Vehicle Sales

In a frigid winter, a torrid start to 2015

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 28, 2015

U.S. auto sales have started 2015 on a stronger note than expected, increasing the industry's chances of cracking 17 million vehicles this year for the first time since 2001. It's still early in the year, but analysts say there are plenty of positive signs, including record-high lease penetration in early February.... Read More »

Snowbound New England dealers miss strong Feb. sales

1:15 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 27, 2015

As Massachusetts recovers from 100 inches of snow in recent weeks, many dealers there are reporting weaker-than-expected February sales, operational losses and lack of space because of massive snow piles. And New England missed out on an otherwise robust month for US auto sales.... Read More »

VW Group reports record profit on Audi, Porsche gains

Feb. 27, 2015 15:56 CET

VW Group said its operating profit rose 8.8 percent to a record 12.7 billion euros ($14.25 billion) last year on double-digit gains in sales of luxury Audi and Porsche models. The company said its sales revenue rose 2.8 percent to a new high of 202.5 billion euros.... Read More »

Lada proves popular in Crimea's vacated car market

Feb. 26, 2015 13:40 CET

Lada, Russia's biggest car brand, has become a favorite in Crimea after its annexation by Vladimir Putin's government. The first official Lada dealership opened in October and local customers are now ordering up to 300 cars a month, compared with the 155 sold in 2013, when Crimea was part of Ukraine.... Read More »

GM cuts capacity, jobs in Indonesia, where Japanese dominate

7:32 am U.S. ET | Feb. 26, 2015

General Motors is to stop making cars in Indonesia, a battleground for global automakers in emerging Southeast Asia, closing an assembly plant, axing some 500 jobs and shifting its branding focus to SUVs.... Read More »

Daimler plans years of cost cuts to offset investments to reduce CO2 emissions

Feb. 26, 2015 10:26 CET

Daimler plans to offset higher costs for technology to cut CO2 emissions with material cost savings for at least the next few years, Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber said.... Read More »

U.S. auto sales roar toward strongest February since 2002

2:00 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2015

U.S. auto sales are on pace for the best February since 2002, forecasters say, even as relentless snow slowed demand in the Northeast. February is expected to mark the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year gains for the industry. Analysts said sales have been minimally affected by rising gasoline prices and a work stoppage at West Coast ports that could reduce March inventories of some vehicles imported from Asia.... Read More »

Lithia Q4 net income jumps 50% as it makes acquisitions top priority

9:38 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25, 2015

Strong sales across all divisions and the integration of its purchase last year of DCH Auto Group pushed Lithia Motors' net income up 50 percent during the fourth quarter.... Read More »

Valeo sees further profit gain after beating 2014 goal

Feb. 25, 2015 10:33 CET

Valeo is targeting a further boost in profitability this year after exceeding its 2014 goals on strong demand for emissions-cutting technologies and intuitive driving systems. The company's operating profit margin rose to 7.2 percent last year beating a 7 percent goal.... Read More »

Tata plans image lift for ultracheap Nano

6:43 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 24, 2015

Tata Motors, producer of the car conceived as the world's cheapest, is rethinking the “cheap” part of it. The Indian automaker believes its Nano, which went on sale in 2009 with a price tag of about $2,500, may have been too inexpensive for its own good.... Read More »

GKN sees more growth this year after 2014 profits rise 4%

Feb. 24, 2015 11:12 CET

UK supplier GKN reported a 4 percent rise in annual profit last year and said it expected to grow again in 2015, helped by the continued strong demand for car parts.... Read More »

ADESA bows out of multiple platform auction sales

7:52 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

After investing nearly two years and “several million dollars” to help create online auction selling across multiple platforms, ADESA is bowing out, said Peter Kelly, president of ADESA's corporate sibling in charge of digital services.... Read More »

Daimler says it will sell more than 500,000 trucks this year, 700,000 by 2020

6:26 am U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

Daimler expects truck sales to rise at least 5 percent to more than 500,000 this year and to 700,000 by 2020 due to rising demand in the U.S., helping to offset a slump in markets such as Brazil, trucks chief Wolfgang Bernhard said today.... Read More »

Tesla: The one company that can get Kochs, Sierra Club to see eye to eye

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

The Koch brothers' businesses market fossil fuels and turn forests into toilet paper. The Sierra Club, well, doesn't do those things. But on this much they agree: Tesla should be able to sell its electric cars directly to consumers.... Read More »

EDITORIAL

A sweet fleet deal

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

The victor of the next Postal Service fleet contract wins a ubiquitous showcase of its innovation, utility and durability for years to come. This is a deal that would be well worth the effort.... Read More »

Salvage auction does a bang-up business

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

Salvage auto-auction company Insurance Auto Auctions Inc., sibling to auction giant ADESA, has been on a growth spurt since December 2013. In that time, it has opened, acquired, reopened, moved or expanded sites in 13 markets. The moves were necessary to meet the demand of quickly disposing of wrecked vehicles, says CEO John Kett.... Read More »

VW sees 'banner year' for certified-used sales

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 23, 2015

Volkswagen division's certified used-vehicle sales rose 17 percent last month to 7,675. It was the brand's best certified used-vehicle sales for a January and the beginning of a "banner year," said Michael Ashton, VW's senior manager of CPO and used-vehicle operations.... Read More »

PSA, Mitsubishi will halt production in Russia

Feb. 20, 2015 09:09 CET

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Mitsubishi will close their joint venture plant in Russia for two weeks as the country's worsening economic situation hits vehicle sales.... Read More »

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE

Sportier Skoda Fabia keeps its functionality

Feb. 20, 2015 06:01 CET

The new Skoda Fabia highlights how the fast-growing Czech value brand is adding a touch of style to its cars. With its sharp edges and clear lines, the third-generation Fabia looks more dynamic and sportier than its predecessor while the car’s practical features have been enhanced.... Read More »

U.S. consumers expect gas prices to rise again, survey finds

3:37 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 19, 2015

Gas prices in the United States may be down, but consumers don’t expect the lower prices to last.... Read More »

JIM HENRY

GM Financial-Chevy lease exclusivity seems likely

11:15 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2015

There wasn't much doubt, but General Motors disclosed for the first time in an SEC filing that it is considering plans to throw all Chevrolet lease incentives to GM Financial instead of sharing them among GM Financial, Ally Financial and U.S. Bank.... Read More »