Automakers: Page 307
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Offers EV Training
As the electrification movement gains momentum, it is placing critical new demands on auto engineers, many of them unequipped to face the challenge. As a result, Derrick Kuzak, Ford Motor Co. group vice president-global product development, is launching an initiative aimed at providing supplemental training in electric-vehicle technology for 2,000 Ford engineers over the next 10 years. The transition
By Byron Pope • Jan. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S.-Bound Ford Kuga Should Adopt Escape Moniker, Dealers Say
The Kuga, which shares Ford’s global C1 platform with the European-spec Focus and C-Max CUV, went on sale in Europe early last year.
By Byron Pope • Dec. 30, 2009 -
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
Ontario Tops in Production; Toyota’s Georgetown Plant Most Prolific in N.A.
Ontario, Michigan and Ohio likely will repeat their 1-2-3- finish next year, but Ward’s forecasts changes from fourth through sixth positions.
By Eric Mayne • Dec. 23, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subaru Not Sold On Subcompacts
The Japanese auto maker doesn’t see a way to make much profit on price-sensitive U.S. B-cars.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 22, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
General Motors Co.: 2.4L DOHC I-4
There are lots of mainstream 4-cyl. engines in cars and CUVs, but none of them makes as much power as GM’s 2.4L direct-injection Ecotec in the Chevy Equinox.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 21, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Audi AG: 2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4
Audi stands as one of of the few luxury brands confident enough to stake its reputation on a 4-cyl. engine in a fiercely competitive 6-cyl. market.
By Tom Murphy • Dec. 21, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fuji CEO Sees Record Sales on Horizon for Plucky Subaru Brand
“If we can hold on to our 2% share (in the U.S.), we should see substantial volume growth when demand recovers,” Ikuo Mori says in an exclusive interview.
By Roger Schreffler • Dec. 18, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW Golf Lively Alternative to Hybrids, ‘Sensible’ Small Cars
The ’10 Golf debuts on the North American stage with a major new advantage: a clean diesel option that can be sold in all 50 states.
By Drew Winter • Dec. 17, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM’s CFO Search Ongoing
The transition to Young’s successor “will ultimately depend on when the right candidate is identified and hired,” says a source familiar with the situation.
By Ward's Staff • Dec. 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Exec Frustrated by Negative Headlines
“I’m not discounting our responsibility here, but we’re in an atmosphere where there’s much more media interest in us,” Bob Carter says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Plans Major Hybrid News for Detroit Show
An announcement on the branding of Toyota’s future rear-wheel-drive sports car tentatively is set for April’s New York auto show.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tesla’s Pending EV Plant Considered Boon to Southern California
Representing about 1,500 new jobs, the factory would mark the return of car manufacturing to Southern California since GM closed its Van Nuys operation in 1992.
By Erik Derr • Dec. 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW, MIT Collaborate on Robotic Driver Companion
The smiley face robot can help navigate a driver through traffic, offer reminders when the gas tank is running low and give information about the vehicle and its surroundings.
By Herb Shuldiner • Dec. 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Renault Pushes Ahead With EV Li-Ion Battery Development
Renault Samsung CEO Jean-Marie Hurtiger says the auto maker will build electric vehicles in South Korea and is working on projects with local battery makers.
By William Diem • Dec. 7, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
LFA Pricing Reasonable, Lexus’ Templin Says
Output of the LFA, with a limited 2-year, 500-unit production run, doesn’t begin until December 2010, but Lexus expects to have every one sold beforehand.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 4, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New VW Beetle to Arrive in U.S. in 2011
VW is saying goodbye to the current car with special “Final” editions rolled out at the Los Angeles auto show today.
By Byron Pope • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Touts New Sienna Minivan as Sedan Substitute
The third-generation ’11 model boasts extra cargo space and interior comfort and convenience features unique to minivans, such as footrests and a dual-view entertainment system.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Early Drive Reveals ’11 Buick Regal Jolt of German Refinement
GM finally may have found the right home and, more importantly, the right strategy for injecting some Germanic soul into its American cars.
By James M. Amend • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Australia’s Credit Arm Receives Funding From OzCar Program
FCA Holdings, operating as Ford Credit, reportedly is the sole beneficiary of the A$2 billion federal guarantee to help car dealerships secure financing.
By Alan Harman • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S.-Bound Fiesta Creates New Business Model for Ford
Due to the Fiesta Movement online marketing campaign, Ford’s upcoming new B-car already is claiming 60% brand awareness in its segment, the auto maker’s top marketer says.
By Byron Pope • Dec. 2, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Inflatable Seatbelts Enhance Safety
Ford Motor Co.'s new inflatable seatbelt, demonstrated by the auto maker recently, should help mitigate passenger injuries but also could hike the cost of car insurance, as well as the price of a vehicle offering the technology. The safety option will debut on the '11 Explorer cross/utility vehicle next year. The inflatable belt especially will be helpful in protecting young children and elderly passengers,
By Byron Pope • Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Luxury Dealership Sells Experiences
Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, FL, opened a new state-of-the-art luxury showroom. High-performance, luxury Italian automobiles, Ferraris and Maseratis are literally mechanical works of art, says owner Garrett Hayim. We needed a showroom that was the perfect setting to show off the craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty of these amazing automobiles and to accomplish this, we simply had to build one
Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo Demos Pedestrian Safety System
On a small test course adjacent to its New Jersey headquarters, Volvo Cars of North America LLC demonstrates its new pedestrian-protection technology with full autonomous braking. The new system, which is engineered to automatically stop cars from hitting pedestrians at speeds of up to 16 mph (25 km/h), will be introduced in the '11 Volvo S60 sedan that goes on sale in September. The system consists
By Herb Shuldiner • Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
What’s Normal Now?
ORLANDO, FL It's hard to say when auto financing will get back to normal because no one knows what normal is anymore, says Charles Aiesi, a senior manager at American Honda Finance Corp. That's how much the market has changed in a dramatically short time. With a hint of nostalgia, lending-industry players recall how different it was little more than a year ago, back when dealers readily secured commercial
By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
He’s Starting Over at Age 60
Former Huntington Chevrolet owner Greg Williams a casualty of the dealership reduction movement has been fighting for survival at a political and personal level. He has been urging Congress to restore dealership rights that he says were stripped away when General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC declared bankruptcy. Meanwhile, he has been fighting his own battle against GM and its financial arms,
By Lillie Guyer • Dec. 1, 2009
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