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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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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Honda hybrid aims for Prius

Honda has announced a big push in the hybrid segment, most importantly an entry-level car, unnamed yet, that will sell for $19,000, get 60 mpg, and directly target the Toyota Prius. It will be officially presented in October at the Paris Auto Show.

Honda also says they will release three more hybrid models by 2012: an updated Civic Hybrid and a CR-Z hybrid coupe (see photo of concept model) in 2010, and a hybrid Fit in 2012.

Read it at Wired.

Tags: Honda, hybrids, Honda CR-Z hybrid, Honda Fit hybrid, alternative energy, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic hybrid, Honda Fit hybrid

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Only Honda is selling more in U.S.

Vehicle sales for June 2008 fell substantially in the U.S., compared to the same month last year. Only Honda was able to gain ground.

• Honda: Sales improved by 13.8 percent. June sales totaled 142,539 vehicles, a new monthly record. For the first half of 2008, Honda sales also rose, by 4.8 percent.
• Toyota sales fell by 11.5 percent. For the first half of 2008, they sold 1.24 million vehicles, down 6.2 percent.
• Ford sales dropped 28 percent. They sold 167,090 vehicles in June, and 1.1 million for the first half of 2008 (down 14 percent).
• GM sales were down by 18.5 percent (265,937 units in June compared to 326,300 a year ago). For the first half of 2008, sales were 1,6 million, 16.5 percent down. Hummer was especially hit with a drop of 59.3 percent.
• Nissan sales fell 17.7 percent, although sales of their more fuel efficient cars did grow.

Tags: Honda, Ford, GM, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Small gets big in U.S.

Various news items from Automotive News point a rosier picture for Japanese manufacturers vs. the American Big Three, as a pronounced move away from large vehicles towards smaller more eco-friendly ones continues in the U.S.

• Toyota and Honda are better positioned than Ford, GM and Chrysler to adjust production towards smaller cars.
• The full-size pickup segment has virtually collapsed (from 2.5 million units in 2005 to an estimated 1.5 million this year), catching Ford and Chrysler at the worst possible moment as they are about to launch redesigned models.
• GM’s Hummer line is close to being sold off or possibly disappearing.
• GM is considering lightening its big Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon models by moving to a different platform. "The future of other big SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade is unclear".
• Toyota is making a big move with its Prius hybrid, and may soon begin production in the U.S.

Tags: automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, alternative energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, electric cars, hybrids, GM, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Hummer, Prius

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2008 highest quality trucks and multi-activity vehicles

J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Study is out, and these are the top trucks and MAVs (multi-activity vehicles) in each segment:

Compact MAVs

1. Honda CR-V
2. Chrysler PT Cruiser
3. Ford Escape

Midsize MAVs

1. Dodge Durango
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
3. Toyota Highlander

Large MAVs

1. Toyota Sequoia
2. Chevrolet Tahoe
3. GMC Yukon

Midsize premium MAVs

1. Lexus RX
2. Lexus GX 470
3. Porsche Cayenne

Large premium MAVs

1. Lincoln Navigator
2. Infiniti QX56
3. Cadillac Escalade

Large pickups

1. Chevrolet Silverado LD
2. Toyota Tundra
3. Chevrolet Avalanche

Midsize pickups

1. Dodge Dakota
2. Ford Ranger
3. Toyota Tacoma

Vans

1. Ford E-Series
2. Nissan Quest
3. Chevrolet Express

Tags: J.D. Power, Dodge Durango, Dodge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai, Toyota Highlander, Toyota, Toyota Sequoia, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet, GM, General Motors, GMC Yukon, Lexus, Lexus RX, Lexus GX 470, Porsche, Porsche Cayenne, Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti, Infiniti QX56, Cadillac, Cadillac EscaladeChevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Avalanche Dodge Dakota, Ford, Ford Ranger Toyota Tacoma Vans Ford E-Series Nissan Quest Chevrolet Express, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Honda Clarity zero-emissions

Honda’s FCX Clarity is a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell car (their first) that runs on hydrogen and electricity, and emits only water. It is two times more efficient than a gas-electric hybrid and three times more efficient than a standard gasoline car, says Honda.

The first units have just been produced and are destined for the U.S. Honda plans to lease a few dozen units in 2008 and reach 200 within in 2009, at a monthly cost of $600 (that includes maintenance and collision coverage).

Hollywood stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest are among the first Clarity customers.

Honda knows the biggest obstacle for the Clarity (and similar models) is the lack of hydrogen fuel stations, so they are winnowing down the 50,000 applications they’ve received to buyers living near existing hydrogen fuel stations in the Californian cities of  Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine.

Tags: Honda, Honda Clarity, Honda FCX Clarity, Clarity, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, alternative energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars

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2008 highest quality premium cars

J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Study is out, and these are the top cars in premium segment:

Entry premium cars

1. Infiniti EX-Series
2. Infiniti G-Series
3. Acura TSX and Volvo S40

Midsize premium cars

1. Infiniti M-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2. Audi A6
3. Lexus ES 350

Large premium cars

1. Lexus LS
2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
3. Cadillac DTS

Tags: J.D. Power, Infiniti, Infiniti EX-Series, Infiniti G-Series, Acura TSX, Volvo S40, Volvo, Acura, Infiniti M-Series, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi, Audi A6, Lexus, Lexus ES 350, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Cadillac, Cadillac DTS, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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2008 highest quality compact cars

J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Study is out, and these are the top cars in the sub-compact and compact segments:

Sub-compact cars

1. Honda Fit
2. Kia Rio
3. Hyundai Accent

Compact cars

1. Honda Civic
2. Toyota Prius
3. Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Compact sporty car

1. Mazda Mx-5 Miata
2. Subaru Impreza
3. Pontiac Solstice

Compact premium sporty car

1. Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
2. Porsche Cayman
3. Volvo C70

Tags: J.D. Power, Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda Mx-5 Miata, Subaru Impreza, Pontiac Solstice, Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, Porsche Cayman, Volvo C70, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Most productive auto plants in U.S.

Who has the most productive auto manufacturing plants in the U.S.?

According to the 2007 Harbour Report, among multi-plant manufacturers that honor goes to Toyota and Chrysler. Both scored 30.37 hours to fully assemble a vehicle. Chrysler improved 7.7 percent while Toyota actually fell 1.5 percent.

Closely following the leaders by less than 3.5 hours are Honda, General Motors, Nissan and Ford. These four have been persistently closing the productivity gap over the past five years.

It’s worth noting from the Harbour Report press release that:

"Toyota fabricates and assembles a greater percentage of its vehicle parts with its own employees, while the Detroit Three purchase many modules and subassemblies from suppliers, thus saving labor. Toyota also has retained nearly all its employees even in plants that experienced lower production."

The most productive single plant in North America?

Chrysler’s Toledo Supplier Park which takes just 13.57 labor hours to build a Jeep.

You can read more here…

Tags: Harbour Report, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan, GM, General Motors, Honda, Ford, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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