CHRYSLER TURBINE-AUTOMOTIVE FLEET learns that Chrysler Corp. will preview its gas turbine car to the nation's press in New York City shortly before the International Auto Show in April. The turbine cars will not be delivered to selected buyers until summer. Those who have seen the Chrysler car say it borrows heavy from European styling. Still, it is not radical in design.
NEW CAR SALES-The auto industry is off to a fast start in its bid for another good sales year. Auto sales in the first 20 days of October were almost a third higher than in the same period a year ago. And last year sales started off with a bang. To keep up with the demand, most automakers are working Saturdays and adding extra shifts. The question that is bothering auto executives will the sales boom continue into 1963. Most executives are willing to guess yes, at least through January. However, they have their fingers crossed. Two years ago sales started out with a bang and then fizzled fast.
LEASEWAY EXPANSION-Leaseway Transportation Corp., Cleveland is preparing to invade the Latin American Market. The company has formed a new foreign subsidiary, Leaseway de Mexico S.A. de C. V. William J. O'Neill, Leaseway president, said that the subsidiary will serve "the complete transportation needs" of the largest bottler of soft drinks in Mexico, involving the leasing and maintenance of 500 pieces of equipment. O'Neill, calling the Mexican venture "the first of many extensions of our company abroad," said the Latin American market "has a growing need and great potential for experienced and soundly-based leasing operations." He also said the company is studying the feasibility of entering the European Common Market.
LATE APOINTMENTS-Robert L. Berg has been named assistant director of General Motors fleet section of the sales staff. Berg formerly was assistant zone manager for Chevrolet in Des Moines, la. . . Herb Smith Jr. is the new executive director of Cars Rental System Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He replaces T. J. Cornell who has joined the Fort Lauderdale office of Capitol Fleets Inc. Cornell will still service on a consultant basis . . . John J. Murphy has been named general counsel for Avis Inc.
SEAT BELT APPROVAL-Sixty-eight automotive seat belt models have received the newly established seal of approval of the American Seat Belt Council, the nationwide association formed to maintain industry standards. The seals were awarded under a new testing program undertaken by the ASBC designed to assist the public in identifying quality seat belts at the point of purchase. The 68 models, along with their hundreds of trade named and private brand identification numbers, appear in a directory recently published by the ASBC.
HERTZ PROMOTES PETERSEN-At press time, AUTOMOTIVE FLEET learned that R. A. Petersen, senior vice president in charge of the car rental division of Hertz Corp., was slated to be named executive vice president of Hertz. He will replace Giles A. Wanamaker who recently was named president of Hertz.
AVIS EUROPEAN HATES-Avis Inc. has announced the inauguration of new low budget rates for European renters from October through March. Small European cars are now available for $99 for 17 days and unlimited mileage. Larger cars are being offered for 17 days also with unlimited mileage.
RADIO FREQUENCY JAM-A proposal for long-term relief of frequency congestion "seriously impairing" two-way land mobile communications of public safety and health agencies and many essential business services is now before the Federal Communications Commission. It would assign ultra high frequency television channel 14 and 15 stations from interference by forbidding mobile systems to operate within their coverage areas. The proposal has been made in a petition filed with the FCC exclusively by the. Land Mobile Communications Section of the Electronic Industries Assn.
SHORT TAKES-Peterson, Howell and Heather Inc., Baltimore-based fleet management and leasing firm, has declared a 22 1/2 cent dividend on Class A stock and a 10 cent per share dividend on Class B stock. The dividends were payable Oct, 31 to shareholders of record Oct. 3, Harley W. Howell, PHH president, said earnings for the first five months of the company's fiscal year totaled $215,929, up 17.3 per-cent over the $184,145 reported in the same period a year earlier. , , . Leaseway Transportation Corp. is building a new $400,000 headquarters in Cleveland. The building, located at 21111 Chagrin Blvd., is scheduled to be completed Jan. 1 . , . General Leasing Corp. will move into new $400,000 quarters at 1300 Second St. South in Hopkins, Minn, sometime in November, ... A new safe driver incentive program for fleets is being offered by the AC Spark Plug division of General Motors Corp, to encourage safer driving through competition and awards. Available to all fleets, the new program contains material needed to establish an internal safe driving award contest or supplement one already in existence. . . . National Car Rental System Inc. has launched a new program to acquaint air travelers with its expanded "meet-the-planes" service. The company is offering vehicles for 24 hours and 50 miles for a flat $11, A promotion tie-in has been set with Continental Airlines and Show magazine. . . . Leece-Neville Co. has built its 1,000,000th silicon rectifier diode in a heavy duty alternator. . . . Miami-based Luby Chevrolet has opened leasing offices in New York City and Boston.
PERSONNEL PERSONALS-Four major assignments In the new Chrysler Leasing Corp. have been announced by Robert D. Armstrong, president. They are W. D. Whiteman, vice president and treasurer; E. L. Mueller, comptroller; J. B. Sparkes, manager of market representation; and G. E. Brugman, manager of client and sales operating services . . . Robert N. Tuttle has been named vice president, sales for the car leasing division of Avis Inc. He formerly was vice president and general manager of Talcott Leasing Corp. . . . G. Lawrence Murphy Jr. is the new manager of national account sales for the General Tire and Rubber Co. . . . Robert A. Ahern has been transferred to Allstate Insurance Companies' special accounts division as an account executive . . . Paul F. Ferdinando is the new Dallas district sales manager for Hertz Corp. Named Tulsa city manager for Hertz was Robert J. Bailey.
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