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Honda of Mexico officially began construction this week of a new plant in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, that will start making the Fit subcompact for North America in 2014. The Fit, or Jazz in some markets, is one of Honda’s four global products (along with Civic, Accord and CR-V) and is built regionally at several plants [...]

If you have any doubts about the future of the auto industry, take a look at how Ford is dividing up its real estate and engineering staff when it comes to newfangled fuel-saving engines. Its converting more space in its engineering facilities to accommodate the growing team working on electric vehicles and other fuel-saving engines [...]

Here’s an intriguing fact: The Infiniti M luxury sedan that’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its acceleration prowess is the same M that has the best fuel economy rating of the lineup. It’s because the Guinness record holder is the new-for-2012 M35 Hybrid, which pairs a gasoline V-6 to an electric [...]

SEOUL – Hyundai Motor plans to launch a revamped version of its flagship Sonata sedan in 2014, its first upgrade in more than four years, its chief executive said on Wednesday, as the company grapples with increasing foreign competition in its home market. Hyundai, the world’s fifth-largest auto group along with its affiliate Kia Motors, [...]

IRVINE, Calif. — /PRNewswire/ — The all-new 2013 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV was today recognized as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The CX-5 received the organization’s highest possible crash safety rating of “Good” in all four tests conducted. “The 2013 CX-5 is Mazda’s first production vehicle to [...]

Toyota says its newest, cheapest hybrid, the subcompact Prius c five-door hatchback is selling well in its first few days in showrooms. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the car, priced under $19,000 and averaging 50 miles a gallon, arrives in the middle of a gas-price run-up. In case you didn’t squint, that’s Prius with [...]

When it comes to keeping its customers satisfied with the dealer service experience, Lexus is doing something right. For the fourth consecutive year, and the 15th time overall, Lexus has taken top honors in the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index (CSI) survey. It’s the second time in as many months that the Japanese [...]

BERLIN (AP) – Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest carmaker by sales, said Monday that it expects a further increase in deliveries and revenue in 2012 despite difficult trading conditions in some European countries. Volkswagen, which overtook Japan’s Toyota last year to become the world’s second-biggest car company by total deliveries behind General Motors, sold nearly 8.3 million [...]

This week, we’re driving Hyundai’s 2012 Sonata SE 2.0 T, with the “T” standing for turbocharger. Without summarizing too much in the opening paragraph, I want all readers to know that this Hyundai is one of the best I’ve driven in class, and looks to be a best seller from the continually improving manufacturer. Sonata [...]

Detroit— Ford Motor Co. unveiled its most luxurious pickup Friday in a dirt-covered arena constructed inside Ford Field that will play host tonight to the Professional Bull Riders “Last Cowboy Standing” competition. Four 2013 F-Series Super Duty Platinum models rolled into the arena while country music blasted and cowboys prepared a brief exhibition of bull [...]

Volvo has come out with the world’s first commercial airbag designed to protect pedestrians rather than drivers in a car accident. That’s just one of many smart safety features on display in its latest model of the Volvo V40 compact car. The pedestrian airbag inflates across one-third of the windshield and raises the back of [...]

Honda, the only automaker selling compressed natural gas-powered cars to U.S. drivers, wants some of its dealers to also install pumps to sell the fuel as its seeks to double sales of CNG vehicles. Boosting sales of Indiana-built Civic Natural Gas sedans requires more fuel stations, Steve Center, U.S. vice president for environmental business development, [...]

Chrysler Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne received no salary or stock awards from Chrysler in 2011, the company said in its annual report filed with the government. His $0 is in stark contrast to Ford CEO Alan Mulally. As we reported yesterday, he’s another $34.5 million richer this week alone, thanks to vesting of bonus [...]

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has added $34.5 million worth of Ford stock to his portfolio, part of his 2009 performance incentives, according to a Tuesday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The performance-based restricted stock was converted to shares on Saturday. Ford stock closed at $12.09 Tuesday, giving the shares a current value [...]

MARKHAM, ON /CNW/ – Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. announced today that it sold 9,266 vehicles in February, representing a 6.5% increase over the same month in 2011. The February result caps a month where the Hyundai Elantra won Canadian Car of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), the company saw [...]

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 1, 2012 /CNW/ – Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) today announced its best February sales on record with a total of 6,342 units sold, an increase of 17.3 per cent over February 2011. Sales for the Nissan brand were 5,783 units, up 16.6 per cent while Infiniti sales grew by 24.2 per cent, [...]

MARKHAM, ON /CNW/ – Combined February sales of 8,883 units by the Honda and Acura divisions of Honda Canada Inc. represented a 14% increase over last year’s sales.  The Honda Automobile Division reported February sales of 7,885 units, up 14% from last year, led by strong February sales of Honda Fit (up 111%), Ridgeline (up [...]

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 1, 2012 /CNW/ – Kia Canada Inc. followed its best ever January with its second consecutive record month in 2012 reporting 4,644 new vehicles sold, translating into 20% growth compared to February 2011. The industry-leading sales growth streak continued into its 38th successive month. All four Regions throughout Canada indicated record February [...]