Automakers: Page

407 Prelude

The Peugeot 407 Elixir concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show is a version of the 407 coming next year. The concept combines dynamism and elegance, with its long front overhang and a rear end, says Frederic Saint-Geours, PSA Peugeot Citroen executive vice-president-Peugeot brand. The 407 Elixir is presented as a coupe whose high back end allows rear seat passengers some head room. Enormous rear

Oct. 1, 2003

ZF Batavia Finally Shipping CVTs

More than two years later than initially planned, the transmission manufacturing facility owned jointly by Ford Motor Co. and ZF Friedrichshafen AG in Batavia, OH, is supplying its first continuously variable transmission (CVT). Production at Batavia currently is ramping up for the CFT 23 CVT, which will be shipped from Batavia to Ford's Focus plant in Saarlouis, Germany, for use in the '04 C-Max,

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 1, 2003

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 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

DC Kills Sprinter Van Plant

DaimlerChrysler AG pulls the plug on plans to build a $754 million commercial van plant in Pooler, GA. The facility would have built the Dodge Sprinter but fell victim to a poor commercial vehicle market. A spokesman says the auto maker could not justify the business case for the plant, despite $320 million in state incentives. DC plans to continue building Dodge and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters under

Oct. 1, 2003

GM’s All-New Platform

FRANKFURT General Motors Corp. uses the eve of the Frankfurt auto show to unveil a luxury sedan concept from an all-new global premium large-car platform. The auto maker aims to re-enter that market with products for several continents, including North America. The first look at the premium platform is the captivating Opel Insignia concept, a 4-door personal car embodying a more muscular and upscale

By Alisa Priddle • Oct. 1, 2003

Visteon Moves to Commonize

Visteon Corp. was a disjointed company with almost as many quality manuals as plants before a concerted effort to its manufacturing process, says Thomas A. Burke, the supplier's vice president North American and Asian Mfg. Operations. Before its spin-off from Ford Motor Co. in 2000, there were about 80 different quality manuals. Now the 122 manufacturing facilities will follow one common system that

Sept. 1, 2003

He Knew What He Wanted

Mike Boguth of Hamilton Chevrolet in Warren, MI, knew what he wanted: A system that could give Internet shoppers dealership inventory information in real-time. Boguth, Hamilton's vice president and general manager, figured dealership websites should feature such fast and accurate data to accommodate the growing ranks of Internet car shoppers. But that's not always the case, especially with corporate-sponsored

Sept. 1, 2003

Extraordinary Dealer Hits a 50-Year Milestone

In 1953, young Bert Boeckmann started working as a salesman at Galpin Ford in North Hills, CA. He bought the single-point store in 1960. He's since turned it into Galpin Motors, a $724 million business that includes the largest Ford dealership in the world as well as Jaguar, Lincoln Mercury, Aston Martin, Volvo, Mazda and Saturn stores in the San Fernando Valley. Boeckmann, his family and friends

By Steve Finlay • Sept. 1, 2003

Dream Cruiser

The seventh variant of the Chrysler PT Cruiser cross/utility vehicle arrives in showrooms at a time when the quirky retro-ride needs to restore some of the buzz that surrounded its launch in February 2000. The '04 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 is the most expensive PT yet, at $28,810, excluding a $590 destination charge. The Series 3, which shares its 220-hp powertrain with the PT Turbo, sports

Sept. 1, 2003

Harlem Finally Will Get a Dealership and It’s a Whopper

NEW YORK - There has not been an auto dealership north of 57th St. in Manhattan for more than three decades, despite a population that's larger than Atlanta. The Harlem Auto Mall is designed to fill that gap. General Motors Corp. will help develop the $42 million, 3-story auto mall in Harlem, home to 400,000 largely minority persons who have not had community access to a car dealership in more than

By Herb Shuldiner • Sept. 1, 2003

Understated Elegance

DETROIT It's hard not to cause some Rust Belt rubbernecking here when you're behind the wheel of one of the most-exclusive cars on the planet: the ''03 Bentley Arnage R. Bentley only sold a grand total of 1,116 cars last year worldwide, 925 of which were the Arnage. A mere 331 Arnages sold in North America. So while it's bound to be noticed, there's more than a fancy grille and unprecedented stature

By Kevin Kelly • Sept. 1, 2003

COMPOSITE CHAMP

The Chevrolet Corvette was not the first car with a fiberglass body. But after 50 years and with production exceeding 1.3 million units, it remains an icon in the world of materials innovations. The '04 Corvette Commemorative Edition Z06 once again breaks new ground with a carbon-fiber hood that weighs only 20.5 lbs. (9 kg), a third less than the standard hood made from sheet molding composite (SMC).

By David C. Smith • Sept. 1, 2003

Executive Exodus

Recent changes in Ford Motor Co.'s executive leadership represent an opportunity for enrichment, rather than a disruption in the chain of command, says Center for Automotive Research Chair-man David Cole. His remarks follow in the wake of Martin Leach's abrupt resignation in August from his post as Ford of Europe president and chief operating officer. Lewis Booth, 54, succeeds Leach. Booth had been

By Eric Mayne • Sept. 1, 2003

Bleak Future?

The United Auto Workers union is firm about preserving health care benefits in this year's contract negotiations with the Big Three, but there's still another issue to confront: overcapacity. General Motors Corp., which is giving Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler Corp. fits by forcing them to follow its lead in the money-losing game of market incentives in order to keep capacity utilization up, has

By Haig Stoddard • Sept. 1, 2003

Dealer Demos Prop Chrysler Pacifica Sales

Chrysler's all-new Pacifica cross/utility vehicle gave signals it was showing signs of traction on the sales front, with 6,857 units sold in July. The only problem: 1,200 of them never left the lot. Chrysler dealer demos prop up sales of Pacifica. Chrysler initiated an offer in July to provide a $3,000 incentive to dealers to purchase a Pacifica as a demo as part of a program to get customers to take

By Kevin Kelly • Sept. 1, 2003

‘04 Breakthrough Year

The '04 model year may be a turning point for aluminum in the auto industry. After surpassing plastics in 2001 as third most-used material in the auto industry, behind steel and iron, aluminum rolls into '04 with two major breakthrough programs the Jaguar XJ and BMW 5-Series. The '04 models are two of the most aluminum-intensive, mainstream vehicles in automotive history, continuing an expansion trend

By Brian Corbett • Sept. 1, 2003

On the Move

Although Ford Motor Co. continues to endure a rough ride through the U.S.'s faltering economy and is absorbing ongoing upheaval in its European operations, the two continents' long hot summer brought plenty of action for the company's Powertrain Operations. In North America, Ford formally announced production of an all-new V-6 engine family, the Duratec 35. And in Europe, Ford launched its first gasoline

By David Scott • Sept. 1, 2003

GM Plans Incentives on Colorado/Canyon

General Motors Corp. expects to offer incentives on its new '04 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models when they're launched later this year, but the spiffs will be lower than those currently available with the '03 S-10/Sonoma models, promises one marketing executive. Despite the lower incentives, GM predicts it still will gain share in the midsize pickup market as a result of the new models. We're

By Herb Shuldiner • Sept. 1, 2003

Looking Beyond the Almighty Incentives

What strategies should U.S. automakers consider now that ultra-low car prices and massive incentives are no longer motivating people to buy? Manufacturers intent on building market share without cannibalizing profits are looking past the almighty incentive and are forcing themselves to invest in stronger relationships with their customers, according to research led by Mark Peacock of Deloitte Consulting.

Sept. 1, 2003

Tochigi Closing

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. will close one of its three assembly plants in Japan next year, turning the facility into a manufacturing research center. The assembly line and responsibility for three niche vehicles the S2000, Insight and Acura NSX will move from the facility in Tochigi to Honda's plant in Suzuka. The Tochigi plant will become a new model center where production processes for new vehicles are

Aug. 1, 2003

Dealer Allan Gilmour Back as Ford Credit Overseer

Ford Credit's operations have returned to the oversight of Ford Motor Company vice chairman Allan D. Gilmour, a dealer on the side who came out of retirement in 2002 to help Ford Chairman and CEO William Clay Ford, Jr. straighten out finances. Gilmour, 69, assumes the oversight of Ford Credit from Carl E. Reichardt, 71, a longtime company director who, from 1983 to 1994, served as chairman and CEO

Aug. 1, 2003

Gung-ho on Golf

Where there's professional golf, there's often automotive sponsorships. It has more to do than just auto makers and dealers loving of the links. Golf is important to marketing vehicles, says Steve Lyons, Ford Div. president and chairman of the annual Ford Senior Players Championship. Why is it important to business? he says. More than 34% of golfers have a Ford in their garages. Twenty-three percent

Aug. 1, 2003

Ford Unveils New Duratec V-6 at Lima

Ford Motor Co. announces it will invest $335 million in its engine plant in Lima, OH, where it will build a 3.5L DOHC V-6. While Ford doesn't say which vehicle programs will benefit from the all-aluminum engine, the auto maker confirms it will have applications in the passenger car and cross/utility segments. A source tells Ward's it will be available in at least two vehicles when it begins production

Aug. 1, 2003

Freestar Minivan Goes 1st

Mercury Monterey production will lag behind that of its platform-mate, the Ford Freestar, the auto maker says. When Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd. fires up its refurbished plant in Oakville, Ont., its capacity for the first few months will be devoted exclusively to Freestar assembly. The Freestar replaces the Ford Windstar, which went out of production July 3 after a 9-year run. A push to control complexity

Aug. 1, 2003

Setup Not So Bad After All

When Ford Motor Co. announced last year it was overhauling its aftermarket parts delivery system, certain dealers saw the new system as encroaching on their business. The cause for concern: 19 high-volume parts distribution centers that Ford is building throughout the country. The complainants were, for the most part, dealers with large wholesale parts businesses. They worried about potential loss

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 1, 2003

Potential Dealer Magic Johnson a Linc Merc Pitchman

DEARBORN, MI Lincoln Mercury is partnering with Earvin (Magic) Johnson, an alliance expected to draw younger, trendier buyers to Lincoln Mercury showrooms and lead to new business opportunities for the legendary basketball great. Lincoln Mercury President Darryl Hazel says Johnson's business success, coupled with his sports stardom, is just what the automotive brand needs to enhance its chic, hip

By Kate Tomkie • Aug. 1, 2003