Category Archives: marketing

Ford Motor US Sales Up in November

As usual Ford Motor should consider changing its name to Ford Truck. Ford brand SUVs achieved record November retail sales on the success of new products. Sales increased 25.6% y-o-y to a  total of 66,390 vehicles. The Bronco family had its highest combined sales since launch – totaling 19,773 SUVs, which to put it in perspective is less than the output of one assembly plant on an annual basis. Sales of Lincoln’s new Nautilus increased 24.9% y-o-y. Year-to-date, sales of the new Nautilus are up 14.6%. While inventory is scant, Lincoln took in a record number of new retail vehicle orders last month, totaling 2,600. Mustang Mach-E sales increased 8.4% from October on sales of 3,088 SUVs, though as a latecomer it still trails Tesla’s Model Y by a wide margin. Continue reading

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Renault and TheArsenale Unveil AIR4. What?

The original Renault 4 was a simple, efficient and versatile vehicle built between 1961 and 1992. A “blue jeans” car, as the former head of Renault Group, Pierre Dreyfus, used to describe it. It transported families, businesses and the likes of the gendarmerie and La Poste, as well as helping several generations of young motorists just getting behind the wheel. Now there’s a 4L designed to drive along above our heads. AIR4 claims the air as the new road of the future, according to Renault. Continue reading

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Honda, Lexus at Top of ALG Residual Value Awards

Numerous variables, of course, affect the actual residual value of a vehicle over a multi-year lease term, including the former Trump administrations’ inexplicable failure to address the corona virus pandemic, which resulted unnecessary deaths and as well as factory shut downs. Other instances include mileage, quality/reliability, options and feature sets, weather and the macro-economic environment. Continue reading

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Toyota Subaru JV Spawns Global Debut of Solterra EV

“The e-Subaru Global Platform enables a driving experience with superior driving dynamics, which brings high stability and handling linearly responds to driver’s steering operation,” claimed Subaru. Notably, but not uniquely, high-capacity battery packs are placed under the floor and by using the battery as a part of the structure, a low center of gravity and high body strength and rigidity are achieved. Continue reading

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Corvette Racing Goes Global – IMSA, FIA WEC in 2022

Corvette’s production-based race team is preparing for full-season championship challenges in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Corvette Racing will field one Chevrolet Corvette C8.R in each series,. A two-car effort is planned for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. All six Corvette factory drivers from 2021 will return for the new season. Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg will run in IMSA. Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims race in WEC. Continue reading

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GM Revamps Information Technology for Growth

GM said it’s to allow software-enabled services revenue to increase to $20-25 billion annually by 2030. Continue reading

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First Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar Completed

Before each Valkyrie is delivered, it is track-tested at the Aston Martin high performance facility at Silverstone where much of the development of the hypercar has taken place. The hybrid V12 powertrain provides a maximum power of 1,155PS, it’s claimed. the electric boost from the hybrid is 160 horsepower and 207 lb. ft. of torque. Continue reading

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Illustrious Road Trip – Maserati, Pacific Coast Highway and Four Seasons Hotels?

Four Seasons Hotels and Maserati have produced a trip package that reflects the shifting winds in the luxury goods market. It starts at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel where the first 24-hour complimentary use of the Maserati Levante SUV begins. The Maserati Levante SUV, of course, is all-wheel drive and powered by a twin-turbo V6 or V8 engine. Continue reading

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Floorplan – Stellantis Buys First Investors Financial Services

This is either an opportunity or survival necessity, depending on your viewpoint. It will allow Stellantis to provide customers and dealers a range of financing options, including retail loans, leases, and floorplan financing in the near term. A so-called “captive U.S. finance company”  will provide revenue, marketing incentives and mobility services in the digital age for customers who purchase Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles. Continue reading

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GM to Expand EV Charging – 40,000 Stations, New Smart Chargers

Through the GM Dealer Community Charging Program, its dealers to set up Level 2 charging stations (EVSE) at key locations in the dealer’s respective communities, including workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, sports and entertainment venues, college, and universities. These charging stations will be available to all EV customers, not just those who purchase a GM EV. Today, nearly 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a GM dealership. The first Ultium Chargers will ship early next year with customers able to roll the price into their GM Financial lease or financial contracts.
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GMC Shows Sierra Denali Ultimate and AT4X – $$$$$

Just bring money. Base pricing for each trim will be available at reservation. MSRP15, including destination charge, for Denali Ultimate is $80,395, AT4X is $74,995, Denali is $61,295, AT4 is $60,995, SLT is $50,895, Elevation is $45,495, SLE $43,895 and Sierra Pro is $32,495. Full pricing will be announced closer to the start of production. Continue reading

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Honda Aircraft Shows First Light Jet Able to Cross US Nonstop

The HondaJet 2600 also has the tallest cabin height. It has class-leading pressurization with a cabin altitude of 6,363 feet at its max operating altitude. HondaJet 2600 will offer 3 types of modular and customizable cabin configurations. Continue reading

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Endurance Racing – Alpine Signatech in LMDh from 2024

Alpine says it wants to add new entries to its list of achievements. From 2024 onwards, Alpine will enter the LMDh, one of the two regulations of the Hypercar category. Alpine will field two cars designed around an Oreca chassis and, bien sûr, an Alpine engine developed at Viry-Châtillon. The power unit will derive with all the expertise acquired in Formula 1 by Renault. Continue reading

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Dealer Demise? The Hyundai Amazon Digital Retail Experience

How long the dealers remain part of the process is an interesting question. Continue reading

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GM’s Dual Platform Strategy – Doubling Revenues by 2030?

However, the success of the prediction will depend on GM smoothly transitioning from internal combustion engines, traditional blacksmithing manufacturing, while keeping dealers and training them for what is the most significant transformation the auto industry has ever seen. This is how science fiction becomes science fact with GM selling more than one million EVs by 2025; 30 million connected vehicles in North America on the road by 2030. Along the way the United States and ultimately the world will turn into an environmental culture that uses technology to make things cleaner and safer. Continue reading

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