TOKYO — Speaking out in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's probe into three of his company's recalls and the situation in general, Akio Toyoda alluded to the fact that the quality issues came from Toyota's rapid growth in manufacturing and marketing. In fact, in a press conference today the Toyota Motor Corp. president announced he is […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — Used retail prices continued to surge in January, according to AutoTrader.com, which said that 18 of the top 20 most searched-for used units on the site saw their average prices increase from the year-ago period.  Moreover, 12 of the 20 most popular used vehicles on AutoTrader.com showed double-digit price gains from the prior year. […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — In the February TrueTrends data from TrueCar, the company touched upon a wide array of industry topics, but one of the key features this month was the Toyota recall and how other automakers may have gained from Toyota's troubles. Apparently, almost all models that can be considered in Corolla's competitive set gained more […] [Read More]

SAN FRANCISCO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In the wake of widespread recalls by Toyota, consumers have become much more apt to consider rival brands, especially those from domestic automakers. And it appears the two brands gaining the most interest at Toyota's expense are Chevrolet and Ford. In fact, a recent Jumpstart Automotive Media survey indicates that […] [Read More]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Increased credit availability and an upswing in consumer confidence stemming from higher employment levels will likely help push full-year 2010 light-vehicle sales to almost 12 million units, said Paul Taylor, the National Automobile Dealers Association's chief economist, during a speech at the association's annual conference and expo this past weekend in Orlando, Fla. Taylor […] [Read More]

CARY, N.C. — Generating a great deal of interest on AutoRemarketing.com this week and topping the list of most-read stories on the site was an article about the launch of a mobile version of the Manheim Market Report. A list of vehicles that Kelley Blue Book editors have a "crush" on also sparked plenty of reader interest, […] [Read More]

MIAMI — Since LeaseTrader.com launched in 1999, the average age of lessees on the site has climbed almost six years, and the age group that has shown the most growth in the last five years has been the age 50-and-up demographic, according to the Web site. More specifically, LeaseTrader.com noted that lease drivers on the site during […] [Read More]

RICHMOND, Va. — As part of its Regional Giving Program, the CarMax Foundation awarded two grants this week to non-profit organizations. The foundation awarded the Texas Lions Camp — which is located in the San Antonio area — a $22,500 grant on Monday, and then on Tuesday the foundation announced a $5,000 grant for Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. The […] [Read More]

ROCHESTER, Mich. — Foresight Research, a firm near Detroit specializing in the auto industry, found a strong connection between vehicle buyers and attendees at auto shows, especially in the Midwest. Its research study determined 70 percent of show attendees who said they were influenced to purchase a new vehicle recalled spending 30 minutes or more at the […] [Read More]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — R. L. Polk & Co. executives highlighted the amenities of their new corporate headquarters, stressing the location will make doing business with major automakers easier. All Polk employees now will be consolidated into a single site that's less than two miles from where the company currently resides. Polk will occupy nearly five floors of […] [Read More]