Today's NADA Final Edition Auto News Recap - Autonomous Vehicles No Time Soon; Ford January Sales Up; FCA January Sales Up; Total US Auto Sales Down; Chicago Auto Show

NADA End-of-Day Auto News Recap

In the world of autonomous vehicles, Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley are bustling hubs of development and testing. But ask those involved in self-driving vehicles when we might actually see them carrying passengers in every city, and you’ll get an almost universal answer: Not anytime soon.
Source: The Associated Press

Ford Motor Co. posted a 7% increase in January U.S. sales, a promising start to a year in which investors expect Chief Executive Jim Hackett to show results from his turnaround plan. The Detroit auto maker is feeling pressure to boost its cash flow as concerns about the company’s investment-grade rating and its ability to pay its current dividend are on the rise.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Despite a deep freeze affecting much of the country, FCA US sales rise 2.7% in January on brisk deliveries of key products such as its Ram 1500 light-duty large pickup and Jeep Wrangler midsize SUV. Reid Bigland, head of U.S. at FCA, says the Italian-American automaker is optimistic about the market with one month in the books and expects a string of fresh products to further buoy its sales this year.
Source: WardsAuto

U.S. light-vehicle sales fell by 3% compared to this time last year. Many segments posted declines or were flat, although the popular pickup and crossover segments gained market share relative to January 2018.
Source: NADA Market Beat

Chicago will come out of its arctic freeze this week to find a redesigned Subaru Legacy, two freshened pickups and a handful of special editions taking auto show center stage. One of the country's largest auto shows in terms of visitors, the Chicago event this year boasts four indoor test tracks and — polar vortex or not — six outdoor test drive areas at the mammoth McCormick Place.
Source: Automotive News