By Doug Newcomb
Edmunds.com

(May 2010) In one of the worst-kept secrets from last week, OnStar has announced that it's partnering with Google to use the search giant's Android operating system and mobile devices to connect owners to the Chevy Volt.

Earlier this year, OnStar unveiled a demonstration-only app for specific smartphones that will allow users to remotely check the charging status of the Volt plug-in hybrid, among other things. As part of its new partnership with Google, OnStar will unveil new features of the Android app at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco this week. But here's what we know for now.

By Jim Hossack, AutoPacific

(May 2010) TUSTIN, Calif. — AutoPacific, an authoritative automotive research and insight company, regularly tracks the impact of fuel prices on the type of vehicles Americans will consider buying. The results for the just completed Fuel Price Impact Survey show some surprising results, and are summarized below.

While there are many indications that the recession is ending, at least in terms of new vehicle sales it may be too early to declare victory, as expressed intent to purchase a new car or truck in the next two years has slightly declined over the January to March period.

(May 2010) A study by Edmunds.com shows that owning a vehicle in Alaska, California or Hawaii over a five-year period is about $10,000 more expensive than owning the same vehicle in New Hampshire, South Dakota or South Carolina for the same duration.

This study employs data from Edmuds.com's True Cost to Own tool that projects model-specific, regional average vehicle five-year ownership costs, consisting of depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs for new and used vehicles.

(April 2010) Data from Edmunds.com suggests that Ford could return to being the number two automaker in the U.S.

"Ford has demonstrated that the key to a turnaround is product, product, product — while pushing costs down," commented Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Michelle Krebs who covers the subject in more detail at AutoObserver.com. "The company's market share for 2010 is over 17 percent for the first time since 2006, and Fords are selling at a higher relative price and with lower incentives."

(April 2010) A record number of new vehicles were purchased with zero-percent financing in March, according to Edmunds.com.

In March, more than 22 percent of financed new cars were purchased with zero-percent finance deals. Last March the total was just 13 percent. The prior high was 21 percent in July 2006.

Remarkably, 71 percent of new Toyotas financed in March had a zero-percent APR — nearly twice the previous Toyota record of 39 percent in August 2009.

(April 2010) Edmunds.com reports that the average automobile finance rate dropped to 4.4 percent in March, its lowest since 2002 when Edmunds.com began to track finance records. In March 2009, the average interest rate for the industry was 5.8 percent.

Of all brands, Toyota had the lowest average finance rate, 1.9 percent. Mazda's average finance rate was next lowest at 2.5 percent and Mercury was third at 3.3 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, Kia had the highest average interest rate in March, 7.1 percent.

(April 2010) Today, the White House unexpectedly presented its latest defense of last summer's "Cash for Clunkers" program. In the process, it took issue with Edmunds.com, whose analysis of the program was widely adopted and supported by independent economists and media.

"One has to wonder why the White House continues to feel the need to defend a program that is no longer being debated," observed Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. "Trying to add a spin to old news seems pointless when there are more pressing issues for the government to address."

(April 2010) Hyundai got another strong showing when sales figures were posted for March.

An analysis by Edmunds.com shows that three Hyundai models — the Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Genesis — have in short order charged into the top 10 "most shopped vehicles" on Edmunds.com.

(March 2010) Ford stands to gain from Toyota's problems, at least in the short term -- as does Chevrolet. So says the automotive group of Hachette-Filipacchi-owned firm Jumpstart, whose results and predictions are based on surveys and car shopping behavior across sites like Vehix, Car and Driver and Consumer Guide Automotive.

Jumpstart says Toyota's problems have led 51% of shoppers who would have normally considered a Toyota to remove the brand from their consideration set. The firm says it will take Toyota two to three years to recover.