Operations: Page 118

Distraction Study Calls Out Touchscreens

Topping the worst form of distraction studied was a driver suffering a 57% delayed reaction time using Apple CarPlay on a touchscreen compared with just 12% delayed reaction time for a driver with a 0.08% blood-alcohol level.

By Paul Myles • April 20, 2020

Technology Helps Keep Masked Drivers Safe

Eyesight Technologies says its computer vision and artificial-intelligence algorithms have been trained to detect distraction and drowsiness even when the driver is wearing a mask and glasses.

By Jim Irwin • April 17, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Automotive Manufacturing

Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

By WardsAuto staff

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 16

Ford Tests Social Distancing Wristbands; OEMs Using Private Vehicles to Make HD Maps; Production Picking Up

April 16, 2020

Morgan Completes Run of Steel-Chassis Sports Cars

Morgan, which has halted production for the first time since World War II, managed to roll out four examples of its limited-production Plus 4 70th Anniversary Edition model last month at its Malvern Link, U.K., factory.

By Paul Myles • April 15, 2020

New Twist on Car Dealership Sales ‘Conquesting’

automotiveMastermind works with dealers to turn service-department customers into showroom buyers, too.

By Steven Finlay • April 14, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 13

Germany Has an Inventory Problem; Toyota Reveals New Harrier SUV; Acura RDX A-Spec Impressions

April 13, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 10

Nissan Could Make 1 Million Less Vehicles; New Chevy Traverse Delayed; IIHS Wants Rubber Curbs at Intersections

April 13, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 9

Automakers Running Out of Cash; VW Starting to Recover in China; Amazon Won’t Compete With FedEx, UPS

April 9, 2020

Detroit 3 Increase Market Share

“The Detroit 3’s (customer) loyalty is virtually a fortress,” says J.D. Power auto analyst Tyson Jominy.

By Steven Finlay • April 9, 2020

Economist Predicts Auto-Sales Recession

Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Cox Automotive, predicts U.S. sales of new light vehicles are headed for fewer than 12 million units in 2020, down from 17.1 million in 2019.

By Jim Henry • April 8, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 3

JLR, VW 3D-Print Face Shields; GM To Make EVs for Honda; Ford Sees Sales Going Online

April 3, 2020

Pandemic Slams Brakes on Auto Production

LMC Automotive, Wards forecasting partner, now expects 2020 light-vehicle sales for North America of about 16.8 million, down from 20.2 million in 2019. Its sales forecast for 2021 is 18.4 million.

By Jim Henry • April 3, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020: Top Industry News for April 2

U.S. Sales Take a Beating; FCA Opens Online Purchases; PSA Group Hints at First U.S.-Bound Vehicle

April 2, 2020

Pickup Sales Down, But Stand Out in Bleak Market

Their resiliency is driven largely by the availability of “unprecedented incentive programs,” says Thomas King of J.D. Power.

By Steven Finlay • April 2, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020 | Top Industry News for April 1

Skoda Highlights Lesser Known Models; Gov. Finalizes Fuel Economy Plans; China May Ease EV Quotas

April 1, 2020

Trump Loosens Fuel-Economy, Emissions Standards

Current CAFE targets call for U.S. cars and light trucks to increase about 5% annually to an average 46.8 mpg by 2025. The revised rule will raise the standards 1.5% each year through model year 2026, to an average 40.4 mpg.

By Jim Irwin • April 1, 2020

Alas, Detroit Auto Show a No-Show This Year

We must wait to see if organizers can pull off this reimagined event at a time when auto shows around the world are struggling.

By Steven Finlay • April 1, 2020

Autoline Daily 2020 | Top Industry News for March 31

FCA Cuts Employee Pay; GM Tells Suppliers to Delay Refreshes; Hyundai Accent Impressions

March 31, 2020

PSA’s DS 9 May Test U.S. Luxury-Market Waters

Designers had German manufacturers’ premium offerings clearly in their sights during the planning of the new DS 9, which is PSA Group’s largest sedan to date, DS Cars product manager Vincent Devos says.

By Paul Myles • March 31, 2020

Ventilator Production Moving Ahead, Despite Trump Dustup

GM is acting as Ventec’s contract assembler and says its services will be rendered “at cost.” As of this morning, Ventec and the White House had not reached agreement on a ventilator contract, a GM source said.

By Joseph Szczesny, Tom Murphy • March 30, 2020

NY Gov OKs Limited Sales Ops for Dealers

Dealerships agreed to conduct all customer interactions either outside the dealership; in a cleaned service bay or designated clean room or at the consumer’s home or place of business.

By Jim Henry • March 27, 2020

Brace Yourself for Bleak Auto Sales Results Coming Wednesday

First key milestone comes Wednesday, April 1, when industry sales for March and the first quarter will be announced and we’ll hear from automakers about initial impact.

By Tom Murphy • March 27, 2020

Most-Seen Auto Ad Features Socially Distanced McConaughey

The top-ranked ad shows Matthew McConaughey cranking up the heat and relaxing in the back of his ’20 Aviator, alone with nature; it’s a pre-pandemic commercial that suddenly seems newly relevant.

By Jim Irwin • March 26, 2020

Once Scorned, 84-Month Auto Loans May Gain Popularity

Under the current dire circumstances, “it is appropriate to focus on short-term instead of long term,” J.D. Power’s Thomas King says.

By Steven Finlay • March 26, 2020

FCA Joins COVID-19 Fight, Will Produce Masks

CEO Mike Manley says FCA also is supporting increased production of ventilators for treatment of patients with severe cases of COVID-19.

By Jim Irwin • March 24, 2020