Today's News - March 2, 2012

**KBB in the News**

 

Best U.S. auto sales streak since ’08 helped by Toyota

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-29/best-u-s-auto-sales-streak-since-2008-boosted-by-toyota-cars.html

 

U.S. auto sales pace hits four-year high on broad-based gains

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-01/chrysler-sales-rise-tops-estimates-as-gas-prices-lift-demand-for-200-sedan.html

 

Refinancing craze spreads to car loans

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/03/01/refinancing-picks-up-for-car-loans/?link=SM_hp_featStory\

 

Kelley Blue Book’s Alec Gutierrez reports 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Awards

KOA-AM (KOA) DMA: 215 U.S. Radio

http://ctv4.criticalmention.com/playerpage/player?params=Y2xpcElkPTE3NTMwNjcmc2xpbT0xJnBvd2VyZWQ9MSZyZXBvcnQ9dHJ1ZSZoaWRlQ2xpcENvbnRyb2xzPTEmbm9oZWFkZXI9MSZub21lbnU9dHJ1ZSZhdXRvUGxheT0xJnBhcnRuZXJUb2tlbj04YTgwODM3OTM1YzBkOThjMDEzNWQ0MmYzYjk0NjI5YQ

 

New Chrysler 300 named one of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com ’10 Best Family Cars of 2012’

http://www.carsforgirls.com/index.php/new-chrysler-300-named-one-of-kelley-blue-books-kbb-com-10-best-family-cars-of-2012/

 

Kelley Blue Book polls on fuel economy – the good and the bad

http://caradvice.askpatty.com/ask_patty_/2012/03/kelley-blue-book-polls-on-fuel-economy-the-good-and-the-bad.html

 

Kia Motors U.S. plant produces 500,000^th vehicle

http://www.examiner.com/hyundai-in-los-angeles/kia-motors-us-plant-produces-500-000th-vehicle

 

 

**February Sales News**

 

February auto sales: Ford, Chrysler, VW, General Motors gain speed

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-ford-auto-sales-20120301,0,7548179.story

 

Ford’s February sales rise 14 percent, led by Focus, F-series

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/RETAIL01/120309980/1448

 

BMW, buoyed by new 3 series, tops Mercedes, Lexus in U.S. sales

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/RETAIL01/303019707/1448

 

Toyota sales rise 12 percent as inventories recover

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120301/RETAIL01/120309978/1448

 

Nissan sells more trucks despite fuel worries

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/RETAIL01/120309983/1448

 

Chevy helps GM avoid another decline

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120301/RETAIL01/120309982/1448

 

Fuel-efficient cars boost automakers’ February numbers

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-sales-20120302,0,3512.story

 

Detroit tests its latest survival kit

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/detroit-tests-its-latest-survival-kit-2012-03-01

 

Acura announces February 2012 sales results

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acura-announces-february-2012-sales-results-141074563.html

 

Audi reports best U.S. February sales in its history; 14^th consecutive record-setting month

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audi-reports-best-us-february-sales-in-its-history-14th-consecutive-record-setting-month-141075803.html

 

BMW Group U.S. February sales increase 31.5 percent

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmw-group-us-february-sales-increase-315-141061583.html

 

Chrysler Group LCC reports February 2012 U.S. sales increased 40 percent; best February since 2008

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chrysler-group-llc-reports-february-2012-us-sales-increased-40-percent-best-february-since-2008-141018783.html

 

Ford Motor Company U.S. sales increase in cars, utilities, trucks in February; Focus up 115 percent

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-motor-company-us-sales-increase-in-cars-utilities-trucks-in-february-focus-up-115-percent-141027753.html

 

GM February sales beat expectations

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

 

American Honda reports February sales increase on success of new 2012 Civic, CR-V

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-honda-reports-february-sales-increase-on-success-of-new-2012-civic-cr-v-141066753.html

 

Hyundai Motor America reports record February sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-motor-america-reports-record-february-sales-141066463.html

 

Infiniti sales increase for February

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiniti-sales-increase-for-february-141067323.html

 

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

http://www.interactivejaguar.com/jaguar/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=392

 

Kia Motors posts all-time best February sales with 37.3-percent increase

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-motors-posts-all-time-best-february-sales-with-373-percent-increase-141060993.html

 

Mazda keeps the momentum moving in 2012 with record February sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mazda-keeps-the-momentum-moving-in-2012-with-record-february-sales-141073923.html

 

Highest February on record for Mercedes-Benz with sales of 19,679

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highest-february-on-record-for-mercedes-benz-with-sales-of-19679-141055383.html

 

Mitsubishi Motors reports February sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitsubishi-motors-reports-february-sales-141072133.html

 

Nissan North America sales rise 15.5 percent, set new February record

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissan-north-america-sales-rise-155-set-new-february-record-141051653.html

 

Porsche reports February sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/porsche-reports-february-sales-141062993.html

 

Subaru of America, Inc. reports record February sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-of-america-inc-reports-record-february-sales-141061913.html

 

American Suzuki February 2012 sales up 48 percent

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-suzuki-february-2012-sales-up-48-percent-141073513.html

 

Toyota Motor Sales reports increase in February 2012 sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-motor-sales-reports-increase-in-february-2012-sales-141064693.html

 

Volkswagen reports 42.5 percent increase in February U.S. sales

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/volkswagen-reports-425-percent-increase-in-february-us-sales-141035043.html

 

Volvo announces February sales

https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/enhanced/en-us/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=42937

 

 

**Top News**

 

Ford says Focus Electric Car rated at 105 mpg equivalent by EPA

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-02/ford-says-focus-electric-car-rated-at-105-mpg-equivalent-by-epa.html

 

GM taps Wells Fargo to finance auto sales, dealers in western U.S.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/RETAIL07/303019666/1142/gm-taps-wells-fargo-to-finance-auto-sales-dealers-in-western-u-s

 

Ford worked with Japanese automakers during recession, book says

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120302/AUTO0102/203020408/1148/auto01/Ford-worked-Japanese-automakers-during-recession-book-says

 

 

**OEM/Vehicle News**

 

After Civic bruising, Honda fights for its soul

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46603235/ns/business-autos/

 

Billionaire Chung proving Hyundai luxury no joke in drive to top BMW

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-01/billionaire-chung-proving-hyundai-luxury-no-joke-in-drive-to-top-bmw-cars.html

 

Toyota denies CNN report about unintended acceleration concerns

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120302/RETAIL05/120309969/1290/toyota-denies-cnn-report-about-unintended-acceleration-concerns

 

More NY tease: 2013 Buick Enclave’s refreshed interior

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/more-ny-tease-2013-buick-enclaves-refreshed-interior/1

 

2013 Lexus RX facelift leaked prior to Geneva debut

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/2013-lexus-rx-facelift-leaked-prior-to-geneva-debut/

 

Volvo recalls 17,000 models for potential flaw in air-bag deployment system

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/volvo-recalls-17000-models-for-potential-flaw-in-air-bag-depoloyment-system/

 

 

**Dealer/Industry News**

 

Punt on backup cameras shows Obama robbing Republicans of regulation issue

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-02/punt-on-backup-cameras-shows-obama-robbing-republicans-of-regulation-issue.html

 

Tensions raise specter of gas at $5 a gallon

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/business/energy-environment/tensions-raise-specter-of-gas-at-5-a-gallon.html?ref=automobiles

 

Packard plant ruins to be demolished, owner says

http://www.freep.com/article/20120301/NEWS01/120301073/Packard-Motor-ruins-demolished?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

 

 

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

 

Charlie Sheen storms back with great ads for DirecTV, Fiat

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/charlie-sheen-storms-back-great-ads-directv-fiat-138681

 

Charlie Sheen at a Fiat party

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/169229/charlie-sheen-at-a-fiat-party.html?edition=44106

 

Toyota, Lexus roll out redesigned Facebook pages

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/RETAIL03/120309989/1506/toyota-lexus-roll-out-redesigned-facebook-pages

 

Pure Detroit: Chrysler makes false claims

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120302/AUTO0101/203020351/1148/auto01/Pure-Detroit-Chrysler-makes-false-claims

 

Harley-Davidson tackles stereotypes in new advertising campaign

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harley-davidson-tackles-stereotypes-in-new-advertising-campaign-141069713.html

 

Thriving on the new Facebook: Four steps four your brand

http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/thriving-facebook-steps-brand/233080/

 

Should I move brand advertising dollars to online video?

http://adage.com/article/digital/i-move-brand-advertising-dollars-online-video/233067/

 

 

 

***Want even more news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com?  Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook