TORRANCE, Calif. — Amid rumors that it was putting an end to its Sequoia model, Toyota issued a statement Thursday to clear the air.  "Toyota denies any reports of the discontinuation of the Sequoia. For obvious competitive reasons, Toyota does not discuss future product plans," the Toyota statement read. "Sequoia continues to be a profitable, high-quality vehicle for […] [Read More]

HOUSTON, Texas — Thanks to a an upswing of gross profit on sales of almost 25 percent, Group 1 Automotive announced this week that adjusted second-quarter net income was up 73 percent. More specifically, adjusted net income came in at $17.8 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared with $10.3 million, or $0.44 per diluted share for […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There appears to be a summer slowdown for auto sales throughout much of the nation, according to the Federal Reserve, which released its latest Beige Book report on Wednesday. The Fed indicated that "most" of its 12 Districts have seen vehicle sales dip lately. New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Chicago and San Francisco […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — This week marks 10 years since Toyota launched the Prius, its highly popular hybrid vehicle with the gas/electric powertrain. To commemorate the occasion, executives shared a wide array of data connected with this model's success. During the past decade, the automaker has moved more than 1.8 million Prius models worldwide, with almost 900,000 […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — Social-media marketing is sweeping the auto industry, and Kia Motors America has gotten in on the act to help promote its Soul "urban passenger vehicle." The company has introduced a YouTube talent contest centered around the vehicle that encourages consumers to post videos showing "how they roll," which plays on the Soul's tagline […] [Read More]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Mazda North American Operations is betting potential buyers of the 2011 Mazda2 spend quite a bit of time on Facebook. This is why brand officials unveiled a new Facebook game on Wednesday meant to promote this vehicle. The branded social game called DriverVille showcases the Mazda2. Built around the brand's Zoom-Zoom Concentrated theme, DriverVille can […] [Read More]

SALT LAKE CITY — The Larry H. Miller Group of Automotive Companies continues to grow, and this time it is adding a few more stores in its home state. LHM Auto signed an agreement to buy three stores in Provo, Utah, from the Brent Brown Automotive Group. Starting Aug. 2, LHM Auto will be the operator […] [Read More]

DULUTH, Ga. — With a right-sized cost structure and a double-digit revenue upswing — including rather hefty gains on the used-vehicle side — Asbury Automotive Group enjoyed substantially stronger earnings in the second quarter. The dealer group's net income climbed from $5.5 million in the year-ago period to $12.8 million in the most recent quarter, officials said Tuesday. […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — According to J.D. Power and Associates automaker websites that focus primarily on brand image promotion and interesting design might be hindering vehicle shoppers. Instead, J.D. Power indicated OEM websites that concentrate on a consumer's usability to search for information scored much better in its 2010 Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study — Wave 2 released […] [Read More]

TOYOTA CITY, Japan — The president of Toyota Motor Corp. gave his "heartfelt apologies" for the automaker's recent safety issues while also extending thanks to supporters during these challenging times in a message on the company's website that reflects on the past year and paints a vision for the future. The future illustrated by Akio Toyoda is one of sustainable growth, technological […] [Read More]