Operations: Page 185
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
At Halfway Point, 2012 World Vehicle Sales Up 5.9%
Global auto sales through June reached 41.5 million units, up nearly 6% over year-ago, with the growth pace expected to gain further momentum throughout the year’s second half.
By John Sousanis • July 27, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Crossroads China: From Rickshaws to Range Rovers
China’s standard of living, at least in the cities, has improved dramatically. Households are enjoying cars and other modern amenities as incomes rise. But traffic, stress and inflation detract from the quality of life.
July 27, 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
Dearborn Goes Geek-Town
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.Henry Ford was an innovator of grand proportion, so it’s fitting the cultural gem of a museum named in his honor will host its third-annual ...
By Tom Murphy • July 26, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Maruti Suzuki Facing Another Summer of Labor Strife
Despite its commitment to expanding its Manesar operations, the auto maker is building an assembly plant in Gujarat. It is among several car companies drawn to the western state by its peaceable and productive industrial climate.
By Sudhakar Shah • July 26, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mexico Output, Sales Rise in June
Total light-vehicle sales in Mexico in June jumped 10.6% vs. like-2011 to 78,357, with car deliveries rising 9.0% to 50,287 and light-truck sales climbing 13.7% to 28,070.
By Byron Pope • July 24, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
MR Dampers Bound for High Volume, Expert Says at China Conference
Adaptive suspension dampers using magnetorheological fluid are several times more expensive than hydraulic units, but a Virginia Tech professor who has studied the fluid extensively sees that gap closing.
July 19, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chinese Industry Needs to Close Technology Gap, Officials Say
“We have learned a lot from joint ventures, but China must be able to develop its own core technologies,” Guo Konghui, a Jilin University professor, says as Changchun hosts its auto show and VTI technology conference here.
July 17, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Future Car Telematics Would Allow Access to Customers
Modern vehicle infotainment features are cutting-edge, but even more so are impending in-vehicle diagnostics systems.
By Steve Finlay • July 16, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Riding Record Growth, Panasonic Automotive Opens New Facility
Panasonic Automotive enjoys the enviable position of supplying technologies in hot demand, as auto makers seek to differentiate their cars and trucks from the competition.
By James M. Amend • July 13, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How to Motivate Service Technicians
As most service managers can attest, maintaining a positive work environment in the shop is necessary but difficult at times.
By James Clausen • July 13, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Smart Headlights Improve Visibility in Rain
The system designed by Carnegie Mellon researchers employs a camera to predict where raindrops will fall within milliseconds and then deactivates light beams that otherwise would bounce off the precipitation and impair driver visibility.
By Herb Shuldiner 1 • July 12, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How to Respond to ‘I Want to Think About It’
Here is some thoughtful advice on how to handle one of the biggest and oft-heard customer objections at a car dealership.
By Darin George • July 11, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Russia Seeking New Auto Industry Training Standards as Foreign Investment Grows
PSA, Mitsubishi and VW see Kaluga as their doorway to a fast-expanding Russian market, where the local skilled labor offers them the opportunity to design their own workforce through training programs that are likely to go national.
By Nick Holdsworth • July 11, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dodge Debuts 90-Second Ad for Dart
The commercial takes viewers through a new-product launch, from conception to showroom.
By Aaron Foley • July 9, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Plant Life Safer These Days
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.Danger lurked at old auto plants, built to spit out cars, not keep workers in one piece. Injuries on the floor were common.Worse, ...
By Steve Finlay 2 • July 6, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pickup Trucks Reign in Thailand
This nation of 66 million people is second only to the U.S. in pickup sales. But on a per-capita basis, Thailand is No.1.
By Steve Finlay • July 6, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Files Trade Complaint With WTO Against China Antidumping Duties
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says the U.S. challenge is against China’s slapping of duties on more than $3 billion worth of U.S.-produced cars and SUVs with an engine capacity of 2.5L or larger.
By Alan Harman • July 5, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
‘History Assured’ for Legendary Designer Sergio Pininfarina, Dead at 85
The iconic executive signed off on most of Ferrari’s biggest successes, including the GTB and Dino, and created classic designs for Alfa, Cadillac, Fiat, Rolls-Royce and others.
By Giancarlo Perini • July 3, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dodge Boosting R/T Packages to Attract Performance Seekers
The decision to move SRT into its own brand presents an opportunity for Dodge to attract niche buyers with its R/T models.
By Aaron Foley • July 3, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pay Plan Uses Some Carrots, But Lots of Stick
The controversial Philpott arrangement sets dealership salaries, but deducts from them if staffers do not meet specific sets of objectives.
By David Linton • July 2, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Return of the Family-Hauling Pickup
Some of those casual truck buyers of yesteryear may be coming back. Not all of them, but enough that auto makers are tying yellow ribbons around the old oak tree.
By Steve Finlay • July 2, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Affluent Consumers Drive New Pickup Boom
Pickup sales are rebounding, and uplevel trim packages for buyers with bucks are leading the way. Chrysler says it may need a third shift of truck production to meet heavy demand.
July 2, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Higher New-Car Sales Lower Used-Car Prices
About 60% of this year’s sales will involve trade-ins, meaning nearly 1 million used cars will enter the market.
By Steve Finlay • June 28, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Industry Will Brake for Salmon
The states of California and Washington are legislating copper out of brake pads by 2025 because researchers say the metal is being washed into streams and rivers and endangering fish.
June 28, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dodge Dart to Rev Up Brand Sales in Compact-Car Segment
Chrysler management is confident the Fiat-inspired, legacy-branded sedan will bubble to the top of the hot-selling C-segment market, where the auto maker’s fortunes fizzled with the now-defunct Dodge Caliber.
By Aaron Foley • June 28, 2012
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