08/19/2008

Car buyers' satisfaction with U.S. brands stumbles

Toyota

Lexus, which makes the IS 350, and BMW tied for first place in the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index.

U.S. car buyers are growing less satisfied with their purchases from domestic automakers while their Asian and European competitors continue to improve, according to a recent survey.
Link: American Customer Satisfaction Index

GM offers employee discount to all on 2008 models
The discount comes at a time when GM, the largest U.S. automaker, is struggling to boost its declining sales amid a weak economy and a rapid shift in demand away from its traditionally popular trucks and SUVs.

08/18/2008

Dallas artist to unveil painting at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Dallas artist Bill Neale, a founding member of the renowned Fine Arts Society, will unveil a painting of legendary race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance today.

08/15/2008

Film reveals inventor's fight over windshield wiper design

FILE/The Baltimore Sun

A film about Robert Kearns, Flash of Genius, opens in October

For two decades, Robert Kearns waged an obsessive crusade against the auto industry, which he accused of stealing his invention. It destroyed his marriage, brought on a mental breakdown and may have cost him millions. All because of a dispute over a humble piece of equipment: the intermittent windshield wiper.

08/18/2008

Some unorthodox ideas for saving gas
Gas prices have actually dropped a few cents – which must be causing panic at ExMo. Let's give them another shove. Here are a few unorthodox tips from XM Radio for saving gas:

08/13/2008

Motorists turn to carpool sites as gas prices rise

AP

The number of daily visitors to eRideShare has jumped about threefold since February.. A rival site, Carpoolworld.com, had about 4,400 new U.S. registrations in both June and July, compared with some 800 in February.

BMW recalling 200,000 vehicles over air bag concerns
The German automaker said the recall involves the 2006 3 Series, the 2004-2006 5 Series, and the 2004-2006 X3 compact sport utility vehicles in the United States.

Honda to price new hybrid lower than Toyota Prius

A top Honda Motor Co. executive said the company's new gas-electric hybrid will be priced lower than the Toyota Prius, its prime competitor. The new five-door car will only be available with a hybrid powertrain. Speaking to reporters at an industry seminar in Traverse City, Colliver said the new hybrid will be launched in April 2009.

08/08/2008

Lexus once again tops JD Power dependability study

J.D. Power and Associates/AP

Lexus had 120 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 145 last year.

Lexus once again stands alone atop a closely watched ranking of vehicle dependability after Buick slipped from the No. 1 spot it shared with the Japanese luxury brand last year, J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday.
Link: Survey results

08/01/2008

Motopia: Diner meets motorcycle repair shop
If you've been looking for a place to sip cappuccino and grab a bite while getting the oil changed in your Ducati or BMW ($40 plus parts), we've found it.

GM, Ford, Toyota post double-digit U.S. sales declines
Automakers were expecting July sales to be at their lowest level in more than a decade as sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles continued to plummet and new troubles in the auto leasing market further wrecked consumers’ confidence. And they said things could get worse before they get better.

GM's 2Q loss widens to $15.5B
General Motors' North American sales plummeted and the company faced expenses due to labor unrest and its massive restructuring plan.

07/30/2008

GM to cut 15% of salaried workers
A GM official declined to confirm the specific numbers but indicated they were generally accurate. The official asked not to be named because the company had not planned to release the numbers until later.

Dallas businessman plans to sell all-electric vehicles

RICHARD MICHAEL PRUITT/DMN

Soon, Dennis Wheeler will open Dallas' first business devoted exclusively to selling all-electric vehicles.
Video: Electric car a real GEM

Web site lists actual prices in car deals
For many consumers, negotiating a new car purchase can be a frustrating experience. Even if the dealer offers a discount, you can't help but wonder if you're getting a good price.

07/28/2008

'One stupid little move and boom' fells drive
Stuff happens. Just ask Jacques Grelley.

07/25/2008

Expect F-150 push in Texas as Ford moves to regional marketing

VERNON BRYANT/DMN

2008 Ford F-150s on the lot of Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford in Carrollton will soon give way to the revamped 2009 model. Ford is shifting to regional marketing.

A few years ago, pumped-up local Ford dealers threw balloon-filled pickup parties to mark the arrival of a new F-150 truck. This year, in the gloomy midst of $4-a-gallon gas and free-falling truck sales, the dealers may float something entirely different: a fairly serious 30-minute infomercial extolling all the new features of the 2009 F-150. Area dealers will be able to produce the unusual infomercial because Ford has granted its various regions the power to market and advertise vehicles as they see fit — a potentially powerful tool in the hard sell of the critically important F-150.

Chrysler to get out of leasing business
Chrysler LLC said Friday its financial arm will get out of the auto leasing business by the end of the month because economic conditions have made leasing more expensive than buying, for both consumers and the company.

07/24/2008

Ford posts $8.7B 2Q loss on asset write-downs
Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it lost $8.67 billion in the second quarter largely because of a reduction in the value of assets.

07/23/2008

Toyota beats GM in worldwide sales in first half of 2008
Toyota sold more than 4.8 million vehicles worldwide in the first half, up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday.

Kart Digital founder known for dealership, electric car project
Before Jack Hooker started Kart Digital, he was better known for owning the first Mercedes-Benz dealership in Dallas. He took over the business in 1957 from his father-in-law, Andrew "Rip" Van Winkle, who also had a Pontiac dealership in Dallas.