Toyota

Confirmed: Nissan Titan Will Stay

February 6, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

On the eve of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, Nissan Americas has confirmed that it is sticking with the Nissan Titan, its full-size truck. The timing of Nissans announcement is important as the next generation Toyota Tundra is itself slated for introduction at the Chicago show on Thursday. Nissans announcement also puts to rest the notion that it will quit the segment.

Nissan Titan Resolve

Nissan’s commitment to the full-size pickup truck segment has been questioned in recent years for a few reasons. First, the current model is old, now in its tenth model year. Second, sales of the Nissan Titan are small with just 21,576 units sold in 2012. That number is far behind its Frontier pickup, a small truck that recorded 55,345 US sales in 2012. Comparatively, Ford, Chevrolet and Ram sales are measured in the hundreds of thousands annually.

Nissan Titan Crew Cab Pierre Loing, vice president, Product and Advanced Planning and Strategy, Nissan Americas noted that Nissan is a full-line manufacturer and that it …aims to be a player in every part of the truck business. Said Loing, Our truck teams in Michigan, Arizona, Tennessee and Mississippi are hard at work on a next generation full-size truck line that will expand Titans appeal to a broader spectrum of truck buyers, including the all-important skilled trades-buyers. Our new truck will be filled with Nissan innovation and expertise without compromise.

New Models Planned

The current Nissan Titan is built in King Cab and Crew Cab body styles. Nissan promises that it will expand its product portfolio, hinting that a standard wheelbase model will also be offered. Nissan is also working with Cummins to supply it with a diesel engine. Cummins has been working with Chrysler for the past 25 years as exclusive supplies of six cylinder turbo-diesel engines for its Ram trucks. At present, Nissan offers a 5.6-liter V-8 engine and no other choices.

If you are looking for the arrival date for the next generation NIssan Titan, Nissan isnt saying. The company says that it is withholding that information for competitive reasons while also reiterating its support for other products including its Frontier truck line and its family of commercial vans.

Pickup Truck Production

Nissan recently shifted Frontier production from its Smryna, Tenn. manufacturing plant to Canton, Miss. where the Nissan Titan is built. The Nissan Frontier is the second best selling small truck in America, behind the Toyota Tacoma. Indeed, the Tacoma and Frontier are currently the only small trucks sold in America, although Chevrolet will soon reenter the market.

While Nissan is vague on matters of product release, its message to truck enthusiasts is a clear one. Our best guess is that a new truck will arrive next year, enabling Nissan to compete for the 1.6 million buyers of today and the projected 2.5 million buyers that may jump in when the economy is operating at full tilt again.

Photo courtesy of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai Kia Enjoy Small Car Bounce

February 6, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Small cars are becoming much more popular and the models enjoying the most significant bounce are not Toyotas or Hondas. Sure, both Japanese car manufacturers continue to lead in small car production, but improved competition from American and Korean makes has helped each manufacturer find increased strength in the lower end of the market. Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia have one, two or even three small car models for the offing, giving consumers more choice in an increasingly crowded field.

2013 Chevrolet Cruze Chevrolet — Of the five brands mentioned here, only Chevrolet and Hyundai have three small car models. In 2012, Chevrolet sold 237,758 units of its Cruze compact, up 2.6 percent over 2011. Its subcompact Sonic recorded 81,247 units sold, compared with just over 42,000 units of the Aveo and Sonic sold in 2011. The Sonic model name replaced Aveo for the 2012 model year.

In a market where Chevrolet had not been represented previously in North America, the mini Spark sold 12,385 units. All told, Chevrolet sold nearly 60,000 more small cars in 2012 than it did in 2012. Or about 23,000 more if you include the retired HHR in that mix.

Ford Fiesta ST Ford — Like Chevrolet, Ford has replaced older versions of previous models to offer more modern and better selling small cars. Ford is represented in two segments: the compact Focus and the subcompact Fiesta.

The Focus is the best selling car in the world, with approximately 1 million units sold globally in 2012. It is also Fords best selling car in the US, with 245,922 sold in 2012, up by 40 percent. Some of those sales have come at the expense of Fiesta as its sales fell to 56,775 units or down 17.2 percent last year. Chevy easily outsold Ford by more than 40,000 small cars in 2012.

Hyundai Elantra Coupe Hyundai — Three Hyundai small car models — Accent, Veloster and Elantra — are sold in the US. The subcompact Accent recorded 61,004 units sold in 2012, the Elantra came in at 202,034 cars sold and Veloster tallied 34,862 sales.

Yes, Hyundai sales rivaled Ford and it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise either as its cars are affordably priced, well equipped and get very good gas mileage.

Kia — Sales of the compact Forte sedan and hatchback slipped by 600 units to 75,681 vehicles sold in 2012. However, Kia’s subcompact Rio sedan and hatchback saw its sales double to 40,275 units in 2012.

Kia Rio Sedan That latter feat was one of the most remarkable accomplishments of any automaker and brought Kia closer in line with its competition.

Dodge — After Dodge dropped the Caliber in 2011, it had no small car presence. That problem was remedied in 2012 when the 2013 Dodge Dart arrived on the scene in June. Sales started off slow, but picked up as the year ended. Dodge reported 25,303 Darts sold for the year with a significant trend to improved sales in 2013.

No subcompact model is on the horizon for the Dodge brand, as parent Fiat seeks to bring out small cars to enhance the Fiat line instead.

Toyota and Honda

Dodge Dart The Honda Civic was the best-selling small car in America in 2012, with 317,909 units sold followed by the Toyota Corolla/Matrix at 290,947 vehicles sold according to Kicking Tires. That shows how close Ford and Chevrolet are in the compact car segment.

Toyota hasn’t fared particularly well with its subcompact Yaris, selling just 30,590 units last year. However, its small Prius hybrid more than makes up for that shortcoming as Toyota sold 236,659 vehicles in 2012, easily controlling the hybrid segment and leading all small car producers.

For its part Honda sold nearly 10,000 of its Insight and CR-Z models to go along with more than 49,000 Fits sold in 2012.

What You Get

Today’s small cars are head and shoulders better than vehicles sold just 10 years ago. Today, you’re likely to get a car that is equipped with at least a basic audio system, air-conditioning and power accessories.

Moreover, its fuel efficient four cylinder engine may be paired with a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission. Other options such as a navigation system, heated and cooled seats, and leather appointments are showing up in today’s small cars, giving customers more very good choices from more manufacturers than ever before.

See Also — Detroit Reveal: 2013 Dodge Dart GT

Photos copyright the respective manufacturer.

Jan. 2013 Auto Sales Rise Faster Than Expected

February 4, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

The US economy may have contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012, but the good news for the start of this year is once again coming from the auto industry. Data supplied by Autodata Corp. shows that US sales for Jan. 2013 rose by 14.2 percent, beating analyst expectations.

Big 6 Gain

January light-vehicle sales of 1,043,103 units compared to 913,287 vehicles sold in Jan. 2012. Among major manufacturers Toyota led the rise with a 26.6 percent gain followed by Ford at 21.7 percent, Chrysler by 16.4 percent and GM at 15.9 percent. Honda finished up by 12.8 percent and Nissan registered a 2 percent increase month over month.

Toyota Prius C — Prius sales continue to fuel Toyota’s growth.

Toyotas surge was apparent across the board with its hybrid sales up by 45.4 percent. Specifically, its Prius family recorded 15,772 units sold, an increase of 36.5 percent. Its Camry sales approached 32,000 units while its Corolla sales neared 24,000 units for the month. Toyota brand sales were up by 26.1 percent, Scion surged by 38.4 percent and Lexus sales jumped by 32.1 percent.

The sales pace we saw in the fourth quarter of last year rolled into January, exceeding our expectations for the industry,” said Bill Fay, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Toyota started the year off strong, with total sales up over 26 percent, more than double the industry average. With the 2013 Avalon and 2013 RAV4 off to a great start, our focus remains firmly on new products and taking care of our customers.

Ford recorded its best Jan. in seven years. Ford brand sales were up 23.3 percent while Lincoln sales dropped by 18.2 percent. Ford noted that its luxury brand was hampered by limited availability of its all-new MKZ sedan. Big gainers for Ford included its F-Series trucks, up by 21.7 percent, and its Fusion sedan, up by 64.5 percent on the strength of 22,399 units sold.

2013 Ford Escape — Ford crossover sales continue to be powered by the Escape.

Chrysler Canada Tops

Chrysler sales continue to climb with the automaker registering its 34th consecutive month of year-over-year sales improvement. Chrysler also says that it was the top-selling automaker in Canada in Jan. Jeep sales fell by four percent as the absence of its Liberty SUV has been felt. Nevertheless, Jeep Compass sales were up by 33 percent. Other strong sellers for Chrysler included the Fiat 500, its Ram truck line, Dodge Avenger and Dodge Challenger.

In recent months GM has lagged the industry, but for Jan. it beat the average. Cadillac led the four-brand surge, with sales increasing by 47 percent. Buick followed with a 31.9 percent increase followed by GMC at 23.4 percent. Chevrolet sales rose by 10.9 percent. Big sellers for GM included its full-size Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks, the Cadillac ATS and the Buick Enclave.

“The year is off to a very good start for General Motors,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of U.S. sales operations. “There’s a sense of optimism among our dealers that only comes when you pair a growing economy with great new products. We started to see the benefits in 2012 with vehicles like the Chevrolet Sonic, Cadillac ATS and Buick Verano. Now in 2013, we’re entering the sweet spot of our product plan in a growing economy.”

Honda and Nissan

Honda sales rose on the strength of its all-new Accord, selling just shy of 24,000 units for the month or up by approximately 10,000 Accords sold in Jan. 2012. Crosstour and Pilot sales also fueled brand growth for the month. Acura RLX sales by 4.1 percent as the brand awaits the release of its all-new RLX flagship sedan.

Acura’s newest products continue to drive our sales momentum as we begin a new year, said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura Sales. With the positive reception of the all-new Acura MDX Prototype in Detroit, and the upcoming launch of our new flagship RLX sedan, Acura is poised for even greater success in 2013.

Acura RLX — Acura’s new RLX flagship debuts this spring.

Nissan brand sales rose by 1.8 percent while Infiniti sales increased by 4.9 percent. Contributing to Nissan’s rise were sales of it Pathfinder, Sentra and Versa models. For Infiniti, its sales increased on the strength of its QX56 full-size SUV.

The Rest

Number One e up by 31.7 percent and Jaguar LandRover up by 24.8 percent. Subaru sales rose by 21.3 percent, while Daimler was up by 10.7 percent. Volkswagen sales increased by 7.1 percent while BMW increased by 2.3 percent. Hyundai was up 2.4 percent while Kia sales rose by 2.2 percent. Mitsubishi and Mazda sales were down, while Volvo finished up by 9.3 percent.

Will the sales surge continue for 2013? Given that past predictions have come in under market realities, they just may. Pent up demand is still a big factor as the average age of a car on our roads is about 11 years old. R. L. Polk & Co., for instance, has predicted sales of 15.3 million units for 2013, for what should be the fourth consecutive year of year over year auto trends growth.

See Also — Shining Stars to Ramp Up Production

Policy Makers, Industry Leaders Weigh In at National Journal Summit

January 30, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Hundreds were on hand at the Affordable Mobility policy
summit that kicked off this year’s Washington Auto Show.

The National Journal and the Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association co-hosted a policy summit today to kick off the 2013 Washington Auto Show, bringing together policy makers and automotive industry officials to discuss several matters. Titled, Affordable Mobility: A Roadmap to Energy Efficiency, the two-hour summit was split evenly between an expert panel discussion and a report from the automakers.

Panel Discussion

National Journals Fawn Johnson moderated the panel discussion. Participants were: Mitch Bainwol, president and chief executive officer of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Don Chalmers of the National Auto Dealers Association; Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation; Mary Nichols, Chairman, of the California Air Resources Board; and Rebecca Lindland, Director, Automotive Research, IHS Automotive.

WANADAs Gerard N. Murphy introduced Johnson who queried the panel. Chalmers noted the importance of the auto industry to the national, indeed the global economy, citing that 15 percent of US retail sales is made up of car sales volume. The industry, including manufacturers, suppliers and dealers, also employs tens of millions of Americans.

Government Mandates

Chalmers expressed concern about both the pace of the new 54.5 mpg fleet mandates required by 2025 and consumer willingness to accept the changes. He noted that the US is a very, very diverse country with very, very diverse consumers. What the city dweller might be interested in driving is far different from what the consumer in Oklahoma, New Mexico and elsewhere might want.

He also raised an issue that has heretofore received scant attention: the impact of consumer financing. With 90 percent of new vehicles leased or purchased, loan underwriters such as banks are not concerned about fuel mileage and emissions standards, rather about loan-to-value ratios, a point that Lindland reiterated.

Regulatory Accomplishments

Both McCarthy and Nichols stressed the accomplishments of their respective government agencies EPA and CARB with successfully helping manufacturers build more fuel efficient vehicles while also reducing greenhouse gases. The EPA is in the process of adopting Tier 3 rules for the control of air pollution from motor vehicles, a sulfur reduction initiative pioneered by the Golden State.

Throughout the panel discussion and again with the industry report, mid term review came up numerous times. Groups such as Auto Alliance have called for one or more reviews especially as the rules extend out by 13 years. Reg Medlin, Director Regulatory Affairs for Chrysler, called for a robust midterm review, one that would evaluate where the market has come from and to adjust accordingly for the intervening years.

Unintended Consequences

Lindland noted that policy makers and industry leaders should be alert to certain unintended consequences that could adversely impact the changes that are rolling out. She noted that affordability is the biggest issue for many consumers, while also citing that personal wealth is an important factor for the adoption of EVs and other advanced powertrains. Indeed, the average income of Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF buyers is about $150,000, compared to $68,000 for all car buyers. Lindland asserted that the greening of the US consumer fleet could be stymied if the cost of vehicle ownership rises.

Bainwol, on behalf of the AAM, took a more middle of the road approach. He noted that automotive manufacturers want certainty over time especially as they seek to invest billions of dollars in new technologies. Still, there is much risk involved as consumers adapt to new vehicles with no one really knows how they will respond. Bainwol reiterated calls for a mid-term review to gauge what consumers are buying.

Industry Panel

The second part of the policy summit included Reg Modlin who was joined by Robert Bienenfeld, Senior Manger, Environment Energy Strategy, Product Regulatory Office, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Tom Stricker, Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, and Energy and Environmental Research for Toyota. National Journals Amy Harder moderated.

The industry leaders stressed that the 2025 fuel economy standards are ambitious for reducing greenhouse gases and in improving fuel economy. The three gentlemen agreed that there needs to be clear rules, that the rules must be technologically neutral and competitive. Once again, what consumers will do for the short-, mid- and long-term remains the unknowable part of the equation, something that lawmakers and industry leaders will need to keep in mind as they move forward.

Toyota, Ford Pace 2012 Manufacturer Recalls

January 25, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing and the Ford Motor Company both had the dubious distinction of leading all car manufacturers in the number of recalls in 2012. Toyotas 12 recalls affected 5,330,643 vehicles or nearly 2 million more than second-place Honda. Ford led in the number of recall cycles, 24, affecting 1,398,837 vehicles. As usual, the big volume manufacturers led the list, but Subaru managed to place sixth with 962,123 vehicles affected from its four recalls.

Calendar Year Recalls

In all, the NHTSA reported more than 650 product recalls in 2012 covering 17.8 million vehicles. The NHTSA total included specific make/model vehicles as well as safety equipment and child car seats. Its numbers were based on the calendar year, not the model year.

The NHTSA gathers its product information through direct reports from consumers, but has also taken advantage of the digital age to gather data. Personnel from its Office of Defects Investigation listen in to online conversations, culling information from fan sites, individual automotive sites and bulletin boards. It also reviews technical service bulletins, trade publications and leading magazines to gauge what consumers are talking about.

NHTSA Recall Influence

Altogether, the NHTSA claims that it influenced recalls for more than 9 million vehicles and over 60,000 items such as tires and child safety seats in 2012. Said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. We have one of the most effective programs in the world and will continue, in 2013, to pursue investigations and recalls wherever our data justifies doing so. LaHood lauded his staff for its role in uncovering and initiating more than half of affected recalls in 2012.

The NHTSA boasts of its data accumulation prowess, noting that over the past three years it has handled nearly 42,000 complaints for possible safety defects, down over each of the two succeeding years. Still those recalls involved more than 22 million automotive products and vehicles, enabling this federal agency to stay ahead of the recall curve.

The Statistics Game

And if mind-blowing statistics is your thing, the NHTSA says that it has handled more than 17,000 recalls since it got started in 1966, accounting for more than 500 million affected vehicles and over 84 million items of equipment.

Lastly, the NHTSA notes that the huge number of recalls for some manufacturers isnt necessarily a reflection on vehicle quality. Rather, the introduction of new technologies tends to increase the number of recalls, as manufacturers work through the kinks to provide state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment for today’s discriminating new car buyers.

Ford Finishes First in Experian Automotive Brand Loyalty Report

January 16, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Brand loyalty and new car purchases.

The Ford Motor Company enjoys the highest brand loyalty among automotive brands according to the Q3 2012 Loyalty and Market Trends report from Experian Automotive. The Ford Fusion took top honors and was one of seven Ford models to crack the top 10.

Experian Automotive Report

According to its latest report released this week, Experian Automotive discovered that 56.4 percent of Ford Fusion owners returned to the Ford brand to buy or lease another vehicle. Ford Flex owners offered a 55.3 percent loyalty rate followed by the Chevrolet Sonic coming in at 54.3 percent. The Chevy Sonic was the top finisher in the Q2 2012 Loyalty and Market Trends report published last fall.

four quarters Said Jeffrey Anderson, director of consulting and analytics for Experian Automotive, Ford continues to perform exceptionally well in brand loyalty, with a range of products that are getting customers back to the showroom again and again. Anderson stressed that loyal customers help automotive brands increase market share as well as to make more money through improved profitability.

Top 10 Finishers

The Ford Edge and Kia Forte took the fourth and fifth spots, followed by four consecutive Ford models: Five Hundred, Fiesta, Escape and Focus. The tenth spot was occupied by the Cadillac DTS.

Across the brand, Ford enjoyed a 44.1 percent owner loyalty rate, edging out Toyota which came in at 43.3 percent. Kia at 39.9 percent, Hyundai at 38.6 percent and Honda at 38.1 percent followed. The sixth spot belonged to Chevrolet at an even 38 percent, followed by Subaru at 35.7 percent, Nissan at 34.7 percent, Mercedes-Benz at 34.6 percent and in the tenth spot, Lexus, at 34.1 percent.

Corporate Loyalty Leaders

The Experian Automotive report for Q2 2012 looked at corporate loyalty primarily, recognizing that Toyota Motor Sales, USA had earned the top spot for the first time since 2009. TMS includes all Toyota, Scion and Lexus models.

In second place was General Motors (Cadillac, Buick, GMC and Chevrolet) followed by the Ford Motor Company ( Ford and Lincoln) in third place. Hyundai and Honda occupied the next two positions.

Webinar Information

Among specific models, Ford took six of the 10 top spots for Q2, adding the Focus as its seventh top 10 finisher in the Q3 report. The Ford Focus along with the Cadillac DTS were new to the top 10 replacing the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Cruze which fell out.

Additional report findings will be offered during a Jan. 23 webinar. You can learn more or sign up by visiting the Experian Automotive website.

See Also — Experian Automotive: Gas Buyer Trends

Shining Stars to Ramp Up Production

January 5, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

The US auto industry continues to rebound from its 2009 lows with 2012 sales coming in at more than 30 percent above its historic lows. Sales are still about 2.5 million units shy of the peak level reached at the beginning of the millennium, but the general mood of the industry is one that is decidedly upbeat. Three of the industry’s shining stars are taking advantage of current auto trends and are expanding North American production capacity in a bid to gain market share.

Auto Trends

The three shining stars do not include Hyundai and Kia, Korean automakers that will continue to work with the two US plants that they have. Consumer demand continues to shift to Subaru, Volkswagen and BMW, with each company planning to meet market demand with new models and expanded North American build capacity.

Subaru Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., parent of Subaru, is partly owned by Toyota Motors. With or without Toyota, the company is enjoying rock solid growth, as consumers flock to a line of cars that are highly dependable, affordable and retain good value.

That Toyota is part of the mix is evident in the Subaru BRZ, a sport model that has raised Subarus profile considerably. Subarus lone foreign production plant is located in Indiana and currently builds its Outback, Legacy and Tribeca models. The plant also handles some production of the Toyota Camry, and will expand that plants capacity by 30 percent according to the Nikkei business daily.

Volkswagen No less than global dominance is Volkswagen’s goal, with the German automaker likely to claim sales leadership several years earlier than its previously announced 2018 goal. Its lone US plant is in Tennessee with a current build capacity of 150,000 units. Although an expansion of that plant has yet to be announced, we should learn of VW’s plans in 2013.

Where Volkswagen is expanding production is in Mexico. Its first North American Audi plant will open in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico in 2016, and will build the successor for the Audi Q5 SUV. Beginning production capacity will be 150,000 units with expansion possible to accommodate additional Audi models down the road. In addition, the Volkswagen brand currently operates a manufacturing plant in Puebla and an engine plant in Silao.

BMW South Carolina is the US base for this German make. The company had been thought to be looking at building a second plant. Instead, BMW is the process of expanding its Spartanburg manufacturing facility through a $900 million upgrade. When completed in 2014, the South Carolina facility will have a 350,000 annual unit output capacity, expanding its production limit by 27 percent.

The Spartanburg plant will build the new BMW X4 SUV. Every BMW SUV except for the X1 is built in Spartanburg, with more than two-thirds of its production sent abroad.

Expanding Market

Other manufacturers are looking for ways to squeeze more production from existing plants, with some loathe to take on the expense of building all-new plants. Instead, existing plants are being modernized to accommodate new vehicle lines as well as to raise capacity by adding new shifts as needed.

See Also — BMW Spartanburg Plant Slated for $1 Billion Expansion
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Volkswagen, Toyota, Subaru, Honda & Chrysler Enjoy 2012 U.S. Sales Surge

January 4, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

U.S. auto sales rose for the third consecutive year, with sales finishing at just under 14.5 million units for 2012. Volkswagen, Toyota, Subaru, Honda and Chrysler each ended the year strong, registering significant year over year sales increases.

Chrysler Reports First

2012 2013 Chrysler was the first car manufacturer to announce monthly and annual sales, issuing its report just before 9 a.m. ET, on Thursday. Its December sales, which include Fiat were up by 10 percent, while its annual sales rose by 21 percent or well above the industry average. Big gainers were its Ram 1500 pickup, up by 20 percent, the Fiat 500 up by 121 percent, the Jeep Cherokee up by 21 percent, and the Dodge Avenger, up 51 percent. December was the 33rd consecutive month of year over year sales gains.

Ford followed Chrysler to announce that its sales rose by just under 2 percent for the month and 4.7 percent for the year. Ford brand sales rose by 5.1 percent, while Lincoln sales fell by 4.1 percent. For the year, the Ford brand sold 2.168 million units led by 645,316 F-Series trucks, 261,008 Escape SUVs, 245,922 Focus models and 241,263 copies of its Fusion sedan.

Subaru Surges

December was kind to Subaru as the Japanese automaker enjoyed its best month for U.S. sales ever. Its sales rose by 8.8 percent for the month and were up by 26 percent for the year on sales of 336,441 units. It top seller was the Subaru Outback followed by the Forester, Impreza and Legacy.

Chevrolet Cruze GM retains its position as the top seller of vehicles in the United States. Its December sales rose by nearly 5 percent and for the year GM sales rose by 3.1 percent on sales of 2,595,717 units. Thats 345,000 more vehicles sold than runner-up Ford. The Chevrolet Silverado maintained its lead as the top selling GM model with 418,312 units sold. Other strong sellers included Cruse at 237,758 units and Equinox at 218,621 SUVs sold. Chevrolet also registered 210,951 Malibus sold.

Korean Makes

Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia each reported record U.S. sales. Hyundai sales rose by 9 percent, topping 700,000 units for the first time. Kia sales rose by nearly 15 percent on 557,599 units sold. Two Hyundai models, the Sonata and Elantra, topped 200,000 units each. The Kia Optima enjoyed a 40 percent sales increase in 2012 on sales of 152,399 units.

Japanese Big Three

Toyota Prius C Toyota, Honda and Nissan each reported strong sales for December. Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. sales rose by 13.2 percent in December and 26.6 percent for the year on sales of 2,082,504 vehicles. The Toyota Camry registered 404,886 units sold, retaining its best-selling passenger car status for yet another year. The Ford F-150 remains the best-selling vehicle overall. The big news for Toyota was its Prius sales as the expanded model family line registered 236,659 models sold, up 73.2 percent for the year.

Honda sales rose by 26.2 percent for December and 24 percent for the year on the strength of 1.267 million units sold. The top three models for 2012 were the Honda Accord at 331,872 units; its compact Civic at 317,909 units; and the CR-V crossover with 281,652 vehicles sold.

Nissan sales rose by 9.5 with the Nissan brand selling 1 million vehicles for the first time ever. Altima led the way with 302,934 sales followed by Rogue with 142,349 vehicles sold. Infiniti sales rose by 21.8 percent on the strength of its new JX crossover SUV.

German Brands

2012 Volkswagen Beetle December sales and 2012 sales alike rose by 35 percent for Volkswagen, The Volkswagen brand sold 438,133 models led by Jetta at 170,424 and Passat at 117,023. Audi sales rose by 18.5 percent to 139,310 units.

The BMW Group, consisting of BMW and MINI, reported its best sales year ever. Sales rose by 13.8 percent to 347,583 units, with BMW claiming 281,460 vehicles sold to retain the No. 1 luxury make position in the US. Its 3 Series accounts for half of its passenger car sales; BMWs 5 Series, X3 and X5 also lead.

The Daimler Group reported sales of 305,072 vehicles for 2012 with Mercedes-Benz selling 274,134 units. Daimler sales rose by 15.4 percent with Smart brand sales increasing by 92.2 percent. Sales of M-Bs best selling C-Class rose by 17.9 percent, while sales of its SL-Class increased by 238 percent.

The Rest

Mazda CX-5 The remaining manufacturers reported a mixed bag of news. Suzuki finished down by 4.7 percent as this small, Japanese automaker closes down its US car selling operation. Jaguar LandRover finished up by 10.5 percent and Porsche rose by 20.7 percent. Volvo sales edged up by 1.3 percent, while Mazda sales rose by 10.6 percent. Mitsubishi sales plunged by 26.9 percent.

All told, 14,491,873 passenger vehicles were sold in 2012. Passenger cars outsold light trucks, and 1,243,733 more vehicles were sold in 2012 than in 2011 for a 13.4 percent increase according Motor Intelligence by Autodata Corp.

Photos copyright the respective manufacturer.

How to Find a College Grad Car Deal

May 28, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

mortars — With college behind you, a new car may be in front of you.

They’re out there. And you may have heard some buzz about them. What am I talking about? New car deals for college grads.

It is true that car manufacturers are interested in getting the business of recent college grads. Grads typically are just launching their careers and some are shopping for their first new car. The clunker or hand-me-down car from mom and dad just doesn’t cut it — 20-somethings are in the market for new wheels, but they’re also looking for a lot of car for not a lot of money.

College Grad Shopping Tips

To help smooth the way to new car ownership, most manufacturers are offering highly publicized incentives to get a grads business. Read on for some tips on what to look for as you shop for a new or used car:

1. Grad program eligibility — You need not have graduated within the past few months to qualify for a new college grad program. General Motors, for example, extends its Best in Class Alumni & Student Discount program to college students who obtained a degree from any two- or four-year institution within the past two years. Current nursing school and grad students are also eligible. Similar programs from Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and Fiat Chrysler are also available.

2. Proof of eligibility — Sure, you can tell the dealer that you qualify for a discount. But you’ll have to show proof that you graduated from college or are currently enrolled. Some manufacturers, such as Ford, encourage you to register online first. Ford’s College Student Purchase Program will send materials to your inbox once you are registered.

Eligibility proof usually includes furnishing a copy of your diploma or submitting proof that you are currently enrolled in school. Some manufacturers require a job offer letter from your future employer or recent pay stubs. Check the manufacturer’s website for current requirements or ask your dealer.

3. Know the rewards — Car manufacturers may offer different rewards and have varying requirements for you to receive a rebate or discount. If you lease or buy a Toyota model and finance your purchase through Toyota Financial Services, then you may be eligible for a $750 rebate, monies you can apply toward your down payment. You’ll need to show proof of graduation and have a job lined up.

Not all manufacturers offer a cash incentive. Honda and Mitsubishi provide low-rate financing, the latter through its College Graduate Program. The Mitsubishi program requires college grads to have a job lined up, one that they will start within 120 days, have a clean credit history and payments must be no more than 18 percent of the grad’s gross monthly income.

As of this writing, both Ford and General Motors are offering $500 back to college graduates. Nissan is updating its offer. Dodge and other Chrysler Group brands are more subtle with their programs, but a search of individual dealer websites shows a $500 rebate for recent college grads. If you can afford a BMW then its college graduate program can give you $1,000 back on a new car or $1,500 back on a Certified Pre-Owned BMW.

4. Other Incentives College grads should know that there are other incentives available for the taking. For instance, if a manufacturer is offering $2,000 back on a new car or low-rate financing or leasing, the college grad incentive is on top of that. Moreover, you should negotiate the best price on a new car first before talking incentives to get the lowest price possible from the dealer. You can do this by getting at least three bids from different dealers on like make/model cars before talking incentives. When you get your best price add in the general incentive first and then the college rebate. Lastly, ask about trading in your car or try to get more money for it by selling your car to a private party.

Know the Rules

All car manufacturers regularly adjust incentives throughout the year. We’ve updated the information here since the article was first published in 2012, but changes can happen at any time.

Not sure what incentives are offered? Just ask your salesperson. Likely, there is a program for you as manufacturers want to win your business now in hopes of keeping you in the brand fold for many years to come. Dangling a special incentive before your eyes is one of the ways that this is done.

Photo: April Bell

The Big Six Automakers Defined

September 7, 2010 by admin 1 Comment

We automotive writers will sometimes use language most everyday folks don’t understand. That’s a problem, because when you’re attempting to explain something in simple language, automotive jargon can creep in and leave the reader wondering what you are talking about.

Big Six

Auto Trends Magazine attempts to keep the language simple in a bid to reach all car-buying consumers with information that interesting and informative. To that end, we’ll be tackling some of the terms you may not be familiar with starting with the “Big Six” automakers.

Simply put, the Big Six automakers are the six car manufacturers who are the leaders in the market in terms of sales. At one time they were referenced as the “Big Three” but that was decades ago when Detroit iron dominated Japan’s market share was minimal.

Today, the Big Six in order of 2009 sales are the General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motors, American Honda, Chrysler Group, LLC and Nissan Motors.[1]

Contact Information

The following list is the U.S. contact information for each manufacturer and related notes:

General Motors Company
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48235
313-556-5000
gm.com

GM Notes: GM’s claim as No. 1 automaker ended in 2008 after a seven decade reign. In 2009, the company filed for bankruptcy and has since closed down or sold four brands: Saturn, Saab, Hummer and Pontiac. Today, the company manages four U.S. brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick.

Ford Motor Company
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126
313-322-3000
ford.com

Ford Notes: Ford escaped bankruptcy, having hocked its assets to keep its operation going. The company is in the process of shutting down its Mercury brand, leaving it with Lincoln and Ford only.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc
19001 South Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501-1196
800-331-4331
toyota.com

Toyota Notes: The world’s largest automaker sells Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Toyota is the bestselling make in America, outselling both Chevrolet and Ford.

American Honda Motor Company Inc.
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
310-783-2000
honda.com

Honda Notes: Besides selling Honda and Acura vehicles, this Japanese automaker sells Honda engines, motorcycles, engines and lawn products.

Chrysler Group LLC
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
800-334-9200
chryslerllc.com

Chrysler Notes: Chrysler went through bankruptcy in 2009, less than two years after severing its relationship with Daimler. Today, the company is tied in with Fiat and markets four brands: Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram.

Nissan Motor Corporation
1410 Fort Negley Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37203-5036
615-259-1536
nissanusa.com

Nissan Notes: Managing the Nissan and Infiniti brands, this Japanese automaker first began to sell its cars in the US as Datsun, switching to Nissan in the early 1980s.

Up Next

Coming up fast on Nissan is Hyundai.[2] Combined with Kia, the Hyundai-Kia juggernaut may change the Big Six listmakers or, perhaps, expand it to become the Big Seven.

References

[1] Automotive Digest: Cost Of Incentives For “Big Six” Automakers – June 2007

[2] USA Today: Hyundai looms as sales threat to Big 6 automakers