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New U.S. Factory Planned for Sprinter Vans in Four Years
Mercedes-Benz Vans investing around $500 million to build dedicated U.S. Sprinter manufacturing plant in North Charleston by 2020.
By Sean Kilcarr/FleetOwner • July 28, 2016 -
Connected Cars Driving Force for Quality Assurance
The growing consumer desire for connected cars has led to a paradigm shift in demand expectation and connectivity is no longer a feature reserved for the luxury end of the market.
By M.S. Subramanian • July 27, 2016 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota
TrendlineAutomotive Manufacturing
Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.
By WardsAuto staff -
WardsAuto Flashback – July 2016
All-New Cars Coming; Strikes Hit Output Hard; Edsel Launch Firmed; Seatbelts Fall; Chevy's '58s; Specialty Cars Soar; Westinghouse EV; Riots Hamper Production; Chrysler LH Bows; Safety Items Grow; Toyota-GM Pickup
July 25, 2016 -
Pacifica Comes Off as Millennial Minivan
Chrysler says its all-new Pacifica minivan arrives at the perfect time to entice Millennials entering parenthood out of SUVs and into a more practical family vehicle.
By Bob Gritzinger • July 25, 2016 -
Forecast: July Sales to Return to 17 Million SAAR Trend
July volume will result in a 17.6 million seasonally adjusted sales rate.
By Erin Sunde • July 22, 2016 -
Malaysian First-Half Light-Vehicle Sales Slip 14.5%
Manufacturers slashed production in response to the showroom slowdown. The first-half light-vehicle build fell 19.7% to 262,963 units with car production sliding 20.2% to 241,009 and CV output declining 14.1% to 21,954.
By Alan Harman • July 22, 2016 -
Revived McLaren Racing Ahead
The supercar maker recorded a fifth straight year of increasing global sales of its handcrafted cars to 1,654 units, up from 1,649 a year earlier and supported by the launch of five new models.
By Alan Harman • July 22, 2016 -
Yoked Performance: Steering Key to Comfort
To ensure customers will benefit from the potential offered by the steering yoke, manufacturers must select the correct components for the mechanism, and the yoke bearing in particular.
By Chris Needes • July 22, 2016 -
Comfort, Convenience Come to Commercial Vans
Not everybody needs a commercial van like a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or a Ford Transit. But for those that do, life behind the wheel is getting better.
By Bob Gritzinger • July 20, 2016 -
U.S. Big-Truck Sales Down in June
For the first six months of 2016, medium- and heavy-duty truck sales were 3.0% less than same-period 2015.
By Erin Sunde • July 14, 2016 -
Larry Schlagheck Joins WardsAuto as Managing Director
In this role, Schlagheck will guide WardsAuto’s editorial operations in creating content that best meets the needs of its audiences and will direct the sales team in building new opportunities for marketers to connect with automotive professionals.
By WardsAuto Staff • July 14, 2016 -
Eliminating the Automotive Industry Skills Gap
Car manufacturing is increasingly complex, with advanced and fast-changing equipment down the assembly line. Companies can deliver training systems that are convenient, compelling and intuitive.
By Jeff Weber • July 14, 2016 -
Car-Sharing Concept Traces Roots to ’60s Counterculture
A museum exhibit highlights “hippie” ideas of communal property that planted the seeds for today’s car-sharing revolution.
By Joseph Szczesny • July 14, 2016 -
FCA Offers Voluntary Exit Package to Serbian Workers
Employees who take the buyout will get a half-year’s pay for each year of service, plus additional benefits. The automaker wants to cut 30% of its Serbian workforce.
By Peter Homola • July 8, 2016 -
Slower Demand Lifts U.S. LV Inventory to 10-Year June High
An indicator of whether U.S. sales end 2016 higher than 2015 could be how the market’s Top 3 players – General Motors, Ford and Toyota – react to a possible downturn in demand.
By Haig Stoddard • July 8, 2016 -
Beware Millennial Stereotypes
Automakers have blown a decade and a half falsely categorizing and throwing cheesy labels on a generation too big and diverse to be typecast.
By D. Winter • July 5, 2016 -
U.S. Sales End First-Half 2016 on Soft Note
How GM, Ford and Toyota react to the downturn – whether streamlining production, raising market incentives or a combination of both – could determine the year’s final outcome.
By Haig Stoddard • July 1, 2016 -
FCA’s Light Truck Sales Reach New Heights
FCA’s transition from a full-line automaker to a company focused on profitable truck and utility vehicles continues in first-half 2016.
By Bob Gritzinger • July 1, 2016 -
U.K. Auto Industry’s 2015 Growth Robust, Report Says
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ report makes no reference to last week’s so-called Brexit referendum favoring the U.K.’s withdrawal from the European Union, but the group has made clear the U.K. should remain in the EU.
By Alan Harman • July 1, 2016 -
WardsAuto Flashback –June 2016
Seat Spring Crisis; Rubber Suspension; New Crosley Near;Quicker Styling Changes; Rambler's MPG Win;Dealer Lose Money; FI Refinements Needed; Pontiac Milestone; Rockwell's Truck Anti-lock; Explorer Output Hiked; Van Dumping Charged; 4-Cyl. Leads; Chrysler Downgraded
June 24, 2016 -
Malaysiaʼs LV Sales Slide Slows
The Malaysian Automotive Assn. predicts a June sales uptick because of the Hari Raya festive season marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It also sees new-model introductions helping dealerships.
By Alan Harman • June 22, 2016 -
Car Dealership Uses Internet to Net Out-of-State Sales
The Denver auto-retail market is competitive and aggressive, says Jared Pleva (left) of Mike Shaw Subaru.
By Tom Beaman • June 21, 2016 -
JLR Using Tech Incubator to Boost Innovation
HBO has made the term “incubator” almost a household word with its hit series “Silicon Valley,” a comedy about young tech entrepreneurs working in one.
June 10, 2016 -
Back From Brink, Growth Eyed for Unique MV-1
Producer Mobility Ventures says about 4,000 of the vehicles are in circulation, so its projections for 2,000-2,200 sales this year would mean a serious boost in MV-1 population.
By David Zoia Editor • June 10, 2016 -
U.K. Conference Seeks to Put Brakes on Auto Theft
Justin Powell, who heads the U.K. branch of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, says vehicle crime not only is a problem in itself but also is also a key enabler of other serious crimes, including terrorism.
By Alan Harman • June 6, 2016