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2009 auto sales expected to fall

Rocky staff and wire reports

Published January 13, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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Auto consulting company CSM Worldwide said Monday it expects global vehicle sales to continue falling in 2009, but predicted a recovery in 2010 as credit frees up and skittish consumers re-enter the market.

The Northville, Mich., firm projected 2009 global sales would fall about 8 percent to 56.8 million units. However, CSM forecast 2010 sales would rise nearly 7 percent to 60.8 million units.

CSM said it expects 2009 sales in the U.S. to hit a 27-year low of 11.5 million, then rebound to 13.6 million in 2010.

Auto sales globally have fallen rapidly in recent months, and the decline has been even sharper in the U.S., where the toxic combination of tight credit markets, volatile fuel prices and declining consumer confidence has depressed demand for new cars.

Last week, automakers reported 2008 sales fell to 13.2 million units, down from 16.1 million in 2007. Sales fell 36 percent in December alone.

* Many oil and gas company executives are predicting a significant ramp-up of renewable energy use over the next five years to run cars and trucks and generate electricity, a new survey said.

LOCAL

Array BioPharma Inc. lays off 40, will spend less on its research

Array BioPharma Inc., a Boulder biotech company, said it laid off 40 employees, or 10 percent of its work force.

The company also plans to spend less on discovery research during the next two years to shore up cash during the "current uncertain capital market condition."

In addition, Array said it plans to look more closely at partnering with other firms on clinical development and preclinical programs.

UNION CHOSEN Flight attendants at Lynx Aviation, a subsidiary of Frontier Airlines, have voted in favor of joining the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union. Nearly 65 percent of the 87 eligible attendants voted for the proposal.

Lynx Aviation flies turboprop planes to mountain destinations under the Frontier name.

LIGHT BULB DISCOUNTS Xcel Energy has teamed up with local retailers to offer compact fluorescent light bulbs at discounted prices starting from $1 per bulb.

The discounted price on a variety of CFL bulbs is available at participating Ace Hardware, City Market, Costco Wholesalers and King Soopers outlets across Colorado. Quantities are limited.

GATES CLOSING FACILITY Gates Canada, a subsidiary of the Denver-based Gates Corp., says it will close one facility in Ontario by the end of the year.

THIS JUST IN

* The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association gave Denver Littler Mendelson attorney Jack D. Patten III the Outstanding New Hispanic Lawyer award.

* Colorado School of Mines Foundation board of governors added F. Steven Mooney, John K. Coors, Wayne W. Murdy, Harry D. Campbell and Ted Stockmar.

*Denver-based Sherman & Howard LLC combined with Denver-based Netzorg McKeever Koclanes & Bernhardt LLC as well as Mohr, Hackett, Pederson, Blakley & Randolph, based in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz.

*Waddel & Reed hired Alison Smolinski as a financial adviser.

* Merchant & Gould named Greg Leibold as partner at the firm.

* Pak Mail Centers of America Inc. named Alex Zai as president.

* Volunteers of America Colorado Branch appointed Victoria Gibbs, Kathy Klugman, Charles D. Maguire Jr. and Joe Samuel to its board of directors.

* The Colorado Chapter of International Customer Service Association will meet Thursday at 1600 W. 12th Ave. in Denver. Information: 720-870-4671.

* Capella Telluride named Kenny Gilbert as executive chef.

* The Boulder Market Center of Keller Williams Realty appointed Shannon Peitsmeyer a support analyst, Steve Marshall director of Keller Williams Commercial and Lorraine Revelle productivity coach and assistant team leader. Rebecca Holley was named rookie of the year for the Boulder Market Center, and Chris Welch was named 2008 Realtor of the year by the Boulder Area Realtor Association

* Martin/Martin Inc. Consulting Engineers and Structural Solutions Martin/Martin Inc. promoted Kevin Dunham to senior investigative engineer; Daniel Mullins and Garth Scholl to senior professional engineers; Christopher D'Ascanio, Phillip Krieble and David Kuntz to senior project engineers; Nickolas Ereckson, Charlie McLean and David Mitchell to professional engineers; Robert Cromley to senior designer; Micah Geiger and Eric Johnson to designers; Heath Macleod to project CAD operator; Ronald Field to CAD technician; Matthew Chapa and Julian Chavez to CAD II operators; Brent Hanlon to engineer I, and Amanda Miller, Benoit Cordoba, Danny Trujillo, Diana Hunt, Ellie Montoya, Erica Toren, Jennifer Frank, Jessica Sayers, Kevin Haas, Matthew Dezort, Michael Kueny, Michael Renes, Nathan Winslow, Patrick Roberts and Renee Anderson to engineer II.

* Patton Boggs LLP named Robert Thibault as a partner in its Denver office.

* BMA Colorado's monthly dinner Wednesday at the Renaissance Hotel will feature Linda Rutherford of Southwest Airlines on "People & Planes - The LUV Connection." Information: bmacolorado.org