PURCHASING NEWS

Pool Vehicles

2002 Model Year
Final Order Dates

2003 Model Year
Fleet Programs

Issue 212– June 24, 2002

EnviroFleet; ARI's Environmental Fleet Technology Newsletter

GM's OnStar for 2003

For additional information go to
http://www.OnStar.com

GM Offers 2003MY Early Order Bonuses, Free ABS on Impala

General Motors has added Early Order Bonuses to the National Fleet Purchase Program on select Fleet vehicles for the 2003 model year. The Early Order Bonuses are available to qualified Fleet customers beginning with the opening of the 2003MY order banks. To receive the Early Order Bonus, qualifying vehicles must be ordered by 10/31/02 and invoiced by 12/31/02.

Early Order Bonuses are available on the following 2003 models:

Buick Century	$1,000
Chevy Impala	$500
Chevy Blazer	$500
Chevy Venture	$500
Pontiac Grand Prix	$500
In addition, free ABS will be offered on Impala Sedans (1WF19) ordered by 10/31/02 and invoiced by 12/31/02. Option codes VX5 (National Fleet Incentive) and (JL9) ABS must be ordered to receive the free ABS. The Early Order Bonus and Impala Free ABS will be paid as an open account credit upon application. They are not compatible with GM CAPS programs.

Volvo Announces 2003MY Early Order Incentives

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC announced that it will offer Early Order Incentives in addition to the previously published 2003MY Fleet Incentives.

All 2003MY Volvo cars ordered by September 30, 2002 and delivered by December 31, 2002 will receive an Early Order Incentive of $200. To be eligible, customers must hold a valid Ford Fleet Identification Number (FIN).

The Early Order Incentive is not an off-invoice credit; it will be paid to the Selling Dealer (ARI) once the vehicle is reported delivered and passed on to the client upon receipt.

2003MY Volvo Fleet Incentive Program details can be found at www.arifleet.com in the Purchasing News "2003 Model Year Fleet Programs" section.

Ford Offers Choice of Three No-Charge Options on 2003MY E-Series Vans

For the 2003 Model Year, E-Series Van customers can select one of the following three options at no charge: Power Group or Racks & Bins or EconoCargo.

Fleet customers holding a valid Ford Fleet Identification Number (FIN) are eligible for the program, which is being offered on all 2003MY E-Series Cargo Vans from May 31, 2002 through August 31, 2003.

No-Charge Option Details

Under the program, Fleet customers may choose from one of the following:

No-Charge Power Group (option codes 43P + 62P), which includes power locks and windows valued at $530 MSRP.

NOTE: If customer selects Power Group with Racks & Bins or EconoCargo, customer will be charged for the Power Group – the less expensive option. OR

No-Charge Racks & Bins Package (option code 31G) valued at $1,900 MSRP OR

No-Charge EconoCargo Package (option code 31B) valued at $1,700 MSRP.

NOTE: Fleet customers opting for an Upfit Reimbursement in the 2003MY will now claim under the Ford Truck Commercial Connection (FTCC) Program. Ford will announce FTCC program specifics at a later date.

Upfit Reimbursement is not compatible with No-Charge Power Group, No-Charge Racks & Bins or No-Charge EconoCargo.
Upfit Reimbursement is only compatible with 56M.
Eligible vehicles for Upfit Reimbursement include: Windstar, Ranger, F-150, F-Super Duty, E-Series Van and Cutaway.

Toyota Announces Prices for 2003 Avalon Sedan

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. released manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the 2003 Avalon full-size sedan, which began arriving at dealerships earlier this month. The base MSRP for all Avalon models remain unchanged from last year, with prices ranging from $25,845 for the XL with bucket seats to $30,405 for the XLS with bucket seats.

The Avalon offers greater value along with numerous styling and convenience enhancements for 2003. Exterior refinements include an all-new grille with chrome-plated horizontal bars and surround, a redesigned front bumper with new fog lamps and a widened air intake that provides a more sophisticated appearance. An added look of elegance is achieved with new combination tail lamps with stacked red and clear lenses and a redesigned chrome garnish. On the Avalon XL model, 16-inch alloy wheels are now available on all luxury packages, while a new five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheel design is available on all XLS option packages.

Avalon interior refinements include a new layered meter gauge background on all models, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood-grain accents as standard equipment on the premium XLS model. In addition, perforated leather-trim interior is now available on the base XL. All 2003 Avalons have standard multi-stage front air bags and Child Restraint System rear seat lower anchor and tether anchor brackets.

Many advanced technological features are added to the 2003 Avalon including a standard air filtration system on the XL, standard rain-sensing windshield wipers and driver-side electrochromic auto-dimming outside mirror on the XLS. The XLS also offers a remote control DVD navigation system.

The 2003 Avalon offers improved value through luxury package discounts ranging from $1,200 to $1,500. All luxury packages include:

Remote keyless entry
16-inch alloy wheels
Power leather-trimmed seats
Leather steering wheel and shift knob
JBL audio system

Avalon is manufactured exclusively at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky production facility.

Nissan Maxima Pricing Increases Up To 1.7% for 2003 Model Year

Nissan recently announced pricing for the 2003 Maxima, which went into production this month. The top-of-the-line GLE with an automatic transmission received an increase of about 1.7 percent, while the GXE and SE models increased less than 1 percent.

The 2003 Maxima GXE will start at $24,899 MSRP – up $200 from last year. The SE also gets a $200 increase bringing the base MSRP to $25,649. The GLE's MSRP of $27,549 reflects a $450 increase from the last model year, or just under 1.7 percent.

New for 2003, Nissan's flagship Maxima sedan offers a new Titanium Edition Package and standard front seat side impact supplemental air bags (for GLE models) and two new exterior colors - Sheer Silver and Polished Titanium (Titanium Edition Package only).

Maxima's Titanium Edition Package is a new option available only on SE models. The Titanium Edition Package features a Bose® audio system with AM/FM in-dash 6-disc CD changer, front seat side-impact supplemental air bags, in-mirror compass, stainless steel sill plates with Maxima logo, floor mats, titanium-tint color accent on center console, steering wheel and shifter, and alloy wheels with dark chrome finish. Valued at over $1,600, the package will be offered with an MSRP of $999.

The 2003 Maxima employs a 255-horsepower V6 engine, part of the VQ engine series that has been named one of the "10 Best Engines" by Ward's Auto World for eight consecutive years. Ward's editors have written that it is "simply the best V6 engine available in America."

The 3.5-liter DOHC V6 also features a silent timing chain and electronically controlled throttle (drive-by-wire). Standard mechanical features also include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).

Standard interior features include an 8-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar support, luxurious seat cloth, LCD in-meter trip computer, sport-style steering wheel, leather-wrapped gearshift knob and premium 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with steering wheel audio controls.

The Nissan Navigation System

An optional feature on Maxima is the Nissan Navigation System. This navigation system includes the three-dimensional Birdview™map display, which features an easy-to-read rolling display of roads, buildings and other points of interest, in addition to the traditional intersection/flat plane map images. A voice guidance system provides directions throughout the driver's journey, lowering radio volume when directions are spoken.

While the 2003 Maxima is a carryover model with only minor modifications, a completely redesigned version will be introduced early next year as a 2004 model, company officials said. The 2004 model will be built at Nissan's North American plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Chrysler Announces Pricing and Lineup for Sirius Satellite Radio

Beginning this fall, Chrysler Group customers can tune into satellite radio as Sirius is launched as a dealer installed product offering in 2003 model year cars, trucks, SUV's and minivans.

Chrysler Group will offer Sirius Satellite Radio on the following 2003 vehicles:

Chrysler: PT Cruiser, Sebring Sedan and Convertible, 300M, Concorde, Voyager and Town & Country
Dodge: Stratus Sedan, Dakota, Durango, Ram, Intrepid, Neon, Caravan and Grand Caravan
Jeep: Liberty and Grand Cherokee

The suggested retail price will be $299 plus labor, and a Sirius Satellite Radio subscription is $12.95 per month.

Chrysler Group also announced factory installation availability of satellite radio for the 2003MY 300M.

Sirius will provide DaimlerChrysler customers with coast-to-coast coverage of 100 channels of programming, including 60 channels of commercial-free music and 40 channels of news, talk, sports and entertainment.

Customers installing Sirius Satellite Radio in their 2003MY vehicles will receive a small, mouse-like antenna mounted to the roof of the vehicle. The radio is designed to be user-friendly with a minimal number of buttons. Customers will be able to search for programs both by music style and channel. Depending on the vehicle, the radio screen will display the channel and music style.

"Satellite radio has the potential to become the next 'must-have' technology. Now that we are offering it throughout our vehicle lineup, a wide range of customers will be able to enjoy this new entertainment experience," said Christine Cortez, senior vice president of Global Parts and Service Operations.

For more information about Sirius Satellite Radio, please visit www.sirius.com.

Chrysler Group Research Promises Improved Fuel Efficiency

Chrysler Group researchers are using a series of small steps in engineering to produce a giant leap in fuel efficiency that could benefit consumers in the near future.

With a series of engineering changes to Chrysler's standard gasoline-powered, 4.7-liter V-8 engine, researchers have produced an engine with 14 percent better fuel efficiency. The cost of those changes is less than $200 per engine.

The project has been called the "MAGIC engine", which stands for Multiple Approaches to Great Internal Combustion. The improvement in fuel efficiency was achieved with no sacrifice in power, cost, weight, engine life or other engine characteristics such as noise, vibration or harshness.

As a next step, Chrysler engineers packaged the MAGIC engine into a Dodge Durango SUV with several additional design changes to enhance fuel efficiency. The vehicle achieves an overall improvement in fuel efficiency of 25 percent. Total additional costs for the project were only about $700 per vehicle.

The automaker did not speculate when the MAGIC engine technology might be brought into mainstream production.

Nissan Tops Manufacturing Efficiency Report for 8th Straight Year

For the eighth year in a row, Nissan has set the automotive industry benchmark as the most efficient manufacturer in North America, according to the Harbour Report North America 2002.

The Harbour Report is published by Harbour and Associates, Inc. – a manufacturing and management consulting firm focused on improving the overall competitiveness of manufacturing companies.

In achieving the top nameplate status, Nissan was ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in truck-making efficiency with the Frontier and Xterra, both of which are produced at Nissan's Smyrna plant along with the Nissan Altima. Beginning early next year, the Maxima flagship sedan will be manufactured in Smyrna.

Among the findings of the Harbour Report North America 2002 were:

Nissan led all manufacturers with an overall measurement of 17.92 assembly hours per vehicle made.
Nissan's Frontier and Xterra lines ranked first and second, respectively, in truck assembly productivity.
Nissan's Altima line ranked second in car assembly productivity

In mid-2003, production will begin at Nissan's new assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, which will manufacture an all-new Nissan minivan, a full-size Nissan pickup truck and full-size Nissan and Infiniti sport-utility vehicles.

"Manufacturing efficiency is an important key to being a successful automaker, as are product durability, quality engineering, pleasing performance and, of course, an attractive design," said Emil Hassan, senior vice president of North American manufacturing, purchasing, quality and logistics for Nissan North America, Inc.

"Our drive toward establishing long-term, profitable growth for Nissan in the United States and globally is rooted in all of these fundamentals," he added. "The design of our vehicles and the active involvement of our employees contribute to Nissan's world-class manufacturing reputation."

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissandriven.com and www.infiniti.com.

Toyota Boosts Production Capacity for Corolla in Brazil

Toyota announced that it recently completed a major expansion at the Indaiatuba Plant of Toyota do Brasil Ltda. (TDB), its manufacturing subsidiary in Brazil. The plant, which has been building Corollas in the state of São Paulo since 1998, now has an annual production capacity of 57,000 units, up from 15,000. It started rolling out units of the ninth generation Corolla at the end of May.

The expansion at Indaiatuba represents a new investment by TMC in Brazil of roughly US$300 million. With an aim to increase local content of the new Corolla to more than 70% (from about 60% for the previous model), the project entailed enlarging the plant's floor space from 29,000 square meters to 69,000 square meters to include a new stamping shop and other facilities. The plant intends to adopt a two-shift system, potentially creating 1,000 new jobs.

The Indaiatuba-made new Corolla will be sold in Brazil and exported to more than 20 countries, including Argentina and Uruguay, helping to establish TDB as a Toyota export base for Latin America

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Purchasing News Home

Pool Vehicle Inventory

CARS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Dr	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Dodge	6	Intrepid	4	Stockton, CA	$18,998	02024
02	Ford	6	Taurus SES Sedan	4	Ask for locations	$18,394	Multiple
02	Ford	6	Taurus SES Wagon	4	Ask for locations	$19,246	Multiple
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Springfield, NJ	$22,274	55309
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21274
02	Ford	8	Crown Victoria HD Sedan	4	Birmingham, AL	$22,002	21275

TRUCKS
Year	Make	Cyl	Model	Location	Invoice	Ref #
02	Dodge	6	Caravan SE FWD	Mt. Laurel, NJ	$21,049	601282
02	Ford	8	Explorer 4 Dr XLT 4x4	Batesville, MS	$29,417	20014
02	Ford	8	F350 Crew Chassis 4x4	Broadway, VA	$27,684	Multiple
When a "stock purchase" is desired, you may consider using a vehicle from the ARI "pool" to save money and time. Call your ARI representative for details!

Download Pool Vehicles Word Document