November 2012: Storm Surge Edition

Pent-Up Demand Lifts Many Automakers

Practically nothing good came of Superstorm Sandy, which made landfall in late October. Along with destroying infrastructure and throwing into turmoil the lives of countless people who never thought their home would go toe-to-toe with a hurricane, Sandy also suppressed auto sales that month. But what Sandy taketh away, pent-up demand for the freedom of personal transport giveth back, as evidenced by the strong month of automobile sales in the US during the month of November.

While low-volume brands like Fiat, Porsche and Smart lead our list, they're followed closely by a number or brands with a bit bigger audience that performed remarkably well. Subaru reported sales up nearly 60 percent to 28,206 units, while BMW saw a 45-percent to 21,213 units. No brand, however, can match the jump in raw number of vehicles sold that Honda reported, the Japanese automaker seeing sales rise 41 percent 104,224 units, a lift of 30,208 units compared to November 2011. Dodge (+32 percent) and Volkswagen (+29 percent) also reported healthy gains, while Toyota added 20,474 sales for an increase of 17 percent.

As for the domestics, Chrysler Group reported a respectable 14 percent rise in sales thanks to the performance of Dodge, which more than offset a 3-percent decline at Jeep. Ford Motor Company posted a 6.5-percent increase, while General Motors reported a 3.4-percent increase thanks to strong numbers from Buick (+22 percent) and Cadillac (+30 percent).

Lastly, we noticed one stand-out performer in this month's sales numbers, and that's the 2012 Honda Civic. Sales of the Civic were up 75.5 percent to 30,075 units, a number that beat the very-difficult-to-dethrone best-selling Camry's 28,765 units. We point this out because reception of the redesigned 2012 Civic was initially less-than-stellar, which led Honda to hastily revise the 2013 model with mechanical and styling tweaks that recent sales suggest, perhaps, weren't necessary, at least this soon.



*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 25 selling days in November 2012 and 25 selling days in November 2011, so there is no difference between the change in monthly sales volume and the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company. Also, brands are combined and reported as companies only if their sales figures are released jointly.
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Former GM engineer found guilty of trying to sell trade secrets

After an almost month-long trial, former General Motors engineer Shanshan Du and her husband, Yu Qin, were convicted Sunday of stealing hybrid vehicle trade secrets from the automaker. Qin was convicted on seven counts, while Du was convicted of three trade-secret counts but acquitted of wire fraud charges.

Prosecutors said Qin used the data in attempts to either get employment with or form partnerships with GM's Chinese competitors, including Chery Automobile Co. GM claimed in the trial that the secrets were worth more than $40 million. Defense lawyers said the data wasn't secret, wasn't stolen and was "useless for other companies."

"These defendants stole trade secrets, which General Motors spent many years and millions of dollars to develop, to give an unfair advantage to a foreign competitor," US Attorney Barbara McQuade said. "We hope that this prosecution will send a message that stealing proprietary information from an employer or competitor is a serious crime."

Du worked for GM from 2000 until her resignation in 2005. Prosecutors argued that Du and her husband had formed Millennium Technology International through which they had hoped to sell the stolen information. Lawyers said 16,262 stolen files were found on Du's computer.

Sentencing is scheduled for February. The couple face maximum sentences of 10 years on each trade secret count and fines of as much $250,000.

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It's time to configure your 2014 Porsche Cayman

With its configurator gone live, you can spend some time getting closer to the 2014 Porsche Cayman just unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. There are no prices attached to any of the selections yet, but you'll be starting with either the $52,600 coupe with the 275-horsepower, 2.7-liter flat-six or the $63,800 Cayman S with the 325-hp, 3.4-liter flat-six. Both those prices are before the $950 for destination and handling, mind you.

After that it's a matter of either/or, each page Drive, Chassis and Lights, Interior and Exterior allowing you to choose one of two options. For Chassis and Lights, for instance, you can either have the Porsche Active Suspension Management and bi-xenon headlights with the Porsche Dynamic Light System, or the ceramic composite brakes, torque vectoring and the Sport Chrono package with dynamic transmission mounts. Being so far in advance of the on-sale date, the configurator appears to be a way for Porsche to get a feel for which packages are in the most demand.

Reversing the usual order, frivolities like color and wheels come at the end, then you can click the video button and watch the Cayman of your creation rolling lower, longer, lighter and faster through the the computer-generated streets of Los Angeles. Don't take our word for it, head on over to the configurator and get to clicking.
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Redone 2013 Honda Civic seems to appease Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports and the Honda Civic appear to have kissed and made up. Following the compact's substantial "emergency refresh" after just one year on the market, CR got its hands on the vehicle for a quick drive. While the evaluation was far from the standard CR test, the organization found the 2013 Civic to offer a better tuned suspension and less vague steering at first blush. While the split-tier dash still hangs around for another few years, the cabin has ditched much of its oddly textured plastic bits in favor of soft touch materials with nicer detailing. That fact also won the new model points over its predecessor.

As you may recall, the 2012 Civic scored too low in Consumer Report evaluations to earn a "Recommended" rating. That fall from grace marked the first time the Honda model failed to make the cut, though that news didn't stop buyers from flocking to the vehicle. Consumer Reports will buy its own Civic and evaluate it once again soon. In the interim, you can check out the organization's initial impressions by scrolling down, as well as the brief writeup in the link below.
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Senator calling for answers from Hyundai and Kia over MPG debacle

Hyundai and Kia have already gone public with plans to make good on the inflated fuel economy claims scandal that has rocked both companies in recent weeks. But one US senator, Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), is skeptical that the general public will see much good from the proposal, and he's looking for answers.

To recap: Hyundai/Kia have agreed to compensate owners of 900,000 affected vehicles for real versus previously claimed fuel mileage (as well as adding in a one-percent premium), by way of pre-loaded debit cards. It has been speculated that this payout could crest $100 million by the time the Korean automakers are done writing checks.

Said Rockefeller to The Detroit News, "While I believe this is a positive step, I am concerned that many affected customers may not learn about the program or may find it burdensome to participate in the program." Rockefeller would reportedly like to see a monitoring system for the paybacks more clearly defined, with the goal being as many wronged car buyers as possible getting the recompense that they're due.

For its part, the EPA is continuing its probe into the matter, and the government agency could yet pursue civil penalties against the automakers.

Via: Senator calling for answers from Hyundai and Kia over MPG debacle

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Rick Wagoner wants to make your next test drive more fun

Actually, it's not Rick Wagoner all by himself, but the ex-GM chairman is working with a team of tech entrepreneurs who make up Tred, a new test drive concierge service. Tred is still in beta, but the idea is that you pick the cars you'd like to test drive, schedule delivery by concierges who are working to get positive feedback from folks like you and then try out the vehicles you're considering on the roads you know.

There's been good in-roads for Tred in the Seattle area for both dealers and shoppers. How Tred manages to convert a delivery service that's asking for feedback into actual profit will be something to watch. Ask our auto-test fleet people, delivering cars is a time-intensive undertaking that requires people and insurance above and beyond the lot attendants at most car dealerships. Also, dealerships themselves can offer this kind of service, especially a multi-line dealer group, and they've got a book full of relationships from which to start.

In other words, Tred may have a long road to ... tread. We'll be watching.
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Chevy Volt again tops Consumer Reports Owner-Satisfaction Survey

The Chevrolet Volt has done the double, nearly replicating its triumph from last year: For its annual Owner Satisfaction Survey, the Consumer Reports National Research Center asked Consumer Reports readers, "Considering all factors (price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?" Ninety-two percent of Volt owners answered "Definitely yes," topping nearly 250 other models for which responses were received. The only difference between this year and last is that in 2011, the Volt won the title thanks to 93 percent of its owners.

Other fuel sippers earning garlands were the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Prius C, and the Nissan Leaf. The sports category also had some repeat play in the top spots, last year's twosome of the Porsche 911 and V8 Dodge Challenger were second and third, joined by the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang. The luxury segment was led by the Audi A7, Lexus GS and Audi A6.

Conversely, those stuck in the dog shed out back were fronted by the Nissan Versa, the only car to register a score lower than 50 percent. It didn't lack for company, sharing its plot of dirt with the V6-powered twins the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, the Nissan Armada, Suzuki SX4 and Mitsubishi Outlander SUVs.

There's a press release below with more information. Condensed results are available to anyone on the Consumer Reports site, the complete results viewable online for subscribers and in the January issue.
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