Automakers: Page 252
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Mercedes CLA, Infiniti Derivative to Be Built by Nissan in Mexico
The shift in CLA sourcing from Europe to Mexico should increase profit margins for Mercedes in the price-sensitive entry-level luxury market, where healthy U.S. sales volumes will be needed in order for the brand to meet CAFE targets.
By David Zoia Editor • May 24, 2013 -
Ford to Shutter Australian Plants in 2016
Ford is ending production after 88 years, but it’s not going away. Rather, it will become a full importer. Officials say it costs four times as much to build a car in Australia as it does in Asia, and twice as much as in Europe.
By Alan Harman • May 23, 2013 -
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 -
GM Prices Chevy Spark EV at $27,495
The ’14 electrified Spark is eligible for federal tax credits reducing its base price tag to as low as $19,995.
By James M. Amend • May 23, 2013 -
Kia Strives to Repeat Soul’s Success With Evolutionary Next-Gen Model
Kia’s boxy Soul surprised the auto maker and industry-watchers alike with 31,621 deliveries in 2009, its first year in the U.S., outselling the Scion xB, Honda Element and Nissan Cube. By 2011, the car surpassed the 100,000-unit mark.
May 22, 2013 -
Ford Dealership Group Packs a Punch
Sam Pack, a former Ford Credit employee, has become a legendary multiple-store dealer in Texas.
By Lillie Guyer • May 21, 2013 -
Ford to Add C-Car Into Mix in Mexico as Fiesta Shifts to Thailand
Fiesta U.S. sales last year were down 17.2% to 56,775, but deliveries rose 7.0% to 22,108 through April, according to WardsAuto data.
By Byron Pope • May 17, 2013 -
Lexus First to Stream Live Data Via HD Radio
Ibiquity, the developer of HD radio technology, says other auto makers are interested in streaming real-time traffic and weather via radio broadcasts.
By Byron Pope • May 17, 2013 -
Lamborghini Revved for 50th Anniversary Celebration
Organizers of the road rally say the convoy of V-12s is 2.4 miles long and combines for 190,000 hp, or an average 543 hp per vehicle.
By Giancarlo Perini • May 17, 2013 -
Lamborghini Egoista Concept a Dream
The car has all the makings of a being a futuristic concept only, with its center driving position, compact size, exotic materials and race-car DNA. But enthusiasts are hoping for a small production run just the same.
By Giancarlo Perini • May 16, 2013 -
Infiniti Launches Q50 Output, Begins Global Expansion Drive
Growth is expected to come in part from an expanding product portfolio that will include a new compact model in 2015 and a car above the top-of-the-line Q70.
By Roger Schreffler • May 16, 2013 -
GM Returns to Indonesia With $150 Million Manufacturing Bet
The new Spin MPV is “the perfect vehicle for us to produce in Indonesia,” says a top executive. “We will do big numbers in Indonesia this year.”
By Edd Ellison • May 16, 2013 -
Pininfarina, BMW Cement Ties With Gran Lusso Coupe
The car is spun off the chassis of a V-12 BMW 760iL as a fully functional and street-legal one-off. However, a limited series of custom-built cars may be produced.
By Giancarlo Perini • May 15, 2013 -
Customers Demanding City Express, Chevrolet Says
The need to move fast drove GM into its alliance with Nissan for its new City Express cargo van, which will offer the same powertrain as the Nissan NV200, but feature exclusive sheet metal up front.
By David Zoia Editor • May 14, 2013 -
GM to Sell Nissan Van Through Chevrolet
Nissan builds the NV200 in Mexico for the North American market, where production through March totaled 828 units.
By WardsAuto Staff • May 14, 2013 -
Honda to Build Acura NSX in Marysville
NSX manufacturing operations will be housed in a former logistics facility adjacent to Honda's Accord assembly plant.
May 14, 2013 -
Ford Uses Videos to Enhance Car-Delivery Experience
The program is designed to fulfill customer interest while avoiding the potential of a buyer going into information overload.
By Tom Beaman • May 14, 2013 -
IT Push to Speed Product Development, GM’s Akerson Says
GM’s move to pull IT operations in-house should allow it to focus more on innovation, executives say, cutting costs and shortening new-model development cycles.
By David Zoia Editor • May 13, 2013 -
GM to Invest $258 Million in Second Data Center
The new $100 million Milford, MI, operation will open in July 2014 and house an estimated $158 million in IT equipment.
By David Zoia Editor • May 13, 2013 -
Ford Atlas Concept Product of Painstaking Development
During development of the Ford Atlas concept, designers and engineers evaluated a number of technologies and features, some of which made it into the final version of the pickup.
By Byron Pope • May 13, 2013 -
VW Unveils Sporty Concepts at Austrian Tuner Gathering
The auto maker’s Design Vision GTI achieves a top speed of 186 mph and can accelerate 0-62 mpg in 3.9 seconds.
By Peter Homola • May 10, 2013 -
GM Sees Room for Two Atop Large Pickup Lines
The Silverado High Country will join a burgeoning premium pickup segment including the Ford F-150 King Ranch and Platinum, Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Toyota Tundra Platinum.
By James M. Amend • May 10, 2013 -
Hyundai Installs Korea’s Largest Rooftop Solar Panels
The modules will be installed on 2.3 million sq.-ft. (213,000 sq.-m) of rooftop area on the Asan plant’s stamping, welding, vehicle-assembly and engine-assembly buildings.
By Vince Courtenay • May 10, 2013 -
Extreme Caution, Plenty of Automation at Nissan’s U.S. Battery Plant
The Japanese auto maker keeps tight control on conditions inside the Tennessee plant to protect the integrity of the Leaf EV’s energy source.
May 9, 2013 -
UAW Faces Political, Industry Opposition in Drive to Unionize VW Plant
Support from Germany is raising the possibility of unionization at the auto maker’s Tennessee plant. That has competitors, industry insiders and local officials concerned.
By Joseph Szczesny • May 9, 2013 -
Subaru Investing $400 Million for Indiana Expansion
The Japanese auto maker has experienced record growth in the U.S., surpassing 300,000 sales in 2012 and possibly headed for 400,000 this year.
May 8, 2013