learning to select the highest Sales Result Probability (SRP) activity, customer engagement increases by 50% daily per salesman and it follows that sales increase immediately by the same amount. By knowing which customers have the intent to buy in the next 90 days, marketing is laser focused and marketing budgets slashed by half or more. Aligning the right customer with the right salesperson maximizes the result. It's Moneyball for the car business.

Check out Jim's interview:

About Jim Roach: 44 Years in Automotive from Salesman to Dealer Principal to Founder of 5 Auto related companies. I wrote the foundations of modern reporting systems such as StoneEagle and Ristken, have multiple patents filed in DMS data extraction. I was a pioneer in predictive artificial intelligence for use in auto retail in the 1990's and created the first reserve chargeback insurance policy. After 6 years of pioneering work in data mining with AutoAlert I created the industry first Human Capital Management System using deep machine learning to triage sales opportunities and prioritize execution of tasks. the system is based on modern 911 public service dispatch systems.

Listen to what Patrick McMullen from MAXDigital has to say about the future of automotive, what dealers can do today to prepare, and how DrivingSales Presidents Club is proving chances for innovation.

Hear from Mark Brown, sales director at Grappone Auto, about what he thinks is coming for the auto industry, how dealers can prepare, and how the DrivingSales Presidents Club is helping dealers achieve their goals.

Listen as Joe Chura, the CEO of Dealer Inspire, tells us what's ahead for automotive, what dealers should be doing to prepare, and how Presidents Club is helping the auto industry progress.

Hear from Mike Speigl, President of the Williams Automotive Group, as he tells us what's ahead for automotive, what dealers should be doing to prepare, and how Presidents Club is helping the auto industry progress.

SHANGHAI, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Qoros Automotive Co., Ltd. (Qoros Auto) is showcasing the progress of its two-pronged strategy highlighted by an array of world-class products at Auto Shanghai 2017 (Shanghai Auto Show). The Qoros booth sees the Qoros Model K-EV, a high-performance electric vehicle (EV), taking center stage. Alongside this all-new concept model, the engineering test car with QamFree engine, the Qoros 5 SUV, the Qoros 3 Sedan, the Qoros 3 Hatch, the Qoros 3 City SUV, and the Qoros 3 GT make an exciting display for Qoros at the world's largest auto show.

"Qoros is committed to deliver world-class quality products that offer innovative and premium customer experience," said Dr. Leon Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Qoros Auto. "The stronger than ever product display at the Shanghai Auto Show demonstrates our commitment to the auto market and our strong capability to provide the customers with future oriented new products shaped by the essence of the Qoros' New Premium brand positioning."

Qoros high-performance electric vehicle Model K-EV

Qoros Model K-EV making its global debut

Making its global debut in Shanghai, the Qoros Model K-EV shines as one of the brightest stars in the auto show. This high-performance premium EV, powered by cutting-edge technologies, will lead the charge for Qoros to make a strong entry to the new energy vehicle market.

Equipped with the most advanced electric drive-line technology, the Model K-EV takes the driver's breath away with its staggering performance. It only takes 2.6 seconds for the vehicle to accelerate from still to 100km/h, providing exhilarating driving experiences to the driver. The Model K-EV is also fitted with a high-performance battery system, promising a range of over 500km. The application of such proven technologies puts the Model K-EV ahead of 'concept car' category and makes it possible for Qoros to bring it to the market in near future. The engineering test car of the Model K-EV will come to the upcoming Guangzhou Auto Show in November, with its market launch planned in 2019.

Defined as a high-performance premium EV, the Model K-EV is created by an international design and engineering team to offer customers premium driving and riding experiences and a taste of future mobility. The unique experiences start with the asymmetric door design. The revolutionary asymmetric door system allows greater possibility for designers to create a distinctive experience for the driver and passengers. The large-sized gull-wing door on the driver's side automatically opens when activated. The front passenger's door with a two-hinged system opens outward as a conventional door or slides horizontally alongside if needed. The door on the rear passenger side features a sliding system to ensure maximize convenience and ease of use for passengers entering and exiting the car.

Additionally, the car's interior has been purposefully designed to create two distinct cabin spaces in the front and rear, providing back-seat passengers with a more comfortable and enjoyable riding experience.

Qoros Model K-EV features "Clever Carbon Cabin" (CCC) technology, a seamlessly-integrated cabin made primarily from carbon fiber. The seamless construction of CCC lends Model K-EV its refined appearance, while aerodynamic design features and sleek body lines help to enhance its performance and increase energy efficiency. The use of this durable material contributes greatly to the lightweight body of the car to achieve better energy efficiency and help reduce "range anxiety". The CCC technology also maintains vehicle body strength and durability while allowing significant design freedom for designers and engineers.

Two-pronged strategy taking shape to accelerate growth

Qoros is committed to the two-pronged strategy to accelerate its growth. Qoros will continue to sharpen the competitiveness of its conventional engine vehicles by introducing the revolutionary QamFree engine technology while investing in new energy vehicle products and exploring new frontiers including autonomous driving.

At the Qoros booth, the engineering test car with QamFree engine showcases the latest progress in bringing the innovative QamFree technology to life. Jointly developed by Qoros and FreeValve, an affiliated company of Koenigsegg, the QamFree technology plays a critical role in rejuvenating Qoros gas engine models. The technology breakthrough significantly boosts the performance of a traditional engine while reducing its fuel consumption. With a plan for mass production, the QamFree technology was tested in an engineering test car in November 2016. This revolutionary new technology was awarded by the renowned American Publication, Popular Science, as the Top 10 Automotive Innovative in 2016.

With the vision to become a transformational and innovation driven company, Qoros is dedicated to bringing world-class new energy products with innovative experiences to customers. A solid plan has been laid out as the blueprint for tomorrow. The first phase will see the electrification of its existing product models. In the second phase, Qoros will introduce its next generation global energy vehicle (GEV) platform for a whole-new generation of NEV from 2020. The highly flexible GEV platform will enable Qoros to integrate an array of leading technologies to its future NEV products, bringing unrivalled experiences to the customers.

As a young and aspirational auto brand, Qoros continues to strengthen its presence in the world's most dynamic auto market with an expanding product lineup covering Sedan, SUV and Sports Crossover segments. In late 2017, Qoros will launch an all-new compact SUV targeting younger consumers, fulfilling its promise to introduce more world-class products with premium experiences to the customers.

SOURCE Qoros Auto

TACOMA, Wash., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A jury this week was unanimous in its finding that NAPA Auto Parts and Genuine Parts Corp. (NYSE: GPC) were liable in the asbestos-related death of a heavy equipment operator and awarded his survivors $81.5 million.

In its verdict, the jury found that GPC and NAPA were negligent and strictly liable for their defective asbestos-containing products, used by Jerry "Doy" Coogan of Kettle Falls, Washington. Mr. Coogan died in 2015 at the age of 67 of complications from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure.

"Many sellers of friction parts such as brakes, clutches and gaskets have known for nearly a century that their products contain asbestos and can kill. But they refuse to acknowledge their responsibility," said Dallas attorney Jessica Dean of Dean Omar & Branham, LLP, who along with attorney Ben Adams, represented the Coogan family. "Even worse, some continued to sell these products until 2001, which means that other families will surely suffer the same fate."

Mr. Coogan, who learned to be an excavator from his grandfather, operated and repaired backhoes, cranes and other construction equipment for many years, exposing him to asbestos products made or sold by the defendants. Mr. Coogan also loved restoring hot rod and classic cars. His hobby led him to often purchase asbestos-containing parts from NAPA stores near his home in northeast Washington.

"Doy Coogan had no idea that he was being exposed to deadly asbestos from just doing what he enjoyed," Ms. Dean said.

The $81.5 million verdict is believed to be among the largest ever awarded in Washington. The trial, heard in Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma, lasted more than 12 weeks. The jury returned its verdict after five hours of deliberations. 

The case is Gerri Coogan, et al. v. Genuine Parts Co. et al., No. 15-2-09504-3 in Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma, Washington.

Dean Omar & Branham, LLP, is a nationally recognized trial firm that handles cases across the country for individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries or have died as a result of irresponsible conduct of others. For more information, please visit http://www.dobllp.com.

ATLANTA, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today an acquisition for its U.S. Automotive Parts Group.

The Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Merle's Automotive Supply (Merle's), with an effective close date of May 1, 2017.  Merle's, founded in 1969 and based in Tucson, Arizona, is a 14 location automotive parts distributor serving both the commercial and retail markets in the greater Tucson and southern Arizona area.  The addition of Merle's will consolidate into our U.S. automotive operations and is expected to generate approximate annual revenues of $45 million.   

Paul Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Merle's is a leading automotive distributor in the greater Tucson area, and this strategic acquisition significantly enhances our automotive store footprint and competitiveness in the Arizona marketplace.  We are excited to welcome the Merle's team to the U.S. Automotive Parts and GPC family and look forward to working with them and continuing our shared tradition of providing quality parts and excellent service to our customers."

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements in this report, as well as in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise release to the public and in materials that we make available on our website, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Senior officers may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, the media and others that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may relate, for example, to future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors may include, among other things, the Company's ability to successfully implement its business initiatives in each of its four business segments; slowing demand for the Company's products; changes in legislation or government regulations or policies; changes in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation; changes in tax policies; volatile exchange rates; high energy costs; uncertain credit markets and other macro-economic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; the ability to maintain favorable vendor arrangements and relationships; disruptions in our vendors' operations; the Company's ability to successfully integrate its acquired businesses; the uncertainties and costs of litigation; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2016 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law.  You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

About Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia.  The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary.  S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  Genuine Parts Company had 2016 revenues of $15.3 billion.