Automakers: Page 316
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Right Sizes Cadillac SRX
Like a forcefully driven stiletto heel, this luxury CUV has the potential to dig painfully deep into Lexus’ longtime dominance.
By James M. Amend • July 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Aabar Picks Up Share of Daimler Investment in Tesla
Daimler says the investment allows it and Aabar to “leverage their shared interest in the development of low carbon-dioxide drive systems.”
By Ward's Staff • July 13, 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, eBay Team Up to Auction Cars Online
The goal is to make car shopping and buying easier for customers and allow them to do it “on their time and terms,” says GM CEO Fritz Henderson.
By Steve Finlay • July 10, 2009 -
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Reorganized GM Promises Fundamental Change
Potential casualties of GM’s reorganization are sales chief Mark LaNeve and GM North America President Troy Clarke. Meanwhile, the auto maker renews its relationship with Bob Lutz, who had planned to retire.
By Byron Pope • July 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan to Create Dedicated Social Community for Its Global EV Buyers
The system means Big Brother will know where the car is at all times and how it is being driven, but owners concerned about privacy can opt out.
By William Diem • July 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Oprah Endorsement Money in the Bank? Not So Fast
A previous VW Routan campaign featuring celebrity Brooke Shields was deemed a failure because viewers recalled its comedic premise but not the vehicle.
By Eric Mayne • July 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Jazz Introduces Premium Small-Car Segment to India
Priced between $14,850 and $15,600, the Jazz’s three variants are the most expensive among India’s current crop of small cars.
By Sudhakar Shah • July 7, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Andersson Leaves GM
General Motors Corp. Purchasing chief Bo Andersson, who created a global procurement organization while attempting to rebuild tattered supplier relations, left the auto maker unexpectedly in mid-June and potentially could become the new chairman of the board at Russian car builder OJSC GAZ. GAZ has appointed Andersson, 53, the board's chief consultant and adviser on engineering and was expected to
By BYRON POPE AND TOM MURPHY • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
He Finally Got His Dealership
Vacaville, Ca The Toyota-Scion dealership in this city northeast of San Francisco was sold in March by publicly owned megadealer Lithia Motors to someone who realized a dream because of the transaction. Vacaville Toyota was purchased by Lithia eight years ago for about $1 million. It was sold for $7.1 million to Dean Parpia. The appreciation in the value of a Toyota store in California is not unusual,
By Mac Gordon • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM V-6 Harbinger of Future Strategy
How Many Engines Perform as Well in Hot Sports Cars as they do in luxury sedans and large 3-row cross/utility vehicles? There are some, but not many will do so as affordably, or as well, as General Motors Corp.'s 3.6L DOHC V-6. And it burns regular-grade gasoline, to boot. The 304-hp, 273-lb.-ft. (370 Nm) direct-injected version of GM's already excellent 3.6L DOHC V-6 made its widely acclaimed debut
By Gary Witzenburg • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
UAW Cool to No-Strike Clause at Ford
United Auto Workers Union Vice President Bob King confirms concession talks have begun with Ford Motor Co. but frowns over the prospect of negotiating a no-strike clause like the one enjoyed by General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group LLC. The great thing about Ford is they never held a gun to our head, and we never held a gun to their head, King says on the sidelines of an event in Dearborn, MI, to
By James M. Amend • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Alas, Saab Became a Sob Story for GM
General Motors Corp. can do without its Saab brand, but the same might not be said for Pontiac, says Jeffrey Anderson, director-consulting and analytics for data firm Experian Automotive. Saab wasn't bringing a lot to GM, but Pontiac, as well as Saturn, are as big as some stand-alone auto makers, he tells Ward's, citing sales figures. GM is ridding itself of all three brands. The struggling, bankrupt
By Steve Finlay • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan GT-R: Fast, Flashy and Most Costly Car to Insure
Nissan bills its GT-R as a multi performance supercar that delivers fantasy driving. It's also something else: the most expensive vehicle to insure of 300 considered in a study by Insure.com. It's average annual premiums were $2,533. The GT-R's supercharged engine helped drive it to the top. It's a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged 24-valve V-6 with 485 hp. Compare that with the 71-hp Smart Fortwo, the
July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan to Receive U.S. Loan for Smyrna EVs
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. will Receive a $1.6 billion loan from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to manufacture electric vehicles in the U.S. Nissan, which also wants money to fund assembly of advanced lithium-ion batteries, joins Ford Motor Co. and Tesla Motors Ltd. in getting DOE funding. This loan is an investment in America. It will help us put high-quality, affordable zero-emissions vehicles on our roads,
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda of America’s Jutte Retiring
Honda of America Mfg. Inc.'s Larry Jutte, 53, senior vice president, will retire, effective July 24. No replacement for Jutte, who oversaw HAM's environmental program and set direction and policy for Honda's North American manufacturing and engineering activities, has been named, says HAM spokesman Ron Lietzke. After much reflection and deep consideration, I have made the difficult decision to move
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Staggering Legal Fees, Smaller Footprint
Delphi Corp. Says It Has Spent More than $400 million on bankruptcy legal fees, and the newly restructured company expects annual sales of about $14 billion, cutting by more than half the revenue stream of what was the world's largest supplier when it spun off from General Motors Corp. in 1999. The Troy, MI-based parts producer filed for bankruptcy in October 2005 and struggled to emerge as credit
By Tom Murphy • July 1, 2009 -
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Lexus Brings Concierge Service to U.S.
The launch of a U.S. Telematics service will allow Toyota Motor Corp. to leverage its investment in its now Japan-only technology, a U.S. Toyota official says. Telematics is something that is going to spread to the entire world, Jason Schulz, marketing and communications manager-Lexus Advanced Technology Dept., says in Newport Beach, CA, during a media preview for the new '10 Lexus HS 250h. We've
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Stresses Safety, Value
In an Era of Wall Street Ponzi schemes, non-existent bonuses and evaporating retirement savings, it is refreshing to drive a vehicle so secure it is known as a bank vault. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan has been called just that for decades because of its rock-solid chassis stability and impressive crash-safety credentials. Now the metaphor conveys another meaning beyond vehicle dynamics: conservative
By Drew Winter • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Rare Decision: California Judge Says Not Enough Dealers
In a rare decision upholding the need for more dealers in a metro market, the California New Motor Vehicle Board and one of its administrative law judges have turned down a complaint by a Subaru dealer against Subaru of America's choice of a location for a replacement store for a closed Subaru point in the San Francisco Peninsula market. Carlsen Subaru disputed the plan to replace Ron Price Subaru,
By Mac Gordon • July 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Financial Slashes Jobs
Chrysler Financial also consolidates its U.S. retail financing operations in Auburn Hills, MI, home to its Great Lakes Business Center.
By Ward's Staff • June 30, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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
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