Operations: Page 193
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
North American Auto Output Takes Hit
North American auto makers have trimmed some 196,000 units from their 2011 production plans, which now stand at 13,472,700 units.
By Al Binder • Oct. 4, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Brembo Balancing High-End Brake Systems With Expansion Into Lower Segments
The Italian company traditionally has supplied brake components to luxury vehicles and sports cars, including exotic brands such as Ferrari. But a new strategy is needed to grow its business.
By Byron Pope • Oct. 4, 2011 -
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
I COMPARE IT TO USING A HIGH-POWERED GUN WITH NIGHT VISION
Auto dealers are trying to make their ad dollars work harder these days, having learned a thing or two about how to stretch a buck during tough economic times over the past few years. Even the big guys are more mindful of how their ad budgets are spent. Everyone is learning how to be more resourceful and more creative in using the ad dollars they have, says Marc Cannon, senior vice president of AutoNation,
Oct. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Profit-Sharing Cap Fits UAW Well, Experts Say
The new program stands to outperform the previous deal if GM North America turns in moderate profits in the range of $1 billion to $8 billion.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 30, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Coupe Most Fun-To-Drive Mini Yet
The most controversial aspect of the car is its “helmet roof.” With a large spoiler at its trailing edge, it resembles a backwards-facing baseball cap.
By Drew Winter • Sept. 29, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Crash-Test Research Seeks to Build a Better Dummy
The research uses detailed digital models of humans in computer simulations that help predict vehicle accidents’ impact on bodies of all shapes and sizes.
By Keith Nuthall • Sept. 29, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Doomed Mitsubishis May Return
“There needs to be sufficient market demand” for the Eclipse to return, says Mitsubishi’s Greg Adams. Through August, sales of the sports car were tracking well head of like-2010, but deliveries totaled just 6,721.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Sept. 29, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
TD Launches New Auto-Finance Program
TD Auto Finance replaces Chrysler Financial as the main finance and insurance resource for Chrysler-brand dealers.
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 27, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VPG’s Segment-Busting MV-1 Van Hits Road
The vehicle’s ace in the hole is its starting price, listed at $39,950 for the base SE model. That’s well below the $55,000-$70,000 spent on paratransit van conversions, the auto maker says.
By David E. Zoia • Sept. 22, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Strategies Quicken Pace of Used-Car Sales
The advantage of getting inventory to the virtual market first is enhanced when it is priced right, too, says remarketing expert Dale Pollak, founder and chairman of vAuto.
By Jim Leman • Sept. 22, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mexico Output Grows in August; Truck Sales Slide
New-car sales rose 18.0% from year-ago to 50,413 units, while light-truck deliveries fell 5.9% to 25,183.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Red McCombs Dealership Group Eyes New Franchises
The company, which sold 11,976 new vehicles and 15,578 used units last year, prides itself on its used-car sales.
By Lillie Guyer • Sept. 20, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Another Hot Month For U.S. Big Truck Sales
Every weight class posted sales increases in August, led by Class 8, where deliveries jumped 64.2 % to 15,085 from 8,834 in like-2010.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Online System Helps Car Dealers Take Stock, Keep Factory Happy
Dealers can bypass taking delivery of vehicles they don’t want and still stay eligible for auto maker reward programs.
By Mac Gordon • Sept. 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chevy Camaro ZL-1 Geared for Shift to Automatic Transmissions
Other Chevy performance cars lean toward the 6-speed automatic, including the Camaro SS, with 70% of buyers skipping the third pedal and 65% of base Corvette owners doing the same.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Abarth Pulls Sheet Off Trio of Performance Models
Abarth says its third unveiling marks a milestone. The 695 Competitzione is the brand’s first “street legal” Scorpion race car.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 13, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Saab Back in Reorganization
Chairman and CEO Victor Muller remains confident the auto maker can become viable.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 7, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
What’s It Take to Make $1?
During the New Years Eve celebrations, my wife and I were watching the Times Square festivities when one of the commentators gave a list of people's top New Year's resolutions for 2011. The top three were: Save more money. Lose weight. Quit smoking. My wife asked, What are your resolutions for 2011? I replied, Since I don't keep them I don't make them. She said, That's terrible. You need to do something
By David Linton • Sept. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Don’t Confuse Union Man With Peking Man
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.What is a fair price? It’s a question that has dogged the species since Peking Man crafted the first flint arrowhead. Back then, negotiati...
Aug. 31, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Live and Learn from MPG Calculations
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.Bloggers who can write what they want without a watchful eye of an editor – or better yet, a team of editors – can find themselves in troubl...
By Tom Murphy • Aug. 30, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
World Vehicle Sales Inch Above Year-Ago Levels
North America’s 1.3 million-unit total put it ahead of China in monthly sales for the first time since July 2010. The tally also was enough to account for 21.1% of world sales.
By John Sousanis • Aug. 26, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Auto Dealership Count Rises
Dealership numbers have declined 1% to 2% annually over the past 20 years but dropped rapidly in 2008 and 2009 as auto makers reduced their networks in the face of declining sales and hard times.
By Steve Finlay • Aug. 24, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
South Still Magnet for Foreign Auto Makers’ Investments
The auto makers’ total investment in the region exceeds $28 billion. Vehicle capacity has risen to more than 3 million units, one-fourth of the U.S. total.
By Roger Schreffler • Aug. 17, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Researcher Preparing Prototype Cars Powered by Heavy-Metal Thorium
Small blocks of thorium generate heat surges that are configured as a thorium-based laser, says U.S. inventor Charles Stevens. These create steam from water within mini-turbines, generating electricity to drive a car.
By Keith Nuthall • Aug. 11, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Researcher Says Teaming Spiders, Goats Could Result in Safer Airbags
A Utah molecular biologist believes spider silk drawn from goats’ milk could make airbags safer, because those used now are made from materials that can injure vehicle occupants when deployed.
By Alan Harman • Aug. 5, 2011
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