Evoq unofficially becomes XLR

General Motors Corp.'s top executives were clearly encouraged to talk a lot about product in their various presentations at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City early last month, but Gary Cowger, group vice president for manufacturing and labor relations, manages to say a little too much. Giving a quick rundown on new plants and new products, Mr. Cowger offhandedly mentions we'll be building

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE REPORTS • Sept. 1, 2001

Ford dealers score with alternative service facilities

Quality Care Service Centers and Quick Lanes are giving Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers around the country added income, keeping otherwise wandering service business in house and attracting non-Ford buyers into the showroom. Twenty Quality Care Service Centers and 84 Quick Lanes currently are in operation. The main distinction is the Quality Care Service Centers are away from the dealer's primary

By Tim Keenan • Sept. 1, 2001

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

DCC design: AWD Jeeps, cab backward

The Chrysler Group is throwing out design cues the cab-forward look of its large cars and doing the once unthinkable affixing the Jeep brand on all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles. Some future Jeeps could be developed with less offroad-oriented AWD instead of 4-wheel drive (4WD). While Wrangler will always retain the ability to cross the ultra-rugged Rubicon Trail, Chrysler Group Design Chief Trevor Creed

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE REPORTS • Sept. 1, 2001

GM Ready to Sue Some Dealers

General Motors Corp. is prepared to go to court to stop dealers from selling a GM nameplate and competitive products next to one another on the same showroom floor, according to a top company executive. GM's opposition to sharing showroom space stems from other automakers namely Koreans offering dealership sales personnel cash incentives in addition to their typical retail commission, says Bill Lovejoy,

Sept. 1, 2001

Texas court rules in favor of dealers

Ford Motor Co.'s used vehicle web site, www.fordpreowned.com was found to be in violation of the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code earlier this week by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The web site allows consumers to shop for pre-owned Ford vehicles. Once the consumer finds a desirable vehicle, the vehicle is then shipped to a local dealer for the consumer to test drive. The web site operates in Houston,

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 30, 2001

Honda sales suggest “recession proof” Hispanic spending patterns

Current research and data from the last recession in the 90’s indicates that Latinos are not as affected by recessionary trends as the general market. Hispanics’ income continued to increase, as did their spending, during economic downturns, says Hector Orci, co-chairman of La Agencia de Orci, American Honda’s Hispanic ad agency of record for 12 years. He says that, while in the middle of a business

Aug. 28, 2001

Toyota Launches Media Blitz to Market 2002 Camry

Toyota Launches Media Blitz to Market 2002 Camry Haven't heard about Toyota's new 2002 Camry yet? Don't worry - you will. The Japanese automotive company is spending $160 million on what it says will be the most pervasive and expensive media blitz in its history. For the next 60 days, Toyota says that 90 percent of all Americans will hear about the new Camry at least eight times. The fully integrated

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 27, 2001

GM Revamping Purchasing Strategy

General Motors Corp. hasn’t gone soft on its suppliers, but it is working hard to rebuild its damaged reputation with the supply community. Hoping its actions speak louder than words, Bo Andersson, Executive in Charge of GM Worldwide Purchasing, says the automaker now is giving suppliers simple performance targets and measurements and rewarding those who excel at meeting targets with significant new

By Drew Winter and Alisa Priddle • Aug. 13, 2001

Premier Automotive Group combines North American Operations

Ford Motor Company’s luxury division, the Premier Automotive Group, is creating a single organization for the American operations of its three British lines – Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin. Effective September 1, 2001, the organization will combine sales, marketing, communications, franchise development, distribution, parts and customer service of the three luxury lines. Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle,

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 13, 2001

Toyota Aims to Cut Lead Time With New Website

Toyota Motor Mfg. North America Inc. implements its plan to shave custom vehicle order lead time from 77 days down to just 12-16 days in the next two years. An important component to the effort, www.toyotasupplier.com, launches this Monday (August 13), says James T. Bolte, general manager of information systems at TMMNA at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI. The Web site will be

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Aug. 10, 2001

GM Manufacturing Starting to Fire on All Cylinders

On Wednesday General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman & Chief Financial Officer John M. Devine stated that the U.S. auto industry wasn’t firing on all cylinders, but in one of the most optimistic speeches of the week, GM’s manufacturing chief points out that the automaker’s formerly troubled factory operations are running smoother than they have in years. That promises not only better, more desirable products

By Drew Winter • Aug. 9, 2001

SAE: Speed And Efficiency

The Society of Automotive Engineers will meet next week with executives from Ford Motor Co. to convince the No. 2 automaker that it – along with the rest of the Big Three – must urge its engineers to attend the annual World Congress in Detroit. SAE President Neil Schilke says after his remarks Thursday at the Traverse City conference that he is attempting to meet also with Chrysler Group management,

By Tom Murphy • Aug. 9, 2001

Is Cadillac Really Cool Again?

Not that long ago someone once described the demographic of Cadillac buyers as “age 65 to dead.” But recently Cadillac has been suggesting it’s now becoming the “in” brand in the hippest circles, which includes Hollywood actors, professional atheletes and Hip-Hop performers. Gary L. Cowger, General Motors Corp.’s Group Vice President, manufacturing and Labor Relations, jumped on the bandwagon Thursday,

By Drew Winter • Aug. 9, 2001

Is Super Bowl Next Stop for Rick Wagoner

C’mon. Rick Wagoner as a latter-day Vince Lombardi? That may seem a mighty stretch, but not to David E. Cole, founder and ongoing Lombardisque leader of the Traverse City Management Briefing Seminars. Cornered in a hallway at the Grand Traverse Resort, Mr. Cole says General Motors Corp. President and CEO G. Richard Wagoner Jr. is becoming “a fabulous coach” now that he has lassoed former Chrysler

By David C. Smith • Aug. 8, 2001

Wagoner, Lutz See Eye-to-Eye

I don’t know who is tallest, Rick Wagoner or Bob Lutz; both top out in the mid-6-ft. range. Clearly, though, they see eye-to-eye on the need for General Motors Corp. to inject some major excitement in GM’s vehicles. At 48, Mr. Wagoner, GM’s president and CEO since June 2000, is 21 years junior to Mr. Lutz, who retired in 1998 as vice chairman of Chrysler Corp. He later landed as chairman of Exide

By David C. Smith • Aug. 8, 2001

AMG-Like Style Coming to Chrysler

The Chrysler Group will establish a specialty vehicle unit, much like AMG for Mercedes-Benz, by year end, says Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Bernhard. It will start with production of the Chrysler Prowler and Dodge Viper as its product base, but with a clear mandate to expand the stable of specialty vehicles produced by the Chrysler Group. “We will be able to grow it more this way,” says Mr. Bernhard.

By Alisa Priddle • Aug. 8, 2001

Lutz Joins Friend Devine at GM

When Bob Lutz has his product revelations at General Motors Corp., he probably won’t have a hard time getting the funding he wants. Mr. Lutz is a good friend of a GM Chief Financial Officer John Devine, another relatively recent hire by CEO Rick Wagoner. Company insiders suggest Mr. Devine played an important part in Mr. Lutz’s arrival at GM. How else could an automaker that’s so notoriously stingy

By Brian Corbett • Aug. 8, 2001

Not Your Father’s CFO

News flash: General Motors Corp.’s new head bean counter isn’t just interested in beans. That may not be big news at some companies, but at staid GM, a Chief Financial Officer who is as comfortable talking about diesel engines as he is currency rates is the same as “man bites dog.” Right after GM CFO John M. Devine walked off the podium Wednesday morning following his keynote speech, conference moderator

By Drew Winter • Aug. 8, 2001

Toyota Strives to Retain its Benchmark Status

Sometimes it’s not easy being a benchmark. Toyota Motor Corp., which set the industry standard in terms of manufacturing practices, now is fighting to keep at the front of the pack in the face of growing competition from those who long have emulated the innovative lean systems of the No.1 Japanese automaker. “Maybe other companies have out-Toyota’d Toyota,” says Gary Convis, president of Toyota Motor

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Aug. 8, 2001

The Softer Side of Harley

Earl K. Warner came to Traverse City Tuesday to talk about collaborative engineering, but the message that came through was as much about brand management as product development. Mr. Warner, a one-time Corvette engineer, is vice president-engineering for motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Motor Co., a company that knows a little about brand management. And automakers looking to boost the value of their

By Daivd E. Zoia • Aug. 7, 2001

Western Washington Toyota dealers select Reynolds & Reynolds’ Automark web services

Reynolds and Reynolds Co. announced it has signed a two-year agreement with the Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association (WWTDA) to provide Internet technology, including its Automark web solutions, to the group's 19 member dealerships. “Reynolds’ industry expertise and custom-designed Automark solutions will deliver increased leads, improved response times and advanced reporting to WWTDA’s dealer

By Wire Reports • Aug. 2, 2001

Between Brown and Green is Leanfield

RUSSELSHEIM, Germany Like a mouse in a corner or a hawk circling the rafters, you can view every square centimeter of this all-new automotive plant with just a click of the wrist on a joystick. General Motors Corp.'s newest assembly plant here has been digitally mapped in the most excruciating three-dimensional detail down to the placement of waste bins, machinery and workers and all before the first

By MIKE ARNHOLT and BILL DIEM • Aug. 1, 2001

Big Three continue downward slide

Second quarter earnings announced recently by the U.S. Big Three automakers show a continued drop in market share and revenue. General Motors Corp. says more restructuring moves are on the way for Europe following a $154 million loss there during the second quarter. GM's global income totaled $610 million down from $1.75 billion for the second quarter a year-ago. North American income dropped to $521

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE REPORTS • Aug. 1, 2001

Spied: Next-gen Ford Excursion

Why not take it ALL with you, including your own garage? This summer, we re-established America's birthright cheap gasoline and WAW sources indicate automakers have returned to Bigger is Better strategies for their next-generation sport/utility vehicles (SUVs). The thinking: instead of trying to park your 'ute, just bring along a smaller vehicle to navigate tight city streets or parking lots. Disgorge

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S ENGINE AND VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY UPDATE • Aug. 1, 2001

Internet customers create 3D models of cars they’re interested in

Internet technology is making shopping for a car easier, and here's how: Car manufacturers are helping inform and educate their prospective customers by adding interactive information to their Web sites. Car companies like Toyota and Mercedes use interactive 3D models to create virtual showrooms on their site, which allow the customer to configure a photo-realistic car model to the right color, upholstery,

Aug. 1, 2001