William Maley

Not many people. I pulled this quote from another Handelsblatt story, back in April Of course, there are outliers. The Ford Mustang does very well, but it is significantly more expensive. 5.0L V8 GT (USA): $35,355 5.0L V8 GT (UK): $54,970* *"This is the manufacturer's Recommended 'On the Road' price for the model shown. It includes delivery to Dealer, 12 months Government Vehicle Excise Duty, Government First Registration Fee, cost of number plates (estimated) and VAT (at 20%) but excludes any available retail Customer Saving" From Ford UK's site. A lot of that price increase most likely comes down to the various European regulations.

We know that the current Volkswagen Beetle will soon be heading off to the great parking lot in the sky sometime next year, and that a direct replacement will not happen. But there is talk about bringing back the Beetle as an electric vehicle. Volkswagen's design chief Klaus Bischoff revealed to Autocar that he has already made a sketch of a possible Beetle EV, but it will be some time before the automaker makes a decision whether to move forward with this or not. Some of this comes down Volkswagen wanting to get the bigger-selling electric cars into production first (see I.D. hatchback and I.D. Crozz) before moving onto the 'emotional' models. “Our duty is to get the volume [ID] models under way. These cars have super-complicated technology and if you do too much, it’s an overload. Then we [can] move into more exotic cars and the field of emotion,” said Bischoff. If Volkswagen does give the green light for a Beetle EV, what could it look like? According to Autocar, the model could grow in size and get two extra doors. “The Beetle of today is a very attractive two-door coupé or convertible, but it is limited in the amount of cars that it can sell because it’s a niche. If you look at MEB, the shortest wheelbase [possible] is the ID [hatchback]. If you took that and did the Beetle on it, you have plenty of room so there’s no compromise in functionality any more. So it could be a very attractive car,” explained Bischoff. We know there is a fan of an electric Beetle, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess. “We could [build an electric Beetle], because it is rear-wheel drive, no grille. If we wanted to do a Beetle electrically, it would be much better than the current car. Much closer to the history of the Beetle," Diess told Car and Driver back in October. Source: Autocar View full article

The threat of a 20 percent tariff on vehicles exported from the European Union has a number of automakers panicking. But that tariff could be taken off the table if the EU removes their tariff on vehicles exported from the U.S. German paper Handelsblatt learned from sources that a meeting was held between the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell and number of CEOs from German automakers. Grenell presented an offer directly from President Donald Trump - "elimination of all tariffs on automobile imports on both sides and removal of non-tariff barriers, such as regulations on the size of rear mirrors." Currently, the U.S. levies a 2.5 percent tariff on vehicles imported from EU. A 10 percent tariff is slapped on by EU members on vehicles imported from the U.S. The hope is that German automakers can put some pressure on the government to possibly bring this up with other EU members. Diamler, Volkswagen, the German Economy Ministry, and the European Commission declined to comment when asked by Reuters. Source: Handelsblatt, Reuters View full article

Hyundai Motor America Reports June 2018 Sales Total Sales Up 18 Percent Fourth Consecutive Month of All-Time SUV Sales; Exceeds 30,000 SUV Units Sold Highest Tucson Sales Month Ever; Up 62 Percent Elantra Sales Up 34 Percent FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 3, 2018 – Hyundai Motor America reported June sales of Hyundai- and Genesis-branded vehicles of 64,052 units, an 18 percent increase in comparison with June 2017 and the second straight month of double digit sales growth. Sales by Brand Jun-18 Jun-17 2018 YTD 2017 YTD Hyundai 63,256 52,894 327,786 336,459 Genesis 796 1,613 7,262 9,901 TOTAL 64,052 54,507 335,048 346,360 Hyundai Brand Highlights Hyundai’s gains came from across the lineup with its SUV products again leading the way. Total SUV sales were up 37 percent, exceeding 30,000 units for the first time ever and establishing an all-time record for the fourth month in a row. Tucson continues to be a standout with sales up 62 percent, selling 16,173 units, its highest monthly total ever, and the fourth consecutive month with an all-time high. Tucson’s monthly record also continued for the 16th month in a row. The all-new Kona had a strong month as well, selling 4,240 units. The rest of Hyundai’s core lineup also performed well in June. Elantra sales increased by 34 percent, Sonata was up 5 percent and Ioniq grew by 7 percent. The all-new Veloster began entering dealerships, driving sales up 6 percent. Hyundai’s CPO program, named the top non-luxury CPO program in the industry by Autotrader, also had a good month with sales increasing by 7 percent. “June was a well-rounded month for Hyundai, achieving both overall and retail sales growth and seeing gains in our key sedan segments and SUVs,” said John Angevine, director, National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. “The realignment of Hyundai’s lineup is beginning to take hold with SUV sales reaching nearly half of our total volume. With the all-new Santa Fe coming later this summer, consumers are recognizing the strength of our SUV products and our dealers are delivering in communicating the versatility of our lineup to meet any need.” Hyundai Model Sales Vehicle Jun-18 Jun-17 2018 YTD 2017 YTD Accent 2,120 5,028 14,825 32,515 Azera 0 241 612 1,792 Elantra 17,858 13,297 99,728 100,252 Ioniq 1,506 1,406 8,599 4,881 Kona 4,240 0 15,193 0 Santa Fe 10,526 12,586 59,185 60,012 Sonata 10,066 9,547 54,235 76,315 Tucson 16,173 10,000 69,949 51,707 Veloster 767 721 5,459 7,992 Genesis Brand Highlights Genesis Motor America reported sales of 796 in June, a 51 percent decrease compared with the year prior. Genesis Model Sales Vehicle Jun-18 Jun-17 2018 YTD 2017 YTD G80 642 1,276 5,646 7,648 G90 154 337 1,616 2,253

Subaru of America Sets New Sales Record for the First Half of 2018 Best June ever – monthly sales increase 15 percent over June 2017 79 consecutive months of yearly month-over-month growth Best June ever for Crosstrek and Outback 500,000th Crosstrek sold First ever Ascent SUV sold 52 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Outbacks sold 59 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold July 3, 2018 , CAMDEN, NJ - Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 59,841 vehicle sales for June 2018, a 15 percent increase over June 2017, and the best June in the history of the company. On the back of a best-ever sales performance in 2017, the automaker sold a record 322,860 vehicles in the first half of 2018, up 6 percent over the same period last year. June marked the 52nd consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company, as well as the 500,000th sale of Crosstrek since the rugged hatchback went on sale in 2013. Crosstrek and Outback sales were notably strong as each model achieved its best June ever. Crosstrek sales for June 2018 increased 84 percent over the same month in 2017, while Outback posted a 15 percent increase. In addition, 1,897 of the first all-new 3-row Ascent SUVs were delivered in June. “A heartfelt thank you to all of our customers who have placed their trust and confidence in Subaru for their vehicle needs and kudos to our retailers for delivering our brand’s “Love Promise” to our customers,” said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. “With the addition of the all-new 3-row SUV Ascent to our line-up, our franchise is poised for our 10th consecutive year of sales records.” “We kicked-off the summer selling season with the best June of all time which extends our sales streak to 79-consecutive months of sales gains,” said Jeff Walters, Senior Vice President of Sales. “Initial sales of our all-new Ascent SUV are strong and we expect further sales growth from this vehicle over the next few months as inventory continues to build.” Carline Jun-18 Jun-17 % Chg Jun-18 Jun-17 % Chg MTD MTD MTD YTD YTD YTD Forester 13,964 15,440 -9.6% 79,277 87,957 -9.9% Impreza 7,684 7,858 -2.2% 37,814 43,026 -12.1% WRX/STI 2,325 2,655 -12.4% 15,038 16,185 -7.1% Ascent 1,897 0 0.00% 1,897 0 0.00% Legacy 3,224 3,834 -15.9% 21,415 25,564 -16.2% Outback 16,071 14,019 14.6% 90,978 86,253 5.5% BRZ 316 429 -26.3% 1,966 2,297 -14.4% Crosstrek 14,360 7,822 83.6% 74,475 43,528 71.1% TOTAL 59,841 52,057 15.0% 322,860 304,810 5.9%

Mitsubishi Motors June Sales Up 46 Percent Total sales of 11,149 is best June sales month since 2007 July 03, 2018 — CYPRESS, Calif. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) posted June sales at 11,149, an increase of 46.2 percent over last June. For the calendar year, Mitsubishi Motors sales are 67,327, up 23.4 percent over the same period in 2017. Mitsubishi's family of crossover utility vehicles continue to post strong sales numbers. Total sales for Eclipse Cross, Outlander PHEV, Outlander and Outlander Sport combined are 8,250, which is an increase of 64.4 percent over June 2017. Outlander was the volume leader with sales of 3,673 up 58.8 percent over last year and Outlander Sport recorded sales of 3,380, an increase of 25 percent over June 2017. June YTD 2018 2017 2018 2017 Mirage 2483 1739 13185 13687 Lancer 416 868 3299 7817 Outlander Sport Sport 3380 2705 22415 15066 Outlander 3673 2313 23506 18000 Outlander PHEV 390 0 1956 0 Eclipse Cross 807 0 2966 0 Total 11149 7625 67327 54576

Mercedes-Benz USA reports June sales of 29,125 units Jul 3, 2018 – ATLANTA: Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported June sales of 26,191 Mercedes-Benz models, a decrease of 9.7% from the best-ever June sales reported during the same time period last year at 28,994 vehicles sold. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported June sales of 2,808 units and smart reported 126 units, bringing MBUSA to a grand total of 29,125 vehicles for the month. On a year- to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz recorded sales of 158,848, adding 16,910 units for Vans and 650 vehicles for smart, MBUSA's year-to-date sales volume totaled 176,408, a decrease of 1.9% from last year. "June sales were mainly impacted by limited availability of our larger SUVs, the GLE and GLS, whose production was affected by a fire at a supplier facility in May," said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of MBUSA. Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in June included the GLC, C-Class and E-Class model lines. The GLC continues to build sales momentum month-over-month coming in at 6,608, followed by C-Class sales of 5,742. The E-Class rounded out the top three with 3,435 units sold. Mercedes-AMG high-performance models sold 2,366 units in June, with a total of 15,320 units sold year-to-date. Mercedes-Benz Passenger Vehicles Jun-18 Jun-17 Monthly % YTD 2018 YTD 2017 Yearly % B-CLASS 0 46 -100.0% 132 317 -58.4% CLA 2,094 2,118 -1.1% 11,716 8,505 37.8% C-CLASS 5,742 7,116 -19.3% 29,659 42,552 -30.3% E-CLASS/CLS 3,435 4,316 -20.4% 23,440 24,759 -5.3% S-CLASS 1,156 1,169 -1.1% 8,425 7,583 11.1% SLC 135 201 -32.8% 1,181 1,616 -26.9% SL 208 221 -5.9% 1,256 1,450 -13.4% AMG GT 154 118 30.5% 914 541 68.9% GLA 1,722 2,081 -17.3% 12,162 10,360 17.4% GLC 6,608 3,729 77.2% 35,145 19,727 78.2% GLE 3,318 4,824 -31.2% 22,741 26,825 -15.2% GLS 1,356 2,656 -48.9% 10,199 15,530 -34.3% G-CLASS 263 399 -34.1% 1,878 2,195 -14.4% TOTAL 26,191 28,994 -9.7% 158,848 161,960 -1.9% Vans1 2,808 3,108 -9.7% 16,910 15,800 7.0% smart 126 226 -44.2% 650 1,983 -67.2% MBUSA Combined Total Jun-18 Jun-17 Monthly % YTD 2018 YTD 2017 Yearly % GRAND TOTAL 29,125 32,328 -9.9% 176,408 179,743 -1.9% 1 Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner Sprinter and Metris Vans are sold and marketed in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler Vans USA, respectively.

Kia Motors Announces June Sales Four Kia Models Post Double Digit Sales Gains Over the Same Period Last Year IRVINE, Calif., July 3, 2018 – Kia Motors America today announced June sales of 56,571 vehicles, a 0.8-percent increase over the same period last year. In the month that saw Kia top all non-premium brands in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study for the fourth consecutive year, sales were led by the Sorento SUV at 12,089 units, up 23.9-percent year-over-year. In addition to Sorento, Rio, Niro and Sedona also posted double-digit sales increases over June 2017. “With our ‘America’s Best Value Summer Event’ in full swing and J.D. Power recognizing Kia’s world-class initial quality for the fourth straight year, we are seeing healthy year-over-year increases in showroom traffic and sales,” said Bill Peffer, vice president, sales operations, Kia Motors America. “In addition, June also saw the number of Kia vehicles rated as a 2018 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rise to nine, providing discerning customers with even more reasons to place Kia on their shopping list.” MONTH OF JUNE YEAR-TO-DATE Model 2018 2017 2018 2017 Rio 1,901 963 11,071 6,685 Forte 10,209 11,387 54,400 58,746 Optima 8,623 11,252 46,876 59,717 Cadenza 268 502 3,301 2,655 Stinger 1,579 N/A 8,638 N/A K900 22 58 175 251 Soul 9,867 9,493 50,032 53,116 Niro 2,720 2,188 14,203 12,676 Sportage 6,706 8,519 41,719 36,606 Sorento 12,089 9,751 52,760 50,256 Sedona 2,587 2,030 10,388 15,028 Total 56,571 56,143 293,563 295,736

BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2018 Sales. BMW Group sales increase 0.5 percent in June 2018. BMW brand sales increase 1.5 percent. MINI brand sales decrease 6 percent. BMW Group electrified vehicle sales accounted for 7 percent of total U.S. sales in June 2018. Woodcliff Lake, NJ – July 3, 2018… Sales of BMW Group vehicles (BMW and MINI brands combined) in the U.S. increased 0.5 percent in June 2018 compared to the same month last year. Year to date, BMW Group sales total 176,022 vehicles, an increase of 2.8 percent over the 171,291 vehicles sold in the first six months of 2017. “The first half of 2018 turned out stronger than many expected with June marking the eighth straight month of sales gains for BMW,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “We are especially excited about the second half of the year as the new BMW X4 is now making its way into the market and the new, fourth-generation BMW X5 is about to begin production at our U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The BMW X models continue to be a great success story, accounting for 53% of our U.S. sales in June with even better results ahead.” BMW Brand Sales Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 1.5 percent in June 2018 for a total of 29,407 compared to 28,962 vehicles sold in June 2017. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 2.9 percent on sales of 153,386 vehicles compared to 149,086 sold in the first six months of 2017. BMW’s lineup of Sports Activity Vehicles accounted for 53 percent of BMW brand sales in June 2018. Most notably, the first-ever BMW X2 had its best sales month since its March launch (2,150 vehicles), sales of the BMW X5 remained strong (4,355 vehicles) and the BMW X3 had its biggest sales month of 2018 (5,366 vehicles, up 50.5 percent over June 2017). MINI Brand Sales For June, MINI USA reported 4,146 vehicles sold, a decrease of 6 percent from the 4,410 sold in the same month a year ago. MINI sales in June were led by the MINI Countryman (1,471 vehicles). Year to date, MINI sales remain up 1.9 percent. BMW Group Electrified Vehicle Sales BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) sales of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles totaled 2,253 in June 2018, an increase of 20.2 percent from the 1,874 sold in the same month a year ago. BMW Group electrified vehicles accounted for 7 percent of U.S. sales in June 2018. BMW Group currently offers seven electrified models in the U.S., including the BMW i3, BMW i8, BMW 330e, BMW 530e, BMW 740e, BMW X5 xDrive 40e and MINI Countryman plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle.

Mazda Reports June Sales Results Mazda CX-3 Posts Best-Ever Sales IRVINE, Calif. (July 3, 2018) – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total June U.S. sales of 26,893 vehicles, representing an increase of 20.4 percent versus June of last year. Year-to-date (YTD) sales through June are up 14.2 percent versus last year, with 163,924 vehicles sold. With 27 selling days in June 2018, versus 26 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 15.9 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. Key June sales notes: Mazda CX-3 posted top sales, with 2,332 vehicles sold in June, marking an increase of 92.3 percent YOY. This increase was led by the launch of the new 2019 CX-3. Sales of Mazda CX-3 are up 24.8 percent YTD. Mazda CX-5, Mazda’s award-winning crossover SUV, posted its best-ever June sales of 12,710 vehicles, marking an increase of 33.1 percent YOY. Sales of the Mazda CX-5 are up 1 percent YTD. Mazda’s seven-passenger crossover SUV, Mazda CX-9, had a near-record month for June, finishing up 40.1 percent YOY, with 2,381 vehicles sold. Sales of the Mazda CX-9 are up 19.9 percent YTD. Mazda6 posted sales increase of 35.8 percent year-over-year (YOY), with 3,204 vehicles sold in the month of June. Every model in the CX-line posted sales gains in the month of June. Total sales of the CX-line, including the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, were up 34.6 percent over June of last year, with 17,423 vehicles sold. Mazda reported 4,604 Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles sold in June, marking an increase of 18.4 percent YOY.

American Honda Sets New June Sales Records on Strength of Light Trucks Jul 3, 2018 Light trucks lift American Honda to new June records for total vehicles and trucks Acura RDX sets all-time best sales month and all-time record month for any Acura SUV on gain of 37% Acura trucks set new June record, up 17% on record RDX and strong MDX sales; total Acura brand up 3.5% Honda brand nets new June total vehicle and trucks sales records, rising 5% overall as trucks gain 11.2% Honda Pilot and CR-V set new June records, with CR-V up 17.5% and Pilot jumping 35.8% Honda Civic rises and Accord stays strong, the two combining for over 58,000 in June sales "Honda and Acura light trucks delivered strong results in June," said Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president of the American Honda Automobile Division. "The all-new Acura RDX arrived in showrooms in June and wasted no time in getting off to a record start, delivering its best sales month in the model's 13-year history. For the Honda brand, Pilot and CR-V were standouts in the month as steady inventory levels nationwide helped our dealers meet increasing customer demand for our light truck offerings. We're also pleased to see the all-new, 55-mpg-rated Honda Insight deliver a strong first weekend since going on sale on June 29." Honda Sales Highlights Trucks led gains for Honda in June, with the brand, trucks, CR-V and Pilot all setting new June records. Honda cars also fared well in June, with Civic and Fit up modestly, and Accord topping 26,000 sales for the month. The hot-selling CR-V set a new June mark, climbing 17.5% on sales of 33,306. Pilot also set a new June record, jumping 35.8% on sales of 12,782 units, marking the model's 10th straight monthly increase. Civic sales topped 31,000 units in June despite tight supplies. With Accord adding 26,726 units, the two combined for over 58,000 in sales. Acura Sales Highlights Representing the beginning of a new era in Acura product design and development, the all-new 2019 Acura RDX delivered big results in just its first month of sales, smashing its all-time monthly record. RDX sales jumped 36.9% over June 2017 (itself a record month) on sales of 7,292 units, setting an all-time RDX sales record for any month. RDX also set a new sales record for all Acura SUVs, eclipsing the previous record of 6,761 set by MDX in 2014. RDX sales in June were also the highest of any Acura model in any month since April of 2006 (TL). Adding strong MDX sales gave Acura trucks a new June record, rising 16.9%.

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REPORTS JUNE 2018 SALES RESULTS Sales totaled 28,941 units, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to June 2017 Year-to-date sales totaled 172,898 units, an increase of 7.2 percent over 2017 Sales of the all-new 2018 Tiguan totaled 7,788 units Jetta sales totaled 7,239 units, with the all-new 2019 Jetta accounting for 5,168 units Sales of the Chattanooga-built Atlas totaled 3,699 units Herndon, VA — (July 3, 2018) Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today reported sales of 28,941 units delivered in June 2018, an increase of 5.7 percent over June 2017. With 172,898 units delivered year-to-date in 2018, the company is reporting a 7.2 percent increase in year-over-year sales. “The first half of 2018 has been encouraging,” said Derrick Hatami, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and After Sales for Volkswagen of America. “We have experienced a sales increase each month this year—and in June, we were particularly encouraged by the first full month of sales of the all-new 2019 Jetta, marking our best month of Jetta sales this year. The strength of the all-new 2018 Tiguan also continued to impress through June and the vehicle has been responsible for more than 25 percent of our total volume this year.” June 2018 Sales June 18 June 17 Yr/Yr% change June 18 YTD June 17 YTD Yr/Yr% change Golf 578 1,298 -55.5% 4,036 7,170 -43.7% GTI 1,282 1,692 -24.2% 9,189 10,733 -14.4% Golf R 470 216 117.6% 2,240 2,326 -3.7% e-Golf 32 232 -86.2% 776 1,887 -58.9% Golf SportWagen 1,190 2,442 -51.3% 8,016 16,131 -50.3% Total Golf Family 3,552 5,880 -39.6% 24,257 38,247 -36.6% Jetta Sedan 7,235 9,999 -27.6% 32,961 55,495 -40.6% Jetta SportWagen (now Golf SportWagen) 4 N/A N/A 62 N/A N/A Total Jetta 7,239 9,999 -27.6% 33,023 55,495 -40.5% Beetle Coupe 829 853 -2.8% 5,206 4,954 5.1% Beetle Convertible 299 734 -59.3% 2,761 3,867 -28.6% Total Beetle 1,128 1,587 -28.9% 7,967 8,821 -9.7% EOS* N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 N/A Passat 3,793 5,267 -28.0% 22,356 35,137 -36.4% CC 31 98 -68.4% 294 919 -68.0% Tiguan Limited 1,561 1,747 -10.6% 9,293 16,965 -45.2% 2018 Tiguan 7,788 N/A N/A 46,102 N/A N/A Touareg 150 386 -61.1% 1,448 1,630 -11.2% Atlas 3,699 2,413 53.3% 28,158 4,023 599.9% TOTAL 28,941 27,377 5.7% 172,898 161,238 7.23%

GM Gains Half a Point of Market Share as Chevrolet and GMC Second Quarter Deliveries Soar Double-digit gains or better for 14 vehicle lines, including every single Chevrolet and GMC pickup and SUV nameplate Strong Commercial sales growth continues Average transaction prices set a new second quarter record Chevrolet Bolt EV production to increase more than 20 percent DETROIT — Very strong truck sales and a wave of all-new crossovers helped General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) deliver more than 758,000 vehicles in the United States in the second quarter of 2018. Second quarter sales at Chevrolet and GMC far outpaced the industry on a year-over-year basis, growing 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively, while industry sales are estimated to be up 1 to 2 percent. Cadillac sales were up 3 percent and GM’s overall sales were up 5 percent for an estimated market share of 16.6 percent, up 0.5 percentage points. “Customers are buying with confidence because the economy is strong and they expect it to remain strong,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “GM is in a fantastic position with so many new crossovers at all four of our brands, the industry’s only three-truck pickup strategy and clear leadership in large SUVs.” Highlights GM’s average transaction prices (ATPs) rose by about $300 year over year to a second quarter record of $35,500 on the strength of new crossovers such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. Chevrolet saw record crossover deliveries in the second quarter and first half of 2018. It was the best-ever second quarter and first half for the Trax and Traverse, and the best first half ever for the Equinox. Chevrolet and GMC delivered industry-leading pickup sales for the second quarter and first half of 2018. Sales were up 21 percent in the second quarter versus a year ago, and up 12 percent in the first half. Chevrolet and GMC’s clear leadership in the large SUV segment continued, with deliveries up 22 percent in the second quarter versus a year ago, and up more than 10 percent in the first half. Combined sales of pickups, large vans and SUVs increased 18 percent year over year to more than 366,000 units, the highest for any second quarter since 2007. They were up 11 percent in the first half to almost 665,800 units. In the second quarter, the all-new Buick Enclave and Regal were up 25 percent and 42 percent respectively. The Buick Encore had its best second quarter and first half sales ever. The all-new GMC Terrain posted double-digit year-over-year gains for both the second quarter and first half of 2018. It was the best first half ever for the Terrain. Year over year, sales of the Cadillac Escalade increased 1 percent in the second quarter and they were up 4 percent in the first half. XTS deliveries were up 36 percent in the second quarter and 16 percent in the first half. Strong U.S. Demand The U.S. light vehicle SAAR for the second quarter and first half are both expected to be about 17.2 million units. The outlook for the second half of the year also looks strong, according to GM Chief Economist Elaine Buckberg. “Tax reform raised take-home pay, consumer confidence is high and household balance sheets are healthy,” Buckberg said. “All of this plus a strong job market makes consumers more willing to commit to major purchases like vehicles.” Gross domestic product is expected to grow more than 4 percent in the second quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which would make it the strongest second quarter since 2014. In addition, the economy has seen 92 consecutive months of job creation through May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cadillac Sets Stage for Growth Cadillac delivered record calendar year-to-date crossover deliveries, with the XT5 showing year-over-year sales growth in 14 of the last 15 months. To build on this momentum, Cadillac will launch the XT4, its next all-new crossover, this fall. After that, Cadillac will introduce a new model roughly once every six months through the end of 2021. GM has already begun installing new tooling and equipment at its Lansing Grand River Assembly plant to build the next generation of Cadillac luxury cars, part of a more than half-billion-dollar manufacturing investment in the United States over the last two years to grow the brand’s sales in North America. In addition, GM has confirmed that its Spring Hill Assembly plant will build another new Cadillac crossover. Chevrolet Traverse Momentum Chevrolet’s newest crossover, the 2018 Traverse, stands out as one of the most successful redesigns of any vehicle in the industry this year. Sales in the first half of 2018 increased by more than 17,000 units, year over year. ATPs in the first half increased nearly $7,000 year over year, or more than 20 percent, while the segment average was up just 1 percent. Retail segment share in the first half climbed almost 3 percentage points year over year — the biggest gain of any midsize crossover or SUV. “The Chevrolet Trax, Equinox and Traverse all saw record sales in the first half of the year, which means the brand has three home runs in the industry’s three fastest-growing segments,” McNeil said. “Of the three, Traverse stands out because it has made huge inroads in such a large and hotly contested segment.” Chevrolet Bolt EV Production to Increase More Than 20 Percent U.S. and global demand for the Chevrolet Bolt EV has been very strong in 2018, with global sales estimated to be up more than 35 percent year over year in the second quarter and up more than 40 percent in the first half. In response, GM is increasing fourth quarter production by more than 20 percent compared to the average of the first three quarters. “Demand for the Chevrolet Bolt EV, especially in the United States, Canada and South Korea, has outstripped production,” McNeil said. “The extra production coming on line should be enough to help us keep growing global Bolt EV sales, rebuild our U.S. dealer inventory and bring us another step closer to our vision of a world with zero emissions.” Strong Commercial Sales Growth The Commercial segment has been a source of significant growth for GM. Since 2012, sales to these fleet customers have grown 42 percent, which is an average annual rate of 7 percent. Commercial deliveries in the second quarter of 2018 were up 4 percent year over year and up 14 percent in the first half, thanks in part to very strong mid-size and large pickup sales. “Commercial customers tell us they prefer to do business with a company that can satisfy all their vehicle needs, and sedans are an important part of the mix because they typically offer very good safety, comfort, fuel economy and a lower total cost of ownership than other vehicle choices,” said McNeil. “Some automakers are scaling back their car offerings at the same time we are investing in the Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu, and expanding our truck and crossover portfolio. We see a terrific opportunity to forge new and stronger customer relationships with such a broad portfolio.” Other GM Highlights GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 13.4 percent in the second quarter, down from 13.8 percent in the first quarter. The industry average for the second quarter was 11.8 percent. At the end of the second quarter, GM’s dealer inventory was approximately 787,500 units, down 193,000 units versus a year ago. GM’s fleet mix for the second quarter was 22 percent, reflecting strong Commercial demand and higher deliveries to daily rental companies due to the timing of customer orders. For the calendar year, daily rental deliveries are expected to be about 10 percent of total sales, in line with 2017.

Companies (Quarterly): General Motors Co. - Up 4.6% (758,376 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 1,474,170 Vehicles Sold This Year) Companies (Monthly): Mitsubishi Motors North America - Up 46.2% (11,149 Vehicles Sold This Month, 67,327 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mazda North American Operations - Up 20.4% (26,893 Vehicles Sold This Month, 163,924 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai Motor America - Up 18% (63,256 Vehicles Sold This Month, 327,786 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 15% (59,841 Vehicles Sold This Month, 322,860 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Up 8.3% (4,892 Vehicles Sold This Month, 29,421 Vehicles Sold This Year) FCA US LLC - Up 8% (202,264 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,115,476 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jaguar Land Rover North America - Up 7.2% (9,335 Vehicles Sold This Month, 59,566 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen of America - Up 5.7% (28,941 Vehicles Sold This Month, 172,898 Vehicles Sold This Year) American Honda Motor Co. - Up 4.8% (146,563 Vehicles Sold This Month, 787,824 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota Motor North America - Up 3.6% (209,602 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,189,312 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford Motor Company - Up 1.2% (230,635 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,277,691 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan Group - Up 1.2% (145,096 Vehicles Sold This Month, 780,695 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia Motors America - Up 0.8% (56,571 Vehicles Sold This Month, 293,563 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW Group U.S. - Up 0.5% (33,553 Vehicles Sold This Month, 176,022 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi of America - Up 0.3% (19,741 Vehicles Sold This Month, 107,942 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz USA - Down 9.9% (29,125 Vehicles Sold This Month, 176,408 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Brands (Quarterly): Buick - Down 12% (52,891 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 109,695 Vehicles Sold This Year) Cadillac - Up 3% (39,222 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 75,949 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chevrolet - Up 6.2% (528,100 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 1,019,019 Vehicles Sold This Year) GMC - Up 6.6% (138,163 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 269,507 Vehicles Sold This Year) Brands (Monthly): Acura - Up 3.5% (14,532 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 75,949 Vehicles Sold This Year) Alfa Romeo - Up 121% (2,249 Vehicles Sold This Month, 12,265 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi - Up 0.3% (19,741 Vehicles Sold This Month, 107,942 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW - Up 1.5% (29,407 Vehicles Sold This Month, 153,386 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chrysler - Down 32% (13,484 Vehicles Sold This Month, 72,653 Vehicles Sold This Year) Dodge - Up 9% (46,387 Vehicles Sold This Month, 250,933 Vehicles Sold This Year) Fiat - Down 36% (1,426 Vehicles Sold This Month, 8,285 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford - Up 1.1% (221,101 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,227,422 Vehicles Sold This Year) Genesis - Down 50.7% (796 Vehicles Sold This Month, 7,262 Vehicles Sold This Year) Honda - Up 5% (132,031 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 715,141 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai - Up 19.6% (64,052 Vehicles Sold This Month, 335,048 Vehicles Sold This Year) Infiniti - Down 12.8% (10,698 Vehicles Sold This Month, 72,170 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jaguar - Down 20.1% (2,353 Vehicles Sold This Month, 14,787 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jeep - Up 19% (86,989 Vehicles Sold This Month, 495,022 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia - Up 0.8% (56,571 Vehicles Sold This Month, 293,563 Vehicles Sold This Year) Land Rover - Up 21.2% (6,982 Vehicles Sold This Month, 44,779 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lexus - Down 2.6% (23,750 Vehicles Sold This Month, 135,000 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lincoln - Up 2.8% (9,534 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,269 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mazda - Up 20.4% (26,893 Vehicles Sold This Month, 163,924 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz - Down 9.7% (26,191 Vehicles Sold This Month, 158,848 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz Vans - Down 9.7% (2,808 Vehicles Sold This Month, 16,910 Vehicles Sold This Year) MINI - Down 6% (4,146 Vehicles Sold This Month, 22,636 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mitsubishi - Up 46.2% (11,149 Vehicles Sold This Month, 67,327 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan - Up 2.5% (134,398 Vehicles Sold This Month, 708,525 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche - Up 8.3% (4,892 Vehicles Sold This Month, 29,421 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ram Trucks - Up 6% (51,729 Vehicles Sold This Month, 260,341 Vehicles Sold This Year) Smart - Down 44.2% (126 Vehicles Sold This Month, 650 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru - Up 15% (59,841 Vehicles Sold This Month, 322,860 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota - Up 4.4% (185,852 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,04,312 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen - Up 5.7% (28,941 Vehicles Sold This Month, 172,898 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volvo - View full article

Nissan Group reports June 2018 U.S. sales NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan Group today announced total U.S. sales for June 2018 of 145,096 units, an increase of 1 percent compared to the previous year. This marks a June record. Nissan highlights: Nissan Division sales set a June record at 134,398 units, an increase of 3 percent Combined sales of Nissan crossovers, trucks and SUVs set a June record, up 12 percent. Nissan Rogue crossover set a June record with sales of 37,004 units, up 8 percent. Murano crossover sales increased 59 percent to 8,806 units, setting a June record. Armada SUV sales rose 129 percent to 5,434 units. It was Armada's best-ever month. NV200 sales set a June record with sales of 1,717 units, up 2 percent. NISSAN DIVISION JUNE JUNE Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2018 2017 % chg 2018 2017 % chg Nissan Division Total 134,398 131,057 2.5 708,525 740,545 -4.3 Versa 7,745 8,155 -5.0 45,684 56,558 -19.2 Sentra 20,572 22,534 -8.7 115,676 112,574 2.8 Altima 26,956 28,042 -3.9 123,792 146,284 -15.4 Maxima 4,504 4,410 2.1 24,052 31,519 -23.7 LEAF 1,367 1,506 -9.2 6,659 7,248 -8.1 Juke 41 893 -95.4 652 7,245 -91.0 370Z 363 405 -10.4 1,949 2,489 -21.7 GT-R 60 62 -3.2 304 373 -18.5 Total Car 61,608 66,007 -6.7 318,768 364,290 -12.5 Kicks 563 0 563 0 Frontier 6,856 8,144 -15.8 41,701 37,813 10.3 Titan 4,121 4,199 -1.9 23,294 24,464 -4.8 Xterra 0 0 n/a 0 1 -100.0 Pathfinder 6,736 6,578 2.4 33,702 45,467 -25.9 Armada 5,434 2,370 129.3 18,445 14,155 30.3 Rogue 37,004 34,349 7.7 215,202 195,689 10.0 Murano 8,806 5,534 59.1 38,800 34,696 11.8 Quest 0 502 -100.0 2 4,921 -100.0 NV 1,553 1,688 -8.0 8,248 9,447 -12.7 NV200 1,717 1,686 1.8 9,800 9,602 2.1 Total Truck 72,790 65,050 11.9 389,757 376,255 3.6 INFINITI JUNE JUNE Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2018 2017 % chg 2018 2017 % chg Infiniti Total 10,698 12,271 -12.8 72,170 79,143 -8.8 Infiniti Q50 2,631 3,224 -18.4 19,157 19,603 -2.3 Infiniti Q60 591 851 -30.6 4,692 5,938 -21.0 Infiniti Q70 364 419 -13.1 2,517 3,283 -23.3 Infiniti QX30 656 726 -9.6 4,814 9,393 -48.7 Infiniti QX50 1,710 1,210 41.3 9,066 7,955 14.0 Infiniti QX60 3,382 3,358 0.7 22,176 18,279 21.3 Infiniti QX70 65 678 -90.4 806 4,772 -83.1 Infiniti QX80 1,299 1,805 -28.0 8,942 9,920 -9.9 Total Car 3,586 4,494 -20.2 26,366 28,824 -8.5 Total Truck 7,112 7,777 -8.6 45,804 50,319 -9.0 NISSAN GROUP JUNE JUNE Monthly CYTD CYTD CYTD 2018 2017 % chg 2018 2017 % chg TOTAL VEHICLE 145,096 143,328 1.2 780,695 819,688 -4.8 Total Car 65,194 70,501 -7.5 345,134 393,114 -12.2 Total Truck 79,902 72,827 9.7 435,561 426,574 2.1 Selling days 27 26 154 152 # # #

Toyota Motor North America Reports U.S. Sales for June, First Half 2018 TMNA, Toyota and Lexus divisions set light truck sales record RAV4, Highlander posted best-ever June and first half Lexus NX Hybrid recorded best-ever June PLANO, Texas (July 3, 2018) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today reported June 2018 sales of 209,602 units. With one more selling day in June 2018 compared to June 2017, sales were up 3.6 percent on volume basis and down 0.3 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. For the first half of the year, TMNA reported sales of 1,189,312 units, up 3.0 percent on a volume basis versus the same period in 2017. On a DSR basis, sales were up 1.6 percent versus last year. Toyota division posted June 2018 sales of 185,852 units, up 4.4 percent on a volume basis and up 1.9 percent on a DSR basis. “Record June light truck sales, led by RAV4 and Highlander, solidified Toyota as the No. 1 selling retail brand through the first half of this year,” said Andrew Gilleland, vice president of Sales Operations, Toyota division. “Strong consumer demand on Toyota Camry, the excitement of the all-new 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla Hatchback, paired with excellent light truck availability sets us up for continued strong sales throughout the summer.” Lexus posted June sales of 23,750 units, down 2.6 percent on a volume basis and down 6.2 percent on a DSR basis. “Lexus closed out the first half of the year up led by best-ever LUV sales,” said David Christ, group vice president and general manager, Lexus division. “RX is up seven percent year-to-date and remains the top-selling luxury vehicle in the industry while the NX delivered ten percent year-over-year growth. In addition to these great results, we successfully launched our flagship sedan, the all-new LS 500, and the all-new RXL. We’re looking forward to continued success in the third quarter, which will get a boost from our all-new ES sedan that goes on sale in September.” June and First Half 2018 Highlights: TMNA, Toyota and Lexus divisions posted best-ever light truck sales for June and the first half Camry recorded June sales of 28,215 units Corolla sedan posted sales of 25,947 units for the month RAV4 increased by 10.6 percent; best-ever June and best-ever first half Highlander increased by 20.7 percent; best-ever June and best-ever first half 4Runner sales of 11,569 units in June; a best-ever June Tacoma increased by 30.6 percent Tundra posted June sales of 9,955 Lexus LUVs posted a 7.4 percent increase, a best-ever June NX Hybrid up 270 percent, the sixth consecutive best-ever month NX combined sales up 5.8 percent in June, a best-ever June and first half RX saw gain of 5.3 percent in June GX increased 23.5 percent, a best-ever June in 13 years LS up 135.5 percent in the first half *Note: Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume

FCA US Reports June 2018 Sales FCA reports best June retail sales in 14 years Jeep® brand reports its best month of June sales ever, up 19 percent Ram Truck brand posts best June sales ever, up 6 percent Jeep Cherokee reports best month of sales ever, up 89 percent July 3, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported June 2018 sales of 202,264 vehicles, an 8 percent increase compared with sales in June 2017 of 187,348 vehicles. Overall sales were bolstered by both the Jeep® and Ram Truck brands, which reported significant increases for the month. FCA retail sales came in at 155,208, marking the best June sales since 2004 when sales reached 155,663 vehicles. Fleet accounted for 23 percent of total sales, a 1 percent decline from the previous year. Jeep Brand Jeep brand notched its best month of June sales ever with 86,989 vehicles sold compared with 73,153 in June 2017. Driving the results were the Cherokee, Compass and Wrangler nameplates. Cherokee and Compass sales nearly doubled, with Cherokee reporting 22,433 vehicle sales compared with 11,895 in June 2017. Compass sales were 15,142 compared with 8,311 in June 2017. Wrangler sales increased to 23,110 vehicles compared with 18,839 in June 2017. Ram Truck Brand Ram Truck brand scored a variety of records as sales increased 6 percent to 51,729 vehicles, making it the best June sales ever. Ram brand retail sales also had their best June ever, rising 4 percent to 36,750. Driving the increase was Light-Duty pickup truck retail sales, which rose 11 percent to 24,036 vehicles. Total sales of the Ram ProMaster van nearly doubled to 6,996 vehicles. Chrysler Brand Chrysler brand total sales declined 32 percent in June to 13,484 vehicles compared with June of the previous year. Dodge Brand Dodge brand total sales rose 9 percent to 46,387 as Charger sales rose 4 percent to 6,640 vehicles compared with 6,379 vehicles in June 2017. FIAT Brand Sales of Fiat declined 36 percent to 1,426 vehicles. Alfa Romeo Brand Alfa Romeo brand sales of 2,249 vehicles were up significantly compared with the same month a year ago. Stelvio led the brand with 1,231 vehicle sales, followed by Giulia at 979 vehicles.

The Ford Fiesta ST has been a favorite of many as it offers impressive performance that won't drain your bank account. But for some people, they just want the look of the ST. Ford will soon have a model for those folks. CarsDirect got their hands on Ford's ordering guide for 2019 which lists a new trim for the 2019 Fiesta known as ST Line. This model will feature the same aggressive bodywork as seen on the ST - large mesh grille, high-mounted rear spoiler, and dual chrome-tipped exhaust. It will ride on smaller 16-inch wheels (the regular ST has 17-inch wheels). Inside, the ST Line will come equipped with bucket seats with "sport embossed bolsters"; manual A/C, six-speaker stereo, and a four-way driver's seat. Power comes from a 1.6L four-cylinder engine, not the 1.6L EcoBoost. Power figures are not listed, but we're guessing this is the same 1.6L found in most Fiestas which produces 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet. A five-speed manual is standard, while the six-speed PowerShift automatic is available as an option. The ST's suspension tuning will not come to the ST Line. As for price, the 2019 Fiesta ST Line will set you back $18,500 with an $875 destination charge. Compared to the Fiesta ST, the ST Line is $3,715 cheaper. Source: CarsDirect View full article

Tesla has finally done it. Over the weekend, the company hit their milestone of producing 5,000 Model 3s in a week only a few hours after the deadline set by CEO Elon Musk - the end of the second quarter. Two Tesla factory workers told Reuters that the 5,000th Model 3 cleared final inspection around 5:00 AM PDT. “We did it!! We either found a way or, by will and inventiveness, created entirely new solutions that were thought impossible. Intense in tents. Transporting entire production lines across the world in massive cargo planes. Whatever. It worked,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk in an email to employees. “I think we just became a real car company.” Reaching this goal was quite hard for the automaker. Numerous delays and production issues caused Tesla to push back production milestones on a seemingly regular basis. The company had to build a makeshift assembly line in a tent within the past month to help bolster production. But can Tesla keep up this output? There are concerns they might not be able to do it. According to one worker, Tesla sent employees from other departments to the Model 3 production line to keep it going. This including shutting down parts of the factory such as the Model S production line. “Reaching it is one thing,” said Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for AutoPacific Inc to Bloomberg. “Consistently producing 5,000 per week with outstanding quality is another.” Source: Bloomberg, Reuters View full article