Mota Motors, online vehicle certification and selling platforms provider, launches SureSale? Certified, a comprehensive certified pre-owned (CPO) marketing program designed to improve inventory turn and gross profit margins for dealers. This groundbreaking new program dramatically expands the range of vehicles eligible for certification on dealer lots, online marketplaces, and remarketing channels and makes it easy to implement vehicle certification.
Toyota says hybrids are a large part of its growth strategy, and the automaker plans to introduce two new Prius models next spring and enter new hybrid segments such as big pickups. Toyota executives said the company could double the number of gasoline-electric vehicles sold annually in North America to 400,000 by 2015. With lagging U.S. sales brought on by recalls and the Japan earthquake, Toyota hopes to Boost global hybrid sales to 1.2 million units annually by 2015.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a safety standard intended to prevent occupants from being ejected through the side windows in accidents and requires automakers to incorporate technology designed to protect both belted and unbelted passengers. It is estimated the safety technology will cost $31 per vehicle, save 373 lives, and prevent 476 serious injuries annually. Large-volume automakers must install ejection-mitigation provisions in 25 percent of their vehicles starting in 2013.
Certified pre-owned luxury vehicles showed a big increase in consumer interest in October, according to the Used/CPO Car Insights Report from AutoTrader.com. Eleven of AutoTrader.com's "Big Movers" in the CPO category were luxury models. Vehicles experiencing increased interest include the CPO Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the CPO Mercedes-Benz GLK Class, and the CPO Audi Q4.
The future for mid-size pickups built in the U.S. is cloudy. Ford plans to discontinue the Ranger to concentrate on its F-series trucks while GM has committed to the Chevrolet Colorado past the 2012 model year. Chrysler is undecided whether to replace the Dakota. Mid-size trucks cost almost as much as full-size without much boost in fuel economy.