2013 Year End Review

        Yes, 2013 has been the year of a few big things and few pinnacle moments.  But 2013 can also be remembered as the year that the auto industry came back to life.  With a return to stability in Europe, to the turn around of the industry in the U.S., the auto industry as a whole has made its way back to a normal running year.  ​

The only downside to 2013, was that the Chinese market is slowing down with some cities putting caps on the amount of cars which can be registered.  This may put a damper on the industry there, of course that may force some Chinese automakers to start really considering improving their quality so that they can move their product into more markets. 
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Rated: 2014 Hyundai Equus

        One of the biggest news makers of the 2013 had to have been the fall of Fisker automotive.  With this fall, everyone started to realize that maybe the electric car industry maybe to young for some companies to play in.  This unstable birth stage will set the market for years to come, and if  you cannot get a stranglehold on enough market share, you may wind up dead.  That was the case for both Fisker and Coda who could not make enough market share to keep themselves profitable.  Of course you cannot say that about Tesla, since it has a good financial backing and a great growth platform. 
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Rated: 2014 Jeep Compass

​        Next to a few deaths, we did celebrate some good times in 2013 since it was a few companies and cars birthdays.  In 2013 we saw the Corvette turn 60, the 911 turn 50, Aston Martin rang in their 100th, and Buick, Vauxhall and Ford all celebrate their 110th.  Of course if you did not know one famous vehicle celebrated the same birthday as myself and rang in their 30th in 2013.  The Dodge Caravan saw its 30th birthday pass by without and celebration at all, too bad, since this is one vehicle that still holds a large portion of their market.​
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Rated: 2014 Volkswagen XL1

        We all hope that 2014 will hold as many great things as 2013 did as we all know that the Mustang does turn 50 this year.  And we all hope that the rumors are true that TVR will make a return in 2014.

All the best in 2014
​Everett J.
#autolooks

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​NEW COMPANIES

• Aeromobil
• Bulleta Motors
• BXR Motors
• Devel Cars
• Dubuc
• Icona
• Magnum Cars
• Spartan Motor Co.
• Supercar
• W Motors
• Zenos Cars

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DEATH OF COMPANIES

• Bertone
• DeTomaso
• Fenix Automotive
• Fisker
• Coda
• Australian V8 RWD cars from Ford and Holden (2016 death dates set for Falcon and Commodore models)

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​PINNACLE MOMENTS

• Chevrolet Corvette's - 60th (June 30)
• Porsche 911 - 50th
• BYD - 10th
• FAW - 60th
• Isuzu - 60th
• Scion - 10th
• Perodua - 20th
• Aston Martin - 100th
• Caterham - 40th
• Vauxhall - 110th
• Lamborghini - 50th (May)
• Buick - 110th
• Ford - 110th
• Dodge Caravan - 30th (November 02)