Automakers: Page 333

Let There Be LED Light

Let there be light, white light closely emulating daylight and not blinding Halogen blue, please. If that is part of a customer wish for vehicle headlights, General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac Div. is happy to oblige. And dealers are delighted. Cadillac will introduce its new '09 Escalade Platinum edition with innovative LED (light emitting diode) headlamp technology. GM hopes to expand the LED offering

By Lillie Guyer • May 1, 2008

Chrysler Stands By Chery Partnership

Chrysler Llc Is Committed To Its small-car partnership with Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., but the Chinese auto maker won't get any free passes just because the deal portends cost-savings. Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli reiterates the Detroit auto maker's allegiance to Chery, which has come into question with the announcement of a new manufacturing agreement between Chrysler and Nissan Motor

By Eric Mayne • May 1, 2008

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

Former Olds Dealer Opens Funeral Home

After General Motors Corp. buried the Oldsmobile brand, an Olds dealership general manager did something in kind: she became a funeral director. Sarah Lee-Ellena, who worked at the defunct family-run Bill Lee Oldsmobile in Clinton Township, MI, used her share of the GM buyout and private capital to fund a second career. She enrolled in the Wayne State University Mortuary Science program. Upon graduating,

May 1, 2008

Ford Exec Tells Dealers to Rally the Troops

Seeking to stoke sales as it rolls out the new Ford Flex cross/utility vehicle, Ford Motor Co. hopes its upcoming Drive One ad campaign will rival the staying power of the once-popular tagline, Have You Driven a Ford Lately? Drive One ads are shown at a dealer preview last month in Las Vegas where Ford's new group marketing and communications vice president, Jim Farley, urges dealers to fire up their

May 1, 2008

Infamous Chicken Tax Ripe for Plucking

The U.S. is Planning to Restart Free-trade negotiations with Thailand after a 4-year hiatus, and America's hefty tariff on truck imports likely will occupy a good portion of the talks. Thailand is a major hub for the production of pickup trucks by global auto makers, including Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. However, multi-lateral discussions half a world away could pluck the chicken tax off

By James M. Amend • May 1, 2008

Hyundai Motor Finance Corp. Uses Cautious Approach

Don't expect rampant trailblazing from Hyundai Motor Finance Corp. Instead, the captive auto-financing arm of South Korean auto maker Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. prefers a more conservative style, says its executive director of strategic planning and risk, Glenn Gottfried. Do you want to make a big splash in the pool or take a tip-toe approach? he says. We picked the latter. Consequently, Hyundai Motor

By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2008

African-American Women Wield Much Economic Power

African-American women make up one of the most visible, fastest-growing and influential market segments today. So says Miriam Muley, CEO of The 85% Niche, and previously executive director of diversity growth markets at General Motors Corp. The concept of ethnic target marketing was born as a result of the tremendous growth of African Americans, she says. Based on estimates from Packaged Facts and

May 1, 2008

CAW, Ford Reach Historic Tentative Contract

“We’ve now established the pattern,” says CAW President Buzz Hargrove. “We do not anticipate getting in any kind of a fight with General Motors or Chrysler.”

By Eric Mayne • April 28, 2008

GMDAT to Launch Nine New Chevrolets Over Three Years

The new models include replacements for six existing Chevrolet vehicles produced by GMDAT, plus two brand-new vehicles for the brand’s portfolio.

By Vince Courtenay • April 25, 2008

Coskata, GM to Reveal Location for Ethanol Plant

The new plant will produce 40,000 gallons of the fuel for testing.

By Jim Mateja • April 24, 2008

VW Latest to Join Thai Eco-Car Project

The auto maker reportedly plans to invest 27 billion baht to produce a small car in Thailand and is considering establishing a manufacturing plant.

By Alan Harman • April 18, 2008

Acura to Get First Honda Advanced Automatic Transmission

Honda’s global R&D chief says the auto maker will meet new U.S. CAFE requirements early.

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 16, 2008

GM Taps Former Nissan Exec as Part of Realigned Sales Team

Former Nissan sales chief Mark McNabb will head GM’s new Premium channel, overseeing retail operations for the Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands.

By Ward's Staff • April 16, 2008

’09 Nissan GT-R Crushes Sports-Car Paradigm

With unflinching track manners balanced by surprising versatility and pricing, Nissan’s first global GT-R has all the tools for greatness.

By Mike Sutton • April 16, 2008

Toyota Issues Corolla/Matrix Recall; Extends Tacoma Warranty Over Rusty Frames

The latest recall comes on the heels of decision earlier this month to extend the warranty on ‘95 through’00 model-year Tacoma pickups due to excessive frame corrosion.

By James M. Amend • April 10, 2008

Re-Importers Conspire to Buy U.S. Hyundai Genesis to Resell in Korea, Report Contends

The Donga Ilbo says the U.S. price tag will be more than 40% less for the U.S. model than in Korea, where it currently sells for 52.8 million won ($54,102).

By Vince Courtenay • April 9, 2008

New Ford Survey to Help Close Quality Perception Gap

Results of a new quality survey will be touted in the auto maker’s new brand-marketing campaign, dubbed “Drive One.”

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 7, 2008

Ford to Better Leverage Global Purchasing, Product Development

North America will be responsible for electrical and body engineering, as well as V-6 and V-8 engines, hybrid-electric vehicles and automatic transmissions.

By Ward's Staff • April 3, 2008

Ford to Expand Vietnam Production Capacity

Ford expects to add some 130 jobs with the expansion, increasing its overall direct and indirect employment in Vietnam to more than 4,500 people.

By Ward's Staff • April 1, 2008

Sky The Limit for Hughes Growth

With Mercedes and Chrysler business in hand, Hughes Telematics expects one day to be bigger than OnStar. But for now, Hughes remains a bit player, kept afloat by deep-pocketed owners.

By Tom Murphy • April 1, 2008

Citroen Plans Greener C5 by Year-End

PSA Peugeot Citroen engineers are working hard to prepare a more environmentally friendly version of the new Citroen C5 large car before year's end. The goal is to emit no more than 139 g/km of carbon-dioxide tailpipe emissions, which is 10 g/km less than the car's most-efficient version that will be launched in March. The 10 g/km-CO2 reduction is enormous. Engineers hope to get 5 g/km or more from

By William Diem • April 1, 2008

In Big Apple, Cars Are Stars

Pickup trucks are about as out-of-place in New York City as Chicago-style pizza, so it makes perfect sense that the Big Apple's annual international auto show celebrated the car in its fundamental 4-door form. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., laying claim to creating the first modern sport sedan, unveils its 8th-generation '09 Maxima. Nissan puts Maxima back in contention with the SR version that offers a 290-hp

By Ward's Staff • April 1, 2008

Veering Comfortably Into Middle Age

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s Acura TSX sedan is reflective of so many Americans today. Once a lithe little number with snap reflexes, it now is moving into middle age. Its seats are a bit wider, and it doesn't jerk its passengers around quite so much. Yes, like so many other midsize sports sedans that have grown up, the more civilized TSX isn't quite as much fun as it used to be. But don't fault Honda and

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 1, 2008

Web’s Ugly Side

If you're not paying attention, the Internet can reach up and bite you without warning. The Husker Automotive Group learned this lesson recently when an auction it held on eBay Motors for a new BMW E90 M3 sedan turned ugly. There was no reserve set, but the vehicle had a Buy It Now price of $67,800. Ken Tanisaka, who lives in California, placed an initial bid of $60,000. It ultimately was the winning,

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2008

Anti-Gay Group Lifts Ford Boycott; Effectiveness Disputed

The American Family Assn. has ended its 2-year boycott of Ford Motor Co., saying its grievances have been resolved, The Tupelo, MS-based AFA had been boycotting Ford products since 2005 in protest of the auto maker's support for several gay and lesbian events and the advertising it places in gay-directed publications. In a statement, Ford says, The AFA has made its decision and is ready to move on.

By Byron Pope • April 1, 2008