ATLANTA — Porsche Cars North America on Thursday revealed its new general counsel, a veteran legal professional who the automaker said has actually been on the job since last month. Reporting directly to president and chief executive officer Detlev von Platen is Joseph Folz. The company indicated Folz not only will lead its legal department but […] [Read More]

McLEAN, Va. — The National Automobile Dealers Association will serve as a co-sponsor for an event this fall that is designed to help dealers take advantage of opportunities in the accessories segment. The third annual Dealer Day Conference at the Specialty Equipment Market Association's 2010 convention will delve into a number of helpful tips for dealers looking […] [Read More]

DETROIT — A little more than a year after its bankruptcy proceedings and less than a week after naming a new chief executive officer, General Motors has ended the industry speculation. It has filed for an initial public offering. The automaker appears ready to largely untangle itself from the U.S. government by paying much of the bailout […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mazda Motor Corp. revealed to government officials earlier this week that the manufacturer is recalling more than 300,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles in North America so dealers can fix problems with the power-steering system. The units involved in this recall are from the model years 2007 through 2009. The OEM built these versions […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials described themselves as "very concerned" about a complaint surfacing in connection with the immense steering system failure of a 2010 Kia Soul. NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation indicated it has received one complaint that alleges the steering shaft de-coupled from the steering wheel. Officials said it resulted […] [Read More]

DETROIT — As the dog days of summer roll along, AOL Autos pinpointed what site reviewers believe are the 20 best new-vehicle deals for August, analyzing cash rebates and financing options. The site selected four vehicles made by Ford, including the Editor's Pick as the top overall deal — the F-150. "After letting up a bit earlier […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors recalled more than 243,000 CUVs on Tuesday for a possible second-row safety buckle issue. The automaker is checking Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Arcadia and Saturn Outlook vehicles from model years 2009 and 2010 to see if there is any damage to the second-row safety belts. GM noted that this damage "in […] [Read More]

DETROIT — Apparently, 258 dealers closed this year from January through July 1, according to Urban Science. While still a significant number, it's nowhere close to the record 1,603 dealers who closed up shop last year. According to Urban Science, the higher than normal rate is due to bankruptcy closures and arbitrations, which the firm indicated […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — Generating customer testimonials through online channels has become a more integral part of automotive marketing lately, and Toyota Motor Sales, USA is looking to tap into that through a new mini-site. "Stories from the Road" allows owners to post stories about driving their Toyota product, and it appears to be a hit thus […] [Read More]

DETROIT — With the aim of bringing more female professionals into the auto retail business, the General Motors Women's Retail Network is introducing a scholarship program targeting women studying in automotive retail programs at undergraduate, graduate and non-traditional education institutes. The network will be giving out scholarships of up to $5,000 starting next year and will begin taking […] [Read More]