Suppliers: Page

Auto Makers, Suppliers Gear Up to Make Small Cars Safer

The risk of dying in a crash in one of the smallest 4-door cars is about twice as high as in the largest 4-door car.

By Drew Winter • Feb. 27, 2009

Mexico’s Auto Industry Weathers Tumultuous 2008

Despite the global economic slowdown, auto maker and supplier investment in the region came fast and furious last year.

By Byron Pope • Feb. 10, 2009

Explore the Trendline➔

Autonomous Vehicles

Automakers continue to make big investments in autonomous vehicles. We’ve put together a curated list of stories showcasing the technologies and strategies propelling autonomy.

By WardsAuto staff

Denso May Suffer First Loss in U.S.

When the going gets tough, the Japanese turn to kaizen. The principle of continuous improvement has been rooting out inefficiency in Japanese plants for years, but the philosophy gains importance as supplier Denso Corp. faces the prospect of losing money in the challenged U.S. market for the first time on an annual basis. Denso's fiscal year ends March 31, and the supplier has downgraded its earnings

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2009

NASA Vendor Sky High on Li-ion Batteries for Autos

Yardney Technical joins a crowded field, as suppliers, some of which have banded together, race to design Li-ion batteries that will satisfy the rigors of an automotive application.

By Eric Mayne • Jan. 9, 2009

Bosch VMS: Networking for Maximum Driver Support

The supplier’s Vehicle Motion and Safety initiative supports the driver and improves dynamic performance by networking active safety, comfort and agility systems.

By Mike Sutton • Nov. 3, 2008

Eagle Ottawa Seeks Hold on Market

It Hardly Would Seem Necessary for a 140-year-old company to introduce itself to the world, but given its new strategy, that's the irony of leather supplier Eagle Ottawa LLC. A typically modest company despite its industry-best 20% market share and a presence on more than 100 vehicle programs worldwide, Eagle Ottawa steps center stage recently with Interauto 2008 to trumpet a more vertically integrated

By James M. Amend • Nov. 1, 2008

New Composite Can Replace Steel, Suppliers Say

Earlier versions of the IXIS composite were used in GM and Hyundai concept cars.

By Byron Pope • Sept. 22, 2008

Dana Sees Greatest Opportunity Overseas, Seeks Expansion Into Russia

Important gains lie in the “mundane and very unsexy” business of systematic process improvements, CEO Gary Convis says.

By James M. Amend • Aug. 13, 2008

Don’t Look to India, China for Bailout, Suppliers Warned

More than 50% of those interviewed say “strict labor laws” that favor workers is a key obstacle in their decisions to keep their distance from North American suppliers.

By Eric Mayne • Aug. 5, 2008

Continental AG’s New Display System Does Double Duty

Continental AG is introducing an in-car system that lets a driver look at one image and a front-seat passenger look at another on the same screen, at the same time and without either person seeing what the other is viewing. That way, the driver can see driving-related information, such as a navigation map, on the full screen while the passenger enjoys a DVD movie or other video entertainment that

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 2008

Small-Car Demand Explodes

The dramatic market shift in past months away from large SUVs and trucks to small cars has caught many auto makers and suppliers off guard. It's raising concerns over whether there is enough capacity in place near-term to meet demand. In fact, one industry insider requesting anonymity, speculated that June sales could come in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just 13.0 million units as a result

By Byron Pope and Diane Elnick • July 1, 2008

Ross Counts on IAC to ‘Make the Cut’

“Most of our suppliers would no longer exist unless we let them raise prices. I believe other Tier 1s are in a similar position,” says Wilbur Ross, who formed International Automotive Components in 2005.

By Tom Murphy • June 6, 2008

Drivers Facing Information Overload, Suppliers Warn

Safety is compromised because modern motorists feel compelled to tap into every available in-vehicle stimulus while driving, a JCI executive says.

By Steve Finlay • June 5, 2008

Used Cars to the Rescue in Oklahoma

John Zapp, a dealership general manager in Oklahoma City, says pushing pre-owned vehicles has raised his profit per unit to seven times more than that on new cars. When the need to escalate used-car sales arose, Zapp reconfigured his inventory by unloading slow sellers more quickly and cutting the supply from 200 to 100 days on the more attractive models. Volume is what matters, says Zapp whose Group

By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2008

UAW Ratifies Contract at Magna Plant

Locals 624 and 2149, which represent 2,500 workers, approved the new pact at the New Process Gear plant in Syracuse, NY, by a wide margin.

By Ward's Staff • Feb. 22, 2008

Valeo Opens New North American HQ

Valeo SA has moved its North American headquarters from Auburn Hills, MI, to nearby Troy and plans a grand opening for spring, Valeo Chairman and CEO Thierry Morin tells journalists during the North American International Auto Show. Making the move were some 200 employees working in research and development, marketing, finance, human resources and sales. The old building in Auburn Hills was not appropriate

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2008

BorgWarner Refining DCT Technology

With dual-clutch transmissions gaining traction as viable means to improve vehicle efficiency, emissions, drivability and performance, DCT-pioneer BorgWarner Inc. is forging ahead with plans for next-generation systems targeting new markets and a wider array of applications. At full launch of all future contracts, production of the supplier's DualTronic DCT systems is expected to jump 500% from current

By Mike Sutton • Jan. 1, 2008

3M Brandishes Automotive Light Saber

Darth Vader had the light saber; 3M Automotive has the Precision Lighting Element (PLE). Both devices produce a soft but bright shaft of white light, but 3M's product wasn't dreamed up in a Hollywood studio and it doesn't buzz like a beehive, either. The St. Paul, MN, supplier of all things adhesive is diversifying its portfolio, and the PLE is part of a corporate initiative to push innovation deeper

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2007

Leoni to Add Valeo Wire-Harness Unit to Growing Portfolio

The German company will be the biggest supplier of wiring in Europe, with more than 24% of the market. Worldwide, it will hold a 9% share.

By William Diem • Nov. 7, 2007

Continental, Microsoft Target Automotive Telematics

Sync is just the first offering resulting from the collaboration between the two global companies.

By Byron Pope • Sept. 4, 2007

Frame By Frame

As the market for fullsize pickups and SUVs goes, so goes the fortunes of suppliers manufacturing the crucial metallic skeleton that contributes so much to the ride, handling and hauling capability of these large utilitarian vehicles. Manufacturing and shipping these massive structures is neither easy nor cheap, but doing it profitably is an even greater challenge. For proof, note that two of the

By Tom Murphy • Sept. 1, 2007

Continental Battery Pack Boasts Modular Design

Continental’s system features a unique modular design aimed at alleviating packaging concerns for hybrid-electric vehicle producers.

By Byron Pope • Aug. 30, 2007

Better Education Needed on Voice Recognition, Supplier Says

Nuance contends industry and public education will become even more important as speech technology migrates from the luxury sector to mass-market vehicles.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 3, 2007

Bosch Opens Michigan Tech Center

Robert Bosch LLC dedicates its new $37.5 million technical center in Plymouth Township, MI, devoted to research and development of starters, generators, electric drives and body electronics, including airbag controllers and driver assistance technologies.

By Tom Murphy • Aug. 1, 2007

Siemens VDO Acquisition Makes Continental Top 5 Player

Continental says about €19.1 billion of total revenue is tied to the original equipment automotive sector, ranking the merged company No.5 on the list of global automotive suppliers.

By David E. Zoia • July 25, 2007