Brake Woes Prompt Toyota to Recall 233,000 Prius Models
Toyota is recalling about 242,000 of its Prius and Lexus hybrid vehicles due to problems with their braking systems.
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May Auto Sales Bolster U.S. Economy
Higher discounts at some automakers, rising pickup truck sales and increasing consumer confidence pushed up car sales in May, giving the overall economy a shot in the arm.
Along the Road to a Greener America, an Awful Lot of Roadkill
The global financial crisis helped slam the brakes on clean-tech dreams from electric cars to solar panels, but the roots of green energy's mid-life crisis run far deeper.
Toyota's Comeback Gains Momentum
Toyota's quarterly profit more than doubled in its latest quarter as cost cuts and better sales worked with a weakening yen to add momentum to the automaker's comeback.
Honda's Quarterly Profit Picks Up Despite Losses in China
Honda's fiscal fourth quarter profit rose nearly 6 percent as the Japanese automaker's recovery from floods in Thailand the previous year offset recent sales losses in China.
Toyota Maintains Crown as World's Best-Selling Automaker
Toyota held onto its status as the world's top-selling automaker in the first quarter of this year, although the three-way race with GM and Volkswagen is proving tight.
Toyota to Build Lexus Sedan at Kentucky Plant, Add 750 Jobs
Toyota will start building the Lexus ES 350 at a factory in Georgetown, Ky., starting in 2015, and add 750 jobs.
Toyota Passes Milestone in Selling 5 Million Hybrid Cars
Toyota's global sales of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles have surpassed 5 million in a milestone for a technology that was initially greeted with skepticism.
Japanese Automakers Recall 2 Million Cars For Defective Airbags
Four Japananese automakers recall more than 2 million vehicles worldwide for a problem with air bags that may burst, sending plastic pieces flying.
Automakers Expected to Report Highest U.S. Sales Since 2007
Automakers are expected to report Tuesday that U.S. car and truck sales hit their highest level in nearly six years in March.
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.
Toyota Speeds Past GM to Grab the Global Auto Sales Crown Again
Toyota has dethroned General Motors as the world's top-selling automaker. Though both companies' sales increased in 2012, Toyota bounced back from a manufacturing slowdown caused by Japan's 2011 earthquake to sell 9.7 million cars and trucks, while GM's sales rose just 2.9% to 9.29 million.
U.S. Stock Prices Dip Ahead of Earnings Season Kickoff
U.S. stocks fell Tuesday as traders awaited the start of the corporate earnings season. Market-watchers expect the quarter's results could include many surprises because of events like Superstorm Sandy, the presidential election, and the narrowly avoided "fiscal cliff."
Chrysler Reports Best Sales Year Since Before the Great Recession
Chrysler's U.S. sales jumped 21 percent last year, the carmaker's strongest performance since 2007. The company's sales growth, which outpaced the U.S. auto industry overall, was a strong sign that Americans were feeling more confident about the economy last year.
Toyota's Got Bigger Problems Than the Recall
On top of Toyota's large-scale recall involving a potential fire hazard, the company is suffering from steep declines in one of its most important markets because of a political dispute. But things may not be as grim as they seem for the carmaker.
Toyota Recalls 7.5 Million Cars For Door Fires
Toyota is recalling 7.5 million cars worldwide, and 2.5 million in the U.S., over a faulty door switch that could result in car fires. It's the automaker's largest recall since the sudden acceleration recalls in 2009 and 2010.
Could GM Ever Fail? Yeah, It Could Happen
GM has been cleaning up its act and has the profits to show for it. But the competition has never been stiffer, all over the world, and GM's cars will have to be top-notch to assure the success of a turnaround.
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.
What's Behind Rising Auto Sales? Cheap Financing
Want a cheap car loan? How about a free one? Believe it or not, more and more car buyers are being offered 0% interest loans, and almost everyone else can now get cheap financing -- even folks with less-than-perfect credit.
Is the Electric Car Revolution Running Out of Juice?
Electric car sales are nowhere near what the auto industry -- or Washington -- hoped they'd be by now, though Tesla Motors' hot Model S sedan doing great, and the the Chevy Volt is finally getting some traction. But is the electric revolution stalled, or just accelerating too slowly?
10 Surprising Brands That We're Starting to Love Again
Popularity can be fickle: One day America loves your brand; the next, you're passe. But every year brings some surprising rebounds, and you won't believe some of the companies that made 2012's list for most improved images in the eyes of U.S. consumers.
BMW, Toyota Forge Closer New Alliance in Challenge to Rivals
German luxury carmaker BMW and Japan's Toyota agreed to extend their cooperation to a bigger strategic alliance on Friday in a challenge to global rivals as competition intensifies.
Easy Credit Is Back -- at Least for Car Buyers
Auto loans are easier to get now than they have been in years. During the first quarter U.S. lenders gave car buyers some of the best terms since the financial crisis.
Toyota, Chrysler See Big April Sales Gains
Automakers reported their sales Tuesday. Toyota and Chrysler saw big U.S. sales gains in April, but they came at the expense of General Motors and Ford.
Do Women Really Make Better Car Choices Than Men?
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.
How Much Will Your Next Car Really Cost You?
Purchase price is just the beginning of what it costs to own a car. Depreciation, insurance and maintenance costs can vary widely between competing models. But is there any way to estimate all of that in advance? A few experts have taken a stab at it.
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.
New Cadillac ATS Takes Bold Aim at BMW 3 Series
BMW's 3 Series is the undisputed global king of the entry-level luxury sedans, but GM is looking to stage a bit of a coup with its Cadillac ATS. The car has all the right moves, inside and out -- but there's one thing missing.
Ford Fusion Revamp Steals the Detroit Auto Show
There was nothing wrong with the old Ford Fusion. In fact, it had its best sales year ever in 2011. It's a good-looking, high-quality sedan and a good value. But when Ford took the wraps off the new Fusion this week, it had been transformed from a good hybrid to a deluxe hottie.