All About Japan Autos

Daily Auto News

Toyota’s eight-year streak of record profits has officially come to an end.

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Daily Auto News

Tata Motors may have purchased premium brands Jaguar and Land Rover just before the auto industry hit an all-time low, but it will be a while before it sees a return on its investment. Automotive News says the Indian automaker “may have to pump in at least $1 billion” to revive the two British brands. Tata already paid $2.3 billion for the acquisition in March.

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Daily Auto News

Contrary to popular belief and even past statistics, older drivers are changing their ways on the roads. A new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study shows crash deaths among drivers older than 70 have fallen by 21 percent between 1997 and 2006 — and that’s despite the fact that the older population has actually risen by 10 percent. “Compared with drivers ages 35-54, older drivers experienced much bigger declines in fatal crash involvements,” according to the study. “Reasons for the fatality declines aren’t clear, but another new Institute study indicates that older adults increasingly self-limit driving as they age and develop physical and cognitive impairments.”

Autoblog notes some reasons for the decline, including “healthier, more fit seniors and safer drivers. State governments have also been more diligent in getting unfit seniors off the road with regular skills tests.” Kicking Tires adds that older drivers are becoming safer on their own: “One ongoing study suggests that once a driver reaches 80, he or she becomes much more likely to stay off the roads at night; avoid interstates, ice and snow; and travel fewer times and shorter distances,” they explain.

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Daily Auto News

If you’re in the market for a new car, you might want to make your first call to a local credit union. In a tight credit market banks are simply unwilling to lend to many people, but credit unions are increasingly working with automakers to make auto financing and discounts available to more people.

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Daily Auto News

Automakers will get a federal bailout after all. This morning, President Bush announced a $17.4 billion plan to help America’s largest carmakers stay afloat in a troubled economy. The money will be available almost immediately. The plan requires the companies to restructure and creates a de facto “auto czar” in Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (and his eventual replacement in the next administration) to oversee automakers’ efforts to regain competitiveness.

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Daily Auto News

Though the 2010 Equinox isn’t set to debut until next month’s Detroit auto show, Chevrolet released official photos of the SUV over the weekend. Initial impressions are positive.

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Daily Auto News

All three of America’s largest automakers yesterday announced plans to shut down factories for extended holiday breaks - and a carefully worded statement from one of them has some wondering if the plants will ever open again. Both General Motors and Chrysler, after all, have cast doubt on whether they will survive into 2009 without government assistance.

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Daily Auto News

The credit crunch is not just punishing those who sell new cars. Used car sales are declining as well.

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Daily Auto News

If you own a Mini Cooper S, prepare to have your tailpipes trimmed..

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Daily Auto News

Good news for economy car buyers: the smallest cars on the road are safer than they’ve ever been before. As long as you’re not interested in a Chrysler PT Cruiser, that is.

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