| American cars are finally back and Chinese Brands, VW Set to Enlarge Global Auto Market Shares, Survey Shows |
|
|
|
|
As the auto industry heads to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show next week, the home team may finally have something to cheer about. After decades of making disappointing cars, American carmakers earned higher scores in 2010 than imported cars in separate J.D. Power surveys of initial quality and owner satisfaction. While the domestics' lead over imports was small in both surveys, the scores were still reasons for American automakers to feel good. In terms of quality, American products, overall, are now at least neck-and-neck with foreign competitors. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports magazine reports similar improvements in the dependability and desirability of American cars. The improvements are finally beginning to sink in with car buyers, contributing to some respectable sales increases for Detroit. [Read the full article] Volkswagen, Europe(TM)s largest carmaker, aims to surpass Toyota Motor Corp. as the world(TM)s biggest automaker by 2018. Photographer: Jochen Eckel/Bloomberg Chinese car brands will probably increase global market share through 2015, along with Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motor Co., according to a survey of senior auto executives by KPMG International. Chrysler Group LLC is the most likely loser. In the survey of 200 auto executives, 81 percent predicted Chinese manufacturers will boost their market share in the next five years; 75 percent said Volkswagen(TM)s share will rise; 72 percent forecast South Korea(TM)s Hyundai and affiliate Kia Motors Corp. will advance. Forty-eight percent said Chrysler, the U.S. carmaker run by Fiat SpA, will cede market share. As an individual brand, VW is the big winner, Mike Steventon, a partner at KPMG and author of the report, said in a phone interview. [Read the full article] 
|