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General Motors will be the first U.S. manufacturer to import a Chinese-made vehicle, the Buick Envision SUV that will go on sale early next year. The Wall Street Journal says GM and the UAW discussed the idea in their recent contract negotiations and “appear to have come to an understanding.” In a different note about GM and the union, Automotive News reports the two have re-started contract negotiations to work out new details that will satisfy skilledtrade workers, who voted down the proposed new contract, so the old contract has been extended again to November 20……Jeep will introduce the Jeep Wave program for some of its higherprofit models, including amenities such as free routine maintenance, complimentary loaners, discounts on accessories and road trip interruption insurance coverage…… Sears will give members of its Shop Your Way program a Members Private Night on 11/22 with access to Black Friday doorbusters……Even the high end of the department store business is looking a little lethargic: Nordstrom quarterly same-store sales were up just 0.9%, although it’s still projecting a 2.5-3.0% comp gain for the holiday season. It opened just two new domestic full-line stores during the quarter, but 16 new Nordstrom Rack units……The auto aftermarket had been doing very well, but Advance Auto Parts’ same store sales were up just 0.5% for the quarter that ended on 10/10. Advance plans to close about 30 stores before the end of the year, but that will still leave them with more than 5,200 in operation……Conn’s has had some tough profit reports because to prior credit policies that proved to be too lenient, but it still has a very aggressive outlook about expansion. Currently opening its 100th store, it’s opening 17-18 this fiscal year, 20-25 for the following two years and even more afterwards, with an eventual goal of 500 locations……KFC will test home delivery, starting in the L.A. and San Francisco markets, using DoorDash (the same service being sued by In-NOut Burger for unauthorized delivery). A delivery fee of $5- $7 will be added depending on the customer’s location…… El Pollo Loco franchisees reported a 1.1% same-store sales increase for the latest quarter, but company-owned locations were flat due to an almost 2% drop in total traffic, causing an 81.9% decline in corporate profit……We noted last week that On The Move had targeted Florida for heavy c-store expansion, but it looks like there will be plenty of competition. 7-Eleven has just purchased 101 stations from Biscayne Petroleum and sibling Everglades Petroleum and Wawa Inc. now plans to add 120 stores there by 2022. Wawa notes many people in Florida are transplants from its Northeast territory who are familiar with its brand.

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