Ford is sponsoring a globe for the “Cool Globes” campaign, a public art project designed to increase awareness of and promote solutions to global warming. The project unites corporations, government, non-profit organizations and the community to learn about global warming through public art, Internet information and special events. More than 100 globes will be displayed from June until September along Chicago’s lakefront to showcase global warming ideas and solutions.

Individual artists were assigned a “solution” by the Cool Globe organizers. The artists started with a clean sheet of paper or, in this case, a plain five-foot tall orb on which they developed a visual theme.

Artist Peta Kaplan-Sandzer, selected to paint Ford’s globe, says she is on a “global” mission, “I am a committed environmentalist and the Cool Globes project is all about global warming, the environment and coming up with solutions for problems in the environment,”

Peta chose the theme of green fleets. She painted images that focus on natural and renewable fuel sources such as corn, sugar cane, jethropa and switchgrass because they are elements that can be used to make alternative fuels.

Ford is moving toward a more environmentally sustainable future every day. The company’s vision is to provide sustainable transportation for our customers that is affordable, socially responsible and delivers features they demand. Ford is advancing its vision with a variety of technologies such as hybrids, flexible fuel vehicles, clean diesels, bio-fuels, hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines.

“We feel the science is certain. It’s no longer time to debate global warming. The responsible thing for us as an auto manufacturer is to act as stewards of the environment: build vehicles that will help meet improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions” said John Viera, director, Sustainable Business Strategy for Ford Motor Company.

The art project is the brainchild of marketer and environmental activist Wendy Abrams, executive director, Cool Globes. “For Ford to be making more fuel efficient cars and using E85 is great,” said Abrams. “We live in a society where we’re going to drive cars and fly planes and use electricity, but if we can find better ways to do that with even incremental change, then that should be applauded.”

If you’re in Chicago this summer look for Ford’s globe and all the others displayed along the lakeshore from the Field Museum to Navy Pier beginning June first. 122 globes…122 different suggested solutions for a major global challenge.

Look for Ford’s Internet Video News Release about Cool Globes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaRPlOPtLXU

TNS, one of the world’s largest market information companies, today released highlights from a new survey focused on consumer attitudes towards rising gas prices in the United States, the parties responsible and those positioned to combat the surge. The report comes at a time when gas prices are at an historic high, causing many consumers to take a closer look at this issue. Among the key survey findings are the following:

• Consumers overwhelmingly blame oil companies for the higher gas prices, with over 90 percent reporting oil companies were “somewhat responsible” or “completely responsible”

• Not far behind are governments — the U.S. government and foreign governments each selected by more than 80 percent of consumers as “responsible”

• Automakers, despite negative press on their propensity to offer SUVs, are perceived to be least responsible for higher gas prices (less than a third of respondents), though consumers expect them to help offset the impact of higher fuel costs

• Consumers themselves bear some of the responsibility — two-thirds of respondents said consumers were “somewhat responsible” or “completely responsible” for helping to drive prices down

The study reveals that oil companies will continue to face increasing consumer backlash as prices continue to escalate. This has potentially broader ramifications as oil companies have broadened product portfolios beyond traditional gas stations. Additionally, the finding that the U.S. government is also responsible for prices being high has significant ramifications for upcoming elections, particularly with gas prices at historic highs.

“The results show that consumers see themselves as responsible for combating oil prices, but are looking for a team solution from automakers, oil companies and the government to drive prices to reasonable levels,” commented Lincoln Merrihew, Senior Vice President of TNS Automotive in North America. “The good news for automakers is that consumers do not blame them for gas price increases. However, they are looking to automakers to solve the problem. Meeting those expectations can make them heroes; missing that mark can be a substantial risk.”

About TNS Automotive
TNS Automotive is the world’s largest automotive research practice, with offices worldwide and clients ranging from automakers to suppliers to petroleum companies to government agencies. The study is based on a representative national sample of 2,500 consumers in the TNS panel. The internet-based survey was completed the week of May 7th. Additional details on actual questions and respondent characteristics are available.

About TNS
TNS is a global market insight and information group.

Our strategic goal is to be recognized as the global leader in delivering value-added information and insights that help our clients to make more effective decisions.

As industry thought leaders, our people deliver innovative thinking and excellent service to global organizations and local clients worldwide. We work in partnership with our clients, meeting their needs for high-quality information, analysis and foresight across our network of over 70 countries.

We are the world’s foremost provider of custom research and analysis, combining in-depth industry sector understanding with world-class expertise in the areas of new product development, segmentation and positioning research, brand and advertising research and stakeholder management. We are a major supplier of consumer panel, media intelligence and Internet, TV and radio audience measurement services.

Chevrolet announced that they have signed as the exclusive automotive sponsor for the 2007 Mana “Amar es Combatir” US Concert Tour.

MANA, the first Latin band to break into a top-ten spot on the Billboard 200 and one of the hottest Mexican rock bands of all time, will be touring all over the country and Chevy has joined the band to promote its music and environmental efforts. Chevy’s sponsorship of the band’s tour is part of a larger promotional campaign that will kick-off August 29 th in McAllen, Texas and will consist of on-line, grassroots, and promotional media extensions.

Just last year, Chevy recognized Mana with the first ever “Chevy Latin Music Award” for their contributions to the community and their commitment to help preserve the planet. Mana founded The Selva Negra Foundation in 1995 to collaborate actively with governments to guarantee future generations a livable planet. Since its creation, Selva Negra has financed and supported many important projects in favor of a healthier environment.

“We are extremely thrilled to be the exclusive au tom otive sponsor of Mana’s US Tour because it allows us to achieve a closer relationship to their vibrant audience and align our brand to such an amazing group of well respected musicians,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “Chevy shares Mana’s passion for music as well as the environment. Together we hope to enhance the Hispanic community’s awareness on the importance of developing technologies for a sustainable future.”

“Chevrolet and General Motors have shown their commitment to taking the au tom obile out of the environmental equation. We are pleased to work with them to educate Latinos in the U.S. about the environment.” said Fher, Mana’s lead vocalist.

In addition, Chevy will utilize various Mana songs for its 2007 Hispanic advertising campaign. Currently, Mana’s song “Justicia, Tierra y Libertad” is featured in the emotional 2007 Chevy Silverado Hispanic campaign which is currently running on Spanish language networks. The song focuses on the battle cry made famous by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata in a modern, rock style that emits a feeling of accomplishment and pride.

Chevrolet is leading the way in alternative fuel technology. E85 is a renewable fuel made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, which can be made from plants such as corn and is a renewable resource. E85 is available in the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Chevrolet Uplander. In addition, many Chevy products are available with Active Fuel Management, a fuel-saving technology that shuts off cylinders when the engine doesn’t require full power.

Existing home sales fell 2.6% in April, tumbling to their lowest level in nearly four years, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.

The level dropped to an annual rate of 5.99 million homes, down from March 6.15 million, NAR said.

Economists had expected April sales to remain essentially flat, Bloomberg reported.

Existing home sales account for 85% of the residential real estate market in the United States. When a home is sold, trucks are usually used to transport household appliances and furniture.

Aurora Parts & Accessories, a unit of Aurora Trailer Holdings LLC, said Thursday it has appointed David Clarke chief executive officer.

Aurora Parts & Accessories, based in Lebanon, Ind., is a supplier of trailer and container aftermarket parts.

Clarke has more than 25 years of experience in the parts and services to the transportation community. Most recently he was a vice president at New Holland Global Marketing.

He has also served as vice president for marketing at NACCO Material Handling Group and had more than 20 years of experience with truck maker Paccar Inc.

Aurora has an outstanding reputation of supplying the transportation industry with quality parts and service. I am extremely pleased to be joining the Aurora team and continuing to build the company’s operations to better serve our customers, Clarke said in a statement.

Continued record high gasoline prices may become a trend, due in part to an expansion in biofuel development, according to some oil executives, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Development of biofuel alternatives such as ethanol is causing some uncertainty in refineries’ output, the Times said in a front-page story.

Oil executives told Congress last year they planned to expand refinery output by 1.6 million to 1.8 million barrels per day over the next five years, an increase of 10%, the Times reported.

But those plans have since been scaled back to 1 million barrels a day, according to government figures, the paper said.

Refining shortfalls have been cited as at least a partial cause of the recent of the recent record prices, with gasoline’s most recent record set Monday at $3.218. Diesel’s national price Monday was $2.803, according to the Energy Department.

The record gas price is close to topping the March 1981 inflation-adjusted record of $1.42 a gallon, the Times reported. In today’s dollars, that would be the equivalent of $3.31 a gallon.

Durable goods orders rose for a third straight month in April, gaining 0.6%, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The increase followed a 5% gain in March that was bigger than originally reported. Orders excluding transportation equipment rose 1.5% for a second straight month.

Economists had predicted a 1% increase in overall orders and a 0.6% gain excluding transport orders, Bloomberg reported.

Trucking is a major beneficiary of durable goods manufacturing, hauling both components and finished goods.

Initial jobless claims rose by 15,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The gain to 311,000 new claims was higher than economists’ forecasts 305,000, Bloomberg reported.

The less-volatile four-week moving average fell to 302,750, the lowest in a year.

The number of people continuing to collect benefits rose to 2.529 million for the previous week ended May 12, from 2.471 million a week earlier, Labor reported.