March 2015

Airwheel's electric unicycles tour the UK

(March 31, 2015) MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Airwheel riders came to the streets of Cardiff, Manchester and Brighton promoting Airwheel's futuristic personal transporter on a two-day tour that caused a sensation in the UK on March 21 and 22.

In each city, a team of Airwheel self-balancing unicycle riders headed out onto the streets, successfully catching the eye of pedestrians thanks to an exterior design that actually shares some resemblance to a skateboard.

Autotrader study: Consumers want big changes to car buying process

(March 31, 2015) ATLANTA — Autotrader's Car Buyer of the Future study, which was released today, shows that only 17 out of 4,002 people prefer the current car buying process, and the rest want significant changes, particularly in the test drive, deal structuring, financing paperwork and service phases.

As a leader in the automotive retail space, Autotrader is sharing the findings of the study to aid in the industry's understanding of consumer behavior and help dealers and manufacturers prepare to meet the needs of tomorrow's car buyers.

NADA forecast: Used vehicle supply to reach pre-recession levels by 2017

(March 30, 2015) NEW YORK —  Jonathan Banks, executive analyst for NADA Used Car Guide, today cited an analysis and forecast of the used vehicle market in the U.S. showing that the used vehicle supply is swelling and should reach pre-recession levels by 2017.

Avenir’s advanced lighting illuminates future Buick design

(March 30, 2015) DETROIT — To the designers of the Buick Avenir concept, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are more than just an energy-efficient method of illuminating the road ahead — they are an advanced way to accentuate an already striking design as it rolls down the road.

Study: Millennials claim they're better car shoppers than their parents

(March 28, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — When it comes to car shopping, it's not uncommon for young adults to turn to their parents for experienced tips and advice. But a new study from car buying platform Edmunds.com suggests that the younger, tech-savvy generation is quickly becoming a more educated and self-sufficient group of buyers due to their prolific use of mobile devices during the car shopping process.

Distraction and teen crashes: Even worse than we thought

(March 27, 2015) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The most comprehensive research ever conducted into crash videos of teen drivers has found significant evidence that distracted driving is likely much more serious a problem than previously known, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Compact SUVs expected to conquest March auto sales says Edmunds

(March 27, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,522,881 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in March for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 16.9 million. The projected sales will be a 21.3 percent increase from February, but a 0.8 percent decrease from March 2014.

"In March, car shoppers were quite drawn to compact SUVs, continuing a recent trend," says Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell, whose team focused on this in a new Key Insights report entitled "Conquesting the Market."

Study finds repeated recalls can create lasting negative impressions

(March 26, 2015) Combining traditional survey research with social media intelligence research, a new report released today shows that while the impact on purchasing decisions is low, automotive manufacturers that issue recalls experience brand erosion.

The study was done by Infegy, a provider of social media intelligence technology for marketing and research professionals, and Phoenix Marketing International (PMI), a market research firm.

Kelley predicts new-car sales to fall slightly in March

(March 26, 2015) RVINE, Calif. — New-vehicle sales are expected to decline 0.3 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.53 million units in March 2015, resulting in an estimated 16.9 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Book kbb.com. The projected slight decline in volume in March largely is due to one fewer Saturday this month compared to last year.

"Similar to last year, winter weather had a negative impact on new-car sales in February," said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

Cars.com lists the top 10 most annoying car features

(March 25, 2015) CHICAGO — Experts at Cars.com have listed the top 10 most annoying features that can be found in today's cars. The list focuses on a range of features that Cars.com experts have deemed the most frustrating, annoying and unnecessary to help shoppers know what features they might want to consider avoiding.

"Every year, we test hundreds of new cars on all types of roads and in all kinds of weather," said Dave Thomas, Cars.com managing editor.