Automakers: Page
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Toyota Thailand Positions Revamped Innova Upmarket
There’s a growing focus in the market on higher-margin segments, which Toyota has cracked successfully with the HiLux and Fortuner. The new Innova, now called the Innova Crysta, will attempt to do the same.
By Edd Ellison • Oct. 7, 2016 -
NADA Chairman: Tesla Model Wouldn’t Add Up for Most Automakers
Dealers spend a lot of money on facilities, service and sales training and inventorying cars and trucks. Those are costs manufacturers would have to carry on their books if they insist on direct sales, Jeff Carlson says.
By David Zoia Editor • Oct. 6, 2016 -
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 -
Typhoon Hits Hyundai Amid Stormy Labor Negotiations
Hyundai downplays the seriousness of flooding and storm damage at its Ulsan plants, saying only that the typhoon has temporarily halted production. Workers say nature is taking the strike action they have suspended, at least temporarily.
By Vince Courtenay • Oct. 6, 2016 -
Pacifica, Fiat Deliver for FCA; Nissan Thinks Small
“Pacifica is outstanding for us in pulling in buyers from CUV utility buyers,” says Michael Downey, vehicle line executive for minivans and large cars for FCA. “It is doing what we wanted, expanding the buyer base” by attracting people new to the brand as well as traditional van buyers and soccer moms.
By Jim Mateja • Oct. 4, 2016 -
E-Class Continues Mercedes’ Hot Streak
The redesigned Mercedes E-Class shines in each judging criteria of the inaugural Wards 10 Best UX competition. We know $73,000 is a lot of money, but consider the market for midsize luxury cars and the features onboard.
Oct. 4, 2016 -
‘Told You So,’ Renault-Nissan’s Ghosn Gloats
Nissan’s CEO says he is thrilled other automakers jumped onboard the electric-vehicle bandwagon at this week’s Paris auto show. “Welcome to the competition,” he says.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 30, 2016 -
JLR Fine-Tunes In-Car Entertainment With Spotify App
Spotify, which launches this month in Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Apps library, mirrors the Spotify interface users will recognize from their smartphone with touch-and-swipe gestures to navigate content.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 30, 2016 -
Infiniti Reveals Full VC-Turbo Details
A multilink technology, with piston-connecting rods almost vertical during the combustion cycle, was created in 1998 and is one of 300 technologies Infiniti says it has patented for the VC-Turbo.
Sept. 29, 2016 -
Mercedes Shows Off Power-Packed SUV EV Concept
Besides previewing Mercedes’s first series-production EV, the Generation EQ concept also provides insight into new EV platform structure and autonomous-driving, connectivity and safety features developed for a range of electrics to be sold under the EQ name.
By Greg Kable • Sept. 29, 2016 -
Audi-Airbnb Ad Books Second Week Atop Ranking
The ad, which shows a family getting away from it all at a home in the desert – and a dad taking the R8 on a most unusual errand – closes with an unexpected sales pitch: “Book this house. Drive the 205 mph Audi R8. Right now on Airbnb.”
By WardsAuto Staff • Sept. 29, 2016 -
Hyundai Strike Testing Korean Government’s Patience
Cabinet ministers meeting Wednesday in an emergency session announced they may issue a mediation order requiring the union to immediately stop the walkouts, a legal intervention that has not been applied in the auto industry in 23 years.
By Vince Courtenay • Sept. 28, 2016 -
VW Beetle Strives to Stay Young at Age 78
A VW corporate product specialist talks about keeping the Beetle fresh, buyer demographics and how his car dealership experience affects what he does now.
By Steve Finlay • Sept. 27, 2016 -
Jeep Launches Key CUV in Brazil
Jeep kicks off production of its all-new Compass at FCA’s plant in Pernambuco, Brazil, and it goes on sale in South America by the end of the year. The new Compass makes its North American debut at the Los Angeles auto show in November and goes on sale in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2017.
By Bob Gritzinger • Sept. 26, 2016 -
Hyundai Hit By Daylong Strike Over Wage Impasse
The Hyundai workers’ union says management has failed to make an offer that improves the terms contained in a tentative wage package that was reached Aug. 24, but was rejected by 78% of the workers.
By Vince Courtenay • Sept. 26, 2016 -
Hyundai’s ‘Hot Hatch’ Ads Too Hot for Some Koreans
Korean media reports say the ads are being criticized for what some claim is the exploitation of women.
By Vince Courtenay • Sept. 26, 2016 -
Ford’s Russia JV Sets Sights on EU for Parts Exports
Besides the U.K. and Germany, parts made by the Ford Sollers Russian joint venture will be exported to Ford’s Romanian plant, which produces B-Max compact vans and plans to begin building EcoSport compact CUVs about a year from now.
By Eugene Gerden • Sept. 26, 2016 -
Sketches Reveal Look of Volkswagen’s New EV Concept
With a flat floor housing a bank of lithium-ion batteries, VW boss Herbert Diess says the concept’s scalable MEB structure provides interior room comparable to that of the current Passat. He also says it will travel 250-300 miles on a single charge.
By Greg Kable • Sept. 23, 2016 -
Chrysler Pacifica Pampers While Reinventing Minivan
The Chrysler Pacifica was the only minivan among 29 entrants to be tested. But its creature comforts match or exceed those of many more expensive vehicles.
Sept. 23, 2016 -
Chevy Betting on ’18 Equinox to Shine
The automaker is hoping fresh sheet metal, a snazzy interior and extensive new features in the areas of safety, driver assistance, connectivity and powertrain will turn the tide for the ’18 Equinox.
Sept. 22, 2016 -
Audi Travels to Top of Ad Ranking With Airbnb Spot
The commercial pairs an Audi R8 sports car with an exotic house in Death Valley – a combination available for rent in a $610-per-night package.
By WardsAuto Staff • Sept. 22, 2016 -
Toyota Scrambling for More Light Trucks
The traditionally car-centric Japanese automaker predicts a record light-truck sales year in the U.S. and is on the hunt for more capacity.
Sept. 22, 2016 -
Mini Clubman Gets JCW Treatment
The car combines a JCW-specification engine and chassis modifications with Mini’s ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.
By Paul Myles • Sept. 21, 2016 -
Mercedes Reveals Off-Road-Ready E-Class All Terrain
The model aims to provide the comfort and convenience of the recently introduced sixth-generation E-Class wagon, as well as the increased ground clearance and off-road ability of the automaker’s dedicated midsize CUV, the GLE.
By Greg Kable • Sept. 20, 2016 -
Uber Headed to Detroit
Uber still is finalizing a decision on exactly where to locate a new R&D operation in Detroit, but expects the center to open within the next few months.
By David Zoia Editor • Sept. 19, 2016 -
Russian Subsidies to Benefit Automakers With Most Localization
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade says the bulk of the subsidies will be allocated to manufacturers with the most sales, with a significant amount provided to automakers with the highest levels of localization.
By Eugene Gerden • Sept. 19, 2016