Survey eases fears of pickup cannibalization

If car or crossover owners are willing to dip a toe into the midsize pickup segment, while full-size pickup buyers remain where they are, that would be a recipe for greater profitability across the board.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181201/RETAIL01/181209976/jeep-gladiator-ford-ranger-autolist-survey

Lexus willing to wait on subscriptions

Lexus is in no rush to embrace a vehicle subscription program at the brand level, but it sees the all-inclusive short-team lease as a format that could be expanded to other models in the lineup.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181201/RETAIL01/181209981/lexus-ux-subscription-plan-complete-lease

November U.S. auto sales expected to dip as market cools

Strong transaction prices and disciplined incentives could be offset by continued headwinds, such as vehicle affordability.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181130/RETAIL01/181139990/november-auto-sales-forecast

Dealership group owned by ex-NFL players turns over vehicles to Nissan finance arm

An ailing dealership group owned by two former NFL players and an auto industry veteran has agreed to turn over vehicle collateral to Nissan Motor Acceptance from three of its now-closed stores.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181129/RETAIL/181129665/dealership-group-owned-by-ex-nfl-players-turns-over-vehicles-to

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An ailing dealership group owned by two former NFL players and an auto industry veteran has agreed to turn over vehicle collateral to Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. from three of its now-closed stores.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181129/RETAIL/181129665/-no-heading

2 men sentenced in fraudulent scheme to steal from 6 N.Y. dealerships

Two New York City men were sentenced last week to prison and are each ordered to pay restitution for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme to steal vehicles from six dealerships in Westchester, N.Y.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181129/RETAIL07/181129668/2-men-sentenced-in-fraudulent-scheme-to-steal-from-6-n-y-dealerships

Daimler on track to meet annual targets for greener vehicles in China

Daimler is on track to meet the quota for new-energy vehicles (NEV's) in China this year, the automaker's China boss, Hubertus Troska, said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181129/ANE/181129684/daimler-electric-china

Nissan has long been seen as a success story in Europe

Nissan's ousting of its Chairman Carlos Ghosn for alleged financial irregularities has been seen as a bid to by the automaker to prevent a merger with its controlling partner, Renault.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181129/BLOG15/181129727/nissan-europe-scandal

Lincoln backs off 2020 sales target amid Trump trade war with China

Lincoln President Joy Falotico said the brand is backing off the target, established under former CEO Mark Fields in 2014, after the cost to export U.S.-built vehicles to China rose.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181128/RETAIL01/181129690/lincoln-sales-goal-tariff-china

Lincoln backs off 2020 sales target amid Trump trade war with China

Lincoln President Joy Falotico told Automotive News Wednesday that the brand is backing off the target, established under former CEO Mark Fields in 2014, after the cost to export U.S.-built vehicles to China rose.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181128/RETAIL01/181129690/lincoln-backs-off-2020-sales-target-amid-trump-trade-war-with-china

KAR agrees to buy European online auction service for $176 million

KAR Auction Services said it agreed to buy Belgium-based online auction company CarsOnTheWeb for about $176 million.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181128/RETAIL04/181129703/kar-agrees-to-buy-european-online-auction-service-for-176-million

BMW's latest marketing stunt comes to L.A.

To promote its American-made X5 crossover, BMW filmed a road trip from the car's birthplace in its Spartanburg, S.C., plant directly to a stage at this week's L.A. auto show.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181128/RETAIL03/181129709/bmw-los-angeles-auto-show-stunt

Honda drops diesels in Europe in electric push

Honda is axing its diesel cars in Europe as it adds full-electric and hybrid powertrains in a green technology push.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181128/ANE/181129850/honda-production-electrification-diesel

French reacts to Ghosn scandal with surprise, anger and damage control

The reaction in France to Carlos Ghosn's arrest over alleged financial misconduct at Nissan can be summed up in two words: It's complicated.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181127/COPY01/311279950/france-ghosn-nissan-scandal

Cox Automotive names Sid Nair to new chief sales officer position

Sid Nair, from IT services company DXC Technology, will take over the responsibilities of the departing Raj Sundaram, executive vice president and chief client success officer.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181127/RETAIL/181129771/cox-sid-nair-chief-sales-officer

Aston Martin aims to more than double production by 2025

Aston Martin aims to more than double the number of cars it makes by 2025 to 14,000 cars, CEO Andy Palmer said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181127/ANE/181129772/aston-martin-production-earnings

French reacts to Ghosn scandal with surprise, anger and damage control

The reaction in France to Carlos Ghosn's arrest over alleged financial misconduct at Nissan can be summed up in two words: It's complicated.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181127/ANE/181129774/france-ghosn-nissan-scandal

VW boosts digital marketing in efficiency drive

VW brand will streamline its marketing operations to become 30 percent more efficient by 2020, relying much more heavily on cheaper digital advertising in the future than traditional print or television channels.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181127/ANE/181129776/vw-digital-marketing

Borgward plans SUV sales in the UK, Ireland next year

Borgward will begin sales of its SUVs in the UK and Ireland at the end of next year, the brand's new importer has said.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181127/ANE/181129847/borgward-uk-ireland-sales

VW awards North American creative ad work to WPP

Advertising agency giant WPP has won Volkswagen's creative account in North America, following a seven-month global agency review.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL03/181129794/vw-awards-north-american-creative-ad-work-to-wpp

Toyota pins Corolla hopes on multicultural buyers

The Toyota Corolla, a perennial top seller among light vehicles in the U.S., faces a tougher market as car sales plummet. Toyota believes there are still pockets of opportunity for sales with multicultural groups.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL03/181129874/toyota-pins-corolla-hopes-on-multicultural-buyers

A radical thought to fix auto shows: Work together

Auto shows already have the means to rejuvenate their brands, if they're willing to take a radical step and work together.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL01/181129899/auto-shows-brands

3 things to watch in November sales

Black Friday hasn't just taken over Thanksgiving weekend: Big sales run all month, especially in automakers' and dealers' marketing efforts.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL01/181129876/november-monthly-car-truck-sales

Return of the Land Rover Defender

Here's the clearest look yet at the basic two-door model of Land Rover's upcoming Defender, scheduled for launch in 2020.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM04/181129882/land-rover-defender-spy-photograph

CPOs sell better than non-certified vehicles

Certified pre-owned vehicles are selling quicker and with better margins, according to J.D. Power.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL04/181129905/cpo-vehicles-profit-buyers

Potential pre-owned buyers? Anyone

Just who exactly is a certified pre-owned vehicle buyer? Well, it can actually be just about anybody who walks through the showroom door.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL04/181129886/potential-pre-owned-buyers-anyone

How the Kia customer stole Christmas

Police say the Grinch who stole Christmas lights, a flat-screen TV and expensive coolers from a Florida dealership showroom this month turned out to be a man who had recently bought a vehicle at the store and decided to go back for more.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL07/181129889/how-the-kia-customer-stole-christmas

Downey Nissan uses social media to sell cars

Downey Nissan, near Los Angeles, makes it convenient for customers to share a professional video of their new or used vehicle on social media.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/RETAIL07/181129901/downey-nissan-video-sales

AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson is a 2018 Automotive News All Star, finance and insurance

Back in 2015, AutoNation took one of its first steps in its far-reaching brand extension strategy: launching AutoNation-branded FandI products. Mike Jackson has said the strategy will keep the largest U.S.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129907/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-mike-jackson

Jack Hollis, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager and Ed Laukes, group vice president of marketing, are 2018 Automotive News All Stars

2018 Automotive News All Stars Jack Hollis, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager and Ed Laukes, group vice president of marketing, were instrumental in leading a company effort to reposition itself as a mobility company, through...

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129940/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-jack-hollis-ed-laukes

David Rosenberg, CEO of Prime Automotive Group, is a 2018 Automotive News All Star

Automotive News All star David Rosenberg, CEO of Prime Automotive Group, helped launch a new vehicle subscription program this year.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129934/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-david-rosenberg

Carvana CEO Ernie Garcia is a 2018 Automotive News All Star

Carvana CEO Ernie Garcia, a 2018 Automotive News All Star, has overseen the company known for its oversized vehicle vending machines, with rapid growth in the last year in revenue and sales.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129935/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-ernie-garcia

Hyundai chief marketing officer Dean Evans is a 2018 Automotive News All Star

2018 Automotive News All Star Dean Evans, chief marketing officer at Hyundai Motor America, led a product blitz this year.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129942/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-dean-evans

Scott Arnold, AutoNation executive vice president of customer care and brand extensions, is a 2018 Automotive News All Star

2018 Automotive News All Star Scott Arnold, executive vice president of customer care and brand extensions at AutoNation, is working on an initiative to extend the company's brand.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129943/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-scott-arnold

Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Andy Palmer is a 2018 Automotive News All Star, luxury automaker

Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Andy Palmer, a 2018 Automotive News All Star, used his marketing savvy to improve the company's balance sheet.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/OEM02/181129944/2018-automotive-news-all-stars-andy-palmer

Going Hollywood

The race among carmakers to put fully autonomous vehicles on the road is poised to drive a competition of a different kind, as Hollywood revs up to jump deeper into the world of in-vehicle entertainment.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181126/SHIFT/181129994/movies-self-driving-things-to-do

Tesla cuts prices in China to ease tariff hit

Tesla, stung by higher levies on U.S. vehicle exports to China amid a trade ward between the countries, lowered prices on the Model S and Model X by 12-26 percent to make the vehicles more "affordable" in the world's top auto market.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181122/OEM/181129866/tesla-cuts-prices-in-china-to-ease-tariff-hit

PSA Group on track with U.S. plans

PSA is on track with its plans to return to the U.S. by 2026. The automaker's CEO, Carlos Tavares, spoke with Automotive News Europe and sibling publication Automotive News about his future goals in the U.S. and elsewhere.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181119/COPY/311199905/psa-group-carlos-tavares-north-america

California dealers ask Ford to end anti-dualing policy on Lincoln stores

The California New Car Dealers Association is asking Ford CEO Jim Hackett to cease anti-dualing policies in California that could affect about 33 dual Ford-Lincoln dealers in the state.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181121/RETAIL07/181129895/ford-lincoln-hackett-dealers-california-dualing

Mercedes, Audi, BMW benefit from 10% cut in China import tariffs

Mercedes, Audi and BMW have benefited from a 10% reduction in import tariffs introduced in China in July that has helped them boost sales in the world's No. 1 market.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181121/ANE/181129987/audi-mercedes-bmw-sales-china

Can the Grinch save Honda's U.S. sales?

Honda aims to break through traditional holiday advertising, with the Grinch hacking its annual holiday campaign and social media accounts.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181120/RETAIL03/181129964/the-grinch-brings-back-happy-honda-days-holiday-event

Why the zero percent car loan is still alive

The zero-percent auto loan is making a comeback, though it's probably going to last only as long as the holidays.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181120/FINANCE_AND_INSURANCE/181129972/finance-banking-zero-percent-car-loans

Mali to produce lithium by 2020 after 694,000 tons discovered

Mali is on track to start lithium production by 2020 following the discovery of exploitable reserves, a senior mines ministry official told Reuters.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181120/COPY/311209927/mali-lithium-reserves

VW brand COO outlines his plans for Europe's top automaker

Volkswagen brand is readying the launches of a raft of new products in Europe including the new Golf and the T-Cross small SUV. Chief Operating Officer Ralf Brandstaetter outlined his priorities for the brand.

source http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181120/ANE/181129984/vw-brand-coo-outlines-his-plans-for-europes-top-automaker

Mali to produce lithium by 2020 after 694,000 tons discovered

Mali is on track to start lithium production by 2020 following the discovery of exploitable reserves, a senior mines ministry official told Reuters.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181120/OEM05/181129982/mali-lithium-reserves

Penske, LIthia to workers: Get a physical, save money

Penske Automotive Group Inc. and other public retailers are offering financial rewards to employees and their spouses for things like getting a physical or completing biometric screenings.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181119/RETAIL/181119750/penske-lithia-physical-health-savings

Zotye USA wants to start selling a Chinese-made crossover in the U.S. in 2020

Chinese automaker Zotye has begun signing up U.S. retailers and plans to "really shake things up" when it comes to factory-dealer norms.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181119/RETAIL/181119744/zotye-chinese-us-crossover-sales

Dealers need to innovate with used-vehicles

The need for traditional dealers to get innovative in the pre-owned space was apparent at the 2018 Used Car Week annual event in Scottsdale, Ariz.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181119/RETAIL07/181119745/dealers-used-vehicles-innovate

Auto industry prepares for used-vehicle future

The direction of automotive retailing is up for debate, but considering recent moves by lenders and dealerships, industry leaders are placing their bets on the used-vehicle space.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181119/RETAIL/181119789/auto-industry-used-vehicle-retailing

Online auctions key to wholesalers' future

Online auctions and the digital tools that accompany them are key to vehicle wholesalers' futures.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181119/RETAIL01/181119748/auctions-online-wholesalers-digital