Automakers: Page 297
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chapman Automotive Group Breaks Internet Record
CHANDLER, AZ Forty-five years ago, a young Jerry Chapman left a dealership in Mississippi and took over a Chevrolet store in this Phoenix suburb. In 1972, he constructed a new building for the brand. That dealership is going strong as a flagship for the Chapman Automotive Group. In the early days, he never dreamed he would preside over an 18-store, 21-brand group using a once unheard-of marvel called
By Mac Gordon • April 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Whipping Boy No More
Chrysler expects dramatic improvements in launch quality and corresponding reductions in warranty claims, based on early results of a new production-vehicle testing protocol. Chrysler has partnered with Roush to conduct extensive, standardized on-road testing of first-run vehicles, reveals Doug Betts, senior vice-president quality. The testing, adapted from a methodology employed by alliance-partner
By Eric Mayne • April 1, 2011 -
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
Showroom-Within-Showroom
NEW HUDSON, MI Hyundai Motor America's initially controversial plan to construct a showroom-within-a-showroom for its luxury-leaning Equus and Genesis sedans is progressing smoothly, officials say. Some 200 of the Korean auto maker's 400 U.S. stores opting for the scheme completed installations as of Feb. 23. Hyundai has about 800 dealers in the U.S. Ward's first revealed the showroom-within-a-showroom
By Christie Schweinsberg • April 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Alan Mulally Kissed Galpin Ford’s Bert Boeckmann
“Every person is unique,” says Bert Boeckmann, patriarch of Galpin Motors. “If you do it right, you create a bond of trust with customers.”
By Lillie Guyer • March 31, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Product Blitz Continues
The next wave of new product represents the litmus test for Chrysler’s long-term direction. By 2014, Fiat platforms will account for some 56% of the auto maker’s worldwide car volume.
By Eric Mayne • March 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Florida’s JM Lexus Uses Internet to Reach Far for Customers
The dealership now has an Internet staff of 21 employees who recently moved to larger quarters in a former Dodge dealership.
By Mac Gordon • March 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Says Paint Shortage Poses No Problems
Ford sent a note to dealers saying some red and black paint colors will not be available on certain models due to a lack of xirallic, a paint additive the auto maker sources from Japan.
By Byron Pope • March 25, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japanese Continue Plant Shutdowns
Toyota has warned workers it may have to cut output in North America as a result of parts shortages.
By Roger Schreffler • March 24, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
PSA Reverses Course, Will Make Low-Cost Cars
Three projects are planned, including a production version of the Citroen C-Cactus concept that bowed at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show.
By William Diem • March 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Adds Car-Hauler in Wake of Allied’s Exit
Allied withdrew its services from GM earlier this week after the auto maker chose not to renew a contract with the carrier.
By James M. Amend • March 18, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM to Halt Small Pickup Output Due to Japanese Parts Shortage
According to Ward’s data, stocks of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon finished February with a 58 and 61 days’ supply, respectively.
By Ward's Staff • March 17, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Switching Carriers in Wake of Labor Dispute
GM reports no production or delivery disruptions, though yards are “filling up” outside a GM plant in Ontario, Canada, a union official says.
By Eric Mayne and James M. Amend • March 17, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turbo Boosts Kia Sportage
Thanks to the addition of Hyundai-Kia’s 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged 4-cyl., the Sportage finally lives up to its name – but not without a hitch.
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 17, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japan’s Auto Makers Look to Restart Plants This Week
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Fuji and Mazda suspended production at all domestic plants on Monday to take stock of damage and the impact on their supply chains.
By Roger Schreffler • March 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
NBA, Racing Affiliations Paying Dividends, Kia Says
Kia saw its buyer-consideration numbers soar as a result of its presence at last month’s All-Star game festivities, particularly the slam-dunk contest.
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Motor Finalizes Purchase of Hyundai Engineering
Hyundai Motor Co. is acquiring 23.3 million shares in the global construction giant, good for a 20.9% stake, while Kia and Hyundai Mobis will combine to purchase another 14% of the company’s outstanding stock.
By Vince Courtenay • March 8, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Counting on Central Motor to Build Yaris for Less
Central’s new Ohira plant, when fully up and running, will have capacity to build 120,000 compact cars.
By Roger Schreffler • March 8, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Copies Altima Hybrid Process in Building Electric Leaf
The Oppama plant has two assembly lines, each producing a car every minute. At present, every sixth car moving down the Leaf line is a Leaf.
By Roger Schreffler • March 4, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subaru Gets Down With Boxer RWD Sports Car
Subaru and Toyota are jointly developing rear-drive sports cars with boxer engines for arrival next year. Subaru execs say they aren’t turning their backs on the auto maker’s core technology, symmetrical all-wheel drive.
By Tom Murphy • March 3, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Consumer Reports Cops to Chrysler Data Gaps
The publication’s latest evaluation of Chrysler products is weighted heavily on ’08 model-year data.
By Eric Mayne • March 2, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Plant Expansion Eco-Friendly
BMW'S Spartanburg, S.C. plant has produced more than 1.6 million vehicles since it opened 16 years ago, and a $750 million expansion boosts capacity from 160,000 units to 240,000 and reinforces the German auto maker's commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing. Assembly of the all-new second-generation X3 cross/utility vehicle began Sept. 1, as production of the slow-selling first-generation X3 ended
By Tom Murphy • March 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Clock Ticking for Lincoln Dealers as Compliance Standards Loom
U.S. Lincoln-brand dealers face an Oct. 1 deadline to comply with new operating guidelines designed to make Ford's luxury marque more competitive in the luxury-vehicle market. The guidelines are intended to upgrade the customer experience, the auto maker says. Ford's plan to begin measuring compliance April 1 is among the pillars that support an aggressive strategy to breathe new energy into the storied
By Eric Mayne • March 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto/Mate Completes Interfaces with Toyota Dealerships
Auto/Mate Dealership Systems says it has successfully developed all Toyota interfaces available to connect its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) with Toyota's dealer communication system, Dealer Daily. Auto/Mate completed the interfaces after 12 months of participation in a pilot project to create open standards for communications between Toyota dealerships and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.
March 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Versatility, NVH Hallmarks of Pentastar
Outside of Chrysler and its dealerships, few knew the auto maker's Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler-brand vehicles were powered by seven different V-6 engines. Soon, there will be just one: the 3.6L DOHC Pentastar V-6. And, because it's a Ward's 10 Best Engines award winner in its debut year, that bodes well for the auto maker's burgeoning new lineup of cars and trucks. The engine program, internally
By Gary Witzenburg • March 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Australian RWD Large Cars Being Driven to Extinction
The once hugely successful formula, as embodied by the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, is a victim of falling sales, increasing globalization and tough new U.S. fuel-economy standards.
By Peter Robinson • March 1, 2011
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