Automakers: Page 365
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Eyes on Design
General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac division will continue to be represented by boldly designed, performance luxury vehicles as it moves ahead with the second phase of its Art & Science-theme product onslaught. Launched in 2001 with the introduction of the second-generation Escalade SUV, the turnaround effort, labeled Renaissance, was aimed at regaining the luxury image and prestige of the Cadillac brand.
April 1, 2006 -
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If Anyone Should Know
BEL AIR, CA Lee Iacocca twice rescued Chrysler Corp. from the brink of bankruptcy, so he knows something about living on the edge. He thus can sympathize with the monumental challenges facing General Motors Corp. and the Ford Motor Co. as they battle to stay afloat and win back market share and also with their suppliers, many of whom already have plunged into bankruptcy, most famously Delphi Corp.
By David C. Smith • April 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
Camry Confirmed at SIA
Officials from Toyota Motor Mfg. North America Inc. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant confirm Toyota's plan to build its Camry sedan at the SIA facility in Lafayette, IN. The deal, in the works since last October, when Toyota announced it was taking an 8.7% stake in Fuji after General Motors Corp. sold its shares in the Japanese auto maker, will bring 100,000 units
April 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Cutting Costs
Hyundai Auto-motive Group, which includes Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd., Kia Motors Corp. and supplier Hyundai Mobis, is in a deep cost-cutting mode, asking all suppliers to bite the bullet and lower prices substantially. In January, group Chairman Chung Mong-koo ordered a 30% reduction in general expenses. In addition, cuts in supplier costs are being negotiated on a company-by-company basis, although no
By Vince Courtenay • April 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
She Scores an Industry First as a Female Auto Technician
Ingrid Dobson, a master technician at Chapman BMW in Scottsdale, AZ, is the first woman in the industry to win top honors in the ACT (Association of Certified Technicians) Challenge. It is a series of written tests that measure a technician's knowledge and skill. Beyond that, Dobson is leading the way in breaking down stereotypes and barriers for women interested in pursing careers in automotive services.
April 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Teutonic Pocket Rocket
German engineering is in da haus. So says a billboard slogan that forms part of an ambitious ad blitz celebrating the debut of Volkswagen's GTI Mk V. The campaign barely disguises VW's disdain for the tuner crowd's extreme elements as it satirically disses their hip-hop swagger. The trim silhouette of the '06 GTI restores welcome sanity to a segment given over to wing-backed, low-riding, hood-scoopified
By Eric Mayne • April 1, 2006 -
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Convertible for Converts
Volvo Cars sold a scant 200 C70 convertibles per year in its Swedish home market before the auto maker stopped making the rag top in 2004, two years after ending production of a companion C70 coupe. Now the C70 returns as a two-in-one vehicle: a sleek coupe and a convertible, when its 3-panel hardtop roof electronically retracts, a 30-second contortion act that ends in the trunk. Sales of the new
By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Caddy Ups Performance, Prices with V-Series
General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac luxury division moves a step closer to eclipsing the high-performance luxury image of its German rivals with the introduction of the new '06 V-Series STS sedan and XLR roadster. Aimed at niche vehicles produced by the in-house tuning efforts of Audi AG (Quattro GmbH), BMW AG (M GmbH) and Mercedes-Benz (AMG GmbH), the new V-Series cars return an element of performance,
By Mike Sutton • April 1, 2006 -
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UAW Scores Dealership Firsts
The United Auto Works union, facing membership declines in auto plants, is shoring up its ranks by signing up members at car dealerships. The UAW has won the right to represent workers at a Ford dealership in Ohio and one in Michigan. It is a first for both states. A majority of workers at Mathews Ford in Oregon, OH, outside Toledo, voted for UAW representation. The 35-person bargaining unit includes
April 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Nissan is Moving
Sandy's Downtown Grille is about to greet some new customers. This quaint little pub located in the historic town of Franklin, TN, is 15 miles (24 km) south of Nashville, where a fierce battle was waged during the waning days of the Civil War. Meanwhile, 2,000 miles (3,200 km) away, the Paradise Restaurant, a favorite watering hole near Nissan North America Inc.'s (NNA) headquarters in Gardena, CA,
By David C. Smith • April 1, 2006 -
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Rare Occurrence: Toyota Prius Sales Drop
At a time when car buyers are focused on rising fuel costs and less dependence on foreign oil, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.'s popular Prius hybrid-electric vehicle experiences its first year-on-year sales decline in more than two years. Ward's data shows 6,547 units were sold in February, 531 less than in like-2005, the first time, since the second-generation Prius hit the U.S. market in October
By Christie Schweinsberg • April 1, 2006 -
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GM Plans New Assembly Plant in Mexico
The new plant is expected to be in operation in 2008.
By Ward's Staff • March 30, 2006 -
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Rules of Engagement
One can’t help wondering if Americans would issue the same hue and cry if Dubai was looking to buy General Motors.
By Barbara McClellan • March 29, 2006 -
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Acura Design Center Under Construction
The center is slated to open in summer 2007, when it will be charged with creating concepts and designs for future Acura products.
By Ward's Staff • March 28, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM’s Determination Has Costs
GM will resist the urge to buy short-term market share with incentives, even as the competition increases discounts in some segments, marketing executives say.
By Alisa Priddle • March 28, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Buying Into Tesco Measurement Cell
Since last year, GM has purchased eight I3 automated 3D non-contact measurement cells from Tesco and partner CogniTens. Two more are on the way.
By Tom Murphy • March 23, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Scion tC Special Edition Going on Sale in April
Just 2,600 units will be built and the vehicle will sticker for $18,260, $1,960 more than a base tC, Toyota says.
By Ward's Staff • March 23, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tweaked Freestyle, Montego on Tap
A restyled version of the Ford Five Hundred also is due in ’08, and could bow at the Detroit auto show.
By Jim Mateja • March 23, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Delphi, GM, Reach Attrition Plan Deal With UAW
The agreement provides retirement incentives for hourly UAW employees and the flow-back of up to 5,000 Delphi workers to GM.
By Mike Sutton • March 22, 2006 -
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Changing Perception May Prove Toughest Task for Chinese
After surveying American consumers following its Detroit debut, Geely found it already has a not-so-stellar reputation to overcome.
By David E. Zoia • March 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
As Nissan Departs, Kia Builds California Campus
Kia is investing $70 million in the main corporate facility in Irvine, the same amount Nissan is investing for its new headquarters near Nashville.
By David C. Smith • March 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Nissan is Leaving ‘Lalaland’ for Tennessee
Moving Nissan’s headquarters from Los Angeles to Tennessee promises big savings and even bigger changes for employees.
By David C. Smith • March 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Makes More Executive Changes
Nissan says John French will step into the new role of vice president-global sales and finance, effective May 1.
By Ward's Staff • March 20, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Builds GL Slowly to Validate Quality
Currently, only 30-40 GLs are being built per day, a deliberately slow pace.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 16, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pickup Still in Play for New Kia Plant
Although neither Kia Motors Corp. nor its U.S. sales arm, Kia Motors America, is specifying which models will be built at the forthcoming West Point, GA, plant, one official says a long-spoken of large pickup truck is a possibility. Len Hunt, KMA chief operating officer, says such a vehicle still is on the table. “(It’s) part of the discussion about what we’re going to build and what we’re going to
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 14, 2006
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