by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2012
Carmakers celebrated another 10% gain in car sales for 2011 as they finished the year with sales at the best level in years. There were a few notable exceptions, however, as two of Japan’s three largest makers wrapped up 2011 with further sales declines – while...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2012
Heather Peters was mad as hell and wasn’t going to take it anymore. So she decided to take Honda to court, alleging that the Japanese maker sold her a car it knew wasn’t likely to get anywhere near the mileage she had been promised. In a case commanding national...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jan 4, 2012
Countering earlier concerns about a double-dip recession, U.S. auto sales wrapped up a skittish 2011 on a positive note, surging in the final weeks of the year, with Detroit’s automakers helping drive the overall market to its highest level since the start of the long...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2012
Ford is offering a first glimpse of a new mini-crossover that will share platforms with the maker’s global subcompact, the Fiesta. Dubbed the Ford EcoSport, the new model made its formal debut this week at Auto Expo 2012, the big Indian motor show in New Delhi. ...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2012
It’s been a whirlwind for Korean carmakers, Hyundai and Kia both posting double-digit global growth in 2011 as they’ve landed one successful new product after another. But senior company officials warn that the Korean powerhouse likely can’t keep that torrid pace...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 4, 2012
It’s been more than a quarter century since the original Ford Taurus made its debut – the last Detroit sedan to dominate the large and critical midsize market segment. But the number two U.S. maker is hoping to score another home run with the launch of an all-new...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 3, 2012
Americans bought nearly 39 million used vehicles in 2011, more than three times the number of new cars, trucks and crossovers sold last year. But with demand threatening to outstrip supply – especially for “nearly new” vehicles – buyers saw prices rise sharply, a...
by Joseph Szczesny | Jan 3, 2012
A group of investment funds has filed a new lawsuit against Porsche Automobile Holding SE, seeking to recover approximately, $3.2 billion in losses suffered during Porsche’s failed fort to takeover Volkswagen AG in 2008. The complaint, filed in district court in...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 3, 2012
When automakers close the books on 2011 tomorrow, they’re expected to not only show a moderate gain of about 10% for the year but, more importantly, provide a clear indication that car sales are on an upswing. Housing sales may still be struggling and the jobs market...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 3, 2012
If the White House hopes to meet its ambitious goal of putting 1.5 million battery cars on the road by mid-decade it better hope that 2011 wasn’t a good indication of what Americans think of electric vehicles. Add them all up, hybrids, plug-ins and pure...
by Mike Davis | Jan 3, 2012
Here we go again. Years ago, I wrote a column for Publisher Paul (at one of his previous enterprises), concerning the gems to be found in the world’s least read book of useful information: a new car or truck Owner Manual. This time my particular candidate is the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Jan 2, 2012
An unidentified man described as a “person of interest” has been taken in for questioning by Los Angeles authorities after another dozen car fires were started on New Year’s Day. While there’s some debate over the precise extent of the auto arson epidemic it appears...
