Automakers: Page 367

Slow Production Ramp-Up Delays Volvo C70 Sales

Volvo and partner Italian coachmaker Pininfarina SpA want to assure themselves C70 quality is optimized before full production.

By Herb Shuldiner • May 17, 2006

Padilla to Serve as Consultant to Bill Ford

Ford Motor Co. says retiring Chief Operating Officer Jim Padilla will serve as a consultant to Chairman and CEO Bill Ford.

By Ward's Staff • May 16, 2006

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

Mazda to Buy Back Shares

Mazda also submits a bill for issuance of subscription rights for new shares as stock options to compensate certain company directors.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • May 12, 2006

Ford Dealers See Little Effect So Far From AFA Boycott

Ford dealers are beginning to show some concern over the ongoing boycott by the Christian-conservative American Family Assn.

By Byron Pope • May 11, 2006

GM Opens New European Design Center

About 350 people work in design operations in Russelsheim, focused on products for Saab, Opel, Vauxhall and Saturn.

By Ward's Staff • May 11, 2006

Mazda3 Designed With Mazdaspeed in Mind

Requests for a 5-door version of the old Mazdaspeed Protege is what led to the choice of the hatchback as the Mazda3's ultimate performance halo vehicle.

By Christie Schweinsberg • May 11, 2006

GM, Renault Maintain Joint Van Production

To date, the auto makers have sold more than 1.2 million light commercial vehicles.

By Ward's Staff • May 9, 2006

Hyundai Czech Plant Gets OK; Kia Slovakia in Trial Production

Czech officials are expected to ink the plant deal in Seoul this week.

By Vince Courtenay • May 9, 2006

BMW Launches New Advertising Campaign

The new marketing push reveals the company behind "The Ultimate Driving Machine" and its continuing loyalty to innovative ideas.

By Ward's Staff • May 9, 2006

Nissan Launches Version of Samsung SM3 in Russia, Ukraine

The auto maker aims to sell 30,000 Nissan-badged Samsung cars this year, mostly in Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and Latin America.

By Peter Homola • May 8, 2006

Ford Reveals ‘Bold Moves’ Campaign

Ford introduces a new marketing campaign designed to emotionally connect the auto maker with its customers.

By Byron Pope • May 4, 2006

Saturn Revival May Signal Whether GM Has What It Takes

If the comeback works, then just maybe the auto maker has what it takes to revitalize its other long-dormant brands.

By David E. Zoia • May 3, 2006

Nissan Versa Does Job, But Found Wanting

While the Versa is a noteworthy subcompact entry, it falls short of the refined Honda Fit in appointments and driving dynamics.

By Christie Schweinsberg • May 3, 2006

Mazda Winds Down MPV; B-Series to Stay

MPV sales totaled only 4,223 in the first quarter, down 6.4% from like-2005's 4,513. Its peak year was 1991, when 48,144 were delivered.

By David E. Zoia • May 2, 2006

Ford Partners With TerraPass to Reduce CO2 Emissions

The Greener Miles program is designed to help drivers offset the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions from their vehicles.

By Byron Pope • May 1, 2006

Ghosn Dislikes Incentives, Outsiders’ Advice

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. CEO Carlos Ghosn chastises U.S. auto makers for using sales incentives to keep factories churning at all costs. A high price has been paid for sustaining sales of 17 million units, he says at the New York International Auto Show. The heavy reliance on rebates and discounts has harmed brands and taken money away from developing new products customers will want to buy, Ghosn says.

By David Zoia • May 1, 2006

BMW Capping Size

Fans of the Ultimate Driving Machine had better be satisfied with the size of BMW AG's current engines. They won't be getting any larger, says the auto maker's powertrain chief. The time to increase horsepower by increasing displacement is over, says Klaus Borgmann, senior vice president-powertrain development. Future performance increases for BMW's volume-production engines he excludes the low-volume,

By Bill Visnic • May 1, 2006

Attention Kmart Shoppers

Old Kmart stores don't die they become new-car dealerships. At least that's the case in a northwest Michigan town where an $8 million project will transform a vacant Kmart building into the new home of two dealerships: 4 Seasons Ford-Lincoln-Mercury and Swaffer's Toyota. The new location for the dealerships is near the city limits of Cadillac. (Vehicles of that name will be sold at a GM store elsewhere

By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2006

XM Services Expanding

XM Satellite Radio is raising the ante on programming content via a much-publicized new deal with entertainment giant Oprah Winfrey and is moving toward an industry leading 9 million subscribers. But that's not all the company has in mind. The satellite service, owned 5% by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and 2% by General Motors Corp., is targeting a seriously expanded presence inside the automobile, with plans

By David E. Zoia • May 1, 2006

UAG Stockholders Meeting is a Wynn-Wynn

On the occasion of surpassing the $1 billion mark in upgrading and expanding its 294-dealership network, UnitedAuto Group chose the site of its most lavish store for its annual shareholders meeting this month. The meeting will be at the new Wynn Las Vegas resort hotel, where the Penske-Wynn Ferrari Maserati dealership is located. The dealership bears the name of Las Vegas hotel and casino proprietor

By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2006

King of Bling

A sports car or high-end sedan is the typical formula for a brand's vehicle. General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac division has taken the contrarian approach, relying largely on the extroverted image of its hulking and bechromed Escalade to underpin the success of its turnaround efforts. Cadillac plans much of the same with the bold redesign of its third-generation SUV. It comes with a generous helping

By Mike Sutton • May 1, 2006

Retro Design Can Be Blessing and Curse

Retro is a popular design tool, says a Chrysler designer. "Some use it in an abstract way, some use it in a literal way, and some don't use it at all."

By Byron Pope • April 27, 2006

Hybrid Market Blip No Deterrent, Bill Ford Says

A study shows rising gasoline prices will change the mix of powerplants in today's light vehicles.

By Eric Mayne • April 26, 2006

Mitsubishi Takes Long-Term View on Comeback

Chairman Takashi Nishoika says it took five years for things to go down and could take five years for a comeback – "and I'll wait."

By Jim Mateja • April 24, 2006

Nissan Altima Hybrid to Be Sold in Eight States

Nissan also says it will mate an electric motor to the Altima's smaller, 2.5L 4-cyl. engine, not the 3.5L V-6.

By Ward's Staff • April 21, 2006