GM Betting on Truck Comeback
With the economy sputtering back to life, General Motors is betting that truck buyers will return to the market. As the country slid into recession, truck buyers, many in the construction and building industries, left the market. Spikes in gasoline prices drove recreational truck buyers to small cars and crossovers. To meet the predicted re-emergence of truck demand, GM has decided to proceed with its delayed full size pickup update.
EVCARCO Dealer Network Installing Coulomb Charging Stations
Alternative energy dealership network EVCARCO has made an agreement with Verdek-EV, a distributor of Coulomb Technologies Networked Charging Stations. This gives EVCARCO the ability to address two of the biggest concerns buyers have with electric vehicles - their range and the infrastructure required to charge the cars.
US Army Shows Diesel Hybrid Electric Vehicle at Detroit Auto Show
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide has built a Clandestine Electric Reconnaissance Vehicle displayed by the U.S. Army at the Detroit auto show. It's an all-wheel drive diesel hybrid electric vehicle. The unit can maintain speeds of 80 miles per hour and climb 60% grades while reducing fuel consumption by up to 25% compared with conventional vehicles of comparable size.
December Wholesale Prices Saw Unexpected Gain
There was an extra perk for remarketers who sold their consignments in the final month of 2009 instead of holding out for a seasonal price upswing at the start of the New Year. According to ADESA's Tom Kontos, this was in large part thanks to a seasonally unexpected gain in December's wholesale prices.
Autonomous Safety Features Warn Drivers or Take Control
Many luxury cars include safety features to warn drivers or even take control of braking when drivers are distracted. These may improve safety or create a false sense of security when all that is generally needed is for drivers to be trained and to actually pay attention.
