Sunday, April 30, 2017

Changes online to help AN continue quality journalism

Changes online to help AN continue quality journalism http://ift.tt/2plGgKY News is progressively rolling out an updated 'metered' approach to online readership.

Chinese buy into Cadillac

Chinese buy into Cadillac http://ift.tt/2plJ8Yj is selling itself as a heritage brand in China as it chases its German rivals. It is one of many things going right for the American luxury icon in the world's biggest market.

17 million or bust? Red flags for retailers

17 million or bust? Red flags for retailers http://ift.tt/2plFb60 industry has crossed the line into risky territory on automaker incentives, leasing levels and new-vehicle inventory, said AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson. Several other public dealership group executives agreed.

Honda back in the black as recall costs dwindle

Honda back in the black as recall costs dwindle http://ift.tt/2plJ4I7 swings back to profitability in the latest quarter as the company put recall costs behind it. North America is the profit motor, but executives warn of rising incentives.

Mazda will turn to crossovers to bolster profitability

Mazda will turn to crossovers to bolster profitability http://ift.tt/2plEOZf Motor Corp. is ramping up crossover output to bolster profitability after recalls and higher car incentives undercut earnings in the latest quarter.

Self-driving companies to consumers: Hop in

Self-driving companies to consumers: Hop in http://ift.tt/2plER7n rides in the cars of the future are becoming more available to the public, and are no longer limited to engineers, executives and journalists.

Dealer anniversaries

Dealer anniversaries http://ift.tt/2plU4oR with Buick, Dodge, Honda, Ford and Toyota celebrate milestones.

Uber reassigns engineer cited in Waymo lawsuit

Uber reassigns engineer cited in Waymo lawsuit http://ift.tt/2plDCoF Levandowski, the Uber self-driving engineer at the center of Waymo's lawsuit against the company, stepped down from his position as head of Uber's Advanced Technology Group and moved to a different role within Uber.

Selling 'upgrades' in the service lane

Selling 'upgrades' in the service lane http://ift.tt/2plGkuq Wilson's Villa Ford has transformed its service lane into a gateway for upgrading customers into a new vehicle. Money was a key motivator.

Store guarantees job applicants an interview

Store guarantees job applicants an interview http://ift.tt/2plA3Pe DeBruler was in the middle of a rough patch when he walked into Champion Chevrolet of Avon, Ind., last summer to pick up a job application. It proved to be just the break he needed.

Watch for China to shape industry's future

Watch for China to shape industry's future http://ift.tt/2plv7di sales figures like it has, it ought to be China #8212; not the U.S., Europe or Japan #8212; that dictates the future of what we call global vehicles.

Consumers change; so must industry

Consumers change; so must industry http://ift.tt/2plGdPi have made it very clear that they want options, and one of those options is to conduct business with a franchised dealer without ever stepping foot in the dealership.

KAR, Cox take different approaches to growth

KAR, Cox take different approaches to growth http://ift.tt/2plzZiH Automotive and KAR Auction Services own the two largest U.S. auction groups. But they've taken quite different approaches to growing and diversifying.

Nissan Rogue Sport: A conquest machine?

Nissan Rogue Sport: A conquest machine? http://ift.tt/2plJe2e expects the new Rogue Sport to become a conquesting machine, taking buyers mostly from small import sedans such as the Honda Civic.

Seat's de Meo wants to build on Spanish brand's strengths

Seat's de Meo wants to build on Spanish brand's strengths http://ift.tt/2piSwfv CEO Luca de Meo needed just 18 months to turn the money-losing Spanish brand into a profit maker for parent VW Group. The Italian executive outlined Seat's future role in the group.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Mazda wants new CMO to lead upscale climb

Mazda wants new CMO to lead upscale climb http://ift.tt/2qrAo0M's new US marketing chief, Dino Bernacchi, joins the brand at a precarious time, as it attempts to move from its youthful 'Zoom Zoom' image into a higher tier.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Car Dogs' have their day on screen

Car Dogs' have their day on screen http://ift.tt/2oRzppg new feature film about a day in the life of a car dealership resonated with some store employees who could identify with the long hours, the hypercompetitive atmosphere and the sense of camaraderie among stressed-out salespeople.

Tesla must complete brake fix to regain top safety rating, Consumer Reports says

Tesla must complete brake fix to regain top safety rating, Consumer Reports says http://ift.tt/2oHIE0d needs to complete fixing its Model S sedan emergency braking system to regain Consumer Reports' top safety rating, the magazine said on Friday, noting that a recent update by the luxury electric car maker was not enough.

Used-car retailer Carvana's shares skid in debut

Used-car retailer Carvana's shares skid in debut http://ift.tt/2oFouUj of Carvana, which uses vending machine-like towers to sell used cars, plunged as much as 17 percent in their debut on Friday.

Uber demotes executive at center of Waymo self-driving car lawsuit

Uber demotes executive at center of Waymo self-driving car lawsuit http://ift.tt/2oQ5n5d Levandowsk stepped down from his post overseeing self-driving car technology. Uber said he won't be involved in decisions relating to lidar technology.

First Shift: GM Q1 profit jumps 34%

First Shift: GM Q1 profit jumps 34% http://ift.tt/2qesatn profit up 34%; Honda, Mazda, Volvo earnings; Uber demotes self-driving exec; Apple car seen?; Hyundai Kona peek; Facebook CEO helps make F-150; Toyota gets advertising honor.

Volvo first-quarter profit rises 11%

Volvo first-quarter profit rises 11% http://ift.tt/2oSdH5h reported a 11 percent rise in first-quarter profit as strong demand for its XC60 and 90-series cars gave it a boost. The automaker stuck to a forecast of higher sales this year.

Continental expects to comfortably reach annual targets after strong Q1

Continental expects to comfortably reach annual targets after strong Q1 http://ift.tt/2oS5huB said it expected to comfortably reach its financial targets for 2017 after its underlying earnings rose about 10 percent, faster than expected in the first quarter.

Volvo sees higher sales in 2017 after Q1 profit rises 11%

Volvo sees higher sales in 2017 after Q1 profit rises 11% http://ift.tt/2pa5tbw stuck to its forecast of boosting sales this year after reporting an 11 percent rise in first-quarter operating profit as strong demand for its XC60 and 90-series cars drove sales.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Toyota expands connected-car hub in Texas

Toyota expands connected-car hub in Texas http://ift.tt/2p9zF6m Connected, the automaker's global data-science hub, is expanding staff and operations near the company's new North American headquarters in Texas.

AutoNews Now: Kia's new marketing chief is imported from FCA

AutoNews Now: Kia's new marketing chief is imported from FCA http://ift.tt/2qcOWVe's new marketing chief is imported from FCA; Ford's Fields sees 'opportunities' in Europe; 4th-straight U.S. sales drop predicted; A Calif. self-driving wish list.

Asbury's Q1 net rises 9.7% on FandI, parts and service gains

Asbury's Q1 net rises 9.7% on FandI, parts and service gains http://ift.tt/2oAUHMv Automotive Group's first-quarter net income climbed 9.7 percent to $34 million on parts and service and finance and insurance gains, as revenue held flat at $1.55 billion.

Asbury's Q1 net rises 9.7% on FandI, parts and service gains, flat revenue

Asbury's Q1 net rises 9.7% on FandI, parts and service gains, flat revenue http://ift.tt/2qafpQC Automotive Group's first-quarter net income climbed 9.7 percent to $34 million on parts and service and finance and insurance gains, as revenue held flat at $1.55 billion.

Schaeffler's growth outpaces global car market, but supplier warns of headwinds

Schaeffler's growth outpaces global car market, but supplier warns of headwinds http://ift.tt/2poF2zo supplier Schaeffler said growth at its automotive division continues to outpace global car markets, but the company warned that it would find it difficult to sustain strong margins in the unit given rising steel prices, high randd costs and...

Valeo sales rise 22% on fuel-saving, self-driving tech

Valeo sales rise 22% on fuel-saving, self-driving tech http://ift.tt/2q9afUP's quarterly sales rose 22 percent to outpace global vehicle production in all regions as the French supplier reiterated its upbeat 2017 goals on strong demand for its fuel-saving and automated-driving technology.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

U.S. auto sales forecast to slip in April as retail demand slumps

U.S. auto sales forecast to slip in April as retail demand slumps http://ift.tt/2qfq2RB's becoming increasingly clear that U.S. new-vehicle sales have passed their peak, with April expected to mark the industry's fourth consecutive monthly decline.

Hyundai's Q1 profit slides on China tension, U.S. recall

Hyundai's Q1 profit slides on China tension, U.S. recall http://ift.tt/2pi4Zyr posted a 21 percent fall in quarterly net profit, dragged down by a U.S. recall and sales declines in China stemming from political tensions.

Google will begin testing autonomous cars in self-driving service

Google will begin testing autonomous cars in self-driving service http://ift.tt/2pi7QYf almost a decade of research, Google's autonomous car project is close to becoming a real service as it begins testing its vehicles with consumers.

First Shift: Consumer Reports cuts Tesla ratings

First Shift: Consumer Reports cuts Tesla ratings http://ift.tt/2pz0cvn Reports cuts Tesla ratings over missing safety feature; Uber steps up flying-car efforts; Hyundai earnings fall, Daimler raises outlook; Why Cadillac delayed Super Cruise.

Automakers ask California to ease rules for self-driving car tests

Automakers ask California to ease rules for self-driving car tests http://ift.tt/2q4CPXH urged California to further ease its proposed regulations for autonomous vehicles, saying the state did not respond to their earlier objections by making enough revisions to its planned set of rules for self-driving cars.

Tesla dinged by Consumer Reports for not implementing safety feature

Tesla dinged by Consumer Reports for not implementing safety feature http://ift.tt/2qe0kwM vehicles have dropped in Consumer Reports' ratings because the automaker failed to implement a safety feature that was expected to come standard.

Hyundai's Q1 profit slides as China political row, U.S. recall drag

Hyundai's Q1 profit slides as China political row, U.S. recall drag http://ift.tt/2q46EHJ posted a 21 percent fall in quarterly net profit, dragged down by a U.S. recall and sales declines in China stemming from political tensions.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Hyundai goes to Antarctica

Hyundai goes to Antarctica http://ift.tt/2q3QDl1 the latest video to top our weekly viral video charts, Hyundai helps finish a 100-year old expedition.

New York attorney general cites 104 dealerships for selling vehicles with open recalls

New York attorney general cites 104 dealerships for selling vehicles with open recalls http://ift.tt/2oJaKnM York's attorney general has reached legal settlements with 104 dealerships it identified as having sold vehicles without disclosing open safety recalls.

U.S. vehicle repair costs rose 2.7% in 2016, after holding flat for two years

U.S. vehicle repair costs rose 2.7% in 2016, after holding flat for two years http://ift.tt/2oHjfin average cost of a vehicle repair in the U.S., including parts and labor, rose 2.7 percent in 2016 from 2015, after holding flat for the previous two years.

France's Bollore backs away from EV ambitions

France's Bollore backs away from EV ambitions http://ift.tt/2q0AigT Bollore, the French billionaire who helped build Paris's auto-sharing network, is backing off on ambitions for his electric cars to compete with models from Volkswagen Group and Renault.

First Shift: Public to test self-driving Pacificas

First Shift: Public to test self-driving Pacificas http://ift.tt/2p0Nnsp residents to test Waymo's self-driving Pacificas; AutoNation profit rises; Ghosn: Not merging Nissan, Mitsubishi; Tesla doubling charger network; CarMax's closest rival?

AutoNation Q1 net rises 2.3% on flat revenue

AutoNation Q1 net rises 2.3% on flat revenue http://ift.tt/2p0pQrg's first-quarter net income rose 2.3 percent to $98.1 million on parts and service growth, while revenue inched up 0.4 percent to $5.14 billion.

Google will begin testing autonomous cars with consumers

Google will begin testing autonomous cars with consumers http://ift.tt/2ornWBn almost a decade of research, Google's autonomous car project is close to becoming a real service as it begins testing its vehicles with consumers.

China targets 35 million vehicle sales by 2025, NEVs to make up one-fifth

China targets 35 million vehicle sales by 2025, NEVs to make up one-fifth http://ift.tt/2oGWw6B is targeting 35 million vehicle sales by 2025 and wants new energy vehicles to make up at least one-fifth of that total as automakers increasingly push into electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to meet stringent new government quotas.

Monday, April 24, 2017

AutoNews Now: Supreme Court rejects GM case

AutoNews Now: Supreme Court rejects GM case http://ift.tt/2pYSsm8 court rejects GM effort to block ignition-switch cases; Buick Avenir on Denali's path; BMW dealers seek more 5 series; What's behind used-car price drop; Driverless at Amazon?

Buffett seeks exemption from Texas law

Buffett seeks exemption from Texas law http://ift.tt/2paAY3x Buffett has run afoul of the same Texas law that prevents Elon Musk from selling Teslas at factory-owned stores.

First Shift: Honda Civic Type R sets speed record

First Shift: Honda Civic Type R sets speed record http://ift.tt/2pW6bHo Civic Type R sets speed record; Tesla takes a production gamble; Sunday ads target Musk, Trump; Japan's big hydrogen bet; More Apple-car clues.

New-car glut weighs on prices, profits

New-car glut weighs on prices, profits http://ift.tt/2oDrjQV glut of vehicles is threatening the industry's good times. But contrary to the predictions and pundits, it's not too many used vehicles. It's too many new ones.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Japan dreams of a hydrogen society

Japan dreams of a hydrogen society http://ift.tt/2p7QFbN home market to two of the three global carmakers selling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Japan is understandably optimistic about the outlook for hydrogen-powered cars.