February 2015

Study finds pedestrian fatalities remain high in 2014

(February 27, 2015) WASHINGTON —  The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roadways last year is expected to remain relatively unchanged from 2013 and approximately 15 percent higher than it was in 2009. Spotlight on Highway Safety: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State is the first look at 2014 pedestrian fatality data.

Released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the report stresses the need for continued vigilance as more Americans continue to choose walking as their preferred mode of transportation.

Lexus, Buick rank one-two in J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study

(February 26, 2015) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Lexus was ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a fourth consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) released Tuesday.

Consumer Reports names its used car picks from $10,000 to $25,000

(February 26, 2015) YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports has long advocated buying used as a way for consumers to get the biggest bang for their buck — but picking out a good used car from a sea of bad ones has never been easy. Consumer Reports has compiled a handy list of reliable, affordable, and safe used cars for model years 2005 through 2014 to help consumers find the best small car, sedan, or SUV.

Domestic cars clinch three spots in Consumer Reports’ Top Picks list

(February 25, 2015) YONKERS, N.Y. — In its annual Top Picks list, Consumer Reports has crowned four new vehicles — the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Highlander — with the top honor in each of their respective categories. Domestic automakers picked up two new spots.

Beware — The dreaded pothole season is about to begin

(February 24, 2015) NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Pothole season is officially underway, which means drivers are navigating roads filled with hazards. But a few tips from Allstate may help drivers avoid flats, crashes, and enjoy a much smoother ride.

TrueCar forecasts sustained auto sales expansion in February

(February 23, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar projects the pace of February auto sales expanded to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 16.7 million new units on continued strong consumer demand.

New light vehicle sales, including fleet, should reach 1,295,600 units for the month, up 8.5 percent over a year ago. This same increase is expected on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis with 24 selling days this February versus a year ago.

Low oil prices will continue shift to larger vehicles, IHS Automotive predicts

(February 20, 2015) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Low oil prices will contribute to upside potential for the U.S. automotive market in the near term, according to a recent report from IHS Automotive. Fueled by reduced prices at the gas pump, U.S. consumer confidence is expected to continue to rise, resulting in a potential shift to larger vehicles in the U.S. and Canada as these vehicles will be more affordable to own and the value of fuel economy becomes less important to consumers.

AutoPacific forecasts three more years of growth for light vehicle sales

(February 19, 2015) TUSTIN, Calif. — AutoPacific today announced its forecast for 2015 U.S. light vehicle sales. Predicting a 547,000 unit increase over 2014, AutoPacific forecasts a 2015 year-end total just shy of 17 million units. If sales reach the forecast, it will mark the highest sales year since 2006.

"U.S. sales recovery has been steady since hitting the bottom of the decline in 2009, though recent years have seen things taper off from 11% growth in 2010 to 6% in 2014, and a forecasted 3% growth this year," says Ed Kim, vice president of Industry Analysis at AutoPacific.

Certified pre-owned car sales at all-time high, Edmunds reports

(February 18, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Certified pre-owned (CPO) car sales are at an all-time high, say analysts at Edmunds.com. In the company's latest Used Vehicle Market Report, Edmunds.com analysts noted that in 2014 CPO sales hit an all-time high of 2.3 million — even though it was not a record year for used car sales overall.

Last year, CPO made up 20.8 percent of total used car sales at franchised dealerships, the highest percentage since certified pre-owned programs were introduced.

Subaru adds four awards to its impressive list during Chicago Auto Show

(February 16, 2015) CHERRY HILL, N.J. —  Bolstering its seven-year sales growth, Subaru’s product line-up is also receiving strong recognition. At the 2015 Chicago Auto Show the company collected four separate awards for its products.

Subaru won the 2015 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for the Brand category. These awards are based on Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period.