Final Inspection

Most Recent Blog Posts

by David Zoia Feb 09, 2012

It’s a Fine World After All

It was mostly smiles at the NADA convention in Las Vegas, where everything seemed to be breaking the dealer body’s way for 2012....More

by David Zoia Oct 07, 2011

Pent-Up Demand? What Pent-Up Demand?

With annual U.S. sales running nearly 5 million units below pre-economic-crash peaks and the average age of vehicles on....More

by David Zoia Sep 23, 2011

U.S. Gets Failing Grade on Fuel Economy

America hasn’t achieved all that much when it comes to conserving fuel – most of us included. That failure jumps out....More

by David Zoia Aug 25, 2011

Making Chevy the Apple of GM’s Eye

General Motors wants to position its automotive brands among the best on the planet, telling financial analysts earlier....More

by David Zoia Jul 28, 2011

Labor Talks: No Game-Changer, Still Great Theater

United Auto Workers President Bob King doesn’t believe labor talks that kicked off this week – billed by some as the....More

by David Zoia May 31, 2011

It’s Complicated1

Automotive interiors is an awfully complex business. I couldn’t help but draw that rather simplistic conclusion....More

by David Zoia May 12, 2011

No Such Thing as Free Ride

A coalition of environmental groups is calling on President Obama to “create long-term relief for drivers at the pump”....More

by David Zoia May 04, 2011

Believe It or Not: U.S. Manufacturers Having Trouble Finding Workers

It’s not often “worker shortage” and “manufacturing” can be used in the same sentence, at least not in the U.S., where....More

by David Zoia Mar 17, 2011

One U.S. Car Maker About to Bet Big on Emerging Markets?

U.S. auto makers still may be a little gun shy when it comes to pulling the trigger on new-product development as the....More

by David Zoia Dec 08, 2010

Hawaii Hot Bed for What Comes Next

Who knew when the U.S. first got its hands on Hawaii back in 1898 there eventually would be an automotive angle to the....More

by David Zoia Nov 24, 2010

Uh-Oh, Oprah Likes the Bug

Volkswagen’s Beetle giveaway on the Oprah Winfrey show this week may turn out to be a good marketing ploy – or simply....More

by David Zoia Nov 10, 2010

Charting the Comeback

Maybe it’s time to recalibrate. Most of this year was spent repeating the same monthly vigil, as we waited anxiously....More

by Barbara McClellan Oct 21, 2010

Major Auto Makers Find Solace, Risks in Emerging Markets

Putting together Ward’s annual state of the international industry package, posted this week on our website, at times....More

by Barbara McClellan Sep 21, 2010

GM Would Benefit From Chinese Partner’s IPO Investment

The U.S. Treasury is hoping for the greatest bang for the buck from General Motors’ upcoming initial public offering as....More

by David Zoia Sep 13, 2010

Black as Green as Blue

The car color Henry Ford made famous is drawing little love from the crowd lining up to purchase the first batch of....More