Automakers: Page

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

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

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

Building Eco-Friendly Facilities

Ask Pat Lobb of Pat Lobb Toyota, what's one of his proudest possession at the year-old dealership in McKinney, TX, and he'll say a 8,660-gallon (32,781-L) cistern. On hot summer days, it collects 500 gallons (1,892 L) of water from drip pans below the air conditioning ducts. Micro switches and servos send water underground to irrigate the native Texas plants that deposit moisture into the parched

By Maureen McDonald • April 1, 2008

Dealer Wins Award in Ford Credit Suit

An independent auto dealer has won a $165,000 judgment against Ford Credit in connection with a Federal Court suit in Columbia, SC. Dealer Maron Isom, who owns United Auto Sales in the South Carolina capital, was awarded the sum after the court decided the Ford Motor Co. captive lender misrepresented the terms of his bid for a closed Ford dealership in Cheraw, SC. Isom charged that Ford Credit had

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2008

By Popular Demand, Honda Fit Is Bigger

Many consumers who bought the Honda Fit because of its diminutive dimensions ironically ended up telling American Honda Motor Co. Inc. that the car was, well, a tad too small. That's one reason the '09 Fit introduced here at the New York International Auto Show is bigger than the first-generation model, says Richard Colliver, American Honda's executive vice president-automobile sales. It wasn't dissatisfaction,

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2008

Subaru’s Sherpa-Like Forester

At Catalina Island's Airport In the Sky which consists of a 3,200-ft. (975-m) strip of asphalt, a stubby terracotta-roofed control tower and a single white-washed, World War II-era hangar planes don't land so much as they drop from the sky with a thud and wailing rubber, flaps fully extended in what seems an all-out bid to stop before plunging off the green mountaintop into the Pacific Ocean. It's

By James M. Amend • April 1, 2008

Unusual Scion for All the Young Dudes

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion Hako Coupe Concept car unveiled at the New York auto show is a box-shaped coupe targeting young men between the ages of 18 and 35. In introducing the unusually shaped car, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis characterizes it as a sporty version of a box, noting hako means box in Japanese. Among the Hako Coupe's exterior features are strong flared fenders and a vertical windshield,

By Roger Schreffler • April 1, 2008

No Down Year for Paragon

Don't laugh when you read what Brian Benstock did a couple of years ago because most of you have been burned making similar moves. The question is, did you learn from them? Benstock, vice president and part owner of Paragon Honda and Acura in Queens, New York, took what he learned and propelled Paragon Honda to the brand's Certified Dealer of the Year spot. He thought he was being slick when he bought

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2008