Automakers: Page 310
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Equinox Builds on Proven Strategy
THE FORMER GENERAL MOTORS CORP. struck a winning strategy a couple years ago for its highest-volume products, exemplified most recently in the new-for-'10 Chevy Equinox. And if the new General Motors Co. is smart, it will stick with that same game plan. As with the redesigned '08 Chevy Malibu midsize car, an unqualified home run for GM, perhaps the Equinox's most impressive feat is its library-like
By James M. Amend • Oct. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealer Dodges Three Bullets
In the last year, Shuman Motor Sales has dodged three bullets as a Chrysler-Jeep dealership. But owner Bob Shuman is looking forward to a major upturn, especially when the Fiat 500 subcompact car goes on sale in 2010. Shuman headed off a proposed new Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep store five miles (8 km) away. Then he ducked the fate met by 789 other Chrysler-brand colleagues who received dealership elimination
By Mac Gordon • Oct. 1, 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
GM Latches on to Reva as EV Maker Nears New Stage
Little-known Reva is building a new plant near Bangalore, where it will have capacity for 30,000 of its new low-cost electric hatchbacks.
By Sudhakar Shah • Sept. 30, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Develops One-Piece Side Panel for Acura ZDX
The large stamped piece, which includes the side panel and the entire door ring, is stamped on three presses in three stages and has a draw 50% deeper than any panel Honda has produced in the past.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 28, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM China Plans Science Lab to Research Advanced Vehicle Technologies
When the facility is operational by the end of 2010, it will be staffed with up to 100 scientists and utilize the latest advanced scientific equipment.
By Vince Courtenay • Sept. 24, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM, Reva to Develop EVs for Indian Market
The two companies say they already have begun feasibility studies of GM platforms that might fit the program.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 24, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford CEO to Headline Consumer Electronics Show, Again
CEA says overall sales of in-vehicle consumer electronics technology are expected to top $9.3 billion in 2009.
By Drew Winter • Sept. 22, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
V-6 Nice Addition to Acura TSX
The 3.5L engine is quiet and more than competent in Acura’s smallest sedan, which already offered a stellar inline-4.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 21, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Looking to Leverage Economies of Scale With Magna, Opel
Ford’s powertrain chief says she would not be opposed to Magna creating an Opel electric vehicle using the same technology the supplier plans to employ in the upcoming Focus EV.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 18, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo Rolls Out C30 EV Prototype
Powered by an electric motor tucked under the hood, the C30 EV employs two lithium-ion battery packs that can be charged via a normal household electric socket.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 17, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Opel’s Forster Pleads for Patience
Magna hints its assembly plant in Graz, Austria, could produce Opel vehicles, while GM says it will maintain a measure of influence in Opel product decisions.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 16, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Redesigned Chevy Equinox Builds on Proven Strategy
Despite a couple wrinkles, GM delivers a nicely updated CUV, one that is quiet, stylish, safe and affordable to buy and drive.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 16, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford to Bring C-Max to North America
At the Frankfurt auto show, Ford also pulls the wraps off a European version of its Focus electric vehicle, which will be used in a U.K. demonstration initiative next year.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 15, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealer Dodges 3 Bullets
Dealer Bob Shuman says the three Chrysler brands – Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep – have shown great resilience.
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Ford C-Max to Bow in Frankfurt
The C-Max, which borrows styling cues from the Iosis Max concept car shown at this year’s Geneva auto show, will be launched in Europe in the second half of 2010.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 4, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Names Michael Robinson to Top Environmental Post
In his new position, Robinson arguably becomes the face of GM’s push to remake itself into a more environmentally friendly company.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 3, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Nissan Quest, Infiniti QX56 Due Next Year
The Quest was last new in 2003, while the QX56 debuted in 2004.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 3, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How Have GM Models Performed in Secondary Lease Market?
Until now, General Motors Co. effectively has been out of auto leasing for a year. But how have its vehicles done on the secondary lease market? Keeping track has been LeaseTrader.com, a firm that brokers deals in which people wanting to get out of leases early hooks up with other consumers who take possession of the vehicles and cover the remainder of the monthly payments. Following is a performance
Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyoda Wants Product Passion
The Lexus LF-A Supercar is on, Says Toyota Motor Corp. President and CEO Akio Toyoda, who also reveals an sports car is on tap for the auto maker. Speaking at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, Toyoda reveals the auto maker will soon bring to market the LF-A, although he doesn't say what countries will retail the model. The LF-A has appeared in concept
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Agile or Adrift?
Eager to Show the World That bankruptcy had not dulled its ability to fast-track a good product, General Motors Co. Vice Chairman Tom Stephens announced plans at an industry conference for a new Buick plug-in hybrid cross/utility vehicle. Less than two weeks later, GM pulled the plug on the program, raising concerns that a whirlwind 39-day tour through bankruptcy court had left management unable to
By James M. Amend • Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Old Dealer Isn’t Fading Away
Having lost his Buick and Dodge franchises during the domestic auto makers' battle for survival, World War II combat veteran Marvin Tamaroff has turned philosophical about his survivability as an import car dealer in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, MI. Still a daily presence at the Honda and Nissan stores along busy Telegraph Rd.'s auto row, which he spearheaded, Tamaroff, age 83, has chalked up
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reinventing General Motors
From the tribulations of bankruptcy, General Motors Co. must remake and remarket itself as a strong auto manufacturer, says Jeff Bennett, an automotive marketing professor at Northwood University in Midland, MI. Though Bennett says GM's situation is not so pyrotechnically severe, he likens it to the Phoenix, a mythological bird that bursts into flames, burns up and reemerges from the ashes. How can
Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
No Bull Behind GM’s Customer-First Pledge, Exec Says
General Motors Co.'s pledge to put the customer first may sound like fodder for a press release, Kevin Williams admits. But he says the auto maker's recent downsizing will sharpen its focus and help it carry through on the promise. We know that it sounds like corporate speak, says Williams, GM vice president and general manager-North America Service and Parts Operations. GM has become a smaller, more
By James M. Amend • Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lexus Turns 20
It's Difficult to Imagine a Motoring world without Lexus. But when Toyota Motor Corp. launched its premium brand in the U.S. on Sept. 1, 1989, most industry watchers were skeptical Lexus could compete with the Germans, the uncrowned kings of luxury, or the sales-leading Americans. I remember reading comments made by the likes of Eberhard von Kuenheim (managing director) from BMW (AG) back then, says
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Despite Beefs, Small-Town Dealer Likes the Clunkers Plan
Kalkaska is a small northern Michigan town (pop. 2,300) where the two franchised auto dealers are accustomed to delivering new cars out of inventory and taking in trades or off-lease units with few if any questions asked. The Ford-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealership is owned and managed by Dan McCormick, Sr. and Dan Jr. All is going relatively well at the McCormick store, located on M-72 next to Voice
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 1, 2009
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