Monthly Archives: April 2011

Volkswagen Recalls 71,000 Jetta Sedans for Sudden Stalling

All Jetta models made in Mexico from March of 2010 unit March 21011 – an entire year of production – have a fuse box design that runs the engine management system, horn, wiper blades and theft alarm through one fuse. If the fuse blows for any reason, the engine quits without warning. Continue reading

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Toyota Wins New York Unintended Acceleration Case

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has won an unintended acceleration case where it was alleged that an unsecured driver’s side floor mat was the primary cause of the crash of Scion tC vehicle in August 2005. After deliberating for approximately 45 … Continue reading

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Chrysler Group March U.S. Sales Up 31%, Q1 plus 23%

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 121,730, a 31% increase compared with sales in March 2010 – Chrysler’s best March since 2008, and the highest sales for any month since May 2008.

Both Chrysler Group car and truck sales posted year-over-year sales gains, led by car sales which increased 46%, the best month for car sales since May 2008 before the financial markets collapsed that fall and Chrysler faced bankruptcy. Overall U.S. auto industry sales were up 17% for the month; 20% for the quarter.
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Three Problem Areas for Toyota in U.S. from Japan Earthquake

During a press call to discuss March sales results today, Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TMS) said “The events in Japan had little if any impact on March sales.”

However, that doesn’t mean that Toyota no longer faces production and resulting sales problems because of the plant shutdowns caused by the Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant meltdowns. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company Outsells General Motors in March as U.S. Sales Increase 19%! Ford Q1 Sales also Strong at Plus 6%.

Ford is clearly benefitting from relatively fresh products, a shift away from trucks to cars and improved fuel efficiency in most vehicle lines as gasoline prices continue to rise above $3.50 a gallon. Continue reading

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Toyota U.S. Sales Down 5.7% in March. Q1 Plus 12.5%. Nissan, Honda Post Double Digit Gains as Toyota’s Troubles Go On

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A. today reported March sales results of 176,222 units, down 5.7% from a year ago on a volume basis. The Toyota Division posted March sales of 155,540 units, a decrease of 6.7% from the year-ago month. The Lexus Division reported total sales of 20,682 units, up 2.3% March. Overall, based on preliminary numbers, it looks like the industry is up roughly 12%. Continue reading

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General Motors U.S. Sales Up 11% in March, Q1 Up 26%

Dealers for General Motors Company reported 206,621 total sales during March in the U.S., an increase of 11%, and a 17% increase in GM retail sales. Discounted fleet sales were 27% of the total.

For the first three months, total GM sales increased 26% to 592,545 units compared to a year earlier. As a result, each of GM’s remaining brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – gained retail and total market share during the quarter, a welcome reversal of a declining trend that was underway for five decades and ultimately led it GM’s bankruptcy in 2009. Continue reading

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Toyota Raises U.S. Prices as Yen Strengthens from Earthquake

The huge amounts of money going back to Japan has caused the Japanese Yen to strengthen as it now is trading well below ¥90:$1. Current Japanese automaker business plans were set and 96 Yen to the U.S. Dollar, and at that rate executives said profitability was a struggle. Continue reading

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