With few exceptions, most automakers saw a significant downturn in August sales compared to August 2009 when the CARS “Cash for Clunkers” program spurred consumer buying.
August sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac decreased by a combined 11% compared to last August, a month in which the automotive industry experienced the highest level of sales in 2009 due to the “Cash for Clunkers” stimulus program. Compared to July 2010, sales for GM's brands were down 7%.  -Read more-

Mixed messages

If the economy reportedly has slowed so much and consumers are holding back again on major purchasers, why is GM reporting a net second-quarter profit of $1.3 billion — its largest since 2004 and the bulk of which appears to be from its U.S. sales operations (a 14% jump)?

And if the economy is stalled, why would GM ready itself just weeks ago for what looks like a pre-election IPO of potentially as much as $16 billion? (By the way, do two consecutive quarters of profitability after a five-year net loss of almost $100 billion an IPO make? Ford has had five consecutive profitable quarters.)  -Read more-

2004 CherokeeU.S. safety officials have opened an investigation into 3 million Jeep Grand Cherokees from model years 1993 to 2004 because of reports that gas tanks could cause fires in some crashes, reports AP. The preliminary investigation, begun Aug. 23 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Traffic Administration, is the first step in determining whether a recall of the Chrysler-made SUV is needed.  -Read more-

Customer satisfaction with domestic automobiles showed resilience despite an overall decline for the industry, according to a report released Aug. 17 by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Ann Arbor, Mich.
While overall automobile satisfaction dipped 2.4% from an all-time industry high to a score of 82 on a 0-100 scale, Ford and GM held steady as their Lincoln-Mercury and Buick nameplates took the lead for the first time ever. Chrysler, however, continued to underperform, with two of its three divisions at the bottom.  -Read more-

An examination of the performance of the U.S. auto industry thus far for 2010 has determined that it this year’s sales will be in the plus-11-million range, according to an analysis from Edmunds.com, Santa Monica, Calif.  -Read more-

It's predicted that in the third quarter of 2010, U.S. carmakers will manufacture about 2.9 million cars and light trucks, a 23% increase over the same period in 2009. This, according to IHS Automotive, an Englewood, Colo. Research and consulting company. As reported by Automotive News’ David Sedgwick, “Mike Jackson, IHS Automotive's director of North American vehicle forecasts, says his outfit is nudging its 2010 U.S.

BuickWhile April and May sales offered a continuing comeback in vehicle sales, highlighting what looked like a recovering market, June put a brake on the accelerating progress.
Even as Ford and GM paraded increased year-over-year sales of individual brands in their stables, the Detroit 3 reported June sales down as much as 13% from May; Toyota noted a May to June drop of 14%.  -Read more-

As the largest oil spill in U.S. history continues to leak into the Gulf of Mexico, the argument for domestically produced alternative fuels, like ethanol (E85), is back on, said GM.

Manufacturing plants continue to research and develop biofuels from a variety of unique sources. In fact, scientists are now converting materials like grass and woodchips into cleaner burning biofuel at a similar cost to that of producing a gallon of gasoline.

2010 CorollaToyota’s announcement of zero-percent financing and special lease deals in early March have generated a near-40% jump in “purchase intent” by visitors to Edmunds.com.
“Purchase intent" measures actual buyer interest reflected by pricing research, vehicle configuration and other focused steps, and has a strong correlation to sales, Edmunds noted.

Bob LutzGeneral Motors’ vice chairman, Bob Lutz, will retire effective May 1, 2010, capping a 47-year career in the global auto industry that included senior leadership positions at four of the world's leading automakers.