To buy or to lose- that is the question.
Here are some tips for anyone looking to get a new set of wheels.
In 1980, roughly 35 per cent of all cars sold were manual transmission. In 2006, that number had dropped to six per cent. That number is likely to drop even further as manufacturers are moving away from the stick shift. It used to be that manuals were better on gas and more reliable. However today’s automatics, for the most part, outdo their manual counterparts. Read more…
California is doing everything it can to help heal the earth. The latest way they plan to reduce carbon emissions is by…banning black cars. That’s right:
The California legislature is considering regulating the color of cars and reflectivity of paint to reduce the energy requirements to cool them. A presentation on the proposed legislation by the California Air Resources Board is below. (Continue…)
More on Autoblog and CrunchGear.
For more info, click here…
Thousands of unsold cars sit on test tracks, storage areas and docks around the world waiting to be sold.
General Motors announced yesterday that the company will be phasing out their Pontiac brand, and ceasing construction completely of the Saturn brand. They also say Hummer is doomed if they can’t find a buyer for the label by 31 March. Read more…
Here is a list of the vehicles that were stolen least throughout the year:
September was a very slow month for automakers, thanks to the slow down (grinding halt?) in the US economy. In fact, for the first time in 15 years, auto sales for the month of September fell below 1 million. Check it out:
| Automaker | Sept. 08 | Sept. 07 | Change | Automaker | Sept. 08 | Sept. 07 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors | 282,806 | 334,974 | -15.6% | BMW | 18,583 | 24,968 | -25.6% |
| Toyota/Lexus | 144,260 | 213,042 | -32.3% | Mazda | 16,169 | 25,098 | -35.6% |
| Ford | 116,301 | 175,361 | -33.7% | Subaru | 14,491 | 16,457 | -11.9% |
| Chrysler | 107,349 | 159,799 | -32.8% | Mitsubishi | 7,378 | 12,102 | -39.0% |
| Honda/Acura | 96,626 | 127,200 | -24.0% | Suzuki | 4,083 | 7,653 | -46.6% |
| Nissan/Infiniti | 59,565 | 94,269 | -36.8% | Volvo | 4,054 | 8,408 | -51.8% |
| Hyundai/Kia | 42,148 | 57,301 | -26.4% | Porsche | 1,458 | 2,641 | -44.8% |
| VW | 24,504 | 27,601 | -11.2% | Isuzu | 258 | 565 | -54.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 20,582 | 22,481 | -8.4% | Industry total | 956,160 | 1,315,402 | -27.3% |
CHONGQING, China, May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Changan Ford Sales Company, Ford Motor Company’s joint venture in China, today announced the opening of its 200th full-service dealership, completing a sales and service network that now covers the whole country.
“We’re continuing with the rapid expansion of our authorized Ford dealer network in China to support our exceptional sales growth in the market, which has outpaced the overall industry for the past several years,” said Nigel Harris, vice president of Ford Motor China and General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company.
“In addition to providing an excellent product range, a professional dealer network plays a vital role in expanding Ford’s presence in China. We will continue building a professional and industry-leading sales and service network to generate more local demand and enhance the sales satisfaction of our customers,” explained Harris.
Ford Motor China recorded 47 percent year-over-year growth for passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the first quarter of 2008. Changan Ford posted a 54 percent increase in Ford brand passenger cars sales in the same period, making it one of the fastest growing auto manufacturers in China.
The new dealership in Chongqing reflects a doubling of Ford’s full-service dealerships from the end of 2005, when Ford had 100 full-service dealers across China. These full-service dealerships offer sales, service, spare parts and survey capabilities. All Ford authorized dealers are trained in implementing “Ford Service,” which is intended to improve customer relationships and a set of customer care experiences included as part of Changan Ford’s free Roadside Assistance program.
Ford also requires dealerships to undergo certification for Ford QualityCare, a program established in 1987 to enhance customer satisfaction. The QualityCare program covers all details of customer service to standardize and improve quality and efficiency. As of today, 117 of China’s full-service dealerships have obtained QualityCare certification.
About Ford Motor in China
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 245,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
Ford’s wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and investment in China include Ford Motor (China) Limited, Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Ford Automotive Finance (China) Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. Nanjing Company, Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. and Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.
For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com and www.ford.com.cn .
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