From the Detroit News:

The three Detroit-based automakers all reported double-digit U.S. sales increases in June, led by Chrysler Group LLC’s 30 percent increase from a year ago with 120,394 vehicles sold and the best June for the automaker since 2007.

That is followed by a 13.6 percent increase reported by Ford Motor Co. with 194,114 vehicles sold.

The third domestic automaker, General Motors Co., reported a 10.2 percent increase on sales of 215, 358 vehicles compared with June 2010.

Among the top Japanese automakers, who continue to struggle with earthquake-related shortages, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. reported a 27.1 percent decline for the month with total sales of 83,892. The Honda brand suffered a 27.4 percent drop in sales for the month while the luxury Acura brand was off pace by 24.5 percent.

Toyota Motor Corp. saw a 21.1 percent falloff for the month with 110,937 vehicles sold. The Toyota brand dropped 18.7 percent; Lexus division sales fell 37.8 percent compared with a year ago, when Japanese production was at full throttle.

“June marked a significant turning point for Toyota as sales moved up over last month (May),” said Don Esmond, head of U.S. operations. Supply and selection are improving daily, he said.

Read the full article.

Looks like the big Alpha will be rolling again in the US and Canada in 2012. This is really big news for Chrysler/Fiat and the dealers that get to sell these attractive cars. Look for sleek styling and hopefully top notch quality that could bring in buyers who want the right pricing with as much style as they can afford. Good to see Alpha Romeo coming back to the states!

From AutoGuide.com:

According to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, his company’s stylish Alfa Romeo brand will return to North America in the next 24 months, meaning that models should be on sale in 2012. “I’m a lot more confident now that Alfa Romeo will reconstitute a product offering that is acceptable globally, and more in particular in the United States and Canada,” said Marchionne to Automotive News.

Read the full article here.

With all the talk about the lack of product for Chrysler and Dodge, the Detroit Free Press takes a harder look and some feel there is a lot more in the works than most give credit. In the next 12 to 18 months, look for a totally new experience when you enter a Chrysler/Dodge/Fiat showroom. The Chrysler comeback might be closer to reality than most of us could have imagined.

We feel the barometer will be how well the Fiat 500 performs when hitting the showroom floors later this year!

We all know Chrysler won’t reap the benefits of its alliance with Fiat until 2012, but that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare. To the contrary.

This year, Chrysler plans to introduce three new vehicles that are acknowledged leaders in their segments and one new model that gets it into a growing and potentially lucrative new market.

The first Fiat model, the 500, will also arrive, giving Chrysler dealers a sophisticated and chic little car that’s smaller and considerably less expensive than the Mini Cooper.

Read the full article here.

Oh Boy! Folks are getting uptight that Chrysler has hired an Italian Ad Agency (Armando Testa) for their latest 300 TV ad. Some are just plain ripping the socially conscious ad and some are just upset that they went overseas to hire an agency. If this is so horrible then start ripping all of the D-3 for buying parts overseas. If the parts are of good quality and the right price you don’t hear much complaining. If the ads turn out to be effective and the agency costs are reasonable the complaining will subside as well. If not…..look out!!

From the Detroit Free Press:

“If they’re so hell-bent on taking on social causes,” said Peter De Lorenzo, creator of AutoExtremist.com, “Why don’t they take the money and make a contribution to the food banks in and around this region instead?”

Last month, Chrysler’s former advertising agency, BBDO, announced it would close its Troy and Windsor offices early next year, leaving about 500 people out of work.

To read the entire article, click here.

Even though the new product is still 12 months away you can feel something different already with Chrysler.

The new ads you see on T.V. for the Ram trucks, the optimism from Marchionne and the hope for survival! Can they pull this thing off? Don’t know the answer to that question but Marchionne appears geared up to give it one heck of a try.

From the Detroit News:

Chrysler Group LLC survived bankruptcy but the success of its strategy now hinges on convincing consumers to buy its cars and trucks in the critical next 12 months.

That’s a significant hurdle given that most upgrades to Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models are a year away.

Still, the Auburn Hills automaker is lucky to be in business a year after seeking a government bailout and being pushed into Chapter 11 bankruptcy by the Obama administration. It has a new name, a new partnership with Italy’s Fiat SpA, new management and a new way of developing, manufacturing and selling vehicles that top executives say will help restore profits by 2011.

Read the rest of the article here.