Chrysler Will Add 900 Jobs Next Year;

Chrysler said that it will keep its Sterling Heights factory in Michigan open after rumors came out that the factory would be closed. It was reported that the factory would be closed in 2012. Chrysler is a major domestic automaker along with GM who distributes its Chevrolet models to Bradenton Chevrolet Dealer businesses and other dealers throughout the country. Chrysler is doing better than expected and Obama's current tour of auto plants shows how the government bailout of 2009 did affect some businesses and industry. Rome Chevrolet Dealers and other domestic dealers are now seeing an increase of sales after the large drop off in 2009.

Volkswagen Peoria sells imported automobiles and time will tell whether even imported brands will be able to maintain their high level of success and sales. Almost every domestic and foreign automaker suffered from reduced sales in the United States last year, and now Europe too has slowed in auto purchases. However, Chrysler has shown its resilience after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2009.

As for the factory in Sterling Heights, Chrysler said that it will be using the plant to build the Fiat successors to the Chrysler Sebring and the Dodge Avenger. The current Sebring and Avenger models will be updated in 2011, and then they will be fully replaced in 2012 by models that are built on a Fiat platform.

While the new Fiat platform models are in production, Chrysler will be building its 2011 models of the Sebring and the Avenger at its Sterling Heights Michigan factory. The factory will also hire 900 workers in the first quarter of 2011 to help with the production of these models. It looks like Chrysler is able to continue to produce and hire workers, and ultimately the success of the United States auto industry will depend not only on domestic demand but also foreign demand for vehicles made in the United States.

Obama Gives U.S. Auto Industry as Example of Success

In an interview that was recorded last Wednesday on the television show "The View," President Obama said that the United States auto industry was rebounding and that taxpayers could expect to regain all of their investment into the auto industry. Pittsburgh Honda Dealers were not as affected by the recession sine Honda did well in 2009 and remained one of the top automakers in the world. In 2009, domestic automakers suffered massive declines in sales due to the recession and stock market drop of 2008. Auto sales dropped and in the second and third quarter of 2009 both Chrysler and GM had to file for bankruptcy protection. However, Ford was the only United States automaker to not declare bankruptcy last year, and the latest Ford models can be purchased at a local NC Ford Dealer.

Obama said that the automotive industry was an example of how progress has happened in some sectors in the United States, although the unemployment rate is at about 10 percent at the moment. VW continues to sell large quantities of its vehicle models throughout the world and the
company was not as hard hit as some United States automakers.

Obama said that the auto industry as a whole was doing better than expected and it was a good example of how the measures taken in early 2009 were in fact effective after Obama took office. America is still in the process of rebounding from the worst recession since 1930. Elizabeth Hasselbeck gave Obama some tough grilling on the show, but Obama responded with the example of the auto industry and how it has hired 50,000 workers since the measures and "bailouts" were given.

If the auto industry continues to progress, it really does mean that the economy will be better, and the fact that President Obama gave the auto industry as an example of how the economy is rebounding goes to show how important and crucial it is from U.S. automakers to continue to do well in the next few years.

Ford Reinvents Explorer With Fuel Economy and Technology;

Ford has reinvented its Explorer SUV model with several new additions in the 2011 Ford Explorer that has a lot of interest already. The 2011 Explorer will be available for purchase at a discount during Ford Specials along with other Ford models. The 2011 Ford Explorer features Ford's latest fuel saving technology. The SUV will feature improved handling, improved fuel efficiency, better technology features, and even more safety features which makes it more comparable to safe models that can be purchased during Volkswagen Deals.

The 2011 Ford Explorer has several airbags and inflatable rear seat belts. The safety features will make it comparable to Jeep models which can be purchased at New Haven Jeep Dealers. Other safety features include Trinity front impact structure, AdvanceTrac with RSC (roll stability control), and Curve Control functionality. These features are designed to prevent rollover which may occur in some SUVs at very high speeds while turning.

Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas said, “The all-new Explorer will deliver today’s SUV buyers the attributes they really want and value, and a few they might not even have dreamed of. We’re proud to introduce the new Explorer to customers and fans around the world today and pleased to begin a whole new era that blends strong SUV fuel economy and performance.”

The new Explorer has been reinvented to define a new era for Ford, and to improve the image of the Explorer as being a "gas guzzler." The new Explorer is hardly a gas guzzler with some of the highest mpg ratings of any SUV on the market. The 2011 Ford Explorer raises the bar for SUV handling and performance. It is an excellent towing model and still offers incredible fuel economy.

The 2011 Explorer comes with a V6 and has 20 percent better fuel economy than the 2010 version. If the model is equipped with the optional EcoBoost technology it gets 30 percent better fuel economy than the 2010 version. It is also more efficient than the Toyota Highlander or the 2010 Honda Pilot. The style and design of the 2010 Explorer is also more modern.

NADA Reports Increased Dealer Profits;

NADA has reported increased dealer profits at Lexington Mercedes-Benz Dealers and other dealers for the first five months of 2010 compared to 2009. The average net profit has increased to $278,814 since the past year which is a huge sign that the American auto market is now improving. VW Deals offer some of the top incentives for buying Volkswagen models and have resulted in increased sales at Volkswagen dealers. Volkswagen and other models can be serviced at a local Bradenton Body Shop.

Vehicles have been selling better over the past 5-6 months of 2010 due to better consumer confidence than in 2009 when the market was at an all time low. The average net pretax profit margin was 2.3 percent which was also up from 1.3 percent in May of 2009. Net profits over 2 percent are very rare in the industry.

NADA said that the increased sales were due to increased sales in the new and used vehicle departments of dealers, higher profit margins for both new and used vehicles, reduced inventories around the nation, and low interest rates for vehicle financing.

The retail automobile market is gradually coming out of its decline which was at a peak in 2009. Paul Taylor, NADA's chief economist said that, “All key financial numbers are up year to date. The retail automotive market is getting better slowly but surely this year.”

Inventory financing had a big savings increase with floorplan interest cost dropping 117 percent for 2010. During the month of May the average dealership had a balance of $23 per vehicle in its floorplan account. The financial assistance that dealerships have received have offset dealer interest expense per vehicle.

There are over 18,000 new car dealers in the United States and there were about 1,550 more in 2009 by the same time. The number of new dealers will continue to drop for the rest of 2010 by an estimated 500 as the amount of new dealers begin to adjust for the changed economy.

Fiesta With a Ford

The all new 2011 Ford Fiesta is a great buy and is available at your Ohio Ford Dealer or any other participating dealer. The Fiesta is Ranked number one in Affordable Small Cars. Reviewers are giving the Ford high ratings and is said to be setting new highs for its performance, reliability and the fact that it offers what other small cars are missing. Some people thought that the Fiesta was getting too much praise when it has not been released in the United States yet, but boy were they wrong. The Fiesta has been being sold since 2008 in Europe and is finally arriving to U.S. dealerships such as Nissan Sacramento . According to Autoweek, "The Fiesta is a good small car and can be found, sourced from anywhere in the world. That it comes from the Blue Oval is remarkable and heartening; its brilliance is the first ray of sunshine on what has been a seemingly midnight horizon".

The 2011 Fiesta, according to Ford, is said to get 30 miles mpg/city and 40 mpg/highway. With numbers like those, it's seems to be the closest to a hybrid without the high price of a hybrid. You can purchase the Fiesta through Volkswagen Specials, as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback style. The base price for the all new Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320. Don't forget to check out Ford Deals for discounts and incentives.

The Fiesta is an enjoyable, quiet ride even at highway speeds. According to Edmunds, "We can say without hesitation that the 2011 Ford Fiesta provides the most rewarding drive in its class". It is a great family car with the more expensive car look and feel. Good fuel economy, powerful engine and reliability. These three things is what makes Ford a great car and brand.

The First All New 2011 Ford Fiesta Commercial

Ford Seeks Changes to U.S. and Korea Trade Agreement

Ford has sought changes to an agreement between the United States and South Korea. Ford's latest F-Series can be test driven from a F-Series Inventory. The agreement was signed during the South Korea - United States Free Trade Agreement. Volkswagen sells its vehicle models to both the United States and Korean and Arizona VW sells many different VW models. The agreement was signed on June 30, 2007. It was before the deadline for President George Bush to use his fast-track authority on trade. Hartford Honda Dealers sell Honda models which are very popular both in the United States and large Korean automobile market.

The purpose of the agreement was to lift tariffs on various goods. There were other agreements listed such as protection for multinational corporations and some other terms. There were intellectual property terms and other restrictions for automobile as well as beef trade between the United States and Korea.

Ford has made an announcement that they seek to change these restrictions so that they can have a larger access to the estimated $30 billion South Korean vehicle industry. Ford has ties to President Obama with Ford's CEO sitting on a board that is involved with increasing United States exports, so there is a good chance that Ford may be able to alter the agreement.

Ford believes that altering the agreement not just to allow Ford but also other United States automakers to sell vehicles to Korea would cause a large increase in U.S. exports and auto sales, which would thus contribute to the economy. Ford does not want any particular quota or share of the market, but rather more of a general access to the market which has a lot of potential for vehicle sales.

Ford and other companies opposed the agreement which was signed years ago, and as a result the agreement might be changed depending on whether Obama feels that there should be alterations for Ford and other manufacturers.

GM to File for IPO During Week of Aug 16!

GM has made an announcement that they will be filing their IPO during the week of August 16th. The filing will occur after the expected date for its second quarter results. GM's latest vehicles can be test driven at a Sarasota Chevrolet Dealer. GM's second quarter results must be good, which is likely why the company decided on this week to hold its IPO. A great second quarter result will allow the IPO a greater chance of success. Ford, a major domestic competitor, will not be holding an IPO because the company did not declare bankruptcy. Ford's latest models that have helped the company turn the tide and improve profits can be found at a number of Chicago Ford Dealers.

It will be interesting to see if the IPO will allow GM to have the same level of recent success that Ford has been experience. Foreign competitors and dealers have their hands full such as AZ Volkswagen and BMW. Both Ford and GM are implementing different stages of their new turnaround programs that are designed to help both companies emerge from the lack of profitability over the past 5 or so years.

GM will hold the IPO to reduce the United States government's $50 billion investment into the company. GM hopes to completely eliminate the government's bailout amount so that the company will become privately owned once again. GM hopes to time its IPO to preceed November elections, an unknown source said.

GM recently announced the purchase of AmeriCredit as a new captive finance operation. GM is also in talks with other major banks for other consumer credit options, and the more secure GM's financing options are, the better the IPO will likely be. GM will buy AmeriCredit for $3.5 billion which will comprise the core of its captive financing operation. GM previously sold GMAC off in 2006 which was its former in-house financing operation.

GM to Buy Americredit as Captive Finance Arm;

GM will buy AmeriCredit to regain a captive finance company that was previously lost. GM models are competitors to Boston Infiniti models which are Nissan's luxury brand. The acquisition will help GM reach more customers through providing their own loans and financing options. GM dealers will compete with VW Dealer businesses in order to provide the best financing terms and competitive rates to their customers. There are several Birmingham Hyundai Dealers that are also very excellent at providing their customers with the top lines of credit available depending on their rating and other factors.

GM had considered buying back GMAC which was its former lending arm. Starting a new in-house banking unit or buying GMAC proved to be different. Instead, GM paid $3.5 billion in cash to purchase Americredit, and the company will be used to provide loans for customers so that GM dealers do not have to work with financial institutions outside of GM.

GM will be able to provide customers with less than perfect credit some different financing options and the end result of having a captive financial institution is that GM will likely be able to expand their markets throughout the United States. Since there are so many people with less than perfect credit, it makes sense for GM to have this type of financing arm for their company. Many people throughout the United States do not have great credit and GM will be able to provide those people with options.

The captive finance arm would be GM's first since it sold of a large share of GMAC in 2006. Since then, GMAC has changed its name to Ally Financial in the United States, although it is known overseas as GMAC and is considering a change in name for its overseas business. 4 percent of its sales come from subprime borrowers whereas 7 percent of the industry sales come from subprime borrowers.

Chrysler Posts 2nd Straight Operating Profit;

Chrysler posted its second straight operating profit for 2010 as the domestic automaker is turning the tide after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2009. GM has also made profit in the 2010 year and hopes to continue to sell well at dealerships like Chevrolet Bradenton and others. CEO Sergio Marchionne made the announcement in a phone call, and he did not say what the exact amount of the profit was. Ford, GM, and Chrysler have not had very good luck in the past 3-4 years but all 3 Detroit automakers have made very big changes for 2009 and 2010 that have started to pay off immediately. GM's new Chevy models which are some of its best ever can be found at Chevrolet Wichita dealers.

Foreign competitors such as BMW and Volkswagen, whose top selling sedans and other models can be purchased at a Peoria Volkswagen dealer, will have their hands full with even more competition from the Detroit automakers as all 3 of the Big Three may be coming back into the mix of the top automakers in the world. Chrysler was questionable because Ford, and to a lesser extent GM, have had large operating profits, especially Ford, but it was not certain whether or not Chrysler would be able to follow suit.

Chrysler made $143 million on an operating basis, but lost $197 total during the first quarter of 2010 as it made major operating cost cuts and other drastic measures including eliminating product lines and layoffs. Dealerships were also closed throughout the United States. Fiat, a division of Chrysler, reported a second quarter income of $116 million with increased demand for its models throughout Europe.

With Fiat expecting to be profitable for 2010, Chrysler may continue its profitability into the third and fourth quarters of 2010. In the mean time, Chrysler should be commended for being able to continue to do well in a very difficult economic condition and following a bankruptcy.

Cadillac May Get Flagship Model

There are reports that Cadillac, GM's luxury brand, may finally be getting a flagship model. Other GM models such as GM's Chevy brand can be found at a Sarasota Chevy Dealer. There have been rumors for a while that GM would be looking at developing a new Cadillac model that would be considered a flagship model. Volkswagen produces Audi which is a great luxury brand and Volkswagen's latest models can be browsed at a Peoria Volkswagen dealership.

For other luxury brands, there is a flagship model that the brand is recognized for, but Cadillac has yet to develop that model that is considered to be the best for that particular company. There are several Used Cars Seattle dealerships that offer pre-owned luxury models such as Cadillac, Mercedes, and BMW for big discounts.

At the moment Cadillac has zero flagship models. That is surprising for a brand that is known to be one of the most popular American luxury companies in the world. Many songs and other elements of popular culture have been centered around the Cadillac model, but it lacks a flagship model that would instantly bring recognition of the Cadillac name and luxury image.

The purpose of having a flagship model is so that others can easily recognize a brand. The flagship model is the brand's best offering and it is sort of a symbol of everything that the brand represents. The CTS is the smallest Cadillac vehicle and it is considered to be one of the best, but that is not what Cadillac is capable of producing.

It will be interesting to see if the XTS Platinum is the model that Cadillac ends up using as their flagship model. The XTS Platinum was a model that was shown earlier this year at a Detroit auto show, and people loved it. Perhaps this will be the model that Cadillac uses.

NADA supports audits on United States dealership closings

The National Automobile Dealers Association supported audits on the closing of GM and Chrysler dealerships. Chrysler models can be found at a Chrysler Dodge Reading dealership. The audit of the dealerships is due to the fact that The National Automobile Dealers Association is supporting the audit by the government, but the group said it would be unlikely to pursue further options. Leaders of a group representing dealers that sell Frontier Inventory models and other models said that they would pursue other options.

Dealers that sell Peoria VW Deals and other models have been protesting the closing that were initiated by GM and Chrysler. NADA released a statement that said, “We do not see how these cuts make economic sense -- not for the companies, not for the dealers, not for local communities and certainly not for the struggling U.S. economy.”

The the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program provided $80 billion in loans to keep automakers above water. Congressional efforts that gave many thousands of dealers arbitration options.

The audit report was set up to question the reasons behind the closing of the dealerships. The Committee to Restore Dealer Rights helped pass legislation that made appeals possible. GM and Chrysler made an offering to reinstate the dealers after the passage of arbitration legislation.

The audit report said Automakers were to consider how the closings would affect the dealerships and unemployment rates. Unemployment rates went up all throughout the nation because of dealer closings.

The state of the economy affected both Chrysler and GM and forced both companies into bankruptcy. It looks like both companies will be looking to open several more dealerships throughout the country in the future if sales pick up, and perhaps the companies will be improved with some of their latest changes in their business model.

GM Production Halted!

GM halted its production again today at three plants due to part shortages from Mexico. GM sells and produces models like the Chevy Silverado using parts that are imported from various areas around the world. So far for the week of the 11th of July, there have been six plant stoppages due to parts shortages from Mexico. Ford has also had to deal with recent parts shortages and Ford's former Mercury brand can be purchased at a Lincoln Mercury Orange County dealership.

Be sure to check out VW Deals for excellent competing models. A plant in Fairfax, Kansas builds models such as the Chevy Malibu and the Buick LaCrosse, and the plant had to shut down. The shut down of the plant was posted on the bulletin of the local UAW in that area. Another plant in Detroit and Missouri were canceled today as well.

It is not known how much money GM will lose from the parts shortage, but the company is probably not happy about it. However, it is not the Mexican part supplier's fault because the major reason for delays have to do with railroad problems stemming from Hurricane Alex.

GM's plant in Flint, Michigan also had to cancel its services yesterday due to parts shortages. Those shortages were also due to hurricane related transportation problems. Ford has also dealt with its own hurricane related parts shortages. Ford had to cancel production at a plant in Oakville, Ontario due to similar related transportation problems.

As a result of the hurricane, the Ford Fiesta is anticipated to be delayed by two weeks. The Ford Fiesta is Ford's latest subcompact North American model that has done well in the European market over the past several years. It will debuted in the United States some time in August most likely and the model will likely become a top selling subcompact vehicle.

GM Looking to Boost Chevy Corvette Sales;

GM announced that they would be looking to boost the sales of their Corvette model and other models. GM's latest Chevy models are found at an Indiana Chevrolet Dealer. Other competitors like Volkswagen are looking to continue to improve their major market shares in the United States, and there are several Volkswagen dealers located in the same major cities as Chevy dealers such as Peoria VW and Chicago VW dealers.

Toyota brands can get a quick oil change and other services done at a Toyota Quick Lube Los Angeles dealership as well. GM made a good start a few nights ago when they debuted their new Corvette advertisement that was created by the Goodby Silverstein & Partners advertising agency.

The agency is one of the top advertising networks in the world, and they have the skill to bring life back into GM's brands that have not been doing so well over the past few years. However, the Corvette has always had a solid fan base that has purchased the latest models of the vehicle, and the new ad is looking to expand the Corvette's market into other demographics.

GM is launching several new Corvette promotions such as the latest "build your own Corvette" promotion that allows Corvette buyers to be involved in the Corvette manufacturing process for a nominal fee. GM sold 13,934 Corvettes total last year and is looking to improve the sales of the historic model.

The recession is partly to blame for the low sales. The new 2010 and 2011 models of the vehicle are some of the best models in its history, and is saying a lot considering that the Corvette is a favorite sports vehicle of many racing enthusiasts and professionals.

Time will tell whether or not GM's latest moves will be effective at increasing Corvette sales, but there is a good chance that we will see more buyers of the latest Corvette if the economy picks up soon.

GMAC North American Finance Renamed "Ally"

Ally Financial, formerly known as GMAC, has decided to rebrand most of its products with the Ally name. Ally is a 91 year old company that was formerly known as GMAC. Ally Financial provides vehicle loans for models such as the Ford Escape. There are several dealerships that now use Ally Financial for their financing needs such as your local VW Dealer and other dealers.

The change will occur in August, and the name was changed to Ally Financial last May. Nissan Lake Havasu and other Nissan dealerships now work with Ally Financial to provide their customers with auto loans. GMAC stood for General Motors Acceptance Corporation and was once a division of General Motors, but it separated from the company in 2006. Since then, it has been attempting to change its image from being known merely as a branch of General Motors. Now, the company services loans and financial products of various types and deals with several different automakers.

GMAC used to work exclusively with the Saab, Chrysler, and General Motors brands. Other companies that worked with GMAC exclusively were Fiat and Thor Industries. The company will only be known as Ally Financial in the United States and it will continue to operate under the name GMAC in international markets.

President Bill Muir said, “An ally is someone you rely on to support you, and our new brand embodies our 90-year heritage as a trusted finance source for the automotive industry.” This 90 year history is a large part of American consumer financing history and Ally Financial will continue to be a major source of financing for the American market.

The company provided $16 billion of credit to Americans for the first half of 2010 and there looks to be no signs of it slowing down anytime soon with about 6 million more expected auto sales for the rest of 2010.

Chrysler to Sell Fiat Models in the U.S.;

Chrysler has partnered with Italian automaker Fiat to produce a new Fiat 500 electric vehicle. The Fiat 500 was shown last March at an auto show and features an electric powertrain and up to 100 miles of range on a single charge. The Fiat automaker is a popular Italian brand that has sold many models throughout Europe. The Fiat will compete with the Volt which will be found at a local Cincinnati Chevrolet Dealer. GM's luxury Buick line has yet to see a hybrid model, however current Buick models can be purchased at a local Buick Hartford dealership.

Volkswagn will release a hybrid Jetta that will be found along with other current models at a Peoria VW dealership. The Fiat 500 is a very small vehicle, and there are debates on whether or not this type of vehicle will do well in the American market. Chrysler has big plans for selling this model in the United States and their expectations are that the model will sell very well. However, this remains to be seen as other models such as the Mini and Smart car have certainly done well, but this does not mean that new models will also do just as well in the competitive small car market.

Chrysler is designing the vehicle exclusively on its own and will engineer the vehicle in its Auburn Hills, Michigan headquarters. The price tag for the model has rumors of being around $32,000 which is a quite hefty price for a two seater model. Chrysler is putting a lot of effort into marketing and designing the model that will compete domestically with the Volt and the Nissan Leaf.

The Leaf will be available for a similar price. The Volt is going to be priced much less initially, and Chevy does not anticipate making a profit from the Volt initially.

Detroit Automakers Improve in Customer Satisfaction!

A recent survey detailed that U.S. Detroit based automakers have improved their customer service at dealerships throughout the nation. Denver Honda dealerships and others have been seeking to perform well in this study which aggregates the customer satisfaction of various dealerships throughout the nation. Nissan Altima Dealer businesses and other sealers tied with Ford and Chevy dealers in the study.

Companies such as Volkswagen have offered new Volkswagen Deals and have not had many issues with consumers, but others with recent issues like Toyota placed highly in the study and tied with several brands. Mitsubishi was the last placed automaker for the survey. The Lincoln, Ford, and Chevrolet brand dealerships have scored above the average for the first time in many years. Mercedes-Benz placed first in the study while Lexus placed second in the study.

For the four years of this study, luxury brands have often outperformed mass market brands. This is probably due to the increased emphasis that many of these brands place on customer service, and perhaps lower numbers overall of customers that shop for these particular brands. Car salespeople have had to become more customer service oriented in order to maintain a positive image, and many dealerships have responded to this increased demand for better customer service with better services.

Ford and other domestic automakers have done better in the study because of new company polices for training salespeople in new selling techniques and education on different models. Customers expect even the mass market brands to have the same level of customer service that luxury brands have.

And automakers like Ford have responded by training their salespeople to be more customer oriented, to be more capable of discussing the unique features of each model, and to be helpful and not pushy. Ford's dealerships are also trained to help customers with financing options. The domestic automakers hope to continue to perform well in studies such as these to better their customer service perception.

PT Cruiser Retires!

The PT Cruiser, which debuted in 1999, has finally be retired by Chrysler. Chrysler competitor cars can be bought at a Nissan Boston Dealer. The car was a hybrid between a small car platform, and a retro model like the VW Beetle which can be bought at a VW Dealer, and it was built at an inexpensive price. It was one of the most controversial vehicles ever produced, especially in the American market where sentiments on the vehicle were polar, and where models that are sold at a Boston Toyota Dealer are popular.. Most people either loved it or despised it, however it can not be argued that the vehicle certainly caused a stir among auto enthusiasts.

The model was popular when it first came out partially due to one of the best selling years for American automobiles in history. The model was produced in Mexico, and the final PT Cruiser was produced today in Mexico at an assembly plant. The model was colored stone white and was sent to a dealership for sale.

Other retro style models that have been met with similar combinations of enthusiasm and hatred include the BMW Mini, the new Volkswagen Beetle, and the Chevy SSR. The PT Cruiser sold over 1.3 million throughout the world and was quite a popular model in its heyday. Many industry executives and analysts were somewhat surprised to see how quickly the PT Cruiser caught on.

The PT Cruiser sold a little over 90,000 models in the United States in its first year of release. In 2001 it sold the most number of models it ever would, over 144,000. Since that year, sales went up and down and never reached that level again. Since 2006, the model has sold fewer and fewer numbers every year until this year when Chrysler decided to retire it. The model sold almost 5,000 units for the first half of 2010.

Bob Casey, a museum curator at the Henry Ford Museum said, "Every time I see one I smile. I can well understand why they sold more than 1 million." Somehow it seems that Chrysler's risk with the retro styled model paid off, and even in its retiring party it still has a strange sense of accomplishment.

Chrysler Offers Incentives to Boost Sales;

Chrysler said that they will be offering more incentives to improve sluggish sales. Chrysler is the competitor to domestic auto makers like GM who sells its models at GMC Birmingham dealers. GM and Ford have been doing better financially than Chrysler which has suffered lower sales in the past year. Volkswagen, whose models can be purchased at a VW dealer, and other foreign vehicle producers have done well in the American car market.

Pre-owned Chryslers can be found at a Sarasota used cars for sale business, but Chrysler is now offering a major 60 day money-back guarantee for all of its new models in a push to boost sales. American auto sales are at an all-time low which was reached for the first time in 2009, and the trend is expected to continue for 2010. Chrysler is also offering to make the first two months of payment for customers as well. The company hopes that both incentives will result in more sales of its other models.

Chrysler recently offered its “Minivan Pledge” which is a program that allows customers to return their vehicles within 60 days if they are not satisfied. The program just expired a few days ago and it was started in February of 2010. The new program is similar to the Minivan Pledge except it will include many more models and vehicle choices.

Chrysler is offering to make payments of up to $500 per month for the two initial months of a vehicle loan. The company will also offer interest free loans on numerous 2010 Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep models. The loans will have terms of up to 60 months and they must be secured through the GMAC Financial Services company in order to qualify for the interest free amount.

Chrysler is hoping that the incentives will rebuild customer satisfaction and confidence in the brand, although Chrysler is not the only automaker that is suffering from a lack of consumer confidence.

GM sells Nexteer to Chinese Group;

GM has agreed to sell its Nexteer division to a Chinese investment group. The business will be sold to Pacific Center Motors which is based out of China. The company is partially owned by the Chinese government. GM's major foreign competitors include Nissan, whose models can be found in a Nissan that is sold at St. Louis Nissan, and Volkswagen, whose models can be purchased at a local Volkswagen Dealer. Nexteer is an auto parts producer whose parts can be found in various brands and models. Discounted prices can be found for GM models as well with KSMO used car loans.

The sale will include 22 production plants, customer support centers, and engineering plants. GM has made efforts to sell Nexteer for the past year or so, but the efforts were hampered by union negotiations. Before GM sold Nexteer, an agreement was made with union representatives, and Chinese investors wanted a deal to be brokered before taking on the unit.

The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of 2010. Both the United States and Chinese government's regulatory centers must approve of the deal for it to be official. The deal must also be approved in any other countries that the division has locations in.

GM does not consider its Nexteer division a crucial asset to the company. GM purchased Nexteer from Delphi, Corp. last year. GM will likely focus its production efforts on powertrains and transmissions and outsource the production of other parts such as the steering systems that Nexteer formerly produced.

Mike Wall, an analyst with IHS Automotive said, “GM doesn't need to be the expert in steering...” He also said that GM could purchase parts from Asian manufacturers.

Nexteer workers agreed to a deal last month with concessions that were formerly rejected by the workers. The workers approved a vote with a 73 percent majority for concessions and approximately 2,000 workers voted on the deal.

Final Dodge Viper Is Produced;

The Dodge Viper, a sports supercar produced by Dodge that was launched in 1992 has been rolled off the lot for the final time. The final model was produced last Thursday, July 1st, in Detroit at a Chrysler plant. Fellow Detroit automaker Ford's Focus models can be purchased at a discount during Ford Focus deals. Competing foreign automaker Volkswagen has models that can be test drive at a local Volkswagen Peoria dealer. Not happy with Ford, or VW--well you can always check out what kind of Suzuki's are offered at Reading Suzuki.

The Dodge Viper is an iconic sportscar that has had a large fan base devoted to its latest models for the past 18 years and has been featured in numerous races throughout the world. The model has been a top choice for several racing professionals, and there have been several special editions of the vehicle. The final model was a custom model by a huge Viper enthusiast named D'Ann Rauh. She and her husband Wayne own over 40 different Dodge viper models, and are considered to have the most Dodge Viper models in the world.

Chrysler decided to discontinue the model last year after declaring bankruptcy, however the model was picked up by Fiat before it was done with forever. The ceremony marks the last model that Chrysler will produce, however Fiat may very likely continue to produce more versions of the Viper in the future. The model was not bringing in enough revenue for Chrysler to continue producing it, however.

Bob Lutz, a former executive of Chrysler, was the head of the original project, and the Viper was his own project. The final Viper featured forged aluminum wheels, a custom interior, copper stripes and custom body paint. There was a ceremony for the final Viper product featuring over 400 owners and enthusiasts including the current CEO of Chrysler. The plant in which the final model was produced was nicknamed the "Snake Pit" in reference to the Viper name.

Both GM and Ford Looking to Reduce Debt

Ford and GM, two major American car manufacturers, have made a strong effort toward reducing their debt loads. Over the past year, Ford has shown its commitment to both electric and environmentally friendly automobile research with the release of several fuel efficient models such as the Ford Fusion hybrid, which was Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 2010, the Ford Fiesta, and several other fuel efficient models that will be released over the next year and be found at a Philadelphia Ford dealership. Fuel efficient models from past years may be found at a Bradenton used cars dealer.

German manufacturer Volkswagen may be releasing a Volkswagen hybrid model within the next year as it attempts to become more competitive in the electric vehicle market. The new Volkswagen model may be found at a local Peoria Volkswagen dealer in the near future.
GM and Ford, and foreign competitors have intentions on expanding their vehicle lines to include electric models to help them improve profits and get models into new markets both domestically and abroad.

Ford and GM intend on spending any additional profits they make from their latest electric models to be spent toward improving their credit and reducing debt loads. Last month, Ford made a major payment to the UAW of $3.8 billion toward a $859 million payment that Ford was behind on. Ford has approximately $27 billion in debt, and although 2009 saw GM and Chrysler take major government assistance, Ford previously took out its loans from sources outside of the government in 2006.

GM currently owes $15.4 billion and it is also looking for a revolving line of credit of up to $5 billion. Both GM and Ford are behind on their pension funding and GM will hold an IPO later on in 2010 to help the company get to date with its pension funding and reduce overall debt.

General Motors Does Better in China than USA?

General Motors, whose vehicles can be purchased at a Bradenton used cars dealer, announced recently that their Chinese sales have surpassed their American sales for the first half of 2010. This is the first time in history that this has ever happened, and it is both a sign of an emerging Chinese economy with increased interest in American automobiles, and a slowing American economy. Competitors to GM in China include Volkswagen and Kia, whose models can be test-driven at a Peoria VW or a New Haven Kia dealer.

GM’s sales in China were 1.21 million compared to their U.S. sales of 1.08 million. The figures were released in a recent report by the company. The Chinese market is the first overseas market to “consistently outsell” the domestic market for GM. This has not happened for over 102 years. China's market has emerged as the American auto market has declined.

Some of the most popular Chevy models in China include the Buick Excelle, Chevy Lova, and others. The vehicles are manufactured with the help of GM's partner in China, SAIC. GM expects sales to increase to up to 3 million per year by 2015.

The Chinese automobile market is expected to be around 16 million for 2010 and rise 17 percent in 2010. The auto market has been slowly picking up pace in the country and the rate has recently slowed to do gasoline price hikes. Fuel efficient models have also done well in Asian markets like China.

In the United States, the Big Three automakers suffered from financial problems in 2009 which was one of the worst years for auto sales in the history of the country. Two out of the Big Three declared bankruptcy. GM was one of those companies and it is now called the "New GM" as the previous GM was removed from the stock market after the declaration of bankruptcy.

US Sales Give Mixed Results in June

Despite predictions that U.S. auto sales would be down for June, the reports came back that sales were higher than expected for June. Light vehicles, which can be found at a Bradenton Used Cars dealer, went up 14 percent for June and several automakers and had higher sales compared to 2009. Volkswagen, who is looking to increase their Volkswagen Dealer sales, had 12% better sales fr June than 2009.

The markets have been slower than anticipated by automakers, and the market gains were not the largest gains of the year by any means. Ford dealers such as Minneapolis Ford sold 13 percent more for June 2010 compared to June 2009 and it was the smallest increase in sales since November of 2009. Total annual sales based on projections from June sales would have been 11.1 million, which was the lowest month for sales projections for the auto industry since February of 2010.

Jim Lentz, Toyota's Sales President said that the industry did not do well because of consumer unwillingness to spend money on a new vehicle due to a lack of confidence. Many consumers are uncertain about their future due to the high unemployment rate and are being more conservative with their spending. However, Toyota posted a 7 percent gain for the month of June compared to 2010.

Honda had only a 6 percent gain in America which was the first month that it had less than double digits since 5 months. Ford's Lincoln and Mercury brands improved by 16 percent total. Many industry experts said that June's sales would bring an adjusted annual rate of 11.2 million vehicles, and so far this projection has turned out true.

The projection would mean that annual sales would be the lowest that they have been in years. From 2000 to 2008, car sales averaged 16.4 million and in 2009 they substantially dropped to 10.4 million. This number is the lowest annual amount of car sales in the past 24 years.