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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Spain Levies Hefty Fines in Latest Price-Fixing Case
Automakers planning to appeal the fines may argue the fragmented Spanish market is competitive. Their combined market share is 91% but no single brand has a stake greater than 10%, spurring discounts averaging €4,000.
By Jorge Palacios • Aug. 14, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Sales Up 12.0% in July
Class 8 accounts for the bulk of big-truck gains with sales jumping 24.4% to 23,383 units, compared with 18,793 year-ago.
By Paul Zajac • Aug. 14, 2015 -
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Industry Group Cuts Thai Car-Sales Forecast Again
The Federation of Thai Industries is cutting this year’s projection 5.9% to 800,000 units after lowering it last month to 850,000 from 950,000.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 14, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
JLR’s New Slovak Plant Could Hit Personnel Snag
JLR is expected to create up to 4,000 direct jobs at its Slovak plant. But its location within 100 miles of Volkswagen, PSA and Kia facilities has raised concerns the luxury automaker may have trouble finding enough qualified workers.
By Peter Homola • Aug. 13, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nanogenerator Stores Energy When Rubber Meets Road
The amount of energy saved can vary depending on the vehicle, but University of Wisconsin researcher Xudong Wang predicts about a 10.4% increase in the average vehicle’s gas mileage, given a 50% friction energy conversion efficiency.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 13, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
8-, 9-Speeds, CVTs Make ’15 Gains
Although 6-speed automatic transmissions still dominate, 8- and 9-speed automatics and CVTs make further inroads in ’15-model light-vehicles.
By Al Binder • Aug. 12, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Imported Impala Stickers for Less in Korea Than U.S.
Despite special processing, shipping, import duties and other regulatory costs, the fullsize Chevrolet’s sticker price in Korea is at least $3,000 less than an identical car sold in the U.S. GM Korea CEO Sergio Rocha doesn’t say how it is done.
By Vince Courtenay • Aug. 12, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Information Technology Making Mean Streets Less Mean
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.Information technology will make getting from Point A to Point B in increasingly congested cities manageable, with or without one’s own car,...
By Jim Irwin • Aug. 10, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Green-Car Patents Raise Old Issues, New Questions
An automaker that can develop or license a unique technology essentially can claim a specific market segment for itself. This is difficult in the auto business, given its high level of differentiation based on well-known common technologies.
By Andrew Burnyeat • Aug. 7, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
In a BTW, TrueCar Tells of Scott Painter Leaving as CEO
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.Scott Painter leaves a mixed legacy when he steps down later this year as CEO of TrueCar.On the one hand, the company he founded has altered...
By Steve Finlay 2 • Aug. 6, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reporter Notebook: Luxury Sales Handcuffed in China
WardsAuto writers pass along the buzz at this week’s Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.
Aug. 6, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
China Taking Intellectual Property Issues More Seriously
Western companies are winning IP challenges in China as judges in the country become more knowledgeable and sophisticated on the matter.
Aug. 6, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Your Car Built for You – While You Wait
The first street-legal 3D-printed cars from Local Motors are expected within 24 months. Renowned Ford GT designer Camilo Pardo is lobbying to design one.
By Bill Visnic • Aug. 6, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Australia’s LV Market Rides SUVs to Record July
An industry group says SUV deliveries rose 13.4% during July, the segment’s fourth record month of the year, and accounted for more than 35% of the new-car market.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 6, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Would You Rent Your Car? You May Have No Choice
The growth in megacities and likely resulting restrictions on automobile access could force consumers into car sharing, a Ford official predicts.
By Bill Visnic • Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Green Cars No Lost Cause…Or Are They?
While broccoli is good for people, they’d rather have doughnuts, much in the same way new-car buyers would rather drive light trucks than fuel-efficient small cars or hybrids, says Honda dealer Forrest McConnell III.
Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sales Without End, Somebody Say ‘Amen’
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 love optimism as much as the next guy. The last thing we need in our business are perpetually negative people.I am neither an optimist nor...
By Jim Ziegler 2 • Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mexico Emerging as Global Player
An expert says lower wages, growing technology prowess, improved quality and productivity, plus its favorable location amenable to exports, are contributing to Mexico’s success in luring automotive investment.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reporter Notebook: Keeping It Simple
WardsAuto writers pass along the buzz at this week’s Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.
By WardsAuto Staff • Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
July Sales Keep New Zealand on Pace for Record Year
Toyota remained the overall market leader with 1,856 sales for an 18% share. Ford’s and GM Holden’s shares were 10% and 9%, respectively.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 5, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
North America Sales to Average 20 Million-Plus; Production to Top 18 Million
An irony of the 1.5 million units in new production capacity being added in North America in the next four years is that sales penetration of domestically made vehicles won’t rise significantly.
By Haig Stoddard • Aug. 4, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Panel: Styling Still Matters When Self-Drivers Hit in 2025-2030
Vehicle design is “still part of who you are,” Denso’s Patton says, no matter if you’re behind the wheel or asleep in the backseat.
Aug. 3, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Steel Fights Back With Ultra HSS
Steel already has cut weight substantially. If a ’94 Taurus were made with today’s high-strength steel, it would weigh 30% less.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 3, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
July U.S. Sales Soar to 17.5 Million SAAR
Sales of large trucks rebounded from a June decline that ended 15 straight increases, but were uneven across segments and possibly aided by some spot incentives.
By Haig Stoddard • Aug. 3, 2015 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ukrainian Auto Industry Has Nowhere to Go But Up
A Frost & Sullivan report says emerging middle classes in countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan will create a demand for more, and updated, cars.
By Mark Rowe • Aug. 3, 2015
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