Automakers: Page 93

Stellantis’ Captive Financial Services Unit Comes Online

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares says 90% of the automaker’s dealers in the U.S. have signed on with Stellantis Financial Services U.S. About 80% percent of Stellantis’ sales volume in the U.S. will utilize the in-house company.

By Joseph Szczesny • March 15, 2023

VW’s 5-Year, $193B Plan Includes Scout Brand, More EVs

Battery-electric vehicle and software development will account for up to $131 billion of the German automaker's expenditure.

By Greg Kable • March 15, 2023

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

Volvo Incubator Will Nurture Urban Technology Solutions

Start-ups with promising technologies for electric and autonomous vehicles and digital solutions will be invited to collaborate with Volvo engineers and business experts during short validation projects.

By Paul Myles • March 14, 2023

Porsche Adds Battery-Electric Cayenne

The new model will be sold alongside facelifted versions of today’s internal-combustion-engine and plug-in hybrid Cayenne from 2026.

By Greg Kable • March 13, 2023

Mercedes Helps Ease a BEV Pain Point

BEV sales outpace the number of public charging stations, says a J.D. Power report. That’s a problem.

By Steve Finlay • March 13, 2023

Chevrolet Again Tops iSpot.tv’s Most-Seen Auto Ads Chart

Despite Chevrolet’s No.1 ranking, Lexus is the brand with the most total combined impressions from two highly-seen sales event spots.

By Wards Staff • March 10, 2023

Mercedes-Benz CLA to Go Electric But Retain Gasoline Option

The third-generation CLA will offer the choice of battery-electric and gasoline power, with internal-combustion engines to be produced in cooperation with Chinese automaker Geely.

By Greg Kable • March 10, 2023

Ford Boosting Production of 3 BEVs, 3 ICE Models

Ford did not return email inquiries from Wards about whether it has adequate supplies of microchips to support the production increases. The automaker reported a 100,000-vehicle volume deficit in fourth-quarter 2022, primarily because of the microchip shortage.

By Jim Irwin • March 9, 2023

Experts Not Sure BEVs Can Stop Ford Europe’s Tailspin

“‘Unapologetically American’ outstanding design and connected services…will differentiate Ford and delight our customers in Europe,” says Martin Sander, general manager of Ford Model e Europe, the automaker’s electrified-vehicle spin-off in the region.

By Jens Kastner • March 8, 2023

Stellantis, Honda Investing in BEV Components Plants

Stellantis will invest $155 million in three Kokomo, IN, plants to produce new electric-drive modules that will help power future BEVs made in North America. Honda is building a battery plant in Ohio in a joint venture with LG Energy Solution.

By Joseph Szczesny • March 6, 2023

Shoichiro Toyoda, 1925-2023: A Personal Remembrance

During Toyoda’s tenure as Toyota Motor president, annual global output grew from 3.2 million to 4.7 million units, with overseas production accounting for 16% of the total by 1992. That share now stands at 65%.

By Roger Schreffler • March 6, 2023

Scout Sites Plant in Columbia, South Carolina

Scout, a new division of the Volkswagen Group, selects Columbia, SC, to build a $2 billion assembly plant expected to create 4,000 jobs.

By David Kiley • March 3, 2023

Chrysler Is the Golden Goose at Stellantis

Ford earned an 8.4% profit margin in North America in 2022, GM 10.1% and Chrysler, 16.4%. Tesla’s global operating margin was 16.7%. So, from a margin standpoint, Chrysler did about as well as Tesla, which is considered the gold standard for financial performance.

By John McElroy • March 3, 2023

Chevrolet Leads iSpot.tv’s Most-Seen Auto Ads Ranking

The brand’s new spot thanks all the owners who helped make the Chevy Silverado the “No.1 best-selling retail fullsize pickup.”

By Wards Staff • March 3, 2023

Musk Sketches Tesla Plans at Investor Day

Tesla CEO Elon Musk detailed plans for a gigafactory in Mexico, improving plant efficiency and shifting the world to green electricity. Investors were not impressed.

By David Kiley • March 2, 2023

Rivian recalls more than 12,000 vehicles

The recall equals nearly half the EV company’s total production last year, as it strains to scale capacity.

By Kate Magill • March 2, 2023

BMW Embracing Hydrogen, Again

BMW is producing 100 iX5 hydrogen fuel-cell-powered utility vehicles to take advantage of Europe’s renewed build-out of hydrogen.

By David Kiley • March 2, 2023

Rivian Tops Tesla in J.D. Power BEV Study; Mini Electric Leads Volume Brands

Rivian and Mini top J.D. Power’s Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, with charging complaints rising.

By David Kiley • March 1, 2023

Ford Trends Report: Consumers Tense, Feeling Overwhelmed

The 2023 Ford Trends report shows people fear inflation, high prices, global warming and more. These insights inform marketers and ad agencies how to tailor brand messages and content.

By David Kiley • March 1, 2023

Nissan Ups Its EV Target, Plans Second U.S. Battery Plant

Nissan is increasing its target for electrified vehicles by 2030 and looking to site a new battery plant in the U.S.

By David Kiley • Feb. 28, 2023

Polish Tech Hub to Boost Volvo Cars’ Software Expertise

Volvo engineers in Krakow will join a global pool of talent working to develop software for key areas, from core safety technology to perception and driver assistance algorithms and software for autonomous driving.

By Paul Myles • Feb. 28, 2023

Volkswagen Group Seeking U.S. BEV, Battery Plants

Audi CEO Markus Duesmann says the German automaker intends to site a new electric-vehicle factory in the U.S. to take advantage of incentives provided in the Inflation Reduction Act.

By David Kiley • Feb. 27, 2023

Nissan’s ‘Whodunnit’ Tops the Most-Seen Auto Ads Ranking

Although it had the lowest estimated TV ad spend of iSpot.tv’s five most-seen auto ads, Nissan’s spot took first place for TV ad impressions.

By Wards Staff • Feb. 24, 2023

Stellantis at Home on Global Stage, CEO Tavares Says

By 2030, revenue from Stellantis’ operations in South America, Africa and the Middle East could equal the revenue from its well-established operations in Europe and North America, CEO Carlos Tavares says.

By Joseph Szczesny • Feb. 24, 2023

Mercedes-Benz Previews New Operating System

The new chip-to-cloud architecture will launch in 2024, initially on the CLA compact coupe.

By Greg Kable • Feb. 23, 2023