Automakers: Page 341

Audi Australia to Build HQ in Sydney

The auto maker says the facility is due to open in early 2009 and represents one of the most significant overseas investments made to date by parent Audi AG.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 21, 2007

Ford’s ACH Chief to Retire

Ver will be succeeded by Bill Connelly, who currently serves as ACH chief financial officer.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 20, 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

Ford Reveals Second Verve Concept

A third Verve concept will be shown in Detroit in January.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 20, 2007

Unusual Dealership Pairing

Dealer John Leese runs side-by-side Cadillac and Lexus stores.

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 20, 2007

Bentley Expects Record Sales

Despite its position at the upper end of the market, Bentley isn’t immune to the growing trend toward more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly powertrains.

By Byron Pope • Nov. 16, 2007

Nissan’s McNabb Says Fixing Sentra Top of List

The Japanese auto maker’s U.S. sales chief will look into packaging and marketing to determine why the compact sedan isn’t faring better.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Nov. 13, 2007

Environment Much on Mind of Honda’s R&D Chief

Ward’s discusses trends with Honda R&D chief Masaaki Kato.

By Roger Schreffler • Nov. 13, 2007

Ford Australia Revives Cobra Badge

Two new Cobra models recall a memorable victory in one of Australia’s most famous motor races.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 12, 2007

Mustang, Jetta Track Ready

Ford and Volkswagen have created separate race series and will supply track-ready versions of the Mustang and Jetta turbodiesel straight from the factory.

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 12, 2007

Ford UAW Members Voting on Tentative Contract

Voting on a new 4-year labor agreement will conclude Nov. 12, the UAW says.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 9, 2007

Bullitt Ricochets Into Ford’s ’08 Lineup

Ford’s ’08 Mustang Bullitt will sticker for $31,075. Production will be limited to 7,700 units.

By Byron Pope • Nov. 7, 2007

Kia Borrego to Debut at NAIAS

The Borrego, to be built in South Korea, will offer V-6 and V-8 engines, the latter marking the first time a V-8 will have been offered in a Kia.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 6, 2007

Toyota Promotes Lentz

A new round of promotions also sees a TMS executive moving to Toyota’s U.S. holding unit in New York.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 6, 2007

Ssangyong, SAIC Plant in China Set to Launch Kyron

The two companies announced a deal in 2005 to produce the Kyron in China, but the plan stalled due to strong resistance from Ssangyong’s union.

By Vince Courtenay • Nov. 2, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Get CEO’s Attention: Write Book about the Company

Clifton Lambreth feared he'd be axed as a Ford Motor Co. manager after he sent CEO Alan Mulally a copy of his book, an insider's account of what went wrong at the ailing auto maker. I told my wife, The book may save Ford, but it may cost me my job, says Lambreth, a customer-service division zone manager in Memphis, TN. Instead, he got a call from Mulally, asking him to lunch, where they spent two

By Steve Finlay • Nov. 1, 2007

Industry Loses Robert Lund, W. Wayne Booker

Two high-ranking automotive executives died in late October former Ford Motor Co. Vice Chairman W. Wayne Booker and Robert Lund, who rose within General Motors Corp. and then retired to co-own three successful Cadillac dealerships in Phoenix. Booker began his career at Ford in 1959 as a cost analyst and was best known for expanding the auto maker's presence in Asia. Booker was named a company vice

By Mac Gordon and Byron Pope • Nov. 1, 2007

They’re on the Road to Victory

Blue balloons, amusing commercials, Midnight Madness sales and frequent raffle giveaways keep the sales numbers and customer satisfaction ratings aloft at the 22 dealerships of the Victory Automotive Group. Ranked 31st on the Ward's Dealer Business Megadealer 100, Victory's stores are unique among megadealers by their dedication to mostly single-point Honda, Nissan and Toyota franchises. Owner-president

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2007