Automakers: Page 407

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

World’s largest Hyundai dealership opens in Las Vegas

Dealer John Staluppi has opened a new state-of-the-art Hyundai dealerhip -- believed to be the world's largest -- in Las Vegas. The facility,which will employ more than 50 people, cost close to $6 million dollars. Planet Hyundai is a fully equipped dealership with a child’s play room, a service bay with air conditioning and padded flooring for employee comfort, along with a futuristic $150,000 sign,

By Wire Reports • July 13, 2001

Nissan fires back at allegations of discrimination

Nissan fires back to allegations of discrimination In a statement released late yesterday, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (NMAC) responded harshly to recent charges of discrimination. The charges are based on a study conducted by Vanderbilt University’s Associate Professor Mark Cohen. The study was commissioned by attorneys for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit Cason v. NMAC, currently in federal

By Cliff Banks • July 11, 2001

First-of-its-Kind to Integrate Both New and Used Inventories on One Site

First-of-its-Kind to Integrate Both New and Used Inventories on One Site ATLANTA and DEARBORN, Mich., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- FordDirect, the joint venture between participating Ford dealers and Ford Motor Company today announced that it has selected AutoTrader.com to power FordDirect.com's Used Vehicle Search Platform. FordDirect's selection of AutoTrader.com will enable the typical participating

By PR Newswire • July 10, 2001

The QUALITY CRUNCH

If you only read the headlines, it doesn't look like Ford Motor Co. can do much right these days. Besides its high-visibility fight with Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. over tire recalls and sport/utility vehicle (SUV) rollovers, it seems like the company has forgotten how to build quality cars and trucks. Ford's problems already have been well documented: Its Escape small SUV has been recalled five times

By Drew Winter, Brian Corbett, Eric Mayne, Tom Murphy, Alisa Priddle, Cliff Banks, David C. Smith • July 1, 2001

Not Just Another Small Car

LONDON Nearly 42 years ago, Alec Issigonis's Mini redefined small cars. The new, reincarnated Mini model may not inspire generations of imitators, but neither is it just another small car. This is BMW AG's Mini, a German-conceived and developed baby that's packed with contemporary technology and far from the simplicity (sliding windows, wire door handles, push-button starter) and packaging miracle

By Peter Robinson • July 1, 2001