William Maley

Porsche Sets U.S. Retail Sales Record in 2018 Deliveries increased 3.2 percent to 57,202, marking nine years in a row of growth ATLANTA, Jan. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster and Cayman, Panamera, Cayenne, and Macan model lines, today announced December retail sales of 4,086. With that, 2018 sales reached a U.S. record of 57,202, an increase of 3.2 percent from the previous record in 2017. It was the ninth consecutive year of growth for PCNA and the seventh record year in a row. The Macan led the pack with more than 23,500 deliveries in 2018, up 9.7 percent. In its second year as a new generation model, the Panamera also scored double-digit percentage growth with sales of 8,042. The iconic Porsche 911 roared ahead 7.6 percent to 9,647 sales, helped by strong demand for GT models. For December alone, the new Cayenne was the best-selling vehicle in the month as the Cayenne S and Turbo variants joined the lineup for the first time. "Porsche and our 190 independent U.S. dealer partners are grateful for the excitement our cars are generating among customers," said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA. "A record 2018 is an excellent starting point for an even more dynamic 2019, when highlights will include the market entry of the next-generation 911, the updated Macan, and the launch of our first all-electric sports car, the Taycan, late in the year." Model December Sales Year-to-Date 2018 2017 2018 2017 ALL 911 789 773 9,647 8,970 ALL 718 237 301 5,276 5,087 ALL PANAMERA 332 455 8,042 6,731 ALL CAYENNE 1,383 940 10,733 13,203 ALL MACAN 1,345 1,444 23,504 21,429 GRAND TOTALS 4,086 3,913 57,202 55,420

Mazda Reports December and Full Year 2018 Sales Results IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2019 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total December sales of 25,870 vehicles, a decrease of 3.8 percent compared to December 2017. With 26 selling days in December 2018, compared to 26 the year prior, the company posted a decrease of 3.8 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. Sales for 2018 totaled 300,325 vehicles an increase of 3.7 percent compared to 2017. There were 307 selling days in 2018, versus 306 in 2017, resulting in a full-year DSR increase of 3.4 percent. KEY SALES NOTES: While Mazda's CX-line, including the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, saw December sales decline by 6.5 percent to 18,955 vehicles, total sales of the three crossover vehicles finished the year up 15.3 percent, with 195,778 vehicles sold in 2018. Sales of the Mazda6 totaled 2,357 in December, an increase of 32.7 percent compared to 2017. Mazda6 sales for 2018 reached 30,938 vehicles, a decrease of 7.4 percent compared to 2017. The Mazda MX-5 Miata finished December up 3.7 percent, with 511 vehicles sold, while full-year sales of the two-seat roadster totaled 8,971, a decrease of 20.6 percent compared to 2017. Month-To-Date Year-To-Date December December % % MTD December December % % YTD 2018 2017 Change DSR 2018 2017 Change DSR Mazda3 5,277 5,669 (6.9)% (6.9)% 64,638 75,018 (13.8)% (14.1)% Mazda6 2,357 1,776 32.7% 32.7% 30,938 33,402 (7.4)% (7.7)% MX-5 Miata 511 493 3.7% 3.7% 8,971 11,294 (20.6)% (20.8)% CX-3 1,144 1,582 (27.7)% (27.7)% 16,899 16,355 3.3% 3.0% CX-5 13,741 14,097 (2.5)% (2.5)% 150,622 127,563 18.1% 17.7% CX-9 2,840 3,276 (13.3)% (13.3)% 28,257 25,828 9.4% 9.0% Total Vehicles CARS 8,145 7,938 2.6% 2.6% 104,547 119,724 (12.7)% (13.0)% TRUCKS 17,725 18,955 (6.5)% (6.5)% 195,778 169,746 15.3% 15.0% TOTAL 25,870 26,893 (3.8)% (3.8)% 300,325 289,470 3.7% 3.4% Selling Days 26 26 307 306

Trucks Drive New Records and Acura Turns a Corner as American Honda Posts December Sales Increase Acura brand sales rise 2.8% in 2018, punctuated by best-ever monthly and annual truck sales Acura RDX has best-ever annual and December sales, its second-best month in history Honda brand posts best-ever annual and December truck sales with overall December increase as Honda CR-V sets all-time monthly record, topping 42,000 sales Accord sales jump 29.4% as passenger car sales remain strong; electrified vehicles set new annual record "In 2018, we took advantage of the continued consumer shift toward light-trucks, contributing to another record year for our Honda and Acura light-truck businesses," said Henio Arcangeli Jr., senior vice president of the American Honda Automobile Division. "In addition to our light-truck success, our passenger car business also delivered another strong year, with Civic retaining its crown in 2018 as the best-selling retail compact car in America for nine years running and Accord commanding the highest transaction prices in the midsize segment. We remain bullish on the passenger car business and look forward to another great year in 2019 across our entire Honda and Acura lineups." Honda Brand Report Honda finished 2018 on a strong note with both cars and trucks gaining in December, overcoming over four months of lost production due to a flood that shut the Celaya, Mexico auto plant to narrowly miss a new annual sales mark. Truck sales set new monthly and annual records led by CR-V which set an all-time monthly record, with 42,079 units in December, a gain of 13.8%. Pilot set a new annual mark, eclipsing its previous record by over 7,000. Accord jumped a strong 29.4% on 28,627 in sales for the month. Electrified vehicle sales set new monthly and annual sales records with 6,899 December sales, the 6th straight month above 5,000 units. Acura Brand Report Acura was one of the few luxury brands to increase sales (+2.8%) in 2018, setting records for RDX and light trucks, leading to new market share and the brand’s first annual gain since 2014. Acura trucks set a new monthly sales record, gaining 17.5% on 12,786 units RDX gained 42.2% to set a new December mark on sales of 6,838 units, the model’s 7th consecutive monthly record and second best month in history. MDX had December sales of 5,948 units, helping the model to its 7th straight year of 50,000+ annual sales. ILX and RLX sedans gained in December, with ILX up 10.7% and RLX gaining 16.1% (its best month in 2018). American Honda Vehicle Sales for December 2018 Month-to-Date Year-to-Date December 2018 December 2017 DSR** % Change MoM % Change December 2018 December 2017 DSR** % Change YoY % Change American Honda Total 155,115 149,317 3.9% 3.9% 1,604,828 1,641,429 -2.5% -2.2% Total Car Sales 64,860 62,577 3.6% 3.6% 728,695 800,979 -9.3% -9.0% Total Truck Sales 90,255 86,740 4.1% 4.1% 876,133 840,450 3.9% 4.2% Honda Total Car Sales 60,872 58,399 4.2% 4.2% 684,853 752,558 -9.3% -9.0% Honda Total Truck Sales 77,469 75,856 2.1% 2.1% 761,041 734,269 3.3% 3.6% Acura Total Car Sales 3,988 4,178 -4.5% -4.5% 43,842 48,421 -9.8% -9.5% Acura Total Truck Sales 12,786 10,884 17.5% 17.5% 115,092 106,181 8.0% 8.4% * Total Domestic Car Sales 51,918 55,307 -6.1% -6.1% 600,195 682,968 -12.4% -12.1% Honda Division 48,146 51,315 -6.2% -6.2% 558,284 635,784 -12.5% -12.2% Acura Division 3,772 3,992 -5.5% -5.5% 41,911 47,184 -11.5% -11.2% * Total Domestic Truck Sales 89,557 86,740 3.2% 3.2% 875,430 840,450 3.8% 4.2% Honda Division 76,771 75,856 1.2% 1.2% 760,338 734,269 3.2% 3.6% Acura Division 12,786 10,884 17.5% 17.5% 115,092 106,181 8.0% 8.4% Total Import Car Sales 12,942 7,270 78.0% 78.0% 128,500 118,011 8.5% 8.9% Honda Division 12,726 7,084 79.6% 79.6% 126,569 116,774 8.0% 8.4% Acura Division 216 186 16.1% 16.1% 1,931 1,237 55.6% 56.1% Total Import Truck Sales 698 0 0.0% 0.0% 703 0 0.0% 0.0% Honda Division 698 0 0.0% 0.0% 703 0 0.0% 0.0% Acura Division 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0% MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION Honda Division Total 138,341 134,255 3.0% 3.0% 1,445,894 1,486,827 -3.1% -2.8% ACCORD 28,627 22,115 29.4% 29.4% 291,071 322,655 -10.1% -9.8% CIVIC 26,384 31,406 -16.0% -16.0% 325,760 377,286 -13.9% -13.7% CLARITY 2,857 1,425 100.5% 100.5% 20,174 2,455 719.1% 721.8% CR-Z 1 19 -94.7% -94.7% 38 705 -94.6% -94.6% FIT 768 3,434 -77.6% -77.6% 35,300 49,454 -28.9% -28.6% INSIGHT 2,235 0 0.0% 0.0% 12,510 3 415,541.7% 416,900.0% CROSSTOUR 0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0 5 -100.0% -100.0% CR-V 42,079 36,983 13.8% 13.8% 379,013 377,895 -0.0% 0.3% HR-V 6,313 7,543 -16.3% -16.3% 85,494 94,034 -9.4% -9.1% ODYSSEY 10,512 9,874 6.5% 6.5% 106,327 100,307 5.7% 6.0% PILOT 15,698 18,602 -15.6% -15.6% 159,615 127,279 25.0% 25.4% RIDGELINE 2,867 2,854 0.5% 0.5% 30,592 34,749 -12.2% -12.0% Acura Division Total 16,774 15,062 11.4% 11.4% 158,934 154,602 2.5% 2.8% ILX 924 835 10.7% 10.7% 11,273 11,757 -4.4% -4.1% NSX 17 56 -69.6% -69.6% 170 581 -70.8% -70.7% RLX / RL 216 186 16.1% 16.1% 1,931 1,237 55.6% 56.1% TLX 2,831 3,101 -8.7% -8.7% 30,468 34,846 -12.8% -12.6% MDX 5,948 6,076 -2.1% -2.1% 51,512 54,886 -6.5% -6.1% RDX 6,838 4,808 42.2% 42.2% 63,580 51,295 23.5% 23.9% Selling Days 26 26 307 306 * Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts ** Daily Selling Rate

Quarterly: General Motors Co. - Down 2.7% (785,229 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 2,954,037 Vehicles Sold This Year) Monthly: Jaguar Land Rover North America - Up 23.6% (14,079 Vehicles Sold This Month, 122,626 Vehicles Sold This Year) FCA US LLC - Up 14% (196,520 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,235,204 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia Motors America - Up 10.2% (47,428 Vehicles Sold This Month, 589,673 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan Group - Up 7.6% (148,720 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,493,877 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen of America - Up 5.8% (32,047 Vehicles Sold This Month, 354,064 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mitsubishi Motors North America - Up 5.7% (8,986 Vehicles Sold This Month, 118,074 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Up 4.4% (4,086 Vehicles Sold This Month, 57,202 Vehicles Sold This Year) American Honda Motor Co. - Up 3.9% (155,115 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,604,828 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai Motor America - Up 3% (65,721 Vehicles Sold This Month, 677,946 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 1.9% (64,541 Vehicles Sold This Month, 680,135 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota Motor North America - Down 0.9% (220,910 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,426,672 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mazda North American Operations - Down 3.8% (25,870 Vehicles Sold This Month, 300,325 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW of North America - Down 4.4% (37,154 Vehicles Sold This Month, 354,698 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz USA - Down 8% (36,254 Vehicles Sold This Month, 355,413 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford Motor Company - Down 8.8% (220,774 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,497,318 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Down 8.8% (8,826 Vehicles Sold This Month, 98,263 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi of America - Down 16% (22,675 Vehicles Sold This Month, 223,323 Vehicles Sold This Year) Brands (Quarterly): Buick - Down 13.7% (51,257 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 206,863 Vehicles Sold This Year) Cadillac - Down 2.7% (41,462 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 154,702 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chevrolet - Down 3.2% (531,985 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 2,036,023 Vehicles Sold This Year) GMC - Up 3.5% (160,525 Vehicles Sold This Quarter, 556,449 Vehicles Sold This Year) Brands (Monthly): Acura - Up 11.4% (16,774 Vehicles Sold This Month, 158,934 Vehicles Sold This Year) Alfa Romeo - Down 2.7% (1,946 Vehicles Sold This Month, 23,820 Vehicles Sold This Year) Audi - Down 16% (22,675 Vehicles Sold This Month, 223,323 Vehicles Sold This Year) BMW - Up 0.3% (34,357 Vehicles Sold This Month, 311,014 Vehicles Sold This Year) Chrysler - Down 28% (12,425 Vehicles Sold This Month, 165,964 Vehicles Sold This Year) Dodge - Up 17% (32,528 Vehicles Sold This Month, 459,324 Vehicles Sold This Year) Fiat - Down 44% (977 Vehicles Sold This Month, 15,521 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ford - Down 9.6% (209,248 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,393,731 Vehicles Sold This Year) Genesis - Down 68.5% (614 Vehicles Sold This Month, 9,940 Vehicles Sold This Year) Honda - Up 3% (138,341 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,445,894 Vehicles Sold This Year) Hyundai - Up 5.6% (65,107 Vehicles Sold This Month, 679,127 Vehicles Sold This Year) Infiniti - Up 10.3% (18,065 Vehicles Sold This Month, 149,280 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jaguar - Up 1.4% (3,462 Vehicles Sold This Month, 30,483 Vehicles Sold This Year) Jeep - Up 10% (80,449 Vehicles Sold This Month, 973,227 Vehicles Sold This Year) Kia - Up 10.2% (47,428 Vehicles Sold This Month, 589,673 Vehicles Sold This Year) Land Rover - Up 33% (10,617 Vehicles Sold This Month, 92,143 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lexus - Up 0.2% (35,524 Vehicles Sold This Month, 298,310 Vehicles Sold This Year) Lincoln - Up 8.5% (11,526 Vehicles Sold This Month, 103,587 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mazda - Down 3.8% (25,870 Vehicles Sold This Month, 300,325 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz - Down 9.1% (32,016 Vehicles Sold This Month, 315,959 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mercedes-Benz Vans - Up 1.7% (4,116 Vehicles Sold This Month, 38,178 Vehicles Sold This Year) MINI - Down 39.3% (2,797 Vehicles Sold This Month, 43,684 Vehicles Sold This Year) Mitsubishi - Up 5.7% (8,986 Vehicles Sold This Month, 118,074 Vehicles Sold This Year) Nissan - Up 7.2% (130,655 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,344,597 Vehicles Sold This Year) Porsche - Up 4.4% (4,086 Vehicles Sold This Month, 57,202 Vehicles Sold This Year) Ram Trucks - Up 10% (80,449 Vehicles Sold This Month, 597,368 Vehicles Sold This Year) Smart - Down 26.5% (122 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,276 Vehicles Sold This Year) Subaru - Up 1.9% (64,541 Vehicles Sold This Month, 680,135 Vehicles Sold This Year) Toyota - Down 1.1% (185,386 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,128,362 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volkswagen - Up 5.8% (32,047 Vehicles Sold This Month, 354,064 Vehicles Sold This Year) Volvo - Down 8.8% (8,826 Vehicles Sold This Month, 98,263 Vehicles Sold This Year) View full article

FCA US Reports 2018 December and Full-Year Sales FCA US reports highest calendar year of retail sales in 17 years Jeep® brand sets full-year record as sales climb 17 percent Ram brand notches full-year record as sales climb 7 percent Dodge Challenger reports full-year record January 3, 2019 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported December U.S. sales of 196,520 vehicles, a 14 percent increase compared with sales of 171,946 vehicles in December 2017. Retail sales for the month rose slightly to 151,077 vehicles. Fleet sales totaled 45,443 vehicles and accounted for 23 percent of total sales during the month. The Jeep® Wrangler was the standout for the month and the year. Wrangler notched record December sales of 19,800 vehicles and full-year sales of 240,032. The results significantly exceeded the former full-year sales record of 202,266 set in 2015. For the year, U.S. retail sales were 1,760,488, marking the highest level since 2001 when sales reached 1,833,186 vehicles. Total U.S. sales rose 9 percent to 2,235,204 compared with 2,059,376 vehicles for 2017. Fleet sales accounted for 21 percent of the company’s overall sales in 2018. “This year’s performance underscores the efforts we undertook to realign our production to give U.S. consumers more Jeep vehicles and Ram pickup trucks,” Head of U.S. Sales Reid Bigland said. “We see sales remaining solid in 2019 and we look forward to expanding our vehicle portfolio with the addition of the much anticipated Jeep Gladiator.” Jeep Brand Jeep brand sales rose 10 percent to 80,449 vehicles in December. For the year, sales increased 17 percent to a record 973,227 vehicles, eclipsing the last record of 926,376 vehicles in 2016. The Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass joined the Wrangler in setting new records for December and the year. Cherokee sales rose 7 percent to 20,800 vehicles. For the year, sales were 239,437 vehicles. Compass sales rose 46 percent to 12,745 in December. For the year, sales were 171,167, which beat the previous record of 94,601 set in 2016. Ram Brand Ram brand sales rose 37 percent in December to 68,195 vehicles. For the year, sales hit a new record of 597,368 vehicles. The Ram 1500 – the Most Awarded Full-size Truck – drove the performance as total sales climbed 15 percent to 377,286 vehicles for a new record. Ram ProMaster and ProMaster City reported the best December ever. ProMaster sales rose 75 percent to 5,857 vehicles while ProMaster City sales increased 35 percent to 2,183 vehicles. Dodge Brand Dodge brand December sales rose 17 percent to 32,528 vehicles. For the year, Challenger sales rose 3 percent to 66,716 which is a new record for the nameplate. The previous record was 66,377 in 2015. Alfa Romeo Brand Alfa Romeo brand December sales fell 4 percent to 1,946 vehicles. Alfa Romeo’s 2018 annual sales rose to a record 23,820, which was almost twice as much as the brand sold in 2017. Both Stelvio and Giulia finished the year notching more than 11,500 vehicle sales. Chrysler Brand Chrysler brand December sales fell 28 percent to 12,425 vehicles. However, the Pacifica reported higher year-over-year results as vehicle sales totaled 118,322. Overall, the brand has seen some softening during the year following the continued wind-down of the Chrysler 200 and the Town & Country. FIAT Brand Fiat December sales declined 44 percent to 977 vehicles in December. Fiat finished the year with 15,521 vehicle sales. FCA US LLC Sales Summary December 2018 Month Sales Vol % CYTD Sales Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Compass 12,745 8,743 46% 171,167 83,253 106% Patriot 9 240 -96% 621 40,735 -98% Wrangler 19,800 13,700 45% 240,032 190,522 26% Cherokee 20,800 19,358 7% 239,437 169,882 41% Grand Cherokee 20,429 23,622 -14% 224,908 240,696 -7% Renegade 6,666 7,542 -12% 97,062 103,434 -6% JEEP BRAND 80,449 73,205 10% 973,227 828,522 17% Ram P/U 60,155 44,907 34% 536,980 500,723 7% Cargo Van 0 0 0% 0 0 ProMaster Van 5,857 3,352 75% 46,600 40,483 15% ProMaster City 2,183 1,617 35% 13,788 15,584 -12% RAM BRAND 68,195 49,876 37% 597,368 556,790 7% 200 6 332 -98% 1,043 18,457 -94% 300 3,483 5,726 -39% 46,593 51,237 -9% Town & Country 0 6 -100% 6 577 -99% Pacifica 8,936 11,144 -20% 118,322 118,274 0% CHRYSLER BRAND 12,425 17,208 -28% 165,964 188,545 -12% Dart 2 139 -99% 389 10,082 -96% Avenger 0 2 -100% 4 14 -71% Charger 7,293 6,830 7% 80,226 88,351 -9% Challenger 4,156 4,508 -8% 66,716 64,537 3% Viper 3 9 -67% 19 585 -97% Journey 5,383 4,227 27% 94,096 89,470 5% Caravan 9,694 6,623 46% 151,927 125,196 21% Durango 5,997 5,547 8% 65,947 68,761 -4% DODGE BRAND 32,528 27,885 17% 459,324 446,996 3% 500 418 667 -37% 5,370 12,685 -58% 500L 39 111 -65% 1,413 1,664 -15% 500X 336 673 -50% 5,223 7,665 -32% Spider 184 287 -36% 3,515 4,478 -22% FIAT BRAND 977 1,738 -44% 15,521 26,492 -41% Giulia 873 1,011 -14% 11,519 8,903 29% Alfa 4C 10 26 -62% 238 407 -42% Stelvio 1,063 997 7% 12,043 2,721 343% ALFA ROMEO 1,946 2,034 -4% 23,820 12,031 98% FCA US LLC 196,520 171,946 14% 2,235,204 2,059,376 9%

GM’s U.S. Crossover Sales Topped 1 million in 2018 CHEVROLET AND GMC TOGETHER LEAD U.S. INDUSTRY PICKUP SALES FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR DOUBLE-DIGIT GAIN IN COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES VS. 2017 RECORD FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR AVERAGE TRANSACTION PRICES DETROIT – General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today that it delivered 2,954,037 vehicles in 2018, including more than 1 million crossovers, almost 974,000 pickup trucks and more than 280,000 large SUVs. “We have built the most successful pickup, SUV and crossover business in the industry and we gained considerable momentum in the fourth quarter of 2018 as dealers began delivering the all-new Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Cadillac XT4,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. GM’s fourth quarter deliveries totaled 785,229 units and the company’s share of the industry’s retail sales grew every month from October through December. “We feel confident heading into 2019 because we have more major truck and crossover launches coming during the year and the U.S. economy is strong,” McNeil added. GM delivers more than 1 million crossovers in the U.S. in 2018 GM crossover deliveries totaled 1,034,808 in 2018, up 7 percent versus 2017, and the following five nameplates had record calendar year sales: GMC Terrain up 34 percent Chevrolet Traverse up 19 percent Chevrolet Equinox up 15 percent Chevrolet Trax up 13 percent Buick Encore up 6 percent The first-ever Cadillac XT4 became the best-selling vehicle in its segment just two months after launch. Cadillac will be introducing all-new models every six months, on average, through the end of 2021. Total sales of all utility vehicles, including large SUVs, totaled 1,295,700, up 7 percent. The Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban were up 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively, and the Cadillac Escalade ended the year with a retail segment share twice that of its closest domestic competitor. Chevrolet and GMC pickup sales leadership continues The Chevrolet Colorado had its best year ever, with 134,842 pickups sold, up 19 percent versus 2017. Combined sales of the Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado, and the GMC Sierra and Canyon, rose 3 percent versus 2017 to a total of 973,463 pickups. GM has now sold more pickups in the United States than any other competitor for five consecutive years. Through November, the next closest competitor had sold 821,558 pickups. A fast start for new Chevrolet and GMC pickups GM’s all-new light-duty pickups, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, have invigorated the segment and helped the company pass its domestic competitors in key areas: GM’s retail share of the light-duty pickup segment has increased every month since August, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates, and GM led the segment every month during the fourth quarter. GM has had the highest ATPs in the segment since October, according to J.D. Power PIN, driven by incentive discipline and a strong mix. More than 90 percent of the all-new 2019 model-year sales in the quarter were crew cab models, and at GMC, more than 70 percent of deliveries were premium Denali and AT4 models. GM’s incentives as a percent of ATP were the lowest among domestic competitors during the fourth quarter. These results reflect the successful sell-down of the previous generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500s, and strong demand for the all-new models. During the fourth quarter, the all-new models accounted for 17 percent of GM light-duty deliveries, as planned. By the end of January, the new models are expected to be the majority of light-duty sales. “We are very bullish on pickups heading into 2019,” McNeil said. “The light-duty launch has been one of the best in our history, with a very smooth production ramp-up of the new models and a faster than expected sell-down of the old models. We are following that up with all-new HD trucks, and the first-ever Chevrolet Silverado medium-duty chassis cab trucks for commercial customers.” In December, Chevrolet confirmed that its next-generation Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD will be on sale in the second half of 2019. The medium-duty Silverados are now shipping to dealers. Double-digit Commercial delivery increase GM posted an 11 percent year-over-year increase in Commercial deliveries in 2018, following average annual growth of 7 percent from 2012-2017. Fleet sales for the year were up 9 percent versus 2017, and were down 4 percent for the fourth quarter. Commercial and government deliveries in 2018 were more than half of fleet sales, as planned. Chevrolet Bolt EV sales GM increased production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV during the fourth quarter to meet strong global demand, including higher than expected demand in South Korea and Canada, and to begin rebuilding U.S. dealer inventories. GM expects higher year-over-year sales in Bolt EV’s major markets in 2019. GM operating highlights GM estimates that the light vehicle SAAR in the fourth quarter was 17.7 million units. Light vehicle sales for the calendar year are estimated at 17.3 million units. GM’s retail mix was 80 percent for the fourth quarter and 79 percent for the year. ATPs were a record $36,974 in the fourth quarter and a record $35,839 for the year, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates. GM’s incentives as a percent of ATP for the fourth quarter were 12.7 percent, down 1.0 percentage point year over year, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates. For the year, incentives were 13.0 percent of ATP, down 0.3 percentage points. Year-end 2018 inventory was 755,000 units, essentially equal to a year ago.

We've known for some time that both Tesla and General Motors would soon be reaching the 200,000 sales mark for electrics, meaning that $7,500 tax credit would begin phasing out. Yesterday, we reported Tesla cut prices on their 2019 model year vehicles to soften the blow. But what about GM? A source told Reuters that GM hit the 200,000 model milestone during the fourth quarter of last year - most likely happening in December. This begins the 15-month phase-out which will see the credit drop to $3,750 in April, $1,875 in October, and then disappear next April. GM declined to comment about this, but we're likely to find out later this morning as the company will be announcing fourth-quarter sales. Source: Reuters View full article

I'm guessing you're thinking of Lucid Motors, which signed an agreement with the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), to get about a billion dollars. Still needs to be approved last I checked.

A new year marks the beginning of the reduction of the federal tax credit for Tesla - from $7,500 down to $3,750. To counteract the reductions, Tesla has instituted a $2,000 price cut on all models. Here is how the pricing looks like, Model 3 $45,200, Mid-Range $52,200, Long Range $63,200, Performance Model S $77,200, 75D $95,200, 100D $134,200, P100D Model X $83,200, 75D $98,200, 100D $139,200 P100D This reduction comes on the same day that Tesla announced fourth quarter production numbers. The past few months saw Tesla making cuts in colors and equipment to help reach their goal of delivering 100,000 Model S and X vehicles by the end of this year - they narrowly missed it with 99,394 deliveries. For the Model 3, Tesla was able to deliver 145,846 vehicles in 2018. Source: Bloomberg, Tesla Tesla Q4 2018 Vehicle Production & Deliveries, Also Announcing $2,000 Price Reduction in US PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --In Q4, we produced and delivered at the rate of nearly 1,000 vehicles per day, setting new company records for both production and deliveries. Production in Q4 grew to 86,555 vehicles, 8% more than our prior all-time high in Q3. This included: 61,394 Model 3 vehicles, in line with our guidance and 15% more than Q3. 25,161 Model S and X vehicles, consistent with our long-term run rate of approximately 100,000 per year. Q4 deliveries grew to 90,700 vehicles, which was 8% more than our prior all time-high in Q3. This included 63,150 Model 3 (13% growth over Q3), 13,500 Model S, and 14,050 Model X vehicles. In 2018, we delivered a total of 245,240 vehicles: 145,846 Model 3 and 99,394 Model S and X. To put our growth into perspective, we delivered almost as many vehicles in 2018 as we did in all prior years combined. Our Q4 Model 3 deliveries were limited to mid- and higher-priced variants, cash/loan transactions, and North American customers only. More than three quarters of Model 3 orders in Q4 came from new customers, rather than reservation holders. There remain significant opportunities to continue to grow Model 3 sales by expanding to international markets, introducing lower-priced variants and offering leasing. International deliveries in Europe and China will start in February 2019. Expansion of Model 3 sales to other markets, including with a right-hand drive variant, will occur later in 2019. 1,010 Model 3 vehicles and 1,897 Model S and X vehicles were in transit to customers at the end of Q4, and will be delivered in early Q1 2019. Our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry, and we were able to reduce vehicles in transit to customers by significantly improving our logistics system in North America. Moving beyond the success of Q4, we are taking steps to partially absorb the reduction of the federal EV tax credit (which, as of January 1st, dropped from $7,500 to $3,750). Starting today, we are reducing the price of Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles in the U.S. by $2,000. Customers can apply to receive the $3,750 federal tax credit for new deliveries starting on January 1, 2019, and may also be eligible for several state and local electric vehicle and utility incentives, which range up to $4,000. Combined with the reduced costs of maintenance and of charging a Tesla versus paying for gas at the pump – which can result in up to $100 per month or more in savings – this means our vehicles are even more affordable than similarly priced gasoline vehicles. Tesla’s achievements in 2018 likely represent the biggest single-year growth in the history of the automotive industry. We started the year with a delivery run rate of about 120,000 vehicles per year and ended it at more than 350,000 vehicles per year – an increase of almost 3X. As a result, we’re starting to make a tangible impact on accelerating the world to sustainable energy. Additionally, 2018 was the first time in decades that an American car – the Model 3 – was the best-selling premium vehicle in the U.S. for the full year, with U.S. sales of Model 3 roughly double those of the runner up. We want to thank our customers, suppliers, investors, and especially our employees, who worked so hard to accomplish this. View full article

Towards the end of last year, the fate of Faraday Future looked to be bleak. Their main investor, Chinese company Evergrande Health Industry Group filed a complaint with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that claimed Faraday tried to cancel a deal to sell a 45 percent stake to them. Evergrande claimed the company didn't meet various milestones to get the full $2 billion it had agreed to in the summer. But Faraday fought back, saying that Evergrade didn't cough up the cash. This would only signal the beginning of various issues. Throughout October, reports started to emerge that Faraday started implementing austerity measures that included a 20 percent cut in salaries and laying off a small group of workers. Later in the month, one of the co-founders of Faraday, Nick Sampson would step down. But there is some good news for Faraday. Earlier this week, Faraday Future announced that it and Evergrade have agreed to a new restructuring agreement. According to a statement, the new agreement will “terminate the previous investment contract, withdraw and waive all litigation and arbitration proceedings, and release all security including the asset preservation pledge and equity financing rights.” This agreement will see Evergrade's stake be reduced from 45 to 32 percent. The agreement also opens the door for Faraday to look for new financing, something the company has badly needed for months. Source: Faraday Future on Twitter View full article

Subaru will be introducing a special edition of their hotted-up WRX STi next month at Detroit Auto Show called the S209. The company is keeping quiet on numerous details such as power figures and possible upgrades. But we can deduce some details by looking back at other S20(X) models. Back in 2000, Subaru introduced a limited-run Impreza STi called the S201 for Japan. Only 300 models were built and featured upgrades to the engine, suspension, and a wild body kit. Since then, Subaru has introduced a few more versions of the S20(X). The most recent was the S208 that used a turbocharged 2.0L boxer-four with 325 horsepower. Other changes included an adjustable Bilstein front suspension, additional bracing, larger brakes, and an aggressive rear wing. For the U.S., we're expecting Subaru to upgrade the turbocharged 2.5L boxer-four (we don't get the 2.0L) to produce possibly 325 or more horsepower. Expect also changes to the suspension and braking system. Source: Subaru Subaru Tecnica International to Debut the STI S209 at 2019 North American International Auto Show Subaru Tecnica International announced today that it will reveal the limited-edition STI S209 at the North American International Auto Show on January 14th. View full article

It has been a year since I first drove the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and came away very impressed. For a seven-passenger vehicle, getting 33 miles on electric power only and an average fuel economy of over 30 mpg was quite the shock. Would I still feel that way a year on? Chrysler made some minor changes for 2018 Pacifica Hybrid, including revamping the trim lineup and adding more standard features. In the case of our Limited tester, it gains a 20-speaker Harman Kardon sound system as standard. Can I just say how good the Pacifica Hybrid looks in this rich blue. The color helps Pacifica’s shape pop out wherever it is parked. No changes concerning the interior of the Pacifica Hybrid. That’s a good thing as the model is towards the top of the minivan hierarchy with a handsome design, impressive materials, and comfortable seating in all of the rows. One downside to going with the Pacifica Hybrid is the loss of the Stow n’ Go seats for the second-row. That space is taken up by the massive battery pack. An 8.4-inch touchscreen with UConnect is standard on all Pacifica Hybrids. This version of UConnect has a special section that provides key information on the hybrid system, including a power output screen and a place to set up the timeframe for when you want the van to charge up. The hybrid powertrain is comprised a 3.6L V6 running on the Atkinson cycle; two electric motors, and a 16-kW lithium-ion battery pack Total output is rated at 260 horsepower. Despite the added heft of the hybrid system, the Pacifica Hybrid is no slouch. The two electric motors provide instantaneous torque to help move the van at a surprising rate. The V6 will come on when more power is needed such as driving on the highway. One nice touch I like is how seamless the transition between electric and hybrid power is. The only sign aside from having the status screen up is the V6 turning on and off. One item I wish Chrysler would reconsider is offering the driver the ability to change between electric hybrid models that other plug-in hybrid offer. I understand why Chrysler decided not to do this as it might not be used by most drivers. But for a small group, including myself, it would nice to choose when the electric powertrain was in use to help conserve range. EPA says the 2018 Pacifica Hybrid will return 84 MPGe on electric power and 32 MPG when running on hybrid power. Overall electric range is rated at 33 miles. My averages for the week mirrored what I saw in the 2017 model - about 32 miles on electric range and an average fuel economy figure of 32. Having the Pacifica Hybrid for a week reminded me of one of the key issues that will face many, charging times. On a 120V outlet, it takes 16 hours for the battery to fully recharge. If you have a 240V charger, that drops to a reasonable 2 hours. Handling is possibly one of the biggest surprises in the Pacifica Hybrid. The added heft of hybrid system allows the Pacifica to feel poised in the corners and have minimal body roll. Ride quality is the same as the standard Pacifica - almost all bumps are smoothed over. Road and wind noise are kept to almost silent levels. Pricing for the Pacifica Hybrid begins at $39,995 for the base Touring Plus and climbs to $44,995 for the Limited. My tester came to $49,825 with a few options, including the Advanced SafetyTec group that adds adaptive cruise control, surround view camera system, and blind spot monitoring. Sadly, this package isn’t available on lower trims. There is the $7,500 federal tax credit and various state incentives that will be swayed around to draw some people in, but be forewarned those only come into effect when it is time to do taxes, not when you purchase the vehicle. Disclaimer: Chrysler Provided the Pacifica, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Gallery: Quick Drive: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited Year: 2018 Make: Chrysler Model: Pacifica Hybrid Trim: Limited Engine: 3.6L V6 eHybrid System Driveline: eFlite EVT, Front-Wheel Drive Horsepower @ RPM: 260 @ N/A (Combined) Torque @ RPM: N/A Fuel Economy: Gas + Electric Combined, Gas Combined - 84 MPGe, 32 MPG Curb Weight: 4,987 lbs Location of Manufacture: Windsor, Ontario Base Price: $44,995 As Tested Price: $49,825 (Includes $1,345 Destination Charge) Options: Tri-Pane Panoramic Sunroof - $1,595.00 Advanced SafetyTec - $995.00 18-inch x 7.5-inch Polished Aluminum wheels - $895.00 View full article