Automakers: Page

Automakers need 250,000 more workers

Just when the job-eating, downsizing management mindset seems to be spinning out of control, here comes a group of cock-eyed optimists from the University of Michigan's Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation.The Big Three will hire 250,000 over the next eight years -- that's in the United States alone. Up to 129,000 of those hires could happen in Michigan.That's the thrust of "Driving America's

March 1, 1996

Takata goes green

Because of possible disposal problems with conventional sodium azide-fueled inflators, air bag producers are racing to develop more environmentally friendly versions (see WAW--June '95, p. 41). Takata Inc. claims to be the first supplier to provide automakers with an "ultra-downsized, environmentally friendly, non-azide inflator for the '96 model year." The new air bags will be used on four vehicle

March 1, 1996

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

Vectra-based Saturn running behind schedule

Saturn Corp.'s Project Innovate, the program aimed at creating a midsize move-up car from an Adam Opel AG Vectra platform, is running behind schedule, say Saturn insiders. The car, which is Elated for a 1999 model year intro and would be built at General Motors Corp.'s Wilmington, DE, plant, will not be a rebadged Vectra, says Saturn President Donald W. Hudler. It will be wrapped in Saturn's patented

March 1, 1996

GM flips EV1 ‘on’ switch

A spate of technically intriguing vehicles have cropped up recently, some nearly ready for the road, others still in the dream stage. WAW takes a close look at a selection on the following seven editorial pages, starting with General Motors Corp.'s EV1 electric car and including Delco Electronics SSE and Chrysler Corp.'s Prowler and Viper Coupe.Whether or not General Motors Corp. makes money on its

By Gardner, Greg • March 1, 1996

Vive la difference: Ford’s Richard Parry-Jones relishes challenges ofworld cars.

Ford Motor Co.'s ambitious Ford 2000 program puts unprecedented responsibility on the automaker's Europe-based small/medium front-drive vehicle program center (VPC) -- some 40% of the automaker's worldwide volume.But Richard Parry-Jones, Ford's British-born vice president in charge of that center, has experience with world cars and welcomes the challenge.Mr. Parry-Jones' shepherding of the CDW27 project

By ROB CLEVELAND • March 1, 1996

ABD develops new suspension test rig

High consumer expectations are leading automakers to demand higher quality components from their suppliers. The testing equipment industry, in turn, is coming up with faster and more accurate methods of certifying automotive components.England-based Anthony Best Dynamics Ltd. recently unveiled a new system for measuring vehicle suspension characteristics. The Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine

By Tim Keenan • March 1, 1996

Ford offers leaner Taurus, plans ‘superdoor’ for Windstar

From $600 rebates to the new no-frills Taurus and Sable, Ford is finally getting the message about affordability. The bare-bones midsize sedans, both available in April, will come without cruise control, floor mats, power door locks or a cassette player. All interiors will be gray. You can have any exterior color you want as long as it's white, red, gray, silver or green. The Taurus G will be stickered

March 1, 1996

ASTEC leads Delphi global push

TOKYO - In one corner of Genera Motors Corp.'s Asian Technical center (ASTEC) on the outskirts of Tokyo engineers are busy dismantling Nissan Pulsar.Although the tear-down under way is part of an exercise modeled after Gm's Mona Lisa program to determine best-in-class parts used in the States, this car holds little interest for those focused on the U.S. market. "The U.S. doesn't understand the market

By David E. Zoia • March 1, 1996

Honda’s small sport-ute will come to U.S. next year

First came the Kia Sportage, then Toyota's RAV4, so Honda is Americanizing its CR-V small sport/utility for introduction in the U.S. by early 1997. The CR-V will be built to U.S. safety and emission specifications with a 2L, 4-cyl. engine and full-time 4-wheeldrive. Its overall length (1 76.4 ins. or 4,480 mm.) is about the same as the Honda Passport, but it will have considerably less cargo volume,

March 1, 1996

Chrysler’s Prowler: more than a material showcase, it’s a real product

Anyone wondering why Chrysler Corp. has some of the world's lowest product-development costs should visit their local Plymouth showroom early next year. Sitting there, briefly, in a few lucky dealerships, will be one of the more technologically impressive production vehicles to come along in some time.Even if you hate its retro-style looks, pull your nose up at its mundane 3.5L engine, and sneer at

By Drew Winter • March 1, 1996

Tinkerers be damned

Ford's F-series full-size pickups have been the best-selling pickups in the U.S. over the last 19 years. In 1995, Ford sold 662,410 F-trucks, only slightly less than the 675,000 General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet and GMC0 divisions sold combined. Tinkering with success should not be taken lightly, as witness the slow start for Ford's radically re-designed 1996 Taurus and Sable models. In developing

By David Smith, Stoddard, Haig, Neff, Natalie • Feb. 1, 1996

Straight talk in teamland

Team development has been deemed the holy grail, the organizational wonder drug that is transforming the U.S. automotive industry into a competitive powerhouse.But it's not "an immaculate conception," says G. Glenn Gardner, who led Chrysler Corp.'s full-size LH platform team from start-up in 1988 until the cars moved into production during 1992.Mr. Gardner retired in 1994 as general manager of Chrysler's

By McCann, Hugh • Feb. 1, 1996

Toyota recycles ASR

Toyota Motor Corp. says it has developed the world's first technology to sort and extract polyurethane foam and fabric granules from automotive shredder residue (ASR). The sorted material is used to mass-produce automotive soundproofing products in the form of a mat lining. ASR, usually disposed of in landfills, is a mixture of ground-up plastics, rubber, fabrics and dirt remaining after a vehicle

Feb. 1, 1996

The Russians are coming

Russian automaker Avto VAZ Inc., in an unprecedented move, will soon begin assembling small cars in Uruguay and Colombia -- mainly for export to Mercosur and Andean Pact nations. The company will begin early this year by manufacturing 300 units a month in Cali, Colombia, through a joint venture, says Rafael Anssens, sales manager for Motores Internacionales SA in Panama, which has exclusive Lada distribution

Feb. 1, 1996

NAIAS ‘96: everybody’s got an SUV

If you can say SUV, you can sum up this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It's easier these days to name which automakers aren't promoting some sort of new sport/utility vehicle. Almost everyone and their brother is jostling for elbow space in a segment already clogged with a SUV aimed at every demographic imaginable.Topping the list of "new" SUVs at the record-breaking Detroit

By Bill Visnic • Feb. 1, 1996

Big three want warmer reception in Chile

It's not likely to happen this year, but U.S. automakers are eager to see Chile gain entry into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Adding Chile to NAFTA (with the U.S., Canada and Mexico) could be a big boost for Detroit's automakers, which now supply only 3% of the Chilean passenger vehicle market from their U.S. plants. With Chile in NAFTA, that could jump to 10% within two years,

Feb. 1, 1996

Chrysler finishes ‘95 with strong profit surge

It's not quite the average $8,000 windfall they got last year, but Chrysler Corp.'s 72,700 U.S. hourly workers will receive an average profit-sharing check of $3,200 Feb. 16, based on the company's $2 billion profit for 1995. And Chrysler's 27,000 salaried troops stand to get even more, although a company spokesman declined to disclose the average white-collar payment. Meanwhile, the folks from Auburn

Feb. 1, 1996

Chrysler extends Lutz’s contract

How do you tell a guy who has championed cars like the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler that he's too old for the business? If you're Chrysler's board of directors, you don't. Robert A. Lutz, Chrysler Corp. president, is having so much fun, the board is extending his contract two years beyond the company's mandatory retirement age of 65, which he will reach in February 1997. Of course we all remember

Feb. 1, 1996

And now, a word from our sponsors

Long before the Olympic torch begins its cross-country trek to Atlanta, automakers are hustling to turn the quadrennial global sportsfest into a marketing bonanza.Remember the days when there was one official camera, film, soap or soft drink of the Olympic games? Forget that.Those inclusive folks at the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games have done their best to spread the wealth, especially when

By Gardner, Greg • Feb. 1, 1996

Daewoo advances on Europe

South Korea's Daewoo Group continues its push into Europe with a letter of intent to take a 65% stake in four of eight vehicle and component operations belonging to Austria's Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, the same company that builds Chrysler's minivan in Europe. Under the agreement, Daewoo will invest $260 million in the operations, including the $1 1 0 million purchase price for the equity. Daewoo expects

Feb. 1, 1996

Toyota targets 1.2 million North American sales by 2000

Toyota's new message is clear: no more Mr. Nice Guy. No more holding back while the harsh winds of trade politics blow over. Toyota wants to boost its North American sales to 1.2 million cars and trucks by 2000, up from slightly more than 1 million last year. That's a lofty goal given industry projections showing sales remaining flat through the rest of the decade. The target only slightly exceeds

Feb. 1, 1996

Aluminum comes out swinging

The steel industry knocked the collective wind out of them late last summer, but aluminum producers straightened up and came out swinging last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.Two very significant aluminum-intensive vehicles -- General Motors Corp.'s EV1 electric car and Chrysler Corp.'s Plymouth Prowler -- were introduced there, and the aluminum folks worked hard to

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 1996

Refining the ride

After more than 100 years of engineering, you'd think there would be little new under the sun in the world of automotive suspensions. Yet just like powertrains, new developments and refinements continue to surprise, delight, and sometimes amaze consumers and engineers alike.Two new systems in particular are getting noticed: the four-link front suspension on the '96 Audi AG A4 and the SLA setup on

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 1996

GM moves to shake midsize malaise

It's far too early to declare that General Motors Corp.'s new family of 1997 midsize cars will rebuild the near devastation left by the infamous $7 billion GM-10 program of the 1980's.But GM's much-maligned Midsize Car Div. seems to have leaRNed some crucial lessons. Here are some hopefUl signs detected from initial inquiries about the new Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Century, Oldsmobile intrigue and

By Gardner, Greg • Feb. 1, 1996

Haggling about the losers is half the fun

Selecting among Ward's 30 candidates for the Ten Best Engines of 1996 proved to be a tough call. Simply put, all of the powerplants we tested generally had attributes that made them winners. Some I especially liked that didn't make the cut were Ford's 3L Duratec V-6 in the all-new Taurus/Sable; GM's 2.4L Twin Cam I-4 in Cavalier and Sunfire -- spunky little performers in their segment; and Chrysler's

By Drew Winter, Bill Visnic, Mike Arnholt, David C. Smith, McCann, Karey, Daivd E. Zoia • Jan. 1, 1996