Subaru Soars in US Market While Other Automakers Struggle
Subaru increased US sales 15.4% while the market overall fell 21%. Cash-for-clunkers sparked sales which have continued at a 33% increased rate through February this year. Limited supply of high demand crossover vehicles is supporting sales without heavy incentives and maintaining high residual values.

Toyota and NHTSA Investigate Another Prius in New York
Fighting back against recent incidents reported, Toyota investigators are using the event data recorder from the Prius that crashed in New York to determine engine speed and pedal position in an effort to find out if the vehicle was working properly at the time of the crash.

NAAA Survey Reports 2009 Auction Volumes Down 14.5%
The NAAA's annual survey reports volume at member auctions was down 14.5% for 2009. The number of vehicles sold at auction was down 5.9%, and the total sale of $80.5 million was off 3.1% from the previous year. Officials said the decline was expected.

2010 Ford Fusion Best Lifecycle Cost Choice for Kraft Sales Fleet
Kraft Foods selected the Ford Fusion for its 2,500 vehicle sales fleet. The selection was based on minimum lifecycle cost with the size needed owing to good fuel economy and residual values.

Hertz Rent2Buy Program Expanding to 37 States
The Rent2Buy program offered by Hertz will expand from 18 to 37 states by the end of 2010, says the company. The online program gives shoppers a 3-day test drive. If they purchase the vehicle, there's no rental fee. If they don't, a standard $49 per day fee will be assessed.

Consumers Choose Green Vehicles Only if Superior to Gasoline Models
According to a recent Accenture survey, consumers are interested in alternative vehicles such as hybrids and electric vehicles, but only if they're a superior choice to gasoline-only models. The consulting company recommends that OEMs and suppliers need to build strategic partnerships that will lead to distinctive capabilities, particularly around safety, environmental protection, and entertainment.

Honda Recalling 2007 and 2008 Odysseys and Elements for Braking System Problems
Honda will voluntarily recall 344,000 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements 2007 and 2008 models in order to fix a "soft" brake pedal due to small amount of air building up in the hydraulic brake line. Dealers can offer temporary fix by "bleeding" air bubbles out of system.