Brett LoGiurato

General Motors has once again grabbed the largest share of global sales and become the world's largest automaker, moving past sales of Toyota and Volkswagen in 2011.

Hyundai said Tuesday that it was proud to rank highest among automotive brands in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Consumer Retention Study, attributing the honor to an expanding model lineup and better perceptions of Hyundai's quality and appeal across the board in recent years.

DETROIT -- Three years ago at the North American International Auto Show, Nissan North America vice president Al Castignetti watched as most companies dismissed perhaps Nissan's biggest risk -- its electric concept vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.

The average age of U.S. vehicles rose to a record high in 2011, but an automotive analysis firm expects that to decline in the coming years as new sales climb and consumers gain confidence in a recovering economy.

Acura made noise last week at the Detroit Auto Show, as Honda unveiled the return of the NSX and boldly dubbed it the return of the supercar. And that certainly caught the most eyes on the first day of the press preview at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of nine Eurozone governments on Friday, an unprecedented relegation that included France and Austria but spared Germany.

Volkswagen introduced a hybrid version of the Jetta this week at the 2012 North American Auto Show in Detroit, a vehicle the company said will be one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market.

DETROIT -- As Marc Harlow walked around Detroit's Cobo Center during the first day of the 2012 North American International Auto Show, he saw a different scene from recent years. To Harlow, one of the members of the show's public relations team, the buzz of the Detroit Auto Show had returned amid a brightening global outlook on the automotive industry.

DETROIT -- Five years ago, Bob Lutz stood in front of a curious crowd at the North American International Auto Show and introduced a radical concept car to the world. Lutz, then the vice chairman of product development for General Motors, revealed the first electric plug-in concept car from a major automaker: the Chevrolet Volt. He still calls it the most important car the company has ever made.

The media days at the 2012 North American International Auto Show are over, and it's time to recap what we've seen over the past few days.

The International Business Times spoke with Bob Lutz on Tuesday about Via Motors' plans, the state of the U.S. auto industry and more.

DETROIT -- Soon after the earthquake and tsunami pummeled Japan last March, Nissan sent executives to their suppliers in Japan. They reported what parts had not been affected in what quantities.

The International Business Times spoke with head designer Alfonso Albaisi, who led the design team for the all-new 2013 Pathfinder and is the Vice President of Nissan Design America.

DETROIT -- John Mendel is looking for a big difference in his top-selling model. Due to a variety of factors and circumstances in 2011, Mendel -- Honda's executive vice president of North America -- saw sales of Honda Accord plunge while competitors grew in sales and market share.

DETROIT -- Toyota introduced a plug-in hybrid concept vehicle Tuesday here in Detroit at the 2012 North American Auto Show called the NS4, separating it from the Prius family of vehicles and showcasing a new design the company plans to carry into the near future.

DETROIT -- As the music blared and the Dodge Dart rolled out to its debut, the stage shook underneath Dodge CEO Reid Bigland's feet before he stepped off.

DETROIT -- After releasing teaser photos leading up to the 2012 North American Auto Show, Lexus unveiled its highly anticipated LF-LC concept car to a bevy of onlookers Monday here in Detroit.

Showcasing the best pictures from Day 1 of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

DETROIT -- When Joe Baker was doing research for the new concept car he was designing for Chevrolet, one piece of information stood out. Baker, who designed the Code 130R concept, looked most at United States Census data that said 80 million American consumers are approaching the age of 30.

DETROIT -- For all of Chrysler's reinvigoration in a rebound 2011, Dodge brand CEO Reid Bigland noticed one glaring omission. Enter the Dodge Dart.

DETROIT -- Ford chose a fitting venue to make the 2013 version of its midsize Fusion here at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday.

A preview of some of the most buzzed-about cars heading into the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

General Motors said on Thursday that it has enhanced the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in its maligned battery-powered Chevrolet Volt, in an attempt to prevent the battery from catching on fire days or weeks after a serious crash.

As the Iranian rial hits all-time lows against the United States dollar in the wake of imposed international sanctions, Iranians seek safer havens in more global currencies like gold, according to a leading economist at the National Commercial Bank in Saudi Arabia.

Retailers posted strong sales numbers in December, but at-times extreme discounts tapered good feelings, profits and earnings outlooks for the full year.

Before next week, Craftsman's largest unveiling of a new tractor wasn't very large in scope at all. It certainly wasn't a tractor show with more than 40 introductions. It certainly wasn't an auto show of the same magnitude. It wasn't even open to the public.

Italian automaker Fiat increased its majority stake in Chrysler on Thursday to 58.5 percent from 53.5 percent, reaching the goal set by the United States government after it bailed out and restructured the American automaker under bankruptcy protection in 2009.

The United States auto industry put a cap on its best year since crumbling to unforeseen depths in 2008, as the Big Three auto companies all reported strong December sales that met or exceeded analyst estimates.

Barry Sanders, the former Detroit Lions running back who has shied away from the media spotlight since stunning the NFL world by retiring in 1999, will meet with the media next week in Detroit to promote Nissan's ventures at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.