Automakers: Page 299
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Styling Aside, Nissan Juke Almost Perfect
A face that is out of the ordinary, and not in a good way, sullies the small cross/utility vehicle’s otherwise great attributes.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Gives Dealers iPads
When Apple Inc. came out with its innovative iPad this year, Mercedes-Benz Financial quickly saw how the device could benefit auto dealers and their customers. Consequently, the firm has become the first automotive captive finance firm to equip dealerships with the tablet computers, providing mobile access to a proprietary point-of-sale system called MB Advantage. So far, 40 Mercedes dealers in the
By Steve Finlay • Sept. 1, 2010 -
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
Thinking Inside the Box
Past U.S. Navy and Air Force flight students will warmly recall their first trainer, the T-34 Mentor. Most of these two-place, bubble-canopied, prop-driven Beechcrafts were powered by a 225-hp Continental flat-six engine. Smooth, sonorous and (thankfully) reliable, this compact opposed-piston beauty struck some as a little like an airborn Porsche mill. Today, Porsche and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
By Gary Witzenburg • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat’s World-Class Manufacturing Key to Chrysler Turnaround
Even though its finances were unraveling before being forced into reorganization last year, the former Chrysler LLC was not a manufacturing basket case. While it once ranked dead last by the Harbour Report in productivity, in 2008 it tied Toyota Motor Engineering & Mfg. North America Inc. for the No.1 spot. Four Chrysler assembly plants ranked in the Harbour Report's top-10 most efficient plants that
By Drew Winter • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Eyes Profit-Sharing if Earnings Remain Strong
If Ford Motor Co. continues to post strong earnings during the remainder of 2010, a return to profit-sharing for United Auto Workers union members may be in the works. Ford made $2.6 billion in the second quarter, and through July its light-vehicle sales were up 22.9%. As long as we continue making profits, everybody will benefit, Mark Fields, Ford executive vice president and president-Americas,
By David C. Smith • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
‘11 Mazda2: Fun Meets Frugality
It isn't fast, is limited on space and comfort and lacks the flash of some B-cars already on the market, but the new '11 Mazda2 is a blast to drive and will limit trips to the gas station. The Mazda2, sold in other markets for years but new to North America, joins an increasingly crowded B-car segment in the U.S. It faces longtime leaders such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, as well
By Byron Pope • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Chief Says Lots of Ideas Come From Dealers
TRAVERSE CITY, MI Hyunda Motor America's chief says the firm gets lots of ideas from its dealers, including a new valet program for owners of the upscale Genesis and impending top-line Equus cars, due out this year. We like to innovate, because polls show that our extended warranties and appealing new products raise us on customer new-car shopping lists, says John Krafcik, president and CEO. Plus,
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Some Dealers Savor Arbitration Wins, But Concerns Linger
Chrysler Group LLC won a large majority of cases appearing before arbitrators in American Arbitration Assn. hearings. But in a number of dealer wins, arbitrators looked beyond Chrysler and General Motors Co.'s post-bankruptcy business cases for restructuring their dealer networks. Considerations of the public interest weighed heavily when an arbitrator in Eagle Auto Mall's termination appeal against
By Lillie Guyer • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Sour Taste of Victory
The Chrysler dealer arbitrations have been completed. Out of 108 arbitration hearings Chrysler won 73 of the decisions to 32 in favor of dealers. Those dealers were among the original 789 to lose their franchises. The ones who prevailed in the congressionally ordered arbitration hearings get a Letter of Intent, which still makes them subject to the nefarious whims of Chrysler when it comes to re-establishing
By David Ruggles • Sept. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Santa Fe Production Won’t Derail Kia Output Plans
Kia officials say West Point will add a second shift to support Santa Fe production.
By James M. Amend • Aug. 31, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Urges Dealers to Do More Repair Inspections
The goal is to boost repair orders, increase service and parts profits and enhance customer satisfaction by keeping clients’ cars in running order.
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 30, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Cruise Control Among Additions to Fiat 500 Destined for N.A.
While Chrysler declines comment on the car’s specs, it has said the 500 would meet the expectations of North American consumers.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 27, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Uzbekistan Launches Spark Production
Uzbekistan is a major CKD export market for GM Daewoo, which shipped 199,000 CKD kits there last year.
By Vince Courtenay • Aug. 27, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Xterra on Way Out?
The auto maker sold 88,578 Xterra midsize SUVs in the U.S. in 2000, according to Ward’s data. In comparison, deliveries through July of this year tallied just 12,186, which was a 42% increase over year-ago.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 27, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How to Keep Auto Techs Happy
“It's always been difficult to find a good, trained technician,” says Warren DeBardelaben, director-service support and quality for Nissan North America Inc.
By James M. Flammang • Aug. 27, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Delphi Bets Big on Smartphone’s Future
Some auto makers and suppliers are clinging to traditional infotainment technologies, such as in-dash navigation and audio systems, but not Delphi.
By David E. Zoia • Aug. 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW Taps Ex-Opel Exec for International Post
Hans Demant, who left Opel last week following a reshuffling at GM Europe in January, will coordinate international projects for VW, as it seeks to become the world’s biggest auto maker by 2018.
By Ward's Staff • Aug. 24, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Repositioned Turbocharger, Dual VVT Improve Subaru 2.5L Boxer
Today, Porsche and Fuji Heavy Industries (maker of Subaru vehicles) are the only major auto makers using horizontally opposed-piston boxer engines.
By Gary Witzenburg • Aug. 20, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford, GM Customer Satisfaction Decline But Now Lead Industry
The University of Michigan report puts Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury division at No.1, just ahead of GM’s Buick brand.
By James M. Amend • Aug. 17, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Nearing Full Production Capacity; Rethinking Large Vehicles, North American Chief Says
The auto maker has a number of innovative ways to increase output, Mark Reuss tells Ward's in an interview. “There are a lot of other options than building new plants.”
By Herb Shuldiner • Aug. 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Restyled ’11 VW Jetta Loses Golf Body Panels
Sharing body panels was economical and likely went unnoticed by most car buyers, primarily because the Jetta is a sedan and the Golf is a hatchback. But the practice didn’t fit design plans for the new model.
By Byron Pope • Aug. 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Sportage: It’s Getting There
The new ’11 Sportage is stylish and well-contented but suffers from some drawbacks, notably an over-the-top sportiness manifested in excessive engine and road noise.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota on Rocky Road to Redemption
A renewed emphasis on ensuring quality during the research-and-development phase portends the most promise for Toyota’s future because of its inherent forward-looking approach.
By Eric Mayne and Drew Winter • Aug. 9, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Purcell Finds Life After GM
The ex-GM staffer now is a director at Protean Electric, which shows off a concept F-150 EV at MBS featuring individual motors at each wheel.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 4, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat’s World Class Manufacturing Key to Chrysler Turnaround
Implementing the WCM production system was a key piece of Sergio Marchionne’s turnaround strategy after he assumed the top job at Fiat in 2004.
By Drew Winter • Aug. 3, 2010
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