Trade News

There's a message behind Eugene Levy's flowing hair, leather jacket and bravado in Nissan's Super Bowl spot.

The actor, known for his comedic roles, morphs into an action hero when he gets behind the wheel of the redesigned Z coupe and zooms past a new Nissan entry — the electric Ariya crossover — in the process.

Levy's dramatic makeover is a nod to Nissan's ongoing transformation.

Redesigned versions of the Frontier, Rogue and Pathfinder are on the market alongside the recently freshened Armada and Kicks. Those vehicles will be joined this year by the reworked Z and the Ariya, the brand's second battery-electric vehicle after the Leaf.

Allyson Witherspoon, chief marketing officer for Nissan U.S., wants viewers to see Nissan "in a different light and in an unexpected way" in the ad, which is called "Thrill Driver." The spot also features actors Brie Larson, Dave Bautista and Danai Gurira, who are all action heroes in their own right, and C…

Nissan's U.S. design house, Nissan Design America Inc. in San Diego, is showcasing three concept trucks based on the 2022 Frontier Crew Cab midsize pickup at this year's Chicago Auto Show.

The automaker said the three concepts, called Project 72X, Project Hardbody and Project Adventure, address "three different midsize truck audiences and start with three different Frontier grade levels — S, SV and Pro-4X."

"Truck culture is now very broad — hard core off-roaders, overlanders, surfers and kayakers, environmentalists, fishing and hunting outdoor enthusiasts and more," Hiren Patel, project lead designer at Nissan Design America, said in a statement. "The common ground is that they all use their trucks as canvases for personalization. We're offering three styles to show how they could modify their own new Frontier."

The three concepts use available Nissan and aftermarket parts and accessories.

Project 72X, based on the …

Automakers have cut Canadian production and warn deliveries of new vehicles to dealerships will be delayed due to an ongoing blockade at one of North America's busiest land border crossings.

Protestors, demanding anything from the end of vaccine mandates to the ousting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, brought traffic onto and off the Ambassador Bridge to a standstill Monday evening in Windsor, Ont. and refuse to budge until certain public health measures, such as vaccine mandates, designed to curb the spread of COVID-19, are rescinded.

Stellantis confirmed that its Windsor Assembly Plant had to shorten its first shift and afternoon shift Tuesday due to parts shortages. The plant was running Wednesday morning.

“Additionally, the first shift at the Brampton Assembly Plant was shortened on Wednesday. The second shift is expected to report as scheduled. We continue to work closely with our carriers to get parts into the p…

Tesla's big sales surge in recent months made the EV maker look like a sure bet to overtake BMW to become the luxury segment leader for 2021.

But according to newly released U.S. vehicle registration data from Experian, BMW managed to hang on to its crown for the year. Tesla came in at No. 2, ahead of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

Tesla will have another shot to dethrone legacy rivals for the top spot this year, as a new factory in Texas boosts production of the popular Model Y crossover, Tesla's bestselling model.

Experian said in a report this week that BMW had 347,453 new vehicles registered in the U.S. in 2021, while Tesla had 342,412 — a difference of just 5,041 vehicles.

It has been a heated race.

Tesla registrations surged 71 percent over 2020, while BMW's grew 24 percent year over year, according to Experian. Those numbers suggest that Tesla has significant momentum going into 2022, although semiconductor shortages will likely play an im…

WASHINGTON -- Tesla Inc. is recalling 26,681 vehicles in the U.S. because a software error may result in windshield defrosting problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.

Tesla told U.S. regulators the error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator. Tesla will perform an over-the-air software update to address the issue.

The recall covers some 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles that may not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. It is the latest in a string of recent recalls for the Texas-based EV manufacturer.

Tesla said it was not aware of any injuries or crashes related to its latest recall but NHTSA said it could reduced windshield visibility in certain conditions, which may increase the risk of a collision.

The company said it was prompted by complaints from customers in December over loss of heatin…

Driveline supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said it invested $15 million in Silicon Valley venture capital firm Autotech Ventures, as the Detroit company looks to boost its electrification business.

American Axle said in a Wednesday statement that its investment gives the company exposure to startups that are working in electrification, connectivity and autonomous technology. The supplier said it will seek opportunities to partner with those companies to complement its existing electrification and mobility business.

"AAM and Autotech share a commitment to developing the next generation of mobility companies focused on electrification and growth," American Axle CEO David Dauch said in the statement. "We look forward to working with Autotech and the new technology companies that will further advance AAM's work in bringing the future of mobility faster."

The investment comes as established suppliers and automakers increasingly look to…

A startup seeking to nurture credit has partnered with an auto dealership on an initiative that could provide both parties with leads and get more car deals funded.

Grow Credit issues free, low-limit Mastercards to people lacking a credit history or with a poor FICO score.

These cards can only be used to pay for subscription services, such as Netflix, though it's possible to get a version that also allows phone bill payments. Because the user is taking on and repaying debt, the activity improves their FICO score.

"It's a loan that matters," said Grow Credit CEO Joe Bayen.

The company reports the results to the three main credit bureaus. On average, a year with the service bumps up scores by 51 points, according to Grow Credit. Bayen said some users even obtain a 100-point increase in their first three months.

Since the platform is available for free, Grow Credit is a tool a dealer might have suggested to …

WASHINGTON — The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will conduct a review of the automotive provisions, including vehicle content rules, under North America's trade deal, according to a document set to post Thursday in the Federal Register.

As part of the process, the office must submit a report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee by July 1 — two years after the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement entered into force.

The report must include "a summary of actions taken by producers to demonstrate compliance with the automotive rules of origin, use of the alternative staging regime, enforcement of such rules of origin and other relevant matters," according to the document.

It also requires a review of whether the USMCA's vehicle content rules are "effective and relevant in light of new technology and changes in content, production processes and character of automotive goods," the document read…

A Federal Trade Commission ruling that an auto dealership advertiser violated the Truth in Lending Act might surprise dealerships and consumers familiar with industry ads featuring fine print.

"This is probably a target-rich environment," Michael Goodman, a partner at Hudson Cook law firm, said of the industry.

According to the 4-0 FTC decision to grant summary judgment against Traffic Jam Events and owner David Jeansonne II, hyping certain parts of a loan prominently while keeping other key aspects within fine print elsewhere on the ad could violate Truth in Lending and the related Regulation Z.

"Disclosures in tiny print, condensed text, or in difficult-to-find locations are not conspicuous under TILA," Commissioner Christine Wilson wrote for the commission in its October opinion.

The FTC banned Traffic Jam and Jeansonne from the auto industry for 20 years after finding some of their dealership marketing violated Trut…

Financial concerns are a key component of a vehicle buyer's remorse, Credit Karma and LendingTree polling revealed late last year.

A November Credit Karma survey found most consumers who'd purchased a vehicle in the past six to eight months had no regrets. However, 23 percent had buyer's remorse, with many in that group reporting that financial issues contributed to their woe.

Among those with regrets, 33 percent told Credit Karma the vehicle purchase "set me back financially," and 26 percent said they bought the car at least in part by drawing from "an emergency savings account." Thirty-two percent said they were "struggling to make ends meet" with their car payments, 29 percent described sacrificing necessities to cover the payments, and 21 percent said they failed to grasp the full cost of vehicle ownership. (Respondents could pick more than one answer.)

And perhaps most relevant to the F&I office's sales pitch: Twenty-one percent said they regre…

U.S. President Joe Biden publicly acknowledged Tesla's role in U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing on Tuesday, after CEO Elon Musk repeatedly complained about being ignored.

"From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other start-ups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after decades."

The President wants to give union-made, American-built electric vehicles an additional $4,500 tax incentive, setting up a clash between automakers such as Tesla and Toyota without U.S. unionized workers on one side, and United Auto Workers-affiliated carmakers on the other.

Musk also opposed government funding for subsidizing electric vehicle charging stations.

Last month, Biden met with General Motors Chief Executive Mary Barra, and the White House has repeatedly praised the Detroit automaker's el…

Mini is in a generational lull between major updates as the automaker preps for an all-electric lineup early next decade.

The small-car brand is launching a trio of special-edition packages to keep consumers engaged in the interim.

Mini will introduce Special Edition versions with exclusive colors and cosmetic upgrades across its 2023 lineup of hardtops, convertibles and crossovers.

The new editions can help spur interest in the aging Mini models, said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions.

"New models won't be ready for more than two years," Fiorani said. "So keeping the demand going on these older models helps keep the factories rolling and dealers happy."

The editions also cater to Mini loyalists’ penchant for individualization.

On average, 60 percent of Mini buyers factory-order their vehicles, said Patrick McKenna, Mini's U.S. product and marketing chief.

"The Special Editions take tha…