Operations: Page 153


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    WardsAuto Flashback – October 2015

    '41 Auto Show Opens; 1941 Outlook Clouded; Crippling Strikes; UAW Seeks 30% Raise; Dealers Fight Profit Squeeze; Continental Mark II Bows; Sales Top 6.0 Million; All-New Rambler; '65 Equipment Survey; New Imports Bow; Luxury Tax Looms; Tougher CA Rules; Nissan Adjusts Strategy

    Oct. 19, 2015
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    Tokyo Auto Show Spotlight Dimmed Only Slightly

    The Tokyo show has become less significant than those in Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit and Los Angeles. Still, as the home market for Toyota, Nissan and Honda, it affords them a chance to bedazzle with their latest technologies.

    By Roger Schreffler • Oct. 19, 2015
  • Robots in action on the new line at Toyota Kentucky as future Camrys seamlessly roll through the production process. Explore the Trendline
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    Trendline

    Automotive Manufacturing

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

    By WardsAuto staff
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    Russian Auto Jobs Drying Up Alongside Production

    According to automotive analysts ASM-Holding, employment in the Russian auto industry has declined 10.5% since May 2014, from 205,134 to 183,534 workers, and a new wave of layoffs may take place by the end of the year.

    By Eugene Gerden • Oct. 15, 2015
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    White Still Bright When It Comes to Car Colors

    Automotive hues may begin to skew toward a more colorful palette in 2018-19, but for now buyers tend to like conservative choices like white, black, silver and gray. Here’s a look at what the experts predict in car colors.

    By Oct. 9, 2015
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    Industry Gives Trans-Pacific Trade Pact Mixed Reviews

    While American automakers may cheer the agreement’s provisions for gradual lifting of Japanese tariffs on U.S. autos, they are quick to point out these free-trade benefits risk being outweighed by currency manipulation.

    By Keith Nuthall • Oct. 9, 2015
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    Malaysia’s Proton Eyes Chinese Partner for ASEAN Car

    International Trade and Industry Minister Ong Ka Chuan says a partnership would allow Malaysia to leverage China’s R&D capabilities and help the automaker come up with a competitive model for the ASEAN market.

    By Alan Harman • Oct. 7, 2015
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    M4 GTS On Way, But Supplies Limited

    The 493-hp coupe features lightweight construction and a new innovative water-injection system for its high-performance engine.

    By Greg Kable • Oct. 6, 2015
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    New Technologies Flourish in ’16

    The arrival of a new model year represents the promise and possibility that comes with freshly stamped sheet metal, form-fitting seats, aesthetics that speak directly to one’s desires and, simply, stuff that works better.

    Oct. 2, 2015
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    More Q4 Truck Output

    Despite a drop in Q3 volume, North American vehicle production remains on track for a banner year in 2015.

    By Al Binder • Oct. 2, 2015
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    U.S. Sales Soar to 10-Year High SAAR in September

    October U.S. sales likely are set for a payback following three straight month-to-month increases in the SAAR and the drain on older model-year inventory.

    By Haig Stoddard • Oct. 1, 2015
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    Car Buyers Can Face Hard Color Decision

    Duck Egg Blue and Truffle Mica aren’t menu items. They’re paint hues found at auto dealerships.

    By Phil Marzolf • Oct. 1, 2015
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    Bertone Collection Goes to Italian Historic Club

    The collection includes design works and supercars created by Bertone over the years, including the 1967 Lamborghini Miura, owned and driven by Nuccio Bertone for many years.

    By Giancarlo Perini • Sept. 30, 2015
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    Marysville Gets New Coat of Paint

    Honda’s new paint line, ready in 2017, will use waterborne primer (replacing a solvent-based coating) and requires no sanding or baking of the primer coat. The new “Line 1” incorporates two baking processes in between coats, instead of three previously.

    Sept. 28, 2015
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    Jaguar Looks to Up Sales With Downmarket XE, F-Pace

    The arrival of the XE and F-Pace will benefit Jaguar since it doesn’t offer a small sedan or CUV now. And the two new offerings should lower the average age of Jaguar owners while potentially keeping them in the family longer.

    By Jim Mateja • Sept. 24, 2015
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    Can Fisker Create Better Karma Second Time Around?

    Perhaps the main difference “between Fisker then and now is that we’re not under this enormous pressure for money that they were in the fundraising,” marketing chief Jim Taylor says. ‟So, we can take the time to do it properly.”

    By Erik Derr 1 • Sept. 23, 2015
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    Self-Driving Cars: A View From 2025

    All of the main human-error causes of accidents involve functions that automated cars likely will perform significantly better than humans.

    By Hilary Rowen • Sept. 22, 2015
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    UAW, FCA Narrow 2-Tier Wage Gap, Open Door to Third

    The tentative agreement reached last week allows for establishment of a market-based wage for employees engaged in subassembly work insourced from outside suppliers.

    By Joseph Szczesny • Sept. 22, 2015
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    The Prius Will Be OK

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.With the fourth-generation Prius launching into a market with dozens more “green” cars than the third-generation ’10 model faced six years a...

    By Christie Schweinsberg Blogger • Sept. 21, 2015
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    2015 Q3 Outlook Conference Presentations

    The Q3 session of WardsAuto's 2015 series of half-day conferences presenting insights and analysis of the automotive industry.

    Sept. 17, 2015
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    Now Project Head, He Rethinks Business Chances of Google’s Self-Driving Cars

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.I appeared on the online TV show “Autoline After Hours” last year. During a rapid-fire question period, Todd Lassa of Automobile magazine as...

    By Steve Finlay 2 • Sept. 16, 2015
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    FCA, UAW Reach Tentative Agreement

    FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne believes the agreement resolves some key issues, including the inequitable nature of the 2-tier wage system where new workers receive less than more senior employees doing the same job.

    By Joseph R. Szczesny • Sept. 16, 2015
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    JLR Academy to Sharpen Focus on Employee Training

    The academy will offer training for employees, whether they are new recruits or experienced employees seeking to move to the next level. This ranges from engineering skills-enhancement programs to postgraduate qualifications.

    By Alan Harman • Sept. 14, 2015
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    Galpin, Fisker Offer Rocket Speedster Concept

    Galpin and designer Henrik Fisker recently unveiled the Rocket Speedster Concept, a 2-seat version of the $109,100 Rocket coupe, derived from the ’15 Ford Mustang GT. The Speedster has not yet been confirmed for production.

    Sept. 14, 2015
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    Lambo Veteran Perini to Head Design at Italdesign

    Perini comes to Italdesign from Lamborghini, where he has been design director since 2006. He succeeds Wolfgang Egger, who left Italdesign to head owner Volkswagen Group’s Interbrand Design Studio in Braunschweig, Germany.

    By Giancarlo Perini • Sept. 10, 2015
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    Some Leafs See 23-Mile Range Increase

    The change is effective with ’16-model SV and SL grades, and is due to a new 30-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

    Sept. 10, 2015