Auto Industry Archive

General Motors quietly ended its deal to sell new vehicles (in California only) through eBay Motors yesterday. Neither GM nor eBay will say how many cars were sold in the program, but GM said it wasn’t canceled because it was a failure. The company claims that 15 million people viewed its eBay offerings, but that doesn’t say much of anything about actual sales. GM told Leftlane News...

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The outlook for September U.S. auto sales is still pretty bad, but not quite as bad as it looked earlier this month, according to Edmunds.com. Automakers report September sales tomorrow, Oct. 1. Earlier this month, Edmunds.com predicted September sales would fall to a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of only 8.8 million because “Cash for Clunkers” pulled so many sales ahead into...

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The story of Massachusetts-based battery maker A123 Systems (supplier to Chrysler’s on-hold ENVI division of electric cars, to BMW, GM and Delphi) is turning into a fairy tale, one with dark moments but a happy ending. The company, founded by scientists linked to MIT, is one of the leading players in lithium-ion vehicle batteries. A123 had intended to launch its IPO in August of 2008, but...

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Mazda continues to stake out a brand position for itself emphasizing fuel efficiency, sharp styling and performance, with the most recent emphasis on fuel efficiency. The latest version of Mazda’s Kiyora concept car, to be shown at the Tokyo auto show next month, is designed to achieve about 75 mpg using a combination of fuel-saving features, the company said. Judging by the photos, the...

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The new motto for the world’s automakers seems to be, “Think globally and act locally,” when it comes to shelling out money for international auto shows. The emphasis is on the “act locally” part, as the international auto shows are getting to be more national in scope. Next month’s Tokyo Motor Show is the latest sign of the times. Automotive News reported...

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Purchase consideration for electric vehicles is still low but it has more than doubled since 2007, according to CNW Marketing Research. That’s more than likely due to a high profile for the upcoming Chevy Volt, plus press coverage of Tesla, and a whole lot of new EVs being announced by other automakers, like the Nissan Leaf and a battery powered version of the Volvo C30. The recent...

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If you find yourself in Cary, North Carolina with the need for a fast-food fix, bring your electric car along. The Mickey D’s in that Chapel Hill suburb is decidedly green (with LED lights, solartubes for natural light and drought-resistant plantings), and its amenities include free EV charging. If EVs are to take off, they’ll need ubiquitous charging stations, and there are increasing...

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In a swift bit of Congressional maneuvering September 24, the U.S. Senate rejected a proposed amendment from longtime global warming skeptic Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that would have effectively killed President Obama’s plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. What’s interesting is that the auto industry itself opposed the bill, lining up with the Environmental Protection...

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Kia revealed more details about the 2011 Kia Sorento, starting with the fact that it will stick with the Sorento model name. Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing for Kia Motors America, said in an interview last spring that Kia considered changing the name, because the Sorento replacement is a car-truck crossover, and the older model is a straight-up SUV. The 2011 Sorento is also the...

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Land Rover today gave a “green” light, pardon the expression, to build an all-new model based on the 40-mpg LRX concept SUV. The company hopes the new model will help Land Rover shed its image as a gas-guzzler, as U.S. consumers have turned away from big SUVs. Phil Popham, managing director worldwide for Land Rover, indicated earlier that the LRX was likely to be built. In an...

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