Automakers: Page 362
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Two GM Brands Need to Shrink to Grow
General Motors Corp. is ratcheting down the number of models offered by its Buick and Pontiac brands as it combines the bulk of those retail outlets with GMC and looks to cut the market overlap between the three marques. But longer term, Pontiac and Buick once again could get broader lineups, the auto maker's top sales executive says. In a presentation to securities analysts, Mark LaNeve, GM North
By David E. Zoia • Sept. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Breakfast in Bakersfield
BAKERSFIELD, CA When Harold Meek holds the official grand opening of his new Chevrolet dealership here Sept. 28, he will score a coup: The new-generation, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado will be on display for all to see. The appearance of the new Silverado, not scheduled to go on sale until later in the fall, even upstages by a day the official public showing of the new Silverado slated for the Texas State
By Ann Job • Sept. 1, 2006 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
4th Quarter Nosedive
North America production is set to take a nosedive in the fourth quarter, as demand in the U.S. stagnates and inventory at some of the bigger manufacturers overflows during the third quarter. Longer term, the outlook calls for production to pick up only slightly in 2007. The revised Ward's 2006 forecast includes more pessimistic predictions for General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. and moderate
By Haig Stoddard • Sept. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Thumbs Down on Jeep Gladiator
Chrysler Group's Jeep brand will not be returning to the compact pickup arena anytime soon, the auto maker's chief operating officer says. Chrysler executives had been contemplating a production version of the Jeep Gladiator concept that debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It wasn't profitable, COO Eric Ridenour tells Ward's. The decision belies an unprecedented
Sept. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Acura MDX Bigger, Badder, Better
The second-generation of Acura's midsize cross/utility vehicle may be the near-luxury brand's "bling-iest" vehicle ever.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford, GM Launch Joint 6-Speed Automatic
GM and Ford vehicles with a new, jointly developed 6-speed automatic transmission will be on the road this fall.
By Herb Shuldiner • Aug. 31, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Prices Sebring, Aspen
Despite the pressure for volatile gas prices, Chrysler COO Eric Ridenour is "bullish" on large SUVs.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 30, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Camera System Gives Jeep Commanding View for ’07
Advocates are lobbying for driver-assist features in the wake of nearly 100 child fatalities.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 30, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda Offers Upgraded RX-8 in Japan
The 6-speed automatic RX-8 also gets a new Active Adaptive Shift control designed to improve ride quality.
By Ward's Staff • Aug. 23, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
’07 Dodge Nitro Starts Under $20,000
Chrysler is confident the new Nitro will not steal sales from the Jeep Liberty, its platform-mate.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 23, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Jeep Makes Case for Improved Cost, Quality
The redesigned Wrangler boasts a 50% boost in torsional stiffness and 100% improvement in bending.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Thumbs Down on Jeep Gladiator Production
Chrysler vetoes production of the Jeep Gladiator pickup because the profit forecast was unfavorable.
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 18, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Miata Retractable Hardtop to Base at $24,350
Mazda says the hardtop requires only 12 seconds to open or close and will provide the same trunk capacity as the MX-5 soft top.
By Ward's Staff • Aug. 17, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pontiac, Buick Brands to Shrink to Grow
GM's LaNeve says 65% of Pontiac-Buick-GMC sales are going through dealerships that have all three brands, with 80% the target for the end of 2007.
By David E. Zoia • Aug. 17, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Slashes XM Satellite Radio Price 39%
GM says it will offer the factory-installed option for $199, instead of the current $325 charge, on most '07 model vehicles.
By Scott Anderson • Aug. 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford to Consolidate Dealer Network
The thinning of its dealer ranks will be accomplished primarily through consolidation, a Ford spokesman says.
By Byron Pope • Aug. 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Sells 10,000 PT Cruiser Variants
Since 2000, the auto maker has sold an average 1,600 PT Cruiser variants a year. As an aside, Chrysler will give away nine vehicles Sept. 4.
By Tom Murphy • Aug. 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Exec Complains Media Needs New Attitude
Mark Fields says Asians view their domestic auto industry as "strategically important," and they "root them on to success."
By Barbara McClellan • Aug. 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Convis: GM-Renault Impact on NUMMI Unlikely; Toyota Learning From Subaru
Toyota is intrigued by some of the automation at the Subaru Indiana assembly plant, the U.S. executive says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lexus to Offer SC Pebble Beach Edition
The special edition SC pairs an exclusive exterior color, Starfire Pearl, with a Pimento Red leather interior and black birds-eye maple trim.
By Ward's Staff • Aug. 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
SAIC Wins Bidding for Rover Name
SAIC, China's largest auto maker, already owns intellectual property rights to the Rover 75 sedan model and is readying its own brand.
By Ward's Staff From Wires • Aug. 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lexus Seeks Higher Status With LS 460
Lexus wants to move into the high-end prestige luxury market with the new LS 460 flagship sedan.
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM CEO Visits Standout Dealership
In import-oriented California, Three-Way Chevrolet's dealer principal sets sales records, builds a new dealership and gets a visit from Rick Wagoner.
By Ann Job • Aug. 14, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Debates E85 Vehicle for U.S.
A Honda spokesman says it would not be hard for the auto maker to produce a flex-fuel vehicle, calling the technology “very easy.”
By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 11, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Yazaki Foresees Little Impact From Ford’s Hybrid Decision
Hybrids remain a niche business for Yazaki North America, so the Ford cutback is "not a major issue other than, 'Too bad,'" CEO George Perry says.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 10, 2006
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