HYUNDAI-KIA: Sales rise in May on crossover gains
Hyundai’s U.S. sales rose 12 percent from May 2015 to a record 71,006 vehicles for the month. U.S. sales for Kia, Hyundai’s corporate affiliate, also rose, albeit a narrow 0.8 percent.
CANADA: GM drop-off helps drag down nationwide sales 1.6%
A steep decline in sales at GM dragged down Canadian light-vehicle sales by 1.6 percent last month to 194,866 vehicles, an industry report said today.
LUXURY: Mercedes SUVs help boost U.S. sales lead over Lexus, BMW
Mercedes-Benz outsold its luxury auto competitors in the U.S. in May, building its lead in a down month thanks to continued demand for its SUVs.
May sales drop 6.1% on weak car sales; SAAR stays strong
The U.S. auto industry recorded its biggest monthly sales drop in nearly six years in May as most automakers posted declines. May volume fell 6.1 percent to 1.5 million vehicles.
Ron Hall Sr., founder of Bridgewater Interiors, dies at 72
Ron Hall Sr., founder, chairman and former CEO of minority auto supplier Bridgewater Interiors LLC, died today from an undisclosed illness. He was 72.
GM: Volume off 18% on launch disruptions, fleet cuts
General Motors sales sank 18 percent in May amid the disruption of several key vehicle launches from earthquake-related supply problems, as well as its biggest drop in rental deliveries this year.
FCA: Record Jeep volume, minivans keep streak alive
Record Jeep volume and resurgent minivans helped Fiat Chrysler squeak out a 1.1 percent U.S. sales gain in May, despite two fewer selling days from the same month a year ago.
Fiat Chrysler Canada sales edge up to record in May
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles today reported a 0.3 percent rise in May auto sales in Canada, led by Jeeps and minivans, as analysts forecast another record year for the Canadian industry.
Toyota sags on 16% decline for cars
Toyota Motor Sales posted a 9.6 percent drop in U.S. sales for May, thanks to broad declines for both the Toyota and Lexus brands’ car lines.
VW brand U.S. volume tumbles 17% for worst May since 2010
Continued weakness in car deliveries led Volkswagen of America to its worst May U.S. sales total since 2011, while luxury sibling Audi narrowly notched its 65th straight year-over-year monthly sales record last month.
GM, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Nissan fall
GM, Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Honda posted declines in May sales while Fiat Chrysler, behind record Jeep demand, eked out another gain as the U.S. industry appeared headed to its eighth monthly drop since 2009.
Musk says it’s ‘obvious’ Model 3 owners will pay to use Superchargers
Tesla will likely charge owners of its forthcoming Model 3 sedan to use the company’s network of Supercharger stations, which is free to owners of current models, CEO Elon Musk said.
Nissan recalls 79,853 Pathfinders to fix brake light switch
Nissan is recalling 79,853 Pathfinder crossovers from the 2013 and 2014 model years because the brake lights can remain on even when the brake pedal is not being applied.
Hyundai to launch 200-mile EV in 2018
Hyundai Motor said it plans to launch an electric vehicle with a driving range of about 200 miles per charge in 2018, aiming to better compete with other electric car makers such as Tesla Motors Inc.
Four automakers selling some vehicles with defective Takata airbags, Senate report says
Four automakers confirmed they are selling some new vehicles with defective Takata airbags that will eventually have to be recalled, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats said in a report today.
GMC teams up with veterans
GMC and a crew of disabled veterans are taking to the skies for a 360-degree adventure in this week’s No. 1 campaign.
Ford recalls 1.9 million vehicles for Takata passenger-side airbags
Ford said it is recalling 1.9 million vehicles from the 2005 through 2011 model years for defective passenger-side airbag inflators made by Takata Corp.
FCA, behind Jeep, keeps sales streak alive; GM and Ford fall
Ford and GM posted declines in May sales while Fiat Chrysler, behind record Jeep demand, eked out another gain as the U.S. industry appeared headed to its seventh monthly drop since 2009.
Musk says it’s ‘obvious’ Model 3 owners will pay to use Superchargers
Tesla will likely charge owners of its forthcoming Model 3 sedan to use the company’s network of Supercharger stations, which is free to owners of current models, CEO Elon Musk said.
Toyota restarting production lines after supplier plant blast
Toyota said it would resume operations on Thursday at production lines in Japan that were suspended earlier this week after an explosion at a plant operated by a supplier choked off the automaker’s supply chain.
Toyota recalls 490,000 vehicles in Japan, other regions over airbags
Toyota is recalling a total of about 490,000 vehicles in Japan, China, Europe and other regions over potentially faulty airbag inflators produced by Takata Corp, further widening a massive global recall.
Chevy store fined $40,000 for selling recalled new vehicles without repairs
Federal regulators fined a suburban Phoenix Chevrolet dealership $40,000 for selling recalled new vehicles without the proper repairs. Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Ariz.
App helps dealers make fast bids for consumers’ vehicles
Cars.com and Pearl Technology have partnered to help dealers buy consumer-owned used vehicles. But dealers have to be quick to win the deal.
CarGurus validates used-car prices on dealership sites
CarGurus has become the latest third-party shopping site to allow dealers to place its rating of used-vehicle prices – such as ‘good deal’ or ‘great deal’ – directly on a dealership website’s inventory pages.
You thought cars were big polluters?
Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal may be bad, but the pollution from diesel automobiles is a breath of fresh mountain air compared with what spews out of the smokestacks of some huge cruise ships.
Inside Toyota’s new digs
Check out photos of Toyota’s new North American HQ and temporary offices.
Kia hamsters return in Soul ad showing in movie theaters
Kia Motors’ hamsters made their return to the advertising scene this past weekend in over 34,000 U.S. movie theaters.
Auto executives cooling toward acquisitions, study says
Automotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions than they were a year ago and are favoring deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young.
GM names Nissan’s Rainey to lead dealer diversity efforts
Mark Rainey, a 20-year veteran of Nissan, today was tasked with expanding the number of General Motors dealerships owned by minorities and females.
Toyota idles output on some lines in Japan after blast at supplier plant
Toyota said today it suspended output at some Japan plants and stoppages would be expanded on Wednesday after the automaker was unable to secure parts following an explosion at a plant of one of its suppliers.
Ford to buy nearly 2 city blocks near headquarters
Ford is purchasing nearly two blocks of prime property near its world headquarters, including a historic former hotel and a pair of well-known restaurant sites.
Jaguar sees salvation in F-Pace
The template for how Jaguar created the F-Pace, a midsize, five-passenger, high-performance utility, comes straight out of Porsche’s playbook. Think of the F-Pace as Jaguar’s take on the Porsche Cayenne and Macan.
Toyota stops production on some lines in Japan after blast at supplier plant
Toyota said today it suspended output at some Japan plants and stoppages would be expanded on Wednesday after the automaker was unable to secure parts following an explosion at a plant of one of its suppliers.
All the single ladies get credit for booming SUV demand
Increasing income and education as well as a general delay in marriage and child-bearing combine to create a growing number of single women buying cars.
Toyota brake supplier Advics reports Japan plant explosion
Advics, a supplier of braking components to Toyota, reported an explosion at one of its factories in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture.
Blast hits Japan plant operated by Toyota brake supplier
Advics, a supplier of braking components to Toyota, reported an explosion at one of its factories in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture.
Signs of a buy-sell slowdown
Dealership buy-sell activity could plateau this year after several years of big growth. And buyers’ lust for luxury brands is cooling somewhat, experts say.
FCA’s ‘sales carnivore’ adds more to his plate
Reid Bigland’s added assignment running FCA’s struggling Italian luxury brands, Maserati and Alfa Romeo, is about more than bolstering brands and boosting sales.
Are Japan’s automakers too U.S.-dependent?
Japan’s automakers are beginning to position themselves for a slowdown in their cash-cow market – the United States.
Nissan sees ads transcending borders
Nissan will launch a new U.S. advertising campaign this week, but other significant marketing changes are coming.
Toyota, Nissan seek battery breakthroughs
Toyota and Nissan are working on advanced battery technologies they hope will give new-generation electrified vehicles greater driving range.
Q auto’s smaller stores yield bigger results
Asbury will add two smaller stand-alone used-vehicle stores in the Tampa area this summer, bringing its total there to four, after having closed its only large-format store in Jacksonville, Fla., in February.
Rembrandts help refine the art of the sale
Robert Hoehn is a 21st century American car dealer who became obsessed with collecting prints made by a 17th century Dutch master who conjured dark, magical images using copper plates, acid, an etching tool and a press.
Here come the hydrogen stations
Hydrogen fuel cell cars are beginning to trickle onto California’s roads. And thanks to a push from regulators, automakers and startup FirstElement, more filling stations are arriving, too.
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