Automakers: Page

Ford Expects ’10 Models to Achieve Best-Ever Quality

Ford executive Bennie Fowler says Ford’s recent quality improvements and its confidence going forward emanate from a disciplined and standardized product-development process.

By James M. Amend • Aug. 11, 2008

Toyota Boshoku Offers Lesson of Survival

Because of shorter lead times being demanded, manufacturing continues to thrive in Japan, even though it is close to China, where labor costs are 10% as much, Furuta points out.

By William Diem • Aug. 11, 2008

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 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

GM Prices Cadillac Escalade Hybrid at $71,685

The Escalade Hybrid includes nearly all the features of its traditionally propelled stablemates, with the exception of a 6.0L V-8 in place of the standard 6.2L.

By Ward's Staff • Aug. 11, 2008

Veteran Dealer Drops Cadillac for Toyota

Hoot McInerney is a legend in Michigan dealer circles, having trained many younger dealers and counseled a number of auto executives.

By Mac Gordon • Aug. 8, 2008

Tesla Hires Ford Executive, Mazda Designer

Tesla last month hired Chrysler executive Mike Donoughe as executive vice president-vehicle engineering and manufacturing.

By Ward's Staff • Aug. 5, 2008

Toyota Japan Lays Off Temporary Workers

Some 800 temporary employees, 10% of Toyota Kyushu’s total workforce, have been laid off due to the slumping U.S. new-vehicle market.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • Aug. 5, 2008

Kia Borrego Enters Tight SUV Segment

If Kia goes where others fear to tread these days, the bold move is not without some potential upside.

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 4, 2008

Doing What Dealers Know To Do, But Forget

In tough economic times, with many dealerships fighting for every sale, the Sam Swope Auto Group is doing much more than just Especially its Honda World store in Louisville, KY. The Swope group represents 14 brands in the Louisville market. Honda is the group's largest volume brand. A lot of people come in saying that they think the car business is slow, but we don't ever say it is, because it isn't,

By Derek Stark • Aug. 1, 2008

Veteran Dealers Run New Thrifty Stores

Thrifty Car Sales, a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., is adding seven new locations in six states to its national network of franchised used-car dealerships. Industry veterans are running the new stores. In Scottsdale, AZ, Shawn Silver of Scottsdale Motor Co. is a third-generation Ford dealer from El Monte CA, who is opening his first Thrifty sales location. A Santa Clara, CA,

Aug. 1, 2008

Battle of Titans Shapes Up

General Motors Corp. has added DealerTrack Holdings Inc.'s Arkona to its stable of vendors selling its integrated dealer-management system to dealers. Other vendors participating in the initiative include Automatic Data Processing's Dealer Services Group, AutoSoft International and Quorum Information Technologies Inc. Arkona replaces Reynolds and Reynolds, who withdrew from the initiative in February

Aug. 1, 2008

Chrysler Financial Enhances Contract-Origination Process

Chrysler Financial is enhancing its automated contract-origination process called AutOrigination. Billed as an industry first, the exclusive contract data-validation system edits more than 300 fields and guarantees a contract is valid at the point-of-sale, eliminating errors and associated customer issues. It is now available through 12 dealer service providers covering nearly all Chrysler, Jeep and

Aug. 1, 2008

Former NBA Basketball Coach Opens Dealership in Texas

Former Dallas Mavericks basketball coach Avery Johnson has opened Avery Johnson North Texas Nissan, in partnership with auto sales veterans Keith Orr and Paul White. The car dealership, located in Corinth near Dallas, is the first venture for the partnership and will be part of Texarkana-based Orr Auto Group, a third-generation company that owns 19 other car dealerships across northeast Texas. Under

Aug. 1, 2008

It’s No Tea Party; Boston Sees Dealer Cuts

In the first major test of the Chrysler LLC dealer retrenchment program, the Boston market has seen 23 dealerships pared to 14 since last October. But Chrysler Executive Vice President, Steven Landry says more work lies ahead in attempting to boost the number of combined Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep stores in the Boston market. Only four of the 14 dealerships sell all three brands, Landry says in an interview.

By Mac Gordon • Aug. 1, 2008

VW Closer to Automated Driving

Volkswagen Ag Will Pursue A Number of advanced technologies focused on improving vehicle safety and efficiency, including a brake-assist system to soften crash impacts and a far-reaching concept to automate portions of the driving cycle. Some of the technologies under scrutiny already appear in VW vehicles, while others may never reach production. But each builds on existing technology, such as the

By James M. Amend • Aug. 1, 2008

Manicure and an Oil Change, Please

Oil changes and manicures go together at a Houston, TX, dealership's service department that is trying to attract women customers. John Eagle Honda offers Lady's Day every Wednesday from 7 to 11 a.m., and pays for an on-site manicurist who is is asked not to accept tips in order to keep the service purely complimentary. Wednesdays are traditionally a slower day in the car industry, but since we've

Aug. 1, 2008

Banks Expected to Fill Chrysler’s Leasing Void

Chrysler dealerships are “flooded with people” in what appears to be a run on leasing before Chrysler Financial pulls the plug Aug. 1.

By Derek Stark • July 31, 2008

Chrysler Financial Pulls Plug on Leasing

Chrysler dealers can continue to offer leasing through independent sources.

By Eric Mayne and James M. Amend • July 25, 2008

BMW Appoints New North American Executive Vice President

Miles most recently served as regional vice president of BMW’s central sales region in Chicago.

By Ward's Staff • July 25, 2008

Chrysler Looking to Cut 1,000 White-Collar Jobs

The move marks the fourth time in 18 months the auto maker has undertaken significant staff reductions.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • July 23, 2008

Ford Puts Stop to Third Shift at Flex Plant

Some 350 new hires expected to staff the third shift have been told their jobs now are on indefinite hold.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • July 23, 2008

GM Dealership One of Nation’s First ‘Green’ Facilities

LaFontaine, which recently unveiled its $15 million Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac store in Highland Township, MI, will achieve a “Gold Leadership” designation for its earth friendly design.

By Derek Stark • July 23, 2008

New Ford Focus RS Debuts With 296 hp

The ‘09 Focus RS builds on the current ST model with aggressive styling, more turbo boost and a unique front suspension meant to reduce torque steer.

By Mike Sutton • July 23, 2008

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart a Welcome Middle Child

The ‘09 Lancer Ralliart confronts the Subaru Impreza WRX with Evolution X technology and sub-$30,000 pricing.

By Mike Sutton • July 22, 2008

BMW Turbocharges its Future

After steering clear of turbocharging gasoline engines for a quarter century, BMW is embracing forced induction with a vengeance.

By Gary Witzenburg • July 18, 2008

Buick, Pontiac, GMC Channel Working

The 1,600 dealers currently aligned with the channel account for approximately 80% of sales from the trio of GM nameplates.

By Derek Stark • July 17, 2008