Looks like XM reserved some key OEM announcements for SEMA 2007 this year. First we had the Hyundai announcement this morning, and now the word is out that Toyota's first factory-equipped XM vehicles are set to available this upcoming spring.

The all-new 2009 Toyota Corolla and Matrix (pictured) will be the first Toyota cars to offer XM as factory-installed equipment. The popular models will also offer XM NavTraffic as an option when equipped with a navigation system... another first from Toyota. XM and XM NavTraffic are already available as factory installed features on the Lexus LS 460 and 600h models, and will be available factory installed on the upcoming 2008 LX 570.

XM will be a standard feature on all 2009 Corolla and Matrix vehicles that come with the JBL premium audio system. These will of course include the standard 3-month free trial subscription.

Toyota announced earlier this year that they've extended their partnership with XM through 2017. They've also stated that the annual factory production of XM-equipped vehicles is expected to exceed one million by 2010.

[Photo courtesy of Jalopnik]

Hyundai has expanded its rollout of XM as a factory-installed, standard feature across several new vehicles in its lineup.

For the 2008 model year, Hyundai will add the Tiburon, Accent and Tucson as new vehicles with XM Satellite Radio as a standard feature. On top of that, XM will also be standard on the new 2009 Elantra Touring - the concept vehicle (pictured above) was revealed today at the 2007 SEMA Show.

Hyundai's rollout of XM as a standard feature the U.S. started with the 2007 model year. Since then XM is a standard feature on the Azera, Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata and Veracruz.

All Hyundais with XM installed include a 3-month free subscription.

The new Elantra Touring is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in 2008 and is taking advantage of the strong resurgence in small hatchbacks. The photo above shows the unveiling of the Elantra Touring "Beach Cruiser" Concept, a pimped-out, customized version by K-Daddyz Kustomz of Bakersfield, CA.

Ford Motor Co. has started installing its Ford SYNC in-car entertainment system into vehicles late last month and, by a recent count, there are now over 10,000 SYNC-equipped vehicles in Ford's dealer system and more than 1,000 in customer hands.

In an informal canvassing of early buyers, Ford has said they are "hearing good news," with the system meeting high expectations.

Ford has also kicked off a significant marketing push, rolling out SYNC advertising in an online, print and television effort. See below for a video of one of their latest ads:

When I asked about the company's estimated penetration rate, a Ford representative said that they expect to build half of all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles with SYNC.

"This will be a significant feature for us," he added.

General Motors has expanded its penetration of XM Satellite Radio as a standard factory-installed feature, across its 2008 model year vehicles.

Now all Buicks, Hummers and Saabs will have XM as a standard feature for the 2008 model year.

In addition, XM is also now widely standard on the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado, Tahoe, Cobalt, Corvette and Impala; Saturn Vue, Outlook, Aura and Sky; GMC Acadia, Yukon, and Sierra; and Pontiac G5 and Solstice models among others.

To date, GM has produced over 6 million vehicles with XM, and XM is available today on more than 50 model year 2008 GM vehicles.

Every new General Motors vehicle with factory-installed XM comes with a free 3-month trial subscription.

The UAW reached a tentative four-year agreement with Chrysler yesterday after only a six-hour walkout. Word of the deal came just after the UAW announced that GM workers had ratified their four-year agreement with the company.

Now it's Ford's turn.

Ford Motor Co. could be the toughest bargainer yet because of its weakened financial position, thanks to a whopping $12.6 billion loss last year. It's expected that Ford probably will look for a different deal than Chrysler and GM, perhaps with deeper concessions.

Ford generally is seen as the weakest of the Big Three automakers. It has mortgaged its factories to secure a $23.4 billion line of credit to cover losses and fund its restructuring plan, which calls for closing 16 facilities by 2012. Ford has identified 10 of the closures but has yet to announce the remaining 6 factories to close.

[AP]

Thousands of Chrysler autoworkers walked off the job today after talks with the United Auto Workers (UAW) failed to reach an agreement. This is the first UAW strike against Chrysler since 1997.

The UAW is not striking at all plants though. Apparently the union kept five plants outside the strike action because Chrysler already had idled them because of sagging sales of some models, according to an AP source.

Reuters is reporting that the 5 plants were avoided because it is a tactical move, meant to protect income for workers at those plants and make the action more costly for the automaker.

Recall that the UAW struck GM for two days before tentatively settling with the automaker. They must reach new four-year agreements with all three Detroit automakers, and has yet to come to an agreement with Ford.

A short strike likely will have little effect on Chrysler, which had a 71-day supply of cars and trucks on dealer lots at the end of August, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank. A walkout longer than a month would start to cut into sales, said Paul Taylor, chief economist with the National Automobile Dealers Association.

[AP, Reuters]