Monthly Archives: April 2013

EPA Voids Import Certificates for More Chinese Recreational Vehicles

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China. The agency said that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. Continue reading →

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Offshore Brands Increase U.S. Sales and Share During March

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

U.S. vehicle sales of 1.45 million cars and light trucks during March made it the strongest month since 2007 as the Federal Reserve continued to print money and credit flowed freely. In spite of an ongoing recovery in pickup truck sales from the Detroit Three with gasoline prices roughly 30 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, offshore brands, led by the Asians increased their market share to 55.3% compared with 53.4% in February and 54.4% in January. This represented sales 803,554 vehicles from offshore nameplates, up from 636,912 in February and 567,313 units in January. Continue reading →

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Subaru Recalls More Than 200,000 Outback and Legacy Models for Corroded Brake Lines in 20 Salt States

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Subaru is recalling more than 200,000 Legacy sedan and Outback wagon models because the brake lines can corrode and leak fluid. In a required NHTSA filing just made public, Subaru said that the brake lines were corroding after several winter seasons. Continue reading →

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General Motors U.S. Sales Up 6% in March, Outpacing Market

Posted on 2 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors sold 245,950 vehicles in the United States in March, up 6% compared with a year ago. Retail sales increased 4%, fleet sales were up 12%, with the fleet mix at 27% of total sales. As a result, GM retained its position as the sales leader in the U.S. ahead of Ford Motor and Toyota Motor, respectively.Sales of GM crossovers were up 31%; trucks, which include pickups, vans and SUVs, were up 2%; and car sales were down 3% as high volume large pickup sales were up 6%. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Company U.S. Sales Up 6% in March

Posted on 2 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company March U.S. sales increased by 6% at 236,160 vehicles sold compared to last March in a market projected to grow by 8% overall. It was Ford Motor Company’s best U.S. sales results since May 2007. Cars were even with a year ago, utilities up 14% and trucks up 6%. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group March Sales Up 5% as Easy Comparisons Cease

Posted on 2 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group today reported U.S. sales of 171,606 units, a 5% increase compared with sales in March 2012 at 163,381 units. While it was the best sales month since 2007, the slower growth rate also means that the easy double-digit increases of the past couple of years heralded in press releases are over. Chrysler Group has now recovered from bankruptcy and the sharply lower sales rates of the Great Recession. The question now is can the company grow at rates greater than the market going forward? Continue reading →

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Horses for Courses – GM’s Small Block V8 Versus Ford and Ram

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

This debatable engineering philosophy gained some credibility today when GM revealed that the 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups with the 5.3-liter V8 engine – the most popular engine – will be rated at an EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6, an expensive approach that uses two turbochargers and intercooling, among other tweaks. Ram is using a 5.7-liter double overhead camshaft multivalve V8 linked in its best version to an 8-speed automatic, and is rated at 20 mpg. Continue reading →

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Pickups Top F-Series and Ram in Fuel Economy with EPA 23 MPG Highway for V8

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

In a one-two punch, Chevrolet and GMC announced the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup for the 2014 Silverado and Sierra models at EPA estimated 23 mpg highway. The trucks also have better fuel economy and higher load capacity at a maximum of 11,500 pounds than the 2013 model Ford EcoBoost V6. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Explorer, Taurus, Lincoln MKS for Leaking Fuel Tanks

Posted on 1 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford is recalling 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2013 Explorer vehicles because the fuel tanks may have a “marginally sealed seam” in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength during a crash. The tanks may also leak. The problem was originally discovered in Saudi Arabia. Continue reading →

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