PALO ALTO, Calif. — High Gear Media recently finished the complete design of an automotive Web site operated by a CBS-owned television station in Minneapolis. The site for WCCO-TV incorporates all of the content produced by High Gear Media, which includes vehicle shopping tools and pricing information, as well as reviews and features from its network […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — After the success of the first initiative that generated a great deal of exposure and buzz for the new model, Ford has rolled out a second wave of its Fiesta Movement. During Fiesta Movement Chapter 2, there will be 20 teams of two agents that will embark on "missions" within their own communities. […] [Read More]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler Group announced this week that it will stop adding dealers in markets where there are arbitrating dealers as a "good faith" measure until the arbitrator makes a ruling.  In a statement Chrysler said, "While Chrysler Group has acted within its legal rights to grant sales points to qualified dealers — rights that […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — In an effort to support dealers and drive sales, Toyota Financial Services said Tuesday that franchised dealers can now get a $450 credit on each recalled model purchased via various Toyota remarketing Web sites and Toyota-sponsored auctions. The TFS credit can be applied to certify these vehicles, which can ultimately mean lower transaction prices for consumers. […] [Read More]

CARMEL, Ind. — Average wholesale prices in February reached their highest level in eight months and passed the $10,000 mark for the first time since July, according to the latest report from ADESA's Tom Kontos.  Specifically, the average wholesale price during the month was $10,138. This represents an 8.3-percent year-over-year gain, and a 3-percent upswing compared to […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda on Tuesday issued a recall of more than 400,000 Odysseys and Elements after receiving complaints that the brake pedals feel "soft" or are not working as well as expected over time. The units covered by the recall include approximately 344,000 Odyssey and 68,000 Element vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years. The automaker said it intends to […] [Read More]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Toyota's boosted incentive spending is not expected to affect the automaker's residual values in the long run. However, if these heightened incentives remain for more than three to six months, which is quite possible, there is likely to be some significant downward impact, according to the latest analysis from ALG, which examined the […] [Read More]

DETROIT — Saab Automobile announced its new executive director of sales earlier this week, and filling the position is Adrian Hallmark, who comes to the automaker from Volkswagen. His most recent post at VW was executive director of Asia, where he headed up operations in 50 markets, including China and Japan. In Hallmark's new role — which […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — The 2010 Harris Interactive EquiTrend Study that compiles consumers' opinions of 35 vehicle brands revealed two foreign nameplates posted the largest consumer equity increases during the past five years. Standing out with the two largest gains were Subaru and Hyundai. Harris indicated that Subaru rose from a reading of 44.36 back in 2005 to […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — There's a new No. 1 auto brand for customer loyalty, according to Market Intelligence data from Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com. Toyota no longer holds it first-place perch. It has now been replaced by Hyundai, which moved past the embattled Japanese automaker and Honda to claim the top spot for brand loyalty in February. Specifically, February data indicated that […] [Read More]