Automakers: Page 369
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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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
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
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
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lutz Warns of Hazards Inherent in Global Industry
GENEVA – With first-quarter results still a month away and the next round of United Auto Workers union contract talks more than a year out, General Motors Corp. is in full spin mode. Vice Chairman-Global Product Development Bob Lutz warns that job losses for salaried and hourly personnel will become a way of life in the U.S. and Europe unless there is a significant restructuring of GM’s fixed costs.
By Eric Mayne • March 6, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Oz Supplier Profits From Demand for New GMT900 SUVs
CANBERRA – Australian parts maker Pacifica Group says encouraging sales of General Motors Corp. fullsize SUVs based on the new GMT900 platform are boosting its shipments of brakes. Pacifica was queried by the Australian Stock Exchange after its shares rose 21%, from A$1.70 ($1.70) to a 4-month high of A$2.07 ($1.55) in just one week. GM’s Tahoe sales in February rose 47.2%. The new GM900-based ’07
By Alan Harman • March 3, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dacia Logan Steppe Concept Close to Final Wagon Design
GENEVA – Automobile Dacia S.A.'s Logan Steppe concept unveiled at the auto show here provides a hint of the new Logan station wagon set to launch this fall. The Romanian auto maker chose Geneva to introduce its first-ever show car built by Renault Design. Renault SA holds a controlling interest in Dacia. The company says the Logan Steppe is a station wagon concept designed with winter in mind. The
By Peter Homola • March 2, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
It’s Easier Than It Looks
There is no magic in maintaining a highly-profitable dealer-owned vehicle service-contract program. The lowering of loss ratios is the key to lowering extended-warranty rates, and lower rates make vehicle service agreements more affordable for consumers and ultimately more profitable for the dealer. Controlling and lowering loss ratios requires everyone to be on the same page. Everyone in this case,
By ERIC A. KAUK • March 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Generous Dealers Honored
Dealers are the backbone of our system, says Edsel B. Ford II, who notes that his great-grandfather, Henry Ford, established the dealership franchise system in the early 20th century. Dealers also are often the backbone of their communities, as demonstrated by their civic involvement and generosity. In its annual Salute to Dealers program, Ford Motor Co. honors nine such dealers who went above and
By Steve Finlay • March 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Eyes Toluca, Newark Retooling
Chrysler Group assembly plants in Toluca, Mexico, and Newark, DE, are next on the auto maker's list for retooling. Hard-charging Chrysler is in the midst of an investment blitz that will, by 2008, see 60% of its assembly plants feature flexible manufacturing technology. Belvidere, IL, is the first to go online, thanks to a $419 million investment. The manufacturing system allows simultaneous building
March 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Opens Harlem Auto Mall
NEW YORK Auto carriers this week delivered the first vehicles to General Motors Corp.'s new Harlem Auto Mall, the first new-car dealership in upper Manhattan in 40 years. However, some of the 350,000 motorists who pass the site daily have been coming in for weeks in an attempt to service or buy vehicles, officials say, even though the mall didn't open for business until this month. The mall contains
By Herb Shuldiner • March 1, 2006
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