Automakers: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Product Planner Dominique Exits Nissan
Larry Dominique is considered the father of the Nissan Titan fullsize pickup truck, for which he was the chief product specialist at the truck’s 2003 launch.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 4, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Light-Truck Demand Drives Honda’s Return to Big Six
Honda’s 45,723 light-truck deliveries, good for a 3% uptick from prior-year, helped offset a 17.3% sales plunge by the auto maker’s car lineup.
By Eric Mayne • Oct. 3, 2011 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota Motor North America
TrendlineTop 5 stories from WardsAuto
Automakers are evaluating their long-term strategies, revisiting their product mix, and approach to both retail and manufacturing approach along the way.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Car Mix in September Hits 6-Year Low
The hard-to-get Focus and poor-performing Taurus largely are to blame for the auto maker’s anemic car mix in September.
By Byron Pope • Oct. 3, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo to Cease C70 Production at Uddevalla Plant
Volvo CEO Stephan Jacoby says the plant produces high-quality vehicles, but its continued operation cannot be justified at current output levels.
By Ward's Staff • Oct. 3, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Is VW Ready to Rock?
It was one of those things that caused me to spew my morning coffee out my nose in a sudden spasm of laughter, as I read the latest auto news four years ago. With tears streaming down my face, I struggled to regain composure and finished reading the article from December 2007. Volkswagen had just announced it intended to overtake Toyota in global sales. Now bear in mind, this was before the Toyota
Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
My Last Pre-Modern Comet
When I acquired my hobby car, a restored baby-blue '65 Mercury Comet convertible four years ago, I did not expect it to be much different from my daily-driver Ford Focus wagon. After all, while my vintage car presented a politically incorrect (but very satisfying) V8 engine and even an automatic transmission, I thought it would be pretty much just like any other car. My first convertible had been
By Mike Davis • Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Car Guys vs. Bean Counters
Now in his late seventies, Bob Lutz knows his auto industry history, and his latest book, Car Guys vs. Bean Counters, provides a lot of lessons. He has lived in the most inner circles at Ford, BMW, Chrysler and General Motors. Who better to tell us the history of the struggle for authority and dominance in the various auto companies, as well as the recent history of GM's fall and rise? Lutz refers
By David Ruggles • Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sorry, Not Interested
Kevin Hurst offers a gotta-have online product for auto dealerships. Or so he and his partners thought. Instead, their fledging firm, Infinity Compliance, has stumbled in trying to draw dealers' interest in software created to help them comply with a long list of federal regulations. Those range from Red Flag rules, intended to thwart identity theft, to anti-money-laundering legislation, which requires
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Price and Speed Become Vital
Getting pre-owned inventory to market fast and first is a goal of dealerships across the nation. Two examples are Nereson Chevrolet-Cadillac, Detroit Lakes, MN, and Rudy Luther Toyota-Scion, Minneapolis. Every morning, Nereson Internet Sales Manager Jason Tyge and Rudy Luther Internet Marketing Coordinator Jenna Kostelecky grab special cameras and start creating images of the 15 to 20 pre-owned units
By Jim Leman • Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lincoln Dealer Worried, Miffed
Dear Editor: Great premier editorial by Jim Ziegler in the August issue of WardsAuto Dealer Business. I'd like to respond to the column, as well as Steve Finlay's story, Dealerships of Tomorrow, in the same issue because they are connected. I don't know how Jim Ziegler does it, but he always is spot on with what is going on with Ford. Talk to a consumer, and they see Ford as doing everything right.
Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Says New Front-Center Airbag Driven by Sense of Duty
The auto maker will introduce the industry’s first front-center airbag, which aims to protect first-row occupants in side-impact and rollover crashes, with its ’13-model large CUVs
By James M. Amend • Sept. 30, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Diaz Hints at Ram Version of Iveco Daily
Ram chief Fred Diaz points squarely at the rear-wheel-drive van when he says Chrysler is pondering “customer needs in the Class 2, 3 and 4 commercial-van segments.”
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 29, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Seeks to Shed About 1,800 Hourly Employees
The auto maker is offering all eligible employees $10,000 if they retire between Oct. 1, 2011, and Sept. 1, 2013. Skilled tradesmen receive another $65,000 if they leave by March 31, 2012.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Customer Service VP Taking Back-to-Basics Approach
Paul Copses sees his objective as “making sure the right attitudes are in place and making sure we’re executing at the field level and at the dealer level. No rocket science.”
By James M. Amend • Sept. 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia to Add Third Shift at Slovak Plant
In mid-October, the facility will add production of the Kia Venga multipurpose vehicle, a model previously built at Hyundai’s Czech Republic plant.
By Peter Homola • Sept. 26, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Expects U.S. C-Class Coupe Sales to Be Incremental
Though the all-new 2-door represents the first “true” C-Class coupe to arrive here, don’t expect the novelty to seduce C-Class sedan buyers, a top executive says.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 26, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Expects Steady Sales Through Year’s End
The auto maker does not expect a double-dip recession but prepares for all contingencies, says its top U.S. sales analyst.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 23, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Names James A. Davlin to VP of Finance
Davlin joins GM from farm machinery and equipment giant Deere & Co., where he most recently served as vice president-corporate strategy and business development.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 23, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Time to Start Insourcing
The 2-tier wage not only allows GM, Ford and Chrysler to cut their labor costs, it allows them to rethink their business model.
By John McElroy • Sept. 23, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subaru Plans for Hybrid, Turbos, 4 New Vehicles
The horizontally opposed boxer engine remains core to the auto maker’s strategy, which includes a new Impreza, XV CUV and BRZ rear-drive sports car.
By Tom Murphy • Sept. 22, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bob King’s Quest to Organize Transplants ‘Unhurt’ by GM Contract
The union chief has made it a priority to organize hourly workers at foreign auto makers producing in the U.S., such as Volkswagen in Tennessee and Hyundai in Mississippi.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Expanding Ohio Transmission Plant Capabilities
The expansion adds capacity for high-pressure die casting of aluminum transmission cases, supporting a third transmission assembly line currently under construction.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Rio Fun-to-Drive Premium Subcompact
The auto maker’s smallest car is the best yet for the ’12 model year, standing out from a growing pack of subcompacts thanks to its good looks, interior quality and fuel economy.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
UAW-GM Contract Moves $2.5 Billion in Future Work to U.S. From Mexico
The union wins ensure the U.S. retains the crown of top North American producer. So far this year, the U.S. has accounted for 5.4 million vehicles.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 20, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Priming Pump for Police Sector
Buyers have been warming up to the Chevy Caprice, and sales should gain more momentum as GM expands sales beyond detective cars to include patrol cars.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 19, 2011
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