New car and truck prices start with the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) which federal law mandates to be published and affixed to all new automobiles delivered by the factory to its dealers, and which must remain on the vehicles until sold to the first consumer.

After our last post on the dying nameplates in the auto industry, alert reader AJ Murphy of Just Saab of Cincinnati (www.justsaab.com) pointed out that the Spyker Cars NV acquisition of Saab was consummated on February 23. Quite so, and this week’s Automotive News (www.autonews.com/) carries additional details. Mike Colleran of Saab Cars North America agrees [...]

Despite all the carping by media and polticians of both stripes, our clients affirm that Cash For Clunkers was a qualified success, in that it provided a needed shot in the arm for the entire industry. Although there was an anticipated drop off after the conclusion of the program, it did allow for needed cash [...]

The successful Cash For Clunkers (Car Allowance Rebate System) is over– except for voucher payments, slowly trickling down to new motor vehicle dealers. The program was a success because it gave a shot in the arm to a troubled industry, reduced inventories of many models of new cars and trucks which, in turn, led to the firing up [...]

The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) reported yesterday that it heard on a call with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) that in the “Cash for Clunkers” program 80% of transactions are being rejected.

Yesterday, the Senate agreed with the House of Representatives that the successful “Cash for Clunkers” would get $2 billion extra (which was in the original request by the House, but cut by the Senate before the program was originally implemented), enough — most say — to keep the program going through August. This is great [...]

I noticed back to back stories in the Wall Street Journal Thursday and Friday on the “Cash for Clunkers” program that Congress approved as part of the set of legislative initiatives that have come to be known as the economic stimulus package. John McEleney, chair of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) kicked up concern [...]

According to the Detroit News, General Motors reversed the closing of 41 of the 2,100 dealerships originally targeted to be closed as part of GM’s bankruptcy and restructuring. GM has listened to appeals from hundreds of dealers, and has allowed 41 so far to remain open. This is in stark contrast to Chrysler, which received [...]