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.
Who makes the safest cars? Hyundai Motor and its sister make, Kia Motors, along with Volkswagen and its luxury brand, Audi, garnered the most awards in the recent vehicle crash tests conducted by an insurance industry testing group.
Volkswagen and Chrysler are recalling about 745,000 cars in separate actions to fix problems related to passenger side air bags and possible fuel leaks, according to federal safety officials.
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.
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.
After its near-miraculous emergence so quickly from bankruptcy, the new GM will certainly make big bucks for investors if it fulfills its potential to beat sales forecasts and earnings expectations. And, no, it wouldn't take another miracle.
Amazon, Volkswagen and Florida real estate developers are drastically dropping the prices of some of their key products. In a short video, Douglas McIntyre reveals which products are getting the biggest price drops. Could these cuts be a sign that deflation is at work?
Initial reports show automakers having their best sales so far this year in October, despite consumer wariness about the lackluster economy. Foreign carmakers Hyundai, Kia, Subaru and Volkswagen all turned in solid performances.
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.
VW has set a hefty goal for itself: to displace Toyota as the world's No. 1 car company. The German automaker is actually within reach, thanks mainly to its huge lead in China. To overtake Toyota, however, VW will need to really ramp up sales in the American market.
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.
