Toyota to Build iQ Micro-Car for Aston Martin

While the deal allows Aston Martin to add a fuel-efficient vehicle to its lineup, it also benefits Toyota by increasing volume at its Takaoka, Japan, assembly plant where the iQ is built.

By Ward's Staff • June 29, 2009

Lexus Plant Top of Manufacturing Pyramid in Japan

Plant officials claim the new facility has fused cutting-edge robotics with high-level craftsmanship to create the “ultimate quality.”

By Roger Schreffler • June 26, 2009

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial 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

Ford Keeping Watchful Eye on Distressed Supply Base

Ford is paying close attention to supplier Magna, which is in the process of acquiring GM’s Opel car operations.

By Byron Pope • June 25, 2009

GM’s Hummer SUV Plant in Louisiana Targeted for Closure

The Shreveport closing also represents one of the first assets to be identified by GM as one of its less-attractive.

By Ward's Staff • June 25, 2009

GM Ups White-Collar Job Cuts By Some 600 Positions

GM wants to trim its U.S. salaried workforce by a total of 6,150 people before year’s end.

By Ward's Staff • June 24, 2009

Ford Credit Australia to Continue Financing Thanks to U.S. Parent, OzCar Program

“The frozen credit markets have affected our ability to raise local funds,” says Managing Director Greg Cohen. “The temporary solution was to borrow from our parent company in the U.S.”

By Alan Harman • June 24, 2009

UAW Cool to No-Strike Clause at Ford; Pledges Profitable Small Cars

Labor concessions at Ford are not automatic, says UAW Vice President Bob King. “We have stepped up over and over again” by making sacrifices, he tells Ward’s.

By James M. Amend • June 23, 2009

Girsky Named VEBA’s GM Director

President of New York-based S.J Girsky and Co., Stephen Girsky previously has advised the UAW and GM, separately.

By Ward's Staff • June 19, 2009

ZAZ Launches Kia Vehicle Assembly in Ukraine

In addition to Kia vehicles, ZAZ also assembles Chery, Chevrolet, Opel and Lada brands from semi- and complete-knocked-down kits.

By Peter Homola • June 18, 2009

Ford to Move Asia Base to China

Thailand will continue to be Ford’s strategic headquarters for ASEAN activities.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • June 18, 2009

Saab Became Sob Story for GM

Saab’s 2008 retail registrations were only 17,376, less than 1% of GM total sales.

By Steve Finlay • June 18, 2009

Painful Day for 789 Chrysler Dealers

Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Today, 789 Chrysler dealerships will cease to operate unless the judge in the auto maker's bankruptcy case does the unexpected and rules in ...

June 9, 2009

Toyota: No Plans to Restart Camry Solara Drop-Top Production

The Japanese auto maker’s midsize convertible joins other departing open-air competitors, such as the Honda S2000, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky twins.

By Christie Schweinsberg • June 8, 2009

Ford Sync Passes 1 Million Mark on Way to Global Rollout

Ford aims to make Sync compatible with 15 different languages.

By Byron Pope • June 5, 2009

GM’s U.S. Small-Car Plan Won’t Hurt GMDAT

The new U.S. model “would be an addition to (the lineup) and not a replacement for what we have planned in Korea,” CEO Michael Grimaldi tells local media.

By Vince Courtenay • June 3, 2009

Saturn Dealers Might Want to Study Smart

Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Amidst the frenzied activity surrounding General Motors's bankruptcy filing yesterday, Saturn also filed chapter 11. Saturn Spokesman Stev...

June 2, 2009

Chrysler Could Exit Bankruptcy This Week; Production Restart Imminent

Union sources tell Ward’s the auto maker has targeted June 29 to restart production at its plants in Sterling Heights, MI; Belvidere, IL; Windsor, ON, and Brampton, ON.

By Eric Mayne • June 1, 2009

Dealers Wonder If GM Will Be Meaner, Not Just Leaner

Despite varied reactions, GM dealers interviewed today express a conviction that GM will come out of bankruptcy stronger and trimmed down to a fight weight.

By Steve Finlay • June 1, 2009

Preparing for a Factory Audit

I was looking at a dealer's plans for a new building a few years ago. The blueprints showed a small room about the size of a broom closet with a simple light fixture and no heat or air conditioning vents. I asked the dealer what the room was for. That's where we're going to stick the manufacturer's auditors, he said. He wasn't joking. Manufacturer dealership audits both for sales incentives and warranty

By Michael Charapp • June 1, 2009

Ford Advances But Honda Tops Supplier Relations Study

Ford Motor Co. Continues to Improve its working relationship with its North American suppliers, while Toyota Motor Corp.'s and Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s dealings have slipped, a recent study reveals. The latest study by Birmingham, MI-based Planning Perspectives Inc. compiles the Working Relations Index of North America's six largest auto makers Toyota, Honda, Ford, General Motors Corp., Chrysler LLC

By Byron Pope • June 1, 2009

Whoopee, We’re Bankrupt!

Every dealer advocate I know is reeling from the news alerts about Chrysler and GM cutting dealers' throats to right their failing businesses. May 14, 2009 will go down in history as the day our government and Chrysler tore the heart out of our franchise system by endorsing the termination of 789 duly franchised dealers without paying them a dime for cars, parts, tools or goodwill. GM followed that

By Peter Brandow • June 1, 2009

Service Makes Store a Star

Merrillville, In Mike Anderson Chevrolet consistently has finished first or second in metro Chicago sales despite stiff competition from many same-brand dealers in the market. Anderson's CEO, Mike Anderson Jr., 31, set No. 1 or No. 2 as his goal four years ago when he took command of this family-owned store in a suburb south of the Windy City. Service satisfaction would be his route to the top rungs.

By Mac Gordon • June 1, 2009

A 1st: Award for Lexus Collision Shop

A special recognition dinner was held to honor Westside Lexus as the recipient of the 2008 Toyota/Lexus Certified Collision Center of the Year. Westside, a Houston, TX, dealership was selected from among the 168 nationwide Toyota and Lexus Certified Collision Center dealers. It is the first Lexus dealer collision center to have won the award. This award goes to the dealer that best exemplifies the

June 1, 2009

VW Credit, Audi Financial Boost Support for Their Dealers

Volkswagen Credit (VCI) and Audi Financial Services (AFS) recently kicked off a United We Drive plan to support dealers with flexible financing solutions. We're continuously in dialogue with our dealers, says Kevin Kelly, VW Credit Inc. President. Together we've been adjusting to the challenges of this historic economy. The United We Drive plan helps VW and Audi dealerships compete and win in tough

June 1, 2009

Ins and Outs of Those Surveys

When J.D. Power & Associates recently announced a first-place tie between the Buick and Jaguar brands, overtaking Toyota and Lexus in its closely watched Vehicle Dependability Study, many industry observers were left scratching their heads. It's like I woke up in Bizarro Land this morning, wrote one poster on an auto fansite. Jaguar on top of ANY dependability study?! Others noted the poor finish

By Christie Schweinsberg • June 1, 2009