Karl Brauer

Is the self-driving car project just announced by Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) a game-changer? On Tuesday, on its blog site, the internet giant unveiled its plans to build around 100 prototype versions of the fully self-driving vehicles. The company says the vehicles, which look a lot...

A changing of the guard at Ford (NYSE: F). On Thursday, the auto-maker announced Alan Mulally will step down as CEO on July 1, about six months earlier than anticipated – and will be replaced in that position by Ford COO Mark Fields. Mulally, a former top executive at Boeing (NYSE: BA), has...

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) announced Tuesday a new business leasing program for small and mid-size businesses. Business owners can take advantage of tax credits by leasing a Model S for only $5,000 down and $408 a month. “Our leasing program is straightforward and transparent, and we've designed...

So, what's next for Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA)? Shares of the electric car company have taken a jack-rabbit jump, after better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings were announced on Wednesday. Tesla also announced record sales and deliveries of its landmark Model S sedan. In a company press...

More recall woes for Toyota (NYSE: TM). On Wednesday the automaker announced a voluntary recall of about 700,000 of its popular Prius hybrid vehicles in the U.S., model years 2010 to 2014, due to a software issue. Toyota is also recalling a combined 300,000 of its 2012 RAV4, 2012-2013 Tacoma...

The problem: Automakers including General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Ford (NYSE: F) have too much unsold inventory. According to Jack Nerad, executive editor and market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, when inventories rise, incentives (discounts) are inevitable. In an email to Benzinga, Nerad said, “...

A mixed bag Thursday, for number-one U.S. automaker General Motors (NYSE: GM). The company announced its fourth-quarter earnings rose 2 percent compared to the same time period last year. But its 2013 net calendar income dropped 22 percent compared to a year earlier, to $3.8 billion,...

Another sign of how quickly things are changing in the automotive world. In its Car-Brand Perception Survey for 2014, Consumer Reports say the usual suspects – Ford, Honda, Chevrolet and Toyota – continue to remain the top brands in consumers' minds. But a surprising new entry, Tesla (NASDAQ:...

What's next for Chrysler? The markets loved last week's news, that Fiat (OTC: FIATY) was acquiring the the remaining 41.5 percent of Chrysler still owned by the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust. That transaction, according to Fiat, is expected to close on or before January 20. The smallest...

It appears what's been rumored for the past several months is indeed about to come to pass; that Ford (NYSE: F) is preparing to unveil an aluminum-body version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck next month at the Detroit Auto Show. Back in July, Motor Trend said Ford was “on a mission to...

Fans of Toyota (NYSE: TM) vehicles were stunned this past October, when Consumer Reportssaid the latest version of its best-selling Camry had failed a relatively new IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) crash test – prompting the magazine to give the Camry a “poor” rating. Toyota...

Very mixed news has been released lately on Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM). The Mumbai-based company reported a 71 percent jump in net profit to $566 million (35.42 billion rupees) for its fiscal second quarter ending September 30, compared to the same time period a year earlier. Revenue rose 31...