CA Passes Landmark Law Requiring Many More Zero-Emission Vehicles
Last Friday, the influential California Air Resources Board adopted new emission rules that will require carmakers to sell increasing number of zero-emission vehicles in the state, starting in 2018.
By 2025, fully 15.4 percent of the cars sold annually in California must be zero-emission vehicles--either battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, or plug-in hybrids that can run electric-only for at least several miles.
That would mean a total of 1.4 million plug-in or hydrogen vehicles would be on the state's roads in 2025, out of more than 30 million vehicles.
And 10 additional states plan to adopt the California emissions regulations as well, which could double the number of emission-free vehicles on the nation's roads by 2025, according to Roland Hwang, of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Greenhouse-gas reductions
The rules are part of CARB's Advanced Clean Cars program for 2015 through 2025 (full details here), proposed last year and commented on by the public.
The zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) requirement is an addition to greenhouse-gas emissions regulations that largely mirror national standards for 2017-2025 model year cars.
California has long had the ability to set its own, independent emissions rules, since it began regulating car emissions long before national regulations existed--due to the notorious smog in the Los Angeles Basin, proven in the 1950s to be largely caused by automobiles.
That makes CARB as much of a player in emissions and fuel-economy regulations as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the two national agencies that regulate emissions and fuel economy, respectively.
Support by automakers, greens, public-health groups
Most (but not all) automakers had already signed off on the national standards, which give them fixed regulatory targets for at least two future generations of vehicles.
The rules were also supported by every major environmental organization, many large public-health and medical groups, and even the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Reaction to Friday's passage of the new rules was largely positive. The Union of Concerned Scientists, for example, called the regulations "a robust plan for cleaner cars."
In a laudatory press release, David Friedman, deputy director of the UCS Clean Vehicles program, said the state was "putting the pedal to the metal on electric cars and healthier air" and giving car buyers "a real choice between the fuels of the past and the clean cars of the future."
Trouble over trade-in clause
The comments weren't 100 percent unicorns and rainbows, however.
CARB adopted a provision that would cut the number of zero-emission cars an automaker would be required to sell if that carmaker "over-complied" and reduced its fleet greenhouse-gas emissions more than required by the rules.
Under that rule, automakers who cut their fleet average greenhouse-gas emissions by 2 grams/mile more than the requirement could reduce their zero-emission vehicle mandate by up to 50 percent.
Advocacy group Plug-In America said it was "extremely disappointed" that CARB chair Mary Nichols did not allow a vote on a proposal by several Board members to raise the required GHG Overcompliance provision from its current 2 g/mile to 5 g/mile.
2013 Cadillac ATS Preview: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Cadillac has been promising us a true BMW 3-Series competitor, and it is finally here. The 2013 Cadillac ATS is the compact luxury sedan that Cadillac is depending on to establish a new reputation among some of the world's top performance sedans.
The ATS follows the new-expression Art & Science design direction set by the new 2013 XTS, which was introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past fall. The front end does a great job mimicking the XTS while the side character line is softer and less pronounced. While the standard 17-inch alloy wheels fill the wheel wells nicely, 18-inch alloy wheels are optional. Out back, the ATS uses the third brake light as a spoiler similar to the CTS Coupe and XTS. Dual exhaust outlets emerge through a pseudo-diffuser with a center mounted backup light mounted low to the ground.
Cadillac says it created a driver-focused interior for the ATS, focusing on the placement of the pedals and steering wheel, along with the location of the shifter. The flowing dashboard wraps around into the door panels and features ambient lighting. A wide range of interior color options will be available, ranging from black and tan to more vibrant colors such as brown and burgundy, all complimented by various trim materials ranging from real wood and plated metal to carbon-fiber. Sport seats will be available for those who seek more support for spirited driving.
Riding on an all-new platform, the ATS will be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations. While the ATS gets a 2.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder rated at 200 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 rated at 318 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque is optional, Cadillac expects the volume engine to be the optional 2.0-liter turbo direct-injection four-cylinder engine rated at 270 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
Both a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission will be offered, and while official fuel economy ratings have not yet been announced, Cadillac says the ATS will deliver a peak highway fuel economy rating of more than 30 mpg.
Cadillac is serious about going after the premium German marques and as such has fitted certain models of the ATS with Brembo brakes and Magnetic Ride Control. Cadillac claims a less than 3,400-pound curb weight on the ATS will be one of the lowest in the segment along with nearly 50/50 weight balance.
Like the XTS, the ATS will be a tour de force when it comes to technology. Cadillac's new CUE infotainment system will be available. Featuring an 8-inch glass LCD touchscreen display in the instrument panel and a 5.7-inch reconfigurable screen making up the gauge cluster, CUE helps control everything from navigation and audio, to climate control and vehicle settings. While CUE can be voice operated, the instrument panel does feature touch-sensitive buttons that can control main audio and climate control functions quickly. All touch controls for the instrument panel and touchscreen display feature haptic feedback, which provides a vibration confirming your selection.
The ATS backs up the in-cabin tech with a myriad of safety features including eight standard airbags and StabiliTrak. Optional technology includes full-speed, range-adaptive cruise control, intelligent brake assist, brake pre-fill automatic collision preparation, and much more. With all this optional technology available, Cadillac is not only looking towards the technology and driving-enthusiast crowd, but the safety-conscious crowd as well.
Stay tuned for more information and pricing as it becomes available. And make sure to follow the rest of the news flowing out of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show by visiting our dedicated show page.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
A Strong December Closes Out 2011 Car Sales
As automakers are reporting December 2011 sales, a recovery that began early last year seems to be growing more steady, and stronger.
Each of the Big Three automakers--Ford (NYSE:F), General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Chrysler--reported sales increases for the month and for the year, as retail vehicle sales bested levels last seen in the depths of the financial crisis. Asian automakers are yet to file their numbers, but with Korea's Hyundai and Kia and Japan's Subaru likely setting annual sales records, only Toyota and Honda, the companies most affected by the March earthquake, may be poised to break rank.
Total light-vehicle sales for 2011 are expected to come in at nearly 12.8 million units, with 10.3 million of those sold to retail customers. In December alone, the retail-sales figures should top one million units; according to J.D. Power and Associates, that would be a first since August of 2009, when Cash for Clunkers drove demand temporarily out of recession.
Power now expects 2012 sales to rise to 13.8 million units, with retail sales accounting for 11.7 million of those.
"Next year, the automotive industry will look to build upon the strong finish to 2011," said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive, in a release. "But the real test in 2012 will be weathering a summer selling slowdown and posting a full year of a progressive recovery."
Those numbers are in line with most automakers' expectations, including those of General Motors. However, Ford's range puts 2012 sales volumes somewhere between 13.5 million and 14.5 million units--hedged against political uncertainty in an election year, but still a signal that the year ahead could be a good one.
The numbers for 2011, and for the final month of last year:
General Motors: GM (NYSE: GM) says each of its brands increased sales in 2011. Cadillac grew slowest, at 3.7 percent and 152,389 units, while Buick was up 14.3 percent, to 177,633 units. Chevrolet rose 13.4 percent in 2011 to total sales of 1,775,812 vehicles, while GMC was up 18.8 percent on annual sales of 397,986 units.
For the month of December 2011, GM sales rose 4.7 percent, with Chevrolet up 8.9 percent at 161,158 units sold. GMC moved 41,960 vehicles for a 0.5-percent decrease from December 2010. Buick's sales dropped 12.4 percent from the same period in 2010, to 14,974 vehicles. And Cadillac fell 2.7 percent on the month, to 16,259 units.
GM says its sales highlights included a 54-percent boost for the Chevy Cruze, a 20-percent lift for the Camaro--and a record month for the Volt, which sold 1,529 units, for a total of 7,671 on the year, against a stated goal of 10,000 units.
Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) sales were up 17.4 percent in 2011, with a total of 2,062,915 vehicles, giving the company its third market-share increase in a row--something it hasn't done since 1970. The Fusion sedan accounted for 248,067 units, a record for the four-door, while the Explorer ended the year up 123.6 percent. Even the dated Escape pulled off a 33-percent year-over-year increase, but the Flex was off 19.9 percent. Ford also sold 584,917 trucks in 2011. For December 2011, Ford sales totaled 201,737 units, an increase of 15.6 percent.
Ford's Lincoln brand watched its sales rise 4.3 percent in December, but was off 0.2 percent on the year, for a total of 85,643 units. December's sales of 8,403 units were helped by a 22-percent boost in MKZ sales and a 6.7-percent increase with the MKX, but the MKS sedan was off 15.3 percent and the MKT crossover was down 32.4 percent.
Toyota / Lexus / Scion: Toyota ended a difficult sales year down 7 percent, much of the decrease due to supply problems after the March 11 earthquake in Japan. U.S. sales totaled 1,644,661 vehicles; Toyota accounted for 1,446,109 of those, down 6.1 percent. Lexus' yearly total reached 198,552 units, down 13.7 percent, while Scion sold 49,271 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011, an increase of 7.5 percent.
For the month of December 2011, Toyota sold 152,776 vehicles, a 1.9-percent boost; Lexus reported 25,355 sales, an 8-percent slide. Scion sold 4,159 units, for an increase of 5.1 percent.
Chrysler: Sales of Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat vehicles totaled 1.37 million units in 2011, for a strong 26-percent increase over an abysmal 2010. Chrysler says that's the biggest boost for any full-line manufacturer.
In December 2011, Chrysler says it sold 138,019 units in the U.S, an increase of 37 percent, and its best month since May 2008. The Chrysler brand moved 23,974 units, up 83 percent, with strong numbers for the 300 and 200 sedans--up 661 percent and 242 percent, respectively.
Jeep rose 41 percent on the month with 43,577 units sold; the company sold more Grand Cherokees last month than in any month in the past six years.
Dodge's numbers were up 28 percent in December, to 41,548 units, with a 227-percent sales boost for the Charger sedan. Ram trucks rose 10 percent to 26,595 units, and the Fiat 500 caught a ray of hope with sales up 44 percent over November 2011 to 2,325 units moved in December.
Honda / Acura: Honda says it sold a total of 1,147,285 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011, a slide of 7.1 percent from 2010, with sizable sales losses due to the Japan earthquake last March. Honda accounted for 1,023,986 units, off 6.9 percent; Acura was down 8 percent, to 123,299 units. The Honda Accord tallied 235,625 sales, fewer than the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion; the Civic hit total sales of 221,235 units, and the CR-V, 218,373.
For the month of December, Honda sold a total of 105,230 units, down 18.8 percent over the same period in 2010. Honda brand accounted for 92,101 units, off 19.3 percent; Acura sold 13,129 vehicles in December 2011, off 15.2 percent from the same year-ago period.
Nissan / Infiniti:Nissan says it sold a total of 1,042,534 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011. Of that, 944,073 units were moved by the Nissan brand, a boost of 17.3 percent. The Altima narrowly beat out the Hyundai Sonata as the fourth-best-selling passenger car, with volumes of 268,981 units. Infiniti sales were off 4.8 percent on the year at 98,461 vehicles.
For the month of December, Nissan sales of 89,937 marked an increase of 10.7 percent over the same period in 2010. Infiniti sales fell 12.1 percent, to 10,990 vehicles. The electric Nissan Leaf accounted for 954 units in December, for a total of 9,674 deliveries since launch, a handful arriving in customer garages in December 2010.
Hyundai: In advance of an official sales release, Hyundai USA CEO John Krafcik sent his company's results out via Twitter. "It's official: 50,765 new Hyundai owners in Dec (+13% over last yr) & 645,691 in 2011 (+20% over '10). Thanks all, and welcome aboard! ^jfk" Of the numbers, 225,961 units were Hyundai Sonata sedans, which likely makes the four-door the fourth-best-selling passenger car, to retail customers, Krafcik added.
Kia: Kia says it sold 485,492 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011, a new all-time record surpassing the one it set in 2010, and also a 36.3-percent increase. December 2011 sales totaled 43,390 vehicles, a 42.5-percent increase. Kia's share of the U.S. market is now up to 3.8 percent.
Volkswagen: Volkswagen says its sales soared in December 2011 by 36 percent. The monthly tally of 32,502 units marked its best December since 1972 (!). On the year, VW sold 324,402 vehicles, up 26.3 percent versus 2010, for its best U.S. sales year since 2002. The Jetta continues to post huge sales increases--in December, it's up 54.5 percent--and the Passat keeps its streak going as well, with a 124-percent boost in December 2011. Diesel sales are starting to shrink across its lineup, at least temporarily: December's share for diesels at VW was 18.4 percent, versus a year-long average of 21.6 percent.
Mercedes-Benz: not yet reported
BMW / MINI: not yet reported
Subaru: Subaru reported sales of 266,989 units for 2011, another all-time record for the Japanese automaker and an increase of 1.2 percent--despite supply problems it had in the wake of the Japan earthquake. Subaru says it's within striking distance of 300,000 units in 2012. December sales were up 26.3 percent, to 33,701 units.
Mazda: Mazda posted total U.S. sales of 250,426 units in 2011, an increase of 9.1 percent. In December, the Japanese automaker sold 22,353 vehicles, up 4.1 percent over the same period in 2010. The big winners: the CX-9, up almost 28 percent, and the Mazda5, with a sharp 52.5-percent sales increase over December 2010.
Audi: Audi says it sold 117,561 vehicles in the U.S. in 2011, for an overall gain of 15.7 percent. In December, Audi sold 12,655 vehicles, up 20 percent over the year-before numbers.
Volvo: Swedish automaker Volvo reported total U.S. sales of 67,240 vehicles, a 24.6-percent improvement over 2010. For the month of December 2011, sales hit 5,342 units, up 12.3 percent from a year before.
Mitsubishi: The Japanese automaker posted 2011 U.S. sales up 41.9 percent over 2010, at a total of 79,020 units. In December, Mitsu sales of 5,032 units marked a 3.2-percent increase over December 2010.
Porsche: Porsche had a banner year in the U.S. in 2011, with total sales of 29,023 vehicles, up 15 percent. For December of 2011, sales totaled 1,834 units, down 28.6 percent as the Cayenne slipped in the final month of the year.
Jaguar/Land Rover: not yet reported
Suzuki: not yet reported
Saab: not yet reported
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Total Recall: Automakers Issue Fewer Safety Fixes In 2011
No matter what brand of vehicle you have, chances are it is—or will be—affected by some sort of recall.
Recalls, while a necessity for safety, mean lost time and money for both the automaker and the customer. And the good news is that there were fewer this past year.
According to a WardsAuto analysis of data from the federal government, automakers issued 130 recall campaigns in 2011 (not including the few issued this week), affecting about 13 million light vehicles and reversing a two-year trend of record vehicle-recall levels.
That total for 2011 is also well below the 2010 total of 136 campaigns and 17.2 million vehicles, as well as the 2009 total of 105 campaigns and 18.4 million vehicles.
Toyota issued the most recalls again in 2011
In 2011, Toyota was for the third year in a row the automaker with the most recalled vehicles—more than 3.5 million in all, covered by 13 different campaigns. However, it’s worth noting that its totals were a fraction of the total for 2010, when the automaker issued the bulk of its accelerator-related recalls, covering 11.5 million vehicles in all.
Ford remained second after Toyota, with ten recall campaigns, covering 3.2 million cars and trucks overall (about 2.7 million of them covering older F-150 trucks). Honda was a close third, with eleven campaigns covering about two million cars—with a single transmission-related recall covering about 1.5 million of those vehicles.
As we reported last summer, 30 percent of recalled vehicles aren’t fixed within 18 months after a recall, and dealerships will still be performing some of these recalls for many years.
WardsAuto points out that even though the totals for the last couple of years have been high for recalls, they’re well below the levels of 2000—the same year that the Ford/Firestone tire-recall issue broke.
Visit the federal government’s vehicle recalls page to see if your vehicle is affected by an issue, and click over to page two to see some of this year’s most interesting recalls.
2013 Buick Encore Crossover: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview
The 2012 Detroit Auto Show is fast approaching, with press days on January 9 and 10, 2012. With many important new-product reveals already announced--including the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2013 Dodge Dart, and Acura NSX Concept--this year's show promises to be anything but disappointing.
Now we can officially add the 2013 Buick Encore to the list of reveals, as a teaser image has just been released by Buick. The GM brand's being coy with the details, the new compact crossover seems to share some of the details with today's Enclave, while predicting where that seven-seat crossover might go in its next redesign.
Details are few in this teaser shot provided by Buick, but we can see a blue ring around the HID headlight, like the one on the Enclave. We also see the Buick logo stamped onto the high-beam reflector. A dark gray waterfall grille and portholes on the hood round out the Buick styling cues. While the vent below the headlight looks odd in the picture, we'll reserve final judgement until we've seen the whole picture.
We are told the Encore will feature Buick's Quiet Tuning technology along with other features that are expected in a Buick. The styling will be contemporary, a spokesperson says, and in line with the rest of the current Buick lineup.
Buick plans to reveal a section of an image on its Facebook fan page each week leading up to the reveal on January 10. Stay tuned for more on the Encore, and for more coverage of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
NTSB Recommends Nationwide In-Car Phone, Texting Ban
It shouldn't take a government agency to figure out that texting while driving is dangerous. There's ample evidence to support the claim. But today the National Transportation Safety Board nonetheless recommended a nationwide ban on the use of handheld cell phone and text messaging devices while driving.
Handsfree systems, passengers, and emergency circumstances are exempted from the recommendation, according to CNN. It's also important to note that the NTSB's recommendation is just that--it's not a mandate, regulation, or law. Individual states will have to take action with their own legislatures to put the recommendation into effect.
The recommendation will be welcomed by safety advocates, but several states already have rules in place that meet the recommendation, and many more--most, actually--have some form of texting or cell phone use ban already. In some states, cities and counties have enacted their own bans in addition to state law, though Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Oklahoma prohibit local ordinances on cell phone use and texting.
Though the data on the dangers of texting or using handheld phones while driving appears to be clear, there is some evidence that laws don't deter the activity, particularly among teens. Others argue that raising penalties for violation of such laws amounts to creation of a "nanny state."
According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, currently only eight states, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia have a general in-car cell phone calling ban (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington). In all but Maryland, using a phone while driving is a primary offense, meaning it's reason enough on its own to cause a traffic stop and ticket.
Another four states have limited-case bans on cell use, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, which ban use by young drivers (Arkansas, drivers aged 18-20), learner or intermediate license drivers (Louisiana and Oklahoma), or state vehicles (New Mexico).
Overcoming the current state bias against banning hand-held cell phone use in the remaining 38 states may prove difficult, even with the weight of the NTSB's recommendation.
Texting, on the other hand, has seen much wider bans: all but 15 states ban it outright as a primary offense. Of the states that allow texting while driving (Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Missori, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia), six have partial bans for learning drivers (Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, and West Virginia).
Only three states specifically prohibit school bus drivers from texting while driving, but the general ban on texting covers school bus drivers in the other text-ban states.
Rounding up the remaining less-than-full ban states on texting while driving may be a less imposing hurdle to clear given the wider acceptance of its danger and non-necessity behind the wheel, though as with the recommendation on cell phones, seeing any change will come down to whether individual states find a need to change their current laws in light of the NTSB recommendation.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
New Toyota & Lexus Pricing: 2012 Corolla Goes Up, 2012 Venza Down
If you're planning to buy a new Toyota or Lexus in the near future, pay attention. The automaker just announced pricing on a range of vehicles, and several popular models -- including the 2012 Toyota Corolla, Highlander, and Tundra -- are due for a price increase. Others, like the 2012 Matrix, will drop. And the 2012 Venza is a little bit of both. Here's a breakdown:
GOING UP
2012 Toyota Corolla
The MSRP on the base model Corolla, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission, will rise $230 to $16,130. That's a jump of about 1.4%, and similar increases will fall throughout the model range.
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Cruiser will see a modest increase of $125 across the entire model line, putting the base-model FJ Cruiser at $26,115.
2012 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid
Pricing on all conventional Toyota Highlanders will increase $150, from the base STD model (starting at $28,240) all the way to the upper-end LTD ($37,195). The Highlander Hybrid will see a steeper price jump of $400, with the lower-end STD ringing in at $38,540.
2012 Toyota Tundra
The Regular Cab Tundra will see the steepest Toyota price increase in pure dollars, surging by $720 throughout the entire model range. The base model will now set you back $25,155, a jump of 3%. Increases on the Double Cab and CrewMax Tundra are a more modest $250, with the base STD Double Cab starting at $27,365.
2012 Lexus LS 460, LS 600, CT 200h Premium
MSRPs on all three of these models will see an increase of $500. At the low end, that brings the CT 200h Premium to $31,750, and the LS 600 to at tidy $112,750.
STAYING FLAT
2012 Toyota Matrix
Pricing on the Matrix will remain flat for the foreseeable future. That means bargain-shoppers can still nab the base L model for an MSRP of $18,845.
2012 Lexus CT 200h
Hybrid luxury fans can continue rolling over to the darker side of green for $29,120.
MIXED BAG
2012 Toyota Venza
Pricing on the 2012 Venza is both up and down. If you're eyeing one of the less-expensive LE models, you can expect a price increase of $240, making the base model $27,425. On the other hand, if you're shopping for an XLE model, prices will start at $29,775, which is a drop of $880. Limited models, which start at $36,465, will see a lower price drop of $460. Note, however, that the delivery, processing, and handling fee for the Venza has increased by $50 to $810.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
TrueCar Picks Biggest Black Friday Car Bargains
Thanksgiving's schedule includes three NFL games and one other major contact sport: Black Friday sales busting the doors earlier than ever. For diehards it's all about the deals, mashed up (sometimes literally) with the rush from conquest.
There is a way to save thousands more than even the most intense Black Friday shopper--without sacrificing civility or personal safety. TrueCar.com suggests you and your dignity sleep in, pass up the retail stores and head for new car dealers the day after Thanksgiving. However counterintuitive, it reports this single day beats every other with predicted MSRP average savings of 9.5 percent and often more.
Why so much and such a limited time frame? Don't confuse this with a typical seasonal clearance promotion. It may be a contributing factor, but there's a lot more at play. We're approaching the end of the month and the end of the year. The 2011 cars have to find homes as 2012 models arrive. Sales goals still have to be met, even as most consumers in a buying mood camp on cement to save a few hundred bucks on an off-brand television.
They could instead ride the leather seats of a 2011 Chevrolet Corvette after saving several thousand--around 18 percent--on a cash deal. Nearly 30 percent savings can be had on a 2011 Nissan Titan, too.
Several finance specials wind down at the end of the month, but not before offering zero percent financing for 60 months on a 2012 Nissan Altima or 1.9 percent for 60 months on a 2012 Toyota Sienna.
Likewise, a number of tempting lease promotions go away in a few days. A 2012 BMW 1-Series is semi-yours for three years at $349 per month, while a 2012 Hyundai Veloster goes home with you for three years at $179 per month.
TrueCar also identifies several other vehicle specials and buyer's tools on their website, with real-time updates. In any case, the potential new-car savings are more compelling than wrestling a stranger over a panini maker.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Good News: 7 Auto Trends And Headlines We Were Glad To See In 2010
It's the end of another year—in this case, a year when we've slogged through countless recall updates, worrisome issues like driver distraction in the spotlight, and confirmed the demise of several major automotive brands, hundreds of dealerships, and overall, some of the worst-ever economic conditions.
That said, it's not worth dwelling on these. There's been a lot of good news, too. Page through the following and celebrate some of the positive headlines of 2010:
