Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Volkswagen considering price hike]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/volkswagen-considering-price-hike/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/volkswagen-considering-price-hike/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/volkswagen-considering-price-hike/#commentsFiled under: ,

Volkswagen is making money hand over fist right now thanks to cost cutting measures and increased global sales, and the German automaker wants to keep the good times rolling. High commodity prices for items like steel, aluminum and rubber are beginning to eat away at VW's cash horde, so the German automaker may hike the prices of its vehicles. VW marketing chief Detlef Wittig told reporters that he feels automakers are afraid to raise prices in such a competitive sales environment, and that the company was monitoring the situation closely. While VW may not be afraid to pull the trigger on price hikes, it likely still won't ask customers to pony up the entire amount for high commodities. A lot will depend on whether VW's many competitors also jack up MSRPs, and by how much.

It seems as though most automakers here in the States have either announced price hikes or are "thinking about doing it." The market is even more competitive in Europe, so such a decision isn't as easy. Wittig expects several automakers to raise prices in the second half of the year.

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]

Volkswagen considering price hike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commodity pricesCommodityPricesprice hikesPriceHikessteelvolkswagenVWThu, 24 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai car prices set to rise]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/hyundai-car-prices-set-to-rise/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/hyundai-car-prices-set-to-rise/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/hyundai-car-prices-set-to-rise/#commentsFiled under: ,

The skyrocketing cost of commodities like steel and aluminum have pushed several automakers to raise the price of 2009 models. Hyundai is bumping the price of its 2009 models an average of two-percent to help cushion the blow in Korea and in the States. The price of steel has risen 60 percent in a little over a year, and other commodities are up over 20 percent as well. That's bad news for all automakers, and Hyundai expects the trend to continue. Hyundai's Kia brand stlil hasn't announce price hikes, but we're guessing the economical car maker will follow in big brother's foot steps.

To further complicate matters for the Korean automaker, its unionized workforce is unsatisfied with wages. The rank and file have scheduled four-hour work stoppages for Wednesday and Friday. Unless the government intervenes in the matter, the union will likely get some kind of wage increase, giving Hyundai and Kia yet another justification for raising prices.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Hyundai car prices set to rise originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car pricesCarPricescommodity pricesCommodityPricesHyundaisteel pricesSteelPricesWed, 16 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST