October 2014

How Chevrolet can help when monsters attack

(October 31, 2014) DETROIT — If your car gets swarmed by zombies, would you know what to do? While that question may seem far-fetched, car safety is an integral part of ensuring every little vampire and mummy gets home safely after trick-or-treating.

Chevrolet and OnStar are sharing Halloween safety tips and three “Hey, they could happen!” OnStar calls for encounters with monsters and other creepy characters.

Edmunds says October car sales set a festive tone for holiday season

(October 31, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,281,548 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in October for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 16.3 million. The projected sales will be a 3.1 percent increase from September 2014, and a 6.4 percent increase from October 2013.

TrueCar sees political and vehicle choice aligning ahead of midterms

(October 30, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar, Inc. finds some correlation between popular vehicle choices across U.S. states and recent voting patterns as the contest between Republicans and Democrats comes down to the wire with next week’s midterm election.

Don't fear the check engine light

(October 29, 2014) BETHESDA, Md. — Although the check engine light may look scary lit up on the dashboard, there is nothing to fear. A glowing check engine light doesn't mean you have to immediately pull the car to the side of the road, but it does mean you should get the car checked out as soon as possible, says the Car Care Council.

New research shows automotive recalls impact purchase decisions

(October 28, 2014) RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Phoenix Marketing International, a global marketing services firm, has released findings around the unprecedented volume of automobile recalls revealing that the more than 60% awareness of vehicle recalls negatively affects the perception that consumers have on safety and brands.

Additionally, awareness of the recalls was somewhat higher among consumers who were in the market for luxury vehicles, when compared to those in the non-luxury segment. Truck shoppers were least aware of the recalls.

Consumer Reports finds infotainment systems are reliability plague

(October 28, 2014) YONKERS, N.Y. — Multi-function, cross-linked infotainment systems and the associated in-car electronics are a growing reliability plague for many brands, according to Consumer Reports 2014 Annual Reliability Survey.

Tests by AAA show rear view cameras can save lives

(October 27, 2014) AURORA, Ill. — Rear-view camera systems improved rear visibility an average of 46 percent in AAA's tests, the organization reported today. These systems are intended to improve driver awareness of the area immediately behind the vehicle in order to reduce the instance of back-over fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires a rear-view image in all passenger vehicles beginning in 2016, with full compliance by May 2018.

Repetitive and physical: 90 years of durability testing at GM

(October 25, 2014) DETROIT — In 18 months, the durability team at General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground can put a vehicle through an entire lifecycle. Durability tests are long, repetitive and physically demanding.

Despite huge incentives, falling gas prices slam hybrid car demand

(October 25, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar, Inc. has reported on a shift in consumer new vehicle preferences this year, with demand for Toyota’s Prius softening, as gas prices stabilize.  Simultaneously, a sustained economic recovery is boosting demand for full-size pickup trucks, as Ford releases a fully revamped version of its benchmark F- Series.

TrueCar forecasts strong sales for October; up 5.9% compared to 2013

(October 24, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. —TrueCar, Inc. today released its October 2014 sales and incentives forecast, which shows the Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (“SAAR”) for October of 16.3 million new vehicle sales. TrueCar’s 2014 full year Sales Forecast remains at 16.4 million vehicles.
   
New light vehicle sales in the U.S. (including fleet) are expected to reach 1,278,800 units for the month, up 5.9% from October 2013. With the same number of selling days, the Daily Selling Rate (DSR) for this October is 5.9% greater than that of October 2013.