Motoramic’s Dash for Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012

What we're reading this morning about auto sales, Fiat's new stake in Chrysler and one pricey parking space:

Auto sales hit 13.6 million in 2011 [Bloomberg] While the top number was about what analysts expected, the real surprises came in the details. Here's three: Volkswagen sold 150,000 Jettas in 2011 despite widespread panning by auto critics; the Chevy Volt had more retail customers than the Nissan Leaf in December, even with the federal fire probe; and 270 brave souls gave Saab a Viking funeral by buying one, and possibly setting their money on fire. For the record, America's best-selling vehicle remains the Ford F-Series pickup, which has held that title since 1982.

BMW, Mercedes sales figures mysteriously delayed [DriveOn] Every so often, the end-of-year sales battle becomes so heated between two automakers that scenes from "Glengarry Glen Ross" get re-enacted in their executive suites. BMW and Mercedes were battling for the title of top luxury carmaker in the United States (thanks to Lexus' annus horribilis) and while the rest of the industry reported yesterday, BMW and Mercedes execs were yelling in German about how coffee is for closers.