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<title><![CDATA[RSS for Edmunds.com]]></title>
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<link><![CDATA[http://search.autonews.com/]]></link>
<atom:link xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" type="application/rss+xml" rel="self" href="http://search.autonews.com/urss?pageid=402454"/>
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<title><![CDATA[The death of driving? Don't make any funeral plans]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130517/RETAIL/130519902/the-death-of-driving-dont-make-any-funeral-plans]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130517/RETAIL/130519902/the-death-of-driving-dont-make-any-funeral-plans</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 17 May 2013 11:29:49 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[You know that study that just came out declaring "the end of the driving boom," because Gen Y supposedly doesn't care about cars? Ignore it. The 69-page study by the Frontier Group and the Public Interest Research Group is just another case of inside-the-beltway thinking attempting to drive public ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Survey: Consumers are ready for new tech ideas in cars]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130515/OEM06/130519933/survey-consumers-are-ready-for-new-tech-ideas-in-cars]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130515/OEM06/130519933/survey-consumers-are-ready-for-new-tech-ideas-in-cars</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 15 May 2013 10:29:22 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A new survey about what vehicle consumers want and don't want suggests that the auto industry is lagging consumers when it comes to technology ideas. The study, undertaken globally by software supplier Cisco Systems, found a surprisingly high degree of consumer comfort with the idea of vehicles that drive themselves -- a technology that so far exists mainly at randd centers. It also found that many consumers from the United States to China don't trust automaker or dealership Web sites when it comes to shopping for new cars. Half of the U.S. respondents in Cisco's survey said they trust third-party vehicle information sites, such as the Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com sites, but only one-fourth trust factory or dealership sites. That feedback may be unsettling to dealers who are devoting more of their media dollars to Web site retailing and online branding. Almost half of the U.S. consumers said they would be content shopping for a car at a mall kiosk instead of an auto dealership and even making future purchases online, all the way through to the final purchase documentation stage. Such kiosk retailing is highly restricted under many states' auto franchise laws. Andreas Mai, Cisco's director of product management for Smart Connected Vehicles, says the survey response simply reveals that many consumers want it nonetheless. Globally, Cisco found that three-fourths of the owners are happy to have their vehicles share information about their driving habits if it will result in lower insurance costs or reduce vehicle maintenance expenses. Nearly two-thirds said they would even be happy to share data on height, weight, driving habits and entertainment preferences if it improved their driving experience. Mai reports that 60 percent of the owners globally said they would even be willing to provide biometrics such as fingerprints and DNA samples if the effort translated to improved vehicle security technology. The survey found that 60 percent of U.S. respondents were comfortable with the idea of traveling in an automated "driverless" vehicle, and 48 percent were comfortable having their children transported in one.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[U.S. used-vehicle sales drop 6% in first quarter]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130514/RETAIL/130519945/u-s-used-vehicle-sales-drop-6-in-first-quarter]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130514/RETAIL/130519945/u-s-used-vehicle-sales-drop-6-in-first-quarter</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 14 May 2013 16:04:59 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Industrywide used-vehicle sales fell to 9.7 million units in the first quarter, down 6 percent from the first quarter of last year, according to Edmunds.com's Used Market Quarterly Report . The report, released today, examines trends that drive the U.S. used-vehicle market. Of the used vehicles ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Jaguar positions F-Type roadster with historic 'baddest boy' bloodline]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/RETAIL03/130509871/jaguar-positions-f-type-roadster-with-historic-baddest-boy-bloodline]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/RETAIL03/130509871/jaguar-positions-f-type-roadster-with-historic-baddest-boy-bloodline</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 09 May 2013 14:51:12 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Jaguar is launching its first two-seat roadster since Steve McQueen tooled around Hollywood in his E-Type in the 1960s. And the luxury carmaker is looking to tap into that old-school auto attitude with a $20 million campaign that plays up the 2014 F-Type's historic bloodline to Jaguar roadsters of ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Nissan price cuts could boost brand]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130506/RETAIL03/305069954/nissan-price-cuts-could-boost-brand]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130506/RETAIL03/305069954/nissan-price-cuts-could-boost-brand</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 06 May 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[NASHVILLE -- Nissan expects that this month's cuts to suggested retail prices on seven key models will put the brand on more Internet vehicle shopping lists. But the price cuts also could improve a problem that Nissan believes is holding back its U.S. market growth: consumer perceptions of its ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Surge in high-profit pickups, SUVs made April big for Detroit]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130506/RETAIL01/305069945/surge-in-high-profit-pickups-suvs-made-april-big-for-detroit]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130506/RETAIL01/305069945/surge-in-high-profit-pickups-suvs-made-april-big-for-detroit</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 06 May 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[April's auto sales rate was the lowest since October, but the parade of high-margin pickups and SUVs rolling off dealership lots gave the Detroit 3 double-digit increases for the month, hefty profits and a spike in market share. Detroit's share of 46.9 percent was the highest since September 2011, ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mid-sized sedans, hot in 2012, cool off]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130501/RETAIL01/130509972/mid-sized-sedans-hot-in-2012-cool-off]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130501/RETAIL01/130509972/mid-sized-sedans-hot-in-2012-cool-off</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 01 May 2013 17:11:08 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For the third straight month, a different car has topped the giant mid-sized sedan market, a segment that has slowed significantly this year as competition intensifies. Sales declined in April for seven of the 10 top mid-sized cars. Overall, mid-sized car sales fell 1 percent in the month and are ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Nissan cuts prices on 7 key models to score in Web searches]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130501/RETAIL/130509991/nissan-cuts-prices-on-7-key-models-to-score-in-web-searches]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130501/RETAIL/130509991/nissan-cuts-prices-on-7-key-models-to-score-in-web-searches</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 01 May 2013 10:48:51 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[NASHVILLE -- Jockeying for better position in Internet shopping sites, Nissan will cut the manufacturer's suggested retail prices on seven key models, effective Friday. The price cuts range from a $580 reduction on the brand's volume leader, the Altima, which was redesigned for 2013 and was the ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Detroit 3 gain Q1 market share for first time since 1993]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130430/RETAIL01/130439996/detroit-3-gain-q1-market-share-for-first-time-since-1993]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130430/RETAIL01/130439996/detroit-3-gain-q1-market-share-for-first-time-since-1993</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:20:22 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- For the first time in two decades, General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC pulled off a sweep in the first three months of a year, with all three gaining U.S. market share in 2013's first quarter. The momentum likely built in April versus Toyota Motor Corp. ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Analysts: Fusion, higher prices, mix, consistency drive latest Ford results]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130424/OEM/130429949/analysts-fusion-higher-prices-mix-consistency-drive-latest-ford]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130424/OEM/130429949/analysts-fusion-higher-prices-mix-consistency-drive-latest-ford</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:54:39 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Ford Motor Co. posted a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit of $1.6 billion as its North American unit posted its best quarter in more than a decade on the strength of new models. Revenue in North America, the company's largest market, surged 20 percent during the quarter to $22.3 billion and ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Why dealers should embrace 'the age of transparency']]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/RETAIL07/304229957/why-dealers-should-embrace-the-age-of-transparency]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/RETAIL07/304229957/why-dealers-should-embrace-the-age-of-transparency</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When shoppers pull into the dealership lot and immediately whip out their phones as they browse, Charlie Daniel takes that as a clear sign they don't want salespeople hanging over their shoulders. "The consumer is not interested in that face-to-face. They just want information," says Daniel, ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Opel returns to Shanghai auto show with limited ambitions]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130421/ANE/304209947/opel-returns-to-shanghai-auto-show-with-limited-ambitions]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130421/ANE/304209947/opel-returns-to-shanghai-auto-show-with-limited-ambitions</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- General Motors' Opel unit returned to China's main auto show after a five-year absence with three new cars at the center of a long-promised push into the world's largest market. At the Shanghai auto show on Saturday, Opel gave China debuts to three models set go on sale in ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[For Cadillac, early signs of another renaissance]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130406/RETAIL/130409917/for-cadillac-early-signs-of-another-renaissance]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130406/RETAIL/130409917/for-cadillac-early-signs-of-another-renaissance</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- At his Houston Cadillac store last weekend, Carl Sewell had an unusual experience: He helped a mother secure a baby seat into a car she was considering. Young-shopper sightings were once a rarity for Sewell. "It's a pretty diverse group that's coming through the door now," ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Honda, Detroit 3 set pace as March sales advance 3%]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130402/RETAIL01/130409990/honda-detroit-3-set-pace-as-march-sales-advance-3]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130402/RETAIL01/130409990/honda-detroit-3-set-pace-as-march-sales-advance-3</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[U.S. light-vehicle sales -- led by strong pickup and crossover demand at Detroit's automakers -- rose 3 percent to 1.45 million units last month, slightly below forecasts but a positive signal the spring selling season is off to a solid start. It was the industry's best month since 1.48 million ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[U.S. auto sales wrapping up a strong March]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130329/RETAIL01/130329836/u-s-auto-sales-wrapping-up-a-strong-march]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130329/RETAIL01/130329836/u-s-auto-sales-wrapping-up-a-strong-march</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:25:09 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Editor's note: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong date for when Barclays analyst Brian Johnson raised his forecast for 2013 industry U.S. sales to 15.5 million. It was in November 2012. U.S. auto sales are finishing March on an upbeat note, with analysts expecting the industry to extend its strongest streak in five years. Three independent forecasters predict a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 15.3 million, nearly matching February's 15.36 million SAAR and up 8 percent from a year earlier on a unit basis. Kelley Blue Book is at the low end of forecasts, at 15.2 million. More positive are Barclays at 15.5 million and Edmunds.com at 15.6 million. A performance at those levels would mark the fifth straight month above the 15 million rate. The last streak of that length ended in early 2008, as the economy veered into recession. Automakers release March results on Tuesday, April 2. "We will have a strong March" Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW of North America, said at the New York auto show this week. "For the rest of the year, we are looking at constant growth." BMW sales cooled in the first two months of the year, rising 1 percent after a December surge. The German automaker's results trailed the industry's 8 percent gain. Early Easter Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon isn't sure if ending the month with an earlier-than-usual Easter will affect retail sales, but said "it will be a record March" anyhow. But Mike Hoornaert, general manager at Fox Automotive in Rochester Hills, Mich., said "it looks like it is going to be a strong close." Hoornaert said customers at his Chevrolet, Toyota and Volkswagen stores are no longer reacting much to politics. But they do respond to incentives. "It all depends on the incentives," he said. Robert Davis, senior vice president of Mazda's U.S. operations group, said incentives remain at reasonable levels, but big players in highly competitive segments can raise the ante for everybody. He said American Honda spent big on outgoing Civic models in the fourth quarter and now has a smaller incentive on the new-generation Civic. "Everybody had to react to that," Davis said in New York. "They're so dominant in that segment that when they make a move everybody else makes a move with it." General Motors expects to finish the first quarter with an increase in market share for retail and fleet, Alan Batey, interim marketing chief and head of U.S. sales, said at the New York show. "The first quarter has been on the high end of our expectations," he said. "We're a little bit above where we thought we'd be." He added: "March looks really strong." Expectations also are rising for the full year on improving U.S. economic indicators. The Dow Jones 30 Industrials and Standard and Poor's 500 indexes set record highs this month. IHS Global Insight economist Nigel Gault expects gains next week in monthly reports on manufacturing, jobs and payroll wages. This week, Barclays analyst Brian Johnson reiterated his total 2013 U.S. sales forecast of 15.5 million andndash; 1 million more than last year's total and 5 million more than the 10.4 million sold during the industry collapse of 2009. Ignoring politics Jeff Schuster, the top forecaster for LMC Automotive, said car buyers are ignoring political deadlock. "Consumers do not appear fazed by headwinds from Washington," Schuster said. referring to the battles in Washington over the fiscal cliff and the sequester spending cuts. "Auto sales are outperforming earlier expectations." Mercedes' Cannon said: "We are thrilled about the start of the year and confident with the economy, feeling like it is gaining traction." General Manager Rick Jones of Mike Shaw Toyota in Corpus Christi, Texas, said he's "bullish" on April. "With increased credit availability, Toyota incentives being strong and the redesigned RAV4, I think April will be like March," he said. "It's going to be a barn burner." Mike Colias, Diana T. Kurylko, Ryan Beene and Andrew Thurlow contributed to this report]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford counts on 5 cars and crossovers to make inroads against imports]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130325/RETAIL07/303259990/ford-counts-on-5-cars-and-crossovers-to-make-inroads-against-imports]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130325/RETAIL07/303259990/ford-counts-on-5-cars-and-crossovers-to-make-inroads-against-imports</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT -- Since Jerry Feldman and Tim Mullahey bought Central Ford of Los Angeles in 2010, the once-moribund store's monthly new-vehicle sales have soared from 10 to about 60 -- and they're still rising. Feldman's reason for the improvement: the Super Segment. The what? Super Segment is Ford Motor ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Detroit 3, Hyundai-Kia capturing larger share of youth market]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130320/RETAIL01/303209835/detroit-3-hyundai-kia-capturing-larger-share-of-youth-market]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130320/RETAIL01/303209835/detroit-3-hyundai-kia-capturing-larger-share-of-youth-market</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:04:21 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- U.S. automakers and South Korean affiliates Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. are boosting their share of sales to younger U.S. buyers at the expense of Japanese brands, according to a pair of market researchers. General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Audi headlights banned in U.S. by 1968 ruling]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130320/ANE/130329997/audi-headlights-banned-in-u-s-by-1968-ruling]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130320/ANE/130329997/audi-headlights-banned-in-u-s-by-1968-ruling</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:29:15 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Audi customers in Europe will soon be able to buy the A8 sedan with headlights that see around corners and illuminate more space without blinding oncoming motorists, after the automaker showcased them at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for U.S. ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Se habla español]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130318/RETAIL03/303189994/se-habla-espa-ol]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130318/RETAIL03/303189994/se-habla-espa-ol</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many automakers used to view Hispanic-oriented marketing as a way to drum up extra sales when their marketing budgets allowed. Often their efforts amounted to little more than dubbing Spanish over actors speaking English in TV commercials. Today, they know not to overlook or underestimate what has ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Toyota blinks on Camry deals after February sales fall]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130305/RETAIL01/303059747/toyota-blinks-on-camry-deals-after-february-sales-fall]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130305/RETAIL01/303059747/toyota-blinks-on-camry-deals-after-february-sales-fall</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:34:21 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES (Bloomberg) -- To see the constant tension at automakers between sales volumes and profit margins, look no further than the current state of Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry. The Camry sedan has been the top-selling car in the United States for 11 years. In February sales results announced ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Some Ford dealers miss small pickup]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL07/303049980/some-ford-dealers-miss-small-pickup]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL07/303049980/some-ford-dealers-miss-small-pickup</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT -- Ford's compact Ranger pickup is gone, but for many dealers it's not forgotten. "I think there's definitely a need," said Martin Gubbels, owner of Big Sky Ford-Lincoln in Torrington, Wyo., who said he has many customers who would love a pickup smaller than the F-150. Ford discontinued its ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Google poised for major retail push]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL07/303049963/google-poised-for-major-retail-push]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL07/303049963/google-poised-for-major-retail-push</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated how Google handles dealer bids for customer sales leads. LOS ANGELES -- Google is poised to expand its online car-shopping service to dealers throughout California and enter more states, sources say. Dealers in the San Francisco Bay area ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Good news fuels 4% gain in Feb. sales]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL01/303049956/good-news-fuels-4-gain-in-feb-sales]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130304/RETAIL01/303049956/good-news-fuels-4-gain-in-feb-sales</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For most of last year, auto sales gained steam in spite of considerable economic uncertainty. Now automakers say they finally are getting help from an improving housing market and rising consumer confidence, two factors that helped push U.S. new-vehicle sales 4 percent higher in February. "We have ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Lincoln sputters even with Super Bowl ad blitz]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130301/RETAIL01/130309984/lincoln-sputters-even-with-super-bowl-ad-blitz]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130301/RETAIL01/130309984/lincoln-sputters-even-with-super-bowl-ad-blitz</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:33:11 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT(Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln brand, which aired two ads during the Super Bowl in February, posted a 29 percent U.S. sales slide for the month as dealers continued to run short of the MKZ sedan featured in the commercials. Lincoln sold just 945 MKZs, down 62 percent from a year earlier, as Ford's luxury brand today reported that total monthly sales fell to 4,883. Ford sold more Fiesta subcompacts than Lincolns. The rollout of the revamped MKZ, which Ford expects to lead Lincoln's revival, has been hamstrung by the Mexican-built cars requiring rigorous quality inspections at a Michigan plant, the company has said. The MKZ, with an expansive chrome grille inspired by an eagle's wings, is the first of four new models Lincoln has coming over four years as Ford spends $1 billion to turn the brand around. "These sales numbers are disturbing, especially since they've been relaunching the brand," said Rebecca Lindland, an automotive consultant with Rebel Three Media and Consultants in Cos Cob, Conn. "How many people have been turned away because of no inventory of MKZs?" Ford said dealers will be fully stocked with MKZ models by next month. Lincoln began selling the restyled MKZ in January. "We have started delivering approximately 100 MKZs per day, even as we continue running every MKZ through its quality validation process," Ken Czubay, Ford's U.S. sales chief, told analysts today on a conference call. "We are targeting dealers to be at normal MKZ stock positions at the beginning of April." Lincoln's Super Bowl ads aired during the Feb. 3 NFL championship game, which was viewed by more than 108 million people, the third-most-watched TV broadcast in U.S. history. Cadillac's gains Cadillac, General Motors Co.'s luxury line, is rising as Lincoln falls. Cadillac's February sales jumped 20 percent to 13,845 vehicles. The Lincoln MKZ is among the top trade-ins for the new Cadillac ATS sedan, said Jim Cain, a GM spokesman. "The ATS had its strongest sales month since launch and it was Cadillac's best-selling car," Cain said in an e-mail. "More than three-quarters of ATS buyers are new to Cadillac." Lincoln's sales have fallen 25 percent this year after Ford initiated an advertising push in December to reintroduce the "Lincoln Motor Co." with commercials featuring vintage models and an actor playing Abraham Lincoln. The brand's February performance followed a January total of 4,191 vehicles. Lincoln's decline last month also included a 13 percent drop to 1,883 for the MKX SUV, the brand's top seller. Deliveries of the Lincoln Navigator large SUV tumbled 25 percent to 622. 'Demand issue?' "Is this really an inventory issue or is this a demand issue?" Lindland said. "They're going to spin it as an inventory issue, but they can't use that reason again. The March sales have to show numbers in the thousands from all this pent-up demand that they say will be unleashed." After Lincoln's Super Bowl ads, online shopping activity for the brand increased, said Michelle Krebs, an analyst for auto researcher Edmunds.com. "We actually saw a tiny blip upward in shopping consideration, which is an indication of marketing effectiveness," Krebs said. "Then they didn't deliver on the product." Ford CEO Alan Mulally is trying to revive Lincoln to get a larger slice of the market for luxury vehicles, which produce higher profits. Lincoln's annual U.S. sales have fallen 65 percent since peaking in 1990 at 231,660. Last year, Lincoln sold 82,150 vehicles. BMW was the top-selling luxury-auto brand in the U.S. in 2012, at 281,460. Image shortfall Ford is addressing the Lincoln inventory shortfalls, while the bigger issue of the brand's image remains, said Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence at TrueCar Inc. Lincoln isn't held in the same regard as BMW, Mercedes or Lexus, he said. Aside from Lincoln's Town Cars, which have served as airport shuttles for generations of business travelers, sightings of the brand's models are pretty rare in Miami, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the markets where about 40 percent of luxury vehicles are sold in the U.S., Toprak said. Lincoln no longer makes the Town Car. "I live in an upper-middle-class L.A. suburb, the demographic that buys most of the luxury cars in the country," Toprak said. "When my neighbors see someone in a Lincoln, people ask, 'Why'd you buy that?' With any German or Japanese luxury brand, it's a safe purchase." Lincoln's newer vehicles are the best it has ever made, he said. "The problem is, in luxury you sell image, not metal."]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How to succeed by adding brands]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130225/RETAIL07/302259966/how-to-succeed-by-adding-brands]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130225/RETAIL07/302259966/how-to-succeed-by-adding-brands</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:01:00 EST]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Volkswagen Group, bent on becoming the world's largest automaker, has amassed an expansive collection of brands to help put that goal within reach. Chrysler Group keeps adding logos to its dealers' showrooms -- Ram, Fiat, SRT and soon Alfa Romeo. Their moves contrast with those of other automakers, ...]]></description>
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