(General Motors)
Escalade tops list of vehicles thieves love
The Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV is the vehicle most likely to be targeted by thieves, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, an insurance-funded group. The study, based on insurance claims made for model year 2008 through 2010 vehicles, showed that the Escalade is six times more likely to be hit by thieves than the average vehicle, and its overall theft losses are more than 10 times as large. Here are the vehicles most and least likely to be targets, and the average loss payment per claim:
Most likely
Cadillac Escalade - four versions ($10,555)
Ford F-250 crew cab 4WD ($9,496)
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab ($4,948)
Ford F-450 crew cab 4WD ($11,701)
GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab ($6,022)
Chrysler 300 ($5,509)
Ford F-350 crew cab 4WD ($9,088)
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 ($6,689)
GMC Yukon ($6,645)
Chrysler 300 HEMI ($8,294)
Least likely
Audi A6 4WD ($16,882)
Mercury Mariner - 2009-10 model years ($1,970)
Chevrolet Equinox - 2010 model year ($2,069)
Volkswagen CC - 2009-10 model years ($7,098)
Chevrolet Equinox 4WD - 2010 model year ($4,870)
Lexus RX 350 - 2010 model year ($6,084)
Saturn Vue ($3,747)
Chevrolet Aveo - 2009-10 model year ($7,642)
BMW 5 series 4WD ($12,200)
Mini Cooper Clubman mini ($1,883)
--The Associated Press
(Thinkstock)
US drivers spending less time on the road'
High gas prices prompted Americans to drive 15.5 billion fewer miles in the first half of the year -- the lowest level of roadway use since 2004 -- according to a federal report released last week. U.S. drivers logged 1.453-trillion miles through June 30 -- down 1.1 percent over the first half of 2010, the Federal Highway Administration says. The last time Americans drove less in the first half of the year was in 2004, logging 1.451 trillion miles.
--New York Times News Service
Auto dealerships see first gain in a decade
In an encouraging sign of the auto industry's modest recovery, the number of car dealerships increased in the first half of 2011 by 0.4 percent, the first increase in 10 years, according to retail consultant Urban Science. This comes after a 4.4 percent drop in the number of dealerships from 2009 to 2010. In the last six months, Ford's closing of its Mercury brand has been partially offset by Chrysler opening of about 130 Fiat stores to sell the Fiat 500 minicar. Chrysler has also restored some dealerships after closing nearly one-quarter of its 3,200 dealerships as part of its 2009 government-backed bankruptcy restructuring.
--New York Times News Service
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