Operations: Page 209
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suzuki Re-Enters Midsize Sedan Segment
Set for production by 2010, the Kizashi concept makes a bold styling statement, with a dramatic waterfall grille, high beltline and an upscale, aspirational flair.
By Tom Murphy • March 20, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pontiac Urged to Adopt El Camino Name
The 2-door, rear-wheel-drive car-based pickup doesn’t have an official name yet, and GM is inviting the public to have a say.
By Tom Murphy • March 20, 2008 -
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
New Malibu Powers Chevy Car Sales
Chevrolet’s marketing director says 12,600 Malibus were sold in February, bringing the year-to-date total to 27,001 and putting the Malibu on track for an annual rate of 154,000 units.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 7, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Maruyama New President of Denso North America
Haruya Maruyama, a 30-year Denso veteran, replaces Mitsuo Matsushita. While in Germany, Maruyama was responsible for all sales activities throughout Europe.
By Ward's Staff • March 7, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Autoliv Night Vision to Boost Sales, Protect Pedestrians
The supplier’s second-generation technology debuts next year on an ’09 model with improved software for better pedestrian detection.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 5, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japanese Expected to Play Minor Role in Indian Car Market
With the exception of Suzuki, HSBC analysts doubt Japanese auto makers will be able to develop profitable businesses in India in the near term.
By Mack Chrysler • Feb. 26, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suzuki Stills Sees Room for Midsize Sedan
A future D-segment sedan would provide something between a baby step and quantum leap for Suzuki’s brand image, a company official says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 19, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Industry Loses a Pioneer
Michael Waldrop, eCommerce Director for Asbury Automotive Group’s Florida region, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2008. He was 39 years old.
By Ward's Staff • Feb. 15, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Recessions Don’t Necessarily Hurt Auto Sales
While NADA’s chief economist anticipates a “non-recession” in 2008, he predicts U.S. light-vehicle sales will drop to 15.7 million units, 400,000 fewer deliveries than like-2007.
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 11, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
In This Corner: Ric Flair Finance
Billed as The Nature Boy during his long and lively professional wrestling career, Ric Flair is now in the loan business, including direct auto financing. The response to Ric Flair Finance's website, www.ricflairfinance.com, was reportedly so great, it was shut down for a period after it debuted. There are click links for mortgage, auto-loan and loan- refinancing applications. A come-on on the homepage
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Plan Your Opportunities Now
What do you plan to do differently this year to improve your dealership performance? Hopefully, you and your staff feel you made progress as an organization during 2007. But there may be areas for improvement. If there are opportunities, what are your plans to take advantage of them? About 16.1 million new vehicles were sold in 2007. In 2008, if forecasted sales drop by as much as 500,000 units, we
By Tony Noland • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subprime Auto Borrowers Fret
A survey says Americans are getting nervous when it comes to their chances of getting a car loan, because of the subprime mortgage crisis. Polled people were asked: Given the fallout in the subprime mortgage market, how concerned are you that your ability to obtain credit for something like a car loan will be affected? One-third said they were or concerned their credit may be at risk. GDEXAuto, a
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Customers From Hell
Customer horror stories about car dealers abound. But how about dealers' horror stories about customers who can be abusive, unfair and downright obnoxious? How do dealership professionals handle customers from hell or at least those who are hot under the collar? We asked several veteran dealers to share their experiences with angry customers and how they handled the situations. In a nutshell, here's
By Lillie Guyer • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Is It the Lead or Salesperson?
An auto maker debuts a hot new car, prompting a flood of Internet leads at auto dealerships. But not all those inquiries are from serious prospects. Many are casual contacts by people who are interested in an all-new product but not necessarily ready or able to buy it. The spike in leads can jam a dealership's Internet department, which can handle only so many inquiries and doesn't readily know which
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Information Used To Score Internet Sales Leads Comes From All Sorts of Sources
Information used to score Internet automotive leads comes from various sources, such as data from auto makers indicating which prior Internet prospects became car buyers. Past behavior predicts future performance, says Jack Bowen, chief marketing officer for Urban Science a firm that developed lead scoring seven years ago. Other buying predictors include lists of previous owners, people with vehicles
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sorry Old Chap, We’re Repossessing Your Car
British politeness extends to how vehicles are repossessed in the U.K., says Roger Gewolb, an American who heads a Britain-based lending firm, Park Finance Holdings. We have a police cruiser nearby when we repossess cars, but a huge number of people miraculously go in the house and come out with the money so they can keep the car, he says at a recent Auto Finance Summit. All British people are polite,
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hummer H3T Crew-Cab Pickup to Bow in Chicago
GM placed an overriding priority on the H3T’s off-road capability in an effort to maintain a brand character that dates back to the first H2 in 2002 and the military-bred H1 from 1992.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 31, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sky’s Limit for Webasto’s New Sunroof
Webasto plans an “unparalleled push” to get auto dealers to sell its new aftermarket sunroof.
By Steve Finlay • Jan. 30, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Makers Ask EU to Support Eco-Driving
Europe has no legislation encouraging drivers to keep steady speeds, avoid sharp accelerations and other behaviors that increase emissions.
By Chris Jones • Jan. 29, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Coating Process Cuts Sludge 80% at CAMI
While zirconium has been used in other industries for corrosion protection, it has taken 13 years for PPG to develop it for the automotive industry.
By William Diem • Jan. 18, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
CHAMCO Looks to Begin Exports to U.S. This Year
Half of the importer’s 150 dealers have been lined up and it is working on establishing an R&D facility on the West Coast under the direction of Steve Saleen.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 17, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
MDI Air Car to Be Built in Melbourne
The OneCAT, which can cover nearly 100 miles on compressed air alone, will go on sale later this year following demonstrations in France, Australia and New Zealand.
By Alan Harman • Jan. 16, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mini Sales Hit All-Time High in 2007
The auto maker's U.S. sales hit 42,000 units last year, up 7% from 2006.
By Drew Winter • Jan. 14, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tata Unveils Highly Anticipated One Lakh Car
The Indian auto maker promises 47 mpg and emissions that are below current Indian regulatory levels.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 10, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Oak Ridge Creates Super-Water Repellant
The crushed glass-based nano-coating holds microscopic air pockets, allowing water and grime to bounce off coated surfaces.
By Herb Shuldiner • Jan. 3, 2008
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