Living with uncertainty
It’s situation normal for Canadian auto dealers It’s not that long ago that it seemed like the biggest uncertainty Canadian dealers had to face was how much their vehicle sales would be up over the year before. But that all …
Author: Gerry Malloy
The internal combustion engine is not dead yet
New developments keep improving fuel efficiency If you were to assess the future of the automobile on the basis of media coverage alone, you might conclude that the internal combustion (IC) engine is doomed and the future is wholly electric. …
September sales stay flat
Canadian new-vehicle sales of 134,544 units in September were down by 0.4 per cent, compared to the same month last year. That decrease continues the one-month-up, one-month-down trend that has prevailed since April, pulling year-to-date sales down slightly to 1.5 …
Up and down sales in August
New-vehicle sales in Canada were up by 3.2 percent in August, compared to the same month last year. But the SAAR (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate) fell for the second month in a row, down to 1.57 million units, after hitting …
Battery differences define hybrids and EVs
As with other aspects of vehicle design, battery selection is a compromise Just as the engine is the defining element in a conventional vehicle’s powertrain, the battery is at the core of the electric vehicle’s propulsion system. Which is why, …
Luxury vehicle sales outperform the market
Strong luxury brands are a hedge against tough times While cumulative new-vehicle sales in Canada are up marginally in 2011 from year-ago figures, the month-to-month volatility in the market is enough to get a dealer hooked on Maalox. But there …
May sales report: Sales patterns show new trends
May sales take a dive New-vehicle sales in Canada fell by 3.8 percent in May, compared to the same month a year earlier, but that number understates the severity of the sales drop-off. Until May, year-to-date sales had been up …
Chrysler repays Canadian and U.S. government loans
Following completion of new refinancing transactions, Chrysler Group fulfilled its promise to taxpayers and governments yesterday, repaying (US)$7.6 billion in loans from Canadian and U.S. governments, plus $1.8 billion in interest and other considerations, more than six years before they …
Nissan nabs GM/Saab veteran
Nissan Canada announced that industry veteran Michael Colleran is joining the company as regional vice-president, responsible for field sales and sales operations across the Canadian market. Colleran joins Nissan Canada from Saab Automobile AB, where he served as the president …
The electrification of the automobile
All hybrids are not created equal Like it or not, electrically powered vehicles will soon be part of the product mix you’re selling… if they are not already. Increasingly restrictive fuel economy regulations mandated by the U.S. government and paralleled …
Saab story takes another turn
Last week, Saab appeared to have found a saviour in the Chinese car company, Hawtai, but that deal quickly went sour. This week, another Chinese white knight promises a reprieve for the long-suffering Swedish automaker. But is it enough to …
Hyundai slashes Accent pricing
Hyundai Canada announced this week that the base MSRP for the all-new 2012 Accent has been reduced by $1,100 from the outgoing model, while content and technology have been significantly increased. Pricing for the 2012 Accent begins at $13,199 for …
