Category Archives: Auto Industry News

Ford Explorer will showcase safety features

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford, General Auto News

Ford has announced that the 2011 version of its popular Explorer SUV will demonstrate several safety features that have not yet debuted on any other vehicles.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford will include its new “curve control” technology on the model, which automatically slows the vehicle if it determines that a driver is approaching a curve too quickly.

The technology is based off the company’s electronic stability control, which collects data about speed and wheel tilt to safely control the vehicle. Ford has said that the new feature did not require any additional hardware, and integrated the software into the existing system. Ford said it began to develop the system after government crash data found that 50,000 serious accidents occur each year due to high speeds on curves, also a cause of rollovers on SUVs.

The new Explorer will also feature inflatable seatbelts in the rear seats, which protect passengers like airbags in case of crash.

Those looking for a safe vehicle at an affordable price may want to look at a used Ford with electronic stability control.

Japanese automakers see increased demand in Asian, American markets

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Mazda - DO NOT USE, Mitsubishi - DO NOT USE, Nissan, Toyota

Increased demand from car buyers led Japanese automakers to ramp up production in May, a sign that consumer confidence is returning. If the economic turnaround has drivers thinking about spending the money to buy a new car, they would do well to look at the used car market in order to find deals as the economy recovers.

All five of the major Japanese automakers reported an increase in production in May as opposed to last year. According to the Associated Press, Toyota produced the most units, at 637,675, although it also grew the least as compared to last year with a 27 percent increase.

Conversely, Mitsubishi posted an 85.8 percent increase as compared to last year, but also produced the fewest amount of cars, with 83,418. Honda, Nissan, and Mazda all saw growth of around 45 percent.

The automakers all agreed that an increase in demand, especially in the American and Asian markets, led to the surge in production.

This trend has also continued around the world, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW recently reporting that they were increasing production to respond to consumer’s increased confidence.

Uptick in sales causes luxury brands to add workers

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Mercedes-Benz

An unexpected reignition of interest in luxury cars has led BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi to add more shifts to its production facilities in an effort to meet the increased demand.

According to BusinessWeek, Mercedes-Benz is adding 1,800 temporary workers and adding Saturday production at its factories in Germany, which are responsible for the E-Class convertible, GLK SUV, and SLS AMG sports car.

Its countrymate BMW is following suit, adding 5,000 temporary workers to keep up with rising sales. BMW recently announced that their 5-Series was sold out worldwide, another sign that this sales surge was not predicted by the car companies.

"The recovery in luxury-car demand has been a bit faster than expected as confidence returns," Colin Couchman, an analyst at IHS Global Insight in London, told the news source "The growth is sustainable, because these companies have continued to invest in new products and expand into new markets."

Luxury cars can be quite pricy when bought new. As the economy rebounds, those who find themselves with a little extra money to spend might want to search for a late-model used BMW or Mercedes at a pre-owned dealer in order to avoid the inflation that occurs at new car dealers.

Toyota Camry is the top car “made in America”

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

A lot of stock is put in buying cars that are American made, especially to support the floundering economy. Traditionally, this involves buying from the big three U.S. automakers: GM, Ford and Chrysler.

However, the reality is that many parts are sourced from overseas. And while the U.S. automakers employ auto workers in this country by manufacturing cars on American soil, foreign companies have opened American plants in recent years as well.

So although the Toyota Camry is a Japanese car, it has topped Cars.com “American-Made Index” for the second year in a row. The survey not only takes into account where the car was manufactured (in the Camry’s case- Kentucky and Indiana), but the content of its parts that are American and its overall sales. The reason for the sales inclusion, the website explains, is because a completely-American made car may not sell well and thus employ less workers to make it.

The Ford F-150, once at the top of the charts, was nowhere to be seen this year, as Ford shrunk its domestic parts to just 55 percent in an effort to cut costs.

Despite misconceptions, buying used cars still helps support the economy. Used car dealers pay fees to the brands in order to sell their cars, so business for dealers is good for the entire auto industry.

JD Power: Ford rises, Toyota slumps

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford, Toyota

JD Power has released the results of their annual Initial Quality Study, and the results have fallen largely in line with the auto industry headlines as of late.

Ford was the big winner, breaking the top five in initial quality for the first time, and earning top marks in class for its Mustang, Taurus, and Focus models. Ford was the only of Detroit’s Big Three Automakers not to accept government bailout money and has since turned its business around.

In addition, this year’s study marks the first time that domestic brands collectively performed better than imports. That wasn’t good news for Toyota, who, in the wake of much-publicized recalls, fell from 6th to 21st in the rankings.

JD Power surveys hundreds of thousands of owners of new vehicles for their study, which measures how a car performs in its first few months of ownership. The study is considered by many experts to be indicative of the long-term quality of a vehicle, which could have effects on how these cars are eventually perceived on the used market.

And while the new Toyotas may be facing trouble, those who want to save off the cost of a new vehicle can still find reliable used Toyotas from pre-owned dealers.

Toyota tries to turn corner with new Mississippi plant

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

Japanese automaker Toyota is reeling after a series of highly-publicized recalls were issued on some of the company’s most popular models.

In addition to the recalls, the company was recently forced to sell its New United Motor Manufacturing (Nummi) plant in California to Tesla motors after its partner GM backed out of the factory. The plant made the company’s popular Corolla models.

Most recently, the company took a hit in JD Power’s Initial Quality Survey, falling from 6th place to 21st in the rankings of auto models. Although sales are up 10.5 percent on the year, that lags behind the industry average of 17.2 percent.

However, the company is looking to turn things around by finishing a new plant in Mississippi, according to the Associated Press. The new factory will employ more than 2,000 workers in the manufacturing of Corollas. The plant may also build the company’s Prius hybrids.

The move may signal that the automaker is looking to move past the recall scandal and into a state of recovery, according to the news source.

Used Toyotas are renowned for their reliability and longevity, consistently winning safety and reliability awards over the years. With the company’s reputation taking a hit in recent months, consumers who still have faith in the company’s engineering standards might be able to find deals on used Toyotas.

Ford sees an electric future

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

While the first electric vehicles are starting to come to market, Ford is predicting a bright future for the vehicles.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford has stated that it predicts between 10 and 25 percent of its global volume will be electric by 2020. Electric vehicles, which includes hybrids running with advanced battery technology, currently make up about 2 percent of the fleet.

Ford further broke down its predictions by type. Of the group, 70 percent will be hybrids, 20 to 25 percent plug-in hybrids, and the remaining all-electric vehicles. Although Ford believes that electric vehicles will catch on, concerns about infrastructure and affordability and infrastructure may delay widespread adoption.

"The customer will decide who the winners and losers are and ultimately the pace of adoption of greener vehicles," Ford’s director of global electrification Nancy Gioia told the news source.

While electric vehicles may be expensive at the moment, drivers who want to help the environment and save money on gas can find deals on hybrids, like the Ford Fusion, on the used car market.

Nissan surpasses Leaf sales expectations in Japan

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Nissan

The auto industry is eagerly anticipating the debut of the first electric vehicles in the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. The future of electric cars may hinge on the reception of them by the public. One important statistic is the number of early adopters who commit to the product.

If Nissan’s sales in Japan are any indication, electric vehicles have a long and bright future. Nissan, the third-largest Japanese automaker behind Honda and Toyota, recently released the preliminary sales figures on the new Leaf model.

According to the report, Nissan has already received 6,000 preorders, which was its target for total sales of the vehicles in the first year. The company began taking pre-orders on April 1, but the car isn’t due to hit showrooms until December.

Last month, Nissan revealed that the U.S. and Japan had combined to order 13,000 units, suggesting that the car will be popular in the U.S. as well.

Until electric vehicles are widely adopted, those who want to go green when they drive should consider looking at hybrids like the Toyota Prius on the used car market.

GM and Ford locked in high-tech battle

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

The two largest American car companies, GM and Ford, are both attempting to one-up each other when it comes to the digital features now included in their cars.

GM announced last month that it will partner with Google to offer the company’s Android operating system on its OnStar system. The company plans to debut the feature on the Chevy Volt. Using smartphone apps, drivers will be able to locate their vehicle and get directions on-the-fly.

Ford has also partnered with the technology giant for its Sync feature. Google Maps will soon display a “send to Sync” button that will allow users to send maps and directions directly to their car.

“Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age,” said Doug VanDagens, head of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization.

Ford’s Sync, debuted in 2007, has a leg up on GM, having already been installed on 2 million Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns. Some of these cars have already entered the used car market.

Although these features are convenient, they can also add to the price of a vehicle. Smart shoppers can easily find late-model used Fords by heading to dealers and auto auctions.

Big Three post big gains in May

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chrysler - DO NOT USE, Ford, Nissan, Toyota

As a further sign that the economy is beginning to recover, Detroit’s Big Three automakers: GM, Chrysler, and Ford, all posted big gains in the month of May over the same time last year. With consumer confidence returning and Americans making car purchases that they may have held off on in the wake of the economic downturn, consumers should remember that they can purchase many of these cars for considerably less at used car dealerships or auctions.

Ford gained the most, with a 20 percent increase over previous years’ totals. Ford is in good shape, as the only one of the Big Three not to accept federal bailout money and thus not have to pay it off, according to the Washington Post

GM sales increased 16.6 percent, and Chrysler sold 100,000 vehicles for only the second time in two years.

Among Japanese automakers, Nissan jumped 24.1 percent while Toyota sales slowed amid recall problems.

Although the industry itself may still be recovering, the country is not yet out of the woods. Consumers who need to save money can look at these brands’ ample offerings on the used car market.