Automakers: Page 448

Chevy: sailing along quite nicely, thank you

Chevrolet Motor Div. plans to sail into a new niche while marketing its '95 vehicles by sponsoring the America team -- the female-crewed contender in the America's Cup race.Chevy is the America team's team vehicle, and the division has provided the 26-member team and its staff with 20 vehicles."Obviously sailing is an upscale sport, the market we're going after," says Steve McAvoy, who is manager

Jan. 1, 1995

Ford shakes up its supplier base

James Bond is a man of international sophistication who always orders his martinis shaken, not stirred, no matter what continent he's visiting. That's exactly how Carlos E. Mazzorin is approaching his plan to reinvent Ford Motor Co.'s worldwide supplier relationships. The new global purchasing chief is shaking up the way the automaker does business with the supplier community so thoroughly that nothing

By Sorge, Marjorie • Jan. 1, 1995

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

Ford resumes car-making in South Africa.

Ford is joining scores of other companies returning to South Africa now that apartheid has been vanquished. Ford agrees to acquire 45% equity in South African Motor Corp. Ltd. (Samcor) for an estimated $45 million. Ford owned 42% of Samcor through 1988, before it divested all of its South African holdings. The company currently assembles Ford, Mazda and Mitsubishi vehicles. Ford Motor Credit Co. also

Jan. 1, 1995

It’s a banner year; Johnson Controls closes 1994 with a bang.

Johnson Controls Inc.'s Automotive Systems Group closes out 1994 with a bang--actually more like a crash. Capping a year in which JCI produces its millionth seat for Chrysler Corp., picks up a complete seat-system contract from Rover and increases its sales from $2.55 billion in 1993 to $2.87 billion, the company installs a $2.8-million vehicle crash simulator.Intending to speed product testing and

By Tim Keenan • Jan. 1, 1995

Ford, VW differ on strategy; disband Autolatina.

Meanwhile Ford and Volkswagen AG formally agreed to dissolve their eight-year-old Autolatina SA joint venture in Brazil and Argentina. The split should be completed within a year, Ford says. Autolatina -- Brazil's largest non-state-owned company and Argentina's second-largest automaker -- is 51% owned by VW and 49% owned by Ford. The company has 47% of the Brazilian market and a 30% share in Argentina.

Jan. 1, 1995

Industry upbeat over Republican win; GOP control of Congress could begood news for automakers.

Now that they con trol Congress, analysts expect the Republicans to move quickly on tax-cut and credit measures that could put more money in consumers' pockets, helping to stretch out an auto sales boom that some economists fear could start to waver in 1996.Republicans have pledged to:* Cut the capital gains tax from 28% to 14%. Consumers pay this when they sell stocks and bonds at a profit.* Seek

Jan. 1, 1995