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Sales Representative of the Month

Congrats to Lawrence Hutchinson...Sales Representative of the Month for January! If you're looking for a new or preowned vehicle...make sure to come visit "Hutch" and experience the Dennison difference!

Toyota chief apologizes for global recalls

TOKYO (AP) - Toyota's president apologized Friday for the massive global recalls over sticking gas pedals as the automaker scrambles to repair a damaged reputation and sliding sales.

But Akio Toyoda, appointed to the top job at Toyota Motor Corp. last June, said the company is still deciding what steps to take to fix the brake problems in the popular Prius gas-electric hybrid.

Speaking at a hastily announced news conference that lasted an hour, a stern-looking Toyoda promised to beef up quality control.

"We are facing a crisis," he said, publicly confronting the automaker's safety problems for the first time since the global recalls were announced Jan. 21.

Toyoda, grandson of the automaker's founder, said the company was moving quickly on the global recalls covering 4.5 million vehicles for sticking gas pedals, about half of them in the U.S.

There have been nearly 200 complaints in Japan and the U.S. of drivers experiencing a short delay before the brakes kick in. The automaker has fixed the problem in Prius models that went on sale last month, but has done nothing yet on 270,000 Prius cars sold last year in Japan and the U.S. Toyota is also investigating possible brake problems with its luxury Lexus hybrid and the Sai compact sedan, both of which use the same brake system at the Prius.

Fuel Efficient Cars and Crossovers Fuel Fourth Month of Chevrolet Sales Increases

Chevrolet posted 105,294 total deliveries in January, 2010. This represents an increase of 36.4 percent over January 2009, and the fourth consecutive month that Chevrolet has posted a year-over-year increase. Chevrolet retail sales increased 3.0 percent, lead by gains in Chevrolet's line of fuel-efficient cars and crossovers.

Retail car sales increased 27 percent, marking the fourth consecutive month that Chevrolet retail car sales increased at least 25 percent. Malibu, which delivers up to 33 miles per gallon, led the retail car sales gains for January, 2009, with 11,190 retail sales. That's a year-over-year increase of 27.1 percent, and the fourth consecutive month of retail sales increases for the Malibu.

Chevrolet's fuel-efficient crossovers also continued their market success. Traverse, which offers the best fuel economy of any eight-passenger crossover, saw retail sales climb 10.5 percent in January. The all-new 2010 Equinox, which delivers best-in-class 32 miles per gallon, posted 8,341 retail sales. That's a year-over-year increase of 66.6 percent. Consumer demand for Equinox continues to keep inventory low, averaging just 13 days in inventory compared with the industry desire of 60 days supply.

raydennison.com