The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index hit 124.3 in November, up 5.9% over last year. Those numbers prompted economist Tom Webb to express skepticism over the concept of a ceiling on used-car prices caused by trends in the new-vehicle market.
Leasing penetration has grown from below 20% to 25% in 2010. Luxury brands are seeing leasing take 60% of all vehicle financing as leasing rebounds despite many who regarded leasing to be in a permanent decline.
Ethanol trade groups Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are lobbying the Senate to extend a tax credit and revive a biodiesel tax credit that died a year ago. While ethanol supporters have been under fire in the past couple of years from livestock producers, foodmakers, and environmental groups, they have been able to secure strong federal support.
Diesel sold for highway-capable vehicles has undergone a dramatic shift in clean composition - earlier than expected. Ultra-low sulfur diesel is now the standard in the U.S., and this happened months before the initial goal, according to Diesel Technology Forum. This means smelly, sooty diesel is going away.
Less than one year after meeting the 1,000th vehicle mark, AT&T just celebrated the deployment of its 2,000th compressed natural gas vehicle into its fleet. This is an important marker in the company's long-term strategy to reduce both costs and greenhouse gas emissions with its corporate fleet, said Jerome Webber, VP AT&T Global Fleet Operations.