Editorial archive

April 2010

The best and worst ideas of 2009 — as compiled by Edmunds.com

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(December 2009) As 2009 comes to a close, the automotive industry can reflect on a tough year that generated some ideas that were truly inspired, and some ideas better left behind when the calendar page turns.

Everyone has a 2010 prediction — here are a few of ours

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By Jim Meachen
MotorwayAmerica Editor

(December 2009) This is the time of year virtually everyone who has a newspaper or magazine column or access to the worldwide web will make some type of predictions for the coming year. Tiger won't win a major. George Clooney will win an Oscar. The Cubs will not win the World Series. The Yankees will not repeat. Fast food's $1 menu items will increase.

One in five new vehicle buyers say the future of a brand reason for avoidance

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(December 2009) Nearly one in five new-vehicle buyers who avoid a particular vehicle model cite their concern over the future of the brand as a reason for avoidance, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Avoider Study released Dec. 15.

This may be a very good time to buy a full-sized SUV

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(November 2009) We crunched some numbers. We ran some figures. Eventually, our theory proved out — Buying and driving a full-size SUV costs less today than when gas was $2 per gallon. That's a generalization, of course, but one that can't be made about mid-size sedans, compact cars or crossovers, all of which cost measurably more to operate today.

Abandoned Cars I

See more Abandoned Cars at Abandoned Cars II and III

Contributing photographers: Jim Meachen, Ralph Gable, Jerry Brown, Jim Prueter, Ted Biederman, Peter Hubbard, B.J. Overbee, Charles Skaggs, and John Harper. For more abandoned cars go to Abandoned Cars and Trucks

GM to expand its brake override system to all passenger cars

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(April 6, 2010) General Motors will expand use of “enhanced smart pedal” technology globally to all passenger cars with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control, providing an additional safeguard to enhance customer confidence.

Record high month for Toyota incentives, Edmunds.com reports

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Edmunds.com has estimated that the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,742 per vehicle sold in March 2010, up $100, or 3.8 percent, from February 2010, but down $423, or 13.4 percent, from March 2009.

Toyota, Ford show big March gains; GM leads in March sales with 188,011

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(April 2, 2010) Toyota and Ford  posted big U.S. sales gains in March as industry wide incentives and improving consumer confidence brought buyers back to showrooms.

Total U.S. sales advanced 24 percent from the depressed levels of March 2009. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 11.7 million was lower than analysts' forecasts but still marked the year's strongest.

First pre-production Chevrolet Volt comes off assembly line

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HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (April 2, 2010) — Validation of the production process for the Chevrolet Volt passed a major milestone on March 31, when the first pre-production Volt rolled off the line at the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant. 

These pre-production versions of the Volt will not be sold at dealerships, but will be used to assure all steps in the production system will meet the quality targets set by the Volt engineering team.