FORD MAKING A PUSH FOR MORE HISPANIC DEALERS

Ford Motor Co. says it hopes to expand the number of dealerships owned by Hispanic Americans by 50 over the next five years as part of a partnership between the automaker, Latino Initiatives for the Next Century (LINC) and Millennium LMI. Ford's current minority dealer program offers loans to qualified dealer candidates that cover 90% of the cost to set up shop. LINC and Millennium will put up as

Aug. 1, 2001

Forcing Out Nasser Makes No Sense

The Dog Days of August are upon us, but I don't see many tails wagging at the Ford Motor Co. Especially not in President and Chief Executive Jacques Nasser's office on the 12th floor of Ford's World Headquarters. Rumors, gossip, and, it seems, anyone with an opinion have Mr. Nasser in deep trouble, reflecting Ford's cascading problems. Yes, the buck stops at his desk. But based on his demonstrated

By David C. Smith • Aug. 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

What Recession? Asks Toyota COO

It's easier to be upbeat about the currently frenetic U.S. market when you're selling just about every vehicle you make, as is Toyota Motor Corp. But Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales USA's chief operating officer and chairman of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, says he thinks the market's fine and not just because Toyota's doing well. Mr. Press says the U.S. economic isn't as bad as purported

Aug. 1, 2001

Planet Hyundai dealership is out of this world

Planet Hyundai, one of the world's largest Hyundai dealerships, opened in Las Vegas. The brand new state-of-the-art auto dealership represents an investment of some $6 million by the Staluppi Auto Group. The dealership stands out with an impressive, $150,000 futuristic Planet Hyundai sign worthy of Las Vegas. The facility boasts many features for customers as well as its more than 50 employees. Those

Aug. 1, 2001

Kangaroo Takes Stand for Road Kill

Beware of deer signs are a common sight around rural U.S. towns, but General Motors Corp.'s Holden subsidiary is trying to prevent dangerous car-kangaroo collisions, a consequence of driving in the Australian countryside. Holden engineers have developed the Robo Roo, a robotic version of real western gray and red kangaroos to simulate impacts. There are about 20,000 vehicle-kangaroo crashes in Australia

Aug. 1, 2001

Time for a Head-Turner

Two years ago I saw the future Cadillac CTS (entry luxury). I was told this was the final design. I can't say I liked it very angular, edgy. But we would turn our heads when that baby went by. This is Flint's Law: A car should be like your girlfriend: Look good and go fast. Okay, call me sexist, but that's a pretty simple rule. So when was the last time you saw a really good-looking General Motors

By Jerry Flint • Aug. 1, 2001

Pure Performance

Steve Rossi knows something about pitching a brand to a broader audience. His first job as chief of communications for Mercedes-Benz of North America was to market the M-Class, beginning shortly after his arrival in late 1995. The suggestion that the German luxury car producer should cater to rugged individualists who actually get their boots muddy bordered on blasphemy for many Mercedes purists.

By Tom Murphy • Aug. 1, 2001

ASTON MARTIN IS INCREASING DEALERSHIPS BUT KEEPING ITS MYSTIQUE INTACT

How many dealerships are too many? That's a question elite automakers must tackle as they seek to pursue profit and preserve panache at the same time. Aston Martin isn't saying where its ceiling is, but the primo member of Ford Motor Co.'s Premier Automotive Group (PAG), says 25 dealerships are enough to serve North America. That's how many it plans to have by year's end. Currently, there are 20 Aston

By Eric Mayne • Aug. 1, 2001

‘02 Corvette Z06: GM means business

With the fall introduction of the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, General Motors Corp. engineers show that they're hardly done fettling with either the Corvette or its trademark small-block V-8's performance. Last year's reinstatement of the fabled Z06 high-performance badge made the 'Vette, in the eyes of many critics, for the first time ever a genuine world-class sports car. Most of the goodness was

By Bill Visnic • Aug. 1, 2001

Companies Offering CRM Tools

Despite all of the talk about who owns the customer or who has the right to access the customer, a Forrester Research survey says 33% of customers never hear from their dealer and 38% never hear from the automakers. In recent years, there has been an explosion of customer relationship management tools hitting the market. They promise to help the dealer manage the customer better. The tools can make

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 1, 2001

WELL, HE SAYS I ALMOST GOT IT RIGHT

The dealership is a tribute to Dominic Longo, Roger Penske and Greg Penske and to all the employees who have helped to create a truly unique store. PEOPLE WANT TO SOUND OFF. WHAT BETTER FORUM for that than this one? So buckle up and let's go I gave accolades in the June issue to Greg Penske, president of Longo Toyota. It ranks as the top dealership in the 15th annual Ward's Dealer Business 500. I

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 2001

Tenured Design

Not unlike tenured professors, in the 93 years that General Motors Corp. has been creating cars and trucks, only five executives have headed the design department. Of course, in the early days, GM and the rest of the industry put their full support behind their engineers. The craftsmen who engineered and manufactured the vehicles were the only voices of authority on how their products looked. But

By AL Rothenberg • Aug. 1, 2001

Ford no longer a Collection agency

Ford Motor Co. put the final shovel of dirt on the automaker-as-dealer grave when it said it's selling its retail collections in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City and Rochester, NY. This happened 18 months after General Motors Corp. scuttled its plans to buy and operate 800 dealerships. Ford says it learned a lot from the experience and finally made the once-foundering businesses profitable, but

By Tim Keenan • Aug. 1, 2001

Mazda Joins Ford’s 6 Sigma

Mazda Motor Corp. officials met recently in Dearborn to discuss the Japan-based automaker's implementation of Ford Motor Co.'s quality improvement initiative, Consumer-Driven 6-Sigma. Mazda North America already is on board and involvement of its parent means all pillars of the Ford organization use the system expected to save $300 million this year after $52 million in 2000. The program seeks out

Aug. 1, 2001

Reviving GM Design

It's been nearly five years since General Motors Corp. moved to its new World Headquarters in Detroit's Renaissance Center. But critics, and many GM insiders, have been waiting more than 20 years for a renaissance in its vehicle designs. Despite some dramatic concept-vehicle unveilings and future-production decisions in recent years that provide strong clues as to where it's heading, GM can claim

By DAVID C. SMITH with Tom Murphy • Aug. 1, 2001

Hooray for an Economic Downturn!

While Toyota Motor Corp. sees no recession, Kia Motors Corp. is celebrating America's new-found frugality as sales climb ever higher. With recession hanging overhead and gas prices threatening to go up, more people are shelving sport/utility vehicle aspirations and going for practicality. Kia sales hurdled the 100,000 mark in the U.S. by June, putting the company ahead of the pace set in 2000. Sales

Aug. 1, 2001

Chevy ad agency teams up with local dealers

CE Retail is assisting Chevrolet local dealer groups with their advertising. It's an effort by GM and its dealers to work together in the local marketplace to increase share of voice and market share. Indianapolis Chevy dealers are among the first to sign on with CE Retail. Chevrolet's local dealer marketing program had to happen, says Bill Estes of Bill Estes Chevrolet in Indianapolis. Next markets

Aug. 1, 2001

GM-Daewoo talks remain stalled

Published reports that General Motors Corp. and Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. are in final talks are wrong, sources close to the situation tell Ward's. As of press time, no date had been set for resumption of talks between the two sides, which includes the state-owned Korean Development Bank, the bankrupt automaker's chief creditor. Jin Nyum, Korea's finance and economy minister, last month reportedly told

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

WHOSE CUSTOMER IS IT?

To view a list of companies offering customer relationship management tools for the dealer, click here. Who owns the customer? That question strikes at the heart of most of today's automotive retail relationships. It once was fairly simple the automakers built the car and the dealer sold it. The very nature of the business meant the customer was the dealer's. Now it's more complicated. New industry

By Cliff Banks • Aug. 1, 2001

Ford Brazil exports trucks outside of region

Ford do Brasil plans to expand its exports of pickup trucks to Venezuela, Mexico and Australia in order to reach its total export goal of $300 million this year, says Antonio Maciel Neto, president of Ford Motor Co.'s Brazilian division. Additionally, the ZetecRoCam engine and transmission systems manufactured at the Taubate, Sao Paulo, plant are being exported to seven countries, generating $91 million

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

On the Road to Revival

The spin from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. since its now-legendary turnaround plan kicked in almost two years ago is that good product is going to save the automaker. Sure, new management and parent company Renault SA may have something to do with its revival, as may global consolidation of plants, staff and platforms. But more than good business sense, Nissan declared that it would ride into its comeback

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Aug. 1, 2001

VW positions latest EuroVan in high-volume segment

LAKE PLACID, NY The mid-night blue Volkswagen Jetta flies down the narrow, twisty Adiron-dack blacktop mountain road, whipping up a cloud of fine sand from the road's shoulder in its wake. Not more than a car-length behind, a somewhat gangly, rectangular, forest green EuroVan keeps up, turn for turn and twist for twist. If there is body roll, it's not detectable thanks to improved body rigidity and

By Barbara McClellan • Aug. 1, 2001

Nissan: Mistakes were made

The numbers were obtained under very exacting conditions, say Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. officials, following the enthusiast press' raised eyebrows regarding the company's aggressive (and widely promoted) 5.9-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration claim for the all-new 2002 Infiniti Q45 flagship (see WAW April '01, p.55). WAW sister publication, Ward's Engine & Vehicle Technology Update (WEVTU), began its own

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

Lovejoy says GM should help dealers find alternative sources of income

Bill Lovejoy, GM's group vice president of North American sales, service and marketing, says the company should help dealers find alternative forms of income as margins on new-vehicle sales continue to wane. "Dealers have to find other sources of income and we have to help them find other sources of income," says Mr. Lovejoy at a preview of GM's 2002 product lineup. Among the alternative sources of

By Tim Keenan • July 26, 2001

Chrysler Dealership Ordered to Pay Double Damages to Police Officer

Chrysler Dealership Ordered to Pay Double Damages to Police Officer PHILADELPHIA, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly two years after Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Carolyn E. Temin ruled that Gary Barbera's Chryslerland had committed unfair trade practices, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the judgment, ordering the dealership to pay $38,484.40 in damages to Philadelphia police officer Jeffrey

By PR Neswire • July 17, 2001