(General Motors)
Volt, Explorer snag top industry awards
The Chevrolet Volt (shown at right) was named The North American Car of the Year, beating out two other finalists, the Hyundai Sonata and the battery-powered Nissan Leaf. The North American Truck of the Year is the Ford Explorer, which beat out the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango. The announcement was made Monday at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The awards are prestigious because they are given by a jury of 49 veteran automotive journalists from Canada and the U.S. To be eligible, vehicles must be all new or substantially changed from the previous model.
--The Associated Press
Seattleites John Jung and Carolyn Bee (top center) are shown with the other teams. (Ford)
Two locals to star in Ford reality show
Two Seattle residents have been selected to participate in Focus Rally: America, a road rally reality show that begins airing on Hulu Feb. 1. The Seattle team, made up of co-workers John Jung, 28, and Carolyn Bee, 24, will face off against five other teams of two to travel the country for the chance to win the $100,000 grand prize. Winners of the show -- a promotion for the 2012 Ford Focus -- will also receive two of the cars. The show is interactive, with fans of the teams helping them with challenges. To support a team, go to focusrally.com.
--NWautos staff
Auto execs expect growth from Detroit Three, Chinese automakers
A growing number of auto executives expect Ford, General Motors and Chrysler to gain market share globally during the next five years -- but expectations are even higher for Chinese automakers, Volkswagen and Hyundai, according to the 12th annual survey by KPMG, an audit, tax and consulting firm. The survey asked 200 senior executives from global automakers and suppliers a variety of questions between Nov. 1 and early December of 2010. About half of the executives are based in Europe, while a quarter are in Asia and the other quarter are in North America.
Some of the findings:
• The percentage of respondents who expect Ford to gain market share by 2015 rose rose to 43 percent from 29 percent a year ago; 40 percent see GM picking up share, up from 13 percent in 2010; 24 percent expect Chrysler to gain share, up from 7.5 percent last year
• 81 percent of those surveyed expected Chinese brands, such as SAIC, Chery, Geely, Dongfeng and BYD, to add market share.
• The other companies most likely to expand are Volkswagen (75 percent) and Hyundai/Kia (72 percent).
• 70 percent of respondents said it will take at least four years before any company can make an electric vehicle that is as affordable as a comparable size gas-only vehicle.
• 38 percent said continued government subsidies are necessary to make electric vehicles affordable, but 43 percent said they predict that government subsidies for alternative fuel vehicles will decline in the next five years.
--The Associated Press
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