Krishnan M. Anantharaman Krishnan M. Anantharaman was a news editor directing coverage of GM, regulation and marketing. He no longer works for Automotive News. 313-446-6788 See All Staff Page Recent Stories If at first you can't sell EVs, at least try It's no small thing to get consumers to understand, let alone embrace, a new and peculiar type of automobile. But a little more good-faith effort would help. Toyota explores new branding for alt-fuel vehicles Toyota, which introduced the world to gasoline-electric hybrids some 15 years ago, is exploring some new branding language for its alternative powertrains to better convey the nuances of the technologies and the vehicles' evolving driving dynamics. As cars slide, Toyota leans in In a market that's tilted 70-30 toward light trucks, why does Toyota bother to invest in cars? Because in that smaller market, Toyota is a giant. And it has even more elbow room now that the Detroit 3 have decided to vacate several car segments. Electric trucks, a weakly stamped Passport and Kia's immortal Soul Hits and misses from the floor of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Toyota to push RAV4 in Super Bowl Toyota's RAV4, already the best-selling nonpickup in the nation, will get a big marketing push with a Super Bowl ad in February. Lexus willing to wait on subscriptions Lexus is in no rush to embrace a vehicle subscription program at the brand level, but it sees the all-inclusive short-team lease as a format that could be expanded to other models in the lineup. Prius AWD-e, Corolla Hybrid underscore Toyota's pledge to cars The addition of an all-wheel-drive Prius and a hybrid Corolla reflect Toyota's search for niches and frontiers where it can generate incremental volume and higher profits from its core car models. Can quieter Corolla make some noise? The redesigned Corolla must prove it can deliver more stability and power to Toyota's U.S. car sales, which are down 11 percent this year. HYUNDAI GROUP: Slim gain as Genesis bleeding continues Small cars, hybrids and crossovers lifted South Korea's Hyundai-Kia group to a narrow 0.7 percent U.S. sales increase in October. Genesis was no help. Lexus' UX will test market for flexible lease options The Lexus program is aimed at attracting first-time luxury buyers who prize the flexibility of a shorter commitment and a simpler payment structure. A bungled opportunity to fix NAFTA The renegotiation of NAFTA initiated by the Trump administration last year was an opportunity to make needed changes. And yet all sides come away with nothing -- less than nothing, actually. Industry can't escape responsibility for preventing CO deaths People are erring and dying, and the auto industry can't disavow this risk any more than it could avoid fitting vehicles with seat belts and shatterproof glass. Honda dealers seek help on Accord As they meet with Honda's new U.S. executive team this weekend, dealers will likely seek help from the factory to move the redesigned Honda Accord, the venerable and critically acclaimed midsize sedan that no one seems eager to buy these days. Toyota's slow-and-steady approach won't win this race While Toyota has been satisfied to manage the evolution of Hybrid Synergy Drive over two decades, competitors such as General Motors, Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan have been busy driving the next revolution in transportation. Hyundai plans several new crossovers, including diesel Hyundai said its plan for an expanded crossover lineup for the U.S. will include a battery-electric vehicle, a fuel cell offering, a diesel utility and an A-segment vehicle. Load More
Krishnan M. Anantharaman Krishnan M. Anantharaman was a news editor directing coverage of GM, regulation and marketing. He no longer works for Automotive News. 313-446-6788 See All Staff Page
