(April 13, 2012) ATLANTA — Research conducted by AutoTrader.com and Morpace at the end of 2011 shows that 60 percent of new-car shoppers are now more likely to consider certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles due to the state of the economy. Additionally, 29 percent of new-car shoppers — or half of those considering — are open to CPO for the first time.

(April 12, 2012) WASHINGTON — The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) released a study today indicating that higher vehicle prices resulting from proposed fuel economy rules will cut millions of potential new-car buyers out of the market in 2025.

"To work, fuel economy improvements must be affordable," said Don Chalmers, president of Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, N.M., at a press briefing today. "While you can mandate what automakers must build, you can't dictate what customers will buy, nor can you dictate if a bank will make a loan."

(April 12, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar, Inc. today released a study which concludes, that depending on the vehicle you purchase, the hundreds of extra dollars paid for the premium fuel-boosting option could make financial sense or could prove to be a costly investment for minimal fuel economy gains.

(April 11, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — With the IRS tax deadline fast approaching, many American taxpayers will soon find themselves with handsome sums of refund money at their disposal. And with the average tax refund roughly equal to the average down payment on a new vehicle (about $3,000), it might make sense to pull the trigger on a new car purchase.

(April 11, 2012) WASHINGTON — A new report from a leading industry research group documents that more than $135 billion in federal and state revenue is generated annually by the auto industry and from drivers and car owners nationwide.

(April 10, 2012) ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States has topped 24 miles per gallon for the first time ever, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Average fuel economy (window-sticker values) of cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs purchased in March was 24.1 mpg, up from 23.9 in February and 23.6 in January, and now 20 percent (4 mpg) higher than October 2007, the first month of monitoring by UMTRI researchers Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle.

(April 10, 2012) McLEAN, Va. — Trade-in values on used cars are expected to peak over the next few weeks, said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Used Car Guide.

"While prices for all used-vehicle segments will remain stable over the next two months, compact and mid-size cars will appreciate in value and outpace other segments because of rising gasoline prices, shortage of inventory and strong consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles," Banks said.

(April 9, 2012) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — While the selection of hybrid models in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, only 35 percent of hybrid vehicle owners choose to purchase a hybrid again when returning to market in 2011, according to recent analysis by Polk. If repurchase behavior among the high volume audience of Toyota Prius owners isn’t factored in, hybrid loyalty drops to under 25 percent.

(April 8, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Ford took honors in four categories in the annual Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards announced last week. The awards, are based on consumer perception data from the company's Brand Watch study, and honor the automotive brands that have most successfully captured positive consumer attention.

(April 4, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — While light-vehicle sales have been strong in the first quarter of 2012, rising gasoline prices — which averaged $3.92 nationwide at the end of March, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report — have convinced many consumers to purchase smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to J.D. Power and Associates Power Information Network (PIN).