Major Developments Major Developments by Calendar Year

North American cars and truck awards are the most prestigious award in automotive industry. These awards are judged by 50 most experienced and respective journalist of Canada and US. They represent newspaper, magazine, website and many more.

In 2010, 49 veteran journalists judged awards. This year Ford fusion hybrid bagged the North American car of the year award and Ford Transit Connect won the North American truck of the year award.

This is the third time in 17 years of awards ceremony when one automaker has won both awards. Earlier in the year of 2006 and 2007 Honda and General Motor respectively won both awards.

The major objective of this award is to search the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors like innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, price value.

To win this award vehicle must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the earlier design.

Three finalists for North America car of the year are:

• The Ford Fusion Hybrid with 241 points
• The Volkswagen with 146 points
• The Buick LaCrosse with 103 points

Three finalists for North America truck of the year are:

• The Transit Connect with 213 points
• The Chevrolet Equinox with 183 points
• The Subaru Outback with 94 points

Last year the North American Car of the Year award was won by the Hyundai Genesis where as North American Truck of the Year award was won by the Ford F-150.

Honda expanded its global recall of cars because of a problem in the airbags to another 437,000 vehicles globally. This adds to the vows of the auto industry that is already suffering from the massive recall announced by the top global car manufacturer Toyota that ran into more than 8 millions. Honda has been increasing the number of recalls since it first announced the fault in the airbags 15 months back. The issue is old but it is gained more focus in the midst of the biggest recall of Toyota.

This massive recall also included some models that date back to 2001 and 2002. However, there is no question about the impact on the future sales and reputation of the Japanese auto major in the international markets. They will be some erosion in the brand value in the developed markets where there are more substitutes for the segments. But in the long run this will increase the trust on the company.

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Toyota’s reputation in the U.S. as a builder of dependable, high-quality cars stumbles due to the concerns over the safety of the passengers. Last year it recalled 4.2 million vehicles over concerns that accelerator pedals could get struck under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration and sometimes leading to accidents. It was the sixth-largest recall ever in the United States. This problem was blamed for several accidents, including an accident involving a Lexus that accelerated to more than 120 mph before crashing.

Toyota recently said that it is recalling more 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix accelerator pedals. The recall includes the vehicles 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2008-2010 Sequoia and the 2007-2010 Tundra.

Toyota said that in some rare cases, the mechanism of gas pedal wears down, making the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return or in some worst cases, it gets stuck.

Toyota recommends that drivers of the recalled vehicles should apply their brakes firmly if the gas pedal gets stuck and immediately approach the local dealer.

Suggested Reading:
Honda increases the car recall that is already reaching 1 million
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Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers is recorded as the largest one
Nobel Prize in Economics 2008

A child was killed when fire broke out in a Honda car last year due to a faulty switch. The Honda Motor Co. then recalled 646,000 units of its Fit/Jazz and City automobiles globally over a fault in the window switch.

Except Japan, it recalled 140,000 cars in the United States and covers these models in North America, South America, Europe, South Africa and Asia. In Japan, Fit is Honda’s best-selling model.

Earlier Toyota Motor Corp’s announced it would extend its recall of millions of cars to Europe and China due to faulty floor mats and accelerator pedals.

According to Honda, the recall was to fix a defective master switch, which could cause water to enter the power window switch and may cause fire. There were three cases of fire, two in the United States and one in South Africa, due to this defect.

A Honda’s spokesman said that the company had recalled all 2002 to 2008 year model Jazz units in South Africa. It is also said to recall 172,000 vehicles in Britain. And at the recall a waterproof switch will be fitted to the window to avoid any damage that can cause fire.

Suggested Reading:
Honda increases the car recall that is already reaching 1 million
Toyota recalls its vehicles to fix gas pedals
China the World’s Largest Auto Market
iPhone Created Revolution in use of Mobile phones
Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers is recorded as the largest one
Nobel Prize in Economics 2008