Customer feedback is essential to companies rolling out new products. There are entire industries -- such as polling and focus groups -- that are built to solicit consumers for their opinions to give companies insights that are not available via any other means. 

Honda is taking that strategy to an entirely different level for its new Fit…

In an effort to get its share of a booming marketplace that has ample credit availability and leasing incentives, Chrysler Canada Inc. is returning to leasing for the first time since 2008.

Manufacturers, which stopped leasing during the financial crisis when asset-backed commercial paper dissolved, are increasing incentives in the Canadian market, which, on the heels of its second-highest level ever last year, has declined for two consecutive months.

Leasing accounted for…

Leasing is back in the Metro Detroit area, which closed 2012 with a 44.5% auto leasing rate, the highest of any U.S. metro region, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data on retail and fleet registrations.

Polk also discovered that Michigan had an overall leasing rate of almost 38%, making it the third-highest among state…

Once Chrysler Capital launches May 1 as a joint financial venture with Banco Santander SA, Chrysler Group expects dealers to nearly double their volume of new-car leases.

At just about 10% of sales, Chrysler’s leases are below the 18% industry average. Peter Grady,…

In the hopes of enhancing the leasing experience for its customers, Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services announced this week the launch of its new Excess Wear & Use Protection Plan.

EWU aims to simplify the lease-end process by eliminating claims forms, deductibles, and reimbursement requests. The new program will also waive excess wear and use charges that consumers would otherwise be responsible to pay at the end of term.

The program covers items that…

In an effort to support sales for the luxury brand, Buick announced this week a new lease offering aimed to support the brand's mission to  "redefine itself as a modern luxury automaker and leader in customer satisfaction."

The 24-month lease program called Experience Buick is being offered through Ally Financial and  includes routine maintenance, an OnStar Directions and Connections plan and SiriusXM radio, all bundled into the consumer's monthly payment. Experience Buick is…

With six weeks to go before the launch of its Commercial Lending Services business, General Motors Financial has set some clear goals for the unit.

“It’s a de novo business, so it’ll progress slowly,” said GM Financial President and Chief Executive Dan Berce on a conference call with investors this morning. The ballpark estimate is 20% to 25% marketshare in two or three years ― a $5 billion-type number. “That’s something we’d like to shoot for,” he added.

GM’s commercial…

During the Citi 2011 North American Credit Conference on Nov. 16, Chris Choate, CFO of GM Financial, talked about some of the goals and strategic planning for the captive and took a look at the current environment for vehicle financing.

Describing consumer demand as relatively “constrained compared to pre-recession levels,” the CFO noted that activity in the subprime auto finance market remains at around 50% of 2006 and 2007 volumes.

He added that credit availability has…

The FTC’s third Motor Vehicle Roundtable will be held tomorrow in Washington, D.C. The main focus: consumer leasing.

Panels will tackle what has been learned about auto sales, financing, and leasing at the previous roundtables; consumer…

With the Canadian market accounting for the lion’s share of General Motors Financial’s lease business last quarter, the captive plans to work with its automaker parent to devise offerings that appeal to more U.S. consumers.

In all, GM Financial originated $189 million of leases ― $157 million of which stemmed from Canadian operations.

“Our U.S. lease origination volume for the September quarter was $32 million,” said GM Financial President and CEO Dan Berce during a call with…

This holiday season might prove to be the best time for consumers to treat themselves to a new ride, as captives prepare to give the gift of incentives.

Kelly Blue Book’s Market Report for September suggests that strong incentives later this year, in the form of cash and attractive lease offerings, may lure customers into dealerships, both foreign and domestic, for new vehicles.

Certainly, there is a…

I think that most people are inherently good. Find a wallet, turn it in. Witness a car accident, stop to make sure nobody is hurt. Lease a car, drive with the pedal as far from the metal as possible. 

I am expressing an opinion, because I don't know of any studies that have been done, but it's my belief that leased vehicles are not as well maintained as purchased vehicles because the owners know that they will be returning the vehicles when the lease expires. The very nature of a…