Car Sales
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Volkswagen intends to take on the growing global electric-car market in an aggressive way, given the automaker's range of I.D. electric-vehicle concepts over the last couple of years. While a complete portfolio of electric cars will eventually find their way into production, the first high-volume electric Volkswagen will be a production version of the five-door I.D. hatchback. The I.D. concept is a Golf-sized electric car that made its debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show with intentions of kicking off VW's electric-car revolution. DON'T MISS: Volkswagen ID: more details of all-electric concept...
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How do you service a hydrogen fuel-cell car at a dealer?
Over the past century, gasoline-powered vehicles have gotten simultaneously more complex and more reliable. Service intervals have lengthened, drivers no longer check a car's fluids daily or weekly, and many new-car owners will never once open the hood. Reliability data shows that some of them...
John Voelcker -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for July 2017
The month of July brings plenty of juicy deals on battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, conventional hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Much like last month, many of the deals remain. However, there are a few newcomers to the list for July—including one vehicle that may startle a few consumers...
Sean Szymkowski -
If 2018 Nissan Leaf has 200-mile range, what will it cost? Poll results
At the moment, the Tesla Model 3 is getting lots of media attention and electric-car buzz now that the company says its first production car has rolled out of the factory—even if features, specs, and pricing isn't yet known. Meanwhile, the 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt EV is at roughly 9,000 cars...
John Voelcker -
Electric-car leases in California: Leaf, Volt, Focus vs Clarity
The state of California is undeniably the United States' premier market for electric vehicles. It's also a market where automakers actually need to sell certain volumes of zero-emission cars, which means some of the nation's best lease deals on electric cars can be found in the Golden State. There...
Sean Szymkowski -
Bill in NY legislature would let Tesla quadruple store locations in state
Tesla's five New York state stores could increase four-fold should a new piece of legislation pass the state legislature. The bill calls for an increase "certificates of registration for entities that manufacture or assemble zero-emissions vehicles." In turn, it would "authorize 20 certificates...
Sean Szymkowski -
Now that we're into a new month, it's time to check out the best deals on green cars—this time for the month of June. As always, Cars Direct has compiled its monthly list of the most budget friendly options for buyers looking to go green. It should be noted there's now a separate category for "Best fuel efficient SUV," since small passenger sedans and hatchbacks have typically dominated the fuel-efficiency list. Hybrids Once again, the Ford C-Max Hybrid tops the list with an identical lease deal from the month of May. The C-Max may be leased for $169 per month with $1,999 down and...
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Car Dealer 101: electric cars that aren't charged won't sell
Electric-car owners and advocates have a tenuous relationship with the franchised independent car dealers who are the only legal way to buy a new vehicle in the U.S. Tesla excepted, if you want to buy a new car, you have to go to a dealership over which the carmaker has only limited control. Horror...
John Voelcker -
Tesla faces battle over direct sales to buyers in Connecticut
Another month, another Tesla battle with auto-dealer lobbyists in another state—or so it seems in the company's ongoing battle to sell electric cars online directly to buyers. This time, the action is in Connecticut, where on Monday the legislature's finance committee approved a bill letting...
John Voelcker -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for May 2017
It's time to take a look at the best deals on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars for the month of May, and as new-vehicle sales slow, there are plenty of deals to be had. As always, Cars Direct has compiled the best deals for the month, using deals available in Southern California unless...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric: how 'Unlimited' subscription really works
To dig its teeth into California's crowded electric vehicle market, its Korean maker has rolled out an "Unlimited+" lease program for the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. The plan mimics a subscription service, and adds unlimited mileage allowance, vehicle-charging reimbursement, and a cohesive...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Chevy Bolt EV electric car: first national lease deal starts at $329 monthly
As the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV rolls out across the U.S. over a nine-month period, electric-car advocates have focused intently on its sales numbers. It's fair to say that in its first four months on sale, they haven't yet broken any records. But now, for the first time, there's a national lease...
John Voelcker -
Tesla has once again been denied permission to sell its cars directly to buyers in the battleground state of Utah. Via a unanimous decision, the Utah Supreme Court handed Tesla Motors another setback this week. The state’s top court upheld a 2015 decision that denied the electric-car maker a license to sell new cars, citing a state law that bans car manufacturers from owning dealerships. DON'T MISS: Tesla takes dealership fight in Utah to Supreme Court Although Tesla has continued to fight back against state sales bans, with more efforts focused on Utah over the last few months, Utah's...
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Lucid Air priced slightly below Tesla Model S at $60,000
The Lucid Air electric car will be available in a base model with less power and a lower range than the high-end model unveiled last year, but at a much lower price. A Lucid Motors press release confirmed the Air base model will start at $52,500, after the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric...
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan Leaf leases can extend until all-new 2018 electric car late this year: updated
More Nissan Leaf electric cars were sold in 2014 than in any model year before or since, fully 30,000 of them. That means a whole lot of three-year leases are coming due this year. Now Nissan is offering to extend those leases—and in the process, it's given us a little more information on the...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Model 3 prices: reader makes his guesses, via spreadsheet
Since more than 350,000 people around the world put down $1,000 deposits to reserve a place in line, the Tesla Model 3 electric car has assumed larger-than-life status. Its maker, Silicon Valley-based Tesla Motors, recently reaffirmed that series production will start in July and that Model 3...
John Voelcker -
2017 Hyundai Ioniq prices: hybrid starts at $23,035, electric at $30,335
The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq is the South Korean automaker's first dedicated green model. It will offer three powertrain options in the same body shell: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric. Those models are just now beginning to hit U.S. showrooms, and we now have pricing information for two of...
Stephen Edelstein -
Audi tells its dealers to get with the (electric-car) program
As many electric-car buyers will tell you, franchised auto dealers can pose a large and tedious impediment to actually buying the plug-in car you want. From salespeople with no knowledge of the cars to test vehicles that haven't been recharged and have little battery range left, the hurdles are...
John Voelcker -
The first few Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars were delivered in California's Silicon Valley more than a month ago, marking the start of what will be a nationwide rollout. Electric-car advocates and buyers outside the Golden State are eager to know exactly when the 238-mile electric hatchback will be available for purchase in their areas as well. The answer to that question has proven a bit more complicated than it might seem. DON'T MISS: When can I buy a Chevy Bolt EV electric car? See state-by-state schedule As we learned earlier this week, Chevrolet is staggering the launch of the Bolt EV...
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Second Honda dealership achieves grid-neutral status
If you're planning on buying a green car, have you ever wondered if you'll be making the purchase at a green dealership? As cars get more efficient, the carbon emissions related to the infrastructure for manufacturing and selling them should be considered as well. Honda has made some efforts in...
Stephen Edelstein -
When can I buy a Chevy Bolt EV electric car? See state-by-state schedule
Last month, the first Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars were sold in California's Silicon Valley. Electric-car advocates and buyers across the U.S. now want to know when they too can expect to take delivery of their 238-mile electric hatchbacks. And as numerous comments and e-mails from readers...
John Voelcker -
Toyota Prius Prime buyers misled by dealers; more education needed
The Toyota Prius Prime is a far better car than its plug-in hybrid predecessor, and it seems likely to become one of the higher-volume plug-in electric cars on the U.S. market. If, that is, Toyota's own dealers prove willing to sell it—or even find out that it exists. After three separate...
John Voelcker -
UPDATE: Tesla can still sell cars in Missouri stores, pending appeal, after dealer lobby lauds victory
Tesla's Missouri dealer license expired December 31.
Stephen Edelstein -
Michigan says Tesla sales ban not unconstitutional, responding to lawsuit
Michigan says the claims made by Tesla in a federal lawsuit are unfounded.
Stephen Edelstein