(March 3, 2013) PORT OF HOUSTON, Texas — The first shipment of massive equipment to stamp out components for General Motors’ new full-size SUVs arrived at the Arlington Stamping Plant last week.

The four presses, pit equipment and two press beds — weighing a total of 5 million pounds — are making their way 550 miles from the Port of Houston.

(March 3, 2013) MONTVALE, N.J. — Mercedes-Benz USA reported sales of 24,051 units in February, a 22.2% increase over the 19,679 vehicles sold in February 2012 making it the highest volume on record for the month. The Mercedes-Benz model line alone achieved its highest February numbers with sales of 22,040, up 21.9%.  On a year-to-date basis, the 48,110 vehicles sold represent a 16.2% increase.

(March 3, 2013) MUNICH — Success in motor sport can be measured not only in titles and trophies, but also in an extra spike in driving fun out on the road. At least that’s the message from the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Dakar Winner 2013.

Mini and John Cooper Works have launched this special-edition model to celebrate their triumph in the Dakar Rally 2013, the French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret piloting their Mini ALL4 Racing to overall victory in the world’s toughest rally event for the second year in a row. The special edition will be limited to just 11 units and sold only in France.

(March 3, 2013) Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be showing a transporter concept vehicle: the e-Co-Motion at the Geneva auto show this week. Despite its large cargo capacity it is compact and maneuverable. It has a payload of 1,760 pounds, yet zero emissions on the road thanks to an electric drive system.

(March 2, 2013) WINDSOR, Ontario — Chrysler Canada today announced its 39th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth, representing the longest sales streak in the company’s history. February 2013 sales were 16,832 compared with 16,536 vehicles sold in February, 2012, which represents a 2 per cent increase.

(March 2, 2013) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is capitalizing on the popularity of all-wheel-drive technology, with its AWD sales growing 72 percent since 2009, outpacing the industry growth rate of 53 percent. In 2012, more than 20 percent of the industry’s new car and utility vehicles were sold with AWD systems.
 

(March 2, 2013) DETROIT — More than six of 10 Cadillac customers in February traded in something other than a prior model Cadillac, evidence the luxury brand is attracting new customers with its expanding product line.

(March 1, 2013) GENEVA — Toyota will present its new FT-86 Open concept for the first time at the Geneva motor show, a car created to test the water for the possible introduction of a convertible version of its globally acclaimed GT86 sports coupe, sold in the U.S. as the Scion FR-S.

(March 1, 2013) DETROIT — General Motors announced today that it sold 224,314 vehicles in the United States in February, up 7 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales and fleet sales were both up 7 percent. The fleet mix was 25 percent of total sales, equal to a year ago.

(March 1, 2013) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford's U.S. February sales grew 9 percent with 195,822 vehicles sold. This marks Ford's best February sales in six years — with cars up 6 percent, utilities up 21 percent and trucks up 4 percent.