Auto News Articles
Toyota, Chrysler see big April sales gains at the expense of Ford and GM
DETROIT - Toyota and Chrysler saw big U.S. sales gains in April, but they came at the expense of General Motors and Ford.Toyota sales rose 12 per cent as its inventories finally returned to pre-earthquake levels. Chrysler posted a 20-per cent rise in sales. Its top sellers included the Ram …
May 1, 2012
Chrysler skips summer shutdown of factory to keep up with Grand Cherokee demand
DETROIT - Sales of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs are so strong that their factory will stay open through the normal two-week summer shutdown.Automakers typically close plants around the July 4 holiday to update cars and trucks for the new model year and maintain the machinery.But Chrysler spokeswoman …
April 30, 2012
Charming China
Automakers tailor vehicles to tap huge-but-slowing market
BEIJING -- Ford unveiled a three-cylinder mini-SUV and Chrysler showed a dragon-themed Jeep on Monday as automakers rolled out models designed for Chinese buyers at the Beijing auto show amid tougher competition in the world's biggest vehicle market. Automakers are looking to China to drive revenue amid weakness in the United …
April 27, 2012
Ford goes for fuel-sippers in really big way
LOS ANGELES -- In a once-unthinkable turnabout, Ford Motor Co. is bragging about how it now makes some of the smallest car engines in the industry -- a sign of evolution for a company that once made its money selling powerful trucks, SUVs and the Mustang muscle car. Ford's race to …
April 27, 2012
Hands-on training for crash avoidance
I was heading back home to Whistler on the Sea to Sky highway, after running an advanced driving school on Vancouver Island. The twinned section was about to end, another overtaking lane was a few kilometres down the road. I was holding station in a nice gap between vehicles, with …
April 27, 2012
Consumer's Choice? Auto Gallery, of course
For the fifth time in the past six years, the Consumer's Choice Award winner in the Used Car Dealer category is Dan Gagnon and Gord Pedersen's Auto Gallery of Canada. "This is an award based on customer surveys," says Pedersen. "And that makes it a difficult award to win. I tried …
April 27, 2012
Dealer of The Week: Jeff "Missouri" McDonnal
Sales Rep: Jeff "Missouri" McDonnal Dealership: Pembina Chrysler Dodge Jeep No. of Years: 2 months, 12 years in Chrysler auto sales Favourite Model: the Journey. "I like the Journey's driveability," McDonnal says. "I also like the price point. The pricing can be adapted to fit a wide range of budgets. My wife and …
April 27, 2012
Automaker Daimler sees 20 per cent profit rise thanks to record sales of Mercedes brand
FRANKFURT - Record sales of its luxury Mercedes brand and a boost from its financial services arm helped automaker Daimler AG increase net profit by 20 per cent to â¬1.42 billion ($1.88 billion) in the first quarter.The increase came despite a slip in profitability at Mercedes, where the company spent …
April 27, 2012
Tire maker Goodyear posts $11M loss for 1Q on charge for refinancing, revenue edges up
CLEVELAND - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. lost $11 million in its first quarter as refinancing charges more than offset the impact of higher revenue.The biggest North American tire maker said Friday that it expects the global tire industry will grow at a slower pace than it previously forecast and …
April 27, 2012
Ford 1Q profit falls on Europe sales slump and higher tax rate; company offers pension buyouts
DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. has tidied up North America, sweeping out old products and excess costs. But the rest of the world keeps making a mess.The company's net income fell 45 per cent to $1.4 billion in the first quarter. Ford took a beating from plummeting European sales …
April 27, 2012