Automakers: Page 434

Cadillac tests hands-off diagnostics

With its service manuals already about 120,000 pages long and expected to grow to 200,000 pages by 2000, General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac Motor Div. is testing Smart Mentor, a real-time mentoring program that guides technicians in repairing a car. Pilot models of Smart Mentor now are being tested at three Cadillac dealerships in Sarasota, FL, Troy, MI and Alexandria, VA.Smart Mentor was produced by

By Herb Shuldiner • June 1, 1998

BMW Investing $600 Million to Expand in SC And Build E53 SUV

Outbid by Volkswagen for Rolls-Royce and overshadowed by Daimler-Benz's $38-billion merger with Chrys-ler, BMW could be licking its wounds.Instead, buoyed by the success of its sporty Z3 roadster, the other German luxury carmaker is expanding its first U.S. plant in Spartanburg County, SC, to build a 2000 model sports-activity vehicle that handles like a sedan but shares some of the bulk of a truck.BMW

June 1, 1998

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

Culture Clash?---Chrysler, DaimlerBenz miles apart

You know both companies, so write about the potential "culture clash," Editor in-Chief Dave Smith suggested.OK, these two cultures, Chrysler and Daimler, can't clash because they don't even intersect. They could be operating on different planets.Let me give you an example:Earlier this year, the newest Mercedes, the tiny A Class, rolled over in the infamous Swedish moose test. After some confusion

By Jerry Flint • June 1, 1998

DaimlerChrysler: The ‘What Ifs?’

1. Let's start with Chrysler Chairman Bob Eaton. He was GM blue all the way when Lee Iacocca in 1991 bypassed his obvious successor, then-President Bob Lutz, and recruited Mr. Eaton from GM, where he headed International Operations.What if GM had managed to keep him in the fold? Without his low-key, but very product-oriented, leadership Chrysler may not have been the prize Daimler-Benz AG was looking

June 1, 1998

Porsche Points the Way--911’s all-new chassis gets light on high-strength steel

The steel industry's rapid mobilization to maintain steel's competitiveness in the automotive sector is one of the more successful concerted supplier efforts in memory. The Ultra Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) consortium, made up of 35 steel producers representing 18 nations, recently put the finishing touches on its prototype body-in-white that weighs, on average, 25% less than standard-steel bodies

By Bill Visnic • June 1, 1998

The Ultimate Outsource ---DaimlerChrysler is a German company

The big news is the merger of Chrysler Corp. and Daimler-Benz AG. As a former Chrysler executive, what are my thoughts?What immediately comes to mind is that this must be really big because it replaced President Clinton and his escapades on the front page.Another thing I notice is that American newspapers seem to be very positive about the merger. If it was the other way around, I'm sure the German

By STEPHAN SHARF • June 1, 1998

Is Bigger Really Better?--DaimlerChrysler merger faces hurdles

If size alone assures success, General Motors Corp. should be on top of the world.Instead, GM - still the largest automaker - continues to wrestle with a multitude of challenges, not the least of which is its sheer size. Despite years of trying, GM's costs remain too high. Its once-vaunted design leadership has been co-opted by competitors. And it takes GM longer to bring new products to market, which

By David C. Smith • June 1, 1998

Chrysler Brings New V-6 to Daimler Marriage

No one disputes the technical prowess of Daimler-Benz AG and its famed Mercedes-Benz cars.But in the pending merger of the German company with Chrysler Corp. to form DailmerChrysler AG, don't overlook technology the U.S. company brings to the marriage.A prime example is the new 3.5L, 253-hp V-6 engine powering the 1999 Chrysler LHS and 300 M models that go on sale this summer (see New Wheels p.56),

By David C. Smith • June 1, 1998

Ispat/Inland Deal Promises Lower Costs--Cheaper raw materials key to strategy

Daimler-Benz AG isn't the only major European company that's caused a stir recently by going shopping in the U.S. Ispat International NV, a major global steel company based in the Netherlands, created a furor last March with its purchase of Inland Steel Co., one of the industry's largest integrated steel producers.The investment is small compared to the DiamlerChrysler deal - only $1.43 billion -

By Drew Winter • June 1, 1998

A Bigger, Leaner Machine DaimlerChrysler merger puts more of a squeeze onsuppliers

The champagne bottles are in the recycling plant. Investment bankers have spent their fees on new yachts.Now Co-chairmen Juergen Schrempp of Daimler-Benz AG and Robert J. Eaton of Chrysler Corp. have to make this deal, the biggest industrial merger ever, work.It may take years. And it'll have an impact on every one of their constituencies: Their salaried work forces, unions, customers and, perhaps

By GREG GARDNER • June 1, 1998

Kerkorian, Eaton are Deal’s Biggest Winners

Forget the talk about synergies, global strategies and complementary product lines. Kirk Kerkorian, Chrys-ler's largest shareholder, will emerge from the Daimler Chrysler mega-merger with a profit of about $4.8 billion. Chrysler Chairman Robert E. Eaton, meanwhile, will receive shares in the new company that will be worth $106.5 million, based on data filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission

June 1, 1998

Thailand

It's hard to imagine that Thailand, the market that a year ago was a beacon of opportunity for global automakers, could spark such a rapid economic spiral throughout Southeast Asia. But it was the loss of confidence in the Thai baht last summer that led to high inflation, mass bankruptcy and a halt to new construction. That forced virtually every manufacturer in the nation to try to find ways to export

By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998

Microsoft and GM Engage in a Battle of Wits

At a recent conference, Bill Gates extolled the breathtaking innovation of the computer industry to the auto industry by saying, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles per gallon."Whoops. Be careful whom you pick on Mr. Smarty Pants.General Motors quickly issued a release, responding, "Yes, but would you want your car

May 1, 1998

Think Forever

In 1963 Chrysler Corp. surprised the industry by coming out with a revolutionary 5-year/50,000-mile (80,000 km) warranty. It covered all engine and transmission parts.At the time, other carmakers had to scramble to duplicate Chrysler's warranty. Now all carmakers offer more or less the same deal. Today's warranty, however, now covers just about all parts of the car - including paint and corrosion.Before

By STEPHAN SHARF • May 1, 1998

Olds Cranks It Up with New Northstar

NEW YORK - Making bold moves to revive what many believe is a dying franchise, General Motors Corp.'s Oldsmobile Div. will get the long-discussed, Northstar-derived 3.5L DOHC V-6 for its Intrigue at the start of 1999 production. The new all-aluminum V-6 - dubbed "Shortstar" by GM insiders - only will be available in the Intrigue GLS at first, but it will become standard by the end of the calendar

By HERB SHULDINER and BILL VISNIC • May 1, 1998

1997 Buick Riviera

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, according to the popular book. In the Ward's offices there is a similar polarity about Buick's supercharged Riviera.Our tech editor thinks the styling is stunning, flatly pronouncing, "I can't believe there's an automaker out there that wouldn't be proud to say they came up with this shape." Others editors are patently offended by its profile and proportions.Styling

May 1, 1998

Into the Mosh Pit

Not every Mercury fan is a septuagenarian looking to buy a boat-like Grand Marquis, but it's probably safe to say not many current customers prefer moshing to golfing - at least not yet.In what may be a first in automotive marketing, Lincoln Mercury officials are flagrantly courting the young nose-ring and tattoo crowd for the '99 Mercury Cougar, and they aren't afraid to admit it. Forget about wholesome-faced

By Drew Winter • May 1, 1998

Just a Temporary Lull, Or Is Toyota in Trouble?

It doesn't draw the type of scrutiny General Motors Corp. faces when its market share falls below 30% for a month, but Toyota Motor Corp.'s core U.S. sales division is off to a surprisingly slow start in 1998.At first blush it appears to be nothing more than a mild hangover from pulling Camry sales ahead to capture last year's best-selling car crown from Ford's Taurus. But through the first quarter

May 1, 1998

BeetleMania in Santa Barbara: Their Parents Would Be Proud

How's this for deja vu?Twenty-five sorority girls from University of California at Santa Barbara managed to cram into a new Beetle at the local Santa Barbara Mazda-Volkswagen dealership. They also succeeded in raising $1,500 for charity while beating the old Guinness Book of Records mark by one person.But there should be an asterisk next to the listing.Unlike previous Beetle-stuffing records, the

May 1, 1998

Daewoo U.S. Debut to Favor Students

SEOUL - There's not a Korean involved in the automotive industry that doesn't recall with great chagrin South Korea's efforts to break into the U.S. car market a decade ago. It didn't work because quality was, well, cheesy.While Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. and Kia Motors Corp. have made low-key re-entries with higher-quality products that have achieved so-so results, Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. is cautiously

By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998

Moving Into the Sweet Spot

AB Volvo has a near-perfect highline convertible in the new C70, but delays in ramping up production at its Uddavella assembly plant in Sweden mean the handsome '99 C70 convertible hits the U.S. market nearly a year behind its originally projected launch date. Which in turn means Volvo now must sell the drop-roof C70 nearly head-to-head with Mercedes-Benz's newest convertible, the chop-top version

By Bill Visnic • May 1, 1998

China

While China may have difficulty achieving its economic growth target of 8% this year, with 5% to 6% the more likely rate, the world's most populated nation is having no trouble attracting foreign automakers and suppliers. China built 1.58 million vehicles in 1997, selling 1.56 million, up 6.4% from 1996 despite a soft year. But the potential sales in a country of 1.2 billion people is the real lure.But

By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998

Edsel Ford Retires Early: ‘A Self-Generated Idea’

This is one way to end speculation about which Ford scion next will lead the family business.Edsel B. Ford II has stepped down as president of Ford Credit to consult on issues relating to Ford Motor Co.'s 10,500 dealers. He retains his seat on the board of directors and its finance committee. He joins the board's organizational review and nominating committee, where he will have some voice in determining

May 1, 1998

C43: Everyday Supercar

PHOENIX - A practical supercar?The folks over at Mercedes say yes, but it'll take a quick $52,750 out of your bank account."This is not something to be admired and put in a garage," says Mike Jackson, president of Mercedes-Benz North America. "It's an everyday supercar."Mercedes' latest offering, which hit showrooms in April, wears the envelope of a sensible C-Class with a modified engine, body and

By Andrea Wielgat • May 1, 1998

LucasVarity Lands GM Brake Business

LucasVarity plc has secured a major contract to supply General Motors Corp. with antilock braking systems, traction control and vehicle stability systems for future cars to be sold in global markets. Based in Livonia, MI, LucasVarity's Light Vehicle Braking Systems already supplies GM light trucks and SUVs with ABS and will soon begin production at its Heerlen, The Netherlands, plant to supply ABS

May 1, 1998