All Entries in the "Auto News" Category
Toyota’s Puzzling Marketing Blitz
Toyota is acting strange lately.
- During the 90’s, Toyota led the charge in hybrid technology despite the fact they made little or no profit on every hybrid they sold.
- Last week, Toyota announced that they will not significantly invest in all-electric vehicles, nor will they choose to use Lithium-ion battery packs in upcoming vehicles.
15 years ago, Toyota rolled the dice on hybrids with no regards to costs.
Why Do People Buy Pickup Trucks?
A few weeks ago we showed that the demand for pickup trucks may not be all that related to gas prices. By looking at historical fuel pricing data and comparing it to sales data, we showed there’s little to no correlation between gas prices and sales. We also did some basic math to show that, for many consumers, the additional monthly cost of operating a pickup truck (when compared to a compact car) is affordable.
If our analysis is true – if truck sales really aren’t influenced by gasoline prices – the question becomes, why? Why do pickup trucks continue to sell despite their higher fuel costs?
Guns, Hummers, and Pickup Trucks
There are a lot of stereotypes surrounding pickup truck and SUV owners
2009-2010 Truck Maximum Tow Rating Guide – Part One
Maximum tow ratings are like diet pill claims – they all promise the world, and they all come with one of these – “*” – an asterisk. We’ll explore maximum tow ratings and what they mean in a two-part Maximum Tow Rating Guide. For part one, we’ll give a quick summary of the tow rating claims made by every half-ton manufacturer:
Did California’s Excessive Regulations and Taxes Kill NUMMI?
The closure of NUMMI signifies a new era for California – for the first time in 95 years, California will not host a vehicle production plant for a major auto manufacturer. When NUMMI closes in March, 2010, California’s only notable auto plant will make only a few thousand Tesla all-electric roadsters per year.
The very first auto plant in California, opened by Henry Ford in 1914
California’s first auto plant was Ford Motor Company’s Los Angeles assembly plant, opened in 1914. Ford opened another plant in Long Beach in 1930, which operated until 1959. Ford’s last plant in California was the “Pico Rivera” plant, which was closed in 1981. General Motors has also had a presence in California for the better part of 73 years. The South Gate plant, opened all the way back in 1936, was likely GM’s first California plant. The last GM car made in California (the Pontiac Vibe) rolled off the NUMMI assembly line just a few weeks ago.
The question: Is California the problem?
