Category Archives: marketing

Japan Auto Industry to decline 14% in 2011 JAMA Predicts

Posted on 21 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Total demand for passenger cars and commercial vehicles in Japan for calendar year 2011 will be 4.25 million units, down 14.2% from the previous year, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association – JAMA, which has now its first official forecast since December of 2010. Continue reading →

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

Holden Hurricane Concept Restored to its 1969 Self

Posted on 19 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Nothing even remotely like it ever saw production in Australia, although – ironically – former GM executive John Z. DeLorean marketed something sort of like it under his own name decades later. Nonetheless, Hurricane has been restored as a labor of love by a dedicated group of Holden designers and engineers. The restored Hurricane will be on display at the Motorclassica car show at the Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building from October 21-23 Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, concept, design and styling, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EU Car Sales Still trending Down for Fourth Straight Year

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Ken Zino

During the first nine months of 2011, 10,121,423 new cars were registered in the region, or 1.1% less than in the same period a year ago. Fiat, the owner of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are all struggling to keep their European operations viable as all are losing market share. Continue reading →

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

DOT Fines Orbitz for Violating Price Advertising Rules

Posted on 17 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined the online ticket agent Orbitz $60,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, aviation, customer satisfaction, marketing, results, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IndyCar Returns to Detroit for Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix

Posted on 12 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet today announced a multi-year agreement with the Penske Corporation and IndyCar to bring professional motorsports to the Motor City for the first time in four years. The first Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will be held June 1-3, 2012 at a 2.1-mile Raceway at Belle Isle Park road course. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, people, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Driving the 2012 Hyundai Veloster – a Marketing Twist Aimed at Geeks over What’s a High Mileage, High Style Econobox

Posted on 11 October 2011 by Ken Zino

For the money Hyundai is selling what it dubs a “reverse halo” vehicle. Marketing babble aside,Veloster is really just a twist on the perennial attempts by salespeople to avoid the feared “econobox” label. The purported Veloster selling points therefore involve high performance electrons in the guise of Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system with a hands-free phone system with voice recognition, Pandora internet radio, with seven-inch touch-screen display, and video game console connectivity with 115-volt power outlet. Continue reading →

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

Sundiro Honda Builds More than 7 Million Motorcycles in China, Leading Country. Export Business Thriving, Including to Japan

Posted on 10 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Sundiro provides one model for the next wave of Chinese exports by using an established brand name to provide assurance to customers that highly complex motorcycles and ultimately automobiles can be bought with confidence even though they are made in China. Sundiro Honda now exports hundreds of thousands of motorcycles to more than 45 countries, and is one of the largest operations of Honda’s thriving motorcycle business. Continue reading →

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

U.S. Unemployment at 9.1% Unchanged in September

Posted on 7 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The unemployment rate during September in the U.S. remains unchanged at 9.1% where it has been stuck for months now. This means that according to the Federal government more than 14 million people are out of work. The real number – if you include people who stopped looking for work and forced part time workers – is likely 25 million people who want to work full time. Continue reading →

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

White is Favorite Color for Automobiles around the World

Posted on 5 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The color white is the most popular vehicle color in the world. Roughly 21% of 2011 model year cars have been produced in white. Regional differences do exist, but white’s popularity makes it the number one choice of car buyers Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, design and styling, marketing, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Superdome is the New Name in New Orleans

Posted on 4 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The New Orleans stadium is infamous as the lawless, unlit refugee area for the homeless after Hurricane Katrina caught federal, state and local government agencies completely unprepared. State taxpayers rebuilt the stadium so that the New Orleans Saints could play there again starting in 1996. About $336 million has been spent by taxpayers on the sports facility since then. Continue reading →

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

Five of the Top Ten U.S. Best Sellers in September Are from Offshore Brands. Only One Detroit Three Car Makes the List

Posted on 4 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Five of the top ten selling vehicles in September were from offshore brands, an increase of one from August and only three in July as the new vehicle market continues its slow shift away from traditional trucks and SUVs. Continue reading →

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

Selected of God Choir to Sing National Anthem for the Detroit Tigers Playoff Game at 8:30 EDT Tonight

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Ken Zino

It’s clear from to me from listening to the Turner Broadcast announcers – Turner has exclusive TV rights – that they know nothing about the Tigers, which – like the Detroit Three Automakers – are all having a great year – in the Tiger’s case as one of the best teams in major league baseball. Well, tonight the Turner crew will get to see what is probably only their third Tiger game, ever. It won’t be their last… Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, marketing, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nissan Up, Toyota and Honda Down in U.S. September Sales

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Year-to-date Honda remains in the Number Two spot at 859,797 compared to Nissan’s 774,079. Honda’s strong sales of light trucks at 45,723 surpassed its car sales for the month (43,809) and a building supply of newly revised Civic models bodes well for Honda hanging on to Number Two for the 2011 year. Continue reading →

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

Ford Motor Company September Sales Up 9% – Weakest Sales Performance among the Detroit Three

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor September sales totaled 175,199, up 9% versus last year, significantly trailing gains made by General Motors and Chrysler during the month. As with the other two members of the Detroit Three, Ford’s increase was largely the result of sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Continue reading →

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

General Motors September Sales Up 20%, Led by Pickup Trucks

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Based on early results GM is maintaining a market share of about 20%, which means it remains solidly in first place even as the Japanese maker are now back in full production. It also appears to prove the wisdom of the U.S. Treasury Department’s insistence on killing four brands, as part of the taxpayer bailout, and concentrating on the remaining four – Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac in descending sales order. However, Cadillac (+1%) and Buick (+5.6%) appear to be badly trailing overall industry growth basis. Continue reading →

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