Category Archives: marketing

First Drive – 2013 Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h Hybrid Sedans

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ken Zino

A day of test-driving both of the front-drive mid-size cars shows that once again, these are well-equipped, quiet luxury models. However, Lexus engineers have abandoned the plush ride that made its name, for a distinctly German chassis setup that verges on the harsh and intrusive. Lexus executives claim that this is what customers want, which could come as news to the one million ES owners. This theory will be tested after the cars are priced – and the strong Yen will be a factor here – and final EPA numbers are attached to their window stickers. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tesla Motors Delivers First Model S EVs at $100,000

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Tesla Motors delivered its first electric Model S sedan over the weekend at its factory in Fremont, California. The financially challenged company – it has never earned a profit – says it will build 5,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2012, followed by 20,000 cars in 2013. Tesla claims it has already received more than 10,000 reservations worldwide for Model S. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, financial results, fuel economy or emissions, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mini Clubvan Goes Commercial, So to Speak

Posted on 23 June 2012 by Ken Zino

In its latest marketing move for the successful Mini line, BMW is offering a commercial version of the sub-compact small car. With two seats and five doors the Mini Clubvan is said to be the world’s first premium priced delivery van. The concept comes from the original Morris Mini van introduced in 1960, albeit at a down market price point back then. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

June U.S. Auto Sales to Increase by 15% to 11.9 m SAAR

Posted on 22 June 2012 by Ken Zino

June new-vehicle retail sales in the U.S. are projected to come in at 994,800 units, which represent a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 11.9 million units. Volume is expected to increase 15%, compared with June 2011, after adjusting for one additional selling day this month. While still far below the level of sales pre-Great Recession, total light-vehicle sales are forecasted at 14.5 million units with retail sales at 11.6 million units. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New 2013 Ford Escape Enters Production in Louisville Plant

Posted on 13 June 2012 by Ken Zino

The upgraded plant is in theory capable of making up to six different vehicles at the same time, thus it is Ford’s most flexible U.S. plant. Louisville is also one of 11 Ford facilities in the U.S. that is participating in the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program – in Ford’s case almost $6 billion total – initiated by Congress under the Obama administration, which also put $80 billion into other auto bailouts, including the forced and politically contentious bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Opens Display at Autostadt Park in Wolfsburg

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Porsche AG inaugurated its new pavilion in Wolfsburg’s Autostadt theme park today. The auto manufacturer’s new exhibition building has a curved roof design said to be inspired by the silhouette of a Porsche 911. Inside, the center stage of the pavilion displays 25 vehicle models that take visitors on a journey through the development of the sports car brand. Continue reading →

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

OnStar Subscribers Reach 450,000 in China

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

OnStar Shanghai said today that it passed two major milestones in May with its subscriber base across China reaching 450,000, and requests for Turn-by-Turn Navigation totaling 13.8 million since the launch of the telematics service in October 2009. OnStar has 6 million subscribers worldwide.

Shanghai OnStar received certification from China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping in 2011, becoming the first telematics joint venture allowed offering mapping service in China. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, distracted driving, marketing, milestones | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Family Car Wars Revived as Nissan Ships New 2013 Altima

Posted on 8 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Nissan has started shipping the new 2013 Altima, its best selling mid-size car and longstanding contender in the family car wars. The all-new 2013 Altima, which has been produced at Nissan’s Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee since the first generation rolled off the line in 1992 is now also produced at Canton, Mississippi because of the high volumes involved. Altima will take on the reigning champion – Toyota Camry revised this year, and the upcoming new Honda Accord in a battle royal. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Penske Automotive Adds a Fisker Dealership in Arizona

Posted on 7 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Penske Automotive Group is opening the first Fisker dealership in Arizona – Fisker of Scottsdale. The addition of the new Arizona outlet bring to 80 the number of independent retail locations in the US, Canada and Europe selling Fisker EVs. The Karma model is sold through 48 outlets in North America, and will soon be distributed for the first time in China and the Middle East following new retail agreements. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, marketing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM May China Sales Set Record. Ford China Sales Also Up

Posted on 7 June 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors and its joint ventures sold a May record 231,183 vehicles in China. Demand was up for the market leader 21.3% from the same month in 2011 and 1.7% from April of this year. At Ford China, increased sales of passenger cars offset a slump in light commercial vehicles during May, which led to an 8% increase year-over-year at 48,608, vehicles. Volkswagen Group the number two seller in China by far has not reported May sales yet. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Five of the Top Ten Sellers Are Now Detroit Three Vehicles

Posted on 5 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Five of the Top Ten selling vehicles in the U.S. during May came from the Detroit Three as strong pickup truck sales continued and the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion had solid months. As it has for 30 years, the F-150 led the list, and strong sales of the Chevrolet Silverado allowed it to nudge Honda out of third place with the Toyota Camry still in second place as it was in April. The Dodge Ram also reappeared in the Top Ten for the first time since February. All of the other spots were taken by Honda and Toyota, each with three models in the Top Ten. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Japanese Big 3 – Toyota, Honda, Nissan – Sales Up in May

Posted on 1 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor came close to displacing Ford Motor from its assumed Number 2 spot in the U.S. by posting monthly sales of 202,973 – within a rounding error of Ford’s 215,699 and firmly putting Toyota in the Number 3 sales spot for the year-to-date. The other Japanese powerhouse members were also back in shape. American Honda posted sales of 134,000 (576,000 ytd) easily ahead of the Nissan at 92,000 (485,000 ytd). With a new Accord and Altima due this fall, the family car market is about to becomes more competitive than it has been in years, which is good for buyers but might leave weaker and older entries as road kill. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now it’s Football, Bangers, Mince Pie and Chevrolet

Posted on 31 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet is entering into a five-year deal with Barclays Premier League member Manchester United to become the club’s Official Automotive Partner. Chevrolet’s five-year agreement includes the creation of the Chevrolet China Cup in July, with matches against Shanghai Shenhua FC and team in “another” Chinese city, which will be announced later. This is Chevrolet’s first global football sponsorship in the brand’s 101-year history. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ford, State Farm Offer Auto Insurance Based on Miles Driven

Posted on 30 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company and State Farm Insurance have announced that drivers who allow their Sync equipped vehicle to report actual in use mileage could have their auto insurance premiums reduced by as much as 40%. Continue reading →

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

May U.S. Auto Sales Projected Close to 1.4 Million Vehicles

Posted on 24 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Total light-vehicle sales in May are predicted at 1,384,000 units, a 21% percent increase from May 2011. However, fleet volume as a percentage of total light-vehicle sales is expected to remain high in May, at 22%. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment