Operations: Page 199
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercury Distant Memory in Canada
Canadian dealers suggest Mercury’s elimination was beneficial, but sales numbers suggest the auto make suffered.
By Byron Pope • June 4, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Another Saab Story
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.Hear that? That's the sound of a nationwide shrug. A big "whatev." It greets reports that suggest Mercury's demise is imminent. Ford is ...
June 2, 2010 -
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
JCI ‘Head Medium Display’ Drawing OEM Interest
HMD projects vital vehicle information on a pop-up screen placed on the dash just beyond the steering wheel, rather than directly onto the windshield as with a traditional HUD.
By Byron Pope • June 2, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Don’t Sell India Short on Luxury, Visteon Warns
Indian consumers are more discerning than the West perceives, says Richard Vaughan, design office manager at Visteon Corp. Right now, there's a general belief in the West that India goes for smaller, cheaper versions of Western vehicles, says Vaughan, who spent much of the last year coordinating consumer research in Dehli and Bangalore. Indian consumers want something different, he says during a panel
By Eric Mayne • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
EU’s New Block Exemption Rules Please Auto Industry, Good for Consumers
Not only do the new laws stay in place for 13 years, but they also allow auto makers to decide how they sell vehicles and secure aftersales service, including preserving the right to have franchised dealers.
By Keith Nuthall • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Maruti Suzuki Remains Confident in Face of Growing Competition
The auto maker expects to be a major beneficiary of the Indian market’s boisterous growth, with plans to increase installed capacity to 1.25 million units by 2012, part of a 5-year, $2.3 billion expansion and improvement plan.
By Mack Chrysler • May 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
So Many Crises Bubbling, So Little Time
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 world has the jitters, and that can’t be good for the global auto industry, which suffers whenever there’s a lack of consumer confidence...
By Barbara McClellan 2 • May 25, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Global Platform Strategy to Further Industry Consolidation, Firm Says
Auto makers that can squeeze 1 million units of annual production out of a global platform will realize a $700 per-vehicle cost advantage over lower-volume competitors, A.T. Kearney says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 19, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Big Trucks Post Year’s Best Results in April
Class 8 nets the largest increase of all groups, up 29.5%, with Classes 4 and 7 recording relatively small declines.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Saab, International Fleet Sales Agree to Distribution Plan for Canada
About 20 dealers in the country have expressed an interest in selling Saab’s products, the auto maker says, and vehicles would begin arriving in September.
By James M. Amend • May 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Use Financial Documents to Build Dealership Service Profits
“The balance sheet on the financial statement helps managers take the service department’s temperature,” says fixed-operations consultant Ed Kovalchick.
By Jim Leman • May 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Used Cars Putting Squeeze on Mexico New-Vehicle Sales
It’s estimated up to 1 million used U.S. cars entered Mexico annually from 2003 to 2008.
By Byron Pope • May 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Web Technology Lets Dealers Brand Maintenance Program
Web-based technology that allows auto dealerships to create, manage and market their own branded in-house pre-paid maintenance program. It's called UltraCare, the result of a partnership between Performance Loyalty Group Inc and MediaTrac LLC. Dealers have to address the huge drop in car sales and what that will mean to service business four-five years down the road, says Michael Gorun, managing partner
May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
What’s the Break-Even Point
In the January issue, I discussed margin management and two of the financial exercises that consultants and manufacturers use to calculate the cost to break even in the parts and service departments. I wrote then: Even though we aren't in the business of breaking even, I would argue that it is imperative we know our real cost of doing business. If we don't know our costs, how can we competitively
By Tony Noland • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Just Who Are These Guys?
As a cub reporter about 40 years ago, one of my first assignments was to interview a man who claimed he perfected the perpetual-motion machine. I sense the same thing about Chinese cars coming to America. Not that they won't come. I'm certain they will. But like the perpetual motion machine, the bugs still are being worked out. My wonderment is rather about the type of characters in the U.S. that
By Jim Leman • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
“It’s Freezing Outside, Let’s Put the Car’s Convertible Top Down!”
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. My hometown of Royal Oak, MI, once was dull. An outsider had said it skewed towards beat-up pickups and hardware stores. Main Street had b...
By Steve Finlay 2 • April 30, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
What’s in a Name? Plenty if it’s Rick Hendrick
The Hendrick Automotive Group racked up $3.66 billion in total revenues last year on sales of 52,305 new vehicles and 43,684 used vehicles.
By Mac Gordon • April 27, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealership Experience Key, Study Shows
Sixty-seven percent of respondents say providing an “inviting, modern and well-organized” showroom is key to influencing the sale.
By Ward's Staff • April 19, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Debt-Ridden Mitsubishi Running on Fumes
Revitalization plans, restructuring and management reshuffles have worked no miracles. Once Japan’s fourth-largest auto maker, MMC has sunk to seventh place.
By Mack Chrysler • April 19, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turn, Baby, Turn
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.Sell as fast as you can, for as much as you can, with as few costs as possible. That’s the formula for successful vehicle remarketing, acc...
By Steve Finlay 2 • April 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Delphi Profitable in North America
In an interview with Ward’s, CEO Rodney O’Neal says Delphi won $89 billion in new business while in bankruptcy, and he describes its relationship with GM as “extremely positive.”
By Tom Murphy • April 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Separate Service Facility Could Aid Used-Car Profits
Catering to the second- and third-owner market for service work is “plus business,” and “it is massive,” says Ed Kovalchick
By James M. Flammang • April 15, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
JTEKT Back to Making Money
Analysts claim anticipated synergies have yet to be realized, but President and CEO Motohiko Yokoyama contends the global economic slump that has sapped earnings has made those gains difficult for outsiders to see.
By Roger Schreffler • April 15, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Scrappage Rate Grows as More Cars Junked, Fewer Sold
With an added push from the “Cash-for-Clunkers” program, U.S. scrappage rates for the first time outpaced new-vehicle registrations in the 15 months ended Sept. 30, 2009.
By Al Binder • April 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mini Expects Countryman to Expand Customer Base
McDowell says Mini transaction prices average $29,000 at present, with most buyers spending about $3,000 on options.
By Herb Shuldiner • April 6, 2010
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