Automakers: Page 435

Ford’s new ethics code: how would it look?

Could your conduct withstand public scrutiny? If your conduct was disclosed to management and reported in the media, would you be able to justify it as lawful and appropriate?That's the gist of Ford Motor Co.'s new Standards of Corporate Conduct governing what's proper behavior in doing business with suppliers and other customers.But unlike the more draconian measures put in writing by General Motors

Sept. 1, 1996

Direct-injection coming for the masses

Toyota Motor Corp. says it has developed a 4-stroke, direct-injected (DI) gasoline engine that will be fitted in a production subcompact car (Japanese market) by the end of this year.In conjunction with the new DI engine is another crucial item: a production-ready 3-way exhaust catalyst capable of oxidizing the oxides of nitrogen (NOx)-rich exhaust inherent to lean-burn engines.The new engine, designated

By Bill Visnic • Sept. 1, 1996

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

Ice cream and catsup? GM’s Metal Fabricating Div. goes on a diet

Baskin Robbins' 31 Flavors and Heinz 57 don't sound like technical manufacturing jargon, but Joseph D. Spielman, head of General Motors Corp.'s giant Metal Fabricating Div., uses them often to describe the way his operation used to be.He's referring to 31 flavors of manufacturing processes and 57 varieties of press lines. Unfortunately, they haven't blended any better on the factory floor of the GM

By Drew Winter • Sept. 1, 1996

Is the bloom off light-truck boom?

Hardly anyone challenges the assumption that light-truck sales in the United States will grow indefinitely. Big Three executives boldly predict that light trucks will account for at least half of total light vehicle sales by the turn of the century.Since 1990, light trucks have grown from 33% of the total light vehicle market to about 43% currently, with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler

By CHRISTOPHER W. CEDERGREN • Sept. 1, 1996

Malaysia’s on the move

KUALA LUMPUR -- "National" vehicles are multiplying like rabbits these days in Malaysia. And none are VWs.An experiment begun in 1985 with a state-owned company to produce the Proton Saga, a rebadged Mitsubishi model, not only has spawned additional models but a second and third "national" car plus a "national" van. And the product lineup isn't complete.A "national" motorcycle with Kawasaki ancestry

By Mack Chrysler • Sept. 1, 1996

Fiat takes on the world

It was hot-weather tested in Phoenix and cold-weather tested in Farmington Hills, MI, but don't expect to see the new Fiat Palio on the streets of these or any other U.S. or Canadian city.A small hatchback, Palio is the first in a family of cars Fiat SpA has named Project 178 -- or world cars. Brought only to the U.S. for testing, including a stint at the company's research and development facility

By Wielgat, Andrea • Sept. 1, 1996

Weight watchers: aluminum, magnesium make gains as automakers reduce mass.

Increasing use of aluminum and magnesium in vehicles is giving automakers faster weight loss than even possible by Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons.Aluminum poundage will show a healthy boost again in the '97 model year, says the Aluminum Assn. The trade group says aluminum averages 252 lbs. (114 kg) in 1996 cars and 241 lbs. (109 kg) in light trucks, for an overall average of 247 lbs.

By Drew Winter, Tim Keenan • Sept. 1, 1996

Another piece of the puzzle: Chrysler maps out its global strategy

The execs at Chrysler Corp. like to think the company dances to the beat of a different drummer."When we see everybody marching along all in lockstep we start looking around to see if we can't break out of the ranks and kind of march somewhere else," says Chrysler's Tom Gale, who has been running the company's international sales for the past three years. "We don't want to be with everybody else."But

By Deep, Said • Sept. 1, 1996

Making beautiful music with program management

It's rare these days to talk to anyone in the industry about systems integration and automaker-supplier relationships without a reference to program management slipping into the conversation. In fact you hear it so often it's tempting to think it's just another one of those buzzwords that infiltrate the industry lexicon every now and then.By most accounts, however, program management (PM) is more

By Tim Keenan • Aug. 1, 1996

GM’s big EVent: two years early, California gets its way - sort of

It's over. The arguments, the wrangling, the discussion, the regulation, the speculation. For the past few years -- really, since the 1990 California Air Resources Board (CARB) decree obliging automakers to sell electric vehicles (EVs) in California by 1998 -- there's been enough talk about EVs to test the patience of the most ardent tree huggers.But now it's over. General Motors Corp. will in a few

By Bill Visnic • Aug. 1, 1996

C3P: new acronym signals big change at Ford

Changes in computer systems usually don't rate as hot news in the auto industry, but if ever there was a big story in this acronym-crazed area of automotive engineering, this one is "man bites dog." The scale is enormous, the potential rewards are huge, the risks are substantial."A few of my colleagues in the industry say we're crazy to undertake such a huge effort. It has never been done, and they

By Drew Winter • Aug. 1, 1996

Will GM ‘Saturnize’ Saab?

Will the ultimate Saturn move-up car be a Saab?Not if you're suggesting a combination of their very different dealership networks, says Joel K. Manby, the recently named president and CEO of Saab Cars USA Inc., who was one of the marketing whiz kids behind Saturn's customer-coddling retail formula."That would be dangerous considering the extreme difference between the two divisions' brand identities,"

By Gardner, Greg • Aug. 1, 1996

Heady second quarter, profits will moderate in third

It may not get any better than this. Ford Motor Co. was the over achiever, fueled by adequate supplies of its F-150 pickup and an impressive $1,050 profit per vehicle. Ford's third quarter should be better than last year's because it is planning to build 11% more vehicles and will only have two new major new model changeovers -- the Expedition large sport/utility and the F-250 pickup, says David N.

Aug. 1, 1996

If a price increass in the middle of the forest and nobody hears it....

Is it still a price increase? Of course it is. Ford Motor Co. hiked prices on its 1996 Explorer by $200 and on the F-150 by between $385 and $400. An entry-level Explorer now starts at $19,770 and a base F-150 begins at $14,815. And there's another price hike on the way for the new model year. What you give up in passenger-car rebates, why not take back on hot-selling pickups and sport-utes. Hey,

Aug. 1, 1996

More problems for Honda

Speaking of PR problems, nearly 50 Honda dealers are suing the automaker for allegedly looking the other way while a company manager forced them to pay kickbacks, according to a suit filed in federal court in Baltimore. The charges stem from the case against former American Honda Motor Co. senior vice president Stanley James Cardiges, who pleaded guilty to receiving between $2 million and $5 million

Aug. 1, 1996

General Motors’ China hand

Ward's Auto World Senior Editor Greg Gardner interviewed Rudolph A. Schlais Jr., president of General Motors China operations, during June's Auto China '96 show in Beijing. Here is a transcript of that interview.Q -- Where do things stand with the joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.?A -- We were selected as the partner of choice in October. We've been actively working with SAIC on

By Gardner, Greg • Aug. 1, 1996

Chrysler still likely strike target, but don’t count Ford out, yet.

Speaking of labor talks, it's coming down to crunch time.Chrysler Corp.'s $1 billion second-quarter profit will reinforce conventional wisdom that it will be the target. An announcement from Solidarity House is expected on Aug. 22.But not so fast. Don't be surprised if the UAW chooses Ford Motor Co., which is now making big-time profits again ($2.6 billion in the first half), to help it sculpt the

Aug. 1, 1996

No respect: EV1’s aluminum body shouldn’t stand in Prowler’s shadow

Chrysler Corp.'s Plymouth Prowler is so over-exposed in Detroit, even street people can tell you about its innovative aluminum body between sips of cheap wine. "And at only $35,000, it will be very affordable," they say. Then they ask for spare change.But the equally ingenious aluminum structure of General Motors Corp.'s EV1 electric car, which hits the marketplace this fall -- about six months before

By Drew Winter • Aug. 1, 1996

A new look at ethics

When in doubt, don't do it. That's the overriding message General Motors Corp. conveys with its revised ethics policy circulated to GM's 697,000 employees worldwide on May 1.Now, three months later, repercussions of the tougher new guidelines involving gifts, entertainment and other forms of gratuities continue to reverberate in the automotive community.Although it's designed to clamp down chiefly

By Smith, David C.; Rothenberg, Al • Aug. 1, 1996

What affordability crisis?

For the third consecutive quarter, Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index has fallen. In the first three months of 1996, it takes 28.8 weeks of median family income to purchase an average-priced vehicle, compared with 30 weeks' income during the fourth quarter of 1995. Lower interest rates, rebates and consumer optimism about future employment all contribute, says Comerica Senior Economist David

June 1, 1996

Motomachi marvel: RAV4 utilizes new Toyota production system

NAGOYA, Japan--Just when its gasping competitors think they're catching up with Toyota Motor Corp., the world's leanest automaker gets its second wind, kicks out and sets a new pace.Kaizen, the Japanese term for continuous improvement, is the guiding principle in Toyota's tireless chase to make better vehicles--and better conditions for workers.Nowhere is that philosophy more evident than at Toyota's

By David C. Smith • June 1, 1996

Right-hand-drive Neons head for eight countries

In a move to bolster its chances in the global market, Chrysler Corp. recently launched a right-hand-drive (RHD) version of the Neon small car. The RHD Neon is built at Belvidere, IL, and shares the assembly line with left-hand-drive (LHD) 2- and 4-door models.In the past, U.S. automakers haven't made much of an effort in RHD markets. Yet 22% of world volume--excluding North America--is right-hand

June 1, 1996

Baring on the killer ‘E’s

At 155 mph (250 km/in) we slide right in the E50, this newest, mightiest version of the recently released, doe-eyed E-class Mercedes. We must move out of the passing lane because the driver behind us is flashing his headlights insistently. It's the ultimate German expression of Mine's Bigger Than Yours: at 155, mph, this guy is forcing us over like we're doing, say, a measly 130 mph (208 km/h). only

By Bill Visnic • June 1, 1996

Witness to automotive history: recollections of those who’ve lived it, close up and personal

In our continuing celebration of the U.S. automotive Centennial, WAW tracked down nearly 30 industry notables who were close-up witnesses to the industry's history. Part I of this special coverage ran in our May issue. Contributing editor Al Rothenberg conducted the following interviews.GM's Lloyd ReussLloyd Reuss, 59, served General Motors Corp. from 1957 until his retirement in 1993. He headed Buick,

By Rothenberg, Al • June 1, 1996

Fords shows off Expedition SUV in Kansas City

The Expedition is a 4-door, 9-passenger SUV that Ford says fits easily into a standard garage. It will replace the 2-door Bronco and give the company a heavy-duty SUV to compete with General Motors Corp.'s Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban.The Expedition is part of a $5 billion, full-size truck development effort that started with the F150.In a mild surprise. Ford also introduces the F250 pickup truck in Kansas

June 1, 1996