Dealers are moving in large numbers to internet auction sales that would have seemed highly unlikely in recent years. It's causing captive finance companies to put more extensive safeguards in place for vehicle condition and sellers to provide detailed content on the state of each vehicle up for sale.
A recent study by AAA Foundation found more than two in five drivers admit they've fallen asleep when driving. New technology will alert drowsy drivers and help avoid an accident. Lincoln's new Lane Keeping System, available on the 2013 MKS, will initially sound an alert if the vehicle drifts out of its lane and, if necessary, then add a bit of torque to the steering wheel to gently nudge it back into its lane.
Beating a diverse field of finalists, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas was named the Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing for American Honda Motor Co., said, "This, to Honda, is everything." The Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid was last year's winner. Honda is targeting 2,000 Civic Natural Gas sales a year initially, but expects that to double.
According to CNW Research's Art Spinella, used vehicles sales were down in the first half of November. They should be slightly higher than a year ago, but it was surprising coming off the best October the used-vehicle industry has seen in four years.
Sales of hybrid gas-electric cars are dropping due to the weak U.S. economy and dramatic improvements in traditional internal combustion engines. U.S. sales of Toyota's Prius were 9.4 per cent lower in the first 10 months of 2011 than the same timeframe of 2010 while other manufacturers report even greater sales shrinkage. Lower gas prices have contributed to the drop along with new internal combustion technology.