Auto Industry in the News

Distracted Drivers May Soon be Caught in the Act

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September 8, 2014

If you’re one of the many distracted drivers on the road, read on. General Motors is working on new technology that will expose you! It is an eye-tracking mechanism that will reveal when your eyes are not looking at the road, the rearview mirror or anyplace else upon which you should be focusing.

General Motors plans to place these devices in about a half-million new vehicles over the next three to five years. By doing so, they will be the first auto manufacturer to install eye-tracking technology in its vehicles.

Today, Women Buyers Call the Shots More Often than Men

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September 3, 2014

The role of women buyers has changed over the years. To some degree, there is still a stereotype that women buyers sit back and let their husbands negotiate the final price – as was typically the case years ago. Today, however, much has changed, and there are statistics to back it up!

The folks at Swapalease.com have recently released some eye-opening data. Their study found that in today’s automobile shopping environment, women buyers are more likely to engage in price negotiation – and even enjoy it. They say that more than 33 percent of women say haggling over price “makes it a fun process” compared to just 25.1 percent of men.

Forecasters: Automotive Sales Future Looks Good

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August 19, 2014

According to a panel of economists, the automotive sales future will be particularly rosy – for at least the next four years. Spokespersons who were featured at the Center for Automotive Research’s annual Management Briefing Seminar told attendants they predict strong sales through at least 2018.

Auto sales have been rebounding since 2010, when only 10.6 million cars were sold that year. Last year’s total was up to 15.9 million … and this year’s total is expected to eclipse 16 million, especially after a particularly strong July. One economist from NADA, Steven Szekaly, predicts as many as 16.2 sales this year.

SUV Sales Now Outnumber Sedan Sales

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August 15, 2014

SUV sales are now topping sedan sales for the first time ever – at least that’s the case for the first five months of 2014. A decade ago, no one would have ever believed this would happen, as the SUV landscape was completely different from today’s lineups. These figures are based on data from IHS Automotive Industry Solutions.

Ten years ago, the typical SUV was thought of as a premium vehicle that had most of the available bells and whistles … while also using up much more than its fair share of fuel. But my, how things have changed!

Automotive Did You Know Highlights

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August 12, 2014

Today’s blog comes from the automotive Did You Know category. First up is the most expensive state in the union to own a vehicle. Can you guess which one? Probably not. The correct answer, believe it or not, is Wyoming, where it costs drivers an average of $2,705 per year (compared to the national average of $2,223). (Source: CNN Money.)

Why does it cost so much to own a car in Wyoming? Simple … Wyoming motorists drive more miles than drivers in any other state. Just in case you’re wondering, Midwest states are typically the least expensive, with Iowa, Ohio and Illinois all coming in at less than $2,000.