16 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Russian light-vehicle sales have posted their biggest decline against a relatively high base comparison and due to the ongoing tough macroeconomic...
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Observations and insights from our global mobility experts including: product strategy, technology, production, sales and marketing.
16 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Russian light-vehicle sales have posted their biggest decline against a relatively high base comparison and due to the ongoing tough macroeconomic...
10 December 2015 Automotive Expert
Russian light-vehicle sales have posted their biggest decline against a relatively high base comparison and due to the ongoing tough macroeconomic...
09 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The South Korean government has revealed its five-year "green car" development plan, which aims to have as many as a million environmentally...
08 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Hyundai and its affiliate Kia reported a 3.4% year-on-year increase in their combined global sales during November, as domestic demand spiked...
07 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The way people move about in urban areas is happening at an ever increasing pace in many, many cities and urban areas around the world.
07 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Western European passenger car market was helped by a positive calendar effect in November but it was still an impressive performance despite...
04 December 2015 Tom Libby
Leasing has other uses besides moving mainstream buyers upstream.
04 December 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
US light-vehicle sales grew 1.4% year on year (y/y) in November and 5.4% y/y in the year to date on the continuing market conditions of recent...
18 November 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The rate of growth in passenger car demand growth in the EU has softened during October, with registrations up by only 2.9% y/y
12 November 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The passenger vehicle market in China has responded to the new government policy to boost sales of vehicles with small engines
11 November 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Western European market was affected by fewer working days in October, but remains on track for a strong full-year uplift despite signs in...
10 November 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Body type is expected to reach 15% of production in 2017 from 3% in 2003 as SUVs and CUVs gain popularity and are localized
05 November 2015 Jeremy Carlson
In the two years since the previous event, the Tokyo Motor Show-known for its concept cars-has shifted ever so slightly closer to the realities......
05 November 2015 Tom Libby
SUV buyers are loyal and buy another one
03 November 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Renault Group has announced an increase in its Group sales revenues of 9.4% y/y to EUR9,336 million for the third quarter
28 October 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Barriers reduced share of Korean and Chinese brands, but it will take Brazil four years after quotas with Mexico to have a surplus
21 October 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
While light vehicle output in Brazil plunged 20%, FCA, VW and GM face increased competition, tight credit with consumer base
15 October 2015 Tom Libby
SUV/CUV share will reach 40% in 2015, a record for this category.
02 October 2015 Tom Libby
S&P Global Brand Loyalty data indicates that six brands in the U.S. new vehicle industry - Audi, Ford, GMC, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Subaru...
29 September 2015 Flavio Gomes Dias
GM's subsidiary OnStar, brings to Brazil later 2015, telematics services with many resources in its 2016 Chevrolet Cruze.
18 September 2015 Flavio Gomes Dias
A hope against vehicle theft, the Brazilian mandate, CONTRAN 245, it is still in the queue for being definitively implemented
24 August 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Sales in Brazil are down 20.5% YTD, but Honda has been able to sell more than 22,000 HR-V; output of the Ford EcoSport plunged 46%
07 August 2015 Tom Libby
S&P Global Mobility provides data that shows definitively that brand loyalty and breadth of product portfolio are linked
23 July 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Learn how Norway, the United States and China rank in PEV Vehicle Adoption and how trends, incentives and regulations are accelerating adoption....
26 June 2015 Tom Libby
Recently several luxury makes have added models to their product portfolios, suggesting the overall luxury market might expand. Actually, this...
02 June 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
With the rise of navigation systems, and the addition of autonomous features, OEMs will have a greater need for precise maps.
07 May 2015 Tom Libby
Given the brutal competition in the U.S. new vehicle market, each OEM needs to retain as many of its current owners as possible. Leasing is a...
27 April 2015 Tom Libby
The re-designed 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon have done well in their few months on the U.S. market.
27 April 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Currency devaluation and weak market hurt General Motors, which fell faster than the total industry
09 April 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Harman announced the acquisition of Bang & Olufsen Automotive car audio business. Branded audio is big business for OEMs and suppliers.
18 March 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
German make has created its 18th sales unit, in a move very common in the South American country
16 March 2015
The mass prevalence of smartphones across the globe is affecting consumer preferences when driving and when shopping for a new car. Consumers...
27 February 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Brazil and Argentina try to protect their markets from Mexican products
24 February 2015 Tom Libby
The recent decline in gasoline prices in the U.S. is impacting the mix of new vehicle registrations in the U.S. based on fuel type. Recently...
13 February 2015
S&P Global Mobility research shows automated driving technologies and new automotive HMI technologies like gesture recognition, augmented reality...
10 February 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
OEMs say it is too expensive to build in the country, even not paying 35% of Import Tax
10 February 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Automotive white paper on impact of low oil price
02 February 2015 Tom Libby
Jeep's 2014 U.S. new registrations have climbed 44% through the first nine months, the largest jump of any make and far above the overall industry...
30 January 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
China is riding the wave of the connected car. However, the competitive landscape is quite different there.
29 January 2015 Egil Juliussen, Ph.D.
HARMAN International announced the planned acquisitions of both Symphony Teleca and Red Bend Software. In this Insight S&P Global Mobility highlights...
27 January 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Ford changes how to report revenues coming Venezuela; Dana sells its operations to local supplier
22 January 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Looking to expand relations with Cuba, Brazil could export cars of a Chinese company to the island.
21 January 2015 Jeremy Carlson
The HMI is a very complex set of technologies whose purpose is to convey a wealth of information without being a distraction. That is a monumental...
21 January 2015
The convergence of technologies is leading to some really powerful and integrated innovations in the cars of tomorrow.
21 January 2015
Security was high on the minds of automotive analysts and journalists at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), especially as software- and...
15 January 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Best practices encompass more than just an understanding of, and extracting value from, business and investment issues. Leading suppliers also...
14 January 2015 Eric A. Fedewa
If the global automotive industry were a country, it would be the fifth-largest economy in the world. The estimated compound annual growth rate...
13 January 2015 Egil Juliussen, Ph.D.
Software is an increasing portion of the car's functionality, resulting in a growing number of programs, lines of codes, and, unfortunately...
12 January 2015 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The roadmap of autonomous driving consists of several factors that must align in order for autonomous vehicles to gain traction, penetrate the...
11 January 2015
Light vehicle air conditioning (A/C) systems in Europe are moving to a new refrigerant, in response to concerns about the environmental effects...
19 December 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Volkswagen held the title for 27 years, but Fiat offers two generations under the same nameplate
16 December 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Affected by lower local demand and hurt by exports to Argentina, Brazil's output is forecast to total 2.99 million units
05 December 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The first fully-owned factory outside of the UK opens in 2016 and can make 24,000 units
07 October 2014 Stephanie Brinley Andrew Rassweiler
Tesla's disruptive influence is more than semiconductors and software. It's a new vision for the car and a new model for manufacturing.
01 October 2014 Tom Libby
Alfred Sloan's strategies that built GM into the world's largest automaker remain intact.
28 August 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The desire to reduce pollution and reliance on imported oil is driving hybrid and EV sales. Cost and availability remain barriers to their widespread...
23 July 2014 Tom Libby
Find out which automotive luxury models are best at conquesting non-luxury owners.
03 July 2014 Tom Libby
Domestic OEMs compete against Asian OEM in the new US car market.
30 May 2014 Tom Libby
Despite increased hybrid auto models, the sales don't increase at same rate.
23 May 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As auto makers develop next-generation, fuel-efficient engines, they must ensure they run on the fuels that refineries will be able produce cheaply...
20 May 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Electronics are changing how vehicles are designed, built, and driven. They are shaping companies' business models-and customers' buying ...
13 May 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Half the world's population lives in cities. Space constraints will inhibit future urban dwellers from owning cars. Automakers must plan for...
08 May 2014 Tom Libby
Competition in the luxury market heats up between BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
04 May 2014 Tom Libby
Which OEMs are attracting the youngest automotive buyers?
30 April 2014 Tom Libby
The small crossover segment, driven by exceptional performances by several models, outpaces the sedan.
17 April 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Japanese OEM opened a new plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with capacity to make 200,000 light vehicles per year.
07 April 2014 Tom Libby
While the automotive industry focuses on other crises, Jeep has a fantastic start in 2014!
21 March 2014 Tom Libby
Despite an overall decrease in buying, millennials display increased brand loyalty.
07 March 2014 Tom Libby
15 of the 18 small mainstream crossovers enjoyed year-over-year sales gains in Feb.
20 February 2014 Tom Libby
Do brands still play an important role in automotive sales?
06 February 2014 Tom Libby
Find out what customers are trading in for the Tesla Model S.
24 January 2014 Tavernier, Edouard
The auto industry must forecast consumer preferences five or more years out so they align with the vehicles that are being planned today – this...
20 January 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
SUVs and crossovers are the must have vehicle of the elite in Brazil.
17 January 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
How the Hyundai HB20 reached the top spot with Google for the Brazilian auto industry.
16 January 2014 Tom Libby
Find out why Maserati, Jaguar, Subaru, Ram and Cadillac did well in 2013.
15 January 2014 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards presented by S&P Global, including eight feature categories and 25 segment level winners.
07 January 2014 Tom Libby
Despite intense competition in the luxury market, luxury makes overall don't gain share.
15 December 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
I always think about the title of this post - how quickly should an OEM phase a vehicle out? - when I analyze Chevrolet's numbers in ...
06 December 2013 Tom Libby
December brings to mind snow and cold, but for luxury dealers in the U.S., this month will be the "hottest" of the year. U.S. consumers purchase...
25 November 2013 Tom Libby
The Porsche Macan, Porsche's all-new small crossover revealed last week in Los Angeles and to be launched in the U.S. next spring, should be...
20 November 2013 Tom Libby
Monthly summaries of U.S. car and light truck sales focus on macro results such as the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), corporate results...
19 November 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
I attended the 43rd edition of the Miami International Auto Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center. This is truly regarded as the official...
12 November 2013 Tom Libby
After two lackluster years, Jaguar is now thriving in the U.S., some of Jaguar's success is due to the strong launch of the all-new F-Type cabriolet....
09 October 2013 Mark Seng
Do parts sold in the US or Europe have applications that can generate revenue in other parts of the world?
08 October 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
There have been a lot of announcements that OEMs will start – or resume – production in Brazil. This year, Honda and Mercedes-Benz announced...
07 October 2013 Tom Libby
Leasing is not just back; it has climbed to new heights in the U.S. car business. Through the first seven months of 2013, leases have accounted...
02 October 2013 Tom Libby
U.S. new vehicle registration data indicate that millenials' (age 21-34) portion of total new vehicle registrations continues to decline (see...
16 September 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Brazil is waving goodbye to some of its oldest vehicles. Not because OEMs have decided to drop them or because customers were not going to the...
10 September 2013 Tom Libby
August U.S. new car and light truck sales were not merely good - they were extraordinary.
09 September 2013 IHS Markit Expert
Every new vehicle sold is a signal to OEMs that customers want more of that type of car or truck. In essence, customers are voting with their...
28 August 2013 Tom Libby
A review of body type registration data reveals that while there are indeed many body types from which to choose, just a handful dominate the...
06 August 2013 Tom Libby
When car owners either trade their vehicle for a new one or add a vehicle to their household fleet, 55-60% of them choose a vehicle from the...
01 August 2013 Tom Libby
Three "domestic" automakers, long known for their strength in light trucks, are turning out more competitive cars and that consumers are noticing....
22 July 2013 Automotive Expert
There is not much logic in Brazil's automotive market and neighboring Argentina faces the same problem.
16 July 2013 Tom Libby
Small luxury CUV registrations have jumped almost four-fold over the past five years, with almost 75,000 being delivered in the first five months...
12 July 2013 Tom Libby
The OEMs operating in the US have one dominant make accounting for at least 60% (and much higher in most cases) of all its US registrations while...
09 July 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Brazilian market does not follow economic, or even social logic. Last year, for example, GDP growth was only 0.9% but light vehicle sales...
25 June 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Tax incentives were very effective in 2012 and helped Brazil reach a new sales record of 3,573,076 light vehicles. With this success, Brazil...
19 May 2013 Tom Libby
The commercial van segment is splitting into two distinct categories, each with a wide range of models. Back in 2008, the commercial van customer...
10 May 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Since January, Mexico has been able to import American and Canadian vehicles that are Model Year (MY) 2007 or older and in 2019, any used vehicle...
06 May 2013 Tom Libby
Toyota owes much of its climb in the U.S. market to the success of the Camry. This sedan has been the most popular car in the U.S. every year...
29 April 2013 Tom Libby
A smaller make has been outperforming the industry for years and deserves some recognition. Subaru's recent performance in the U.S. has been...
22 April 2013 Tom Libby
Ford and GM are now solidly profitable and Ford's credit rating has moved out of the junk category, but the U.S. market shares for both companies...
25 March 2013 Tom Libby
One of the largest auto shows takes place in a location where many residents don't own a car. The mix of new cars purchased by New Yorkers who...
18 March 2013 Tom Libby
Mainstream large cars, such as the Avalon, Maxima, Taurus and Impala, continue to lose favor. Their combined share of the U.S. market has retreated...
10 March 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
How would you react if a law determined that all new vehicles from now on should have a sticker price from the first half of 2009? Moreover...
07 March 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The automotive industry achieved nearly 14.5 million new vehicle sales in 2012, which resulted in a sales improvement of 13.4% versus 2011.
07 March 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The new automotive law in Venezuela and its impacts.
05 March 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Ford launched the C-Max hybrid vehicle in September 2012, and dubbed it as America's most affordable hybrid utility vehicle.
05 March 2013 Tom Libby
Three new cars are striving to gain ground in the huge non-luxury small car segment. The 2013 Dodge Dart was launched last June, the redesigned...
19 February 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Every calendar year in the third quarter, the automotive industry is filled with excitement as OEM brands launch new model year products. These...
12 February 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
With the economy continuing to strengthen, more and more vehicle owners are in the market and actively shopping for new cars. With automotive...
11 February 2013 Tom Libby
January 2013 US new light vehicle sales climbed 14% from a year ago and sales for the rest of the year are expected to climb as well, though...
29 January 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As Toyota announced it has regained the global sales crown, it makes me think of how the Japanese OEM has wasted its chances in the world's fourth...
17 January 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
We recognized automakers in 16 different categories based on having the highest percentage of prior new owners return to buy another new vehicle...
09 January 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
South America is a very diverse continent with different automotive consumer behavior in each country.
03 January 2013 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Polk's automotive predictions for 2013.
20 December 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Late in June, Argentina canceled the free-trade agreement it has had with Mexico since 2002.
20 December 2012 Tom Libby
The 15 DMAs with the highest percentage of hybrid powertrains together account for almost 30% of all hybrid registrations nationally, yet these...
19 December 2012 Automotive Expert
I rely on some form of a "mileage countdown" system when tracking the time to change the oil in my car. Whether it's an electronic display on......
18 December 2012 Tom Libby
Automotive marketers continue to covet the young buyer and this holds true in the luxury market as much as in the mass market. The luxury marque...
17 December 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As someone who works in the auto industry, knowing how long Amercians hold onto their car or truck gives me a sense of what future sales demand...
13 December 2012 Tom Libby
While some people believe the fall is the best time to buy a new car because the dealers want to clear out their inventory to make room for the...
10 December 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Of the 38 percent jump Polk expects to see for global light vehicle sales between 2012 and 2020, the BRIC countries will generate 63.4 percent...
02 November 2012 Tom Libby
The sales and registration data speak for themselves regarding the success of the Prius. Its sales more than doubled in September, and are up...
25 October 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Brazil has always been a key market for many OEMs – for example, it is the second main market for Chevrolet and Renault – but it has been closed...
17 October 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As Brazil enjoys economic growth, people buy more cars, even in places where there is not a single dealership. That is the main challenge to...
09 October 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Sao Paulo is one of the richest cities in Brazil and where all luxury brands have dealerships. Customers can buy Audi, BMW and Mercedes vehicles...
03 October 2012 Tom Libby
How could the car business be doing so well while the overall economy remains in the doldrums?
18 September 2012 Tom Libby
It's difficult to overstate the importance of the Accord to the Honda franchise. The Accord is to Honda as the F-Series is to Ford, the Caravan...
17 September 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
According to Polk data, the Korean OEM produced almost 3 million light vehicles worldwide in 2003 and we forecast that its output will reach...
13 September 2012 Tom Libby
The contract between the three "domestic" automakers and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September...
11 September 2012 Tom Libby
Toyota is in a strong position in the midsize segments.
10 September 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
There is a lot of buzz about the Audi plant that will be built in San José Chiapa, Mexico. The press refers to it as "Audi's first car plant...
05 September 2012 Tom Libby
An explanation behind the recent boom in midsize cars.
29 August 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As the U.S. presidential campaigns gear up for their final drive toward election day, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at automobile...
28 August 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
What brands are Saab owners moving into, now that the company is bankrupt?
15 August 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The automotive industry contributed to nearly 50% of the GDP growth this year. Polk is forecasting new vehicle sales to achieve 14.3 million...
06 August 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Four automotive forecast views that Polk has about the Japanese auto market.
03 August 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
In Brazil, where the market enjoyed a 22% growth in July, Ford sold 12% less light vehicles compared to June. Its monthly market share slumped...
26 July 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
In an eastern province of Paraguay, more than 300 police officers tried to evict 150 landless farmers from an estate owned by a political opponent...
16 July 2012 Tom Libby
GM is also struggling in the U.S. Through the first six months of 2012, the company's U.S. market share is down almost two percentage points...
09 July 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Polk forecasting team is in a position to report good news as the North American assembly and sales volumes continue to improve year over...
02 July 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
In 2011, the trade deficit between Brazil and Mexico was US$1.5 billion and the Brazilian government worried it would not stop increasing. Mexico...
25 June 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
South American market has reduced sales forecast by 2% for 2012.
21 June 2012 Tom Libby
The much-coveted new vehicle buyers age 18-34, sometimes referred to as millenials, are a dwindling group. Five years ago they accounted for...
12 June 2012 Tom Libby
Hidden behind the headlines about May's modest new vehicle sales results is the fact that Toyota Motor Sales had an extraordinary month. With...
22 May 2012 Tom Libby
Non-luxury fullsize cars, once the mainstay of the U.S. car business, are losing their luster in the eyes of the U.S. consumer.
17 May 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Inventory Efficience Awards honor two outstanding aftermarket companies for their process improvements relative to inventory and supply chain...
07 May 2012 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
April auto sales continued at the strong pace set in the first quarter with a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 14.4 million light vehicles....
02 May 2012 Tom Libby
GM's consolidation to four brands and Ford's discontinuation of Mercury have helped to create the current environment in which there is an exceptionally...
20 April 2012 Tom Libby
If the new 2013 Lincoln MKZ does as well after its launch as it has beforehand, it will be a huge success. At both the North American International...
12 April 2012 Marc Bland
This month, the Jacob Javits Center in New York is the focal point for the automotive industry as it hosts the 2012 New York International Auto...
03 April 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
One of the byproducts of the recent collapse of the automotive industry has been a renewed and some might say "zealous" focus on keeping customers...
29 March 2012 Tom Libby
Sales of hybrid and electric vehicles remain modest. And, the creation of the infrastructure to support the use of these vehicles is proceeding...
28 March 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
I thought I would share some 2011 calendar year-end findings regarding owner loyalty and age.
28 March 2012 Tom Libby
An analysis of new vehicle buyers shows that their average age was 51 years old in 2011, three years older than buyers in 2007. In 2011, 40%...
27 March 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
With the recent upturn in gas prices, I thought I would look to see if there has been a noticeable impact on the kinds of vehicles that people...
26 March 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Common sense suggests that gaining a first time buyer provides the opportunity to create a customer for life. Yet analyzing repurchase behavior...
26 March 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Engaging diverse markets has become an increasingly important initiative for the automotive industry. The contributions of these consumers have...
21 March 2012 Tom Libby
The non-luxury sub-compact car segment, home to such well-known cars as the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris, is one of...
20 March 2012 Tom Libby
Recently some friends and I were talking about the fact that Mercedes-Benz and BMW are fierce competitors, and I mentioned that Audi was making...
19 March 2012 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
Gas prices have risen $0.40 on average for all grades in the past six weeks, igniting consumer interest in more fuel efficient vehicles. Small...
19 March 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Last month, I had the opportunity to speak at the Digital Market Strategies Conference, an event hosted by First Class Educators. If you are...
16 March 2012 Marc Bland
On Friday, March 9, I had the pleasure of joining executives from across Michigan and a few from as far as Ohio at the quarterly Cornerstone...
12 March 2012 Tom Libby
From 2006 through 2009, large vehicles as a percentage of total new vehicle registrations declined 10 percentage points to 20%, though this proportion...
21 February 2012 Tom Libby
The FIAT 500 has come in for some criticism because dealers delivered only 17,945* units in 2011, far short of the annual goal of 50,000 announced...
21 February 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Americans continue to hold on to their cars and trucks longer than ever before. Nearly six years (71 months) among new vehicle owners is the...
20 February 2012 Tom Libby
Polk forecasts that 2012 U.S. light vehicle sales will reach 13.7 million, a 7% increase versus 2011. Other forecasting firms have weighed in...
16 February 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
When was the last time you participated in an event that really made you think about a significant achievement? Not just obtaining a goal, more...
14 February 2012 Tom Libby
Premium new vehicle registrations in the U.S. climbed almost 5% in 2011 to 1.45 million units, driven in part by fierce competition between BMW...
13 February 2012 Tom Libby
With more than eight months to go in the 2012 Presidential election campaigns, we will probably hear a lot more about red, blue and purple states....
10 February 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
One could hardly argue that oil has provided America, and the world, an increased quality of life for roughly a century. In the same breath...
06 February 2012 Tom Libby
The U.S. new car business did well in January. Sales of 913,284 new cars and light trucks were 11% ahead of a year ago. The Seasonally Adjusted...
30 January 2012 Automotive Expert
There is no denying the fact that the internet has changed the shopping process for consumers as they're influenced by online search, display...
26 January 2012 Marc Bland
One year ago (Wednesday, January 12, 2011) the inaugural DRIVEN project was unveiled and I'm still impressed with the resulting coffee table...
25 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
My business associate, Marc Bland, has provided insightful blogs on the female automotive market over the last several months. During the holiday...
25 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
NHTSA wrapped up their Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Program in California this month, concluding a five month, six city consumer research ......
24 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Dependence on foreign oil, increasing fuel costs and concerns for the environment have forced OEMs to develop solutions to improve the efficiency...
24 January 2012 Tom Libby
The Luxury Compact Car Segment - with 27% of all luxury registrations during the first 11 months of 2011 - is the largest luxury segment. Therefore...
22 January 2012 Tom Libby
The U.S. auto industry is swimming in data. At the recent press conferences held prior to the opening of the North American International Auto...
20 January 2012 Marc Bland
I recently joined many of my Polk colleagues and automotive industry leaders from across the globe at the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards held...
19 January 2012 Marc Bland
The 2012 Auto Show Week began for me like years past with the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards. The Decisive Media event held at the Motor City...
18 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
On January 10, 2012, Polk announced the winners of the 16th Annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards and one question has been asked over and over...
18 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
For the second straight year, I had the opportunity to attend the Automotive News World Congress. This event provides attendees with an opportunity...
11 January 2012 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
My how time flies! A year has passed and once again, we have honored excellence in owner loyalty during last night's 16th annual Polk Automotive...
06 January 2012 Tom Libby
The U.S. new vehicle industry continued to gain momentum as 2011 came to a close, with December deliveries up almost 9% from December 2010. For...
04 January 2012 Marc Bland
While reading the Detroit News recently, I came across the following article: "Women-Focused Auto Shop a Reaction to Disdainful Mechanics." The...
03 January 2012 Tom Libby
It seems like there are a million different types of cars and trucks on the road these days. I'm not a mathematician, but if you were to calculate...
28 December 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Autoweek just posted a list of the five most watched car ads of 2011. Of the five ads, four of them were for new vehicles: Kia Soul, Chrysler...
15 December 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended the ban of all non-emergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving...
09 December 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Once again, we're coming up on the end of the year - that time between Thanksgiving and New Year Year's Eve when everyone seems to be making...
06 December 2011 Marc Bland
On Friday, December 2, Polk joined over 600 attendees representing multiple OEMs, auto suppliers and other industries at the Michigan Hispanic...
01 December 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Media Post is reporting that Ford will launch the 2013 Escape - which was lauded for its new design at the 2011 LA Auto Show - with yet another...
29 November 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Social Media is the place to be for any business these days. It provides a direct engagement channel with the consumer that was never possible....
28 November 2011 Tom Libby
In the November 9, 2011 edition of The AutoExtremist, a respected blog written by veteran auto marketer Peter M. De Lorenzo, he discusses how...
23 November 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
We have reached the end of the third quarter for 2011 and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited is still the sales leader in the country. In...
10 November 2011 Marc Bland
As the Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Polk, my peers and I often discuss multicultural marketing, primarily focusing on the growing importance...
26 October 2011 Tom Libby
The BMW 3-Series continues to be the heart and soul of BMW. This small BMW encapsulates in one vehicle the driving characteristics, styling and...
14 October 2011 Tom Libby
If one accepts the theory that customer perceptions of automobile makes are influenced at least in part by what customers see on the road, then...
04 October 2011 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
Scope: Looking at 19 brands and their corresponding dealer locations and determining whether or not the location of Walmart stores influence...
02 October 2011 Marc Bland
To help the public gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S. light...
30 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help the public gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S. light...
28 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help the public gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S. light...
26 September 2011 Tom Libby
Ten years ago Ford dealers delivered over 275,000 Rangers. This year, Ford is tracking to deliver about 62,000. What happened? Several things....
21 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
20 September 2011 Tom Libby
New vehicle registration data for the first seven months of 2011 suggest a gap between actual retail demand for hybrid vehicles and the need...
19 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
16 September 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Of all the blogs I have written about the BRIC nations, I realized I have never written about the opportunity in the Brazilian automotive market....
15 September 2011 Tom Libby
New premium vehicle registrations tend to be skewed to the Northeast, but after about three years of ownership, some of these vehicles start...
11 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
07 September 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact that diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on...
31 August 2011 Tom Libby
It seems like an appropriate time, with six months of 2011 new vehicle registrations available, to look at model-level performance and determine...
29 August 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian and Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
28 August 2011 Tom Libby
In his latest book, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters, Bob Lutz criticizes the luxury brands' efforts to be number one in sales: "This had always seemed...
25 August 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian, Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
24 August 2011 Marc Bland
On Monday, August 1, I was honored to be asked by Ken Smikle, President and founder of Target Market News to participate on a panel titled, "The...
23 August 2011 Tom Libby
The five makes with the largest year-over-year increases in new vehicle registrations through the first six months of 2011 have all recently...
21 August 2011 Marc Bland
To help automotive customers gain insight into the impact diverse market customers (African American, Asian, Hispanic) are having on the U.S....
18 August 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Polk just released the June registrations, so this is a good time to take a look at how the industry is doing for the first half of the year...
16 August 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Interested in a premium vehicle? How about a premium vehicle capable of getting 100 miles per U.S. gallon? Oh, I need to point out the MSRP of...
12 August 2011 Marc Bland
The National Association of Minority Dealers, better known as NAMAD, held their 2011 annual conference at the beautiful Mandalay Bay hotel in...
04 August 2011 Tom Libby
Any discussion about flagship luxury sedans usually gets around to mentioning the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and/or Lexus LS, long the...
31 July 2011 Tom Libby
Have you ever been driving on a highway, noticed how many BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi vehicles there are, and wondered how so many people have...
27 July 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
It's getting harder and harder to separate a tech company from a good old car company. Even though there is still a fair share of old-fashioned...
21 July 2011 Tom Libby
Even though the U.S. new vehicle industry has had to weather a lot of turbulence during the past few years, some things seem to pretty much remain...
20 July 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
After seeing the domestic share of the retail light vehicle market continue to lose ground to Asian brands over the past five years, we are beginning...
18 July 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
I used to work for a company that produced convertibles for the OEMs (ASC Incorporated) and wondered what has happened to the convertible market...
13 July 2011 Tom Libby
On June 27, Nissan CEO and President Carlos Ghosn outlined the company's growth plan for the next six years, including raising its global market...
12 July 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As the social media world continues to evolve and become more prevalent in marketing, it has become commonplace for dealerships to try and determine...
11 July 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The recently published half-year sales of the three German luxury car brands (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) were quite impressive. All three recorded...
06 July 2011 Marc Bland
On Monday, June 20, I had the honor of attending the Rainbow Push National Conference in Chicago, IL. While there, I spoke on a panel titled...
04 July 2011 Tom Libby
The 2011 Fiesta, Ford's first sub-compact since the Aspire was discontinued in 1998, is an overwhelming success. The Fiesta now accounts for...
29 June 2011 Tom Libby
New registrations for the first third of 2011 indicate that the most popular premium makes, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, are locked in a tight...
27 June 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Looks Like a Million Bucks. Starts Under $20,000." That's Hyundai's tagline for the 2011 Sonata and it's working. In the first ...
08 June 2011 Tom Libby
In the last 24 months, as gas prices have risen and customers have continued to move to crossovers, the small non-premium crossover category...
05 June 2011 Marc Bland
My wife swears she'll never drive a minivan. Whereas, I have a teammate at Polk who takes every opportunity to boast about "how cool minivans...
01 June 2011 Tom Libby
Competition permeates the U.S. auto industry. Whether it's dealer vs. dealer, OEM vs. OEM, or model vs. model, competition is an integral part...
31 May 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
When the automotive industry took a plunge in 2008/2009, the hybrid market followed suit and took a plunge with it. Looking at calendar year-to-date...
27 May 2011 Tom Libby
It was not that long ago that Buick was dismissed by most auto analysts. Not only had Buick's share dropped to less than 1%, but it seemed that...
25 May 2011 Marc Bland
On Thursday, May 19, at the Troy Marriott Hotel, I had the opportunity to experience my first Inforum meeting from the inside. Prior to...
25 May 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
As you probably know, it is generally easier to sell new products to existing customers than it is to find entirely new customers for your products....
16 May 2011 Tom Libby
It's no secret that Hyundai/Kia is on a roll. With a potent combination of aggressive pricing, leading-edge styling, competitive quality, impressive...
11 May 2011 Marc Bland
Back in 2008 there were news stories that read, "The SUV is Dead." This proclamation was partially true as it marked a dramatic decline in ......
28 April 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Vehicle density is a key indicator to show the maturity of an automotive market. In the glory days of the U.S. auto market (back in 2001), the...
28 April 2011 Tom Libby
Sometimes hidden among all the setbacks the domestic OEMs have endured in the past five years is one notable success: thwarting Toyota's efforts...
27 April 2011 Tom Libby
One of the BMW 3-Series' strengths that has kept it at the top of the small premium car segment for years is the fact that it is available in...
15 April 2011 Marc Bland
First, I want to acknowledge the fact that my previous blog titled, "When the Car Market Dipped - Motorcycle Demand Soared and Remained ...
11 April 2011 Tom Libby
While the growth of the Japanese new vehicle makes in the U.S. is commonly attributed to their perceived superior quality, another core reason...
03 April 2011 Tom Libby
Certain new vehicle categories, such as large pickups, midsize cars and crossovers, tend to get a lot of attention and media coverage. But there...
30 March 2011 Marc Bland
There appears to be a strong connection between women and the Asian OEMs. Based on the chart below, the collective group of Asian OEMs that include...
29 March 2011 Tom Libby
New 2010 Census Bureau data released March 24 includes the fact that there are now 50 million Hispanics living in the U.S., a record-setting...
29 March 2011 Marc Bland
In my last blog titled, "Women Auto Sales on Rise - Who is Leading Growth," I highlighted the fact that Asian women are nearly on par with ......
28 March 2011 Marc Bland
In my prior blog titled, "Women Driving Increased Auto Sales," I shined a much deserved spotlight on this growing group of auto consumers. In...
23 March 2011 Marc Bland
We all know automakers are spending millions of dollars annually in marketing that are targeted specifically to women. So is it really paying...
17 March 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
In honor of St. Patrick's Day I thought about what my favorite green car might be. I thought about the new Chevy Volt, the Prius, the hybrid...
09 March 2011 Tom Libby
The 15 largest states (based on new vehicle registrations) account for 70% of all retail new vehicle registrations in the country. Of these 15...
08 March 2011 Marc Bland
The old saying "One Size Fits All" does not apply to vehicle consumers across ethnic groups. Using January-November new vehicle registrations...
03 March 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
Nearly two years have passed since General Motors announced it was filing for bankruptcy. With the announcement, General Motors also determined...
28 February 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
I've blogged before about my excitement for the Indian auto market and wanted to give you a little closer look at the vehicle mix. India's light...
28 February 2011 Tom Libby
As one of the largest categories in the U.S. car industry, with a share somewhere between 15% and 20% depending on how it's measured, the midsize...
24 February 2011 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
We all know there are changes occurring in the demographic make-up of the U.S. population, what may be a surprise and definitely worth paying...
24 February 2011 Tom Libby
Ford's recent success has been driven by the Ford Division, as Lincoln has struggled with a lack of new products and Mercury has been discontinued....
22 February 2011 Marc Bland
Unlike their ethanol flex fuel peers, Americans have been slow to accept the hybrid gas and electric vehicles. The gas electric hybrid market...
20 February 2011 Tom Libby
The correlations between fuel prices and both the size and body type of new vehicle purchases have been well documented: as fuel prices rise...
17 February 2011 Marc Bland
Flexible (gasoline/ethanol) vehicles, commonly referred to as "E85" or "Flex Fuel," represent one of every 10 personal new vehicle ...
14 February 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
The Indian auto market has been one of my favorites to watch during the past few years even though many times India was overshadowed by China....
14 February 2011 Tom Libby
All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles continue to gain popularity in the U.S., and it's not just because of the recent string of snow...
11 February 2011 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
Talk about Heavy Weight vs Feather Weight! Ford who sells about a bazillion F150s a year (Okay - 343,284 in 2010 based on Polk U.S. Total Registrations...
03 February 2011 Tom Libby
New vehicle fleet business, including sales to commercial, government and daily rental enterprises, can bring high volumes and revenues to OEMs....
01 February 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
High fuel costs...CAFE standards...an increasing number of small cars sold in the U.S...you would think pickups, SUVs and their brethren are...
01 February 2011 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
So we are one month into the New Year, the North American International Auto Show is behind us and everyone has put their stake in the ground....
31 January 2011 Marc Bland
The introduction of hybrid, alternate fuel and electric vehicles was supposed to signal the end for the large people haulers (Pickups and SUVs)...
13 January 2011 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
This week marked the presentation of the 15th annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. Held at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, MI...
12 January 2011 IHS Markit Expert
Once again, it was an honor to present the Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards last night at the Automotive News World Congress. This is our 15th...
17 December 2010 Tom Libby
Creating a list is risky. It's almost inevitable that readers will complain, saying something like, "How could you ...
10 December 2010 Tom Libby
If you were asked whether the total number of car and light truck brands in the U.S. has gone up or down during the past ten years, what ...
06 December 2010 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Miami Heat last week until I just couldn't watch the game anymore. The Cavs were down by 30 points...
06 December 2010 Tom Libby
The Mustang is as iconic as any model on the road. More people bought a Mustang during its first year on the market (1964-65) than ony other...
24 November 2010 Tom Libby
Compact premium crossovers are one of the hottest segments in the premium market. Their share of the total luxury market has climbed to almost...
22 November 2010 IHS Markit Automotive Expert
It has been quite a while since my last post and I thought for this entry I would get back to basics by reviewing some of the most important...
12 November 2010 Tom Libby
Three premium makes - Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW - together have captured almost half of all premium new vehicle registrations through the...
02 November 2010 Tom Libby
Ford is getting all the buzz these days as its sales, market share and profits soar. Yet, the 3 brands with the greatest year-over-year improvements...
29 October 2010 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
Before the collapse of the automotive market in 2009, many automotive companies and marketers were courting the ethnic markets, trying to get...
01 October 2010 Tom Libby
A staple of the U.S. new vehicle industry is discussion of upcoming new products. Currently the buzz is all about the Volt, Leaf, Cruze, Fiat...
24 September 2010 IHS Markit Guest Blogger
I was at the Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) 7th Annual Strategic Planning Summit yesterday and there was an interesting panel discussion...
01 September 2010 Tom Libby
The August 31 Edition of "The Wall Street Journal" (page B1) includes an article describing a proposed new labeling for passenger vehicles sold...
30 August 2010 Tom Libby
It seems that almost every other vehicle on the road these days is a small utility vehicle. In fact, this category comprises two distinct sets...
24 August 2010 Tom Libby
The August 23, 2010 edition of Time Magazine includes a segment from Michael Mandelbaum's new book, "The Frugal Superpower: America's Global...
30 July 2010 Tom Libby
The large pickup segment, one of the highest volume and highest profits-per-vehicle new vehicle categories, is a battleground among just seven...
30 July 2010 Tom Libby
Discussions about aspirational luxury makes almost always include at some point a mention of BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. It is not a coincidence...
28 July 2010 Tom Libby
With the ongoing focus on reducing dependence on Middle East oil and reversing climate change, it seems like a no-brainer that small cars are...
28 July 2010 Tom Libby
For any brand, automotive or non-automotive, greater diversity across its product portfolio reduces risk since dependence on any one product...
27 July 2010 Tom Libby
More than half of all premium new vehicles delivered to private retail consumers in the U.S. are now equipped with either all-wheel drive or...
20 July 2010 Tom Libby
Even though the automotive industry has experienced exceptional turbulence in the past few years, some things have not changed all that much....