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VW is world's second-best-selling automaker, GM falls to third

Every year when we start talking about which automaker is the biggest in the world, there always seems to be at least a little bit of controversy. For 2013, Toyota handily took the top spot with 9.98 million sales, but it's the runner up spot between General Motors and Volkswagen that is starting to create a stir.
Based on our earlier report, GM's 9.71 million vehicles put it in second place ahead of VW's 9.5-million-vehicle effort. Now, The Detroit News is reporting that VW is claiming a tally of 9.73 million sales, including figures from MAN and Scania - heavy-duty truck divisions under the VW AG family. The article points out that Toyota's sales figure includes its Hino line of trucks, but these might still be considered light-duty vehicles while MAN and Scania build tractor trailers.

2018 Honda Accord charges into slumping sedan market

DETROIT - Honda on Friday revealed its newest-generation Accord, one of four re-engineered midsize sedans that Asian automakers are betting on to win market share as Detroit automakers shift focus to SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks. The new Accord, like rival Toyota's all-new Camry arriving this month, offers major improvements in fuel economy, technology, styling and safety. Honda declined to discuss details ahead of Friday's event in Detroit. The Accord and Camry are pillars of their manufacturers' US businesses, each selling well over 300,000 vehicles a year. In the coming months, Nissan is expected to launch a new Altima midsize sedan, and Hyundai will launch a new Sonata. Both are popular marques that will be promoted heavily. "There has been no new news on the midsize sedan side for three years, and we think this is a great opportunity to bring attention back to the segment," said Jack Hollis, Toyota's head of marketing for North America. Year to date, US passenger car sales are down 11.4 percent, and sales of midsize sedans are down 14.2 percent. Still, Americans bought 7.1 million sedans in 2016. With General Motors and Ford cutting sedan production, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles abandoning the segment, Honda and its Asian rivals could boost sales with updated models, dealers said. "They could take share from other brands, which is traditionally what happens when a new product is launched," said Pete DeLongchamps, vice president for manufacturer relations at Group 1 Automotive Inc, the third-largest US auto dealer group. "NOT FINDING A PLACE WITH CONSUMERS" The Accord for years was Honda's top-selling model in the United States. Within the past year, US sales of the Honda CR-V have eclipsed the aging Accord, and Honda has expanded production capacity for the compact crossover. Passenger-car sales have steadily declined since 2012, when they made up 51.2 percent of the US market. Sedans have sagged to a 38.1 percent share in the first half of this year. IHS Markit said US consumer loyalty to SUVs and pickup trucks has risen since 2012, but declined for sedans. The new Accord and Camry "may stem the decline," said IHS Markit's Tom Libby. "I don't think they will cause a marked reverse." Improvements to the Accord should boost sales at Galpin Honda in San Fernando, California, general manager Ed Hartoonian said.

BMW i5 returns as next rumored i Project vehicle

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle enthusiasts may want to give each other some high-fives when they hear the latest news about BMW's reputed i5. The German automaker has been rumored to be on the verge of expanding its i brand beyond its i3 battery-electric and i8 plug-in hybrid cars for a long while. The latest rumors say that BMW could be working on a hydrogen-powered i5 crossover. BMW is in the "final stages of consideration" of expanding the sub-brand, Bloomberg News says, citing comments BMW executive Ian Robertson made this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. There may be more light-weighting efforts, and an alternative powertrain is sure to be in order, but there are few details beyond that. BMW of North America spokeswoman Rebecca Kiehne declined to comment to AutoblogGreen. Since 2013, BMW has worked with Toyota on hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrains and might further expand that relationship, MarketWatch says, citing BMW financial chief Friedrich Eichiner. The two automakers have already worked together on a prototype BMW 5 Series sedan with a hydrogen-powered engine. That car was unveiled this summer. Earlier this year, we heard reports about an i5 that would actually be a hybrid-electric vehicle of sorts, and an extremely powerful one. That rumored vehicle – again some sort of modified 5 Series – would actually contain one gas-powered engine and two electric motors, all combining for more than 540 horsepower. If these latest rumors turn out to be true, they would mark a change in things, but we won't be surprise if we hear yet another version of what the i5 will be before it's all said and done.