News archive

May 2010

Smartphone application will allow Volt owners 24/7 control of vehicle functions

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(January 6, 2010) LAS VEGAS — Chevrolet and OnStar unveiled the auto industry’s first working smartphone application that will allow Chevrolet Volt owners 24/7 connection and control of vehicle functions and OnStar features remotely.

OnStar’s Mobile Application allows drivers to communicate with their Volt from Droid by Motorola, Apple iPhone and Blackberry Storm smartphones. It uses a real-time data connection to perform tasks from setting the charge time to unlocking the doors.

Toyota unveils Etios concept for sale in India

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(January 6, 2010) Ready to take on emerging markets, Toyota today unveiled its new Etios concept at the New Delhi Auto Expo Show. The concept, which Toyota says is 90 percent ready, will go into production and will be available for sale in India at the end of this year.

Ford increases market share for the first time in 14 years

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(January 6, 2010) Detroit's three automakers and the top Japanese manufacturers — Honda, Nissan and Toyota — all saw sharp sales declines for 2009, but based on December results they all have momentum going into the new year.

Ford posted a 33 percent rise in December sales, assuring its first annual gain in U.S. market share in 14 years and providing more evidence of an industry on the mend. Ford was joined by Hyundai Group, Subaru and Toyota in increasing sales by about a third. General Motors Co. — down 6 percent — Porsche, Suzuki and Chrysler were among last month's decliners.

India's Tata, owner of Land Rover/Jaguar, shows huge sales increases

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(January 6, 2010) India's Tata Motors’ total sales — including exports — of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles in December 2009 were 51,627, a growth of 105 percent over 25,219 vehicles sold in December 2008. The company’s domestic sales of commercial and passenger vehicles for December 2009 were 48,173, a 102 percent growth over 23,894 sold in December last year. The growth in December 2009 has come over low sales in December 2008, impacted by the downturn in the automobile industry during that period.

Ford F-150 reclaims title as best-selling vehicle in Canada

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(January 6, 2009) OAKVILLE, Ontario — With more new product launches than any other automaker for 2009, Ford is the best-selling brand in Canada and the Ford F-Series reclaimed its title as the best-selling vehicle in the country.  F-Series has also been the top-selling pickup truck in Canada for a record 44 consecutive years. Ford Taurus, Fusion, Edge, Flex and Lincoln MKZ, MKX all registered sales increases over previous year's sales, reported Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited today.

India's Tata may bring ultra-cheap Nano to U.S. within three years

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(January 5, 2010) India's Tata Motors may consider launching its ultra-cheap Nano car in the United States in three years, its chairman said today, following possible sales in Europe by the end of 2011.

"We also recognize there is a market (for the Nano) not only in developing countries, but possibly in the developed countries," Ratan Tata told reporters at the New Delhi auto show. "For the United States we need a car which has a larger engine and we need additional crash test modifications and we are in the process of doing it."

Former Saturn chief picked to head Smart USA

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(January 5, 2010) Penske Automotive Group, the second-largest U.S. auto retailer, has named Jill Lajdziak president of its Smart USA unit that distributes Daimler minicars.

Lajdziak, former general manager of General Motors' Saturn division, replaces Dave Schembri, the Bloomfield Hills-based company said Monday. Schembri will shift to Penske's retail operations.

GM sales in China jump nearly 67 percent to more than 1.8 million units in 2009

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(January 4, 2010) SHANGHAI — GM and its joint ventures in China announced today that their domestic sales jumped 66.9 percent in 2009 to a record 1,826,424 units.  Based on bullish sales of Buick, Chevrolet and Wuling vehicles, the GM China family achieved an estimated market share of 13.4 percent, another year-end record and an improvement of 1.3 percentage points from the end of 2008.

Spyker will rebuild Saab around core models 9-3, 9-5 and 9-4X

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(January 4, 2010) Spyker Cars NV will rebuild Saab around the 9-3, 9-5 and 9-4X models if it buys the Swedish brand from General Motors Co., Spyker CEO Victor Muller says. Plans for a Saab 9-1 entry-level car would be put on hold, according to a report today in AutoWeek magazine.

Used car prices should start moderating in 2010, the NADA predicts

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(January 4, 2010) Soaring used car prices are poised to level out during 2010. Used car prices went up all year, but buyers may finally start to get a modest break.

That's the message from the National Automotive Dealers Association and the National Auto Auction Association.