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Ford, VW Form Alliance: 'Our Industry Is Undergoing Fundamental Change'
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 10:04am | 677The pioneer of the assembly line is joining forces with the company that made The People’s Car. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Volkswagen AG (OTC: VLKAF)(OTC: VLKAY) announced Tuesday a collaboration that aims to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups as soon as 2022. Dearborn and...
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Truckin': Auto Sales Pivot Away From Cars In 2018
Friday, January 4, 2019 - 8:22am | 1324It was another generally strong year for the auto industry, though it might be better described as the light truck and SUV industry. Analysts said Americans used money freed up by tax cuts to buy new vehicles. Buoyed by a strong economy, corporate buyers also got in on new car fever, with fleet...
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Auto Expert: Small Car To Become More Endangered, But Not Extinct
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 - 12:36pm | 949General Motors Company (NYSE: GM)’s announcement last month that it would contract and reorganize its workforce continues a long trend among automakers. “The shift away from traditional sedans to utility vehicles has been ongoing for several years but has dramatically quickened in the...
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Sergio Marchionne Dies At 66: How The CEO Rescued Fiat, Chrysler
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 11:57am | 1201In 2009, in the midst of the global financial crisis, after Daimler washed its hands of the bankrupt Chrysler and pulled out of the DaimlerChrysler joint venture — and as Cerberus was desperately trying to peddle its struggling asset — Fiat’s fearless leader stepped...
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Ford Still Committed To SUV, Truck Shift Even As Iran Relations Threaten Spike In Gas Costs
Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 2:35pm | 580The U.S. has irked a major oil exporter, and some fear its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal could prompt a pop in gas prices. Historically, such a cost trajectory has precipitated change in the auto industry’s sales mix from trucks or SUVs to fuel-efficient cars. Who Should...
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April Auto Sales Fall; Fiat Chrysler's Jeep Is 'Back In The Game'
Tuesday, May 1, 2018 - 1:26pm | 867With the exception of a Jeep-driven Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE: FCAU), just about every U.S. automaker reported year-over-year sales declines. But this April’s two fewer selling days lent a “solid excuse,” according to Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Autotrader and...
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Ford Says Goodbye To The Focus, Taurus And Others In North America: 'This Was Expected'
Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 9:42am | 628Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced Wednesday it will pare its North American car portfolio to just two vehicles. The Mustang and Focus Active crossover will survive the transition, which eliminates investment in next-generation models of the Fusion, Focus, Taurus and Fiesta. “We are...
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Autos Post Better-Than-Expected December Sales On GDP Growth, Tax Reform
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 - 1:15pm | 903The auto industry wasn’t expected to do so well coming off 2016’s record sales. But it seemed to hold its own this December. All but one automaker outperformed Kelley Blue Book’s monthly estimates, which forecast negative growth across the board in what still amounted to the...
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Are Hurricanes Good Or Bad News For The Auto Industry?
Monday, September 11, 2017 - 9:59am | 612At first glance, the slew of storms striking the Gulf and southeast appears wholly adverse to the auto industry. Local drivers suffer vehicle destruction and elevated gas prices. Fuel stations service fewer visitors. Resale consumers are duped into purchasing flood vehicles. Insurance firms see a...
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How Far Along Is Ford's Autonomous Driving Plan Vs. Other Automakers?
Tuesday, August 16, 2016 - 3:12pm | 714Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced plans to have a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles on the streets by 2021. Ride-hailing and ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft will be among the first to gain access to these long-awaited tech wonders. Individual customers will have to wait at least...
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Senior Auto Expert: Car Credit Bubble Not A Worry, Sales Could Match 2015 Numbers
Thursday, January 28, 2016 - 1:41pm | 352Certain auto loan numbers are stirring fear of a credit bubble. Earlier this month, Benzinga reported on Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas' comment that the auto industry is in its largest loan bubble ever. AutoTrader senior analyst Michelle Krebs discounted worries of an auto credit...
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Is Ford Set For A Big Holiday Season?
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - 10:51am | 494Despite strong October sales numbers, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) fell short of peers. News of Ford’s end-of-year sale leaked in late October, and buyers likely delayed purchases as a result. The delayed purchases could drive Fords November/December sales even higher. Despite...
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BMW Reports Lackluster Earnings Amid Slowing China, Changing Product Focus
Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - 12:27pm | 498July was an overwhelmingly positive month for automakers. As companies released U.S. sales figures on Monday, widely expanded revenues and margins seemed to be the theme of the day. But not everyone was joining in on the fun. BMW was one of the weaker performers, with only a 2.1 sales increase...
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Analysts React To The New Chevy Cruze
Thursday, June 25, 2015 - 3:09pm | 416While analysts may have had a difficult time deciphering General Motors Company (NYSE: GM)’s all-emoji press release about the new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, they certainly have a lot to say following the English-language statement about the latest Cruze model released this week. On Wednesday...
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Analysts Weigh In On JD Power Auto Quality Report
Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 3:18pm | 876JD Power released its annual Auto Quality report on Wednesday, with Korean brands extending their quality gap over other manufacturers. Meanwhile, Japanese makes, which have been traditionally renowned for their reliability, slumped to a 29-year low. JD Power measures quality by looking at the...