WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW hailed the amenities of its newest franchise dealership that opened earlier this month, BMW of Minnetonka located just outside of Minneapolis. The automaker rattled off several store highlights, including 223,000 square feet of space on multiple levels and enough room to park 500 vehicles indoors and house 80 work bays. BMW […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — The challenges continue to mount for Toyota. This time, the automaker is recalling about 50,000 Toyota Seqouia vehicles from early model-year 2003. The voluntary safety recall is to give the Vehicle Stability Control system a program logic upgrade. "The VSC system can help control a loss of traction in turns as a result […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors announced plans this week to make more investments as a response to customer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. This latest undertaking focuses on retooling five North American plants to produce a new generation of fuel efficient, small block truck and car engines. The automaker said it will invest more than $890 million […] [Read More]

DETROIT — AOL Autos used March sales figures to compile a list of the top-selling new compact and full-size trucks. So which unit led the way?   Site editors revealed it was a staple for the industry, the Ford F-150. Two more domestic offerings were among the site's top three units, the Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram. Breaking the […] [Read More]

MEDFORD, Ore. — Though Lithia Motors' net income fell by almost 5 percent in the first quarter, the company said it still saw improvement in adjusted earnings per share and enjoyed a significant lift in quarterly revenue, especially on the used side. Specifically, Lithia recorded first-quarter net income of $1.27 million, down from $1.33 million in […] [Read More]

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — For the second time in just over a month, Penske Automotive Group has opened a new Mini store in the group's Western region, as it unveiled a 17,500-square-foot facility in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. Mini of Austin's debut comes just five weeks after Penske opened Mini of Tempe to serve the Phoenix […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Ford, which said Tuesday it earned $2.1 billion in first-quarter net profit, is on pace to move ahead of Toyota and climb back into the No. 2 spot for yearly U.S. auto sales for the first time since 2006, according to Edmunds.com. Ford has finished third in full-year U.S. auto sales in […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — Thanks largely to improvements in its business structure as well as a healthier auto environment, Group 1 made what its president and chief executive officer called a "strong start" to the year. Adjusted net income for the first quarter came in at $10.4 million, up from $4.7 million in the year-ago period. The most […] [Read More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sonic Automotive said it compiled strong first-quarter results with its retail used-vehicle operation leading the way.  Executives said Tuesday that during the first quarter, the company recorded net income of $4.15 million, up from $1.68 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations were $0.14 per share, compared to $0.10 per share last year.  Sonic explained […] [Read More]

HERNDON, Va. — Audi of America is looking to further leverage the exposure one of its vehicles is receiving in the film Iron Man 2. The automaker on Tuesday announced an online social-media contest called "The Tony Stark Innovation Challenge" that stems from the movie character's use of the Audi R8 and other technological advances. Starting Wednesday, […] [Read More]