Let us change the focus for a bit. Leave the GM and Chrysler issues and focus on how the other auto market players are doing. While the two U.S. car giants are sitting in pins and needles, brunt of the load on what is to be expected has been left at the hand of other car manufacturers like Fiat.

And perhaps that is one reason why Fiat is now being pressured by its own employees as they brace themselves on the corporate direction, anticipating large job cuts in the light of having to take over European activities left behind by GM and Chrysler.

“It’s all very well to go shopping abroad, but Italian workers want to know what their future will look like,” said Marco Roselli, a Fiat employee from southern Melfi.

What do the Fiat employees have to bank on? Right now it seems that there is no definite answer, something that has driven them to demand for job security. While that is a given, Fiat may put delays on what answer they may provide. Besides, it doesn’t seem that they have one for now as they continue to see what the future of the motoring industry would look like after all of these issues have finally settled down.

(Source) Motoring.co.za

Tags: auto market, car giants, car manufacturers, Chrysler, corporate direction, definite answer, Fiat, GM, italian workers, job cuts, job security, left behind, melfi, shopping

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Buying cars include both genders, male and female. And while we all know most men to be the peculiar group, a new website specially designed for the women has been launched through the partnership of WomenCertified and AutoNationDirect. Backed by customer research specific to women in the auto market, Car Buying Her Way (CBHW) unites the turnkey online sales platform of AutoNationDirect with WomenCertified’s women-friendly customer service approach.

The difference in the CBHW experience is manifold. First, all vehicles listed on CBHW site are offered at pre-negotiated pricing, providing a haggle-free and consequently less stressful car buying process. According to Edmunds.com, when asked to pick metaphors for the auto negotiation process, men picked “winning a ballgame” and a “wrestling match,” while women picked “going to the dentist.” The same study also showed that women are two and a half times more apprehensive about haggling over pricing than men are. Eliminating the need for negotiation, CBHW allows customers to connect with salespeople as partners rather than adversaries.

Next, CBHW customers are guided through the car buying process via phone and the web by a dedicated Personal Auto Shopper, each of whom have completed WomenCertified’s communication and customer service training.

“AutoNationDirect’s Personal Shoppers provide a complete concierge experience from start to finish, and they are fully trained to give the kind of service women expect and deserve”

(Source) Press

Tags: adversaries, auto market, auto negotiation, auto shopper, buying cars, customer service training, half times, personal auto, salespeople, service women, wrestling match

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Trucks taken as a whole, would normally point towards higher spending as far as fuel consumption is concerned. They do pack in some power but a lot of that occurs due to the fact that they have the horsepower to make it happen. However, adding the new era of hybrid aims to stabilize all that as the hybrid trucks aim to hit two areas critical for daily transportation requirements today.

Hybrid pickup trucks are unique because they have exceptional fuel economy, but drive and are fueled the same way as a normal pickup truck. While they are usually more expensive than their non-hybrid counterparts, from a cost-benefit analysis, experts say that it’s really not much of a premium.

Still packing a powerful punch, not only do the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickups have fuel economy that’s 50% better in the city, they offer over 300 horsepower and 1,500 pounds payload — as well as 6,100 pounds of towing, so you don’t have to compromise on a full-size truck. In fact, these hybrid pickup trucks have the same mileage as many popular 4-cylinder mid-size cars. Experts say the versatile pickup truck is here to stay, as the pickup truck still represents the second largest segment of the auto market.

(Source) Press

Tags: auto market, Chevrolet, chevrolet silverado, cost benefit analysis, fuel consumption, fuel economy, GMC, gmc sierra, horsepower, hybrid pickup trucks, market source, mileage, pickup truck

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