Automakers: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Prius Possible Barometer of Chevy Volt’s Long-Term Value
While the warranty might allay the fears of initial owners, it still is unclear how willing a second owner might be to driving the car deeper into its lifecycle.
By James M. Amend • July 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Farley’s Expanded Role at Ford Demands ‘Near Genius’
Farley represents a lynchpin of the “One Ford” culture espoused by CEO Alan Mulally.
By Eric Mayne and James M. Amend • July 15, 2010 -
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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
Survey Says Mercedes Dealerships Treat Customers Best
The stereotypical pushy car salesman appears headed for extinction, according to mystery-shopping results.
By Steve Finlay • July 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bentley Priming Profit Pump After Bruising Recession
The British auto maker exits the economic downturn with a workforce 10% lighter, a productivity improvement of about 5% on the volume Continental line and its fixed costs reduced 25%.
By James M. Amend • July 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Studies Use of Soy Oil to Make Rubber Car Parts More Environmentally Friendly
The International Rubber Study Group says the global auto industry accounts for more than 50% of worldwide rubber consumption, which exceeded 24.2 million tons in 2008.
By Byron Pope • July 9, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Renault DeZir Signals Love, Design Language
While the 2-seat DeZir is not expected to reach production, it represents some ideas Renault may be exploring. The unveiling is set for Sept. 30 at the Paris auto show.
By William Diem • July 9, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tesla Technology Testing Toyota’s iQ
Though no final decision has been made, the Japan-based auto maker is contemplating Tesla technology to power its first all-electric vehicle, scheduled for limited production in 2012.
By Eric Mayne • July 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat 500 Strategy Mimics BMW’s Mini
Some dealers are unhappy with requirements for selling the Fiat 500, but Chrysler is following a proven formula. “We thought Mini would be great – and it has been,” says one U.S. franchise holder.
By Byron Pope • July 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Improved Quality Demands Higher Prices
The auto maker says consumers are responding favorably to the brand’s higher-priced vehicles, with transaction prices in the U.S. rising 11% since 2008 and sales up 22.7% through May.
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 7, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota’s Sticky Pedal Woes Push Up Industry Recalls; GM Campaigns Also Rise
The auto maker’s problems led NHTSA Administrator David Strickland on Wednesday to call for an expert review of the sudden-acceleration phenomenon across the auto industry.
By James M. Amend • July 2, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Scrambling to Meet Equinox Demand
Deliveries of GM cars slipped 9.2% in June, compared with like-2009, according to Ward’s data. But light-truck sales soared 30.9%.
By Eric Mayne and James M. Amend • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM, Ford Claim Heavy-Duty Superiority
The heavy-duty pickup market is heating up with the upcoming arrival of new '11 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado offerings. The trucks, rolling into dealerships, face strong competition from Ford Motor Co.'s new line of '11 Super-Duty pickups. General Motors Co. marketers say selling heavy duties is all about numbers. Fullsize-truck guys really want to know the data, so you put that out there and
July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How, Why We Saved Detroit
I traveled to the Motor City to hear what Steven Rattner had to say at a conference presentation entitled How and Why We Saved Detroit. Rattner is a former counselor to the Secretary of Treasury and a member of the government automotive task force overseeing General Motors and Chrysler Group LLC's post-bankruptcy plans. He worked closely on the rescue mission with a couple of cohorts, Ron Bloom and
By David Ruggles • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mystery Shop Videos Capture F&I Goofs
LOS ANGELES Some training videos show what to do. Others, often painfully and unwittingly, demonstrate what not to do. Joanna Sherry of VW Credit Inc. shows a few of the latter, shot with hidden cameras as mystery shoppers at dealerships test how artfully staffers handle the finance-and-insurance process. In some cases, it looks like a lost art. Take off your corporate hats and put on customer hats,
By Steve Finlay • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Unprecedented Efficiency, Refinement
Few would dispute Toyota Motor Corp. is the established industry leader in hybrid-electric vehicles, at least in terms of sales volume, yet Ford Motor Co. now is emerging as a hybrid-technology leader in both energy efficiency and customer-pleasing refinement. Ford's leadership begins with the numbers. Ward's 10 Best Engines '10 Ford Fusion Hybrid delivers an eye-opening 41/36 mpg (5.7-6.5 L /100
By Gary Witzenburg • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Financial Services Began Small, Grew Steadily, Gets Creative
COLUMBUS, OH The youngest captive auto lender has become one of the most aggressive in creating new products and promoting the vehicles of its parent, BMW North America LLC. BMW Financial Services NA LLC was established in the U.S. in 1993, starting slowly along the conventional models of two long-standing financial arms, General Motors Acceptance Corp. and Ford Motor Credit Co. BMWFS has grown steadily
By Mac Gordon with Steve Finlay • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Are Motorists Next Hacker Victims?
Will the next victims of computer hackers be motorists? The risk is real, not only possible but plausible, given the vulnerability of the 250 million or more cars, trucks and buses currently operating in the U.S. alone, all computer-controlled to a significant degree. Wherever there is a computer, there is a threat, Chris Preuss, president of General Motors Co.'s OnStar operations, tells Ward's. It's
July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Wanted: Unclaimed Property
Many states are faced with unprecedented financial pressures, and they are looking for money where they can find it. It shouldn't come as a surprise that they are looking at car dealers. An area of government interest most overlooked by dealers is unclaimed property. States are auditing to find and they are looking to dealers to pay into state coffers the unclaimed property dealerships potentially
By Michael Charapp • July 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda CR-Z Suffers Split Personalities
With three driving modes and two transmission choices, the Honda CR-Z sport hybrid has two individual identities, but they don’t blend well together.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 28, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford 2.5L I-4 Hybrid: Unprecedented Efficiency, Refinement
Ford’s truly impressive Gen II hybrid system in the substantially upgraded ’10 Fusion midsize sedan is a whole new ball game.
By Gary Witzenburg • June 25, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Grand Cherokee’s Quiet Cabin Echoes Marchionne’s Resolve
Chrysler’s “articulation index,” which measures the ability to hear speech in a vehicle cabin, shows the redesigned Grand Cherokee performs 12% better than its previous generation.
By Eric Mayne • June 24, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Financial Started Small, Grows Steadily
With total assets of more than $24 billion, the captive offers a range of leasing, retail and wholesale financing services to BMW customers and dealers.
By Mac Gordon • June 21, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Eschews 4-Cyl. for New Odyssey
The No.2 Japanese auto maker says its revamped minivan is a 100% American development, with new interior features including a cooled beverage box and bigger third row.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 18, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Forging Ahead in Europe
“Working with Fiat, there are lots of opportunities,” Mike Manley says, reasserting plans to build Jeep vehicles in South America.
By Eric Mayne • June 17, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Looks to Make Inroads in Competitive HD-Pickup Segment
Winning over buyers in the heavy-duty pickup segment is close to impossible because of the segment’s fierce brand loyalty.
By Byron Pope • June 15, 2010
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