Automobile Manufacturers are merging, component design and manufacture are now frequently outsourced instead of being created in-house, brands are changing and the giant auto makers are expanding deeper into providing financial services to car buyers. Meanwhile, all of the biggest, most successful firms have become totally global in nature. Plunkett’s Automobile Industry Almanac will be your complete guide to this immense, fascinating industry. This exciting new book (which includes a database on CD-ROM) is a complete reference tool for everything you need to know about the car, truck and specialty vehicles business, including: Automotive industry trends and market research; Mergers, acquisitions, globalization; Automobile manufacturers; Truck makers; Makers of specialty vehicles such as RVs; Automobile loans, insurance and other financial services; Dealerships; Components manufacturers; Retail auto parts stores; E-commerce ; and much, much more. You’ll find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. This book also includes statistical tables, an automobile industry glossary, industry contacts and thorough indexes. The corporate profile section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 400 leading companies in all facets of the automobile industry. Purchasers may also receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM.