Automakers: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW Plant Life Grows in Tennessee
ON THE VAST FLOOR OF VOLKSWAGEN'S new auto plant in Chattanooga, TN, Camptown Races starts to play over the public address system. Does that mean it is break time, combined with an interlude of traditional music? No, it means a problem is causing a delay somewhere on the line of this 2.5 million-sq.-ft. (232,257-sq.-m) facility that makes the all-new '12 Passat midsize sedan. The song and tempo starts
By Steve Finlay • July 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealer vs. VW’s Planned Store
A dispute over adding a new Volkswagen dealership in the Inland Empire market of California creates an acid test over the touchy issue of how close same-brand dealers should be from each other. Marybelle D. Archibald, an administrative law judge of the California New Motor Vehicle Board, has upheld VW of America's plan to establish the new franchise, according to the board. She remanded the case this
By Mac Gordon • July 1, 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
Ward’s Dealer F&I 150
Rank Dealership Owner/Principals City ST New Units Used Units Total Revenue (3) F&I Revenue (1) 1 Galpin Ford Bert Boeckmann North Hills CA 5,390 2,448 $260,139,982 $13,082,293 2 Classic Chevrolet Ltd. Tom Durant Grapevine TX 5,461 2,039 $293,913,793 $10,756,436 3 Dave Smith Motors Ken Smith Kellogg ID 5,001 2,055 $271,525,370 $10,023,361 4 Lustine Toyota Scion Dodge Jeep Burton Lustine Woodbridge
July 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Prius V Wagon: Welcome to the Family
TOYOTA SAYS THE V IN PRIUS V STANDS for versatile. But we find it vivacious and vexing: Vivacious because it is fun-to-drive and vexing because American consumers have a notorious aversion to wagons. Still, after a day of driving, it's clear the new '12 Prius V is a winning addition to the Prius lineup. On sale this fall in the U.S., the V is a near descendant of the popular original body style, which
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes SLK Serves as Technological Test Bed
The ’11 SLK roadster features Mercedes’ “Magic Sky Control” roof. With the push of a button, a panoramic glass roof built into the retractable hardtop instantly darkens to block out the light.
By Byron Pope • July 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Turns to Facebook for EV Sound Suggestions
The challenge is to develop an artificial noise to alert pedestrians, primarily those who are blind and elderly, of an approaching electric vehicle that otherwise is silent.
By Byron Pope • June 30, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat’s Soave Bets Big on Texas
Bucking skepticism from her colleagues, Fiat’s Laura Soave insisted on heavy penetration in Texas. Today the state is “kickin’ (butt),” she says.
By Eric Mayne • June 29, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Covers All Bases With BlueLink
The Korean auto maker’s new 3-tier subscription telematics service, ranging from $79 annually to $699 for three years, debuts soon in the ’12 Sonata sedan.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Industry Recall Numbers Declining, Despite Toyota’s Nagging Pedal Problems
Traditional quality leader Toyota finishes the January-June period with an industry-worst 2.8 million vehicles implicated by recall campaigns.
By James M. Amend • June 27, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Accent: Another Surprising Subcompact
As Hyundai has done with many new models, including the slightly larger Elantra, the Accent boasts surprisingly high levels of technology and comfort at competitive prices.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 22, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealers Struggle to Stock Used Cars
“Used cars are tough to find and tough to buy at reasonable prices,” says Dale Smith, general manager of Village Volkswagen in Chattanooga, TN.
By Steve Finlay • June 22, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Selling Cars Not Rocket Science, Is It?
Michael Baker believes understanding the “science” of the auto-retailing industry propels success.
By Tony Bittick • June 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda to Establish Assembly Plant in Mexico; Sales Operation in Brazil
Mazda says the new operations will enhance both companies in the rapidly growing Central and South American markets.
By Ward's Staff • June 17, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Accent to Help Push Hyundai U.S. Sales to 600,000
Factors that will help the Korean auto maker meet its annual target this year include shortening build times for the hot-selling Elantra compact and Sonata midsize sedans, supplies of which continue to trail demand.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 16, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
California Dealer Fights VW’s Plan for New Store
The German auto maker says it is missing a chance to sell more vehicles by not opening the new dealership on a well-traveled roadway, but Ontario VW claims the analysis is flawed.
By Mac Gordon • June 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Cars Attracting More Japanese-Brand Shoppers
Stylish vehicle designs and a suite of in-vehicle technologies, such as standard Bluetooth, Sirius Satellite Radio and the new UVO infotainment system, are providing Kia a fresh edge.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 13, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Tweaks Supplier Scorecard
This latest version of Chrysler’s “external balanced scorecard” is the third since 2009 and underscores a renewed interest in smoothing supplier relations.
By Eric Mayne • June 10, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford’s Iconic ‘Five-Oh’ V-8 Almost Born as Less-Sexy 5.8L
“There's a lot of love and passion in the company and the customer base around the 5.0L engine,” Harrison says, “and we have wanted to do one for years.”
By Gary Witzenburg • June 10, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM’s Road to Autonomous Intervention Paved With EPS, ESC
Global technology chief John Calabrese is mum on the specifics of GM’s EPS rollout, but suggests it will be in a position to compete with Ford, which confirms the technology will be on all its models by 2013.
By Eric Mayne • June 9, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford, Sollers Finalize Russian JV
The new business, Ford Sollers, is set to begin production later this year of a range of Ford passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles, including the Transit commercial van.
By Ward's Staff • June 8, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Competitive Dealer Fires Up Hyundai Sales
Scott Fink boasts a 32% close rate and an “army” of 28,000 loyal owners in Florida.
By Steve Finlay • June 8, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ferrari Store Selling 63 Cars Lands on Ward’s Dealer 500
Scottsdale Ferarri in particular and the auto mall in general draw auto-loving locals, “even if they can’t afford a Ferrari,” says Roger Penske.
By Mac Gordon • June 6, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Plant Pullout Erases Mazda’s U.S. Footprint
The Tribute is scheduled to end its production run this year at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant and persistent reports from Japan say Mazda6 output in Flat Rock, MI, is on the bubble.
By Byron Pope • June 6, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM’s OnStar Plans Aggressive Defense Against Newcomers
The telematics system’s greatest asset is its infrastructure, built up at GM over 15 years and giving it a lengthy and undeniable head start.
By James M. Amend • June 2, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Stalled by Brio Parts Shortage; Planning Sedan Version for 2013
Honda is anxious to get its Brio eco-car into the marketplace before Mitsubishi launches its Global Small next year, which will be pitted against a contender from Suzuki. Toyota also will debut its small-car entry in 2012.
By Edd Ellison • June 2, 2011
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