May 2010

General Motors pushes seatbelt campaign

(May 25, 2010) General Motors applauds the efforts of law enforcement officers and safety officials who are mobilizing across the nation May 24 through June 6 to enforce safety belt use laws in order to save lives and prevent injuries.

The Click It or Ticket campaign coordinated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and state highway safety offices has proven to be highly effective.

Ford investing $135 million to develop hybrid-electric vehicles

(May 24, 2010) YPSILANTI, Mich.,  – Ford Motor Company – moving to create a center of excellence in Michigan for vehicle electrification – today announced it is investing $135 million to design, engineer and produce key components for the company’s next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles.

GM sales up while Toyota market share drops, according to Edmunds.com

(May 23, 2010) SANTA MONICA, Calif. Edmunds.com has evaluated early May car sales and determined that so far this month, General Motors (GM) retail sales are up nine percent while Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. retail sales are down 12 percent.

Within the parent company, Toyota brand retail sales are down 17 percent while the Lexus "Unprecedented Access" promotion, with its low APR and special lease offers, can be credited for increasing the brand's sales 22 percent compared with last month.

Leaked photo of 2011 Volkswagen Passat surfaces

(May 23, 2010) The first leaked shot of the 2011 Volkswagen Passat has apparently surfaced in Germany's Auto Bild.

Assuming it's accurate, the mid-size sedan boasts one of the straightest interpretations of VW's new design language. 

In fact, its wide, strongly-horizontal bearing is as much a reminder of the freshly updated Phaeton as it is of the Touareg.

Ford adds premium Titanium edition to Flex

(May 22, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Flex has been turning heads for almost two years now. And in that time, one thing has remained constant — the customer’s love for the style and personality the Flex brings to the driveway.

With that in mind, Ford announces the latest addition to the Flex lineup, Flex Titanium — a highly contented vehicle with individual style that will stand out in the world of more traditional crossovers and sport utility vehicles.

The new Flex Titanium features many new styling cues that will appeal to customers looking for a more personalized Flex experience. As Flex Marketing Manager Kate Pearce explains:

Pricing for 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe will begin at $38,990

(May 21, 2010) DETROIT – Cadillac announced today that pricing for the all-new 2011 CTS Coupe will begin at $38,990 including destination charge.  The CTS Coupe goes on sale in early August in the United States.

CTS Coupe will become the centerpiece of Cadillac, offering technology and performance in the dynamic form of a luxury sports coupe. Available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, CTS Coupe comes standard with a 3.6L Direct Injection V6 engine that delivers 304 horsepower. This engine is available with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

The ultimate expression of Cadillac’s new Coupe, the high-performance V-Series edition with 556 horsepower, Brembo brakes and Magnetic Ride Control also goes on sale later this summer at $62,990 including destination charge.

Strong close could offset slow early May results

(May 21, 2010) After a somewhat shaky beginning, May retail new-vehicle sales are expected to benefit from a Memorial Day boost, and end the month with some strength, according to the latest forecast from J.D. Power and Associates.

May retail deliveries are predicted to reach 874,000 units, which is equal to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 9.2 million units, based on Power Information Network (PIN) retail transaction data and analysis by J.D. Power’s Automotive Forecasting department. Although May’s retail selling rate is expected to be lower than April’s 9.6 million-unit selling rate, retail sales in May 2010 are projected to increase 11% from May 2009.

AAA Introduces a free TripTik app that isn't for member's only

(May 21, 2010) AAA's time-honored TripTik service has entered the app age to provide fuel-price and travel info, as well as maps and voice-guided navigation, Edmund's.com reports.

The AAA TripTik Mobile Application for the iPhone compares frequently updated fuel prices in a given area, and the GPS-enabled app also shows AAA Approved hotels, restaurants, attractions, AAA offices and other Points of Interest nearby.

The app's nav component calculates and displays a route to a selected AAA point of interest or to any address and gives voice-guided directions to the destination. If you want the voice guidance repeated, just press a button or shake the iPhone. The app can also run on an iPod touch but requires uninterrupted Wi-Fi access for full functionality.

Tesla Motors, Toyota to cooperate on development of electric vehicles

(May 21, 2010) Tesla Motors, Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation today announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support.

 The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial public offering.

The electric vehicles produced by the joint effort will be built at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., a plant that Toyota last year ruled too inefficient to keep open. The plant was closed down after General Motors terminated a long-running joint venture with Toyota.

Suzuki Kizashi tops vehicle satisfaction awards

(May 20, 2010) TUSTIN, Calif. — AutoPacific today announced its 14th Annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) to help consumers make informed vehicle purchase decisions.

“While the auto industry is showing signs of improvement, more than ever before, manufacturers need to be able to differentiate themselves. Proof of satisfied customers is as good as gold,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “We’ve found that more than 25% of new car buyers are positively influenced by owner-based awards like the VSA when deciding on a new car or truck.”