William Maley

Well what do we have here? A new set of spy shots show off the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze without any camouflage - most likely due to the model being part of a photoshoot. The overall shape of the new Cruze is very striking and takes some ideas from the new Malibu and Volt with a rising beltline and sloping roof. Other details to take into consideration is a new design of the split grille, headlights, and flared out fenders. The new Cruze is expected to get the turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder that was introduced in the Malibu earlier this year. A diesel and plug-in hybrid are rumored to be available as well. The Cruze is expected to debut at the LA Auto Show in November. Source: Left Lane News View full article

#1 - Ford Mustang #4 - Chrysler used reflectors on the side markers, when Federal Law mandated lights for the side marker.

Jaguar Land Rover's SVO division has been hard at work on producing high-performance and more luxurious variants of Jaguar and Land Rover models. But coming soon, the division will begin leaving their mark on Land Rover with more hardcore off-road variants. Car and Driver spoke with the head of SVO, John Edwards about what's next. Edwards talked about a new set of models wearing the SVX badge (Sorry Subaru) that will boast “added capability”. Unfortunately, Edwards didn't go any further aside from saying looking at events like the Camel Trophy and Dakar Rally to see the inspiration for the new direction. The good news is that we won't be waiting too long for a Land Rover SVX model to be introduced. Source: Car and Driver View full article

Dutch Publication Autovise reports Maserati's entant in the luxury crossover class, the Levante, will make its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show next year. A few months after its debut, production of this new crossover will begin. As we have reported before, the production Levante will feature a range of V6 and V8 gas and diesel engines built by Ferrari. Power will range from 350 to 580 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive will come standard for each powertrain. Autovise goes on to report that the Levante will only be a five-seater. Pricing in Europe for the Levante will range from €90,000 (about $99,800) to €200,000 ($222,000). Source: Autovise View full article

One group of automakers that are on the up and up are luxury automakers. Just take a look at April's sales, Porsche - Up 28.1% (5,217 Vehicles Sold This Month, 16,647 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Lincoln - Up 19.6% (8,134 Vehicles Sold This Month, 29,612 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Cadillac - Up 13.7% (15,801 Vehicles Sold This Month, 52,976 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Mercedes-Benz - Up 12.8% (29,188 Vehicles Sold This Month, 107,344 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Lexus - Up 11.7% (25,876 Vehicles Sold This Month, 103,056 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Maserati - Up 10% (1,060 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,989 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Infiniti - Up 8.8% (9,979 Vehicles Sold This Month, 43,821 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) BMW - Up 6.9% (26,952 Vehicles Sold This Month, 105,444 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Acura - Up 5.3% (14,874 Vehicles Sold This Month, 54,518 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Jaguar - Up 4.3% (1,079 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,415 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) So why the bump? USA Today says for most luxury automakers, it comes down to low-end models. "Luxury sales have increased as products have become affordable to a wider audience. Of late, luxury car brands have focused on the lower end of the price spectrum, introducing models such as the Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1 and Porsche Macan, which are slotted below existing popular SUVs on the price spectrum," said Edmunds.com's senior analyst Jessica Caldwell. Caldwell goes onto say that the majority of luxury vehicles are leased, which makes low-end luxury vehicles very appealing to consumers who have gone with mainstream vehicles before. Also helping matters is a wide range of consumers who are buying these models. "Buyers are coming from all over the place, especially as Millennials start to create more wealth for themselves and continue to be as aspirational as ever," said Akshay Anand, ​analyst at Kelley Blue Book. Source: USA Today View full article

It helps the GTI is a fantastic car. I've been driving one for the past few days and come away very impressed with it.

Over the weekend, Chevrolet announced the pricing for the 2016 Volt before it goes on sale later this year. Pricing for new model will begin at $33,995 (includes a $825 destination charge). Chevrolet is quick to point out the 2016 Volt is almost $1,200 less that current Volt on sale. Add in Federal and State incentives and you could drive away with a Volt for as low as $24,995. Aside from the price cut, the 2016 Volt sees an increase in overall electric range (50 vs. 31 miles) and a improvement for the gas engine's fuel economy (41 MPG vs. 37 MPG). "The next generation Chevrolet Volt delivers more technology, the ability to drive further between gas fill ups and now with even more value to our customers. It's what our loyal Volt owners told us they wanted," said Steve Majoros, Director, Chevrolet Marketing. "We are confident we will continue to attract new customers to Volt with the vehicle's product improvements and attractive price." Source: Chevrolet Press Release is on Page 2 Chevrolet Announces 2016 Volt Pricing Next Gen delivers more technology at new price as low as $26,495 DETROIT – The Chevrolet Volt is poised to continue to bring new owners to the electric plug-in family. Pricing will be as low as $26,495 after the full federal tax credit of $7,500. (Federal tax credit can range from $0 up to $7,500.) In California, the vehicle’s largest market, residents of the state will be able to purchase the all-new Volt for as low as $24,995 after state and federal incentives. The 2016 model will start at $33,995 MSRP, including an $825 destination fee (excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees). This is almost $1,200 less than the current-generation Volt. “The next-generation Chevrolet Volt delivers more technology, the ability to drive further between gas fill-ups and now with even more value to our customers. It’s what our loyal Volt owners told us they wanted,” said Steve Majoros, director, Chevrolet Marketing. “We are confident we will continue to attract new customers to Volt with the vehicle’s product improvements and attractive price.” The Volt continues to be a success with the brand, with nearly 70 percent of Volt owners trading in a non-GM product or adding to their household fleet in 2014, the highest of any Chevy nameplate. The number one trade-in for the Volt is the Toyota Prius. To date, more than 75,000 first-generation Volt owners have driven hundreds of millions of EV miles. Volt owners who charge regularly can expect to drive an estimated 1,000 miles or more between fill-ups, based on GM testing. The 2016 Volt will provide owners with impressive fuel economy of a GM-estimated 102 MPGe (electric) and 41 combined mpg on gasoline power. The new Volt will offer a GM-estimated 50 miles of all-electric driving range on a single charge, a 31-percent improvement over the first-generation Volt. This means new Volt owners should anticipate that approximately 90 percent of trips in a new Volt will be driven all-electrically. View full article

May 1, 2015 SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPORTS RECORD APRIL SALES Record April - monthly sales increase 18 percent over April 2014 41st consecutive month of year-over-year growth Best April ever for Forester, Legacy, Outback and XV Crosstrek 17 percent increase YTD over 2014 21st consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold 14th consecutive months of more than 10,000 Outbacks sold Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. today reported record sales for April 2015 totaling 47,241 vehicles, an 18 percent gain over April 2014. The company also reported year-to-date sales of 178,522, a 17 percent gain over the same period in 2014. April marked the 14th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Forester, Legacy, Outback and XV Crosstrek sales were notably strong as each model line achieved its best April ever. Legacy sales for April 2015 increased 68.8 percent over the same month in 2014. In April, Subaru earned two 2015 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards for Most Trusted Brand and Best Performance Brand. The Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public. “Our April results exceeded our expectations and we are delighted to have achieved another monthly sales record,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We have an awesome group of retailers who have made these results possible and are the true strength of our brand.” “We have seen record numbers of consumers shopping the Subaru brand and we continue to have excellent demand across our entire line-up, said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “We are pleased by the outstanding results provided by our retailers that included the best April ever for Forester, Legacy, Outback, and XV Crosstrek.”

Mitsubishi Motors Reports Best April Sales Results In Seven Years Total sales up 25.6 percent from last April Best-ever April sales month for Outlander Sport Best Outlander April sales month since 2007 14th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increase CYPRESS, Calif., May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) continues its sales momentum with April 2015 vehicle sales of 8,216 units, a 25.6 percent sales increase from April 2014. This marks the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases for MMNA, and it was the best April sales total in the last seven years. Mitsubishi Motors' Outlander Sport compact crossover continued to be the brand's best-selling model with April sales of 2,674 units. The highly fuel-efficient Mirage 5-door sub-compact experienced sales of 2,407 units for the month; Mirage sales are up 65.4 percent year-to-date. The seven-passenger Outlander crossover demonstrated strong sales with 1,254 units sold – its best April sales since 2007. "In March, we finished the first quarter of 2015 with an incredible sales pace. And that momentum carried over into April with our core models continuing to lead the way," said MMNA Executive Vice President, Don Swearingen. "Our cars are not only priced right, but they are also economical to own, exceptionally reliable and are backed by an industry-leading warranty. It is these important qualities that are attracting new car buyers to the Mitsubishi brand."

Kia Motors America Announces April Sales Sharp CUV and Minivan Increases Drive Year-to-Date Sales Up 4.1 Percent; Soul EV Now Available Outside of California IRVINE, Calif., May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced April sales of 53,282 vehicles, led by the U.S.-built* Optima midsize sedan and all-new 2016 Sorento CUV, as well as the iconic Soul. Combined sales of the Sorento and Sportage crossovers are up 19.8 percent year-to-date. "The all-new Sorento is Kia's most capable and refined CUV ever, and its early-2015 launch has aligned perfectly with the incredible rise in crossover demand," said Michael Sprague, Chief Operating Officer and EVP, KMA. "And after winning Motor Trend's minivan comparison test, earning a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and being named to Ward's 10 Best Interiors List, sales of the completely redesigned Sedona have taken off and are up more than 400 percent year-to-date." Included in the second-best April total in company history are the first retail deliveries of the Soul EV in the state of Georgia.

Hyundai Motor America Reports Record April Sales Four models have their best-ever April sales FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America today reported its best April ever, selling 68,009 units, a three percent increase compared with sales in April 2014 and up, year-to-date, six percent. "For six years in a row we've set April sales records going into the spring selling season. With the launch of our all-new Sonata Hybrid and first Sonata Plug-In Hybrid this month, we are well poised to keep this momentum going," said Bob Pradzinski, vice-president National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. Genesis sedan, led by the popularity of Hyundai's HTRAC all-wheel drive system, once again was at the forefront with a 142 percent increase over last year, followed by the Sonata Hybrid, up 21 percent, Elantra sedan, up 16 percent and the Santa Fe, up 10 percent – all setting their best-ever April sales record. The Azera saw sales gains of 30 percent and the sub-compact Accent was up 28 percent.

Audi sets 52nd consecutive monthly U.S. sales record in April 2015 May 01, 2015 | HERNDON, Virginia Sales for the month rose 7.5% to 16,827 vehicles A3 models achieved best-ever monthly sales since launch Demand for SUV models was strong for the month Audi reported that its April 2015 sales increased 7.5% to 16,827 vehicles, a total that stands as the brand’s 52nd straight month of record U.S. sales. Audi achieved its best-ever April sales in the brand’s U.S. history. The previous April record was set in 2014 with sales of 15,653 vehicles. Through the first four months of 2015, Audi U.S. sales rose 11.9% from last year to 56,925 vehicles. “This spring, our dealers continued to show robust sales performance across the Audi product portfolio,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “Strong demand in particular for models such as the Audi Q3 and the A3 gives us confidence that we will continue to draw new customers to our brand well into the summer.” April represented strong demand for Audi luxury SUVs, with a 35.6% increase in sales encompassing the Audi Q3, Q5 and Q7 models. The Q5 posted a 14.2% increase from last year, and the Q7 posted a 10.8% increase from last April. The A3 model line achieved record sales in April with a 47.6% increase over last year. The most recent month was the best-ever sales month for both the A3 Sedan and the A3 Cabriolet models since their U.S. sales debut in 2014. Audi Certified pre-owned vehicle sales also set a new record for April, with a 7.3% gain on 3,971 CPO vehicles sold. CPO sales year-to-date increased 9.0%. Audi holds the longest running monthly record sales streak in the premium car market according to a competitive sales report from MotorIntelligence.com.

Mercedes-Benz Posts Highest April on Record with 12.8% Monthly Sales Gain MBUSA launches second quarter with 8.2% increase YTD May 01, 2015 - MONTVALE, N.J. - Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported record April sales for the Mercedes-Benz brand with 29,188 units, up 12.8% from 25,887 sold in the same month last year. Sprinter posted a gain of 15.5% to 2,764 vehicles in April, combining with 480 units at smart for a monthly total of 32,432 for MBUSA. On a year-to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz sold 107,344 vehicles, increasing 9%. Adding 8,323 units at Sprinter (up 18.6%) and 2,013 units at smart, the company's year-to-date grand total hit 117,680. "The momentum of a record first quarter propelled us to the best April sales in our history," said Stephen Cannon, president and CEO of MBUSA. "With the Mercedes-Maybach S600 and Mercedes-AMG GT S now arriving in showrooms, we're fueling our growth at the upper reaches of the luxury and high-performance markets." The C-, E- and M-Class model lines led Mercedes-Benz April sales. The C-Class took the top spot at 6,665, up 30.3% from 5,114 in April 2014. The M-Class, best-seller on the light truck side, followed with a 29.1% gain to 4,945 units, while the E-Class rounded out the top three with sales of 3,466. At the high end, sales for the legendary G-Class sport-utility increased 9.5%. Sales of Mercedes-AMG high-performance models totaled 1,119 in April, up 11.2% from the 1,006 units sold last year, and 3,826 year-to-date. Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel models delivered 2,970 units for the month – a 93.7% gain from April 2014 – with year-to-date volumes climbing 13.8% to 6,210. Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) models delivered April sales of 9,367, while year-to-date sales hit 37,806.

BMW Group U.S. Reports April 2015 Sales BMW brand up 6.9 percent, sets April record MINI brand sales up 24.7 percent Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 1, 2015… Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 6.9 percent in April for a total of 26,952 compared to 25,202 vehicles sold in April, 2014. “A good April result with a BMW sales record is the perfect set-up going into what are typically the even stronger sales months of May and June,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “All of us at BMW are excited about this season because starting right now, in May, we are celebrating 40 years of an icon, the BMW 3 Series, the most successful BMW of all-time and the world standard in its segment.” In April, notable vehicle sales included the BMW 3 / 4 Series which increased 5.9 percent to 10,374 vehicles and the BMW 2 Series which increased 38.8 percent to 1,009 vehicles. The BMW X5 has increased 12.0 percent year-to-date with 15,846 sold compared to the first four months of 2014. BMW Group Sales In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported April sales of 32,428 vehicles, an increase of 9.6 percent from the 29,592 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. MINI Brand Sales For April, MINI USA reports 5,476 automobiles sold, an increase of 24.7 percent from the 4,390 sold in the same month a year ago.

Jaguar Land Rover Reports U.S. Sales for April 2015 Jaguar Land Rover U.S. April sales increase 15 percent with 6,390 units sold; making this the company's best April retail month since 2005 Land Rover up 17 percent for the best Land Rover April sales month ever driven by Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque Jaguar brand up 4 percent driven by sales of F-TYPE and XF (MAHWAH, NJ) - May 1, 2015 - Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported April 2015 U.S. sales. Sales for both brands hit 6,390 units, a 15 percent increase from 5,568 units in April 2014. Land Rover sales reached 5,311 units up 17 percent from 4,533 units in April 2014; Jaguar sales were 1,079 units, up 4 percent from 1,035 units in April 2014. Year-to-date in 2015, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales are up 19 percent from 2014. For the full year 2014, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales were up with 67,238 units sold in 2014 compared to 66,962 in 2013. For the full year 2014 the Land Rover brand established an all-time annual high for U.S. sales of 51,465. "Jaguar Land Rover's world class products including Range Rover and F-TYPE continue to resonate in the marketplace helping us achieve our best April since 2005," said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. "We are particularly pleased that Land Rover was able to achieve its highest April sales level in U.S. history and that on the Jaguar side, the 16MY F-TYPE contributed to a great sales month." U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS Land Rover Land Rover hit a new April high with 5,311 total units sold this month as both the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each had their best ever U.S. April sales. April was the fourth consecutive month in which Land Rover set a new monthly U.S. sales record. Range Rover hit 1,542 units in April, increasing 18 percent from 1,306 units in April, 2014. The Range Rover Evoque hit 1,081 units in April, up 25 percent from 867 units in April, 2014. April was the first partial month of retail sales for the new Discovery Sport as the LR model is phased out. For the full year 2014, Land Rover brand U.S. sales reached a new all-time high of 51,465 units. Full year sales were led by the brand volume leader Range Rover Sport with 17,897 sales up 12 percent; Range Rover with 12,830 sales up 5 percent and Range Rover Evoque with 12,440 sales up 9 percent. Jaguar For the month of April, Jaguar increased 4 percent to 1,079 from 1,035 units in April 2014. The brand volume leader, Jaguar XF was up 16 percent with 484 units sold vs. 418 in April 2014. The Jaguar F-TYPE continues to grow with an increase of 198 percent to 274 units from 92 in April 2014. In 2015, the 16 MY Jaguar F-TYPE is newly available with options of all-wheel drive and a manual transmission and now comes standard with the best warranty and longest scheduled maintenance package of any luxury sports car in the market with five-years or 60,000 miles coverage.

Cars and Light Trucks Share the Spotlight as American Honda Reports April 2015 Sales May 1, 2015 Honda light trucks set a new April record of 52,635 vehicles sold, gaining 2.0 percent year-over-year; Honda CR-V also has best-ever April, rising 3.4 percent on sales of 29,452 vehicles Honda Fit sales jumped 55.6 percent to lead American Honda April performers Acura division sales leapt 5.3 percent in April, fueled by a steep 29.4 percent rise in sedan sales led by TLX with sales of 4,093 vehicles Honda Pilot posts a substantial 28 percent gain even as an all-new Pilot and HR-V prepare to do battle in a hot truck market American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported April 2015 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 130,068 units, with Acura cars rising 29.4 percent on sales of 5,932 vehicles and Honda trucks gaining 2.0 percent on sales of 52,635 units for a new April record. Overall American Honda sales decreased 1.8 percent versus a strong April 2014 sales total, with the Honda Division posting sales of 115,194 vehicles in April, a decrease of 2.7 percent for the month, and the Acura Division gaining 5.3 percent on sales of 14,874 vehicles in the same period. Honda Honda light trucks continue to resonate with consumers shopping in mainstream market segments, witnessed by yet another robust month for the outgoing 2015 Pilot—even as it makes room for the 2016 model—plus another strong month for the best-selling CR-V as it set a new April record, nearly reaching 30,000 sales; both vehicles contributed to a new April Honda light truck sales record. Bucking recent trends toward trucks, the Fit blazed another 55+ percent monthly increase while Civic also gained solid ground, up more than 2.8 percent over April 2014. Honda light trucks set a new April record, rising 2.0 percent on sales of 52,635 units. The best-selling CR-V also had record April sales, gaining 3.4 percent on sales of 29,452 vehicles. The outgoing 2015 Pilot posted sales of 11,222 vehicles—a stout increase of 28 percent in April. In the midst of a shrinking sedan market, Civic sales were up 2.8 percent for the month on sales of 28,380 and the amazing Fit posted sales of 6,529 units to leap 55.6 percent in April, while Accord posted strong sales of 27,251 units. "With the CR-V and current Pilot selling so well, and the HR-V and all-new Pilot soon entering the market, our truck lineup is set to drive a very strong 2015 for the Honda brand," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. "Though the scales are definitely tipped toward trucks at the moment, we're really pleased at how Fit, Civic and Accord continue to outperform their rivals in the retail marketplace." Acura Even as Acura SUVs continue to perform well, Acura sedans showed renewed strength as the superbly balanced TLX set the bar for the brand in April, with sales of 4,093 units putting the TLX firmly in the top sales tier of its segment and pushing total Acura sales up 5.3 percent for the month. Acura's pace-setting luxury SUVs—RDX and MDX—also continued with brisk sales in April. Total Acura brand sales gained 5.3 percent in April, with total sales reaching 14,874. TLX drove the April increase on sales of 4,093 units for the month; sedan sales are up 29.4 percent since the beginning of the year. Combined MDX and RDX sales continue to be a formidable force in the luxury SUV game—despite a changeover from 2015 to 2016 model production—with RDX sales reaching 3,972 and MDX finding 4,970 buyers in April for a total of almost 9,000 units for the month. "The Acura TLX has renewed momentum that will continue to grow in the months ahead as it makes major inroads in the tough luxury sedan market," said Mike Accavitti, Acura Division senior vice president and general manager. "Despite tight supply during the transition from outgoing 2015 models to newly refreshed 2016 models, the RDX and MDX continued to perform exceptionally well in April."

ATLANTA, May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor in the United States of Porsche 918 Spyder, 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars, Macan and Cayenne SUVs, and the Panamera four-door sports sedan line-up, today announced April 2015 sales of 5,217 vehicles, up 28 percent compared to April 2014. "This is the first time in PCNA history that we celebrate exceeding 5,000 units in one month – a milestone record," said Detlev von Platen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. "The U.S. market continues to show increased demand and passion for Porsche." April 2015 sales were led by the Cayenne model line, with 1,773 units sold. Macan had its strongest month yet with over 1,500 units delivered, while nearly 900 sales were recorded for the 911. For the year, 16,647 Porsches have been sold, an increase of 17 percent compared to the first four months of 2014. Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales in the U.S. were 1,206 for April 2015, up 18.8 percent compared to April 2014. This month also sets the record for Porsche CPO sales in one month.

Volvo Announces April Sales ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (May 1, 2015) - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) reported U.S. sales of 4,636 units, holding steady compared to April 2014. Year-to-date sales remain similar to last year. April 2015 was the first month to record registrations of the all new XC90, with 255 arriving in the US. Sales for the XC60 remained strong, with 1,819 units sold, a 44% increase from April 2014. The S60 was the second-most sold vehicle in April, with 1,301 purchased. Volvo Cars is midway through a global transformation that involves the complete renewal of Volvo’s product range beginning with the all-new XC90 luxury SUV, world-first safety technologies, a new design language, new powertrain architecture and a range of class-leading connectivity services.

Toyota Motor Sales Reports 1.8 Percent April Sales Increase Toyota division was no 1 brand in April RAV4 and Highlander post double-digit gains Lexus up nearly 12 percent TORRANCE, Calif. (May 1, 2015) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported April 2015 sales of 203,329 units, an increase of 1.8 percent from April 2014 on a volume basis. With the same amount of selling days in April 2015 and April 2014, sales were up 1.8 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. Toyota division posted April 2015 sales of 177,453 units, up 0.5 percent on a volume basis and 0.5 percent on a DSR basis. “Light truck sales have carried the auto industry to its best start in 15 years,” said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. “The demand for crossover SUVs is off the charts and both the RAV4 and Highlander set April records.” Lexus posted sales of 25,876 units, up 11.7 percent from April 2014 on a volume basis and 11.7 percent on a DSR basis. “Lexus is off to its best start ever,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “We’re bullish on the industry as we head into the summer selling season and that goes double for the luxury segment.” April 2015 Highlights: Camry is volume leader with sales of 34,066 units Corolla up over 10 percent Toyota Light trucks up 8 percent RAV4 up almost 22 percent; posted sales of 22,914 units 4Runner up 18 percent Tacoma up 12.9 percent Tundra up 4.5 percent, posted sales of 10,681 units Lexus luxury utility vehicles up 23.5 percent NX posted sales of 3,421 units GX up 19 percent

Nissan Group reports April 2015 U.S. sales NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan Group today announced total U.S. sales for April 2015 of 109,848 units, an increase of 5.7 percent over the prior year and an April record. Nissan highlights: Nissan Division set an April record at 99,869 sales in the month, an increase of 5.4 percent. Overall sales of Nissan crossovers, trucks and SUVs set an April record, up 23.7 percent. Nissan Rogue sales were up 44.5 percent to 21,767, setting an April record. Sales of the Murano crossover, all-new since December 2014, increased 72.9 percent to 4,121. Sentra sales increased 21.2 percent to 17,059 in April. Infiniti today reported sales of 9,979 vehicles in the U.S. during April, an increase of 8.8 percent versus prior year. Sales of the Q50 sports sedan were up 13.9 percent for its best April ever, while sales of the updated 2015 Q70 luxury performance sedan and new Q70L long wheelbase model had sales of 763, an increase of 114.9 percent. The QX60 7-passenger luxury crossover was up 24.0 percent, making it its best April ever. In all, Infiniti crossovers and sport utility vehicles were up 17.2 percent over prior year.