autos

5 Stocks to Watch This Week

With Apple, Ford, Nintendo, Zynga and Amazon getting ready to report, let's go over a few of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street.

Chrysler Recalls 919,000 Jeep SUVs to Fix Air Bags

Chrysler is recalling more than 919,000 older-model Jeep SUVs worldwide because the air bags can inflate while people are driving them. The recall affects Jeep Grand Cherokees from the 2002 through 2004 model years, and Jeep Libertys from model years 2002 and 2003.

A New Way to Help Drivers Find Better Leases?

While car buyers have been able to comparison shop online for years, drivers who want to lease their cars mainly have had to do their own legwork -- until now. LeaseTrader.com this week launched a new service to help them comparison shop for leases.

Considering Leasing a Car? Read This First

In a still-shaky economy, more and more drivers are deciding to lease their cars instead of buy them. If you're considering leasing your next set of wheels, here's how to find out if it makes sense -- and to get a good deal.

How to Find the Best Used Cars for Under $10,000

Used has become chic, especially when it comes to cars. Trouble is, with everybody clamoring for cheap transportation, pre-owned has gotten pricier, which means you'll have to dig to find deals. Web2Carz.com has made that hunt a little easier with its Best Used Cars Under $10,000 list.

Higher Gas Costs Drive Up Used Car Prices

Higher gas prices are beginning to bite in new and unusual ways. Not only are prices going up at the pump, but they are being propelled upward for smaller, fuel efficient vehicles on used car lots nationwide. Here's why.

Do Gasoline-Saving Engine Additives Work?

It happens like clockwork with every oil price shock -- drivers search for a wonder engine additive that will help their gas mileage. But can any of the engine additives currently on the market substantially increase gas mileage?

Can Pay-As-You-Go Auto Insurance Save You Money?

If you're driving less in this time of high gas prices, you might be eligible to pay less for auto insurance with a new crop of pay-as-you-go plans. But these per-mile policies come with some drawbacks as well, and certain habits -- like driving late at night -- could disqualify you.

Earthquake's Effects Rattle Japan's Carmakers

Toyota, Nissan and Honda, among other companies, have shut down plants temporarily in Japan in the wake of Friday's earthquake and tsunami. While many of their factories were undamaged, crippled nuclear plants are causing power shortages, and there has been damage to parts makers and transportation infrastructure.

February's Sales Put Carmakers in the Fast Lane

It was a good month for auto sales despite inclement weather across much of the country and surging oil prices. Cars sold near an annual pace of 13 million vehicles. That would make February the best on record since the "cash for clunkers" rebate program in 2009.

Ford's Sales Climb 14% on Explorers, Fuel-Efficient Models

Ford reported Tuesday that its sales in February rose 14% compared to a year ago, in part due to strong sales of the revamped Ford Explorer sports-utility vehicle, the Fusion midsized sedan and the Ford Escape compact SUV. Total sales for the month hit 156,626.

Asian Automakers Top Consumer Report's 'Best Value' List

Asian automakers have traditionally fared well in tests conducted by Consumer Reports magazine, and this year is no exception. Overall, eight Japanese and Korean models were named "best values" in their segments, the publication said Monday.

Toyota Earnings Slide 39% on Strong Yen

The Japanese automaker said earnings fell 39% in the third quarter while sales fell 1.2%. But the company is optimistic that auto sales are recovering: It raised its full-year forecast.

U.S. Auto Sales Surge in January on Strong Consumer Demand

Despite wintry weather across much of the nation, Americans were in a car-buying mood last month, boosting most automakers' sales by double-digit percentages compared to a year ago. Analysts estimate that January's sales reached the second-fastest pace in 17 months.

Ford Posts 13% Sales Gain in January

Ford Motor said sales of its cars and trucks rose 13.3% in January on improved demand by consumers, bucking last year's trend, when sales to fleet customers largely drove the increase. For the month, the automaker sold 127,317 units, up 13.3% compared to a year ago.

General Motors Sales Rose 22% in January

General Motors sales rose 21.8% in January compared to a year ago on strong sales across its lines of passenger cars, "crossover" vehicles and trucks, the automaker said Tuesday. Each of the automaker's four divisions recorded higher sales for the month.

Though Chrysler Is Still Unprofitable, Employees Earn a $750 Bonus

Union employees at Chrysler Group will receive a $750 bonus next week as an acknowledgment of their contributions in helping to revive the once-bankrupt company, the automaker said Monday. Salaried workers, excluding the company's top 50 executives, will also receive the payment.

Ford Shares Tank on Its Earnings Disappointment

Ford shares headed down sharply after the company announced quarterly earnings 18 cents per-share lower than analyst expectations. The miss cast a shadow on the report from Ford, which posted its best annual profit in a more than decade -- $6.6 billion.

GM Withdraws $14 Billion Federal Loan Application

Back in 2009, General Motors applied to the Department of Energy for $14.4 billion in loans to help it manufacture more fuel-efficient vehicles. Today, with the automaker making big strides in turning around its business, GM said it no longer needs or wants the money.

Ford May Post Its Best Yearly Profit in a Decade

Analysts forecast that Ford will announce a profit of 48 cents a share on revenue of about $30.6 billion when it releases earnings on Friday. That translates into an expected pretax profit of $8 billion in 2010, the best Ford has seen since 1999.

Ford Recalls 525,000 Windstar Minivans for Steering Issue

Ford is recalling more than half a million minivans to repair parts that could corrode and affect vehicle handling. The action involves Ford Windstar minivans from the 1999 to 2003 model years that were sold in cold-weather areas where salt is routinely used to de-ice roads.