Tag Archives: zino

Volkswagen to Debut New Beetle in China, Berlin, New York City

he latest Beetle rollout is a sign of the global automarket times, as well as an ironic nod to the fact that the new Beetle, soon to be in its second generation, is considered too frivolous by Germans to count among best selling cars in Germany. Continue reading

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AutoNation’s March 2011 New Vehicle Unit Sales Increase 19%. Japanese Model Availability to be Problem in Q2 and Q3

AutoNation, Inc. announced that its retail new vehicle unit sales in March 2011 totaled 22,246, an increase of 19%. AutoNation expects production disruptions will significantly impact product availability from Japanese auto manufacturers in the second and third quarters of 2011. Continue reading

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Audi Prices 2012 A7 Sportback in U.S. Starting at $60,000

Audi today announced that pricing for the full size Audi A7 will begin at $59,250 when the models reach U.S. showrooms later this month. At first glance appears to be a hefty price for a V-6 powered, all-wheel-drive 5-door hatchback, … Continue reading

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Volkswagen Recalls 71,000 Jetta Sedans for Sudden Stalling

All Jetta models made in Mexico from March of 2010 unit March 21011 – an entire year of production – have a fuse box design that runs the engine management system, horn, wiper blades and theft alarm through one fuse. If the fuse blows for any reason, the engine quits without warning. Continue reading

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Toyota Wins New York Unintended Acceleration Case

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has won an unintended acceleration case where it was alleged that an unsecured driver’s side floor mat was the primary cause of the crash of Scion tC vehicle in August 2005. After deliberating for approximately 45 … Continue reading

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Chrysler Group March U.S. Sales Up 31%, Q1 plus 23%

Chrysler Group LLC today reported U.S. sales of 121,730, a 31% increase compared with sales in March 2010 – Chrysler’s best March since 2008, and the highest sales for any month since May 2008.

Both Chrysler Group car and truck sales posted year-over-year sales gains, led by car sales which increased 46%, the best month for car sales since May 2008 before the financial markets collapsed that fall and Chrysler faced bankruptcy. Overall U.S. auto industry sales were up 17% for the month; 20% for the quarter.
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Three Problem Areas for Toyota in U.S. from Japan Earthquake

During a press call to discuss March sales results today, Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. (TMS) said “The events in Japan had little if any impact on March sales.”

However, that doesn’t mean that Toyota no longer faces production and resulting sales problems because of the plant shutdowns caused by the Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant meltdowns. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company Outsells General Motors in March as U.S. Sales Increase 19%! Ford Q1 Sales also Strong at Plus 6%.

Ford is clearly benefitting from relatively fresh products, a shift away from trucks to cars and improved fuel efficiency in most vehicle lines as gasoline prices continue to rise above $3.50 a gallon. Continue reading

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Toyota U.S. Sales Down 5.7% in March. Q1 Plus 12.5%. Nissan, Honda Post Double Digit Gains as Toyota’s Troubles Go On

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A. today reported March sales results of 176,222 units, down 5.7% from a year ago on a volume basis. The Toyota Division posted March sales of 155,540 units, a decrease of 6.7% from the year-ago month. The Lexus Division reported total sales of 20,682 units, up 2.3% March. Overall, based on preliminary numbers, it looks like the industry is up roughly 12%. Continue reading

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General Motors U.S. Sales Up 11% in March, Q1 Up 26%

Dealers for General Motors Company reported 206,621 total sales during March in the U.S., an increase of 11%, and a 17% increase in GM retail sales. Discounted fleet sales were 27% of the total.

For the first three months, total GM sales increased 26% to 592,545 units compared to a year earlier. As a result, each of GM’s remaining brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – gained retail and total market share during the quarter, a welcome reversal of a declining trend that was underway for five decades and ultimately led it GM’s bankruptcy in 2009. Continue reading

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Toyota Raises U.S. Prices as Yen Strengthens from Earthquake

The huge amounts of money going back to Japan has caused the Japanese Yen to strengthen as it now is trading well below ¥90:$1. Current Japanese automaker business plans were set and 96 Yen to the U.S. Dollar, and at that rate executives said profitability was a struggle. Continue reading

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GM Sells its Stake in Delphi Automotive for $3.8 Billion

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) late today announced the sale of its Class A Membership Interest in Delphi Automotive LLP (Delphi) back to Delphi for $3.8 billion. Continue reading

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Ally, formerly Bankrupt GMAC, Files With SEC for IPO

Ally’s is one of the leading suppliers in the U.S. of wholesale dealer loans, and is the leading retail provider of vehicle finance. Ally’s taxpayer-financed bailout remains a vital aspect to the thus far successful reorganizations of General Motors and Chrysler. U.S. (and Canadian taxpayers) have large interests in those recovering automakers, as well. Continue reading

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Reducing Oil Imports – Assumptions in New Independence Plan

In 2008, America imported 11 million barrels of oil a day. By 2025 the U.S. will have cut that by one-third – about where we were in 1975, according to an energy independence plan outlined by President Obama yesterday. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Miray Hybrid Electric Debuts at Seoul Motor Show

Chevrolet introduced the Miray concept hybrid electric vehicle at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show today. The roadster is significant because it was developed at the General Motors Advanced Design Studio in Seoul, increasingly the source of small car work for … Continue reading

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