Truck Sales Bounce Back, Sign of Economic Improvement
When consumers are out there buying pickups, you know the financial health of the economy is in a better place. Automakers see an 11 percent gain through May. The 1.1 million 2009 sales were the lowest in 18 years.
Verizon Commits to Sustainable Fleet Including Hybrid Service Pickups
Verizon has committed to acquiring sustainable fleet vehicles including 576 Chevrolet Silverado two-mode hybrid pickups. The trucks will have a custom, composite service bed insert to limit weight and further reduce fuel consumption.
Mercury Used Values Expected to Hold Steady
As Ford moves to wind down the Mercury brand, dealers and Mercury owners are concerned about the effect on residual values. Analysts are comparing this wind down to that of Plymouth a decade ago. In the case of Plymouth, there was no significant drop off in used car values. Consumers did not perceive that there was a premium factored into the brand. Apparently the same holds true for Mercury, confirming Ford's decision.
Used Prices Maintaining Momentum
Autotrader.com says prices of used vehicles, including certified units, continued to gain ground in May. Asking prices of models most viewed climbed in year-over-year comparison. The Ford F-150 is the most popular model on the site, and its price was up 12%. The fastest climber was the Jeep Wrangler with a price leap of 17.5%.
Coulomb Technologies Partners to Provide Free Charging Stations
Coulomb Technologies is working with three OEM partners to set up 4,600 electric vehicle charging stations in nine U.S. regions by October, 2011. They'll be Level II stations, providing 220 to 240 volt power for charging. Chevrolet Volt, Ford Transit Connect, Ford Focus Electric, and smart fortwo electric drive are being included in the program.
