DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is ramping up its effort to gather consumer feedback about vehicle design and more with a new online initiative the automaker rolled out this week. The OEM has created what it calls the "Your Ideas" section of The Ford Story, the brand's interactive consumer Web site at http://www.thefordstory.com/. Executives want visitors to […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — Group 1 Automotive added another franchise dealership to its stable earlier this week. Executives announced the acquisition of Harrelson Toyota/Scion in Rock Hill, S.C., which is in the greater Charlotte, N.C., market area. Group 1 indicated that this dealership now will operate as Toyota/Scion of Rock Hill. Executives expected the store to generate approximately […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — After news surfaced that Consumer Reports had slapped the automaker's 2010 GX 460 model with a "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" warning for allegedly having potential roll-over issues, Lexus has temporarily halted sales of the SUV in the U.S. and Canada and is offering loaner cars to concerned owners of the model until the […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Automobile Dealers Association repeated its warning on Monday about the possibility of dealer-assisted financing coming to an end if proposed legislation passes completely through Congress. NADA officials indicated that broad reform to the nation's financial system soon will be considered by the Senate. They stressed that President Barack Obama already has […] [Read More]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Toyota will be staying close to home for its impending legal processes, which saw a major development late last week. The plethora of acceleration-related lawsuits against the automaker will be rolled into one piece of litigation to be heard by a California federal judge in a city not too far from where Toyota […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors executives on Monday chose a former Cadillac and Saab USA executive to fill the role as product marketing director for Buick. John Schwegman, U.S. marketing vice president for Buick GMC, appointed Roger McCormack to the role effective immediately. Most recently, McCormack had been U.S. vehicle marketing director for Cadillac. He had held […] [Read More]

TULSA, Okla. — Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group has seen a swell in franchising activity lately, as the company continues to expand both in the U.S. and abroad. Specifically, Dollar Thrifty reported Monday that in the past two quarters, it has granted 15 new franchises. Moreover, it has signed contracts with 13 additional franchises, and expects that […] [Read More]

DETROIT — A recent analysis by AOL Autos spotted some of the creative ways dealers use television commercials to bring in customers. While some dealers have turned to local sports heroes, others have gone to great lengths to leave quite an impression in just 30 seconds. "One of the smartest people I ever met in the car business […] [Read More]

CHERRY HILL, N.J. —  In a month where it saw especially strong increases in 2010 model-year Legacy and Outback sales, Subaru of America's Dallas region kept its perch as the best-selling region in March and enjoyed its ninth straight month of record sales, as well as its 11th straight month of year-over-year improvements. Specifically, the region's sales for March […] [Read More]

DETROIT — In the latest part of its rebuilding process, General Motors said this morning that it has finished fresh-start accounting. The automaker revealed it was filing its 2009 Form 10-Q and 2009 Form 10-K with the SEC today, as well. "We are building the foundation that will allow us to return to public ownership," stated […] [Read More]