EV Sales Still Up Despite Brief Volt Shutdown

Following GM's decision to shut down production of the Chevy Volt for over a month, industry analysts were predicting a sharp decrease in the number of electric vehicles sold overall, but so far sales have stayed relatively strong despite the decision to halt production on the Volt. The Volt and the Nissan Leaf combined for over 1,500 sales in the month of February, which all-told isn't that terrible. As we begin to see more rising gas prices (seems like they always go up around this time, doesn't it?) and fuel shortages being predicted come summertime, electric vehicles and hybrids - along with alternative energy sources - are slowly creeping back into the minds of the consumers. While electric vehicle and hybrid sales have slumped in recent months, the fact that rising gas prices are forcing consumers to look to electric and hybrid vehicles again is a good sign for the fledgling technology. Auto shipping companies have noticed a slight cooling off of electric vehicle and hybrid transport numbers, but they're still moving around out there, which means that they're most likely here to stay.

New Technologies Help Auto Shipping Companies

This is rare indeed: a news article that directly pertains to auto shipping companies. While most blogs on this site deal with general automotive news and how it pertains to the industry, there are relatively few things out there that directly impact auto transport companies, but this time it's different. New commercial routing software is being produced specifically for logistics companies who have to pay their drivers by the mile, but there's a lot more going into it than meets the eye. Turn-by-turn navigation helps auto transporters especially, by offering a built-in navigation system that allows them to find pickup and delivery locations quickly and easily. Not only that, but new technology suites being introduced also include maps, fuel tax reporting applications, fuel management options and mobile communications, so drivers don't have to pull over every time they get a phone call. This is really cool, and I'm sure that most auto shipping managers are excited to see this technology in action. I know I am, and I don't even drive a truck for a living.

European Auto Sales Affecting U.S. Automakers

According to the Detroit News, the struggling automobile industry in Europe is having huge negative repercussions on American automakers, especially Ford and General Motors, who are projecting hundreds of millions of dollars in losses thanks to no one buying their vehicles in Europe. But it's not just them - other American companies, such as Chrysler, who have major stakes in Europe, as well as European-based auto manufacturers, are having major problems selling cars over there as well. The largest reason is the shape of the European economy, which has been getting worse ever since the global financial meltdown hit in 2008. Right now, Ford's projecting a $600 million loss, while GM has already lost $747 million and could be looking at more. This has also hit the European auto transport industry hard, as many auto shipping companies there have had to close up shop due to the lack of business. Hopefully things turn around, but right now...we'll just have to wait and see.

Chrysler Announces CNG Pickups

The Wall Street Journal has recently published an article stating that Chrysler Group, LLC is planning to launch an independent truck lineup that will feature trucks capable of driving on normal gasoline as well as compressed natural gas (CNG), which has been around for a long time but only recently begun making headlines in the automotive industry. Chrysler is looking at using CNG as their vehicle's main source of fuel, with gasoline a backup in case you run out of CNG or something of the like. With compressed natural gas prices being half of those of gasoline, it's a lucrative alternative, and Chrysler has stated that the CNG can provide a range of more than 250 miles for a bi-fuel Ram pickup, with an additional 112 miles for the gasoline. That's pretty impressive, considering my old Corolla only had a range of about 350 miles on a full tank of gas. Many car transport companies are excited to see how CNG fuel is used in the near future - maybe hoping they can adapt the technology into their own fleets. But only time will tell.

Ford Focus Named Most Fuel-Efficient Car

The Environmental Protection Agency has recently named the Ford Focus as the most fuel-efficient car sold in the United States, with a 110 mpg-e (miles per gallon equivalent) rating. This makes it the most efficient five-passenger car, beating out the next-closest Nissan Leaf by a wide margin. The Focus is all-electric and gets 99 mpg-e on the highway (electric vehicles are more efficient when it comes to city driving than highway), but the biggest draw for consumers is the quick recharge time (half the time of the Nissan Leaf) as well as how roomy and comfortable it is. Many auto shipping companies have noticed a slight increase in the number of Focus Electrics being shipped, but on the whole it just means that Ford is continuing to do what it set out to do after the global economic meltdown: made good cars at competitive prices so people have things to get around in.

Increase in Chrysler Sales No Accident

It's been a surprising change of pace, seeing the floundering Chrysler Group's sales skyrocket virtually overnight, but it's been a welcomed one. Chrysler, who had to accept government bailout money in 2008, has been hard against the ropes trying to salvage the company, but so far it seems they've done it - and more. Chrysler saw a 40% sales increase in February 2012 as opposed to 2011, marking its 23rd consecutive month with higher sales figures than the year before. Chrysler SEO Sergio Marchionne has attributed the recent success to creative marketing, customer satisfaction and an improvement in their vehicles, among other reasons. The auto shipping industry has noticed a steady rise in the number of Chrysler vehicles being shipped, which could only be good news for the company as it continues to compete in the ever-more-lucrative world of automobiles.

Vehicle Rearview Cameras Save Lives

According to recent government studies, most fatalities involving a car going in reverse are due to the driver not being able to adequately see behind the vehicle. The government is now planning on passing legislation that would force all automobile manufacturers to provide rearview cameras on all passenger vehicles starting in 2014 - standard, not as an option. This is good news for many pedestrians in cities where backing up into streets can be hazardous, especially on busy streets where driveways are obscured. Not only that, but having better rearview cameras in cars have been shown to not only reduce accidents in reverse, but accidents in general. The auto shipping industry is exempt from these new laws, as they aren't technically passenger vehicles, but the technology might not be too far behind for auto shipping companies.