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A Hot Time in Spring Hill

SPRING HILL, TN - Saturn Homecoming was a hot time both figuratively and literally.Homecoming '99, the automaker's sec-ond national owner appreciation event, featured main-event entertainment, a celebration of American heroes and activities for participants of every age.It also was 110 degrees (including heat index) as the central region of the country was gripped in a record- setting heat wave in

By Tim Keenan • Sept. 1, 1999

Lincoln LS -- Let’s just say it’s close, but no cigar

I once asked the head of a German car company in the U.S. what he would do if he were running Cadillac. He hesitated, then said, "Well, I wouldn't have brought out the Catera." The Catera is the $32,000 "entry level" made-in-Germany Cadillac, selling now for a few years without much success. You remember: "The Cadillac that zigs."His answer puzzled me. Cadillac needed a car in that "entry" market,

By Jerry Flint • Sept. 1, 1999

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

Training on the Tube

School bells are ringing in dealerships thro-ughout America as salespeople, technicians and other staff gear up for the '2000 model vehicle launch. But there are fewer teachers, fewer books, let alone dirty looks.Product, service and finance training courses from the major automakers are beamed into the dealership via satellite or World Wide Web. Employees can access information on demand, almost

By Maureen McDonald • Sept. 1, 1999

Cadillac Searches for Its Roots-GM’s flagship sets course to regain lost glory

"When you worked at Cadillac it was almost as if they tattooed a wreath and crest on your chest. You'd fall on a sword for Cadillac."- Del Schroeder, who joined Cadillac as a young engineer in 1962 and retired from General Motors Corp. as an executive engineer in 1994.adillac hasn't competed in the grueling 24-hour LeMans race since 1950, but come next June 12 it'll go head-to-head in the French classic

By DAVID C. SMITH and DREW WINTER • Sept. 1, 1999

PLATO MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT A CAR HERE

MILWAUKEE, WI - The late Harold L. Wilde used his hands to demonstrate why he became such an innovator at his store, the biggest Toyota dealership in Wisconsin."If you're here," he'd tell his staff, cutting his right hand through the air in a sidewise motion, "someone else is rising."You have to keep moving up yourself, doing new things constantly to stay ahead, or they'll catch up and go ahead of

By Maynard M. Gordon • Sept. 1, 1999

Italian Renaissance--Fiat vows independence by planning transformation

TURIN - Fiat SpA deserves this year's title of "Most Speculated About" car company.So far, the Italian automaker has been rumored to be on the verge of a merger/alliance/joint venture with AB Volvo, Ford Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., General Motors Corp., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., DaimlerChrysler AG and Yugoslavia's Zastava, among several others.Some even say General Electric will buy a share of

By Andrea Wielgat • Sept. 1, 1999

DON’T LOOK FOR MERCEDES IN THIS NEW MUSEUM

The Chrysler corporate brand name may not stand alone anymore, but it now has a new museum that does.The Walter P. Chrysler Museum, adjacent to the DaimlerChrysler Corp. head-quarters in Auburn Hills, MI, pays homage to the brand lineage that began in 1924, as well as to its many associated nameplates - DeSoto, Hudson, Rambler, Nash and AMC.The 58,000-sq.-ft. museum opens to the public Oct. 5. It

Sept. 1, 1999

INVESTIGATORS SIDE WITH GM and RYDELL IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DISPUTE

The nine-member California New Motor Vehicle Board began its own study of the GM/Wesley Rydell dealership group after a team of investigators found that the San Fernando Valley initiative does not violate the state franchise law.Sam Jennings, executive director of the board, says several board members, before voting on whether to accept the investigators' findings, want to probe further into terms

Sept. 1, 1999

VOLVO HITS GENERATION X HANGOUTS TO HYPE 2 NEW CARS

With two new small cars coming out, Volvo Cars of North American Inc. (VCNA) is targeting 200,000 sales in North America by 2004, VCNA President Hans-Olov Olsson tells Ward's Dealer Business.That compares with 118,000 sales in Canada and the United States in 1998 and a projected 137,000 in 1999. These figures include 8,000 deliveries in Canada last year and 9,000 forecast for this year.Despite this

By David C. Smith • Sept. 1, 1999

Nissan’s Ghosn Goes After Profits

Renault SA's former "Le Cost Killer," Carlos Ghosn, is measuring his task at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. these days with visits to the Japanese auto-maker's international operations, impressing upon everyone he meets his immediate message: profitability for Nissan by next fiscal year. "It's non-negotiable," the Brazilian native says. "We don't have a lot of time to fix Nissan's problems."Analysts say that's

By Barbara McClellan • Sept. 1, 1999

Toyota Wants to Lure Boomer Babies

CARLSBAD, CA - Toyota Motor Corp. knows it has a way to travel to bring young carbuyers into the fold. While aging Baby Boomers last year made the Toyota Camry No.1 in U.S. sedan sales, Boomer babies want nothing to do with their parent's staid and boring cars.So Toyota is looking to lure Generation Xers, as well as those coming up behind them, with a new direction for both the sporty seventh-generation

By Barbara McClellan • Sept. 1, 1999

‘Oldest’ Ford store opens stand-alone auto care facility

The world's oldest family-owned Ford dealership has become part of the automaker's newest customer concepts - the Auto Care stand-alone service facility.Tenvoorde Ford, St. Cloud, MN, opened Ford's eighth Auto Care facility on Eighth Avenue S.E. about four miles east of the dealership on Roosevelt Road.Owner Jack Tenvoorde, grandson of founder Stephen Tenvoorde, calls the Auto Care focus "bringing

Sept. 1, 1999

GM SAYS technologically advanced 2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE IS A THRILL

When the 2000 DeVille hits showrooms this November, Cadillac dealers will be able to boast selling one of the most technologically advanced and safest vehicles in the world.Backing those claims are the DeVille's night vision, ultrasonic rear parking assist, on-board navigation and On-Star communication features. Add to that the light-emitting diode (LED) taillight and center high-mounted stoplight

Sept. 1, 1999

FORD DIV. PREZ DOES THE DEALERSHIPS

"BILL, THERE'S THE TOWN'S FORD DEALERSHIP," says Ford Div. President James G. O'Connor, looking out the window of a new Ford Focus that Public Affairs Manager Bill George is driving in Manchester, NH.Mr. O'Connor wants to stop in and say hello to the local dealer. It's something he often does when he's on the road "even when he is 'off-duty' and with his wife," says Ford Public Affairs Director Anne

By Steve Finlay • Sept. 1, 1999

SPX offers a way to keep track of tools in service depts.

About 1,000 General Motors Corp. dealership service departments, a couple of Ford Motor Co. shops and at least one DaimlerChrysler service point have no problem keeping track of their specialty tools. That's because they've subscribed to SPX Corp.'s tool organization system.The manufacturer claims that a well-organized specialty tool area positively affects productivity, customer satisfaction and

By Tim Keenan • Sept. 1, 1999

Wow! What a Concept

BLACKHAWK FARMS, IL - Everyone's well aware the former Chrysler Corp. set the standard for creating over-the-top concept cars that evolved into real stuff you could buy.So stalwart Chrysler supporters will be gratified to know that the company's merger with Daimler-Benz AG hasn't squashed the "Let's-make-it-into-a-production-car" philosophy that in the last few years had made Chrysler concept cars

By Bill Visnic • Sept. 1, 1999

SIEMENS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FINDS FAULT

Siemens Automotive, the Germany-based supplier of original equipment electronic systems, is trying to convince various automakers to adopt its Siemens Diagnostic Information System (SIDIS).BMW and Volkswagen dealership service departments already are using versions of SIDIS, which consists of a set of three integrated components - SIDIS-R, SIDIS-D and SIDIS-W.SIDIS-R generates diagnostic trees based

By Tim Keenan • Sept. 1, 1999

Steel Turns Green

This month, workers at the Curtis Screw Co. in Buffalo, NY, will begin machining a part for Ford Motor Co. using a new unleaded "green steel." Bob Squier, president of Curtis, calls it a significant development for the industry because the new steel helps bring a truly environmentally friendly car closer to reality.Curtis is one of the largest screw machine parts suppliers to Detroit and a member

By Herb Shuldiner • Aug. 1, 1999

Forward Look--Shanghai car show gets high-class attention

SHANGHAI - Watching the crowds swarm into Auto Shanghai '99, it's hard to believe China's market is slipping sideways into another year of stagnation, the fourth in a row.Despite disappointing growth, many foreign automakers and parts producers remain captivated by the potential Chinese market for their products, sharing the enthusiasm of the crowds.An estimated 300,000 people pushed through the doors

By Mack Chrysler • Aug. 1, 1999

INTERNET WILL IMPROVE FACTORY LINKS

Wayne Williams, pres-ident of Williams Auto World in Lansing, MI, thinks DCS systems of the future will be Internet-based rather than satellite-based. As 1999 chairman of NADA's Information Technology Committee and holder of seven automobile franchises (VW, Subaru, Isuzu, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi), Mr. Williams welcomes such new directions in factory communications technology."With seven franchises,

Aug. 1, 1999

Rebel Yell

RICHMOND, VA - A second "Battle of Richmond" could be shaping up, this time also centering on fear of control by an outside force.In 1865, the Union won the original battle for the capital of the Confederacy and of Virginia.This time, the Virginia Automobile Dealers Assn. and Ford Motor Co. are the potential adversaries.It might be far-fetched to call the latest conflict a North-South battle. But

By Maynard M. Gordon • Aug. 1, 1999

2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THOUGHS IT OUT AS OTHER SPORTY CARDS DISAPPEAR

SAN FRANCISCO - Nice as they were, the Ford Probe, Isuzu Impulse, Mazda MX-6, Nissan 240SX, Subaru XT and the VW Corrado all disappeared from the sporty coupe market, a segment with attractive entries but lousy sales of late.Likewise, Honda Prelude and Toyota Celica sales are soft. And General Motors Corp. appears set to end the Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro lines.Then there's the Mitsubishi

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 1999

DODGE THINKS UNCONVENTIONALLY WITH WILD THEME PARK EVENT FOR OWNERS

There are the traditional ways of marketing to car owners, such as mailers and dealership open houses.Then there are the untraditional ways.Put what DaimlerChrysler Corp.'s Dodge Div. did in Orlando, FL in the latter category.Dodge arranged for 12,000 people, consisting of 2,500 Dodge owners and their families, to spend the weekend at Universal Studios' new theme park, Island of Adventure."It's our

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 1999

TRADITION REIGNS IN RICHMOND

RICHMOND, VA - History is in the air at a storied dealership on West Broad Street in this old capital of the Confederacy.It's Richmond Motor Co., a Ford dealership in Richmond, VA, since 1916, only 13 years after Ford Motor Co. was incorporated.It's a highly successful father-and-son dealership, whose 73-year-old president and CEO, Robert C. King, Sr., sits proudly below a portrait of his great-grandfather

By Maynard M. Gordon • Aug. 1, 1999

From Wall Street to Main Street

NORWALK, CT - "I didn't know anything about this business before I got into it," says Wall Street broker-turned-auto-dealer Marc Blitzer.He's president of Devan Motors in Norwalk, CT. In February of 1996, Mr. Blitzer and partner Jonathan Brostoff took over a dealership that had been losing money.Mr. Brostoff's father was a Buick dealer for 22 years in New York City. So the son had the auto business

By Herb Shuldiner • Aug. 1, 1999