Japanese automakers
Honda Fit Retains Consumer Reports “Best Small Car Value” Title
During its evaluation of finding the year’s best value vehicles, Consumer Reports, tested cars, SUVs and trucks from a total of 11 different categories. Scores were determined based on a five-year ownership cost of each vehicle, including depreciation, insurance premiums, fuel costs, interest on financing, repairs and maintenance and sales taxes.
US Auto Sales Rise As Import Price Gap Increases Thanks To Rising Yen
As the Yen continues its march against the dollar, Japanese manufacturers are less likely to offer incentives to move metal off dealer lots; in fact average industry wide spending on incentives fell some 9.6 percent through September, down to $2,498 per vehicle.
Automakers Shut Down Plants As Typhoon Hits Japan
As Japan is now in the midst of Typhoon season, there will likely be others making landfall before all’s said and done, with the potential to wreak further havoc on the country’s citizens and infrastructure, making local automakers nervous.
Honda and Toyota: Getting Back on Track
Even though rivals, including Detroit’s big three, have gained ground this year as a result of problems facing the Japanese duo, most seem to view Honda and Toyota’s improving fortunes quite favorably.
European Carmakers Adjust Parts Strategy Amid Japanese Crisis
The Earthquake disaster in Japan may prompt European car makers to seek suppliers closer to them, the chief of Europe’s automobile association said. Ivan Hodac, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, said that some car makers are still being affected by the disaster that caused several Japanese auto manufacturers to suspend operations. Hodac also…
Toyota Gets Ready for North American Slowdown
Toyota has warned that production of vehicles in the US and Canada could be affected because supplies of some parts from Japan are running low.
