Operations: Page 167


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    Mini Unveils Superleggera Vision Concept

    The concept roadster was developed by Mini and Italian design house Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera.

    By Giancarlo Perini • May 28, 2014
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    Proton Names Former PM Chairman

    Observers are split on whether Mahathir Mohamad, seen as a driving force behind Proton since its inception in 1983, will make a good chairman for the automaker.

    By Alan Harman • May 27, 2014
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    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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    Williams Vows to Keep Focus on South as UAW Chief

    As the UAW’s regional director in Illinois Williams has dealt extensively with the Detroit Three automakers, Caterpillar, Case, Mitsubishi and Navistar, where he has been a board member for seven years.

    By Joseph Szczesny • May 23, 2014
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    Love Affair With Cars Is Moving, Not Fading

    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.We’ve been hearing the mantra for years: Young people don’t care about cars anymore. They socialize with hand-held mobile devices, not vehic...

    By May 22, 2014
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    What’s So Sexy About Rice Hulls?

    Automakers like the renewable-resource aspect of bio-reinforced polymers.

    By May 22, 2014
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    Once Snubbed, Plastics Guys Now Doing Fine

    Material innovations are in the works as automakers seek to reduce vehicle weights.

    By May 21, 2014
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    Passion Key Ingredient to Successful Design, Panel Says

    The designer panel says another critical element to a successful design is to lessen reliance on technology, with one participant noting clay modeling is essential.

    By Byron Pope • May 16, 2014
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    FCA 5-Year Business Plan Overreaching

    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.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ 5-year business plan outlined last week was certainly ambitious, if not somewhat overreaching.The strategy calls ...

    By Byron Pope 1 • May 15, 2014
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    Canada Big-Truck Sales Inch Up 0.1% in April

    Canada Class 8 deliveries were down 2.4% in April.

    By Paul Zajac • May 14, 2014
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    U.S. Big Trucks Climb 11.4% in April

    Class 5 led all segments in April with 28.7% gain.

    By Paul Zajac • May 13, 2014
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    EU Takes Coordinated Approach to Auto Recalls

    One source of safety difficulties automakers face is the increasing complexity of design. The average car now has about 15,000 parts, most coming from a global network of suppliers.

    By Carmen Paun and Kylie Kendall • May 13, 2014
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    WardsAuto Flashback – May 2014

    Coal Strike Hits Ford; Briggs Walkout; Industry Preps for D-Day; Composite car is $2,557; Ford Plans SUV; Chrysler-Mack Proposed; AWD Cars Slow; Taurus on Top

    By Al Binder • May 12, 2014
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    RIP Dodge Caravan: 1984-2016

    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 join with soccer moms everywhere in lamenting the word that Chrysler will scrap the Dodge Caravan minivan in 2016.Technically it’s Fiat Ch...

    By David Smith 1 • May 9, 2014
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    Ferrari Not for Sale, Marchionne Insists

    “The brand is 90% controlled by Fiat,” Fiat Chrysler’s CEO says. “And that’s where it belongs.”

    By David Zoia Editor • May 6, 2014
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    Dodge to Focus on Performance; Grand Caravan Scrapped

    The Dodge Dart compact sedan will be updated in 2016 in a move to inject it with more Dodge performance DNA.

    By Byron Pope • May 6, 2014
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    Few Car Buyers Start Out Knowing Exactly What They Want

    Many people who start out looking at midsize sedans could end up buying a CUV.

    By May 6, 2014
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    Italy Offers Green-Car Incentive, But Spiffs Won’t Last Long

    Half the budget is reserved for fleet customers and business use. Another 35% is to support individual sales of cars with carbon-dioxide emissions of 95 g/km or less. The final 15% is pegged for vehicles with CO2 ratings of 50 g/km or less.

    By Giancarlo Perini • May 6, 2014
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    Executives in Pinstripes Replace Salesmen in Plaid

    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.While moderating a remarketing panel talk at an auto conference in New York, I noted that some of the smartest people in the industry work o...

    By Steve Finlay 2 • May 5, 2014
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    5 Ways to Get More From F&I Departments

    Performances improve at dealerships where the finance and insurance staffers train as athletes do for a championship.

    By Jim Maxim • April 30, 2014
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    Strong North American Production Keeps Plant Utilization Above 100%

    Long-time high production is pushing forecast second-quarter capacity utilization to 101.4% and marking the first time successive quarters have topped 100%.

    By Haig Stoddard • April 30, 2014
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    Spectacular Wraith Holds Up in ‘Value’ Category

    The latest installment in our series on 2014 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors features the Rolls-Royce Wraith, a car for discriminating buyers and Powerball jackpot winners. There’s no price cap for our competition, and it costs nothing to dream.

    April 30, 2014
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    YTD Reviews Improve Performance

    Now is the time for dealers to compare how they’re doing in key areas.

    By Tony Noland • April 25, 2014
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    FEV Expanding Into HMI, Infotainment Testing

    There is not necessarily a correlation between a high-priced vehicle and a high-performing infotainment system, FEV says.

    April 23, 2014
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    The New Normal?

    The industry has lost its way on inventory control. For the past four months automakers have left excess inventory on dealers’ lots. Not a good sign.

    By Warren P. Browne • April 22, 2014
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    Last Stand for Big Body-on-Frame Truck?

    Leading the big-truck surge will be General Motors, which has full availability of its re-engineered Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra fullsize pickups, plus redesigned SUVs now hitting the market.

    By Haig Stoddard • April 21, 2014