Initiative for Corporate Accountability and Immigration Rights Coalition blasts Republican candidate Donald Trump
Initiative for Corporate Accountability and Immigration Rights Coalition blasts Republican candidate Donald Trump
Racist comments by Donald Trump highlight the need for more trusted sources of news and information in Hispanic community
LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Immigrant rights activists and Latino community leaders from across Southern California today applauded NBCUniversal and parent company Comcast for ending their relationship with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after his racist and derogatory remarks about Mexican immigrants.
“I am saddened that a Republican candidate for President finds it politically expedient to accuse Mexican immigrants of rape and other heinous crimes while announcing his candidacy,” said Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of iCAIR and a Latino community leader in Los Angeles. “The pain inflicted by Donald Trump’s racist remarks is only compounded when you hear his explanation for them.”
“At an event last night, Trump declared, “No apology. Because everything I said was 100% correct – all you have to do is read the newspapers,” continued Gutierrez. “His so-called explanation only highlights the fact that we must have more honest and trusted sources of news and information for the Hispanic community in America.”
Against the backdrop of this controversy, some major media companies have been claiming to value diversity and their ethnic or foreign-language customers and employees while at the same time financially supporting anti-immigrant politicians.
“While it is a move in the right direction for NBCUniversal and Comcast to sever all ties to Donald Trump, it’s simply not enough,” said Gutierrez. “Comcast must stop supporting anti-immigrant and anti-Hispanic politicians. For example, when Orrin Hatch says, ‘They’re bringing slaves into our country and bringing drugs,’ there is no difference between his racist remarks and Donald Trump’s, yet Comcast financially supports Orrin Hatch.”
iCAIR was created to call attention to the blatant anti-immigrant efforts of these companies and move them to treat their Latino customers fairly by supporting diversity in programming and ending their monetary support of politicians that support racist and discriminatory action.
The iCAIR coalition members include Hermandad Mexicana Transnacional, Frencte Civico Zacatecano, Alianza Hondureña de Los Angeles, Club Unidos Por Copala, Alianza Binacional Bracero Proa, Casa Nicaragua, Hermandad Community Centers, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Latinos Unidos LA Foundation, and Vamos Unidos USA.
For more information or to partner with iCAIR, contact us at [email protected].
July 4th Salute to Great Immigrants Who Help Make America Strong–from Carnegie Corporation of New York
July 4th Salute to Great Immigrants Who Help Make America Strong––from Carnegie Corporation of New York
Celebration of Naturalized Citizens with Public Service Ad and Tribute Website from the Foundation Established by Andrew Carnegie
NEW YORK, July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This Independence Day, the Trustees and staff of Carnegie Corporation of New York invite all Americans to join in celebrating naturalized U.S. citizens whose contributions are vital to the fabric of our nation and the strength of our democracy.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150624/225463
For the tenth year, the Corporation is honoring a distinguished group of immigrants and their accomplishments with a full-page public service ad in The New York Times. The 2015 “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” initiative includes 38 individuals who have helped advance and enlighten our society, culture, and economy. In addition, the Corporation recognizes new citizens with a companion website at greatimmigrants.org, which includes the stories of many other naturalized citizens, video and audio recordings, and interactive quizzes.
“Our founder, Andrew Carnegie, came to this country as the son of impoverished immigrants and grew up to become one of the greatest contributors to American industry and philanthropy,” said Vartan Gregorian, President of the Corporation. “His devotion to U.S. democracy stemmed from his conviction that the new infusion of talent that immigrants bring to our country keeps American society vibrant.”
The 38 Great Immigrants honored this year come from more than 30 countries around the world and represent leadership in a wide range of professions. They include U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara; higher education leaders Gabriel Esteban, Rakesh Khurana, and Ali Malekzadeh; Nobel laureates Arieh Warshel and Thomas C. Südhof; Google Engineering Director Craig Nevill-Manning; U.S. Army Major General Antonio M. Taguba; immigration attorney Rabia Chaudry; Metropolitan Museum of Art Director Thomas Campbell; Atlanta Braves coach Eddie Pérez; Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin; Pulitzer Prize-winners Geraldine Brooks and Anne Telnaes; actress Sofía Vergara; singer Thalía; television game show host Alex Trebek; and television producer Lorne Michaels.
Nearly nine million legal permanent residents are currently eligible to naturalize and become U.S. citizens. True to the mission of Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Corporation of New York supports their civic engagement through the efforts of our grantees, particularly the network of nonprofits that forms the New Americans Campaign. The Corporation is proud to showcase their work and the stories of new and aspiring citizens on its dedicated, multimedia website greatimmigrants.org. Visitors will find easy-to-share videos, StoryCorps podcasts, interactive civics and immigration quizzes, a visual archive of Great Immigrants honorees from the past ten years, a timeline highlighting Andrew Carnegie’s life as an immigrant, and an embeddable video featuring the inspiring life of an immigrant who fled civil war in Sierra Leone and is now an American success story.
Share in the celebration of “Great Immigrants: The Pride of America” online and continue the discussion on Facebook and on Twitter @CarnegieCorp, #GreatImmigrants.
Congratulations to the 2015 honorees:
Preet Bharara U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York (India)
Geraldine Brooks Pulitzer Prize-winning Author, Journalist (Australia)
Thomas Campbell Director and CEO, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (England)
Rabia Chaudry Attorney, Civil Rights Activist (Pakistan)
Mica Ertegun Interior Designer (Romania)
A. Gabriel Esteban President, Seton Hall University (Philippines)
Stanley Fischer Economist; Vice Chair, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System (Israel)
Jonathan Hunt Fox News, Chief Correspondent (Canada)
Malek Jandali Composer, Pianist (Syria)
Rakesh Khurana Professor, Dean, Harvard College (India)
Marie-Josée Kravis Economist, Philanthropist (Canada)
Nastia Liukin Olympic Medal-winning Gymnast (Russia)
Bette Bao Lord Author, Human Rights Advocate, Philanthropist (China)
Ali Malekzadeh President, Roosevelt University, Chicago (Iran)
Silvio Micali Turing Award-winning Professor of Computer Engineering (Italy)
Lorne Michaels Peabody Award-winning TV Producer (Canada)
Franziska Michor Vilcek Prize-winning Professor, Computational Biology (Austria)
Anchee Min Author (China)
Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani Philanthropist; Chief Investment Officer, Private Wealth Management Group, Goldman Sachs (Iran)
Firouz Naderi Director, Solar System Exploration, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Iran)
Azar Nafisi Author, Scholar (Iran)
Craig Nevill-Manning Engineering Director, Google (New Zealand)
Maria Otero Fmr. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (Bolivia)
Eddie Pérez Bullpen Coach, Atlanta Braves (Venezuela)
Ilana Rovner Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (Latvia)
Arturo Sandoval Grammy Award-winning Jazz Trumpeter (Cuba)
Madhulika Sikka Vice President, Executive Editor, .Mic (India)
Thomas C. Südhof Nobel Prize-winning Neuroscientist (Germany)
Antonio M. Taguba U.S. Army Major General, Retired (Philippines)
Ann Telnaes Pulitzer Prize-winning Political Cartoonist (Sweden)
Thalía Singer, Actress (Mexico)
Tuyen Tran Vilcek Prize-winning Fashion Designer (Vietnam)
Alex Trebek Emmy Award-winning Game Show Host (Canada)
Sofía Vergara Actress, Director (Colombia)
Abraham Verghese Physician, Professor, Author (Ethiopia)
Eugene Volokh Professor, Legal Scholar, Blogger (Ukraine)
Arieh Warshel Nobel Prize-winning Biochemist (Israel)
Raffi Yessayan Judge, Massachusetts Superior Court (Lebanon)
About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation’s agenda focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.
For more information and interview requests:
Celeste Ford | Manager of Media Relations
Carnegie Corporation of New York
(212) 207-6277 | [email protected]
California Paid Sick Leave Law Goes into Effect Today
California Paid Sick Leave Law Goes into Effect Today
OAKLAND, Calif., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su reminds employers that California’s paid sick leave law goes into effect today.
“With California’s new paid sick leave law in effect, most workers now won’t have to choose between their family’s health and their job,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The Labor Commissioner’s Office is a division within DIR.
The Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 (Assembly bill 1522) generally provides most employees the ability to accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, paid at the regular rate of the worker’s wages. The employer can also provide employees at least 24 hours of sick leave up front for use during the year. Workers may begin using their accrued hours beginning on the 90th day of employment.
“In order to help achieve healthier workplaces, my office is committed to providing essential education to workers and employers on their rights and responsibilities under the new paid sick leave law,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su.
Retaliation or discrimination against an employee who requests paid sick days or uses paid sick days or both are prohibited. An employee can file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner against an employer who retaliates or discriminates against an employee.
Employers and workers can refer to DIR’s webpage for more information on the new law, including a recorded training webinar and presentation slides, as well as FAQ’s. DIR has also produced a short video on the new law.
The Labor Commissioner’s Office, formally known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, investigates retaliation and whistleblower complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses, and educates the public on labor laws. Updated information on California labor laws is available online.
Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 offers recorded messages in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics.
Members of the press may call Erika Monterroza at (510) 286-1164 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.
The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.
Texas condominium and townhome sales slow during first half of 2015
AUSTIN, Texas, July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Condominium and townhome sales slowed in Texas’ major metro areas in the first half of 2015, according to the 2015 Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report. Released today by the Texas Association of Realtors, the report shows that condominium (condo) and townhome sales in Texas’ four major markets remained relatively consistent with condo sales in the first half of 2014.
According to the report, Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio experienced an average one percent decrease in condo sales between January and May 2015. While Dallas and San Antonio posted small annual gains of three and six percent, respectively, condo sales decreased one percent year-over-year in Houston and 12 percent year-over-year in Austin in the first half of the year.
Scott Kesner, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, explained: “The rapid pace of Texas’ housing market growth has slowed in the last year, and that includes the condominium and townhome market. However, the demand for condos remains strong, as condos continue to spend less time on the market and sell at higher prices. Those higher prices, however, could be impacting some Texas homebuyers’ ability to afford condos, especially in our state’s metro areas.”
Condos showed consistent gains in median price in three of the four metro areas in the first half of 2015, with the exception of Houston, which was unchanged in median price compared to the first half of 2014. While still priced considerably less overall than single-family homes, the price-per-square-foot is significantly higher for condos and townhomes versus single-family homes.
Jim Gaines, Ph.D., economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, explained: “The land and development costs for condominiums in Texas’ metro areas are so high that new condos being built today are priced outside of an affordable price range for many first-time homebuyers and buyers with lower household incomes. Existing condos, by comparison, are priced significantly less than new condos and therefore have a much higher demand and tighter inventory. In several of Texas’ metro areas, existing condos and townhomes are driving sales in that segment of the housing market.”
In Austin, 1,178 condos were sold between January and May 2015, a 12 percent decrease from the same period in 2014. Median price increased to $222,000, a four percent gain from the year prior. New listings rose two percent to 1,904 listings, whereas active listings jumped 14 percent to 623 listings and pending sales dropped four percent to 1,496 sales from January to May. Finally, average days on the market fell to 43 days, an eight percent decrease from the year prior.
In Dallas, 2,454 condos were sold between January and May 2015, a three percent increase from the same period in 2014. Median price increased to $171,020, a seven percent gain from the year prior. New listings decreased three percent to 3,366 listings, whereas active listings dropped 20 percent to 1,101 listings and pending sales rose 11 percent to 2,618 sales from January to May. Finally, average days on the market dropped to 48 days, a 22 percent decrease from the year prior.
In Houston, 2,668 condos were sold between January and May 2015, a one percent decrease from the first half of 2014. Median price remained unchanged at $145,000 during the same time frame. New listings increased seven percent to 4,471 listings, whereas active listings increased two percent to 1,490 listings and pending sales rose 25 percent to 2,126 sales from January to May. Finally, average days on the market dropped to 51 days, a nine percent decrease from the year prior.
In San Antonio, 288 condos were sold between January and May 2015, a six percent decrease from the same period in 2014. Median price increased to $189,900, a nine percent gain from the year prior. New listings decreased 12 percent to 467 listings, whereas active listings dropped 21 percent to 302 listings and pending sales rose six percent to 284 sales from January to May. Finally, average days on the market dropped to 89 days, a seven percent decrease from the year prior.
About the Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report
The Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report is based on data from The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and analyzes condominium and townhome sales data from January through May 2015 for Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The Texas Association of Realtors distributes insights about the Texas housing market each month, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, luxury home sales, international trends, and more. To view these reports, visit TexasRealEstate.com.
About the Texas Association of Realtors
With more than 100,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.
CONTACT: Danielle Urban
Pierpont Communications
512-448-4950
[email protected]
Cal/OSHA Issues High Heat Advisory for Sacramento Valley, Northern California as Temperatures Rise
Cal/OSHA Issues High Heat Advisory for Sacramento Valley, Northern California as Temperatures Rise
OAKLAND, Calif., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA is urging all employers, particularly those in the Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills, to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for these areas, where temperatures are expected to rise to highs of 115 degrees through Friday morning. Heat warnings are issued when weather conditions pose a threat to life.
“We want to ensure that the rules in place are followed to protect outdoor workers during soaring temperatures,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, is a division of DIR.
California’s heat regulation requires all employers with outdoor workers to protect outdoor workers by taking these basic steps:
- Train all employees and supervisors about heat illness prevention.
- Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart, or four 8-ounce glasses, of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
- Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
- Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard.
“Heat illness can be life threatening,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “That’s why employers are required to make sure outdoor workers have enough shade, water and rest, even if they don’t see visible symptoms of sickness.”
When temperatures reach 95 degrees, as predicted in Northern California, special “high heat” procedures are also required. These procedures include:
- Observing workers for signs and symptoms of heat illness.
- Providing close supervision of workers in their first 14 days of employment to ensure acclimatization.
- Having effective communication systems in place to be able to call for emergency assistance if necessary.
Cal/OSHA will inspect outdoor worksites in industries such as agriculture, construction, landscaping, and others throughout the heat season. Through partnerships with various employer and worker organizations in different industries, Cal/OSHA will also provide consultation, outreach and training on heat illness prevention.
Cal/OSHA’s award-winning heat illness prevention campaign, the first of its kind in the nation, includes enforcement of heat regulations as well as outreach and training for California’s employers and workers.
Online information on the heat illness prevention requirements and training materials can be obtained at Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness web page or the Water. Rest. Shade. campaign site. A Heat Illness Prevention e-tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.
Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734), or the California Workers’ Information Hotline at 866-924-9757 for recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics.
For media inquiries contact Erika Monterroza at (510) 286-1164 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.
The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.
BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2015 Sales
BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2015 Sales
– BMW brand up 6.5 percent, sets June record
– MINI brand sales up 14.8 percent
– BMW Motorcycle sales increase 83.3 percent, sets all time sales record
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 6.5 percent in June for a total of 32,176 compared to 30,201 vehicles sold in June, 2014.
“There’s no better follow-up to a record May than a record June with the numbers showing a consistent momentum for BMW as the year reaches the half-way point,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “It’s clear the U.S. is more in love with light trucks than ever before and the hardest part is supplying the demand. At the same time, I am delighted to see MINI gaining more traction as model availability continues to increase.”
To see and hear more of Ludwig Willisch’s perspective on the June sales, click here.
In June, notable vehicle sales included the BMW 2 Series which increased 56.9 percent to 1,067 vehicles, the BMW 4 Series which increased 69.4 percent to 6,625 vehicles and the BMW X5 which increased 89.0 percent to 7,508 vehicles.
BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 38,350 vehicles, an increase of 7.8 percent from the 35,577 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.
MINI Brand Sales
For June, MINI USA reports 6,174 automobiles sold, an increase of 14.8 percent from the 5,376 sold in the same month a year ago.
BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles
In June, BMW Certified Pre-Owned sold 9,326 vehicles, up 16.7 percent over June 2014, with a year-to-date gain of 23.8 percent to 58,396 vehicles sold over the same period in 2014. Total BMW Pre-Owned sales were 15,069 vehicles sold in June 2015, a 1.1 percent decrease from June 2014. The Total BMW Pre-Owned cars sold for the first six months were 93,141, a 4.9 percent decrease from the same period in 2014.
MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles
In June, sales of MINI NEXT (certified pre-owned) were 1,051 vehicles, up 35.6 percent over June 2014, with a year-to-date gain of 29.9 percent to 5,683 cars over the same period in 2014. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales were 2,432 cars, an increase of 25.9 percent from June 2014. Total MINI Pre-Owned sales for the first six months were 12,972, a 5.1 percent increase from the same period in 2014.
|
Table 1: New Vehicle Sales BMW of North America, LLC, June 2015 |
||||||
|
June 2015 |
June 2014 |
% |
YTD June 2015 |
YTD June 2014 |
% |
|
|
i3 |
551 |
358 |
54.0% |
4,456 |
694 |
542.1% |
|
i8 |
137 |
0 |
0.0% |
733 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
1/2 Series |
1,067 |
680 |
56.9% |
5,342 |
3,268 |
63.5% |
|
3 Series |
6,891 |
7,633 |
-9.7% |
42,783 |
41,521 |
3.0% |
|
4 Series |
6,625 |
3,910 |
69.4% |
24,906 |
15,402 |
61.7% |
|
5 Series |
2,965 |
7,940 |
-62.7% |
23,581 |
27,617 |
-14.6% |
|
6 Series |
238 |
322 |
-26.1% |
5,084 |
5,067 |
0.3% |
|
7 Series |
832 |
1,548 |
-46.3% |
5,223 |
4,711 |
10.9% |
|
Z4 |
105 |
114 |
-7.9% |
1,072 |
1,213 |
-11.6% |
|
X1 |
1,118 |
1,052 |
6.3% |
5,905 |
11,311 |
-47.8% |
|
BMW passenger cars |
20,529 |
23,557 |
-12.9% |
119,085 |
110,804 |
7.5% |
|
X3 |
2,301 |
2,105 |
9.3% |
13,283 |
21,802 |
-39.1% |
|
X4 |
390 |
0 |
0.0% |
3,146 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
X5 |
7,508 |
3,972 |
89.0% |
29,151 |
22,438 |
29.9% |
|
X6 |
1,448 |
567 |
155.4% |
3,958 |
2,338 |
69.3% |
|
BMW light trucks |
11,647 |
6,644 |
75.3% |
49,538 |
46,578 |
6.4% |
|
BMW brand |
32,176 |
30,201 |
6.5% |
168,623 |
157,382 |
7.1% |
|
Cooper /S Hardtop 2 Door |
1,425 |
2,304 |
-38.2% |
10,227 |
7,721 |
32.5% |
|
Cooper /S Hardtop 4 Door |
1,886 |
0 |
100.0% |
8,261 |
0 |
100.0% |
|
Cooper /S Convertible |
393 |
368 |
6.8% |
1,707 |
1,737 |
-1.7% |
|
Cooper /S Clubman |
7 |
361 |
-98.1% |
18 |
1,910 |
-99.1% |
|
Coupe |
51 |
78 |
-34.6% |
258 |
512 |
-49.6% |
|
Roadster |
123 |
127 |
-3.1% |
673 |
724 |
-7.0% |
|
Countryman |
2,041 |
1,956 |
4.3% |
8,278 |
10,621 |
-22.1% |
|
Paceman |
248 |
182 |
36.3% |
838 |
927 |
-9.6% |
|
MINI brand |
6,174 |
5,376 |
14.8% |
30,260 |
24,152 |
25.3% |
|
TOTAL BMW of North America, LLC |
38,350 |
35,577 |
7.8% |
198,883 |
181,534 |
9.6% |
BMW Motorrad Sales
BMW motorcycles established a new all-time record for sales, retailing 2,433 motorcycles in June. This record was also 83.3 percent above the 1,327 motorcycles sold in June 2014.
The R 1200 RT was the best selling model in June with 270 units, and in combination with the new for 2015 R 1200 R, grew boxer model retails by 160% to 1,346 units compared to 517 in June of 2014. S-Series models were boosted by the arrival of the all-new S 1000 XR adventure motorcycle, posting growth of 60% with sales of 463 units compared to 290 this time last year. The recently introduced F 800 R helped F-Series models also outperform 2014, growing 50% with 337 deliveries compared to 225 in June 2014.
With growth of 10.9% after 6 months, BMW Motorrad also set a new half-year record.
Table 2: Motorcycle Sales BMW of North America, LLC, June 2015
|
June 2015 |
June 2014 |
% |
YTD June 2015 |
YTD June 2014 |
% |
|
|
BMW Motorcycles |
2,433 |
1,327 |
83.3 |
9,254 |
8,348 |
10.9 |
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy based in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 339 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 123 MINI passenger car dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
The Hispanic Public Relations Association Announces Call-For-Entries for the HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards
The Hispanic Public Relations Association Announces Call-For-Entries for the HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards
2015 awards program introduces new host city, four new categories and the inaugural ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award
NEW YORK, July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) announced the call-for-entries for the highest accolade in Hispanic public relations – the HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards. Hosted in New York City for the first time in the organization’s 30-year history, the National ¡BRAVO! Awards celebrate the best corporate, agency, and non-profit PR teams, and the breakthrough work they produced.
“These are exciting times in our industry and I am proud to say that the HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards 2015 program will be the most ambitious in the award’s history,” said Andy Checo, president of HPRA National Board of Directors. “We look forward to celebrating the best work of our industry during an event full of firsts for our rapidly growing organization. It will mark the first time we host the event in the Big Apple, the first time we will recognize an industry leader with the ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award and the first time we will awarding four newly created categories.”
The HPRA ‘Pioneer of the Year’ award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance the practice of Hispanic public relations. Nominees will be presented by the HPRA National Board of Directors who will also select the recipient of the prestigious award. The honoree will be recognized during the 2015 HPRA BRAVO Awards on October 8 at the New York Palace Hotel.
There are 16 categories available to enter for the HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards. These include:
- Technology
- Healthcare/Nutrition
- Fashion & Beauty
- Food & Beverage
- Public Education
- Sports
- New Product/Service Launch
- Pro-Bono
- Media Events
- Integrated Marketing Communications
- Non-Profit
- Digital PR Programs (Social Media Campaigns)
- Internal Communications (NEW)
- CSR Communications (NEW)
- Public Affairs (NEW)
- Multicultural PR Program (NEW)
How to Enter
All materials are required to be submitted digitally. Awards categories are open to all public relations, advertising, and marketing agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and/or practitioners who practice in the United States, including Puerto Rico. Work must have been implemented between June 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.
Entries will be judged by an unaffiliated panel of senior public relations professionals representing industry national organizations and trade publications. Entrants will be notified of results by early-September. Awards winners will be recognized at HPRA National ¡BRAVO! Awards dinner at The New York Palace Hotel in NYC on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015.
For more information about the awards program and to enter a submission, visit https://www.hpra-usa.org/bravo-awards/
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Record June Sales Propel Kia Motors America To Best First-Half Performance In Company History
Record June Sales Propel Kia Motors America To Best First-Half Performance In Company History
Kia Surpasses 300,000 Units in Six Months for First Time; Year-To-Date Sales Up 4.6 Percent
IRVINE, Calif., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — After setting an all-time monthly sales record in May, Kia Motors America’s (KMA) momentum continued with best-ever June sales of 54,137 vehicles, capping off the greatest first-half performance in company history. With more than 300,000 vehicles sold in six months, Kia is up 4.6 percent year-to-date. Sales of the Sedona minivan, which was completely redesigned for the 2015 model year, reached new heights with a 707-percent increase over June 2014.
“Customers continue to turn to Kia in increasing numbers for our world-class design, technology, value and, of course, our quality, which was recently reaffirmed in J.D. Power’s annual Initial Quality Study in which Kia finished second overall and first among non-premium brands,” said Michael Sprague, Chief Operating Officer and EVP, KMA. “With our ‘Summer’s On Us’ promotion attracting even more traffic into showrooms, June proved to be a historic month for Kia as we recorded both the best quarter and first half sales performances in company history.”
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea, and in 2014 was the #1 ranked mainstream brand according to Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index. KMA proudly serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA and set an all-time annual sales record in 2014, surpassing the 500,000 unit mark for the third consecutive year. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K9001 flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle2, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia’s U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.
Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.
|
MONTH OF JUNE |
YEAR-TO-DATE |
|||
|
Model |
2015 |
2014 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
Rio |
2,420 |
3,257 |
14,835 |
19,966 |
|
Forte |
7,907 |
5,846 |
43,182 |
37,951 |
|
Optima |
13,488 |
13,866 |
79,966 |
82,813 |
|
Cadenza |
359 |
1,035 |
3,289 |
5,415 |
|
K900 |
168 |
224 |
710 |
816 |
|
Sportage |
3,550 |
3,590 |
23,955 |
19,956 |
|
Sorento |
8,967 |
9,831 |
56,421 |
51,921 |
|
Sedona |
5,434 |
673 |
20,608 |
3,576 |
|
Soul |
11,844 |
12,322 |
67,986 |
74,999 |
|
Total |
54,137 |
50,644 |
310,952 |
297,413 |
|
_______________________________ |
|
* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. |
|
1 2015 K900 V8 available in select trims and in select markets with limited availability. |
|
2 2015 Soul EV in select markets with limited availability. |