Rochester Business Journal

• New car sales up in March; used-car sales drop
  New-car sales in Monroe County improved last month, while used-car sales fell from last year, the Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association Inc. reported.
• Monro Muffler misses earnings expectations for quarter
  Monro Muffler Brake Inc. reported an increase in sales for the third quarter but fell short of Street earnings estimates, a result of consumers delaying purchases and spending less on maintenance and repair.
• Area car sales for 2012 at decade-high level
  New and used vehicle sales in Monroe County last year eclipsed 2011 numbers and reached their highest point in the last decade, the Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association Inc. reported.
• Genesee & Wyoming details post-acquisition job cuts
  Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s acquisition of RailAmerica Inc. is complete. The $1.4 billion deal combines the two largest short-line railroad companies in North America.
• Company leader serving up rapid growth
  
• AirTran in Rochester to convert to Southwest in April
  AirTran Airways operations at Greater Rochester International Airport will be converted to Southwest Airlines in April, officials announced Thursday.
• GM to shut down fuel-cell research facility in Honeoye Falls
  General Motors Co. plans to move its fuel-cell research operation from Honeoye Falls to Pontiac, Mich., the company told employees Friday. The majority of the 220 people who work at the hydrogen fuel-cell facility will be offered jobs in GM’s global powertrain engineering headquarters in Michigan.
• RTS Transit Center receives final OKs; excavation to start Monday
  Final approvals were granted Thursday for a $50 million transit center on Mortimer Street. Excavation work is to begin Monday. The new facility will allow outdoor stops along Main Street, St. Paul Street and Clinton Avenue to be consolidated at one indoor location.
• Trade magazine honors Auction Direct
  Auction Direct USA LLC has been named the top independent used-vehicle retailer of the year by Auto Dealer Monthly Magazine.
• Auto Dealers
  Information was provided by individual new-car dealerships that responded to an e-mail and fax survey. The survey area was Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties; ranked by number of vehicles sold retail in 2011.
• Auction Direct touts record sales in Q1
  Auction Direct USA LLC has set an internal sales record for the quarter, across its four East Coast locations, officials announced Tuesday.
• Rochester gets money for electric
  vehicles charging stations
  The city of Rochester is getting $228,000 to install 24 charging stations for electric vehicles, officials announced Wednesday.
• Government shuts private bus service here
  Brighton-based A One Bus Inc. is among 26 bus operations shut down for endangering public safety, federal officials said Thursday.
• Exporters
  Information was provided by individual companies that responded to an email or fax survey. The survey contacted companies that manufacture and export products from facilities in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties; ranked by value of goods exported in 2011.
• US Airways adds flights to Charlotte, Philly
  US Airways Inc. will add two non-stop flights daily to Charlotte, N.C., from Greater Rochester International Airport beginning next Thursday, and two to Philadelphia as of July 12, officials announced Friday.
• First Niagara enters indirect auto financing business
  First Niagara Financial Group Inc. has entered the auto lending business, providing dealership financing options throughout the northeast, bank officials announced Wednesday.
• Best-Selling New Vehicles Over $30,000
  The list includes only models whose 2012 manufacturer's suggested retail price exceeded $30,000; ranked by number of units registered in Monroe County in 2011.
• Dealer revs up with Mini, Fisker vehicles
  
• New, used car sales drop in January
  New and used car sales in Monroe County showed year-over-year improvement in January, but fell from December sales, the Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association Inc. reported.
• Car sales remain up from a year ago
  New and used car sales last month continued to surpass 2010 sales, the Rochester Automobile Dealers’ Association Inc. reported.

RBJ Headlines

• Area's unemployment rate drops to 7.2 in April
• N.Y. homeowners received nearly $2B under settlement
• Trulign lens by B&L gets FDA approval
• Group honors Pier 45 among top outdoor dining spots
• Muller Quaker Dairy to open June 3