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Commentary
Thoughts On December Sales And SAAR
By Jeremy Anwyl December 10, 2011Last week’s auto sales reporting generated a buzz in the media with the news that November sales “exceeded expectations” and hit 13.6 million on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate basis. more
Honda Wakes Up
By Jeremy Anwyl December 6, 2011There is a piece in this week’s Automotive News headlined “Honda’s Fuel-Efficiency Goal: No. 1.” It caught my eye because I had been talking with reporters last week about how I thought it is strange that Honda had allowed other car companies to establish market credibility with technologies designed to improve the efficiency of the internal-combustion engine. more
Car Sales Mini-Bubble Should Last Into 2012
By Lacey Plache December 5, 2011Auto sales topped 13 million at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for the third month in a row in November. November’s SAAR of 13.6 million demonstrated particular strength, compared to September’s 13.1 million and October’s 13.3 million. But should the auto industry expect this sales trajectory indefinitely? Not exactly. Current sales levels do not reflect a significant shift in underlying economic fundamentals, despite some recent positive indicators. Rather, new car buyers are coming back to the market after delaying purchases this summer when productions shortages from the Japanese earthquake limited supply and raised prices. more
"Small" Car Of The Year Awards
By Michelle Krebs November 28, 2011The ballot for voting on the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards just arrived in my email, and I’m flummoxed. Every year, the awards’ jurors -- 50 journalists from across North America who cover all facets of the auto industry -- insist selecting the winners is more difficult this year than in the past. But, truly, this year is a challenging one because the car category is dominated by small cars, and the truck category has not a single “real” truck. more
Fiat NA Management Shake-Up No Surprise
By Michelle Krebs November 22, 2011It came as no surprise that Laura Soave, who headed the Fiat brand in North America during its launch, had left the auto company and quickly was replaced by Chrysler Group LLC Monday. For weeks, her whereabouts within the Chrysler/Fiat organization had been grist for the rumor mill. Only last week, Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne hinted changes were coming due to disappointing sales result for the Fiat 500. So on Monday, Chrysler, indeed, announced Soave (above) had left the automaker to “pursue other interests.” She was replaced by Timothy Kuniskis, most recently director for Chrysler and Fiat brand product more
More On CAFE
By Jeremy Anwyl November 18, 2011Back before I was a witness before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I wrote a column critical of a report published by Ceres, a through that bills itself as leading a national coalition of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups. The report had been making the rounds in Washington, and I had problems with many of the report conclusions. Ceres wasn’t happy with my critique, and we posted its response a few weeks back. more
November Car Sales Pace Encouraging
By Jeremy Anwyl November 17, 2011Midway through month, the November car sales picture is taking shape, and the shape looks encouraging with the pace showing a lift from earlier in the month, albeit a slight one. Retail sales now look like they will finish the month around 814,000 vehicles, which equates to a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of car sales of 11 million vehicle sales. This compares with sales of 831,000 vehicles for a retail SAAR of 10.8 million last month. If we assume a fleet mix of around 18.5 percent, then November will end with total sales of 998,000 vehicles and a more
Consumer Reports Survey Flawed
By Jeremy Anwyl November 16, 2011I am a bit surprised a group with the stature of Consumer Reports didn't think a bit deeper before touting the results of its latest survey that claims consumers want better fuel economy and are willing to pay for it. The upshot of Consumer Reports’ survey shows that 93 percent of 1,008 people interviewed by phone in late October support a fuel-economy standard of 55 mpg or more. The survey results were released Tuesday; the federal government was set to announce Wednesday the proposed rules for implementing a 54.5 miles-per-gallon fuel economy standard for automakers to meet by 2025. more
Where Are Oil Prices Headed?
By Jeremy Anwyl November 15, 2011We have been ruminating at Edmunds.com about oil prices. Since March of this year, the sales share of hybrids has been dropping even as fuel prices have remained high. Yet we have been tracking a growing shift back toward larger vehicles. This is interesting, as logic would suggest that if fuel prices are holding at high levels, sales patterns should be stable as well. more