Category Archives: marketing

General Motors to Export Cadillac ATS to China

Posted on 25 September 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors will export the compact Cadillac ATS compact luxury sports sedan to China during the fourth quarter of 2013 from a plant in Lansing Michigan. Continue reading →

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2014 Toyota Corolla Ups Ante in Compact Car Game

Posted on 11 September 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor coming off two straight months knocking Ford Motor out of its traditional Number Two sales position in the U.S. market is introducing an all-new Corolla model. Not only will this present formidable competition for the Ford Focus, but it will also challenge Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Mazda3 as well as the rest of compact cars in this high volume segment. Continue reading →

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Gen Y Internet Auto Shoppers Open to Any Brand

Posted on 9 September 2013 by Ken Zino

New-vehicle buyers who use the Internet for auto shopping are open to any brand when they initially, and more than one-half of so-called Gen Y buyers are open to consider any brand that meets their needs, according to a new study. Among all auto shoppers, 79% use the Internet to research their new vehicle purchase. Continue reading →

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Millennial Car Buyers Dream Big, Purchase Smaller

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Herein lies the problem with much consumer research, including automotive. What people say in a clinic is belied by their actual behavior. This has opened a completely new academic industry – behavioral economics – that shows people make emotional and non-rational decisions often with information “framed” by stereotypes and anecdotes, not anything approaching real data. This behavior – on view all the time on Fox “News” – results in marketplace inefficiencies that makes a mockery of traditional economics or in the case of Fox, rational discussions of public policy. Continue reading →

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Ford Lowers C-Max Hybrid Mileage Claims

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company said today that it is lowering the C-Max hybrid fuel-economy label after being challenged by customers, the EPA and numerous independent automotive testing sites, including AutoInformed. The revised 2013 C-Max label has a combined fuel economy value of 43 mpg, slightly better – in theory – to the combined label of 42 mpg for the Toyota Prius v. Ford’s previous ratings were 47 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg claim for the new 2013 Fusion and C-Max hybrids. Continue reading →

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Scion Touchscreen Now Standard Equipment for 2014 Models in Latest Distracted Driving Enabling Scheme

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

The Scion brand is aimed at younger buyers who are the most likely to be involved in Distracted Driving accidents. New Scions will now come standard with the 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen. Included in the Scion touchscreen audio package is AM/FM/CD/HD Radio, hands-free phone capability, music streaming via Bluetooth wireless and AUX/USB port with iPodconnectivity. Continue reading →

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Honda Project Drive-In Aims at Keeping American Icons Open

Posted on 12 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Honda said that giving people easy ways to get involved would ensure that this drive-ins, a historic part of American cinema and car culture, live on. At www.projectdrivein.com people can vote to determine which five drive-in theaters will receive a new digital projector from Honda. Continue reading →

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Keselowski Watkins Glen Win Prompts Hertz $22 Rental Deal

Posted on 11 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Hertz is offering race fans a $22 discount to celebrate this weekend’s Nascar win at Watkins Glen by defending Sprint Cup Champion Brad Keselowski. This was Keselowski’s first win in the Hertz Ford Mustang and his 18th Nationwide Series win driving the No. 22 for Penske Racing. Continue reading →

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Audi Sport Racing Teams Key to Selling Street Machines

Posted on 8 August 2013 by Ken Zino

During a speech at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars, Audi of America President Scott Keogh claimed the culture infusing the Audi Sport racing teams is what’s needed mindset to establish luxury market edge. Whether true or not, there has been a 92% improvement in Audi U.S. sales since 2004. Continue reading →

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GM Cuts 2014 Chevrolet Volt Price to $34,995

Posted on 6 August 2013 by Ken Zino

GM has cut the price of the 2014 Chevrolet Volt to $34,995, including an $810 destination fee, representing a $5,000 price decrease for the carry over vehicle. If a buyer includes federal tax credits ranging from $0-$7,500, depending on tax liability, pricing could start at $27,495. Continue reading →

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Milestones – First Car Advertising from Winton Motor

Posted on 27 July 2013 by Ken Zino

The first known car advertisement in the United States appeared at the end of July 1898 in Scientific American Magazine. Winton Motor Carriage was urging potential buyers to “Dispense with a Horse,” an early indicator of a trend that soon engulfed the nation. By 1906 57 car companies spent more than half a million dollars in what were considered 12 national magazines. Continue reading →

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GM OnStar Telematics Now in Mexico

Posted on 26 June 2013 by Ken Zino

OnStar Mexico, announced today that its telemetric services are now active on the new Chevrolet Cheyenne (aka Silverado) and GMC Sierra pickups, and will be available on the Cadillac ATS later this year. More vehicles across GM’s four vehicle brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – will be equipped with OnStar throughout 2014. Continue reading →

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Guangqi Honda Selling Unique Crider in China. Exports Certain

Posted on 26 June 2013 by Ken Zino

Proving that automotive marketing babble is universal regardless of language, Honda said (in translation) that the Crider’s “dynamic exterior design inspired by an image of a dragon.” Such nonsense aside, Crider is certainly headed for export markets, making it a milestone car in the Chinese automobile industry, not unlike Honda’s decision as the first Japanese automaker to build cars in the U.S., although the Accord was a Japanese design. Continue reading →

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New GM Pickup EcoTech3 V6 Rated at 24 and 22 MPG

Posted on 19 June 2013 by Ken Zino

The new 4.3-liter V6 engine used in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks is rated at 22 mpg EPA highway for 4×4 versions and 24 mpg for 2wd. This means they are competitive with – or better than V6 engines – used in the Ram, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra pickup trucks. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 90 Years of the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Verde

Posted on 17 June 2013 by Ken Zino

In the Anglo Saxon world, a green four-leaf clover should call up images of Irish luck, but by a fourfold twist of European fate, this legendary symbol is identified with some of Alfa Romeo’s sportiest Italian models going back to 1923. Continue reading →

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