Operations: Page 212

  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    It Will Be Nation’s Most Environmentally Friendly Dealership

    Work is underway in Miami, FL, for what its owners say will be the nation's most environmenta

    Aug. 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    X Prize Foundation Finalizing Rules for High-Mileage Competition

    The developers of the cultish X Prize want to award $25 million to the winner of a competition to develop a production-ready 100-mpg passenger vehicle.

    By Alan Harman • Aug. 1, 2007
  • Robots in action on the new line at Toyota Kentucky as future Camrys seamlessly roll through the production process. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Toyota
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Automotive Manufacturing

    Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

    By WardsAuto staff
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Drophead Coupe to Drive Rolls to Record Sales

    Rolls-Royce expects to sell about 100 of the convertibles this year and about 200 in 2008.

    By Herb Shuldiner • July 27, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Nation’s Most Environmentally Friendly Dealership

    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.Work is underway in Miami, FL, for what its owners say will be the nation's most environmentally friendly automobile dealership. The Tamiami...

    By Ward's Staff • July 27, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dealerships Should Supercharge Aftermarket Sales

    Products ranging from high-tech electronics to rear-seat dog safety harnesses often are in high demand and carry healthy profit margins.

    By • July 26, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pushy Car Salespeople? Guess Again

    Car dealers score well in a new study measuring prospect satisfaction.

    By Cliff Banks • July 17, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Auto Makers, Dealers at Odds Over European Block Exemption

    A recent survey says auto makers that restructure their distribution networks can achieve sales growth of as much as 11% and cost reductions of about 12%.

    By Jorge Palacios • July 13, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tedrive Aims to Thrive Under Private-Equity Ownership

    The former Visteon European unit says its hydraulic power-steering gear is refined, but it is behind competitors in developing electric power steering.

    By William Diem • July 12, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Cars.com Launches Mobile Site

    Cars.com is the first automotive website to launch a mobile version of its site. Shoppers can access the site from any web-enabled mobile device and do pretty much anything that can be done from a personal computer.

    By Ward's Staff • July 11, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Brand Loyalists Are Rare Breed

    Brand loyalists are an endangered species.In the old days, auto makers tried to snare young buyers, then keep them as lifers by offering various step-up makes and models appealing to changing tastes and lifestyles.

    By • July 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Calling All Customers

    Customer-relationship management CRM is gaining fierce attention as anyone who plays today's tough competitive version of car wars knows.

    By Lillie Guyer • July 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Connecting the Phone to the Car Is By Far What Consumers Want the Most

    DETROIT More and more car buyers want to bring their personal electronic devices with them on the road.

    By David E. Zoia • July 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Rumors of the Death of Minivans Greatly Exaggerated

    Stigmatized by a “soccer mom” image, scorned by hipper-than-thou “anti-minivan” buyers and challenged by hot-selling crossover utility vans, the minivan category has been buried by some auto analysts.

    July 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Rolls Names New U.S. Chief

    Paul Ferraiolo will take over as president of Rolls-Royce in North America July 1.

    By Ward's Staff • June 25, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    What If Unions Get Their ‘Card Check?’

    The “card check” is a move to eliminate the secret ballot, one of the most fundamental principles upon which our democracy is based.

    By John McElroy • June 25, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Vatican Calls for Road Ethics

    While this unusual effort may solicit some snickers, a little divine guidance might be useful.

    By Barbara McClellan • June 20, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    “Car Guy” Most Coveted Title in Auto Industry

    Whether you’re young or old, male or female, everybody in this business wants to be known as a "car guy."

    By • June 14, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shelby Reveals Price of ‘Super Snake’ Package

    Beginning in late summer, a limited number of GT500 owners can get the Super Snake package applied to their GT500 at the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas.

    By Ward's Staff • June 7, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Modest Growth Seen for Nav Systems

    Of the 41.5 million vehicles expected to be sold in North America, Western Europe, Japan and Korea this year, about 5.5 million will have navigation systems, forecaster CSM says.

    By David E. Zoia • June 6, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Japanese Auto Makers Fill Void in Canada

    Last year, Japanese auto makers produced about 900,000 vehicles in Canada, double the level they manufactured in 1998 for a 36% share of the domestic market.

    By Alan Harman • June 5, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Aerodynamic Looks Can Be Deceiving

    DETROIT — Looks can be deceiving when it comes to a vehicle's aerodynamic attributes.So say top designers from Detroit's Big Three auto makers, speaking to the Automotive Press Assn. here.

    By Byron Pope • June 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Build Your Relationship Equity

    Many managers and sales reps attempt to move forward with a sale before taking time to build relationship equity that is needed to close the deal.

    By TIM SHEA • June 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    How to Handle Customers

    True or False: A salesperson's job is to sell cars. False. A sales person's job is to help a customer buy a car, not simply to sell a car.

    By Richard F. Libin • June 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dynasty in the Making?

    Dick Dauch turns 65 in July, an age when most folks contemplate retirement and the arrival of Social Security checks.

    By David C. Smith • June 1, 2007
  • WardsAuto logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of WardsAuto
    Image attribution tooltip

    Question: To Fee Or Not to Fee

    It's scary to think of the number of customers that have been chased away over the years because of a $20 fee for shop supplies on the repair order.

    By Lee Harkins • June 1, 2007