Automakers: Page

Ford Australia to Cut Workforce 10%

The job losses were signaled in October when Ford cut output 20%, with sales hurt by rising fuel prices and competition.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 3, 2006

’07 Altima Still Best Non-Luxury Sport Sedan

Nissan’s all-new sedan, with a revamped 3.5L VQ V-6 – a 12-time Ward’s 10 Best Engines winner – is a good car made even better.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Nov. 3, 2006

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

Ford Cuts Benefits, Suspends Raises

Although salaried workers will not receive merit pay raises next year, Ford is reinstating matching contributions for 401(k) retirement plans.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • Nov. 2, 2006

Chrysler’s Unreported ‘Sales Bank’ Now About 22,000, Analysis Shows

Maintaining a stockpile of unsold vehicles is "not part of our business plan," the auto maker says.

By Eric Mayne • Nov. 2, 2006

Time Ripe for DC to Consider Third Partner

Schrempp may have read the handwriting on the wall correctly when he lobbied for a third leg to the DaimlerChrysler stool and a footprint in the hottest emerging markets of Asia.

By David E. Zoia • Nov. 1, 2006

Ford Edge Solid Entry, But Will That Be Enough?

Ford believes the Edge’s bold styling will tip the scales in its favor in a growing, but increasingly crowded, market sector.

By Byron Pope • Nov. 1, 2006

GM TechWorld Highlights Supplier Innovation

General Motors Corp. awards seven contracts recently to veteran and newcomer suppliers attending its TechWorld conference — a 3-day forum where suppliers pitch innovations and upgrades to proven safety and powertrain technologies.

By Scott Anderson, Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2006

Saturn, Opel Cozy Up

General Motors Corp. has begun a 7-year strategy of consolidating its Saturn and Opel brands to provide a slew of European-styled vehicles for consumers on both sides of the ocean.

By Alisa Priddle • Nov. 1, 2006

CAD Saves GM Truck-Plant Investments

General Motors Corp. spent significantly less money in retooling plants to produce its new-generation fullsize pickups by putting more time into computer-aided modeling.

Nov. 1, 2006

Ford Should Trim 3 Brands

Ford Motor Co. should shed its Lincoln, Mercury, Land Rover, Mazda and Aston Martin marques and concentrate on Ford, Volvo and Jaguar, says former marketing executive Charles R. Hughes. Hughes, one-time CEO of Mazda North American Operations and president of Land Rover North America, claims Ford overextended itself when it bought Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo, making it difficult to concentrate on

By Byron Pope • Nov. 1, 2006

SEMA Show Honors American Muscle Cars This Year

As the automotive accessories industry grows, 14 automakers participated in the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Assn. Show this month in Las Vegas. We are very pleased to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the SEMA show this year with the theme American Muscle: Past, Present and Future, says Carl Sheffer, SEMA's vice president-OEM relations. He says the focus on the Detroit Big Three included

Nov. 1, 2006

Hyundai Recruits Young Army Vets for Dealership Jobs

Seeking to recruit young veterans as dealership service technicians, Hyundai Motor America is the first auto company to join a U.S. Army partnership program. The overall effort of Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) is to help discharged former service men and women find civilian careers. Upon completion of their military duty, qualified Army personnel will be granted priority interviews with Hyundai

Nov. 1, 2006

This Guy Is On the Ball Online

Ralph Paglia worked at three car dealerships before taking a sales job with Reynolds and Reynolds, a major automotive information technology firm. While there, he said he'd never work for a dealership again. That was before I met the Gruwell family, owners of Courtesy Chevrolet in Phoenix, he says. They are entrepreneurial and willing to experiment using new technologies. Paglia returned to the other

By Steve Finlay • Nov. 1, 2006

Citroen Eyes Car Sales in Canada

Automobiles Citroen may use Canada as its beachhead into North America. “If we can homologate our cars in Canada, it's a potential,” says Frederic Banzet, vice-president-international sales. “We're looking at it.”

Nov. 1, 2006

Can You Spell Repossession?

Apparently it's never too early to learn about vehicle financing. So Toyota Financial Services has launched Scion Solutions within Whyville (www.whyville.net), a virtual world for children and young teens, ages eight to 15. With Scion Solutions, Whyville Internet users will be able to finance their own virtual Toyota's Scion brand xB. In the process, they will learn about interest rates, down payments,

Nov. 1, 2006

Goes Forth in the North

Innovative marketing has kept Scott McNamara's three small-town northern Michigan dealerships on course during the trials that have beset Ford Motor Company this year.

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2006

Group 1 Buys 1 Domestic, 14 Import Stores

Group 1 Automotive Inc. has expanded its presence in the Northeast by acquiring several import automobile dealerships. The Houston-based automotive retailer has acquired Marty Sussman Acura of Maple Shade, N.J., serving the Philadelphia market area; as well as Sussman Honda/Marty Sussman BMW and Sussman Acura of Atlantic City. The dealerships have been renamed Elite Acura, Boardwalk Honda/BMW of Atlantic

Nov. 1, 2006

Sporty Sibling

After a 5-year absence, American Honda Motor Co. Inc.'s Acura premium division has put the performance-enhanced '07 TL Type-S sedan back in the lineup. Granted, the Type-S lacks rear-wheel drive which can be said of all Acuras and its 286 hp does not lead its class. But the return of the performance variant of the front-wheel-drive TL no doubt will please Acura enthusiasts who are licking their wounds

By Christie Schweinsberg • Nov. 1, 2006

Shootout at OC Corral?

Is it a shootout at the OC Corral? In this city in California's Orange County, a new $75 million Lexus dealership now sits almost squarely across the street from Fletcher Jones Motorcars, the nation's top-selling Mercedes-Benz dealership. Some observers have characterized it as a battle of the luxury brands in an ultra-rich municipality, population 83,120, where the median household

By Steve Finlay • Nov. 1, 2006

Beware of BDC Pitfalls

You stop by the dealership on your way home after attending the latest dealer 20-Group meeting, where a fellow dealer touted the great results his store was getting with a business development center. The presentation fired you up, and convinced you putting in such a call center will propel your store to untold riches. You yank your general manager into your office and give him his marching orders.

By Cliff Banks • Nov. 1, 2006

Inventory Glut

Reeling after an anticipated third-quarter loss of $1.5 billion and squirming under the hot spotlight of a new cost-cutting initiative, Chrysler Group admits its vehicle stocks were higher than reported.

Nov. 1, 2006

BMW Ramps Up X5

Production of the '07 X5 cross/utility vehicle at BMW Mfg. Co.'s plant in Spartanburg, SC, is ramping up slowly, but the auto maker expects to have its pipeline full by the time the CUV goes on sale this month.

Nov. 1, 2006

Selling Cars Made These Guys Billionaires

Six megadealer CEOs or former CEOs remain on the annual Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. Leading the auto-dealer entries is James Moran, 88, Deerfield Beach, FL, co-owner and founder of the Southeast Toyota distributorship and owner of the No. 1 Lexus store, JM Lexus, in Margate, FL. He also owns the JM&A finance and insurance company. Moran's net worth is put at $2.4 billion. Runner-up is

Nov. 1, 2006

Mazda Begins CX-9 Production in Japan

The Japanese auto maker's new large CUV will join the midsize CX-7 early next year when it goes on sale in North America.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 31, 2006

Nissan Showcases Seven Custom Versas at SEMA

Seven different Versa hatchbacks are on display at Nissan's booth at SEMA this week, each sporting unique design and technical elements.

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 31, 2006