Cars, Automaker | featured news

Despite an unexpected slowdown in sales earlier this year, the Chinese auto market is expected to hit an industry-record 20 million vehicles this year – prompting manufacturers to announce billions of dollars in new factory investments designed to keep up with booming demand.

After several years of heavily discounting their products, automakers are finding themselves back in the driver’s seat – pushing prices to record levels.

General Motors Co. said on Friday that it is recalling more than 4,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact cars to check for missing brake pads.

General Motors will buy Chevrolet Volts back from any owner who is afraid the electric cars will catch fire, the company's CEO says.

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling about 550,000 vehicles worldwide -- mostly in the United States -- for problems that could make it harder to steer.

Everything old is new again — especially when it comes to the classic 1964-1/2, ’65 and ’66 Mustangs... Like many makers, Ford has a catalogue full of parts for those original pony cars, everything from brakes to seats. But now, it seems, you can even order all-new, factory-approved Mustang bodies rather than having to scrounge up rusted and dinged-up originals.

Two and a half years into the crusade against distracted driving, automakers are equipping vehicles with new technology that might circumvent the 34 state laws that prohibit text messaging behind the wheel, which 95 percent of Americans say is dangerous.

Two weeks after Japan’s March 11 earthquake knocked out more than 650 of Toyota Motor Corp.’s suppliers, halting worldwide production, the automaker had to decide where to focus its resources. It picked the Prius.

Honda Motor Co. said Monday it was set to voluntarily recall 936,000 cars globally to repair problems with power windows and computer equipment. Honda said no serious injuries or fatal accidents were reported due to the problems, and the repair bill would be limited to about $17 million in Japan.

General Motors says its U.S. sales rose 18 percent in August as fuel-efficient vehicles helped offset economic uncertainty and bad weather. Other automakers may not fare as well.