Category Archives: aftermarket

New 2014 GM Models Get Two Years Free Maintenance

Posted on 7 June 2013 by Ken Zino

Customers who purchase or lease a new 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC car, truck or crossover in the U.S. will be covered by a new maintenance program that includes scheduled services for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Supply of Used Vehicles Up, Values Down Slightly

Posted on 13 May 2013 by Ken Zino

The latest used vehicles report for May and June shows U.S. used car supply rising, thereby decreasing trade-in values. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, prices | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cadillac Matches New Car Warranty on Used Cars

Posted on 6 May 2013 by Ken Zino

In a move that reflects a growing industry trend of expanding warranty and maintenance plans, Cadillac today matched its new vehicle warranty on certified used cars. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

North Carolina Man Charged in Odometer Fraud Scheme

Posted on 12 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The United States charged Francis Marimo, of Raleigh, NC with two counts of odometer tampering, according to the Department of Justice statement released today. The charges were filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on 10 April 2013, alleging that from 2008 through 2012, Marimo fraudulently caused odometers in used motor vehicles to be altered to reflect false, low mileages. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kia Dealers Offer Three Months of Sirius on Used Vehicles

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Sirius XM Radio and Kia dealers will give customers a three-month subscription when buying used vehicles equipped with satellite radio. Participating Kia dealers join more than 9,000 auto dealers across the country enrolled in the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle Program. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Customer Satisfaction Up at U.S. Dealer Service Departments

Posted on 13 March 2013 by Ken Zino

The CSI rankings are based on dealer service performance during the first three years of new-vehicle ownership, which typically represents the majority of the vehicle warranty period. After the warranty expires, dealerships traditionally have little chance of getting maintenance work as more than two thirds of customers then resort to independent repair shops and mass merchandiser tire, transmission, brake and muffler chains. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, customer satisfaction, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda and JMC Nickel-Metal Hydride Recycling Yields 99% Pure Rare Earth Metals in World’s First Mass Production Process

Posted on 3 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Honda Motor and the Japan Metals & Chemicals Company last spring began extracting an oxide containing rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries from Honda hybrid vehicles. The operation, the first in the world, is now extracting
rare earth metals with a mass-production process at a JMC recycling plant. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, electric vehicles, environment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Want a Stingray Now? Bring your Corvette to Lingenfelter

Posted on 2 February 2013 by Ken Zino

While the Corvette Stingray due to go in production this summer attracted considerable attention at the North American International Auto Show last month, performance modifier Lingenfelter was preparing a version of a 1967 Stingray of its own that was showed at the MGM Grand Casino before the Corvette reveal. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, performance | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM Offering Free Maintenance to Fleet Buyers

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors Fleet and Commercial Sales is now offering what could be an industry first free maintenance program with the purchase of new or leased Chevrolet or GMC vehicles by business customers. The so-called GM Business Choice program includes a two-year, 30,000-mile Business Maintenance Plan, in addition to a cash allowance for vehicle accessories. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2012 Used Vehicle Sales at 40.5 Million Highest Since 2007

Posted on 3 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Used car sales during 2012 in the United States topped more than 40.5 million cars and light trucks, according the consultancy CNW. This is the best year since 2007, and represents an increase of 4.5% when compared to 2011’s 38.8 million. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1940 Ford Coupe Steel Bodies on Sale Again. Hot Rodders Rejoice!

Posted on 4 November 2012 by Ken Zino

This sure beats cutting out rust, filling by welding and smoothing with Bondo: Ford Motor has licensed reproduction steel bodies of one of the all time favorite street and strip machines – the 1940 Ford Coupe. A nascent restoration or what could become a flame-painted hot rod is available now with prices starting at $11,900, plus shipping, from Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, people, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM and BMW Diagnostic Tool Counterfeiter Arrested in Virginia

Posted on 26 October 2012 by Ken Zino

The seller of Chinese-built counterfeit tools was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia for alleged participating in a conspiracy to sell U.S. consumers more than $3 million worth of counterfeit General Motors (GM) and Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) automotive diagnostic tools, electronic keys and fobs. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Taiwan Auto Lights Maker Guilty of Price Fixing

Posted on 17 October 2012 by Ken Zino

A Taiwan-based auto lights manufacturer and its aftermarket U.S. distributor have pleaded guilty for participating in a seven-year, international conspiracy to fix the prices of auto lights. Tainan County, Taiwan-based Eagle Eyes Traffic Industrial Company and its U.S. subsidiary, Chino, … Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, fools 'n frauds, litigation, news, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Prompts Toyota Power Window Switch Recall for Fires

Posted on 14 October 2012 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. will recall 2.5 million vehicles – 7.5 million units worldwide – because a defective power window switch can cause fires. The latest Toyota safety problem was discovered by NHTSA earlier this year after it opened an investigation about an unusual number of consumer complaints – 32 – alleging a burning electric window switch on the driver’s side door. Toyota and NHTSA have known of the problem for years. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Says Chinese Counterfeit Air Bags are a Safety Problem

Posted on 11 October 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – has published a consumer safety advisory to warn vehicle owners and repair shops about the dangers of counterfeit Chinese air bags. NHTSA said it has become “aware” of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. Continue reading →

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, fools 'n frauds, news, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment