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.
Ford's earnings report Tuesday revealed the automaker's best fourth-quarter results in more than a decade. But credit doesn't go to the fuel-efficient small cars the company has recently emphasized: The profit source was the old faithful F-Series pickup truck.
It has long been clear that GM would have to get creative to win back customers. Decades of shoddy cars drove off GM loyalists, and just as its cars started to get better, the economy tanked. But now GM has a plan to lure you back, and it involves a lot of help from Disney.
Chevrolet is trying to pull more customers into its dealerships this summer by offering a 60-day money-back guarantee on new cars and trucks. The GM brand said Tuesday that buyers can get refunds if they return their vehicles for any reason.
One recent study of used-car buying habits found that women were more likely to do research, ask tougher questions, and have a mechanic inspect a used car before buying. Another study on new-car buying preferences shows that women make more practical automotive choices.
There's never a dull moment on Wall Street, especially now that the market is hitting multi-year highs again. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead.
Between 2002 and 2011, companies spent a whopping $2.5 billion on Super Bowl advertising; this year, a 30-second commercial cost an average of $3.5 million. But what do you get for all that cash. In the case of these eight major advertisers, not as much as they'd hoped.
U.S. auto sales are off to a strong start this year, continuing the brisk pace from late 2011. Chrysler had its best January in four years while Ford got a boost from small cars and SUVs. Volkswagen, which wants to aggressively expand in the U.S., reported much higher sales. One sour note was GM, where sales fell.
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.
The Chinese auto market is growing at a blistering pace despite concerns about the withdrawal of government incentive programs and the supply chain disruption from the tragic Japanese tsunami. Trefis thinks GM will be one of the main beneficiaries of this growth.
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.
GM models sold smartly despite the steadily rising price of gas. GM says it sold 207,028 vehicles during the month. The increase was driven largely by a 70% jump in retail, or individual consumer, sales.
