William Maley

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 53.7% (8,233 Vehicles Sold This Month, 20,083 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mazda North American Operations - Up 35.7% (33,302 Vehicles Sold This Month, 83,995 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mitsubishi Motors North America - Up 21.7% (14,319 Vehicles Sold This Month, 35,772 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen of America - Up 17.8% (32,548 Vehicles Sold This Month, 83,952 Vehicles Sold This Year) General Motors Co. - Up 15.7% (296,341 Vehicles Sold This Month, 715,794 Vehicles Sold This Year) FCA US LLC - Up 14% (216,063 Vehicles Sold This Month, 514,769 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jaguar Land Rover North America - Up 10% (14,232 Vehicles Sold This Month, 32,295 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi of America - Up 7.4% (20,090 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,052 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Up 6.2% (4,756 Vehicles Sold This Month, 13,954 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 5.9% (58,097 Vehicles Sold This Month, 149,703 Vehicles Sold This Year) American Honda Motor Co. - Up 3.8% (142,392 Vehicles Sold This Month, 362,491 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota Motor North America - Up 3.5% (222,782 Vehicles Sold This Month, 572,033 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford Motor Company - Up 3.4% (244,306 Vehicles Sold This Month, 599,581 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia Motors America - Up 2.5% (50,645 Vehicles Sold This Month, 126,945 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW Group U.S. - Down 0.4% (35,842 Vehicles Sold This Month, 84,368 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz USA - Down 2.7% (31,484 Vehicles Sold This Month, 86,981 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan North America - Down 3.7% (162,535 Vehicles Sold This Month, 416,003 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai Motor America - Down 11% (61,540 Vehicles Sold This Month, 148,877 Vehicles Sold This Year) Maserati North America, Inc. - Brands: Acura - Up 15.7% (13,537 Vehicles Sold This Month, 33,414 Vehicles Sold This Year) Alfa Romeo - Up 364% (2,576 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,792 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi - Up 7.4% (20,090 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,052 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW - Up 1% (31,311 Vehicles Sold This Month, 73,835 Vehicles Sold This Year) Buick - Up 28% (26,834 Vehicles Sold This Month, 56,804 Vehicles Sold This Year) Cadillac - Up 12.7% (14,494 Vehicles Sold This Month, 36,727 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chevrolet - Up 15.6% (199,367 Vehicles Sold This Month, 490,919 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chrysler - Up 15% (19,499 Vehicles Sold This Month, 46,233 Vehicles Sold This Year) Dodge - Down 2% (49,184 Vehicles Sold This Month, 116,971 Vehicles Sold This Year) Fiat - Down 47% (1,544 Vehicles Sold This Month, 4,014 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford - Up 3.6% (234,954 Vehicles Sold This Month, 577,119 Vehicles Sold This Year) Genesis - Down 21% (1,386 Vehicles Sold This Month, 4,362 Vehicles Sold This Year) GMC - Up 11.4% (55,646 Vehicles Sold This Month, 131,344 Vehicles Sold This Year) Honda - Up 2.6% (128,855 Vehicles Sold This Month, 329,077 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai - Down 10.9% (60,154 Vehicles Sold This Month, 144,515 Vehicles Sold This Year) Infiniti - Down 4.6% (17,432 Vehicles Sold This Month, 40,887 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jaguar - Down 34% (3,260 Vehicles Sold This Month, 8,049 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jeep - Up 45% (98,382 Vehicles Sold This Month, 228,105 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia - Up 2.5% (50,645 Vehicles Sold This Month, 126,945 Vehicles Sold This Year) Land Rover - Up 38% (10,972 Vehicles Sold This Month, 24,246 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lexus - Down 3.2% (27,032 Vehicles Sold This Month, 64,211 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lincoln - Down 2.1% (9,352 Vehicles Sold This Month, 22,462 Vehicles Sold This Year) Maserati - Mazda - Up 35.7% (33,302 Vehicles Sold This Month, 83,995 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz - Down 2.4% (28,407 Vehicles Sold This Month, 78,474 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz Vans - Up 3.3% (2,967 Vehicles Sold This Month, 8,186 Vehicles Sold This Year) MINI - Down 9.1% (4,531 Vehicles Sold This Month, 10,533 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mitsubishi - Up 21.7% (14,319 Vehicles Sold This Month, 35,772 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan - Down 3.6% (145,103 Vehicles Sold This Month, 375,116 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche - Up 6.2% (4,756 Vehicles Sold This Month, 13,954 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ram Trucks - Down 13% (44,878 Vehicles Sold This Month, 113,654 Vehicles Sold This Year) Smart - Down 71.7% (110 Vehicles Sold This Month, 321 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru - Up 5.9% (58,097 Vehicles Sold This Month, 149,703 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota - Up 4.5% (195,750 Vehicles Sold This Month, 507,822 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen - Up 17.8% (32,548 Vehicles Sold This Month, 83,952 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volvo - Up 53.7% (8,233 Vehicles Sold This Month, 20,083 Vehicles Sold This Year) View full article

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac March Sales Surge 16 percent, Retail Share Climbs to 17.7 percent Chevrolet was the industry’s fastest-growing full-line brand on a retail basis Best March in GMC history New models drive a 41 percent jump in crossover sales Three-truck pickup strategy delivers again with sales up 19 percent Commercial sales rise 19 percent in March, up 27 percent in the first quarter DETROIT — General Motors (NYSE: GM) today reported 296,341 car, crossover and truck deliveries in the United States in March. Sales were up 16 percent year over year, driven by Buick’s best March since 2004, Chevrolet’s best March since 2007 and Cadillac’s best March since 2014. It was GMC’s best March in the brand’s history. GM’s retail sales in March were up 14 percent year over year, and the company’s estimated retail market share was 17.7 percent – the highest since 2009 – driven by a 0.7 percentage point gain by Chevrolet. Chevrolet was the industry’s fastest-growing full-line brand. In the first quarter, GM sales were up 4 percent, ahead of an estimated industry increase of about 2 percent. Retail deliveries for GM and the industry were up about 1 percent versus a year ago. “March was an exceptional month for us. A growing economy and strong new products helped us execute a very successful plan to conquest customers from other brands,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “Once customers purchase a GM product, they tend to stay in the family as we deliver an award-winning ownership experience that is hard to beat.” In January, IHS Markit recognized General Motors as the company with the highest overall customer loyalty for the third consecutive year. Also in January, Buick was named the highest-ranked mass-market brand in the inaugural J.D. Power Total Ownership Experience Award. In March, Chevrolet was named J.D. Power’s most awarded brand of 2017. Six different Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs won a total of nine awards in the 2017 Vehicle Dependability, Initial Quality and APEAL studies. In the 2018 J.D. Power Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, Buick ranked highest in satisfaction for dealer service among mass market brands for the second consecutive year. Chevrolet tied for second place, followed by GMC. Cadillac is in the top three among luxury brands. March and First Quarter Sales Highlights (vs. 2017) Crossovers, pickups, SUVs, and six different car lines drove GM’s growth: Chevrolet crossovers were up 39 percent, with the Trax and the all-new Equinox and Traverse seeing their best March sales ever. Bolt EV deliveries reached 1,774 units. In the first quarter, Chevrolet crossovers were up 28 percent. Buick crossovers were up 50 percent. It was the Encore’s best month ever, and it was the Envision’s best March. The Enclave posting a 6 percent increase. In the first quarter, Buick crossovers were up 17 percent. GMC crossovers were up 42 percent, led by the best March ever for the Acadia and the best month ever for Terrain. In the first quarter, GMC crossovers were up 21 percent. Cadillac’s XT5 was up 17 percent in March, and 10 percent for the quarter. Cadillac cars deliveries were up 7 percent in March and for the first quarter, with every nameplate posting higher sales in March. The Cadillac Escalade was up 14 percent in March and 8 percent for the first quarter. Despite new competition, Escalade’s retail sales were up 15 percent in March and 12 percent in the first quarter, transaction prices continue to grow and retail market share is estimated to be up 2 percentage points year to date. The company’s three-truck pickup strategy delivered again, with sales up 19 percent in March, led by a 24 percent gain for the Chevrolet Silverado, a 52 percent gain for the Chevrolet Colorado and a 9 percent gain for the GMC Canyon. In the first quarter, pickup deliveries were up more than 2 percent. Chevrolet and GMC led the large SUV segment once again in March. Sales were up 4 percent in total and 13 percent on a retail basis, and retail segment share was more than 70 percent, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates. In the first quarter, large SUV total sales were in line with a year ago. Chevrolet’s Spark, Sonic and Malibu were strong sellers, up 2 percent, 16 percent and 3 percent, respectively. “Consumers are keeping the U.S. economy growing and auto sales very healthy,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist. “The job market is strong, consumer confidence is at decade-high levels and we see clear evidence that business owners are taking advantage of tax reform to upgrade their fleets.” GM’s Commercial deliveries rose 19 percent year over year in March and they were up 27 percent in the first quarter driven by higher pickup, crossover and Malibu sales. Rental deliveries were 11 percent of total sales for the month and the quarter, among the lowest levels in the industry. Other GM Highlights (vs. 2017) GM’s March average transaction prices (ATPs), which are net of incentives, were in line with a year ago, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates, and they were up more than $900 in the first quarter. GM’s incentive spending as a percentage of ATP was 14.5 percent in March, and 13.3 percent in the first quarter, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates. Spending was up less than one percentage point in March but down 0.8 points for the quarter. During the month, GM’s dealer inventory declined 16,602 units to a 72 days supply.

Ford SUVs Hit Record Sales Month – Retail Up; F-Series Posts Best Results Since 2000; All-New Expedition Retail Up 46 Percent, While Navigator Sees Triple-Digit Retail Gain

FCA US Reports 2018 March Sales FCA US reports best March retail sales in 17 years Jeep® brand reports best month of total sales ever Jeep Wrangler reports best month of total sales ever Ram Light Duty retail sales increased 8 percent April 3, 2018 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported March 2018 sales of 216,063 vehicles, a 14 percent increase compared with sales in March 2017 of 190,254 vehicles. The company reported retail sales of 162,304 vehicles, up 11 percent from March 2017. It was the best month of March retail sales since the company sold 170,545 vehicles in March 2001. Total sales were the highest since March 2006 when the company sold 216,865 vehicles. Fleet accounted for 25 percent of overall sales. Jeep® Brand Jeep brand total sales rose 45 percent in March to 98,382 vehicles for its best month ever. The Jeep Wrangler led the group as sales rose 70 percent to 27,829 vehicles. It was the best month of sales ever for the nameplate, eclipsing the May 2015 record of 22,615 vehicles. Jeep Cherokee sales increased 63 percent to 23,764 vehicles for its best March sales ever. Ram Truck Brand Ram Truck brand sales declined 13 percent to 44,878 vehicles compared with the previous year. However, retail sales of the Ram Light Duty pickup truck rose 8 percent to 26,050 vehicles. The new 2019 Ram 1500 pickup truck began shipping to dealers in the second half of the month. The truck is being produced at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan. Chrysler Brand Chrysler brand total sales rose 15 percent in March to 19,499 vehicles compared with the same month a year ago. The Chrysler Pacifica minivan posted a 40 percent sales increase while the Chrysler 300 rose 25 percent. Dodge Brand Dodge brand total sales declined 2 percent to 49,184. Sales of the Dodge Challenger rose 31 percent to 8,150 vehicles. FIAT Brand Sales of Fiat declined 47 percent to 1,544 vehicles. Alfa Romeo Brand Alfa Romeo brand sales of 2,576 vehicles were up significantly compared with the same month a year ago. Giulia led the brand with 1,284 sales followed by Stelvio at 1,270 vehicles. FCA US LLC Sales Summary March 2018 Month Sales Vol % CYTD Sales Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Compass 17,302 2,651 553% 43,520 8,552 409% Patriot 100 5,968 -98% 364 16,180 -98% Wrangler 27,829 16,336 70% 55,504 41,311 34% Cherokee 23,764 14,589 63% 50,610 40,755 24% Grand Cherokee 19,616 20,374 -4% 53,448 56,600 -6% Renegade 9,771 8,065 21% 24,659 25,345 -3% JEEP BRAND 98,382 67,983 45% 228,105 188,743 21% Ram P/U 41,307 46,384 -11% 103,964 119,199 -13% Cargo Van 0 0 0% 0 0 ProMaster Van 2,451 4,048 -39% 6,457 10,047 -36% ProMaster City 1,120 1,317 -15% 3,233 3,333 -3% RAM BRAND 44,878 51,749 -13% 113,654 132,579 -14% 200 189 2,565 -93% 659 6,620 -90% 300 6,223 4,969 25% 12,992 15,063 -14% Town & Country 1 95 -99% 3 341 -99% Pacifica 13,086 9,340 40% 32,579 25,052 30% CHRYSLER BRAND 19,499 16,969 15% 46,233 47,076 -2% Dart 87 1,578 -94% 252 4,658 -95% Avenger 0 0 100% 1 0 Charger 8,504 8,236 3% 21,265 22,319 -5% Challenger 8,150 6,225 31% 17,648 15,725 12% Viper 6 71 -92% 9 178 -95% Journey 10,275 11,858 -13% 18,419 34,400 -46% Caravan 16,292 15,602 4% 43,144 40,054 8% Durango 5,870 6,506 -10% 16,233 16,729 -3% DODGE BRAND 49,184 50,076 -2% 116,971 134,063 -13% 500 439 1,671 -74% 1,309 4,020 -67% 500L 173 106 63% 395 284 39% 500X 607 726 -16% 1,579 1,966 -20% Spider 325 419 -22% 731 961 -24% FIAT BRAND 1,544 2,922 -47% 4,014 7,231 -44% Giulia 1,284 484 165% 3,085 965 220% Alfa 4C 22 71 -69% 54 141 -62% Stelvio 1,270 0 New 2,653 0 New ALFA ROMEO 2,576 555 364% 5,792 1,106 424% FCA US LLC 216,063 190,254 14% 514,769 510,798 1% Total Car & MPV 54,781 51,432 7% 134,126 136,381 -2% Total UV's 116,404 87,073 34% 266,989 241,838 10% Total Truck & LCV 44,878 51,749 -13% 113,654 132,579 -14%

Ahead of releasing this month's sales numbers, General Motors has announced that it will start reporting sales quarterly instead of monthly. “Thirty days is not enough time to separate real sales trends from short-term fluctuations in a very dynamic, highly competitive market. Reporting sales quarterly better aligns with our business, and the quality of information will make it easier to see how the business is performing,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations in a statement this morning. GM cites many reasons for the change to quarterly reporting - weather, product launches, number of selling days, incentives, and seasonal factors. “It’s not that (GM) doesn’t want to talk about how many cars they are selling or if they’re having a bad month. They’re still going to report everything quarterly,” explained IHS Markit analyst Stephanie Brinley. “It changes the tone of the story, because with month-to-month results it is difficult to really get a good picture of the industry.” "I understand the reasons they are doing it. There can be a lot of fluctuation during a month," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst with Autotrader to Automotive News. Krebs went onto say that other automakers might consider following General Motors lead. She used the example of Chrysler which ended the practice of reporting sales-figures for 10 days in 1991. Other automakers would follow suit, but it took some time. GM didn't make the switch till 1994. "What happened was they decided to go monthly, and everybody did it. That would make me believe everybody is going to follow suit and follow GM's lead." But this move could bring forth some unattended consequences. Monthly sales numbers are used by many people and industries to help gauge the economy. It could also make estimates made by third-parties not fully reflect the automaker’s performance. “Right now, the market looks at whether someone comes in above or below forecasts. If GM’s sales are estimated monthly, those estimates could be really high and then the results come in lower when you look at quarterly sales. That could have unintended consequences.” But the inverse - GM posting higher sales numbers than what was estimated - is also true. One thing is certain, we just don't know how this is going to work out. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), The Detroit News, General Motors Press Release is on Page 2 GM to Begin Reporting U.S. Sales on a Quarterly Basis DETROIT – General Motors announced today it will begin reporting its U.S. vehicle sales on a quarterly basis, effective immediately. In 2018, second quarter sales will be released on July 3, third quarter sales on October 2 and fourth quarter sales on January 3, 2019. “Thirty days is not enough time to separate real sales trends from short-term fluctuations in a very dynamic, highly competitive market,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “Reporting sales quarterly better aligns with our business, and the quality of information will make it easier to see how the business is performing.” In the auto industry, monthly sales are subject to many issues that make them more volatile than quarterly sales, including product launch activity, weather, other seasonal factors, the number of selling days and incentive activity. GM’s high level of transparency on total, brand and nameplate sales, fleet mix and inventory will not change. The company will also continue sharing J.D. Power PIN estimates for incentive spending and average transaction prices. The company’s March 2018 U.S. sales will be released today at 9:30 a.m. EDT. View full article

In a move that was expected to happen soon, the EPA announced that it plans to revise the fuel-efficiency regulations that were approved during the President Obama administration. “The Obama EPA’s determination was wrong. Obama’s EPA cut the midterm evaluation process short with politically charged expediency, made assumptions about the standards that didn’t comport with reality and set the standards too high,” said EPA chief Scott Pruitt in a statement today. The statement goes on to say that the agency will begin working on new standards for cars for 2022-2025 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The regulations that were finalized during Obama's tenure would require automakers to have fuel economy fleet average of over 50 mpg by 2025. Automakers have been pushing for the standards to be rolled back as it would cause vehicles to become more expensive, and consumers aren't buying fuel-efficient vehicles. “This was the right decision. To ensure ongoing fuel economy improvement, the wisest course of action is to keep new vehicles affordable so more consumers can replace an older car with a new vehicle that uses much less fuel -- and offers more safety features," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers - a trade group that represents a dozen automakers including GM and Ford. Unsurprisingly, this move has brought forth criticism from both consumer and environmental groups. “EPA’s decision defies the robust record and years of review that show these targets are reasonable and appropriate,” said David Friedman, director of cars and products policy and analysis for Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports. “Undermining these consumer protections will cost consumers more at the pump while fulfilling the wishes of the auto industry.” The EPA also announced that it was considering revoking California's waiver that allows it to set its own emission rules that are tougher than the federal regulations. Aside from California, 12 other states have adopted these standards that together account for a third of car sales in the U.S. Since President Donald Trump entered the white house, the relationship between the EPA and California has become very strained. California officials have vowed to fight back if the EPA goes forward. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

Lincoln is the latest automaker to launch a pilot program for a car subscription service. But this subscription service will differ from the others in one key way; Lincoln will be offering a range of pre-owned 2017 vehicles, not new models. Lincoln's service will be run through Ford's subscription service, Canvas. Like Lincoln, Canvas allows subscribers to choose from a range of pre-owned Ford vehicles. The service will launch in West Los Angeles and the San Francisco area. No word on pricing, but Lincoln says a monthly payment will have a "mileage package," along with a warranty, maintenance, and insurance. Subscribers will also have access to Lincoln's Pickup and Delivery service where their vehicle will be picked up for servicing and be left with a loaner vehicle. No launch date has been announced for Lincoln's program. Source: Lincoln Press Release is on Page 2 Lincoln Expands Effortless Services, Advances Vehicle Ownership Experience Beginning with Aviator, Lincoln will offer the driver considerate prompts through SYNC®, linking to the brand’s suite of effortless services Lincoln is launching a pilot luxury subscription service offering a range of pre-owned 2017 Lincoln vehicles Click-to-Purchase online program expands, along with Personal Driver™; Pickup & Delivery™ program continues to grow nationwide, and expands globally NEW YORK, March 28, 2018 – The Lincoln Motor Company complements its line of elegant vehicles with an exceptional suite of effortless services. With the introduction of the Aviator production preview, Lincoln advances the brand’s holistic approach to vehicle ownership by bringing those services into the vehicle. Through Lincoln SYNC®, drivers receive prompts, or cues, which are designed to deliver helpful information to them visually on the cluster display of the vehicle, recommending appropriate actions to help them overcome whatever situation they’re facing. Should they run low on fuel, for example, Aviator will notify them and seamlessly connect them with navigation to offer them the closest gas station options. “Lincoln is developing services that make our clients’ lives effortless, and we consider very carefully how we connect those services,” says Joy Falotico, president, The Lincoln Motor Company. “We look at their lives, how they work and what they do, and then we look at what we can offer them from a Lincoln perspective to make everything more seamless and to save our clients what they value most – their time.” The brand continues to advance and expand its other client services, which are available now: Lincoln Subscription Service: Lincoln is launching a luxury subscription pilot service offering a range of 2017 pre-owned Lincoln vehicles in West Los Angeles. This expands the pilot offering 2015 Lincoln vehicles in both West Los Angeles and the San Francisco area. All Lincoln subscribers receive exclusive benefits. With the service, offered through Canvas, clients have a vehicle 24/7 as if it were their own. A monthly payment covers their preferred mileage package, plus comprehensive insurance, warranty, maintenance and roadside assistance. Lincoln subscribers for 2017 vehicles also will receive the benefits of Pickup & Delivery™, one of the brand’s most popular services, as part of their warranty package. Lincoln Pickup & Delivery: Lincoln’s standard Pickup & Delivery service continues to grow. Available nationally, the service has completed more than 100,000 rides since its inception in 2016 and now plans to expand globally. Pickup & Delivery is designed to respect what Lincoln clients value most – their time. The Lincoln Valet Service picks up a client’s vehicle for any service need, at any location, provides the client with a complimentary Lincoln loaner vehicle, and returns it in the same manner. Clients can book and track progress of service via the Lincoln Way™ app. Lincoln is the only luxury automaker to provide standard Pickup & Delivery service as part of the vehicle warranty. Lincoln Personal Driver: Lincoln Personal Driver™, a program first piloted in San Diego and Miami, will expand to Dallas and soon be integrated into the Lincoln Way app. Personal Driver provides clients with a carefully screened driver when needed – allowing them to enjoy being a passenger from the safety and comfort of their own Lincoln vehicle. The driver can assist with other errands while clients attend to their engagements, which may range from personal or medical appointments to airport transportation. Click-to-Purchase: The Click-to-Purchase online program allows potential clients to complete nearly every step of the buying or leasing process online. Potential clients can search participating dealer inventories, calculate estimated trade-in values for their current vehicles using the Kelley Blue Book standard, apply for financing and create a payment plan. They’re shown a price for the vehicle with available incentives, as well as estimated taxes and fees based on their zip code. They then print out a certificate with the pricing information, which also gets sent to the dealer. The pricing is honored for 48 hours. The client can make an appointment with the dealer to purchase or lease the vehicle. The program will be available throughout the U.S. by the end of the year. Lincoln and CLEAR: Lincoln continues its collaboration with CLEAR to provide new Lincoln owners with a complimentary CLEAR membership, allowing them to speed through security checkpoints at participating airports and major arenas nationwide. New Lincoln owners receive a six-month complimentary membership for themselves and a partner. Lincoln Black Label clients receive yearlong memberships. CLEAR delivers secure and easy travel to more than 30 airports and arenas nationwide. Members go to a dedicated CLEAR lane where they are greeted by a CLEAR team member. After a simple finger tap or blink of an eye, members are escorted straight to security screening, bypassing the usual long lines. According to CLEAR, members walk through security in minutes every time. View full article

Seeing the R on a Jaguar model means one thing, high performance. But the launch of Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and SVR high-performance models is causing some confusion. “We have found F-Type R and F-Type SVR kind of compete against each other. The truth of the matter is that F-Type R is a great car and, in some respects, SVR has a challenging time because the R is such a good car in the first place,” said Wayne Burgess, Jaguar SVO design director to Auto Express. “To be completely honest Jaguar is a fairly small brand and probably in reality there is not enough room in each model line to have an R and an SVR.” Burgess' comments hint that Jaguar could be dropping their R lineup in an effort to reduce confusion and allow SVR models “to shine”. “We would rather have a genuine SVR halo in the line-up and then jump an R model – that is better way of doing things. In a model line that doesn’t have an R, it can allow SVR to really shine. We're beginning to see this idea take root. At last week's New York Auto Show, Jaguar unveiled the F-Pace SVR with a supercharged V8 producing 542 horsepower. Source: Auto Express View full article

Saturday night at Tesla's Fremont, California assembly plant was a sight to behold. "...packed with people Saturday evening as the last hours of the quarter drew to a close. Red couches and tall white tables were set up outside, a DJ played music and a truck selling Vietnamese food was on hand," Bloomberg reports. Was Tesla was celebrating an important milestone? No, the company was using this to try and motivate their workers to get more Model 3s out the door to provide some good news for investors. The past week could be considered one of the worst for the electric car maker. Moody's downgraded Tesla's credit rating further into junk status due to production issues and growing obligations. The NTSB has opened a new investigation into Tesla after a driver was killed when his Model X crashed into a barrier and caught fire. "Unclear if automated control system was active at time of crash. Issues examined include: post-crash fire, steps to make vehicle safe for removal from scene," the NTSB wrote earlier in the week. Yesterday, the NTSB said it was "unhappy" with Tesla releasing information into the crash on their blog. The NTSB has a long history of guarding their investigations very closely. Part of this is due to the board being a small agency, which means it relies quite heavily on the participants involved in an investigation. On Thursday, Tesla recalled 123,000 Model S vehicles built before April 2016 for a power-steering issue. Yesterday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted a number of tweets, saying the company had gone bankrupt. It was an April Fool's joke, but it did not go over so well. In early trading this morning, shares in Tesla dropped as much as 5.7 percent. Tesla estimated they would deliver 10,000 Model 3s by the end of the first quarter. We'll likely find out in the next few days whether or not Tesla was able to pull this off when their first-quarter report comes out. But a number of analysts believe Tesla came up short. Source: Bloomberg View full article

Despite it being outed only a few days before its reveal, the debut of the Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak concept was quite the surprise at New York. But many of us are wondering the same thing: Why? "We really showed this as a concept without a clear production plan behind it. Our intention [is] to demonstrate that we very seriously look into the American needs. ... Volkswagen wants to be part of this market much more seriously than in the past," said Volkswagen's North American CEO, Hinrich J. Woebcken during a media briefing. Volkswagen's North America office wants to take more control as how the brand is run over the home office. We already saw some inkling of this when the main office in Wolfsburg allowed them to change the name of their three-row crossover from Teramont to Atlas. The Tanoak also shows how far Volkswagen can take their MQB modular platform. It already underpins a number of models from the Jetta all the way to the Atlas. Of course, the question arises whether or not Volkswagen plans on making the Tanoak a reality. Woebcken said the company has "definitely not decided," partly due to a number of factors. "It all depends now if this market will appreciate more unibody pickup trucks. The C segment ... is a very high commercial use segment. Almost 70 percent of those vehicles are used in a commercial environment," explained Woebcken. He could see a production version having "a higher chance on the lifestyle side," but even then, "we still have to study how that would work." Source: Roadshow View full article

It is no secret that buyers are gobbling up SUVs and crossovers, nor is it that automakers are introducing new and redesigned models. Take a look at the New York Auto Show this week where a number a new models (Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester) and concepts (Lincoln Aviator) made their debut. According to automotive consultancy firm LMC Automotive, there are currently 63 mainstream crossover and SUV models, and 53 luxury models. By 2023, LMC is projecting 90 models for both mainstream and luxury. But this prompts a question - how much is too much? “I think everyone has read the same tea leaves - right now there seems to be insatiable demand,” said Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen to Reuters. “Everyone is going into these segments with compelling new entries and that means there are going to be winners and there are going to be losers.” Already, there are signs this boom could be heading downward. LMC Automotive is forecasting a slow growth for SUVs and crossovers in 2018 and continuing through 2025. “There are still some legs left to grow in the SUV market, but growth is slowing and will eventually level off. This is a bright spot in the market, which is why everyone is flocking to it with new product,” said Jeff Schuster, LMC’s senior vice president of forecasting. A key reason comes down to the large number of SUV and crossovers that will be going off-lease and entering the market, proving a less expensive option for buyers. Cox Automotive forecasts that 40 percent of the roughly 4 million nearly new vehicles expected to come off lease this year will be SUVs and crossovers. The number is expected to rise to 44 percent. “Now that you’re seeing more SUVs starting to come off lease, that will automatically put pressure on new SUV pricing,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher forKelley Blue Book. There are those who don't buy this argument though. Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting with AutoForecast Solutions says there is still room to grow if automakers dive into different niches such as sporty models and limited editions. “The market is not yet saturated and there are all kinds of niches that have yet to be filled. We’re five or 10 years from even thinking about market saturation.” Various automakers claim there is always more room for products, provided they can stand out. “There are clearly a lot of entrants, but we are going to differentiate ourselves with a completely different look to our brand," said Lincoln president Joy Falotico at the New York Auto Show. But Karl Brauer points out a simple fact: “Simple math suggests that you’ll have more models with lower volume.” “You can’t have that many SUVs on the market and have all of them grow volume. Some of them are going to have to give,” explained Brauer. Source: Reuters View full article

The 2019 Subaru Forester which debuted yesterday at the New York Auto Show looks very familiar to the current Forester. Despite what the body looks like, there are major changes underneath the Forester's skin. It begins with the platform. The 2019 Forester becomes the latest Subaru model to move onto the company's new global platform. This allows for a 1.2-inch increase in overall wheelbase which Subaru has used to improve rear legroom. In fact, Subaru says the new Forester offers more head, shoulder, and legroom than the outgoing model. As for cargo space, the 2019 Forester boasts 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded - up 1.9 cubic feet. Subaru has increased the width of the tailgate opening 5.3-inches to make it easier to load items. The interior is the same as you'll find in the Impreza and Crosstrek, down to the Starlink infotainment system in a 6.5- or 8-inch touchscreen. Other interior improvements include more comfortable front seats, larger seat pockets, automatic climate control being standard on all trims, and the option of a Wi-Fi hotspot. There will only be one engine available for the 2019 Forester - a revamped 2.5L boxer-four producing 182 horsepower (up 12) and 176 pound-feet of torque (up 2). This will only come paired with a CVT and AWD. Touring and Sport models add a a manual mode and paddle shifters to mimic a seven-speed transmission. Subaru's X-Mode with Hill Descent Control allows to Forester to go slightly deeper into great outdoors is standard on every Forester except the base model. Being a Subaru, the Forester comes chock full of safety equipment. All Foresters come with the EyeSight suite of active safety features - adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The top-line Touring introduces Subaru's DriverFocus fatigue and distraction alert. Using cameras and facial recognition software, it monitors signs of fatigue or distraction on up to five different drivers. The system can also remember a driver's preset on the seat, climate control, and radio. The 2019 Subaru Forester arrives at dealers later this year. Source: Subaru Press Release is on Page 2 ALL-NEW 2019 SUBARU FORESTER® DEBUTS AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Roomiest, most capable Forester to date Standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology Subaru Global Platform: quietness, stability, agility Available new segment-exclusive DriverFocus safety technology Updated 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® engine New Sport model with unique exterior and interior Standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Panoramic moonroof March 28, 2018 , NEW YORK - Subaru of America Inc., debuted today the all-new 2019 Forester at the New York International Auto Show. The fifth generation of the best-selling SUV introduces the roomiest, most capable and most versatile Forester ever made and also features groundbreaking new safety technology. The 2019 Forester is built on the Subaru Global Platform to deliver significantly higher levels of driving pleasure, agility, crash protection, ride comfort and quietness. Arriving at Subaru retailers later this year, the all-new Forester will be available in standard, Premium, Limited, Touring and new Sport trim levels. All are powered by an enhanced direct-injection, 182 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder BOXER engine featuring Auto Stop/Start and paired with a standard Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). Also standard on all trim levels is Subaru’s legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. For 2019, all Foresters come standard with the award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The top-of-line Touring debuts the segment-exclusive DriverFocus safety technology which offers yet another layer of safety and convenience for the driver. The system can alert the driver of fatigue or distraction while on the road as well as automatically adjust many driver settings at start-up. Segment First DriverFocus Safety Technology With DriverFocus, Subaru is taking on one of the biggest issues in the automotive industry; distracted driving. Each day in the United States, more than 1,000 people are injured in crashes reported to have involved a distracted driver. * As an industry leader in safety, Subaru has developed DriverFocus, a state-of-the-art system to help address distracted driving for both new and experienced drivers. DriverFocus is a driver monitoring system that uses facial recognition software to identify signs of driver fatigue or driver distraction. DriverFocus works with Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology to reduce the chance of an accident. And for added convenience, DriverFocus can also recognize up to five drivers and remember their presets for seat position, climate, multifunction display and more. The all-new Forester is the first in its segment, and among the first vehicles in the industry to incorporate technology that can address the important societal issue of distracted driving. The feature will be standard on Touring models. Added Power and Efficiency All Foresters are powered by a new version of the 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER four-cylinder engine, now with direct fuel injection and higher compression, along with active valve control system (AVCS) on the exhaust side. The new engine produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, versus 170 hp and 174 lb-ft in the previous Forester, for a boost in everyday performance and responsiveness. The 2019 Forester comes standard with Lineartronic CVT. The new powertrain not only yields quicker acceleration than the previous Forester, but also up to 33 mpg highway fuel economy (manufacturer’s estimate, pending EPA certification). On Sport and Touring variants, the CVT features a manual mode that simulates a seven-speed manual transmission, using steering wheel paddle shift control switches. Adding more flexibility for driving conditions, is a standard driver-selectable SI-DRIVE. SI-DRIVE is a powertrain performance management system that allows the driver to tailor the vehicle’s throttle characteristics by choosing between “Intelligent” and “Sport” modes (Sport Sharp on Forester Sport). “Intelligent” mode helps smooth out accelerator inputs for fuel saving, while “Sport” mode tunes the throttle to emphasize performance. Signature Subaru Design The 2019 Forester debuts a more rugged style that showcases Subaru’s new design language while retaining a strong family resemblance to the rest of the brand’s portfolio. The exterior has shoulder lines that follow around the pillars to emphasize height and strength. Prominent wheel arches emphasize the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system’s functionality. Front, side and rear underguards are standard on all models, with color finish according to trim line. New LED headlights are standard on all models and complement the brand’s signature hexagonal grille. High-gloss black or silver trim highlights the Forester’s premium appearance, accentuated by new colors such as Jasper Green Metallic, Horizon Blue Pearl and Crimson Red Pearl. Forester’s new design brings added function. The wheelbase is increased to 105.1 in. from 103.9 in., with the gain benefitting rear seat legroom, which is now 39.4-in., a 1.4-in. increase. Gains in headroom, hip and shoulder room further bolster passenger comfort and a feeling of spaciousness in the cabin. Wider rear door openings and a steep C-pillar angle make ingress/egress and installing a child seat easier. All Forester models feature lower body side cladding, which helps protect against mud, rocks and other road debris. The new Forester design maintains outstanding outward visibility, a hallmark of Subaru models. Strategically designed pillars and generous glass area ensure an excellent all-around view from inside, and all models feature a standard rear vision camera. The 2019 Forester design increases cargo space to 76.1 cu. ft. with the 60:40 split rear seatbacks lowered, a gain of 1.4 cu. ft. The load floor sits flatter, and the cargo area’s squared-off shape has been further optimized for ease of carrying large objects. Notably, the rear gate opening maximum width is now 51.2-in. wide, a 5.3-in. increase over the previous model and up to 8-in. wider than on some competitive SUVs. For example, with the 2019 Forester, it will be possible to load a full-size golf bag sideways without tilting it. A power rear gate is standard on Limited and Touring trim levels and available as an option for Premium and Sport. Roof rails, standard on all but the base model, allow for a number of Subaru Genuine Accessories for carrying items such as bicycles and kayaks. New tie-down hooks integrated into the rails, on Sport and Touring trims, allow ropes to be tied down more easily and securely. New Forester Sport Inspired by the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, the 2019 Forester Sport joins the line with unique appearance elements and specially enhanced standard equipment. A Sport grille with black gloss finish frame, black-finish 18-in. wheels and rear roof spoiler give Forester Sport a rugged look, while orange accents on the black underguards and roof rail mounts add a modern, youthful touch. The interior is a unique dark gray material with orange stitching and accents throughout that is exclusive to the Sport model. The Forester Sport exclusively employs a version of Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) with Intelligent and Sport Sharp modes and the Lineartronic CVT features a seven-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle-shift control switches. Building on the standard equipment of the Forester Premium trim, the Sport also features a high-grade instrument panel combination meter and multi-function display, LED fog lights, High Beam Assist, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, Keyless Access with Push-Button Start and PIN Code Access and the All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer). A standard cargo area tray helps protect the interior. For added convenience when loading or unloading equipment at night, the Sport features a cargo area LED light with auto-off and a rear gate LED flood light that illuminates the area around the rear gate when it is opened. Family comfort and quiet space The roomiest Forester cabin yet is also the quietest, thanks to the Subaru Global Platform’s inherent resistance to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Road noise is significantly reduced and Subaru has worked to tune out certain frequencies to make conversation or listening to music at highway speeds more comfortable. Forester’s interior has been designed for both greater passenger comfort and increased durability in everyday and recreational usage. New front seats, are constructed to enhance comfort on long drives. A new Electronic Parking Brake frees up console space by eliminating the traditional parking brake handle. All Forester models now feature standard automatic climate control (dual-zone on Limited and Touring models), and the available heated front seats feature three-stage control versus two-stage before. The Touring trim adds new heated rear seats for 2019. Keyless Access with Push Button Start is standard on Sport, Limited and Touring trims and optional for Premium. In conjunction with this feature, SUBARU STARLINK® Connected Services now offers available Remote Engine Start via the MySubaru smartphone app. Climate controls can also be set on the app when Remote Engine Start is activated. Many other connected services such as Wi-Fi and concierge services are newly available on Forester for 2019 model year. Numerous new details throughout the Forester reflect the Subaru brand’s meticulous study of real-world customer usage. The material used for the cargo area floor, sides and rear gate interior trim offer a textured surface to resist dirt. The robust material also resists scuffing, such as when carrying camping equipment or other outdoor gear, and is easily cleaned. PVC material used on the bottoms of the front seat backs likewise resists scuffing and the material is easily cleaned. Pockets on the front seatbacks are now divided to more easily organize items such as magazines and electronic devices. Legendary Subaru Value Gets Even Better The 2019 Forester is the best-equipped ever, with the standard model adding features such as EyeSight, LED headlights, Auto Start/Stop, SI-DRIVE Engine Performance management, Active Torque Vectoring, Automatic Climate Control, Electronic Parking Brake, Trailer Stability Assist and Welcome Lighting. A panoramic power moonroof is standard on Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring trims. Each trim level adds more features and amenities, while maintaining all the vehicle’s rugged capability. The 2019 Touring is the most luxurious Forester ever, with standard and exclusive features including 10-way power driver’s seat, new 8-way power front passenger seat, new heated rear seats and heated steering wheel. Also new for 2019, the exterior mirrors have a two-position memory function synchronized to the driver’s seat position memory and in addition tilt downward when reverse gear is engaged, to aid in parking maneuvers. A new power rear lock button is available on the rear liftgate that will close and lock the gate and all doors on the vehicle. Adventurous Spirit and Function The 2019 Forester continues the model’s tradition of offering the optimal blend of SUV capability with car-like ride and handling with legendary Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This key technology provides stable, secure driving for young families and all-around capability for outdoors enthusiasts. Subaru’s all-wheel drive system actively monitors acceleration, deceleration, cornering and traction to transfer power to the wheels with the best grip. Active Torque Vectoring, first introduced on the brand’s iconic WRX ® and WRX STI® performance models, is also standard on all 2019 Foresters. The Forester base model features standard 17-in. steel wheels, while the Premium gets standard 17-in. alloy wheels. Sport, Limited and Touring models ride on 18-in. wheels with each trim featuring its own wheel design. Forester offers a generous 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which is more than most competitors and allows for confident off-pavement driving. Yet, the 2019 Forester maintains an easy step-in height. For handling difficult driving conditions such as snow or mud, Forester Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring come standard with driver-selectable X-Mode® with Hill Descent Control. When engaged, X-Mode optimizes control of the engine, transmission shift pattern, Active AWD front/rear clutch force, brakes and the Vehicle Dynamics Control system to optimize wheel control on slippery surfaces and steep inclines. New for 2019, the Sport, Limited and Touring models come standard with a dual-mode version of X-Mode that offers Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes for even more capability to go virtually wherever necessary. Subaru Safety Throughout The Forester’s new platform integrates the latest version of the Subaru ring-shaped reinforcement frame design, proven over nearly two decades to provide excellent occupant collision protection. All versions of the 2019 Forester come standard with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that includes Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Pre-Collision Throttle Management and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. Other available driver-assist technologies include Reverse Automatic Braking and Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Reverse Automatic Braking can apply the vehicle’s brakes if an obstacle is detected while reversing. Forester Sport, Limited and Touring include High Beam Assist, and Limited and Touring also add Steering Responsive Headlights. New for the 2019 Forester, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) now displays pressure for individual tires. New standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) utilizes yaw sensors to monitor trailer sway and then can brake individual wheels to stabilize the vehicle and trailer. A power locking fuel door is integrated into the new automatic power door lock/unlock system as standard. The system locks all doors, the rear gate and fuel door once the vehicle is driven over 13 mph, and the owner can set locking/unlocking preferences. Inside, the Forester fills out its safety roster with the Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, standard front side pelvis/torso airbags and side curtain airbags that offer front and rear outboard seat coverage. SUBARU STARLINK™ In-Vehicle Technology The 2019 Forester offers the latest touchscreen SUBARU STARLINK multimedia systems with standard features including Apple CarPlay™, Android™ Auto and SiriusXM® services (subscription required) with Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. Music, news, podcasts and much more can be enjoyed with standard Aha™, Pandora® and STARLINK app integration. A built-in, voice-activated navigation system powered by TomTom with an 8” high resolution touchscreen is also available. The standard Forester comes with the 6.5” Multimedia system, while higher trim levels feature the 8.0” Multimedia Plus and 8.0” Multimedia Navigation systems. SUBARU STARLINK Connected Services now offers remote engine start (on models equipped with Keyless Access and Push-Button Start); concierge service; anti-theft vehicle immobilizer with flashing vehicle security lights; young driver safety functions including geofencing, speed alert and curfew; and firmware updates over the air. Also available, the Safety Plus package offers SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, maintenance notifications, monthly vehicle health report, and diagnostic alerts. The Safety Plus & Security Plus upgrade package adds stolen vehicle recovery service, vehicle security alarm notification, remote lock/unlock, remote horn and lights and remote vehicle locator. View full article