Motoryzacja

After touring the Detroit auto show today, and looking over all the latest and greatest cars and trucks, the nation's largest car dealer had one sobering message: "The economy trumps new product at the moment," said Mike Jackson, CEO of the Florida-based AutoNation, which owns 325 car dealerships in 16 states.

U.S. sales of cars and trucks edged to a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 11.78 million in March - a little short of the 12-million-plus rate several analysts had expected.

U.S. sales of cars and trucks edged to a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 11.78 million in March -- a little short of the 12-million-plus rate several analysts had expected. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate, or SAAR, indicates what sales would total for the year if demand remained constant over 12 months, adjusting for seasonal factors.

Livonia auto supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. reported growing sales and profits for the second quarter.

AutoNation Inc., the largest publicly traded U.S. car retailer, said its fourth-quarter profit rose 30% on lower costs and a tax benefit as sales declined. Revenue fell 34% to $2.74 billion.