Today's News - May 2, 2012

**KBB in the News**

 

Landing a car loan is getting easier

http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/30/autos/auto-financing/

 

Chrysler leads auto sales gains boosting U.S. economy

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-01/chrysler-sales-rose-20-in-april-as-monthly-gains-slow.html

 

April auto sales cool; Hyundai, Kia and Nissan fall off prior pace

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-april-auto-sales-cool-20120501,0,1078539.story

 

Stronger Toyota helps boost U.S. auto sales in April

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?date=20120501&id=15050359&feed=AP

 

Americans downsize to small SUVs

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/05/01/americans-downsize-to-small-suvs/?link=SM_hp_ls4e

 

Chrysler’s new-car sales performance continues to impress

http://www.autoremarketing.com/retail/chrysler%E2%80%99s-new-car-sales-performance-continues-impress

 

April sales up 2.1 percent, KBB estimates

http://www.fi-magazine.com/News/Story/2012/05/April-Sales-Up-2-1-Percent-KBB-Estimates.aspx

 

Average cost of car ownership creeps up to $8,946 per year

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1075820_average-cost-of-car-ownership-creeps-up-to-8946-per-year

 

Used-car prices on the rise

KEYE (CBS) DMA: 47 Austin, TX

http://ctv4.criticalmention.com/playerpage/player?params=Y2xpcElkPTI0NDM0NTEmc2xpbT0xJnBvd2VyZWQ9MSZyZXBvcnQ9dHJ1ZSZoaWRlQ2xpcENvbnRyb2xzPTEmbm9oZWFkZXI9MSZub21lbnU9dHJ1ZSZhdXRvUGxheT0xJnBhcnRuZXJUb2tlbj04YTgwODM0ZDM3MDU1OGQ5MDEzNzBlMjU4NGRmNDk4Mw

 

 

**April Sales News**

 

It’s official: Auto industry firing on all cylinders

http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/01/11489902-its-official-auto-industry-firing-on-all-cylinders?lite

 

April sales of electric cars fall despite high gas prices

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120502/AUTO01/205020325/1148/auto01/April-sales-electric-cars-fall-despite-high-gas-prices

 

Audi sets all-time U.S. sales record for the month of April

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audi-sets-all-time-us-sales-record-for-the-month-of-april-149679005.html

 

BMW Group U.S. reports April 2012 sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmw-group-us-reports-april-2012-sales-149683225.html

 

Chrysler Group LLC reports April 2012 U.S. sales increased 20 percent; best April sales in four years

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chrysler-group-llc-reports-april-2012-us-sales-increased-20-percent-best-april-sales-in-four-years-149628795.html

 

Ford Fusion, Edge achieve best-ever April sales; Explorer, F-series net best April sales in five-plus years

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-fusion-edge-achieve-best-ever-april-sales-explorer-f-series-net-best-april-sales-in-five-plus-years-149647345.html

 

GM reports April sales of 213,387 vehicles

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/May/gmsales

 

American Honda reports April auto sales: CR-V sets April record, Accord sees 41-percent gain, all-new 2013 Acura RDX fast out of the gate

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-honda-reports-april-auto-sales-cr-v-sets-april-record-accord-sees-41-percent-gain-all-new-2013-acura-rdx-fast-out-of-the-gate-149702285.html

 

Hyundai Motor America reports best-ever April sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-motor-america-reports-best-ever-april-sales-149694845.html

 

Infiniti sales increase 5.4 percent for April

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiniti-sales-increase-54-percent-for-april-149692415.html

 

Jaguar Land Rover reports U.S. sales for April 2012

http://www.interactivejaguar.com/jaguar/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=421

 

Kia Motors America announces April sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-motors-america-announces-record-april-sales-149683745.html

 

Mazda sales up more than 21 percent year-over-year

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mazda-sales-up-more-than-21-percent-year-over-year-149709725.html

 

Highest April on record for Mercedes-Benz with sales of 22,336

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highest-april-on-record-for-mercedes-benz-with-sales-of-22336-149689415.html

 

Mitsubishi Motors reports April Sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitsubishi-motors-reports-april-sales-149695065.html

 

Nissan North America reports April sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissan-north-america-reports-april-sales-149685345.html

 

Porsche reports April sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/porsche-reports-april-sales-149685235.html

 

Subaru of America, Inc. reports best April sales in company history

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-of-america-inc-reports-best-april-sales-in-company-history-149687025.html

 

American Suzuki announces April 2012 sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-suzuki-announces-april-2012-sales-149709275.html

 

Toyota sales increase 11.6 percent in April 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-sales-increase-116-percent-in-april-2012-149687035.html

 

Volkswagen reports 31.5 percent increase in April U.S. sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volkswagen-reports-315-percent-increase-in-april-us-sales-149652915.html

 

Volvo announces April sales

https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/enhanced/en-us/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=43534

 

 

**KBB Editorial**

 

Ferrari unveils its latest HY-KERS hybrid system

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/ferrari-unveils-its-latest-hy_kers-hybrid-system/

 

2013 Audi Q5 revised and revealed

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2013-audi-q5-revised-and-revealed/

 

Honda developing new traffic-flow optimizer system

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/honda-developing-new-traffic_flow-optimizer-system/

 

2013 Dodge Dart First Review: Almost a Bull's-Eye

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2013-dodge-dart-first-review-almost-a-bulls_eye/

 

 

**Top News**

 

8 reasons for Detroit to worry – and 2 signs of hope

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/autos/1204/gallery.detroit-automakers-slump.fortune/

 

Volvo says China expansion on track as profit drops

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120502/COPY01/305029854/1257/volvo-says-china-expansion-on-track-as-profit-drops

 

GM proposed taking over one-third of Isuzu, sources say

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120502/COPY01/305029892/1424/gm-proposed-taking-over-one-third-of-isuzu-source-says

 

 

**OEM/Vehicle News**

 

Report: Toyota to dump Scion’s wacky models

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/05/report-toyota-to-dump-scions-wacky-models/1

 

Buick push pays off in China

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120502/AUTO0103/205020323/1148/auto01/Buick-push-pays-off-China

 

Ford taking orders for Ford Focus ST hatchback

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120501/AUTO0102/205010413/1148/auto01/Ford-taking-orders-Ford-Focus-ST-hatchback

 

Chrysler takes risk on deluxe features in Dodge Dart

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/05/dodge-dart-chrysler-quality-features/1

 

Will Mary Barra be GM’s first female CEO?

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/05/will-mary-barra-be-gms-1st-female-ceo/

 

GM CEO Akerson’s pay lags Ford’s Mulally

http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/26/news/companies/gm-ceo-pay/index.htm

 

Will Google start selling autonomous car?

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/05/will-google-start-selling-autonomous-car/

 

Was the Pontiac Aztek ahead of its time?

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/05/02/was-the-pontiac-aztek-ahead-of-its-time-slideshow/

 

 

**Dealer/Industry News**

 

AutoTrader.com and Syfy partner to unveil one-of-a-kind concept car on tonight’s Dream Machines

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53479-autotrader-syfy-dream-machine-parker-brothers-concepts-custom-vehicle

 

 

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

 

Ram saddles up for the Kentucky Derby

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/173680/ram-saddles-up-for-the-kentucky-derby.html?edition=46343

 

GM taps moms, female engineers for redesign

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120502/AUTO0103/205020321/1148/auto01/GM-taps-moms-female-engineers-redesign

 

BMW puts its stamp on 2012 Olympics

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/05/bmw-puts-its-stamp-on-2012-olympics/

 

OnStar offers a Mother’s Day special

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/05/onstar-offers-a-mothers-day-special/

 

Dark Knight’s new ride makes Batmobile seem quaint

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/05/02/dark-knights-new-ride-makes-batmobiles-seem-quaint/

 

BMW motorcycles gets new agency

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/173696/bmw-motorcycles-gets-new-agency.html?edition=46343

 

Aided by paywalls, newspapers halt circulation declines

http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/aided-paywalls-newspapers-halt-circulation-declines/234489/

 

Data points: Video ads’ greatest hits

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/data-points-video-ads-greatest-hits-139981

 

Google addresses burgeoning apps marketplace with new ad units

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/advertising/12720.html

 

4 Google Analytics updates you should know

http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/31647.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

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