Scot Auto

Automotive Industry Sees Surge In New Job Openings

Its been nearly three years since the US faced the beginning of a financial meltdown that included the automotive industry. Blue collar workers that were making in excess of $40 an hour suddenly found themselves out of jobs. Car manufacturers struggled to make sales because consumers were unable to get financing. Slowly but surely, the automotive industry has started to turn around, and the stronger indication comes in the form of new jobs. For the first time in several years, numerous car companies are looking for thousands of skilled workers.

GM needs 2,500 new employees in order to keep up with shipments of the Chevy Volt while Honda’s newly opened plant in Indiana needs 1,000 new workers to make its new model Honda Civic. Volkswagen also needs more employees for its manufacturing facilities in Tennessee. Although employees have had to become accustomed to their lower salaries, they are thankful to get health benefits, vacation time and perks again.

Because car manufacturers are looking to hire again, it probably won’t be long before consumers start buying new cars in droves once more. At one point, the average family owned at least two cars – one for each adult driver. In fact, used car sales recently went through the roof because consumers are able to purchase them in many cases without getting financing. As a result, used car prices rose dramatically and new car sales went on a steady incline. Eventually, auto manufacturers will start to hire fewer workers, but their newly hired employees will help to give the industry a real boost.

The 2011 Chrysler 300 Makes A Big Statement

When the first Chrysler 300 was unveiled six years ago, auto analysts knew that it would be an instant bestseller. The sleek car with a roomy interior is capable handling turns on a pin. While the Chrysler 300 is noticeably bigger than most cars in its class, owners say that it is a pleasure to drive. Boasting 292 horsepower and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, the Chrysler 300 is bigger and better than ever.

After years of uncertainty, Chrysler has decided to update the design of the car. Due to the fact that Chrysler faced bankruptcy just a few short years ago, the car company was not in a position to make any major changes to one of its most popular models. The new model Chrysler 300 is nearly 400 pounds heavier than the 2010 model, however, it is also easier to handle. Chrysler has added the touring-tuned system, which gives drivers the option of allowing the car to do most of the work.

Chrysler took the time to listen to the complaints of previous owners. Some test drivers were not impressed with the way that car restricted visibility. In response, Chrysler had added three inches to the windshield, which will make it easier for passengers and motorists to see outside. Like other Chrysler vehicles, most of the audio controls are also available on the back of the steering wheel. This means that drivers won’t have to take their eyes off the road in order to turn to a different radio station or swift on the CD player.

Ford To Up Production Of Electric Cars

Hybrids and electric cars are showing up on showroom floors around the country in record numbers, and Ford is looking to cash in on the craze. Other car manufacturers such as Nissan and Chevy have found success with their all electric cars, so Ford intends on triple the number of electric cars that it produces in order to entice buyers. New car shoppers can get a handsome tax credit for buying energy efficient vehicles, and Ford’s low prices will make the Ford Focus Electric even more attractive.

Normally, Ford manufacturers approximately 33,000 electric cars a year, but now the company is looking to increase that number to 100,000. In order to facilitate the increase in production, Ford will be hiring around 200 more employees. The plan will take Ford about two years to get into action, but when production increases, so will its profits.

Presently, Ford is the number 2 car manufacturer in the US. After a few rocky years, tumultuous events on the stock market and help from the federal government, it seems like Ford is finally back on solid footing. Consumers are looking to replace their older model vehicles with electric and hybrid cars because of the economic advantages. Ford will also need to increase its advertising spending if the company wants to start moving more units. Unless the general public knows all of the details about the Ford Focus Electric, they will continue to make their purchases from the companies that make more of an effort to appeal to buyers.

First Peer-To-Peer Car Loaning Networks Launched

There are already four companies on the West Coast that operate the peer-to-peer car model. Basically, motorists that own more than one car, or those that just want to make a little extra cash, can rent their cars out by the hour, day or week. Renters are able to purchase separate liability insurance plans, so the owners of Getaround have their bases fully covered.

The company already has a website setup, and its already getting decent traffic. The idea of car owners offering consumers an inexpensive and convenient way of renting vehicles poses a serious threat to major car rental companies. Renters don’t have to put down a sizable deposit and they don’t need to sit through annoying upsells. Consumers can even seek out the oldest, most banged up clunkers that they can find in order to save money. Getaround proves that all car renters aren’t trying to drive in style. For some people, autos are an extension of their beings, but for many others they are simply a way to get around.

Drivers that use this service do have an incentive to be courteous, helpful and truthful. Every time a car is rented, both parties are able to leave feedback. So if a renter is two hours late returning the car and doesn’t bother to give the owner a heads up, everyone in the network will be aware. For about $10 an hour you can rent a car that isn’t brand new, but it will run well and get you to your destination.

Where To Find A Wide Selection Of Used Cars

If you live in a small town or a rural area there may not be many used cars advertised for sale. This may cause you considerable difficulties if you are intent on purchasing a car quickly. Often, car shoppers in suburban areas are forced to settle because there are simply not any other choices available. There are thousands of used cars in South Africa for sale at any given moment, however, locating them can pose a real challenge. Car shoppers that are not technologically savvy may rely on local newspapers and even word of mouth advertising in order to get in contact with private sellers. Others sometimes choose to visit local used car dealerships, but neither of these options help consumers to browse a wide variety of vehicles conveniently. Many private sellers are only available after normal business hours because they work full-time jobs, and used auto dealers are often staffed with individuals that are not knowledgeable about current automotive laws and trends.

The main reason that the majority of used car shoppers use the Internet to locate vehicles is because it is extremely convenient. Once you have successfully located a used car database online, you can customize your search options to pull up only the cars that you would seriously consider purchasing. For instance, some consumers will only want to look for cars for sale in Pretoria while others may want to search for cars of a particular make and model. You can easily send a message to the owner of the used car that you want to buy and get a prompt response instead of waiting hours for a return phone call. You can use the web to shop for a used car at home, at the office or even while you are running errands via your cell phone. After finding a few used vehicles that you want to see in person, simply make an offer and see which sellers are willing to work with you.

Despite Setbacks Ford Expected To Become The #1 US Auto Maker

Nearly three years ago, Ford Motors had to be bailed out by the US government, but the car company will soon come out on top. According to leading automotive experts, Ford vehicles are becoming the best selling cars in the US. Although the top spot often changes from month to month, however Ford has largely been absent from this list. In fact, Ford Motors has only been the best selling vehicle maker two times between 1998 and 2011. The first time that Ford Motors rated number one occurred after Toyota vehicles were recalled because of faulty acceleration pedals.

Currently, Ford has had to refuse custom car orders from consumers that want red or black exteriors, however, the company has still been able to increase profits over time. Also, Ford Motor’s focus on compact cars has helped the automotive company to appeal to different types of consumers. While Ford Motors may become the best selling car in March, it is likely that their success will be short lived. GM has been offering less incentives in order to increase its first quarter profits, however, General Motors will be spending a lot of money to advertise summer sales and fall incentives. Ford has been slow to embrace the electric car movement, which may end up hurting the company as fuel prices increase and more consumers trade in their SUVs for smaller cars. Although Ford is a highly identifiable brand, the fact is that consumers are doing a lot more research before they purchase new cars.

Auto Dealerships Look Forward To Presidents Day Sales

Although most people do not consider President’s Day to be a major holiday, auto dealerships around the US look forward to it for two reasons. First, many full-time employees have the day off. Major retailers have President’s Days sales, which brings out the inner shopper in just about everybody. Secondly, by late February, most people that are getting income tax refunds either have their checks in hand or they are expecting their money soon. When drivers plan on trading in their vehicles or just want to buy a new car they usually wait until they know that they will have a substantial down payment. Now that President Obama has increased the earned income tax credit many tax payers will be getting refunds that amount to more than $5,000.

This year, auto dealerships are hoping to see a surge in purchases during the latter portion of February, and to make sure that they maximize foot traffic they’re taking a distinctly different approach. More than ever, dealers are setting up mobile websites that allow consumers to browse their selection of available cars while they are out and about. Instead of depending on sales people to make the first connection, potential buyers are able to view pictures of their cars and get all of the details that they need to make a decision. Of course, financing is still hard to come by so auto dealers may have to offer great deals in order to get consumers to even think about parting with their entire income tax refunds.

Monster Truck Fans Left Without Their Cars

You don’t need to actually own a monster truck in order to enjoy events such as the Monster Jam truck shows that go on in major cities across the US. Apparently, getting into these events are easy enough, but people in Indianapolis, Minnesota, found out the hard way that leaving was not as simple. After enjoying watching huge trucks on over-sized tires crush and demolish dozens of smaller cars, the event came to a climatic ending as hundreds of fans found that their cars had been illegally towed. Officials from the Lucas Oil Stadium, where the event was held, failed to intervene after consumers complained that they had to pay excessive fees to get their vehicles back. Many consumers said that they $20 to an unnamed parking attended as they left the event and traveled on foot to their designated parking areas. To their horror, signs that read ‘no parking,’ were freshly installed as none of them remember seeing the signed when they entered.

Ultimately, police had to be called in order to keep fans warm as they lined up one by one and paid approximately $185 each to get their cars back. The towing company, Interstate Towing, declined to make any comments, but one can only wonder why so many people ended up having their cars towed. Neither event organizers nor staff at the Lucas Oil Stadium are planning to investigate the matter, so consumers will likely need to go to civil court in order to get their towing fees refunded.

Obama’s State Of The Union Address Focuses On Electric Car Technology

Former US presidents have briefly touched upon clean energy, but President Barack Obama spoke about electric cars in great detail during his state of the union address on January 25th. His overall goal is to reduce pollution and emissions by 80% by 2035, and to do it he thinks that consumers need to purchase electric cars. Although Congress has yet to pass a bill that will mandate these proposals, auto manufacturers are doing what they can to clean up the environment.

Most recently, Nissan introduced a fully electric car named the Leaf. This vehicle produces no emissions and runs totally on electricity. Some motorists have been reluctant to invest in hybrid and electric cars, but recent studies show that this is only because they have little information on the technology. For starters, a large portion of the US population has no idea of how the Leaf works. This probably means that most consumers assume that their cars will break down on the road if they are not able to find a charging station after traveling relatively short distances. In addition, many consumers have not been able to see that hybrid and electric cars provide the only viable means of getting away from fossil fuels.

If more consumers would take the time to visit Buyacar and see how much money it would cost to purchase a new or used electric car many would learn that they are quite affordable. As more car makers start to work on their developing electric cars, consumers will eventually have no choice put to purchase one. The price of crude oil is expected to go up within the next year and many car owners will be forced to take public transportation as a result. Although electric and hybrid cars offer a great solution the next step will be for the government to find a way to subsidize the purchase price.

Magna International Gearing Up For Increase In Auto Parts Sales

Because the economy is slowly beginning to turn around, auto parts manufacturer Magna International believes that sales margins will increase by approximately 10% in 2011. Although the company is basing some of their sales estimates on the US market, the auto parts behemoth sells discount auto parts in Europe as well. While recently Magna International’s stocks have slump slightly, the company believes that they will be able to more than make up for their losses in the coming year.

While automotive manufacturers have been struggling to increase sales, auto parts makers have been able to corner the market. The fact is, the majority of consumers are much more likely to pay for car repairs than they are inclined to purchase a new car. For the most part, consumers just don’t have as much access to discretionary income as they had available to them in recent years. On top of that, more people are paying their bills late, which has caused credit scores to tank. Banks are usually unwilling to extend credit to consumers without credit or a sizable down payment.

Out of all of the car parts manufacturers that are posting high profits, those that sell discount auto parts are among the biggest winners. While these manufacturers have not increased their advertising efforts, consumers in a pinch have been purchasing low cost cart parts more frequently. Magna International and other auto parts makers will need to pay close attention to the way that they are pricing their products. When given a choice between low cost and higher end replacement car parts, most consumers will choose the latter. In order to prepare for an expected surge in profits, Magna International has changed up their company infrastructure. Belinda Stronach, a long time member of the board of the directors at Magna International recently left her post to pursue other opportunities.