Here's the Thing

NADA economist — 2011 sales will hit 12.9 million, a 12 percent increase

(February 7, 2011) SAN FRANCISCO — Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), said Sunday that new-vehicle sales will reach 12.9 million units in 2011 as consumers benefit from higher trade-in equity and improving credit.

Last year, 11.55 million light vehicles were sold. A market of 12.9 million new vehicle sales this year would be a nearly 12 percent increase over 2010.

Demand for used cars and trucks will increase, analyst predicts

(February 7, 2011) SAN FRANCISCO — Rising consumer confidence, an aging fleet and greater access to credit are key factors that will increase consumer demand for used cars and trucks in 2011, said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst for NADA Used Car Guide.

“The used-car market is providing clear signs that the auto industry has entered a new phase,” Banks said today at the NADA Convention and Expo in San Francisco, which runs through Monday at the Moscone Center.

NADA chairman says EPA's proposed 62 mpg standard threatens auto recovery

(February 6, 2011) SAN FRANCISCO — With auto sales expected to reach nearly 13 million units in 2011, the outgoing chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) warned Saturday that proposals like the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to raise the fleet-average fuel economy standard to as much as 62 mpg by 2025 threaten to “throw a roadblock in front of this recovery.”

Chrysler responds to Nader's Jeep Grand Cherokee rear crash charges

By Mike Driehorst
Chrysler Communiations

(February 4, 2011) Again, "consumer advocate" Ralph Nader and his Center for Auto Safety are using common scare tactics to make a big consumer safety issue — when there is no issue.

Thousands of Ford images go on sale

(February 4, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — Thousands of images dating to the earliest days of Ford Motor Company are being hauled out of the Ford archives and licensed for sale for the first time.

FordImages.com features more than 5,000 images for sale including commemorative and limited-edition prints, vintage signs and advertisements. The site launched in January.

December 2010 used car prices up 8.2 percent over December 2009

(February 3, 2010) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An estimated 18.6 percent of used cars sold by franchise dealers in 2010 were certified, up slightly from the 17.8 percent reported in 2009, according to sales figures released today by Edmunds.com.

Overall, December's used car prices in the U.S. were up 8.2 percent over December 2009, even as values decreased slightly compared to November 2010.

Edmunds reports car bargains didn't end in December

(February 2, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com estimated today that the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,530 per vehicle sold in January 2011, essentially unchanged from December 2010, but up $177, or — 7.5 percent — from January 2010.

"January incentives were flat compared with December 2010, which means many car buyers didn't actually have to rush to take advantage of heavily advertised 'year end' deals," said Jessica Caldwell, director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com.

Buick Regal Turbo attracting new customers to the brand

(February 1, 2011) DETROIT — When 24-year-old Caley Webber of Florida first saw the all-new Buick Regal CXL Turbo she couldn’t believe it was a Buick. The recent college graduate and insurance adjuster said she’d never considered buying a Buick, but the sleek sporty sedan Webber test drove changed her perception.

Let's learn from lessons of the past with CAFE standards

(January 31, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — In an address last week at the Society of Automotive Engineers' 2011 Government/Industry meeting on policy, the CEO of Edmunds.com told attendees that achieving the president's clean air goals should not be made by repeating mistakes of the past.

Data highlight the source of Ford's record profits in 2010

(January 29, 2010) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Ford announced on Friday its biggest profit in a decade in 2010 — and data gathered by Edmunds.com confirms that Ford is on an impressive trajectory.

Simple economics provide at least part of the picture for why Ford had such a profitable year.