Canada’s Top 10 Selling Vehicles So Far in 2011

We’re half way through 2011 so it’s a good time to check in and see which models are most appealing to Canadians so far. Honda’s Civic is holding strong as the number one selling car in Canada, while Ford’s F-150 takes best selling truck and best selling vehicle overall.

Here’s the complete list:

1) Ford F-150 – 46,825 units

2) Ram Pickup – 30,459 units

3) Dodge Caravan – 29,986 units

4) Honda Civic – 26,371 units

5) Hyundai Elantra – 24,283 units

6) Ford Escape – 23,183 units

7) GMC Sierra – 22,225 units

8 ) Chevrolet Silverado – 19,233 units

9) Toyota Corolla -18,853 units

10) Chevrolet Cruze – 18,769 units

No big shockers here. I’m a little surprised that the Ford Focus didn’t make the list considering it’s now a credible contender. But Canadians obviously love their pick-up trucks and compact vehicles. Stay tooned to see where each vehicle places at the end of the year and if there will be any new additions to the list.

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Renault Allowed to Use Zoe Name

Remember that French woman named Zoe Renault who decided to sue Renault for using her name for an upcoming model? Well the matter has finally reached the courts and Renault can chalk one up in the victory column. They are now free to use the name Zoe for the upcoming electric car.

Zoe Renault (the human) wrote to Nissan CEO Charles Goshn about her concerns, saying “For my clients, it would be intolerable to hear ‘the Zoe has broken down’ or indeed ‘he or she killed herself in a Zoe’.”

Zoe Renault’s lawyer also added in court:

There’s a line between living things and inanimate objects, and that line is defined by the first name. We’re telling Renault one very simple thing: First names are for humans. Can you imagine what little Zoes would have to endure on the playground, and even worse, when they get a little bit older and someone comes up to them in a bar and says, ‘Can I see your airbags?’ or ‘Can I shine your bumper?’

The judge rightfully dismissed the case. I mean, really, I’m still shocked that any lawyer decided to take this case in the first place. No one ‘owns’ the name Zoe and therefore it can be used by anyone for any purpose.

Besides, Renault isn’t the first automaker to use a human name for one of its vehicles. Remember the GMC Jimmy? To my knowledge, people named Jimmy had no problem with GMC using their names, probably because they’re not psychos that are only out for money.

[Reuters]

GM Kicks Toyota While They’re Down

To say the automotive business is a tough business is quite an understatement. No one knows this better than GM.

Things got so bad that they had to run to the government, with promises of change,to ask for money or else the entire company would go bankrupt. And both American and Canadian governments gave the A-OK to the loan, despite lots of public outrage at the mere notion of a bailout.

But now that GM is semi-back on its feet, and paying back those loans, it seems that they have all but forgotten what it’s like to be down on your luck as they are aiming at taking advantage of Toyota’s misfortune.

GM is offering Toyota owners some incentives if they jump ship. From now until the end of February, if you take in your Toyota and buy a Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle you can choose from three different incentives.

Find out what they are after the jump

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