U.S. Auto Industry Is Revving Up for a Hiring Spree
The U.S. auto industry is about to go on a hiring spree as car makers and parts suppliers race to find workers to build the next generation of vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz
Ten Brands That Will Disappear in 2014
Every year, we predict 10 major brands that won't survive to the end of the following year. Click through the gallery to see which of your favorite brands might bite the dust.
Lexus Tops Consumer Reports' Brand Report Card
Lexus topped the rankings in Consumer Reports's 2013 automotive brand report card. Detroit automakers didn't fare very well -- Cadillac's 14th place tie was the best for U.S. brand -- while Japanese automakers again dominated, taking eight of the top 10 spots.
How Close Are We to the Age of the Self-Driving Car?
Imagine a world without traffic jams, driver's licenses or car insurance. Sounds like science fiction, but maybe it's not. Last week, California became the second state in the country to pass legislation paving the way for self-driving vehicles.
Toyota's Still Tops to Consumers, but Ford's Closing In
Despite its troubles in recent years, Toyota retained its crown in Consumer Reports' annual survey of auto-brand perception, but the survey also showed that Ford is rapidly closing the gap, and other brands aren't far behind.
January Auto Sales Should Build on 2010's Momentum
A slowly brightening economy combined with low financing rates and generally stable fuel prices have put consumers in a buying mood. New models, particularly from Ford and GM, are also helping to keep U.S. auto sales on a positive trajectory as 2011 starts.
Ford and Toyota in Dead Heat Among Consumer Perceptions
Toyota's recent spate of quality woes have allowed competitors to steal sales from the beleaguered automaker. Ford is also catching up with Toyota in another important measure of auto industry success -- consumers' opinions of vehicle brands.
Upbeat Consumers Push Auto Sales Higher
The nation's automakers ended 2010 strong, with most reporting higher sales for December. Consumers seemed to put concerns about the U.S. economy on hold and more than offset reduced demand by fleet customers, such as corporations and rental-car companies.
December Auto Sales: Set to End 2010 in High Gear
The economy may be less robust than most Americans would like, but that didn't stop many of them from hitting the showrooms in December. That likely propelled auto sales in the final month of 2010 to 1.13 million units, the year's highest levels.
BMW's Sales Speed Past Its German Rivals' in November
BMW saw its sales jump 20% in November, driven by growth in Germany, China and the U.S. The German automaker sold more cars than the Mercedes-Benz or Audi brands. Its sales growth for the year so far also is outpacing that of its rivals.
U.S. November Auto Sales Show Plenty of Zip
It's traditionally one of the slowest months of the year for vehicle sales, but most automakers reported higher U.S. sales in November compared to a year ago, despite continued consumer caution about the slow economic recovery.
Trucks and SUVs Should Fuel November Auto Sales
Year-over-year gains are again likely when automakers report November U.S. sales figures Wednesday. But a drop from this October's level is on tap. Detroit probably fared better than its foreign counterparts as sales rebounded further from last year's anemic levels.
October Car Sales Point to an Auto Rebound
Buoyed by consumers' increased confidence in the U.S. economy, most automakers reported higher sales of cars and trucks in the U.S. during October compared to a year ago -- making it the best October in three years for the auto industry.
October Auto Sales: Is the Market Improving?
Carmakers are expected to report a mixed picture for October sales: mostly better than a year ago, but down slightly from September. Still, the pace appears strong enough that the upper end of full-year forecasts is reachable.
GM Vehicles Rise in Consumer Reports' Latest Quality Survey
Although Honda and Toyota remain the benchmark of reliability in the U.S. automobile industry, General Motors has made considerable strides in improving the quality of its cars and trucks, according to the magazine's 2010 Annual New Car Reliability Survey.
Auto Industry Cruises on Slow, Steady Demand
Vehicle sales have been less than stellar in recent months, disappointing some analysts. But the industry is gradually improving in a broad trend that is benefiting nearly all automakers -- including the Big Three, which have returned from the brink.
Toyota to Offer Rebates on Lexus Models to Boost Sales
Seeking to boost sales of Lexus brand vehicles, Toyota plans to offer rebates of up to $3,000, as well as subsidized financing on certain models, company executives told a gathering of Lexus dealers from across the country this week.
U.S. Auto Sales Gain Strength at the End of September
Auto sales turned in a strong performance in September. "People seem to be saying, 'It's not as quite as scary anymore,'" says Arthur Wheaton, automotive analyst at Cornell University's ILR School.
Ford May Shutter 200 Lincoln Dealerships
In a bid to better compete against European and Japanese luxury makes, Ford reportedly may seek to reduce the number of Lincoln dealerships in the U.S. Nearly 1,200 dealers sell Lincolns, five times more than sell Toyota's Lexus nameplate, the nation's leading luxury brand.
After Strong Start, U.S. Auto Sales Slow in September
U.S. auto sales started off strong over the Labor Day holiday weekend, but have since dropped significantly, according to analysis by car-buying guide Edmunds.com.
Dogged By Weak Economy, August Auto Sales Slump
As expected, automakers Wednesday reported sluggish sales for August. The nation's anemic economic recovery kept consumers away from dealerships, despite generous end-of-model-year incentives on the part of many manufacturers.
August Auto Sales Are Zooming Along. . .So Far
July was a mixed bag for auto sales, with sales improving, but not as much as the abundance of incentives for would-be car buyers led industry watchers to expect. But if August car sales continue on track, it may be the best month of 2010 so far, Edmunds.com reports.
Despite a Cooler Economy, Auto Sales Warm Up
Among domestic makes, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all reported total increases in the single digits, but Japanese giants Toyota and Honda slipped.
U.S. Auto Sales May Have Revved Up in July
Analysts' expectations are that sales rose to the highest levels of the year last month as increased automaker incentives lured bargain-hunters.
Car Sales Rise, but Signs of Slowing Emerge
Automakers reporting June sales results Thursday painted a mixed picture for the economy, one that show signs of weakening even as they moved more cars off dealers' lots.
Is the Luxury Car Market Slimming Down?
With a painful recession, frozen credit and massive unemployment drawing consumers away from pricey brands, some automakers are abandoning their most flamboyant brands. Mercedes is reportedly killing Maybach, GM is axing Hummer and Ford may be getting ready to put the Lincoln Town Car to rest.
Ford, GM Sales Surge in January as Toyota Tumbles
Ford and General Motors reported higher sales in January, with Ford fleet sales surging 154%. Detroit's gains came as consumers avoided the showrooms of the largest Japanese competitor, Toyota, which is mired in massive recall involving millions of vehicles.
