Operations: Page 184
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Products Boosting Kuka Robotics’ U.S. Business
The robotics maker and systems integrator has seen its U.S. automotive business grow in the past three years from 10% of its customer base to nearly 35%.
By James M. Amend • Aug. 21, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Avoid Getting Caught in Percentage Trap
Other than payroll, there are very few dealership accounts where there is 100% consistency. That can lead to some misassumptions when looking at cost percentages.
By Tony Noland • Aug. 20, 2012 -
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
Ram Exploring International Growth Strategy
Chrysler’s pickup brand eyeing Fiat’s commercial models, though nothing is set in stone.
By Aaron Foley • Aug. 17, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Keep Dead-Deal Credit Applications
A dealer may end up in the hot seat if unable to show that car shoppers who didn’t end up buying, nonetheless authorized the dealership to access their credit histories.
By Michael Charapp • Aug. 17, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Visteon Plotting Course for Future Technology
The supplier believes consumers will embrace its products if it offers a unique user experience.
By Byron Pope • Aug. 16, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
More Evidence Next Small-Block Remains OHV
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.Surely I wasn’t the only journalist attending a General Motors powertrain briefing in Detroit this week hoping to weasel some information ab...
By Tom Murphy • Aug. 15, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Average Sales Per Dealership Poised to Set Record
After the massive dealership reductions of three and four years ago, the dealership count stands at 17,770 as of June. That is a 0.02% increase since January and a 0.06% increase over 2011.
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 15, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
CAW Says Talks of Wage Concessions Already on Table
Proposals submitted by GM call for reduced hourly compensation, which last month Canadian Auto Workers union President Ken Lewenza characterized as a non-starter to talks.
By James M. Amend • Aug. 14, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Argentina Protectionism Backfiring, Critics Say
Argentinian car exports tumbled 36% in June, compared with year-ago, yet the government is calling on auto makers to build twice as many vehicles in 2020 than they did last year.
By Jonathan Gilbert • Aug. 14, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
High-Performance Oz Marque Celebrates 25 Years
The entry-level ClubSport and Maloo models are powered by a 6.2L V-8 powerplant delivering 425 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 14, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Memo to Romney-Ryan: It’s the Auto Economy, Stupid
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.The gloom and doom that has hovered over Michigan like a dense fog for the past four years is starting to lift.Unemployment, more than 14% i...
By Drew Winter • Aug. 13, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Big Rebound for Big Trucks in Canada in July
There were no real weak spots among the brands in Class 8, with the 17.2% gain at Kenworth the smallest increase.
By David Zoia Editor • Aug. 10, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Radio Expert Unlocks Malfunctioning Key-Fob Mystery
The DJ’s light-control panel was designed to send out intermittent signals but somehow transmitted a continuous stream of data on the same frequency used by some vehicle remote controls.
By Herb Shuldiner 1 • Aug. 10, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Gap Between Detroit and Washington
The challenge of meeting the technical and economic costs of building safer vehicles with increasingly tough regulatory targets is not something highly appreciated in Washington circles, a former Ford executive says.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 9, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Product Development Efficiency Gets More Attention
Although manufacturing efficiency will remain important, a recent Oliver Wyman study shows it will become less prominent between now and 2017.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 9, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Brose North America Nurtures Innovation
The supplier’s top U.S. executive credits much of the company’s success to a strategy of nurturing new thinking, but reminds that “innovation is not innovation until it produces sales.”
By David C. Smith • Aug. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Production Soaring in Southern U.S.
BMW's Spartanburg County plant became the largest exporter in the U.S. last year, enabling South Carolina to surpass Michigan for No.1 export status.
Aug. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Automotive Among Best-Performing Sectors
The U.S. will turn in the third consecutive year of double-digit sales gains to more than 14 million vehicles this year, Ford’s chief economist says, and “the long-term outlook is good.”
By David C. Smith • Aug. 7, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Road to MBS: 250 Miles in Chevy Volt a Breeze
The Volt’s extended-range propulsion system is superb; it just needs a sexier wrapper to fetch the price tag it requires.
Aug. 7, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Road to MBS: Cruze Eco Delivers
Even with golf clubs, travel gear and an unexpected passenger and his stuff, the car exceeds its 42-mpg highway rating.
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 7, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
‘Skyactiv’ Meaning Cloudy
Mazda uses the branding to denote its effort to go after “grams” to reduce vehicle weight, improve fuel economy and lower emissions.
By David C. Smith • Aug. 6, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chevy Sees Different Buyers for Spark, Sonic
The bowtie brand's new minicar has a younger, more urban slant than the year-old, slightly bigger and more-expensive Sonic.
Aug. 3, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Consumer Anxieties Stall EV, Plug-in Hybrid Sales
The overall hybrid market share in the U.S. is about 2%. For all-electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i, shares are fractionally “very, very small,” says Scott Miller, president of Vision Critical, a consumer-information and technology firm.
By Lillie Guyer • Aug. 3, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
North American Auto Makers Trim Q3 Production
The cut results from industry adjustments that saw 56,200 builds pulled forward into June, more than offsetting the 50,100 that were pared from rosters in July, while August and September slates increased by 14,100 and 17,900, respectively.
By Al Binder • Aug. 3, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Getting ‘The Kids’ Interested in 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.When I was 16 years old, getting a drivers license was practically a rite of passage. It meant a lot to be able to drive a car. Not anymore....
By John McElroy 1 • July 30, 2012
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