Automakers: Page 382

Take A Seat

Faurecia Group may have only a toehold on the North American automotive seating market, but the French supplier has an ambitious strategy to grow its share in the region. Faurecia now has just one seating program in North America, but it's a biggie: General Motors Corp.'s Epsilon architecture, which launched last year in the U.S. with the all-new Chevy Malibu. The supplier opened a facility in Riverside,

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2004

V-8 Extends Beyond XC90?

Volvo Cars will launch its foray into the world of V-8 engines with its popular XC90 cross/utility vehicle next year and likely won't end there. The XC90's 4.4L V-8, supplied by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., has potential for Volvo passenger cars, Volvo Cars of North America CEO Victor Doolan tells Ward's. It's a great engine and it can obviously find a place in our cars, in the proper range, he says in

Nov. 1, 2004

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

Supplier Mission

DaimlerChrysler AG is turning to its U.S.-based Chrysler Group to help grow the company's supply base in South Africa. A plan by the South African government calls for auto makers to include 30% local content in vehicles produced in the country to qualify for government fleet sales. DC views U.S. minority suppliers as a crucial link in meeting this goal. DC has a key interest in South Africa. The

Nov. 1, 2004

FULL COURT PRESS

The evening's coda for a perfect fall day in southern France is a glimpse at forthcoming products from General Motors Corp. Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO, walks down the slope of a meticulously manicured golf course toward a fairway dotted with 20 or so vehicles the auto maker plans to put into production in coming years. The products are among the reasons Wagoner says GM's future is as bright

By Brian Corbett • Nov. 1, 2004

Still Too Exotic

Mercedes-Benz might have a carbon-fiber body for its McLaren SLR, but it is a long way from using the material in cars with volumes higher than a few hundred units per year. The problem is the carbon fiber industry isn't oriented to the needs of the auto industry, says Patrick Kim, the Mercedes engineer in charge of composites. Just looking at past successes and trying to optimize existing solutions

By William Diem • Nov. 1, 2004

500,000th Mini Goes to a California Car Nut

Southern Californian Dan Cowdrey purchased the 500,000th Mini made since BMW took over production in 2001. California is one of Mini's largest markets with 18% of worldwide sales, more than many European nations. Mini production and sales are about two years sales ahead of schedule because of consumer demand. Last year, about 174,000 units were sold worldwide. More than 111,000 were sold in the first

Nov. 1, 2004

Reinventing the Wheel

It was assumed, when the Michelin Group unveiled its revolutionary Pax run-flat tires in 1998 that the first U.S. application would be a sexy, high-priced sports car. Four years later, Pax arrives on its first production vehicle for the U.S. market, but the application is the antithesis of a high-visibility sports car. The all-new '05 Honda Odyssey Touring model, which sells for about $35,000, comes

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2004

VW Chief Departing U.S. Post

Volkswagen of America Inc. President and CEO Gerd Klauss will leave his post Jan. 1, capping a 30-year career. Named to replace Klauss is Frank Witter, who will become CEO of VWA but not assume the title of president, a spot VWA says will remain vacant for now. Witter currently is chief financial officer of VWA. Klauss began his automotive career at Mercedes-Benz, where he served for 14 years in various

Nov. 1, 2004

Hummer H1 Adds Performance Model

ANAHEIM, CA Hummer joins General Motors Corp. Performance Div.’s efforts with the ’06 H1 Alpha, rolled out here at the California International Auto Show. Featuring GM’s Duramax 6.6L diesel engine, the H1 Alpha packs a 300-hp punch, a 46% increase vs. previous H1s equipped with the 6.5L turbodiesel powerplant. Arriving in dealerships in early 2005, the H1 Alpha is fitted with an Allison 1000 5-speed

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

Second GXP Model From Pontiac

ANAHEIM, CA The second GXP performance model from Pontiac will provide the ’05 Grand Prix sedan with its first V-8 engine since 1987, General Motors Corp. reveals here at the California International Auto Show. The Grand Prix GXP, which follows the V-8-powered Bonneville GXP in Pontiac’s lineup, offers a sport-tuned suspension, new all-aluminum 5.3L V-8 engine producing an estimated 290 hp and a 4-speed

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

CAMI Readies for Torrent Launch

ANAHEIM, CA The ’06 Pontiac Torrent cross/utility vehicle, which sources inside General Motors Corp. confirm here at the California International Auto Show, will begin production at CAMI Automotive Inc. in June, Ward’s learns. GM is not saying where the Torrent will be built but likely will provide more details when it unveils the CUV in January at the Los Angeles auto show. “The Torrent represents

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

GM to Join Autosar

DETROIT In a move that advances the global cause of standardized electrical architectures, General Motors Corp. announces it will adopt the Automotive Open System Architecture, otherwise known as Autosar. Formed in 2003, the partnership aims to establish a standard upon which future vehicle applications will be implemented. The platform is an attempt to standardize non-competitive software in vehicles.

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 19, 2004

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Capitol Honda in San Jose, CA now sits on the sunny side of the street at least in terms of environmental awareness and responsibility. The Capitol Expressway Auto Mall dealership recently covered its entire roof with more than 900 solar panels, taking advantage of a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. program for customers investing in solar power. Capitol Honda became the first car dealership in PG&E's service

Oct. 1, 2004

Family Affair

Pity the poor Nissan Pathfinder. It gets no respect. When the midsize Pathfinder debuted in the U.S. in the mid-1980s, the Big Three had a few SUV offerings, most notably the Jeep brand, but importers had yet to launch their invasion. Today, with myriad SUV and cross/utility vehicle offerings on the market, the Pathfinder has been lost in the crowd. To make matters worse, parent Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 1, 2004

Hold the Holding Costs

Last month, we discussed turn, as it relates to your used-vehicle inventory, and the flexibility a good turn affords you in terms of liquid capital. This month, let's expand on used- vehicle management by discussing holding cost. A reminder: holding cost (a.k.a. carrying cost) and turn are elements that apply to all inventories, not just used vehicles, although used will be our focus here. You will

By Tony Noland • Oct. 1, 2004

Jag to Shutter Plant

Ford Motor Co. reveals its Jaguar Cars restructuring plan as weak sales, a suspect product mix and an increasingly competitive luxury-vehicle segment have led the British brand into a sea of red ink. Jaguar lost $360 million in the second quarter, inspiring Ford's earlier announcement of intentions to restructure the British luxury unit, one of four brands operating in Ford's Premier Automotive Group.

Oct. 1, 2004

A Very Strange Campaign

Oh, for a return to the days of Bill Clinton's presidential administration. Nearly lamenting that is Robert G. Liberatore, DaimlerChrysler AG's group senior vice president for external affairs and public policy. The Clinton administration was surprisingly good to the auto industry, Washington-based Liberatore tells the Automotive Press Assn. in Detroit. You could argue that the eight years under Clinton

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 1, 2004

He Never Stopped Calling on Dealers

James O'Connor, a former dealership general manager who became a top Ford Motor Co. executive, is retiring after 40 years with the auto maker. He most recently served the company as group vice president-North America marketing, sales and service. Earl Hesterberg, vice president-Ford of Europe marketing, sales and service, will replace him. A longtime sales and marketing executive, O'Connor considered

Oct. 1, 2004

GM’s Great Car Giveaway

The first 1,500 all-new Pontiac G6s were shipped Sept. 10 from General Motors Corp.'s Orion, MI, assembly plant to dealerships just days before one of the most ambitious marketing stunts ever kicked off advertising for the sedan. GM gave away 276 G6s Sept. 13 to every audience member of The Oprah Winfrey Show daytime TV program. The gimmick cost about $7 million and delivered a huge media splash for

Oct. 1, 2004

Growing Georgia County Gets 1st Dealership

Fairway Toyota is the first new-car dealership in Lee County, population 27,875, in southwest Georgia. The 23,000-square-foot facility in Leesburg combines the newest technology with innovative architectural and design details built to enhance customers' buying experience. Fairway Toyota has 55 associates. One of Toyota's primary goals is to emphasize the entire ownership experience, says dealer principal

Oct. 1, 2004

Nissan Confirms New Small Car for N. America

Nissan North America Inc. confirms it will bring a new small car, positioned below the Sentra in size, to North America in calendar 2007. The auto maker won't say precisely whether it will fill the slot with an all-new model or import a car not currently sold in North America. But it says the current Cube and March/Micra small cars are examples of the type of vehicle it has in mind. Nissan executives

By Ward's Staff • Oct. 1, 2004

How a Dealership Should Hug Its Customers

Have you hugged your customer today? That's a question Stefan Schuett asks dealerships? But how does a business hug its customers? Should personnel get that up close and personal? Not literally. Rather, hugging is a customer-oriented mindset throughout the organization, says Schuett, who oversees Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategies at BMW of North America LLC. It means listening, understanding

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 1, 2004

GM Chief Urges Health Care Action

DETROIT It's time for Republicans and Democrats to begin laying a foundation that will address rising health-care costs in the U.S., says General Motors Corp.'s top executive. The real arguments in Washington tend to settle around the poles of a complete free-market system to national health care, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner says at an industry trade conference here. I suspect we're not going

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 1, 2004

GMAC Tries One More Time

General Motors Acceptance Corp., 85 years old this year, is aggressively returning to a vehicle insurance product sold by GM dealers in the early 1920s. Regarded by some dealers as a addition to the F&I menu, and to others as a low-profit nuisance, vehicle insurance is an initiative gathering momentum for a 47-state rollout within the next year. GMAC Insurance steps up the organizing pace and potential

By Mac Gordon • Oct. 1, 2004

Mini Steps Up Performance

PARIS Already one of the industry’s hottest-selling cars, BMW AG’s Mini is getting a new tuning kit this fall for its Cooper S performance model. Developed by West Sussex, U.K.-based John Cooper Works, the tuning kit gives the engine an additional 40 hp and boosts torque by another 18 lbs.-ft. (25 Nm), the auto maker says here at the international motor show. Maximum output now is 210 hp. “Mini clearly

By Brian Corbett • Sept. 29, 2004