Today's News - January 4, 2013

**KBB in the News**

 

Kelley Blue Book’s Alec Gutierrez reports 2012 auto sales

NPR (aired in multiple markets, including Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis)

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=6470&DateTime=1%2F4%2F2013+6%3A52%3A01+AM&Term=Kelly+Blue+Book&PlayClip=TRUE

 

Chevy Volt sales triple in 2012

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/03/autos/chevrolet-volt-sales/index.html?source=yahoo_hosted

 

4 things that will cost less in 2013 (syndicated from MarketWatch.com)

http://money.msn.com/how-to-budget/article.aspx?post=75d4cf8c-ab13-4d08-8af6-f8e41d3724fe

 

Easier credit, better economy, aging vehicles drive 2012 auto sales

http://www.suntimes.com/business/17352838-420/easier-credit-better-economy-aging-vehicles-drive-2012-auto-sales.html

 

Motor Press Guild awards KBB.com video

http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=168881094&hash=9fe1ae78c5a293287cc6956a6bc08161

 

Industry magazines recognize cars and trucks of the year

http://restylingmag.com/news/industry-magazines-recognize-cars-and-trucks-of-year

 

 

**KBB Editorial**

 

IIHS names its Top Safety Pick winners for 2013

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/iihs-names-its-top-safety-pick-winners-for-2013/2000008943/

 

 

**December Sales News**

 

Auto sales reach a new post-recession high

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-sales-20130104,0,69049.story

 

Looming tax hikes for the rich didn’t hurt luxury car sales

http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2013/01/03/looming-tax-hikes-for-the-rich-didnt-hurt-luxury-car-sales/

 

Automakers rev up end-of-year sales

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100352738

 

How the auto industry fared in December

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/04/business/how-the-auto-industry-fared-in-december.html

 

Ford trucks, Chevrolet Camaro, Toyota Camry lead 2012 auto sales

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-december-annual-auto-sales-rise-20130103,0,7197377.story

 

BMW tops Mercedes as U.S. auto sales highest since 2007

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-04/bmw-tops-mercedes-as-u-s-auto-sales-highest-since-2007.html

 

Toyota widens lead over GM, Ford as Aussies favor imports

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-04/toyota-widens-lead-over-gm-ford-as-aussies-favor-imports.html

 

Audi sets new U.S. sales record of 139,310 vehicles in 2012; December ranks as best month ever

http://www.audiusanews.com/pressrelease/3290/98/audi-sets-new-u.s-sales-record-139310-vehicles

 

BMW Group achieves best sales year ever in the U.S.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bmw-group-achieves-best-sales-year-ever-in-the-us-185572652.html

 

Chrysler Group LLC reports December 2012 U.S. sales increased 10 percent - strongest December sales in five years; full-year sales up 21 percent - strongest annual sales since 2007

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chrysler-group-llc-reports-december-2012-us-sales-increased-10-percent---strongest-december-sales-in-five-years-full-year-sales-up-21-percent----strongest-annual-sales-since-2007-185530622.html

 

Ford cars, utilities and trucks all post U.S. sales gains in 2012; company posts best December sales since 2006

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-cars-utilities-and-trucks-all-post-us-sales-gains-in-2012-company-posts-best-december-sales-since-2006-185536262.html

 

GM’s U.S. sales up 5 percent in December

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2013/Jan/gmsales.html

 

All-new Accord and Civic drive sharp Honda monthly and annual sales gains; ILX and RDX fuel Acura jump; American Honda posts best annual sales result since 2008

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-new-accord-and-civic-drive-sharp-honda-monthly-and-annual-sales-gains-ilx-and-rdx-fuel-acura-jump-american-honda-posts-best-annual-sales-result-since-2008-185572852.html

 

Hyundai Motor America posts all-time full year sales record

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-motor-america-posts-all-time-full-year-sales-record-185567972.html

 

Hyundai sets new annual sales record in 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-sets-new-annual-sales-record-in-2012-185574872.html

 

Infiniti U.S. sales increase 22 percent in 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiniti-us-sales-increase-22-percent-in-2012-185566492.html

Jaguar Land Rover reports U.S. sales for December and 2012

http://www.interactivejaguar.com/jaguar/DisplayRelease.php?itemID=524

 

Kia Motors America announces all-time best full-year sales and U.S. market share for 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-motors-america-announces-all-time-best-full-year-sales-and-us-market-share-for-2012-185561302.html

 

Mazda achieves best year of sales since 2007, best December since 1994

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mazda-achieves-best-year-of-sales-since-2007-best-december-since-1994-185570552.html

 

Mercedes-Benz USA hits its highest-ever U.S. volume with sales of 305,072

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-usa-hits-its-highest-ever-us-volume-with-sales-of-305072-185567602.html

 

Mitsubishi Motors reports Outlander Sport sales rise 15.4 percent in December

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitsubishi-motors-reports-outlander-sport-sales-rise-154-percent-in-december-185575372.html

 

Nissan North America sales increase 9.5 percent in 2012

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissan-north-america-sales-increase-95-percent-in-2012-185565972.html

 

Porsche reports best-ever sales in 2012; 21 percent increase over 2011

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/porsche-reports-best-ever-sales-in-2012-21-percent-increase-over-2011-185551842.html

 

Subaru announces all-time annual sales record

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-announces-all-time-annual-sales-record-185587812.html

 

Subaru of America, Inc. reports record month and sets fourth consecutive yearly sales record

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-of-america-inc-reports-record-month-and-sets-fourth-consecutive-yearly-sales-record-185559972.html

 

American Suzuki Motor Corporation announces December 2012 automobile sales of 1,946 units

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-suzuki-motor-corporation-announces-december-2012-automobile-sales-of-1946-units-185579452.html

 

Toyota Motor Sales reports December sales increase

HTTP://PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/RELEASES/TOYOTA+LEXUS+SCION+SALES+DECEMBER+2012.HTM

 

Volkswagen reports 35.1 percent increase in 2012 U.S. sales

http://www.media.vw.com/pressrelease/1330/110/volkswagen-reports-35.1-percent-increase-2012-u.s-sales

 

Volvo announces December sales

https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/enhanced/en-us/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=47237

 

 

**Top News**

 

Subaru initiates recall to eliminate potential fire threat

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/subaru-initiates-recall-to-eliminate-potential-fire-threat/?ref=automobiles

 

Subaru recalling nearly 634,000 cars and SUVs to fix short-circuit in door lights

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/subaru-recalling-nearly-634000-cars-and-suvs-to-fix-short-circuit-in-door-lights/2013/01/03/7572f46a-55a7-11e2-89de-76c1c54b1418_story.html

 

 

**OEM/Vehicle News**

 

Fiat exercises options to increase stake in Chrysler to 65%

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130103/OEM/130109972/fiat-exercises-options-to-increase-stake-in-chrysler-to-65

 

Toyota, Audi move closer to driverless cars

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323374504578220081249592640.html?mod=WSJ_Autos_AutoIndustry3

 

Mazda to boost Mexican plant’s capacity to 230,000 cars

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-04/mazda-to-boost-mexican-plant-s-capacity-to-230-000-cars.html

 

GM recalls more than 69,000 trucks, vans that could roll away

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130104/OEM11/130109962/gm-recalls-more-than-69-000-trucks-vans-that-could-roll-away

 

 

**Dealer/Industry News**

 

AutoTrader introduces new Samsung Smart TV app; utilizes emerging technology

http://www.autoremarketing.com/technology/autotrader-introduces-new-samsung-smart-tv-app-utilizes-emerging-technology

 

AutoNation announces December 2012 retail new sales of 27,958

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/autonation-announces-december-2012-retail-new-vehicle-unit-sales-of-27958-185638102.html

 

 

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

 

Honda touts innovation, American Keiretsu for Civic

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/190284/honda-touts-innovation-american-keiretsu-for-civi.html?edition=55077#axzz2Gvp6DdBf

 

Fiat does mommy rap

http://www.digiday.com/brands/fiat-does-mommy-rap/

 

How to improve your social media efforts in 10 minutes

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/46021.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

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