The 2008 BMW 5 Series was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the United States insurance industry. The Acura RL, Kia Amanti and Volvo S80 all earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, according to results released on Thursday.
General Motors (GM) and Ford saw sales fall again last month despite some popular new models, while Toyota reported a 7% increase over last March. Automakers reported monthly sales figures on Monday. GM’s sales were down nearly 15% for the year.
General Motors (GM) expects its United States market share to continue to fall in the first quarter of this year due to aggressive competition, but said it won’t reverse its strategy of lowering prices and relying less heavily on discounts, GM marketers said on Monday.
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/ 20 December 2005
United States auto makers are hoping to reverse their sliding market share in 2006 with impressive new vehicles and sweeping restructuring plans. But their efforts could be undermined by a host of uncertainties, from the ongoing bankruptcy of auto supplier Delphi to gas prices and fidgety consumers.
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/ 28 October 2005
Only a handful of people know what new vehicles will look like in 2009. But automotive paint supplier PPG Industries already has a good idea what colours those vehicles will be. Blue will get more popular in the next four years as more dramatic shades are introduced, such as watery blue-greens and smoky lilacs.
A conservative Christian group has launched a boycott against Ford Motor Company, saying the second-largest United States automaker has given thousands of dollars to gay rights groups, offers benefits to same-sex couples and actively recruits gay employees.