June 5, 2008
Top Selling Minivans in the Unites States for May 2008
The minivan segment saw sales drop 16.6% in May, with Chrysler holding on to two of the top three spots, thanks in part to their gas rebate plan.
Of particular note was the 80% drop in Hyundai Entourage sales, that one can only hope was due to a supply problem -- point being, this is a bad time to be getting into the minivan business, as Volkswagen is about to find out.
The top 8 best selling minivans in the United States for May 2008:
Continue reading"Top Selling Minivans in the Unites States for May 2008"
Posted by Frank at 12:06 PM
| Filed under Auto News
| Chevrolet
| Chrysler
| Dodge
| Honda
| Hyundai
| Industry Statistics
| Kia
| Nissan
| Toyota
Report: Initial Auto Quality Improves Considerably
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Initial quality in the automotive industry has improved significantly in 2008, with substantial gains demonstrated by nearly three-fourths of the 36 ranked nameplates, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study (IQS) released today.
Overall quality improves to 118 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2008, down from 125 PP100 in 2007.
Continue reading"Report: Initial Auto Quality Improves Considerably"
Posted by Frank at 6:11 AM
| Filed under Audi
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Dodge
| Ford
| GM
| Honda
| Infiniti
| Lexus
| Lincoln
| Mazda
| Mercedes-Benz
| Pontiac
| Porsche
| Toyota
June 4, 2008
Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008
With total SUV sales down 19.5% in May, not even the crossover segment was able to escape unscathed -- the smaller ute/station wagon category was also down 5%, as consumers decided they didn't even want mini-SUVs over more fuel efficient cars.
Besides the usual suspects a couple vehicles did well in consumers' quest for smaller wagons, including the Dodge Journey, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. Also of note is that GM placed both the GMC Acadia and Saturn Vue in the top 15, which is good news for that new platform, and for the parent company that suffered a big blow for the month.
After the jump, the top 15 best selling crossovers for May 2008:
Continue reading"Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008"
Posted by Frank at 12:56 PM
| Filed under Auto News
| Chevrolet
| Dodge
| Ford
| GM
| GMC
| Honda
| Hyundai
| Industry Statistics
| Lexus
| Nissan
| Saturn
| Subaru
| Toyota
Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008
American consumers voted with their wallets at car dealerships in May, and overwhelmingly chose fuel efficient cars over trucks and SUVs, by the highest margin in recent history. Nearly 60% of vehicles bought were cars, while bigger vehicles dropped to 43% of purchases.
There was big news in the battle for the best selling car, as the Honda Civic pulled in front of Toyota's Camry and Corolla, with the Nissan Altima taking its usual fifth spot behind the Honda Accord.
But even the domestics did well in this new reality environment, as Chevy posted three best sellers to the top ten, and Ford had two, with the Focus that has been doing well, but also with the Fusion sedan that had its best sales month ever.
Top Ten Best Selling Car in the United States for May 2008:
Continue reading"Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008"
Posted by Frank at 7:34 AM
| Filed under Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Chevrolet
| Ford
| GM
| Honda
| Industry Statistics
| Nissan
| Toyota
June 3, 2008
Honda Civic is the Best Selling Vehicle in the United States
Folks, today is a historic day in automotive history: The Honda Civic was the best selling car in the United States in May, beating out the long time leader, the Toyota Camry, by 53,299 [Civic] to 51,291 [Camry].
What's even more amazing is that the Toyota Corolla even beat out the Camry, 52,826 to 51,291.
And to make Honda's achievement even more amazing, it beat out the Ford F-150, long the best selling vehicle, by 53,299 [Civic] to 42,973 [F-150].
Today is a great day in Honda land, indeed, and congrats are well deserved.
Posted by Frank at 11:55 PM
| Filed under Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Honda
| Industry Statistics
American Honda Reports Best Month Ever -- Civic Soars to Record
TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., May sales of 167,997, up 11.3 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis, shattered the company's all-time sales record for any month as Civic sales reached 53,299, up 28.3 percent versus last May and surpassing the previous monthly record for any car in the lineup.
New all-time records set in May included (previous record in parentheses):
Continue reading"American Honda Reports Best Month Ever -- Civic Soars to Record"
Posted by Frank at 2:22 PM
| Filed under Acura
| Auto News
| Honda
| Industry Statistics
Hyundai Elantra Tops Toyota Corolla in Small Sedan Test
YONKERS, N.Y. -- After testing a group of compacts and subcompacts, Consumer Reports judged the Hyundai Elantra SE best with an "Excellent" overall road test score. But three other compact cars, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, also achieved "Very Good" ratings in a report on gas-saving sedans published in the July issue.
The Corolla achieved a very impressive 32 mpg overall in Consumer Reports' real-world fuel economy tests. That's among the best gas mileage CR has seen in a conventional gasoline-powered car with an automatic transmission. Only the smaller Honda Fit (32 mpg) and Toyota Yaris (33 mpg) subcompacts do as well or better.
Continue reading"Hyundai Elantra Tops Toyota Corolla in Small Sedan Test"
Posted by Frank at 8:20 AM
| Filed under Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Chevrolet
| Finance
| Ford
| GM
| Honda
| Hyundai
| Subaru
| Toyota
May 30, 2008
Honda Begins Sales of the Freed, New Compact Minivan
TOKYO, Japan – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will begin sales of a new compact minivan, named the Freed, in Japan on May 30, 2008.
This new model fuses an easy-to-use and spacious cabin with stylish design. Special mobility assistive versions—Freed with side lift-up seat and Freed with passenger lift-up seat, also go on sale May 30, 2008—while a Freed wheelchair-accessible model will go on sale June 20, 2008.
Continue reading"Honda Begins Sales of the Freed, New Compact Minivan"
Posted by Frank at 8:00 AM
| Filed under Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Honda
Honda Sets April Record for Auto Production
TOKYO, Japan, May 27, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of April 2008.
Production in Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease for the eighth consecutive month (since September 2007).
Continue reading"Honda Sets April Record for Auto Production"
Posted by Frank at 5:09 AM
| Filed under Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Honda
Honda's Barrichello finishes sixth in Monaco Grand Prix
The Honda Racing F1 Team added three points to its World Championship tally when Rubens Barrichello finished sixth in the Monaco Grand Prix. His team-mate Jenson Button came home in 11th place.
In a very eventful race from start-to-finish, Jenson’s hopes of a points finish were unfortunately dashed towards the end of the opening lap when he collided with Nick Heidfeld on the exit of the Swimming Pool. He pitted immediately to replace his front wing, but rejoined the race in 20th and last position.
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Posted by Frank at 4:17 AM
| Filed under 5th Wheel
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Honda
IndyCar Series: Scott Dixon wins at Indy
Scott Dixon, known as the “Ice Man” for his cool demeanor, became the “Milk Man” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver featured throughout the 92nd running of the famed 500-mile race, and then held off the final-lap efforts of Vitor Meira and Marco Andretti to score his first “500” victory.
The 2003 IndyCar Series champion was one of the primary contenders all month, qualifying on the pole, taking the initial lead at the green flag and leading 115 of today’s 200-lap race. But he faced a stern challenge in the last 40 laps from Meira and later, Andretti.
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Posted by Frank at 3:18 AM
| Filed under 5th Wheel
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Honda
May 29, 2008
Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards
TUSTIN, Calif. -- A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.
In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.
Continue reading"Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards"
Posted by Frank at 6:20 AM
| Filed under Acura
| Audi
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| BMW
| Buick
| Cadillac
| Car Tech
| Chevrolet
| Ford
| GM
| GMC
| Honda
| Hummer
| Hyundai
| Kia
| Lexus
| Mercedes-Benz
| Mercury
| Mitsubishi
| Nissan
| Saturn
| Scion
| Suzuki
| Toyota
| Volkswagen
May 24, 2008
Honda Extends Relationship with IndyCar Racing
TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda Performance Development (HPD), American Honda's headquarters for professional auto racing operations, has extended its relationship with the Indy Racing League and plans to supply engines to the IndyCar Series for the next five years.
Honda joined the IndyCar Series at the start of the 2003 season, and became single supplier of racing engines to the series in 2006.
Continue reading"Honda Extends Relationship with IndyCar Racing"
Posted by Frank at 5:25 AM
| Filed under 5th Wheel
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Honda
May 22, 2008
Honda to set Environmental Benchmark With Global Hybrid
LONDON -- Honda is to launch an accessible hybrid car to allow more people around the world to adopt cleaner motoring technology and significantly reduce global car emissions. Going on sale early next year, Honda expects to sell 200,000 units globally of the new car annually.
The company will further accelerate hybrid sales by introducing a sporty hybrid based on its CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Jazz Hybrid model. With all four of these models, Honda expects combined annual sales of its hybrid models to reach 500,000 units.
Continue reading"Honda to set Environmental Benchmark With Global Hybrid"
Posted by Frank at 11:01 AM
| Filed under 5th Wheel
| Alternative Fuels
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Car Tech
| Environment
| Honda
| Hybrid
2009 Honda Pilot pricing stays put
TORRANCE, Calif. -- The all-new, completely-redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot is set to debut at dealerships nationwide on May 22 with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $27,595, plus destination and handling, for the well-equipped Pilot LX - the same as the 2008 model's price entry point, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
Continue reading"2009 Honda Pilot pricing stays put"
Posted by Frank at 6:10 AM
| Filed under 2009 Vehicles
| Auto Marketing
| Auto News
| Finance
| Honda