Automakers: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
2005: Tough Year for Dealers; But Some Worried More for Auto Makers
For many dealers 2005 was tough on profits, but many of them were more concerned about the future of ailing GM and Ford.
By Steve Finlay • June 28, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo Sets Up Sales Subsidiary in India
Volvo India will be based in Delhi and first will offer the S80 and XC90 to the Indian market, with other models to follow.
By Ward's Staff • June 28, 2006 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota Motor North America
TrendlineTop 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Smyrna Epicenter of Nissan’s Quest for Quality
A new quality auditing effort is helping inspectors double the number of vehicle flaws discovered.
By Scott Anderson • June 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Chairman Okuda Resigns
Vice Chairman Fujio Cho will replace Okuda, who will remain with the company as a senior adviser.
By Ward's Staff From Wires • June 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Good News and Bad News at Honda
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts. The Honda Fit looks like a smash hit, but the Accord Hybrid is a miss. Hear Ward's AutoWorld Editor Drew Winter's latest take on the auto ...
By Drew Winter • June 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Opa! Eos Portends Sunny Days Ahead for Volkswagen
Will it blow the roof off the market? No. But some will flip their lids.
By Eric Mayne • June 21, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda Debuting MX-5 Miata Hardtop in England
It marks the first time in the 16-year history of the roadster that it will be sold with a power retractable hardtop.
By Ward's Staff • June 20, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Used Cars Helps Carr Chevrolet Stay Strong
In a tough market, Carr Chevrolet ranks high on the Ward's 500 by employing some novel tactics in its used-car operations.
By Cliff Banks • June 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Solving the Body Shop Riddle
A Maryland Toyota dealership's body shop becomes a profit generator, leveraging relationships with insurance companies and suppliers.
By Cliff Banks • June 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Increases Production Capacity in China
The Toyota JV begins production of the high-grade Land Cruiser Prado VX at its Chengdu Plant, which also makes the Land Cruiser Prado GX.
By Ward's Staff • June 14, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Closes Port Melbourne Plant
More than 1 million Toyotas were built at Port Melbourne through 1994, and the company retained manufacturing operations there until the end of May.
By Alan Harman • June 13, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Scouts Potential Illinois Plant Site
Farm country in east-central Illinois gets the once-over from Honda officials.
By Jim Mateja • June 12, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler’s Retro Dilemma
Insiders are debating how big the next-generation model should be – and likely exactly how the retro-styled hatchback should look.
By David E. Zoia • June 7, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Buick, Pontiac Embrace Future With Nod to Past
Buick expects the 'Lucerne and '08 Enclave to reclaim its heritage as an upscale brand. Pontiac is counting on sporty models such as the Solstice to rebuild sales.
By Scott Anderson • June 7, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Michigan Waits to Hear Back From Honda
The state has submitted a proposal for a new vehicle assembly plant, but the auto maker likely will pass on the offer if history is any indication.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 6, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Critical Differences
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.In what has become a true horse-race among North American auto makers, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. won by a nose to become the No.1 ranked produce...
By Drew Winter • June 2, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Launches Child-Seat Campaign
GM's child-seat campaign is kicked off by CEO Rick Wagoner at the auto maker's first dealership in Harlem in more than 40 years.
By Herb Shuldiner • June 2, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turn On F&I Cameras
Don't ever accuse me of being consistent. I've had so many positions on the question of whether it's a good idea to videotape finance and insurance sessions with customers, that you'd need a GPS device to keep track of me. About 10 years ago, when I learned that some dealers in Alabama were beginning to audiotape, then videotape, their F&I sessions with customers, I was intrigued. I knew why those
By THOMAS B. HUDSON • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Jumpin’ Curt Hughes, It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas
Curt Hughes Kia of Modesto (CA) advertising includes this come on: Ask About Our Free-Gas-For-A-Year Program. Here's the catch: In exchange for the free fuel, customers agree to have their new or used Kias wrapped with advertising that pitches the dealership. There have been about 35 takers, dealership salesman Aaron Mahr tells local TV station KXTV. Friends have it, he says. At first, they're hesitant.
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Riding Sedona’s Success
The words and rarely are uttered in the same sentence, unless the conversation is about the sector, rather than the vehicles themselves. The minivan segment has seen massive shifts in recent years. A decade ago, models from Detroit's Big Three dominated U.S. sales. Today, only the Chrysler Group maintains its hold on the top position. Meanwhile, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are bearing down
By Tom Murphy • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
V Is For Volatile
General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac luxury division moves a step closer to matching the high-performance luxury image of its German rivals with the introduction of the new '06 V-Series STS sedan and XLR roadster. Aimed squarely 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 • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
SVT Fusion, Edge?
Ford Motor Co. is considering the new Fusion sedan and Edge cross/utility vehicle as possible additions to its high-performance vehicle lineup, a company spokeswoman tells Ward's. The move is part of an emphasis Ford is placing on performance vehicles as it looks for ways to boost sagging sales. Mark Fields, president-The Americas, in April said the auto maker planned to invest in new products through
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW R32 Highlights Lean Product Year
Volkswagen AG plans to begin selling its sizzling 250-hp Golf R32 in the U.S. by July 2007, Ward's learns. The flagship hatchback, the fastest Golf ever with a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) is highly coveted by U.S. enthusiasts but currently is available only in Europe. VW last year said there were no plans to bring the R32 to the U.S. Powered by a 24-valve 3.2L V-6 that generates peak torque of
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Anna Nicole, That Mustang Is So You
Move over Real World, Surreal Life, Top Chef et al. Ford Motor Co. may be getting into the reality TV show business. The auto maker wants to produce a TV competition pairing contestants with Ford designers to produce a dream car, according to published reports. Ford plans to shop the project around in the hope of finding an interested TV network. The idea for the show was unveiled to Ford dealers
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Audi Unsure of DSG Growth
The Direct Shift Gearbox, developed by Audi parent Volkswagen AG and supplier BorgWarner Inc., has enjoyed almost universal acclaim in both Europe and the U.S., where it is deployed in a variety of VW Group products. But despite rave reviews for the dual-clutch automated manual transmission, Audi officials say technical considerations mean they cannot determine when or even if DSG availability will
June 1, 2006
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