(October 7, 2010) TOKYO — Toyota and Honda, Japan’s two largest carmakers, have boosted incentives the most among 18 brands in the U.S. so far this year as rivals make larger sales gains.

Toyota’s average incentive spending surged 31 percent to $2,068 a vehicle, excluding its Lexus brand, while Honda’s gained 36 percent to $2,005 in the first nine months of 2010, according to industry researcher TrueCar.com in Santa Monica, Calif.

(October 7, 2010) General Motors is conducting a voluntary safety recall of 3,996 Cadillac SRX crossovers from the 2010 model year for a possible damage to the power steering line.

Based on GM analysis, the issue is believed to exist in only two or three of the recalled vehicles.

(October 7, 2010) DETROIT — Chevrolet has an agreement with a supplier to offer Chevrolet Volt owners one of the most affordable 240V home charging units on the market.

Priced by SPX Service Solutions  at $490 before installation, Chevrolet’s “Voltec” 240V home charging unit is one of several 240V home charging units that will be offered for sale by SPX Service Solutions, a national provider of home charging installation services and equipment.

(October 6, 2010) DETROIT — Nearly 900 of more than 1,000 Buick and GMC dealers invited from across the United States are going behind the scenes to see how the products they sell are built and to do their own test drives.