Automakers: Page 111
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Recruits Technicians from U.S. Military
Since 2019 the military training program has graduated 106 rookie BMW technicians nationwide. Dealerships need about 76,000 new technicians annually due to retirements and job departures, but only about 39,000 service techs graduate from tech schools.
By Jim Henry • Dec. 28, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW Invests $20 Million in Car Dealers’ EV Efforts
VW is turning to dealers to bring “their communities into electric vehicles,” says Scott Keogh, who heads Volkswagen Group of America.
By Steve Finlay • Dec. 22, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial Intelligence
Automakers and dealers alike are increasingly seeing the use case for AI within their operations. Explore some use cases in this trendline.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota’s ‘Bookstore’ Is Most-Watched Auto Ad of Week
Toyota's No.1 ad for the week of Dec. 13, about restocking a small-town bookstore, features music from Kacey Musgraves.
By Jim Irwin • Dec. 22, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Stellantis to Strengthen Its European Financing Businesses
The automaker intends to create a leading operational leasing group and enhance its captive finance arm. The new structure will support the future of mobility services.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 21, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Banks on Revenue from Commercial BEV Charging
Ford Pro Charging is the automaker’s new arm tasked with helping convert commercial customers to all-electric trucks. Ford expects to capture over $1 billion of revenue from the charging business by 2030.
By Joseph Szczesny • Dec. 17, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Investing in Romanian Plant With Eye on New LCV, BEV
The plant in Craiova in southern Romania will become Ford’s third European production facility to build an all-electric vehicle, following recent investments in its plants in Cologne, Germany, and Kocaeli, Turkey.
By Eugene Gerden • Dec. 16, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Christmas Spirit Takes Over Auto Advertising Themes
Lincoln’s “Unexpected” spot depicting a snowstorm amid palm trees remains the most-watched automotive TV ad, followed by spots from Ram and Jeep.
Dec. 15, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Teases More Images of ’23 Civic Type R
The range-topping hot hatch rolls out next year. This week, Honda shares several images of the car testing at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit.
By Chris Teague • Dec. 15, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suppliers Need to Realign Capacity for BEVs, Ford Says
“Many suppliers can actually use their existing capabilities and know-how to operate in the BEV space,” says Ford’s Frank Abkenar. ZF is in the middle of making just this change, says Michael Ebenhoch, who heads electrified powertrain tech for the supplier.
By Sebastian Blanco • Dec. 14, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volkswagen Group Ups EV Tech Spending to $100 Billion
The Volkswagen Group says it will reduce spending on hybridization and internal-combustion-engine development and concentrate on stepping up development and production of BEVs.
By Greg Kable • Dec. 13, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Confirms Electric i3 Sedan for Chinese Market
The new BMW is based on an upcoming facelifted version of the Chinese-market long-wheelbase 3-Series – a model not currently sold outside of China – which is 6.4 ins. longer than the existing standard-wheelbase 3-Series sold in North America.
By Greg Kable • Dec. 10, 2021 -
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JIT Supply System Under Review, GM’s Barra Says
CEO Mary Barra opens the door to stockpiling critical parts due to a semiconductor shortage, and she doubts GM will go back to the level of inventory dealers had before the pandemic.
By Joseph Szczesny • Dec. 10, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Tesla Charges Into Auto Insurance Market
Tesla CEO Elon Musk may be able to maneuver around the business world pretty well, but when it comes to challenges that are auto insurance-specific, there may be some hiccups along the way.
By Fadi Sneineh • Dec. 10, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
ProPilot Assist Standard on All ’22 Infiniti QX50 Models
Priced starting at $39,000, the 5-passenger QX50 is available in five grades – Pure, Luxe, Essential, Sensory and Autograph – with standard front-wheel drive or, for an additional $2,000, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
By Jim Irwin • Dec. 9, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Stellantis Says ‘STLA Brain’ Software Bolsters Vehicles by 2024
The automaker says it has 12 million monetizable connected cars globally. By 2026, this is expected to grow to 26 million vehicles and generate approximately €4 billion ($4.5 billion) in revenues, CEO Carlos Tavares says.
By Joseph Szczesny • Dec. 9, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subaru Makes an ‘Impact’ With Corporate Giving Campaign
The two Subaru ads — “The Largest Impact” and “Give Back Anthem” — combined for 364.5 million ad impressions from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 and highlight the manufacturer’s corporate giving efforts.
Dec. 8, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Plans $1.3 Billion Battery Plant in North Carolina
Toyota’s plant will open in 2025 with four production lines, each able to produce enough batteries to power 200,000 vehicles per year. Toyota wants to expand to at least six production lines, bringing its total production capacity to 1.2 million vehicles per year.
By Chris Teague • Dec. 7, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Stellantis Signs Supply Deal for ‘Green’ Lithium for BEVs
Vulcan Energy Resources’ Zero Carbon Lithium Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley uses geothermal energy to produce battery-quality lithium hydroxide from brine without the use of fossil fuels and minimal water usage.
By Paul Myles • Dec. 7, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota’s Chief Scientist: Avoid ‘Mono-Culture’ of EVs
Toyota has been criticized for moving too slowly toward battery-electric vehicles. In an interview, Toyota’s Gill Pratt defends the automaker’s approach and explains why it will have a bigger environmental impact.
By Steve Finlay • Dec. 7, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda Announces Pricing, Details Trim Levels for ’22 Mazda3
The front-wheel-drive Mazda3’s naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G 2.0L produces 155 hp and 150 lb.-ft. (203 Nm) of torque. With a starting price of $20,800, excluding $1,015 for destination and handling charges, it is the lowest-priced model in the ’22 Mazda3 lineup.
By Jim Irwin • Dec. 6, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Reclaims Top Spot on Most-Viewed Auto Ads List
The week of Nov. 22 saw Honda’s spot, titled “The Origin of Determination,” overtake the previous week’s leader by about 6 million impressions.
By Jim Irwin • Dec. 3, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW i7 Confirmed for 2022 Launch
The upmarket 4-door sedan is the fifth dedicated all-electric model from BMW’s i electric-vehicle sub-brand, following the i3, ix3, i4 and iX.
By Greg Kable • Dec. 3, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ariya CUV Joins Venerable Leaf in Nissan’s BEV Lineup
The battery-electric CUV won’t arrive until next fall, and it’ll cost more than projected.
By John Voelcker • Dec. 2, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Named OEM of the Year at Automotive Tech Week
The winner was chosen to recognize how the world is changing and which automaker is learning and adapting the fastest.
Nov. 24, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Lexus Interface (Finally) Replaces Remote Touch
Touchscreen supplants kludgy computer-mouse-like center-console controller for Toyota's luxury brand and adds cloud-based navigation, audio and voice assistance.
By Doug Newcomb • Nov. 24, 2021
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