Category Archives: marketing

EU Car Market Drops in December after 16 Months of Growth

Posted on 18 January 2024 by Ken Zino

During 2023, the EU car market concluded with a 13.9% expansion compared to 2022, reaching a full-year volume of 10.5 million units. All EU markets grew in the past year except for Hungary (-3.4%). Double-digit gains were recorded in most markets, including three of the largest: Italy (+18.9%), Spain (+16.7%), and France (+16.1%). Conversely, Germany recorded a more modest 7.3% year-on-year increase, influenced by its weaker December performance. Continue reading →

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American Honda 2024 Sales Forecast – Acura and Honda Up

Posted on 18 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“In 2023, we were finally able to meet the pent-up demand for our products with both brands rebounding and American Honda finishing the year up over 30%. We projected a strong recovery, and we achieved that,” said Mamadou Diallo, Senior Vice President of Sales. “This year we will continue to capitalize on hybrid models and light trucks as we begin sales of our first high volume BEV models. Along with a continued investment in our ICE products, we are anticipating increased annual sales for both Honda and Acura in 2024.” Continue reading →

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Milestones – Volkswagen 75th Anniversary in the United States

Posted on 17 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“Over the past 75 years, Volkswagen has grown from a tale of two Beetles into a part of America’s cultural fabric,” said Rachael Zaluzec, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience & Brand Marketing, Volkswagen of America. “We carry people in our name and our heart. As we look forward to the next 75, we will celebrate the real people and real-life moments that have made Volkswagen brand the people’s love story it is today.” Continue reading →

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Lexus Defection – Vinay Shahani Goes to Nissan North America

Posted on 17 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“As we accelerate the transformation we started with Nissan NEXT, Vinay brings a unique blend of Nissan background and experience with successful global automotive brands,” said Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “Vinay is an ideal choice to lead our brands into the future, driving performance and innovation while maintaining our people-centric culture.” Continue reading →

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Honda Tops US 2023 HEV Sales with Accord and CR-V

Posted on 17 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“The success of our hybrid-electric sales in 2023 is an important building block toward our vision of 100% electrified vehicle sales by 2040,” said Lance Woelfer, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “With the all-electric Honda Prologue and a new Civic hybrid coming this year, Honda will continue to increase our electrified sales in 2024 and beyond.” Continue reading →

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Fleet or Fire Sale? SIXT to Buy 250,000 Stellantis Vehicles

Posted on 16 January 2024 by Ken Zino

SIXT rental customers will have choices of vehicles of Stellantis including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall and Maserati. The deliveries to SIXT will include a variety of classes from city cars to SUVs to vans and trucks, including 7- and 9-seaters, as well as a full range of propulsion types, including battery electric vehicles, with the latest software and infotainment tech features. Continue reading →

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Stellantis, BlackBerry QNX and AWS Launch Virtual Cockpit

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“Software is becoming increasingly crucial in vehicles, leading us to innovate in how we develop and validate it,” said Yves Bonnefont, chief software officer at Stellantis. “With our virtual cockpit, we’re revolutionizing not just our approach, but also that of our suppliers and partners in the industry. Essentially, we’re able to get closer to our customer’s needs through this technology with faster development cycles, faster feedback loops, and quicker delivery of the technology they use and love. It’s a leap toward customer-first innovation and efficiency in the automotive world.” Continue reading →

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Premium Dolby Atmos Storytelling Coming From Mercedes

Posted on 10 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“This collaboration with Audible and Amazon Music is another important facet of digital experience in a Mercedes-Benz. Immersive audio storytelling enables our customers to benefit fully from the advanced sound technology in our vehicles. For us, unparalleled in-car entertainment is a further dimension of the hyper-personalized user experience,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer. Continue reading →

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Manheim – Used-Vehicle Values Fall -21% from All-Time High

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“We ended 2023 with about half of the used-vehicle value decline we saw in 2022, but still more than we’d see in a typical year,” said Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. “For 2024, the key word for the wholesale market is ‘normalcy.’ Manheim expects constrained growth with a volume increase of less than 1%. As for price patterns, we anticipate a normalization trend, and we expect that 2024 will be the first year in five where we will experience fairly normal depreciation in the wholesale market.” Continue reading →

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Kia Shows Modular EV and Autonomous Driving Concepts

Posted on 9 January 2024 by Ken Zino

Kia has revealed its so-called Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) future strategy at a trade show in Las Vegas. Kia’s PBV business will start around the introduction of an all-new, modular vehicle, previewed by the Kia Concept PV5. This was presented … Continue reading →

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Bidenomics – Sales Soaring as US Auto Market Ends 2023

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“December has traditionally been a good time of year to buy a vehicle as automakers seek to hit year-end targets, but that had been less true in recent years amid tight inventory levels. However, with stocks now significantly replenished across the industry, discounting was back on the agenda last month. Consumers who have been sitting on the sidelines appear to have been willing to jump back into the new vehicle market again, although it also seems that fleet deliveries accounted for some of the December surge,” said David Oakley, Manager, Americas Sales Forecasts, GlobalData. Continue reading →

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Hyundai, Kia, Samsung Electronics to Link Cars and Homes

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“This is an opportunity to make the connected car’s Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services more convenient in various fields,” said Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center. “We plan to accelerate our technology development.” Continue reading →

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Ford Motor US Sales Up 7% in 2023

Posted on 4 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“In a year of challenges, from a labor strike to supply issues, our amazing lineup of gas, electric and hybrid vehicles and our fantastic dealers delivered solid growth and momentum. We have the products that customers want,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. Continue reading →

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American Honda 2023 Sales Up More than 30%

Posted on 3 January 2024 by Ken Zino

“We began 2023 optimistic for increased sales volumes, with our commitment to fun-to-drive cars, a refreshed light truck line-up and increasing hybrid-electric volumes. To have achieved a 33% increase over last year’s sales is an incredible testament to the strength of our products, dealer network and brands,” said Mamadou Diallo, senior vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co. Continue reading →

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GM Delivers 2.6 Million Vehicles in US During 2023

Posted on 3 January 2024 by Ken Zino

General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that it along with GM dealers delivered 2.6 million vehicles in the US during calendar year 2023. This was an increase of 14% year-over-year reflecting the ongoing Biden Administration economic recovery, in AutoInformed’s view. Continue reading →

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