ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Leadership from the American International Automobile Dealers Association touted the higher sales performance member dealers posted in July. AIADA indicated international nameplate franchises accounted for 56.3 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States in July. The figure moved higher than the June mark, which was 53.4 percent. Looking at the specific […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — As Porsche celebrates 60 years in America, the German automaker is unveiling several promotional initiatives, including the launch of a new website. Company officials indicated the website is set to go live next week with contests, videos, stories and images. They stressed this new site is meant to "celebrate the cars and people that […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors announced this week that a member of its board of directors who helped the company steer through its bankruptcy proceedings has retired. That member is Kent Kresa. In accordance with company guidelines, GM said members are ineligible for re-election after the age of 72. Kresa, who is 72, was appointed to the […] [Read More]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — AutoNation enjoyed both month-over-month and year-over-year gains in retail new vehicle unit sales for July. Executives said Wednesday that the amount of new vehicles moved in July totaled 19,688. They indicated this amount represents a 5-percent climb from July 2009, a month the company mentioned had the benefit of Cash for Clunkers. AutoNation […] [Read More]

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A focus on self-evaluation and self-improvement has permeated the culture at Chrysler since it went through bankruptcy and reorganization last year, and this mentality is particularly evident in the automaker's manufacturing segment, said Scott Garberding, the automaker's senior vice president of manufacturing/world class manufacturing.  Garberding was a speaker Monday at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — J.D. Power and Associates doesn't think the sharp improvement in new-vehicle retail sales experienced during the first half of July kept enough steam to drive up full-month results by a large factor. This is why firm analysts believe a slowed sales pace during the final two weeks of July likely will pull down the […] [Read More]

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Ford announced Tuesday that at the end of this month it will kick off an initiative to bring the best performance possible for both current and past buyers of its 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup. For customers who already purchased this vehicle earlier this year, they will be sent a letter […] [Read More]

DETROIT and ANDERSON, Ind. — Tuesday marked the first funding action by the newly formed General Motors Ventures, a strategic relationship between Bright Automotive and General Motors. The agreement with the Indiana automaker is intended to help accelerate Bright's production of the IDEA, a plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle. Executives explained the companies signed a memorandum of […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Delivering one of the keynote addresses at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in February will be Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales USA. Lentz will offer the industry message during the formal opening of the 94th Annual NADA Show. The conference is slated for Feb. 5-7 in […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — Volvo Car Corp. is now officially under new ownership. The sale of the Swedish car brand from Ford to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has wrapped up, and the Chinese company now owns 100 percent of Volvo Cars. It was also revealed that taking the reigns atop Volvo Cars as president and chief executive officer will be Stefan […] [Read More]