Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Opinion: Redefining luxury]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/redefining-luxury/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/redefining-luxury/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/02/redefining-luxury/#commentsFiled under: ,

What's Happening To This Once-Exclusive Segment?

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class - front three-quarter dynamic view

These days, luxury makers seem to have an adversity to white space.

What comes before "A"? That's the problem Mercedes-Benz apparently has to cope with as it works up plans for an all-new premium minicar that's currently being referred to as the X-Class.

It's been three decades since the German maker first introduced - after much internal debate - the original "Baby Benz," the line that became today's C-Class. It's more recently added downsized B- and A-Class lines, as well, the X- expected to be even smaller. And that's on top of all the other new models that have rapidly fleshed out the Teutonic marque's lineup, from the G to the GLK, not to mention CLS, CLA (above) and SLK.

It's an alphanumeric soup, and Mercedes isn't alone, as a quick perusal of the BMW and Audi lineups - never mind the expanding mix at Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus and Jaguar - reveals. These days, luxury makers seem to have an adversity to white space. They're struggling to fill in every possible gap in what is a luxury market that is both rapidly growing and quickly changing.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Redefining luxury

Redefining luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cla-classfeaturedluxuryluxury carsmercedesx-classTue, 02 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: The good news and the bad news about December car sales]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/06/the-good-news-and-the-bad-news-about-december-car-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/06/the-good-news-and-the-bad-news-about-december-car-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/06/the-good-news-and-the-bad-news-about-december-car-sales/#commentsFiled under: ,


The holiday season saw Santa leave some nice gifts for the industry.

Pop the champagne, don't spare the caviar. The New Year has begun with a bang. Or, more precisely, the old year ended with one, December car sales delivering a much-needed boost to an auto industry still feeling the cold chill of its worst downturn since the Great Depression.

And the last-minute push past partisan gridlock that avoided an economic meltdown (can we all now abandon last year's tired cliché, "fiscal cliff"?) suggests that 2013 will maintain momentum. By most estimates, we'll see new vehicle sales surge somewhere into the low to mid-15 million range this year, and a new forecast by RL Polk predicts we could be looking at volumes of 16 million by mid-decade.

That's great news. At least it should be if you work for an automotive company or supplier or have some auto shares in your stock portfolio. If you're a car buyer, well, the story might not be so bright. Here's why it all depends on where you are in the consumer food chain.

Let's look at it from the industry perspective for a moment. The holiday season saw Santa leave some nice gifts for the industry. A long line of brands, including Nissan, Audi, Porsche, Subaru, Hyundai and Jeep, set all-time records last year. Bankrupt barely three years earlier, Chrysler Group wrapped up a string of 33 consecutive monthly sales gains.

While Toyota could claim Camry as the best-selling passenger car in the US, Ford could counter with the world's number one seller in the form of the Ford Focus, while the F-Series again topped the overall US sales chart. And Ford's Blue Oval was the only brand to top the 2 million mark in the US last year.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading The good news and the bad news about December car sales

The good news and the bad news about December car sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto productionauto salescar salesdecemberdecember car salesSun, 06 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Are battery-powered cars losing their charge?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/are-battery-powered-cars-losing-their-charge/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/are-battery-powered-cars-losing-their-charge/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/are-battery-powered-cars-losing-their-charge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EV charging port with plug about to be inserted

Sales of plug-in hybrids tumbled to nearly half their level from September and October.


The optimist would be likely to note that sales of the Chevrolet Volt were up 30 percent in November, at least when compared with year-ago numbers. But pessimists, of which there are many, would be more likely to point out that sales of the plug-in hybrid tumbled to nearly half their level from September and October.

The Volt was toppled from its throne as the nation's top-selling electric car by both the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius Plug-In. But even those vehicles slipped a bit during what was otherwise the best month the US auto industry has had, overall, since March of 2008.

There's no question that demand for battery-based vehicles has increased this year, but here again it's a case of half-empty or half-full. Most products have fallen well short of expectations. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has already acknowledged Leaf will miss its 2012 target and Volt will be lucky to get halfway to its original US goal of 45,000. For its part, Mitsubishi had hoped to nail down 20,000 units of its tiny i electric car this year, but it has only sold in the hundreds, not thousands.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Are battery-powered cars losing their charge?

Are battery-powered cars losing their charge? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisenstein on autoblogelectric carsevev salesfeaturedleafphevplug-in hybridvoltThu, 06 Dec 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Brazil becoming a major world market for automakers... again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/brazil-becoming-a-major-world-market-for-automakers-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/brazil-becoming-a-major-world-market-for-automakers-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/06/brazil-becoming-a-major-world-market-for-automakers-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

Brazilian flag

Brazil is now the world's fourth-largest national automotive market.

If your image of Brazil has anything to do with "The Girl from Ipanema" played by 1,001 Strings, you may be a little out of date. The country that will host the 2016 Summer Olympics has come a long way since the dawn of the bossa nova craze a half century ago, though it still has plenty of nagging problems left to deal with.

The recent Sao Paulo Auto Show provided one clear clue as to how much things have changed in recent years. When I first visited Brazil 15 years ago, the vehicles available to Brazilian motorists were, for the most part, decades out of date - common practice among automakers like Ford, Volkswagen and General Motors, who would dump generations-old tooling into these backwater markets rather than anything close to new.

Today, however, Brazilians motorists are likely to get the latest and greatest. Indeed, October's Sao Paulo show gave local buyers - and the rest of the world - a look at a number of all-new offerings, some designed specifically for the Portugese-speaking nations, others for global markets, such as the next-generation Ford Fiesta sedan. Significantly, the new model will land in Brazilian showrooms well before it reaches dealers here in the States.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Brazil becoming a major world market for automakers... again

Brazil becoming a major world market for automakers... again originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbrazilfordgmnissansao paulosao paulo auto showTue, 06 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Is Toyota unstoppable?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/is-toyota-unstoppable/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/is-toyota-unstoppable/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/is-toyota-unstoppable/#commentsFiled under:

Big T Is Back Despite Recalls, Earthquakes And Politics



Can anything slow Toyota down? Only a couple of years ago, the Japanese giant seemed as vulnerable as a sumo wrestler with vertigo as it struggled to explain away a series of safety and quality snafus that forced it to recall an unprecedented 14 million vehicles worldwide. Then, just it was getting back on its feet, the maker was body-slammed by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that all but shut down the Japanese auto industry, leaving the industry giant struggling under severe inventory shortages for the rest of the year.

Only a couple of years ago, the Japanese giant seemed as vulnerable as a sumo wrestler with vertigo.

Yet, just like that sumo wrestler, Toyota has repeatedly shaken off the hardest hits. Despite somewhat mixed reviews, its Camry has continued to dominate the midsize passenger car segment - helping Toyota drive sales gains that have, in recent months, run triple the pace of the overall US automotive recovery.

In fact, Toyota's loyalty rate is once again setting the industry benchmark, according to a new study by Experian Automotive, something that suggests the recent sales surge is more than just pent-up demand as buyers catch up after the shortages of 2011.

So, what to make of the unexpected move by Standard & Poors, the influential financial ratings agency, which this month downgraded the maker's stock from a "Hold" to "Buy" rating? Now, to be sure, this was no panic move. S&P didn't tell investors to dump Toyota and race somewhere else with their money. No one is expecting the sort of financial collapse that accompanied the descent into bankruptcy at General Motors and Chrysler during the latter half of the past decade. But for those who thought Toyota was, indeed invulnerable, the downgrade may be hard to reconcile.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Is Toyota unstoppable?

Is Toyota unstoppable? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akio toyodachinacustomer loyaltyearthquakepoliticsrecallrecallstoyotaWed, 24 Oct 2012 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: How Detroit is being dragged down by the ills of Europe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/how-detroit-is-being-dragged-down-by-the-ills-of-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/how-detroit-is-being-dragged-down-by-the-ills-of-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/how-detroit-is-being-dragged-down-by-the-ills-of-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Big Three Bracing For Bad News From Overseas



Folks in Detroit could be in for some bad news in a few weeks, and that has nothing to do with who they're planning to vote for in the upcoming election.

In fact, General Motors and Ford will be rolling out their third-quarter earnings just in time for the presidential balloting, and while the U.S. economy has buoyed the industry at a level few might have expected at the start of 2012, the latest quarterly numbers will be hard hit by events on the other side of the Atlantic.

Between them, General Motors and Ford are likely to lose in excess of $500 million - some analysts put the red ink closer to $1 billion - for the July-September quarter. And for the full year, the domestics could run up a deficit closer to $4 billion if you include Fiat SpA, the Italian partner of Chrysler, according to analysts' consensus estimates.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading How Detroit is being dragged down by the ills of Europe

How Detroit is being dragged down by the ills of Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan mulallycarlos ghosnchevroletchryslerdan akersondetroiteuropefeaturedgeneral motorsmartin winterkornopelsergio marchionnesteve girskyvolkswagenThu, 04 Oct 2012 19:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Horsepower Politics]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/13/horsepower-politics/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/13/horsepower-politics/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/13/horsepower-politics/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Role Autos Are Playing In Deciding Our Next President



He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1942 and served a dozen years during which his most memorable act was introducing the bill that added the words, "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance. But to both his friends and foes alike, Homer S. Ferguson had a more important agenda that earned him the sobriquet "the Senator from General Motors."

As the recent Supreme Court decision commonly referred to as "Citizens United" only underscored, money has always played a part in politics. And for much of the 20th Century, few had the sort of money to invest in influencing government like the auto industry, especially giant GM.

But something curious has happened in the world of horsepower politics over the last few years. General Motors, in particular, has become as much a topic of debate as the force influencing the discussion. And where you stand on the subject could very well influence how you vote in this November's presidential election.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Horsepower Politics

Horsepower Politics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto bailoutbailoutbarack obamachryslerdebateseisensteineisenstein on autoblogelectiongeneral motorsgmmitt romneytarpThu, 13 Sep 2012 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: You've lost that lovin' feelin'?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/#commentsFiled under:

Why Teen Drivers Are Dwindling And What It Means



He serves as the chief judge at the world's most prestigious classic car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. He's a widely respected automotive journalist and author, and he has a garage full of hot rods and other cool cars. But when it comes to his two teen children, "They haven't shown the slightest interest" in what's in that garage, Ken Gross laments.

Teenage rebellion? Perhaps, as teens often seem determined to resist their parents in just about every way imaginable, but one thing parent and child once always seemed to agree on was the importance of driving a car. Not anymore.

According to a recent study, nearly a third of American 19-year-olds haven't bothered to get their driver's licenses yet. Three decades ago, it was just one in eight who skipped that right of passage, according to Michael Sivak, of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, or UMTRI. Among those 20 to 24, meanwhile, only 81 percent had gotten their licenses in 2010, down from 92 percent in 1983.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading You've lost that lovin' feelin'?

You've lost that lovin' feelin'? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby boomersbuying habitscar buyinggen xgen yjim lentzken grossmark fieldsteen driversFri, 31 Aug 2012 17:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Postmortem: Maybach meets its maker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/post-mortem-maybach-meets-its-maker/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/post-mortem-maybach-meets-its-maker/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/post-mortem-maybach-meets-its-maker/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Why Daimler's Ultra-Luxe Brand Couldn't Compete With Bentley And Rolls

Maybach decay

Daimler took hubris to a new level believing that it could simply invent a new brand.

What was intended to make a big splash in the premium luxury car market has ended with a dull thud. Almost exactly a decade after it lifted the first of the big cars into New York by helicopter, Daimler AG has pulled the plug on its Maybach marque. And the odds are that few, if any, of the affluent motorists it was targeting will even notice the brand's departure.

Maybach was intended to go up against the most elite nameplates in the automotive market: Rolls-Royce and Bentley. But, in hindsight, it appears that Daimler took hubris to a new level believing that it could simply invent a new brand that would be taken seriously by the sort of buyers who want the Spirit of Ecstasy or Flying B hood ornaments on their cars.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Postmortem: Maybach meets its maker

Postmortem: Maybach meets its maker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisenstein on autoblogmaybachMaybach 57Maybach 62opinionPaul EisensteinThe Detroit Bureauthedetroitbureau.comTue, 21 Aug 2012 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Lies, Damned Lies and Fuel Economy Numbers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/lies-damned-lies-and-fuel-economy-numbers/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/lies-damned-lies-and-fuel-economy-numbers/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/lies-damned-lies-and-fuel-economy-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Taking A Detailed Look At Why 'Your Mileage May Vary'

Hyundai Elantra window sticker

It's safe to say that mileage claims are controversial at best, and often inaccurate.

"There are three types of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics," goes the old quote variously attributed to Mark Twain, Benjamin Disraeli and other wits. Were they writing today, they'd probably add a fourth: fuel economy numbers.

As regular readers have heard, Hyundai is being sued for allegedly misleading mileage ads. Honda, meanwhile, beat back one Civic Hybrid owners mileage lawsuit upon appeal but also agreed to a settlement covering thousands of others who didn't get nearly what the automaker promised.

Without taking sides in these individual cases. it's nonetheless safe to say that mileage claims are controversial at best, and often inaccurate, at least in terms of what real world driving is likely to yield.

"Your mileage may vary" is a disclaimer we've all heard, and certainly there are enough variables that impact what your car, truck or crossover will deliver: such factors as the speed you drive, what altitude the vehicle is operated at, what fuel you use, whether your tires are properly inflated and how many passengers you've got crammed into the backseat. And considering the added bulk too many of us carry around our middles, even that can play a role.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Lies, Damned Lies and Fuel Economy Numbers

Lies, Damned Lies and Fuel Economy Numbers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisensteineisenstein on autoblogepafeaturedfuel economyfuel mileagehyundaimiles per gallonmonroneympgthedetroitbureau.comwindow stickerThu, 12 Jul 2012 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: What's the right way to read an automotive quality report?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/#commentsFiled under:

Why No One Quality Report Tells The Whole Story

Auto mechanic turning a wrench under a vehicle

Quality remains one of the most significant factors for folks buying a new car.

There's no question that fuel economy has become a critical consideration for most folks looking to buy a new car. But quality remains one of the single most significant factors in closing the deal.

Once upon a time, word of mouth was the only way to differentiate between one brand and another, an important yet oftentimes unreliable approach. Then, back in the 1970s, a one-time Ford analyst by the name of J. David Power revolutionized the industry with his first quantitative studies of vehicle quality and reliability. Today, J.D. Power and Associates is the quality field heavyweight, with all sorts of wannabes chasing for a piece of its multi-million-dollar consulting business.

Earlier this month, Power released its 26th annual Initial Quality Study, perhaps the single-most widely quoted survey of its kind, which tallies up the results of a lengthy questionnaire filled out by tens of thousands of recent vehicle buyers. To understand the significance of the IQS, consider that Ford held a separate news conference a day earlier to address the likelihood of its downward slide in the survey. Makers who did well blitzed the media with news releases trumpeting their performance.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading What's the right way to read an automotive quality report?

What's the right way to read an automotive quality report? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisensteineisenstein on autoblogInitial Quality Studyiqsj.d. powerjd powerpaul eisensteinqualitythedetroitbureau.comvdsvehicle dependability studyFri, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Automakers sound off on unwanted noise]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/13/automakers-sound-off-on-unwanted-noise/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/13/automakers-sound-off-on-unwanted-noise/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/13/automakers-sound-off-on-unwanted-noise/#commentsFiled under: ,

How New Cars Are Getting Better Through Sound Engineering

Michael Schumacher with his ears plugged

"The loudest sound you ever hear is the first rattle in a new car."

Fire up the new Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 and you're greeted with the sort of raucous exhaust note that would make a Harley-Davison owner quiver with delight. Slip inside a Lexus LS460 and it'll be nearly as quiet as a tomb.

While features like design and performance help define a brand, few things distinguish a product's character like sound. So, it's no surprise that manufacturers are putting more effort than effort into managing vehicle sound characteristics.

But, "It's not just about how loud a car is," suggests Kara Gordon, who oversaw noise-related work on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. "The quality of the sound also matters. And even little things can have a big impact on your perception of a vehicle," she says, suggesting, "The loudest sound you ever hear is the first rattle in a new car."

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Automakers sound off on unwanted noise

Automakers sound off on unwanted noise originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto noiseauto sounddetroit bureaueisenstein on autoblogfeaturednoise vibration harshnessnvhpaul eisensteinsoundsound managementthedetroitbureau.comWed, 13 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-case-of-heather-peters-and-the-honda-civic-hybrid-sets-an-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-case-of-heather-peters-and-the-honda-civic-hybrid-sets-an-al/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-case-of-heather-peters-and-the-honda-civic-hybrid-sets-an-al/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What are you going to do, sue? Good luck.

Heather Peters Honda Civic Hybrid

This week's Superior Court verdict suggests there's little to no recourse for consumers.

As Autoblog readers likely have already learned, a Superior Court judge in California has tossed out a judgment issued by a small claims court earlier this year awarding nearly $10,000 to Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters. She had taken the Japanese maker to court claiming it used misleading advertising promising the sedan would get significantly better mileage than proved true in the real world.

In overruling the lower court, Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II wrote that, "Federal regulations control the fuel economy ratings posted on vehicles and advertising claims related to those fuel economy ratings."

Well, um, no. That was my understanding, too, until I had the chance to pursue the matter with the EPA a couple years back. In fact, I was told, the law simply sets an upper limit. If the tests determine a new model gets 50 mpg - as with Peters' Civic Hybrid - that's the most a maker can advertise or use on the Monroney window sticker. But should a manufacturer like Honda realize through its own tests that the vehicle's real-world mileage might be noticeably less they can mark it down to whatever they think is valid.

Of course, who would do that? With mileage now one of the top things on the consumer's shopping list, who can blame a manufacturer for wanting to put the prettiest lipstick on a gas hog. And this week's Superior Court verdict suggests there's little to no recourse for consumers who only discover that fact after they've given it a big smooch.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend

The case of Heather Peters and the Honda Civic Hybrid sets an alarming trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Editorialeisenstein on autoblogfeaturedheather petershondahonda lawsuithybrid mileageopinionPaul EisensteinThe Detroit BureauThu, 10 May 2012 18:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Beijing Motor Show is further proof of China's automotive importance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/beijing-motor-show-is-further-proof-of-chinas-automotive-import/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/beijing-motor-show-is-further-proof-of-chinas-automotive-import/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/beijing-motor-show-is-further-proof-of-chinas-automotive-import/#commentsFiled under: ,

Why The World's Top Automakers Are Flocking To Beijing

Beijing Motor Show

Beijing's government has had to resort to a registration lottery to hold down its growth.

Skip a couple years in China, as I had, and you're not likely to recognize it when you return, especially the capital city of Beijing. Peering out from my hotel, through the ever-present smog, new high-rises have transformed the landscape and even on the Sunday afternoon I arrived I could see and hear the construction crews at work across the city.

My first trip to China came shortly after General Motors opened its first joint venture assembly plant a dozen years ago. Back then, Beijing was a city of countless hutongs, the narrow alleys and neighborhoods where most residents once lived. Today, most of those traditional communities are gone, the few remaining ones hidden behind modern skyscrapers.

Those old streets never could have handled today's traffic. Not that the grand new boulevards and highways are coping much better. You can still find the odd rickshaw in tourist neighborhoods. And motorcycles and electric scooters are everywhere. But today, the automobile is king, and traffic is so thick the local government has had to resort to a registration lottery to hold down its growth.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Beijing Motor Show is further proof of China's automotive importance

Beijing Motor Show is further proof of China's automotive importance originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbeijing 2012beijing motor showchinaeisenstein on autoblogopinionPaul EisensteinThe Detroit BureauTue, 24 Apr 2012 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: "It's partner or die" in today's automotive world]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/its-partner-or-die-in-todays-automotive-world/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/its-partner-or-die-in-todays-automotive-world/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/its-partner-or-die-in-todays-automotive-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Why Automakers Are Increasingly Entering Alliances

Mazda president and CEO Takashi Yamanouchi

It's only a question of how deeply the knife will slice as Mazda's desperate cost-cutting measures take aim at its U.S. workforce this week.

The maker has signaled it will post a $1.2 billion loss when the Japanese fiscal year wraps up on March 31, its worst performance in 11 years, and only by offering more than a billion dollars in new stock is it likely to head off a more serious crisis. For now, anyway.

With long-time partner Ford Motor Company slashing its stake in its Japanese affiliate from 33 to just four percent since Alan Mulally was named CEO, even Mazda's top executive Takashi Yamanouchi admits it will be difficult to go it alone, Yamanouchi recently acknowledging his company is "actively" looking for new alliance partners.

Of course, Mazda is not alone. General Motors confirmed this month that it would enter into a far-reaching partnership with Paris-based PSA Peugeot Citroen. And Germany's Daimler AG has repeatedly expanded the coalition it formed two years ago with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading "It's partner or die" in today's automotive world

"It's partner or die" in today's automotive world originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto allianceautomotive allianceautomotive partnershipmazdapartnershipPaul EisensteinThe Detroit BureauThu, 15 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: An early look at 2012 shows a radically new auto industry]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/an-early-look-at-2012-shows-a-radically-new-auto-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/an-early-look-at-2012-shows-a-radically-new-auto-industry/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/19/an-early-look-at-2012-shows-a-radically-new-auto-industry/#commentsFiled under: ,

Detroit Gains Momentum As Japan Regains Its Footing

Happy New Year 2012

The automotive world as we know it underwent plenty of shaking last year and it was the result of more than just the tragic earthquake and tsunami that rattled Japan - costing makers like Toyota and Honda perhaps a million units in lost production.

While it's certainly too early to even guess at what the big stories for 2012 will be, we can suggest, with a high level of confidence, that what had long been the industry's established order won't be the same going forward. The playing field has clearly shifted. For some, it might now seem to be level for the first time in decades. For others, it is listing like the Costa Concordia, the doomed Italian cruise ship.

A week after the frantic media days, a less breathless review of the Detroit Auto Show offers some hints as to not only what's in play but who the big players likely will be.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading An early look at 2012 shows a radically new auto industry

An early look at 2012 shows a radically new auto industry originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 auto industryauto industryeisensteineisenstein on autoblogfordgmhondahyundaikianissantoyotavolkswagenThu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Detroit's Christmas Wish: Regain market share lost by Japan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/detroits-christmas-wish-retain-market-share-lost-by-japan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/detroits-christmas-wish-retain-market-share-lost-by-japan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/detroits-christmas-wish-retain-market-share-lost-by-japan/#commentsHonda And Toyota Miscues Help Detroit Gain An Edge

fireworks in detroit

All three domestics have gained market share this year, the first time that has happened since 1998.
If Detroit's three automakers could each get a wish for Santa this holiday season, it would be to keep the healthy gains in sales and market share they've racked up over the past year. The so-called Big Three have come through the worst automotive downturn since the Great Depression in far better shape than even their most ardent admirers might have hoped.

Individually, all three have gained market share this year, the first time that has happened since 1998. And if they can maintain the pace of the first 11 months of 2011, they should be able to end the year with a collective two percent increase in market share - which they've gained at the expense of two import rivals who, until recently, seemed on an inevitable and irreversible path towards domination.

Of course, it certainly didn't hurt that Toyota and Honda saw much of their global production network idled for much of the past nine months, hobbled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Northeast Japan - home to much of that country's automotive supplier base. And just when the Japanese thought they'd weathered the worst, they were slammed by flooding in Thailand that put ambitious recovery plans on hold.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Detroit's Christmas Wish: Regain market share lost by Japan

Detroit's Christmas Wish: Regain market share lost by Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Will there be a Tokyo Motor Show in 2013?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/will-there-be-a-tokyo-motor-show-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/will-there-be-a-tokyo-motor-show-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/will-there-be-a-tokyo-motor-show-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tokyo Struggles To Remain Relevant On The World Stage

2011 Tokyo Motor Show

The 2009 Tokyo Motor Show was largely ignored by industry and media alike.
There is one model that looks more like a phone booth than a car, another that dispenses its driver like candy from a vending machine. There are party concepts, complete with disco lights, and other concept vehicles that could have been a case study for a film like Transformers. One thing you always know about the Tokyo Motor Show was that you will get to see some of the wildest, weirdest and wackiest concept cars ever created - and occasionally some, like the snail-shaped Nissan S-Cargo, might actually go into production.

There is a serious side, as well. And that is really what has made the biennial Tokyo Motor Show one of the automotive world's most important events, journalists and industry executives jostling for space as each new car was unveiled. And there are plenty of unveilings, sometimes two, even three simultaneous news conferences stretching out over the two-days allotted for the gathered media.

But something went wrong two years ago, the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show was largely ignored by industry and media alike. Indeed, many suspected there wouldn't even be a 2011 show. But in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the island nation last March, organizers redoubled their efforts to save the show. And how things turn out later this week could determine whether the Tokyo Motor Show thrives, survives in downsized form or simply vanishes, Japan ceding to the twin shows in Beijing and Shanghai that are rapidly becoming the must-attend industry gatherings.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Will there be a Tokyo Motor Show in 2013?

Will there be a Tokyo Motor Show in 2013? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisenstein on autoblogpaul eisensteinThe Detroit Bureautokyotokyo 2011tokyo motor showWed, 30 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: Is America's automotive love affair over? [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/is-americas-automotive-love-affair-over-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/is-americas-automotive-love-affair-over-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/01/is-americas-automotive-love-affair-over-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: ,



At first glance, Kerry Jenkins might seem to be a perfectly normal California girl, with her wispy blond hair and tanned complexion. But in a part of the country where getting an automobile has long been a rite of passage, the 19-year-old Los Angelino is quite content to live without a set of wheels, even though her parents offered to buy her a car when she graduated high school.

"I just don't see why," she says, ending her sentence with the Valley Girl's upturned lilt. "I can always hitch a ride when I need it from my folks and friends. I have my bike. And I just wish more people would stop driving everywhere."

While it's easy to dismiss Jenkins as an oddball, the fact is she's anything but unique these days. A number of her friends at college have also put off buying cars and industry research says that's becoming increasingly commonplace.

"It's something we're watching," acknowledges Mike Accavitti, the head of marketing for Honda of America. "There is a trend with kids under 30 that they put more value in their cellphones than in the cars they drive" - or the cars they decide not to drive.

Continue reading and take part in our poll.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading Is America's automotive love affair over? [w/poll]

Is America's automotive love affair over? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car loveeisensteinfeaturedmillenialspaul eisensteinthe detroit bureauthedetroitbureau.comTue, 01 Nov 2011 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion: UAW seems headed for a catastrophic confrontation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/14/uaw-seems-headed-for-a-catastrophic-confrontation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/14/uaw-seems-headed-for-a-catastrophic-confrontation/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/14/uaw-seems-headed-for-a-catastrophic-confrontation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Future Of The Union Hangs In The Balance

UAW President Bob King

Autoworkers are damned and determined to win back concessions.
The noises you might here if you drop in at Solidarity House - the headquarters of the UAW - this week are the sounds of union leaders scrambling to prevent what could be a catastrophic confrontation that is beginning to look increasingly inevitable.

In the weeks leading up to the mid-summer launch of contract talks with Detroit's Big Three, United Auto Workers Union President Bob King stressed that he was pushing for "creative problem solving." The best way to read that statement was that he was looking for a way to keep the automakers competitive in return for more jobs - while also seeking a way to sell new contracts to workers who were damned and determined to win back the concessions they'd made in recent years.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading UAW seems headed for a catastrophic confrontation

UAW seems headed for a catastrophic confrontation originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerfordford strikegeneral motorspaul eisensteinstriketentative contractthe detroit bureauuawuaw contractunited auto workersFri, 14 Oct 2011 18:40:00 EST