By Phil LeBeau
CNBC Correspondent

(June 2010) Looking for a good chuckle? Read the New York Times article from today outlining how GM sent a memo to employees suggesting they stop saying Chevy when referring to Chevrolet. Apparently, GM believes it's important for a brand to have a consistent message. As I read this, I kept thinking to myself, "Are these guys serious?"

(June 2010) As we near the halfway point of 2010, some interesting facts can be derived from automotive sales statistics.

We have delved into the stats and emerged with some surprising losers and some equally surprising winners. And of course there are a large number of nameplates whose sales — up or down — are no surprise.

Our biggest single disappointment — because we really like the car and apparently a lot of other automotive reviewers do as well — is with the new-for-2010 Suzuki Kizashi.

By Michael Hanlon
London Daily Mail   

(June 2010) Electric cars are the future we are told. Don’t believe a word of it. Here’s why. Firstly, I have driven several electric cars and they have all, every single one of them, been rubbish. Slow, heavy, expensive, complex, impractical and ponderous they simply do not do what cars do, which is to transport you and your chattels with the minimum of fuss wherever and whenever you want to go.

(June 2010) Unlike its fleet-footed symbol which disappeared years ago Mercury’s time has come to join the likes of 10,000 other auto brands that have come and gone. And emotional attachment aside it seems the smart thing to do.

The handwriting has certainly been on the wall with ever declining volumes and the shortage of vehicle models that make a brand a brand; Mercury was anything but a complete car company.

(June 2010)  Edmunds.com estimated today that the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,603 per vehicle sold in May 2010, down $28, or 1.1 percent, from April 2010, and down $340, or 11.6 percent, from May 2009.

"Inventory levels are relatively low, so many automakers have cut back on incentives," stated Jessica Caldwell, Director of Industry Analysis for Edmunds.com.

(June 2010) The bankruptcy of General Motors may turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened to the company, according to Edmunds.com.

"With the company much leaner and more focused it is making a profit even in today's tough market," stated Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. "This bodes well for GM's profit potential for when the market fully rebounds."

By Phil LeBeau
CNBC

(June 2010) Remember when Ford CEO Alan Mulally took the top job at America's number two automaker in 2006?

Remember how he talked about his admiration of Toyota and how he planned to replicate that success at Ford?

By Bill Visnic, Edmunds.com

(May 2010) After a report from Japanese publication Best Car said Toyota Motor Corp. is delaying the launch of its FT-86 sport coupe by two years, to 2013, the internet was alive with speculation about Toyota's ultimate dedication to the coupe jointly developed with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru.

(May 2010) Would you rather drive a sports car or a family sedan? Edmunds' AutoObserver.com reports that cautious car buyers re-entering the market are largely gravitating to mid-sized sedans while most sports cars are barely moving off the dealership lots.

(May 2010) Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Cadillac and Lexus gained the most market share in the United States among all premium brands during the first four months of 2010 vs. the same period in 2009.

Mercedes was the best-selling premium brand, followed by Lexus, based on total sales (retail and fleet) data in the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report. These four premium brands also exhibited interesting differences in their buyer demographics in the first four months, based on Power Information Network (PIN) retail transaction data from J.D. Power and Associates. A few differences are highlighted: