Automakers: Page

BLUE OVAL BLUES

We previously asked dealers if they were satisfied with Ford's controversial Blue Oval dealer certification program. Of the respondents, 42 said no, 3 yes. Here's what they had to say: What choice do we have? No! Ford execs have made it plain that they don't want to hear any negatives about Blue Oval; that they're committed to it without regard to dealer opinions. They tell us to shut up and be happy.

Feb. 1, 2002

F-350 Tonka: Hydraulic Regenerative Braking

DETROIT What appears to be a practical, low-tech method to recover braking energy in 8,000-lb. to 11,000-lb. (3,600-kg to 5,000-kg) GVW vehicles in urban stop/start application was introduced by Ford Motor Co. at the recent Detroit International Auto Show here. The system, jointly developed with Eaton Corp., captures braking energy through a hydraulic pump-motor unit, where it is stored in dual accumulators

By Bob Brooks • Feb. 1, 2002

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

Dealers like new Ford Credit chief

Dealers give high marks to Greg Smith, who replaces Don Winkler as the head of Ford Credit. It's great news, says Texas dealer Jerry Reynolds, former chairman of the Ford National Dealer Council. Greg is one of the sharpest and brightest guys I've ever met. Reynolds adds, Don Winkler is a real motivator. But he didn't know the nuts and bolts whereas Greg grew up in the business, rising through the

Feb. 1, 2002

Ford slashes 22,000 jobs, four model lines

Ford slashes 22,000 jobs, four model lines Detroit -- Ford Motor Company will slash jobs, close plants and end model lines as part of its long-anticipated restructuring plan to revive profitability. The plan, finally announced Friday, involves cutting 22,000 jobs by 2005 and ceasing production in 2002 of what Ford President Nick Scheele called four low-margin vehicles – the Ford Escort, Lincoln Continental,

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 11, 2002

What price peace?

What's your price for a little peace and quiet on the motorway? Delphi Automotive Systems figures it's in the range of $1,500, which may sound outrageous until you consider that a lot of optional equipment (navigation systems and all-wheel drive, for instance) can cost as much or more. On the Internet (www.delphiauto.com), Delphi is selling its seat-top Rear-Seat Audio Video System for $1,495, which

By Compiled by Senior Editor Tom Murphy [email protected] • Jan. 1, 2002

VW-Japan to expand brand range

Being No.1 in Japan's import car market year after year is not limiting Volkswagen AG's ambitions. Next step up is to become a major brand player in the world's second-largest car market. Our goal is not to challenge Honda or Nissan but to become an influential player in the Japanese market with benchmark brands, says Tsutomo Umeno, the new president of Volkswagen Group Japan K.K. We already sell

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE INTERNATIONAL • Jan. 1, 2002

Nissan’s Fabulous 3L VQ: Thanks for the Memories

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI It started innocently enough in Japan at a Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. advanced-powertrain discussion in 1990. Engineers believed the company needed to replace its iron-block V-6 engines with a new-generation V-6 design that would be lighter and markedly more emissions-friendly. Five years of painstaking development later, Nissan launched the first of its all-new modular V-6 engine

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 1, 2002

Mitsubishi Electric adds GM business

Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America has won contracts to provide ignition coil modules and ignition coils to General Motors Corp. for car and truck engines worldwide. The supplier will eventually supply all ignition coils worldwide for GM, tripling Mitsubishi's current business with GM. MEAA will make the ignition coil modules at its plant in Maysville, KY. The plant will be expanded to hande the

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S ENGINE AND VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY UPDATE • Jan. 1, 2002

Hyundai hobbled by demands for job guarantees

Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. may be enjoying record export sales in the U.S. and Korea and record high profit figures, too, but the company's production operations recently were hamstrung by union walkouts that gave executives the jitters and cost the company millions. While workers recently called off the strike after agreeing with management on wage increases, Hyundai reportedly lost $577 million in sales

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE INTERNATIONAL • Jan. 1, 2002

All-New A4, A6, Too

CHANTILLY, VA An onslaught of new product is making its way into Audi AG's stable in 2002 as the division continues on its path to sell more than 1 million cars annually within the next five years. Although the biggest buzz surrounds the new 2002 A4, there's also a new S6 Avant and a revised A6. The A4 is new from the ground up, taking most of its styling cues from the highly successful A6 sedan,

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 1, 2002

Dealership body shops face a new competitor: Allstate

It's easy to hear anger in the body shop manager's voice as he talks about the new competitor his Ford dealership in Houston has for collision repair work: a shop down the street. I've had several customers insured by Allstate told they have to take their car there, the shop manager, who asked that neither he nor his dealership be named, says of the competition, one of 39 Sterling Collision Centers

By John Yoswick • Jan. 1, 2002

BMW, GM Change Leadership

A new year often brings with it plenty of new faces in top management at auto makers, and 2002 is proving to be no different. At BMW AG, Joachim Milberg will step down in May as chairman of the parent company's board of management, a year earlier than anticipated. Milberg took over in February 1999 after then-chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder was pushed out in a boardroom coup for failing to revive Britain's

Jan. 1, 2002

Getting It Right

No need to have your eyes checked, and the writer of this story isn't heavily medicated. What you're about to read is actually happening. General Motors Corp. is becoming a leader in manufacturing efficiency and technologies. That was unthinkable only a few years ago. But the auto maker is pulling off a quantum leap for the ages. Just check out the Harbour Report released last June. GM has cut its

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 1, 2002

THUNDERBIRD IN THE PINK ALMOST

When Ford Thunderbird's color palette is changed for '03, one of the new hues will likely recall romantic Oceanfront sunsets, the automaker hints. Asked if pink so popular when the first T'Birds were built will be among the new fashion colors expected when two '02 tones are dropped, Mary Ellen Heyde, Ford's vehicle line director-lifestyle vehicles, says: Actually, it was called coral. Sunset coral

Jan. 1, 2002

CADILLAC EXT BEATS LINCOLN BLACKWOOD TO MARKET

Cadillac was accused of being a copycat when it unveiled its Escalade EXT luxury sport/utility pickup several months after Ford Motor Co.'s Blackwood debuted, but the roles are reversed regarding first to market. Cadillac began shipping Escalade EXT Nov. 7 and sold 16 units as of Nov 28. Meanwhile, Blackwood, which was supposed to be out earlier this year, currently is being shipped to dealerships,

Jan. 1, 2002

Ferrari picks cream of crop for new Maserati franchises

Ferrari's acquisition of the Maserati marque in 1997 cleared the way for Maserati to focus on global sales growth. After investing $350 million in revamping Maserati's production and headquarters facilities, Ferrari SpA is ready to take Maserati on its largest global expansion in recent years including the opening of several U.S. dealerships. A big milestone will take place in March, when Maserati

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 1, 2002

Global Growth: Ferrari SpA invests $350 million in Maserati venture

BOLOGNA, ITALY – Ferrari SpA is in the final stages of completing its E391 million (US$350 million) investment in the Maserati marque, which it acquired in 1997. The company has invested E111 million ($100 million) in the past three years revamping Maserati’s production facility in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, Italy, and plans to invest another E280 million ($250 million) in the next four years in

By Kevin Kelly • Dec. 6, 2001

Nissan shows new e-AWD system

TOKYO Lost in a sea of oddities at the Tokyo Motor Show is a proposal from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. for a neat and efficient all-wheel-drive system. The company dubs it E4WD and unveiled it in the mm concept (see p.48), which in production will serve as the basis for Nissan's next-generation Micra. Display in the subcompact mm showcases E4WD's greatest benefit: small size and weight, resulting in easy

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

GM and Isuzu: partners for pickups

General Motors Corp. and Isuzu Motors Ltd. have joined forces to develop the next-generation S-10 family of small pickups, a program expected to yield 500,000 units annually the largest project undertaken by the two in their 30-year partnership. The Isuzu-badged concept truck, recently unveiled in Tokyo, will give way to production versions for both Isuzu and GM with distinct exteriors. The joint

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

2001 Tokyo Motor Show: The Quirky and the Quick

Early talk was that this year's Tokyo Motor Show would be more occurring as it did barely a month after the September U.S. terrorist attacks. Subdued, perhaps somewhat, but the auto show here has earned a reputation as the industry's biannual weird-fest and the 2001 edition didn't disappoint. In fact, there may have been more offbeat and bizarre concepts than usual. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. unveiled perhaps

By Alisa Priddle, Katherine Zachary and Bill Visnic • Dec. 1, 2001

Mini Avalanche to fall on Oklahoma City

General Motors Corp. will build a midsize version of the Avalanche sport/utility pickup for its GMC division at its Oklahoma City assembly plant, sources tell WAW. Codenamed GMT305, the crossover unlike Avalanche will feature an open-air retractable notchback over the cargo area, sources say. In his final public appearance, Ron Zarrella, former president of GM North America, gave a quick glimpse of

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

Nissan climbs on the modularity bandwagon

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is leading the pack in embracing modularization, starting with its Smyrna, TN-built, new-for-'02 Altima midsize sedan, says Shigeo Ishida, president of Nissan Technical Center North America. Use of modules for the Altima's cockpit, front end and doors, has effected a 5% cost saving and reduced assembly time by 10% over the previous generation. Plus, Mr. Ishida says modularization

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

FORD TRYING TO SOLVE ITS QUALITY WOES

Ford Motor Co. is moving across a broad front to solve quality problems that have plagued the No. 2 automaker for years, leading to costly recalls, stalled product launches and poor results in customer surveys, a top official tells Ward's. James J. Padilla, who advanced to group vice president-Ford North America in the recent management shakeup that ousted President and Chief Executive Jacques Nasser,

Dec. 1, 2001

Chrysler turnaround plan was moving right along

Chrysler turnaround plan was moving right along But then came Sept. 11, a war, 0% financing and a lot of uncertainty "If you hear a German accent in this building, it's a visitor," James Holden told Ward's last year. It turned out to be his last interview as president of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group. It also turned out to be a totally inaccurate statement. The interview was in Mr. Holden's office

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2001

New program speeds payment to BMW dealers

A new program from BMW Financial Services aims to pay dealers more quickly. The new self-serve funding system lets BMW FS pay dealers before the paperwork is completed usually within one business day. We are now able to reduce the average waiting time for payment on a contract from two days to none, says Bob Divine, managing director of BMW FS in the United States. That means improved cash flow for

Dec. 1, 2001