– Subaru’s Mid-America region, based in Itasca, said sales in September rose 17 percent to 1,936 units, the best September ever for the region. Nationally, Subaru sales were up 2 percent for the month.
– Sales of new cars, trucks and buses in Japan fell 4.1 percent in September from a year earlier, the biggest monthly decline since November 1999, the Japan Automobile Association says. The group cited slumping consumer confidence after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. Sales at Toyota Motor Corp. fell 8.7 percent; Nissan Motor Co. sales dropped 4.8 percent; Mitsubishi Motors Corp. sales fell 3.6 percent; and Mazda Motor Corp. had its 13th straight month of declining sales with a 16.9 percent drop. Honda Motor Co.’s sales rose for the 22nd straight month with a 28.6 percent gain.
– The Loading Zone, a Highland Park company that sells car and truck accessories, is giving away its Cargo Gate truck bed divider in a contest. Entrants should relate their worst cargo spill in 500 words or less to Cargo Calamity Contest, c/o Loading Zone, P.O. Box 1378, Highland Park, IL 60035 by Nov. 30. Winners, as picked by Loading Zone with help from the Chicago promotions company Marden-Kane, will be announced in December. The Cargo Gate, which comes in four sizes, retails for $99.95. Visit www.loadingzone.com or call 847-926-0055 ext. 129.
