Earlier in 2014, Ford temporarily ceased production as it retooled facilities to build its first mass-produced, aluminum-bodied truck – the new Ford F-150. (Credit: Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.)
Several recent reports indicate the U.S. auto industry is making a comeback, but as is the case with other sectors, public opinion doesn’t match sector data. According to a new survey from Rasmussen Reports, car-buying isn’t on Americans’ to-do lists.
The survey finds that only 26 percent of American adults say it’s “at least somewhat likely” they will buy or lease a car in the next year, including 11 percent who say it’s “very likely.” That is actually down from the 27 percent of American adults who indicated such last year, with slightly more (13 percent) also saying it was “very likely.”
Yet, the auto industry posted stronger-than-expected sales in the U.S. last month, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU), Nissan Motor Co. (OTCMKTS:NSANY), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:HMC) and others reported some of the strongest gains in years.
December is traditionally a strong month for auto sales, which were expected by investors to be strong. However, the auto industry also reported stronger U.S. sales in the month of November fueled by cheaper gasoline and Black Friday shopping deals nationwide, according to car shopping website TrueCar (NASDAQ:TRUE).
Meanwhile, the U.S. government is fining Honda $70 million for not reporting to safety regulators more than 1,700 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries. The Obama administration announced Jan. 8 what is the largest civil penalty levied against an automaker for not reporting to regulators some 1,729 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries.
The company acknowledged in November that it failed to report the death and injury complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which took place over an 11-year period beginning in 2003. However, the company said it only learned of the omissions in 2011, yet still waited three years to take appropriate action.
The fine represents the latest in what has been a government crackdown on auto makers for alleged violations of safety regulations.
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