Dealer Defends His Customers

Saturn owners are less likely to default on their new-car loans, says Don Hudler, former Saturn Corp. president and current Saturn dealer, in rebutting a claim in a business magazine article. The story headlined Car Loans: Another Headache for Detroit in the August 20 issue of Business Week, alleges Saturn buyers are 22 times more likely to default on their loans than Toyota buyers are. Hudler, who

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2007

Robert Lund, a Top GM Executive Turned Dealer, Dies at 87

Robert Lund, who rose to the highest ranks at General Motors Corp., then to co-own three successful Cadillac dealerships in Phoenix, died Oct. 18 at age 87. He had suffered from heart problems since his late 70s, but kept up his interest and visits to the dealerships all through his last years, says son John Lund, his partner in charge of the three stores, which include Hummer and Saab franchises.

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2007

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

Chrysler’s New Employee, Jim Press, Pays Visits to Dealers

Jim Press appears to be on the same page as his new boss at Chrysler LLC. The auto maker's new vice chairman and president in charge of international sales and marketing says his goal is to free Chrysler employees to do what they need to do to take care of the customer. These words echo those of CEO and Chairman Bob Nardelli, who told journalists he is a huge believer in reinvesting in our human capital.

By Byron Pope • Nov. 1, 2007

GM Uses Math to Trim 6-Speed’s Cost, Development Time

General Motors Corp. says math-based tools allowed it to shave $150 million from the development of its current 6-speed transmission lineup, a launch that began in 2004 and now numbers nine gearboxes. Two to three (transmissions) in a decade would be a big deal, says Jim Lanzon, executive director-transmission engineering at GM Powertrain. But to do 10 in four years or so takes a lot of tools, a lot

By James M. Amend • Nov. 1, 2007

On a Sales Roll, Audi Plans to Add 10 Dealerships This Year

Audi of America Inc. is revamping its dealer network in the U.S. to prepare for higher sales volumes. The auto maker's 270 dealers now will be required to make considerable investments to meet new volume, customer-service satisfaction and increased used-car business requirements. With the new guidelines, however, Audi is offering the opportunity to make considerably higher margins per unit. Dealers

By Herb Shuldiner • Nov. 1, 2007

Concert for Dealers Miffs Aerosmith’s Fans

Aerosmith fans in Hawaii are suing the rock band for canceling a planned public concert in Maui in order to perform during a dealer event. The class-action suit alleges Aerosmith bailed out of the sold-out Maui concert in favor of a larger concert in Chicago and a lucrative, private concert for Toyota car dealers at the University of Hawaii. Buyers received refunds for the face value of the tickets

Nov. 1, 2007

General Motors Poised for Record Year in Used-Car Sales

New York Tracking 6% ahead of the 450,000 certified used vehicles it sold last year, General Motors Corp. is poised to set a new sales record in the segment in 2007, says Paul Pejza, manager of GM's certified used-vehicle program. In total, about 42.5 million used vehicles will be sold this year, Pejza predicts. Last year, franchised dealers sold 14 million used cars, including 1.6 million certified

By Herb Shuldiner • Nov. 1, 2007

Fighting the Climate Pig Image

Porsche AG's storied sports cars have been called many things throughout the decades well engineered, powerful and expensive. But Greenpeace activists recently branded the German muscle marque along with several others with a new moniker: Climate Pig. Yes, Virginia, global warming really is changing everything. Even the auto industry is being forced to turn green. The new buzzword is carbon footprint,

By Barbara McClellan • Nov. 1, 2007

Hyundai Gives Glimpse of New Coupe

The new coupe will come with a 6-speed automatic transmission, 3.8L engine making 300 hp and will be in showrooms by 2009.

By Cliff Banks • Oct. 31, 2007

GM Confirms Shreveport Investment

The new H3T sport/utility-pickup is slated to hit U.S. dealer showrooms in third-quarter 2008.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 30, 2007

Dutch Team Wins Australian Solar Race

Stanford University’s car crashed and rolled after blowing a tire near the small Outback town of Marla, but the driver was unhurt.

By Alan Harman • Oct. 30, 2007

VWA Shuffles Ranks; Hallmark Heads Back to Germany

Adrian Hallmark, executive vice president in charge of the Volkswagen brand for VWA since November 2005, will oversee sales and marketing initiatives for the parent company in the Asia/Pacific region.

By Eric Mayne • Oct. 25, 2007

Toyota Pays U.S. Executives Well, Hayakawa Says

U.S. executives won’t have an opportunity to rise to the rank of president of Toyota Motor Corp. “in the near future,” the auto maker’s North American president says.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 25, 2007

Chrysler Handcuffed by UAW Dissidents’ Product Demands

Creation of a 2-tier wage structure redefines the plant worker’s role in the system, one expert says.

By Eric Mayne • Oct. 24, 2007

Robert Lund, Top GM Exec Turned Dealer, Dies at 87

As a corporate leader and an innovative dealer, GM blood always ran through his veins.

By Mac Gordon • Oct. 23, 2007

XM Radio, Cadillac Enlist Generational Icon Bob Dylan

The advertising campaign kicks off with a 30-second television spot called “Detour” that features Dylan driving an Escalade through a desert landscape.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 22, 2007

Former Ford Vice Chairman Wayne Booker Dies

Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. credits Wayne Booker with expanding the auto maker’s presence in growing markets.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 19, 2007

Lexus SUV; Subaru EV, Daihatsu Off-Roader Join Tokyo Lineup

Daihatsu’s offerings include the Mud Master-C , characterized as a compact, lightweight transporter that provides special off-road agility.

By Roger Schreffler • Oct. 17, 2007

Toyota Stumbles in Consumer Reports’ Reliability Rankings

Transmission issues are plaguing the Camry V-6, while there are reliability issues with the 4WD Tundra, magazine says.

By David E. Zoia • Oct. 16, 2007

GM’s 2-Tier Wage May Trump VEBA as Game Changer

The auto maker expects the new 2-tier wage structure to begin paying the greatest dividends after 2011, when 75% of its workforce becomes eligible for retirement.

By James M. Amend • Oct. 16, 2007

Dissent Among UAW Over Chrysler Deal

Ratification of the tentative agreement is expected, but a rift suggests the deal’s dramatic changes are unsettling.

By Eric Mayne • Oct. 15, 2007

Ford Snags Toyota Exec; Beattie Exits Land Rover

The move represents a coup for Ford CEO Alan Mulally and another blow from Toyota, which recently saw two top executives defect to Chrysler.

By Byron Pope • Oct. 11, 2007

Infiniti Lane Departure Prevention to Debut on New M, EX

The new collision-avoidance technology takes Nissan’s lane departure warning system to the next steop.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 10, 2007

Chrysler Shutdowns Not Meant to Blunt Impact of UAW Strike, Experts Say

Chrysler is facing a strike deadline of 11 a.m., Oct. 10.

By Eric Mayne and Byron Pope • Oct. 9, 2007

Large Inventories of Sonata Result in Downtime at Hyundai’s Alabama Plant

A HMMA spokesman says production at the plant was down today, and is set to be down Oct. 12 and 19, as well.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 5, 2007