The economy remained sluggish and the debt ceiling crisis was on the worried minds of many. But neither of those things apparently stopped consumers from buying what TrueCar said was the priciest assortment of vehicles it has ever observed. Thanks to a pricier product mix, limited inventories and the dearth in dealer discounts/OEM incentives, average […] [Read More]

Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it will recall more than 1 million trucks to replace fuel tank straps. The recall includes these units: —Ford F-150 from 1997 through 2004 model years. —Ford F-250 with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 8,500 pounds from 1997 through 1999 model years. —Lincoln Blackwood […] [Read More]

Not to be confused with the Hot Wheels found at a toy store, the National Insurance Crime Bureau on Tuesday released its own Hot Wheels — the list of the 10 most stolen vehicles in the United States. And for the first time since 2002, NICB discovered thieves preferred domestic nameplates over foreign brands. Among […] [Read More]

FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford and its franchise dealers, revealed Monday its choice for chief operating officer. Appointed to the position is Valerie Fuller, who previously served as executive vice president of operations and has been a member of the company’s management team for the past six years. "Valerie has been a key driver in […] [Read More]

Sharing the findings of a semi-annual study, J.D. Power and Associates recently examined how car brands stack up against one another in terms of how satisfied new-vehicle shoppers are with their respective websites. In releasing the results of its 2011 Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study’s second wave on Tuesday, J.D. Power noted that the brand topping […] [Read More]

In light of the Japanese natural disaster and a flagging U.S. economic recovery, Tom Webb and Manheim Consulting had plenty of unique factors to consider when compiling this year’s Used Car Market Report — Mid-Year Edition. Pinpointing what would boost all segments of the industry most, Webb didn’t hesitate to tell Auto Remarketing it is […] [Read More]

It has been six years since the used-car market saw a July as strong as the “blockbuster” sales total reached last month, according to CNW Research. But as one particular dealer can attest, challenges apparently still remain. The firm reported Sunday that used sales for the month jumped 13.46 percent year-over-year and came in just […] [Read More]

While the first-quarter financial numbers might look bleak, revised sales forecasts and other signs point toward Honda Motor Co., making a strong recovery as its 2011 fiscal year continues, especially on the heels of strengthening certified pre-owned sales. First, here is the unsightly news that came out Monday. Honda’s first-quarter consolidated net income totaled 31.7 […] [Read More]

Based on the latest analysis from J.D. Power and Associates, it appears the auto industry is having a tough time accelerating over recent speed bumps, although recovery still seems to be on the horizon and the market likely improved from June. Pointing out yet another month where second-half sales stalled, J.D. Power expects that when […] [Read More]

According to a new study from Dataium, more consumers than ever before are turning to mobile devices while shopping for their next vehicle. The company found that the amount of auto buyers who accessed an automotive website via a mobile device this past July nearly doubled when compared to 2010, coming in at 8.74 percent. [Read More]