KBB Warns of Fake Vehicle-Buying Websites

Kelley Blue Book has issued a warning regarding phony websites intending to steal money from innocent people looking to buy vehicles online. The FBI has gotten involved and has said that customers are losing, on average, $1,000 every hour to these scams. These websites claim to use an escrow-based financing company, but Kelley Blue Book does not offer that type of service - this is how they found out about the scam initially. Auto transport companies have learned the lessons of scam artists as well, even though there are still people out there looking to steal money. The real lesson here is: don’t spend your money unless you know for certain you’ll be getting what you paid for.

Saab Files Bankruptcy

In a not-so-surprising development, the Swedish automobile company Saab has filed for bankruptcy protection in lieu of lagging sales, work stoppages and increasing debt. The filing comes as a surprise to virtually no-one in the automotive industry, and even auto transporters have noticed a significant decrease in Saab vehicles being shipped. The company is currently waiting for Chinese investors to come through with some much needed money, but until it gets past the regulatory phase, the company will be in financial limbo.

Toyota Working With Tesla for New Electric Vehicle

Toyota has teamed up with Tesla in their latest move to curb the alternative energy market - their latest partner is none other than the famous electric vehicle maker Tesla, who has begun working on a brand new electric-powered Toyota RAV4. Nothing is set in stone as of yet, but rumors from sources inside Toyota put the value of the deal around $1 billion - a big chunk of change, but definitely a worthy one. As auto transporters can attest to, Toyota is still one of the best-selling brands in the United States, and their stock is only going to continue to go up. For Tesla, who has been looking for a way to turn a major profit after financial troubles over the past few years, this comes as a welcome lifeboat for a dying company.

Obama White House Steps Up, Demands Better Fuel Economy from Large Vehicles

For the first time in history, fire trucks and other large vehicles such as semi trucks, concrete mixers, and others are going to be seeing the way that mainstream vehicles have to go - better fuel economy. It comes at a time when large vehicles are becoming increasingly harder and harder to fuel, but the Obama white house is saying that by enacting this new law businesses will save billions in fuel costs, as well as an increase in air quality and public health. However, auto transporters are not looking forward to it, as it means that they will have to update their rigs - and for many, that’s not an easy thing to do.

4-Cylinder Engines More Popular Than Ever

In the wake of high gas prices and pushes for environmentally friendly vehicles that save at the pump, customers are turning away from six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines in record numbers. Auto transporters have noticed a decline in v6 and v8 engines over the years, and the numbers don’t lie: four-cylinder engines account for 43% of vehicles on the road today, up from 25% in 2005, while v8 engine sales have dropped to just 18% from 29% just six years ago. Six cylinders dropped from 43% to 37%, and analysts are projecting more drops over the next few years.

Portland, OR Hotbed for Electric Cars

As a Pacific Northwest resident, I feel it’s my duty to report when something happens to shine the light on our wet little corner of the United States. According to All Cars Electric, Portland, OR has become one of the leading cities for electric vehicles and charging stations, outranking such major cities as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York for the number of charging stations as well as the ease of use and access. Many auto shipping companies have noticed a rise in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles moving out of the Northwest, and auto shipping drivers have also noticed that more and more charging stations are popping up. Looks like the Pacific Northwest is leading the country for once. Although we did have Jimi Hendrix.

We're Back!

We have been gone for a little bit but soon there will be more car shipping info added on a regular basis. Thank you for your patience.