Here's the Thing

Car sales settle into a groove in April, says Edmunds.com

(April 27, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,401,606 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in April for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 16.2 million. The projected sales will be an 8.7 percent decrease from March 2014, but a 9.1 percent increase from April 2013.

The forecast anticipates that the auto industry will enjoy its best April performance since dealers sold 1,444,587 vehicles in April 2006.

April SAAR to hit 16.2 million vehicles, according to TrueCar

(April 25, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif.—  TrueCar, the negotiation-free car-buying platform, today released its April 2014 sales and incentives forecast.

“Automakers were determined to make sure March sales momentum continued in April, putting sales back on track for 2014,” said Larry Dominique, president of ALG and executive vice president of TrueCar.  “This month, the Asian manufacturers turned up the incentive dial, while the domestic manufacturers remained more restrained.”

Study finds customers switch auto insurers because of poor service, price

(April 25, 2014) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — While a poor experience with their insurer is the leading reason customers shop for, and ultimately switch to a new auto insurance company, declining new price satisfaction is the primary reason customers are less satisfied when they do switch insurers, according to the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study released this week.

Toyota takes out the trash

(April 23, 2014) TORRANCE, Calif. — Imagine lugging more than 1.9 million trash cans to the curb on trash day. That’s what Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has avoided doing over the last four years. Since 2009, Toyota has reduced or avoided 1.9 million trash cans worth of waste at its sales and logistics facilities across the country.           
 
This month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Toyota’s efforts with the 2013 WasteWise Large Business Partner of the Year award.

Elio Motors claims it's more environmentally friendly than a cow's what?

(April 22, 2014) TROY, Mich. — Elio Motors claims its new car is more environmentally friendly than cow farts. The company’s revolutionary three-wheeled vehicle will launch in 2015, will sell for $6,800 and get an astounding 84 miles per gallon.

With Earth Day today, Elio Motors' CEO Paul Elio challenged his team to put into context the vehicle’s positive environmental impact.

Kelley Blue Book sets record with 31 million site visits in March

(April 22, 2014) IRVINE, Calif., April 16, 2014 -- KBB.com, the website of Kelley Blue Book, shattered previous company traffic records by experiencing more than 31 million visits in March 2014.  For the first time in Kelley Blue Book's multi-decade history, upwards of 21 million monthly visits originated from KBB.com, and more than 9 million additional visits came from mobile platforms. 

The company's ongoing commitment to broadcast and digital media efforts helped contribute to the growing number of car shoppers visiting KBB.com.

GM leads industry with most American-made vehicles

(April 21, 2014) DETROIT — For the second year in a row, General Motors dominated the “Made in America” Automotive Index produced by American University’s Kogod School of Business. GM’s Chevrolet Corvette Stingray tied for No. 1 and 17 other GM vehicles tied for places in the Top 10.

In addition to the Stingray, seven other Chevrolets made the Top Ten including: Traverse, Equinox, Express, Malibu, Impala, Suburban and Tahoe. Other GM vehicles that ranked in the Top 10 were the GMC Acadia, Acadia Denali, Terrain, Savana and Yukon; Cadillac CTS, Escalade and ATS and Buick Enclave and LaCrosse.

Chevy Silverado among best car deals according to TrueCar

(April 17, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Chevy Silverado 1500, with a 14.4% average savings off MSRP, currently tops the list of some of the best deals on new vehicles, according to TrueCar. Published monthly, this “TrueDeals” analyzes recent transaction prices and identifies opportunities for consumer savings.

Toyota, Ford dispute world's best-selling car — Is it Corolla or Focus?

 (April 16, 2014) Toyota has announced that its Corolla is the best selling nameplate in the world citing the company’s internal data based on individual vehicle sales reporting from its distributors. Earlier this month, Ford claimed its Focus was the world's top seller in 2013.
 
The 5 percent year-over-year increase confirms the Corolla’s perennial popularity among loyal customers in approximately 150 countries and regions around the world, Toyota maintained in a press release.

Infiniti's global growth plans gather momentum

(April 16, 2014) NEW YORK — Infiniti is a brand on the move. Since establishing its global headquarters in Hong Kong and inaugurating Infiniti Motor Company Limited, Infiniti has taken decisive steps to strengthen its brand presence and globalize its business over the last 18 months.

The relocation to Hong Kong means Infiniti is strategically placed for growth in emerging luxury markets such as China while remaining closely connected to the west.