BMW vs. Audi: great billboard ad

BMW responds to an Audi billboard with their own, click here to see this great marketing move…

Tags: BMW, Audi, great marketing

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Most dependable cars: Buick and Jaguar

J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study says that these are the highest ranked for 2008.

1. Buick and Jaguar (122 problems per 100 vehicles)
2. Lexus (126)
3. Toyota (129)
4. Mercury (134)
5. Infiniti (142)
6. Acura (146)
7. Lincoln (147)
8. Cadillac and Honda (148)
9. Porsche (150)
10. Audi and Ford (159)
11. Hyundai (161)
12. Subaru (162)
13. Chrysler (165)
14. BMW (166)

The industry average for problems per 100 vehicles is 170. Subaru had the lowest score at 263.

Notable sub-par results: Mercedes Benz (184), Volvo (186), Hummer (221) and VW (260).

Tags: Buick, Jaguar, Lexus, Toyota, Mercury, Infiniti, Acura, Lincoln, Cadillac, Honda, Porsche, Audi, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, Chrysler, BMW, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, J.D. Power

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Top auto brand images

The winners of Kelley Blue Book’s 2009 Brand Image awards have been announced:

• Best Value Brand: Toyota
• Coolest Brand: BMW
• Most Family Friendly Brand: Toyota
• Most Rugged Truck Brand: Ford
• Best Performance Brand: BMW
• Best Comfort Brand: Cadillac
• Best Exterior Design Brand — Luxury: BMW
• Best Exterior Design Brand — Non-Luxury: Nissan
• Best Interior Design Brand: Cadillac
• Best Prestige Brand: Mercedes-Benz

Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com had this to say, as reported by the Detroit Free Press:

"The winners of this year’s Brand Image Awards exemplify automotive brands that are on the right track, making a great impression with consumers not just on a specific model level, but across the entire brand lineup."

Tags: Toyota, BMW, Ford, Cadillac, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Kelley Blue Book, brand image, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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BMW Mini E (for electric!)

BMW has announced an electric Mini model, the "Mini E", to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November.

The Mini E will have a 204hp electric motor with a 260kg lithium-ion battery pack, a top speed of 150 km/h, an 8.5 second 0 to 100 acceleration, and a range of 240 km.

BMW will only make 500 units initially (at their Cowley, U.K. plant) to be distributed later this year among select clients in the U.S. through a leasing system. These will be recalled 12 months later so that BMW can study performance issues and make improvements.

Read it on Register Hardware, lots more info there.

Tags: automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, BMW, Mini, Mini E, alternative energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, electric cars

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Winners and losers in global market share: forecast

According to Global Insight, a leading American market intelligence specialist, these are the automakers that will grow the most in global market share over the next five years:

1. Tata (India): will grow 0.6 percent (current market share: 0.6 percent, 2013 forecast: 1.2 percent)
2. Chery (China): will grow 0.4 percent (0.6, 1.0 percent)
3. Renault (France): will grow 0.3 percent (3.1, 3.4 percent)

Other brands that will gain market share: Maruti (India), Nissan, BMW, Audi, Mitsubishi, Skoda and Wuling (China). All will increase 0.1 percent.

Brands that will stay the same: Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge.

Carmakers that will lose global market share:

1. Ford: will lose 0.7 percent (current market share 7.1, 2013 forecast: 6.4 percent)
2. Peugeot: will lose 0.4 percent (2.9, 2.5 percent)
3. Daihatsu: will lose 0.3 percent (1.2, 0.9 percent)
4. Lada (Russia): will lose 0.2 percent (1.1, 0.9 percent)

Other automakers that will lose global market share: Toyota, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, Fiat, Suzuki, Mazda and Opel.

Tags: auto industry

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Luxury cars in China: BMW and Hyundai-Kia

A recent post talked about the paradox in China’s automotive policy: the government wants manufacturers to make electric and hybrid cars, but at the same time price controls on gas are motivating the sale of SUVs and luxury cars.

Here’s what some of the major carmakers are doing in China:

BMW in China: Will triple capacity by 2012, from 35,000 to 100,000 annual units, via their joint venture with Brilliance China. Car sales grew 43 percent (14,574 units) from January to March this year, after growing 42 percent in 2007.

Hyundai-Kia in China: Working to expand presence, Hyundai just opened second plant to achieve annual output of 600,000 units, Kia will open second plant in 2010. Have released two high-end vehicles, the Rohens (Genesis) luxury sedan, and the Barui (Mohave) luxury SUV.

Tags: Brilliance China, Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, Hyundai, Kia, Hyundai-Kia, Hyundai China, Kia China, Hyundai-Kia China, Rohens, Barui, BMW China, BMW, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry

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2008 World Car of the Year: Mazda

The 2008 World Car of the Year is the Mazda2/Mazda Demio.

The Ford Mondeo placed second, with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class third.

To be eligible for a World Car award, the contender had to be in production, and sold, on at least two continents during 2008. The winner of the overall World Car of the Year Award must excel in a broad range of attributes.

The 2008 World Performance car of the Year is the Audi R8.

The BMW M3 came in second, and the Audi S5 Coupe third.

The World Performance Car award must demonstrate "a specific and overt sports/performance orientation while satisfying the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car of the Year award."

The World Car of the Year is a non-profit program. Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of forty-seven (47) top-level automotive journalists from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. The award itself has no affiliation with any auto show, publication, automaker or other commercial enterprise.

Tags: automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, World Car of the Year, Ford, Ford Mondeo, Mazda, Mazda 2, Mazda Demio, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi, Audi R8, Audi S5, BMW, BMW M3

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Geneva show boasts green

The EU is about to make official their proposal that will force carmakers to cut average carbon dioxide emissions by 25%; current levels stand at 160 grams per km.

That’s why most automakers will be showing off their environmentally friendly vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Standouts include:

• Saab 9-1X, a compact, ethanol-powered crossover
• Toyota  iQ concept car
• Audi A3 convertible
• Kia Soul

New SUVs will be on display as well, most notably:

• Toyota Urban Cruiser, based on the Yaris
• Volvo XC60, a smaller XC90, based on the Land Rover Freelander platform
• Renault Koleos, their first SUV, based on partner Nissan’s X-trail

Diesel electric hybrid SUV concepts will be shown by BMW and Mercedes Benz, the latter with their GLK model.

Tags: Saab, Saab 9-1X, Toyota, Toyota iQ, Audi, Audi A3, Kia, Kia Soul, Urban Cruiser, Volvo, Volvo XC60, Renault, Renault-Nissan, Renault Koleos, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes GLK, GLK, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, alternative energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, electric cars, hybrids, hybrid technology, flex-fuel, diesel

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And so it begins: Chinese cars to Europe

Two Chinese cars have been approved by the European Union for sale on that continent, according to Reuters. They will be launched there next month.

• Zhejiang Jonway UFO
• Shuanghuan Automobile CEO

Both models have come under fire because their appearance is similar to rivals. The UFO looks like the Toyota Rav4 and the CEO resembles the BMW X5.

BMW has already started legal proceedings to stop the CEO’s launch, while Toyota will not take legal action to block the UFO’s sale.

These are the cars in question, the UFO on the left, the CEO on the right…

Other major Chinese carmakers are announcing their plans to have models in Europe by 2011 once they meet European safety and emissions regulations:

• Geely Automobile. China’s largest private carmaker, plans to start selling its CK sedan in Europe.
• BYD Auto. Wants to have its F1 small hatchback in the EU, also a plug-in version of its hybrid F6 DM sedan.
• Changfeng Motor. Planning a joint venture with Mitsubishi in China, wants to sell the Liebao CS7 and CS6 SUVs, and the Kylin minivan. After that, the U.S.

Tags: Shuanghuan Automobile, Shijiazhuang Shuanghuan Automobile Co., Shijiazhuang Shuanghuan, Shuanghuan CEO, Zhejiang Jonway UFO, Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Zhejiang Jonway, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry, Geely, BYD, BYD Auto, Changfeng, Changfeng Motor, BMW, Toyota, Rav4, Toyota Rav4, BMW X5

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LA Auto Show preview

The 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show is coming up, and we’ve just received some interesting preview information that I’d like to share.

The event will be held November 16 through 25, and will include some 14 world debuts and 30 North American debuts.

A few manufacturers have already announced their intentions:

• Hyundai will world premiere a new sports car concept
• Nissan will showcase an all-new, mid-size Murano crossover
• Volkswagen will show a new mini-car concept design. 

Several manufactuers will be highlighting vehicles that are making their first appearance in the U.S.:

• The new Jaguar XF luxury performance sedan
• The new BMW 1 Series coupe
• Mitsubishi’s tenth generation Lancer Evolution
• Subaru’s all-new WRX STI
• Nissan’s GT-R supercar

In addition, these are the luxury cars making their debut in the U.S.:

• The $1.4 million Lamborghini Reventon
• Ferrari’s new lightweight 430 Scuderia
• Bentley’s new Continental GT Speed
• Porsche’s most powerful 911, the new GT2

The show will also have a special award for their "Green Car of the Year".

Tags: LA Auto Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai, Nissan, Nissan Murano, Volkswagen, Jaguar XF, BMW 1 Series, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX STI, Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Reventon, Ferrari, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Bentley, Bentley Continental GT, Porsche, Porsche 911 GT2, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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