Vehicles: Page

Standardization to Cut Electronics Costs, Supplier Predicts

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – How much suppliers will be able to charge for the software they develop for cars is a tricky issue that won't be resolved easily. The virtual nature of code makes it seem cheap, but the effect of software is key to future vehicles. John Sanderson, CEO of Siemens VDO Automotive in North America, ducks a direct question on software pricing at the Management Briefing Seminars here

By William Diem • Aug. 3, 2005

CNA Lets Dealers Rate Vehicle Service Contracts Online

CNA National has introduced QuikRate, an online application that enables dealers to rate vehicle service contracts. The program can be customized for each dealership based on preferences for coverage, terms (months and miles) and deductibles. When a vehicle identification number is entered, the system automatically displays the eligible plans and the corresponding retail costs, which are guaranteed

Aug. 1, 2005

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from WardsAuto

Automakers are evaluating their long-term strategies, revisiting their product mix, and approach to both retail and manufacturing approach along the way.

By WardsAuto staff

Injection Selection

Johnson Controls Inc. says its new line of CrafTec interior processes for injection-molded plastic interior components is helping auto makers respond to consumers' increasing desire for attractive, high-quality interiors in affordable vehicles. Combining craftsmanship and technology, the CrafTec Partial Mold-Behind (PMB), Multi-Color Injection (MCI) and Partial Foam-in-Place (PFIP) interior systems

By Mike Sutton • Aug. 1, 2005

Consultant Touts Katzkin’s Procurement Model

TRAVERSE CITY, MI John Waraniak is one of the oft-seen utility players at the annual Management Briefing Seminars here, and he sometimes brings some “out there” concepts to the table, says the Center for Automotive Research's Brett Smith, assistant director-manufacturing, engineering and technology. But at least one idea actually may be worth a follow-up by certain members of the supply chain. Waraniak

By John D. Stoll • Aug. 1, 2005

Smyrna to Build Hybrid Altima

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. will assemble its Altima hybrid model at its Smyrna, TN, plant, the company has announced. Production of the '07 model is slated to begin next year. Nissan is investing $10.4 million to add the hybrid-electric vehicle to its Smyrna line, which already builds the gasoline-powered Altima sedan, as well as the Maxima sedan, Xterra and Pathfinder SUVs and Frontier compact pickup

July 1, 2005

Hybrid Bill Running Out of Gas

Appearing to run out of gas in California is proposed legislation to sell hybrid vehicles over the Internet without dealer involvement. Spearheading the bill is a consortium of environmental groups that touts such legislation as a way to encourage higher sales of vehicles. The proposal would create a separate licensing category and, in effect, circumvent auto dealers by way of direct sales. Bill sponsors

By Steve Finlay • June 1, 2005

Aging Buyers Dictate Trends

The aging of the U.S. population and strict SUV safety requirements will force dramatic changes in the way vehicle interiors are designed, says a panel of interior stylists at the Auto Interiors Show. Roland Sternmann, executive design director, Audi Design Center-California, says as the 18 million U.S. Baby Boomers move into the 40-60-age range this year, designers will have to look at new ways to

By Kevin Kelly • June 1, 2005

Lear Leads Smart Interior Trend

Gray and tan interiors are the norm in U.S. vehicles today, but the auto industry is on the verge of a customization trend that will allow consumers to opt for more vibrant, exciting colors and designs, two Lear Corp. executives say. The Southfield, MI, interior mega-supplier, like its primary competitor Johnson Controls Inc., does exhaustive research with regard to the design and feature preferences

By Tom Murphy • June 1, 2005

Banking on Composites

Lotus Engineering plc believes tougher pedestrian-impact rules that take effect in Europe in 2010 will help it sell technology for composite front-end structures, but during 2005, composites will remain a hard sell. For mainstream companies, it is true that they are being very conservative about material choices, says Jason Rowe, chief material engineer for Lotus Engineering, the British subsidiary

By William Diem • June 1, 2005

Headstrong Strategy

With its January acquisition of Cosworth Technology Ltd., Mahle Group is pursuing aggressively a strategy to engineer, machine and assemble full cylinder-head modules for global auto makers, the company's chairman says. Cosworth Technology, which will be renamed Mahle Powertrain Inc. as of July 1, already machines some 100,000 cylinder-head castings annually. Mahle produces camshafts, valves and all

By Tom Murphy • June 1, 2005

C&A Bankruptcy Chills Interiors Show

DETROIT The May 17 bankruptcy filing by Collins & Aikman Corp. served as a bleak backdrop for last week's Auto Interiors show held here at Cobo Center. Collins & Aikman, of Troy, MI, is a $3.9 billion interior supplier that specializes in cockpits, acoustic systems, fabric, trim and convertible tops. It is the latest and largest auto supplier in a long chain of parts makers turning to Chapter 11 protection

By Tom Murphy • May 25, 2005

Two Megas in Charlotte, NC, Like Certified Vehicles

Certified pre-owned vehicle sales winners for the two Ward's Megadealer 100 firms headquartered in Charlotte, NC: Hendrick Automotive and Sonic Automotive. Hendrick's sales director for new and used vehicles, Chris Little, says the group achieves 20% higher grosses on certified vehicles. “Three-fourths of our 50 dealerships handle certified pre-owneds,” Little says. “We'll average sales of 100 certifieds

By Mac Gordon • May 12, 2005

Fiat Aims High With Powertrain

Italy's Fiat Auto SpA, seeking to capitalize on one of its crucial advantages in the European market, is bringing its vast array of passenger- and commercial-vehicle powertrain units under one roof: Fiat Powertrain Technologies. The objective is to sell Fiat's powertrain systems to other auto makers throughout the world and build revenue (see story, p.28). Fiat says the new business unit will begin

May 1, 2005

The Perfect Launch

Engineering the perfect new-vehicle launch takes cooperation and communication between the OEM and supplier plus a great deal of trust, agree executives from suppliers, consulting companies and an auto maker on hand for a special roundtable discussion. All emphasize the need for better upfront planning to ensure vehicle programs are launched on time and hit quality and cost targets. The Original Equipment

By David E. Zoia • May 1, 2005

KP Upbeat After Massive Restructuring

German supplier Kolbenschmidt Pierburg Group staged a financial recovery in North America last year, says Gerd Kleinert, chairman of the company's board of management. North American sales for the powertrain component supplier have grown steadily over the past four years, from $240 million in 2001 to $314 million in 2004, he says. Total global sales were $2.4 billion last year for the supplier, up

By Christie Schweinsberg • May 1, 2005

Slick Tips on Buying Oil

Because there are no official regulations citing how much must be present in an oil to classify it as synthetic blend, the quality differentiation among oils marketed under this term is vast. Performance attributes of full synthetic base oils can be found in synthetic blend motor oils. Reputable engine oil manufacturers formulate their synthetic blend motor oils with certain percentages of synthetic

By KEVIN McGEE • May 1, 2005

Preh Releases New Technologies and North American Plans

DETROIT – Preh Automotive, the automotive controls systems division of Preh GmbH of Bad Neustadt, Germany, is hoping to gain a stronger foothold in the North American market with the introduction of several new technologies here at the Society of Automotive Engineers conference. “Our first orders in the U.S. show that Preh’s products can be very competitive in this market,” says Preh Automotive President

By Mike Sutton • April 14, 2005

IBM Unveils Automotive Diagnostic Services

DETROIT – IBM Corp. unveils its Parametric Analysis Center (PAC), an advanced automotive repair data management service, here at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress. The new on-demand service is designed to aid in the diagnosis of electronic-based problems in vehicles by analyzing and storing signal data output from in-car electronic diagnostic equipment. It is based on technologies

By Mike Sutton • April 14, 2005

North American Powder Metal Use to Increase Slightly

DETROIT - Use of powder metal, the material that makes up an increasing number of precision components in engines and drivetrains, will grow slightly in 2005, from 42.97 lbs. (19.5 kg) per vehicle to 43.45 lbs. (19.7 kg). This, despite a somewhat uncertain light-vehicle production outlook, says Eric Boreczky, manager of automotive applications for Hoeganaes Corp., the world's largest PM producer.

By Drew Winter • April 13, 2005

Delphi Reformer May Help Diesel’s Cause

DETROIT - Delphi Corp. has a new innovation that may help diesel engines comply with the strict new emissions standards that industry experts say are hampering diesel's ability to more quickly penetrate the U.S. market. Delphi's new onboard diesel-fuel reformer, announced at the annual Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress here, combusts diesel fuel to form a “hydrogen-rich reformate.” Delphi

By Bill Visnic • April 13, 2005

GM Execs Ponder American Engineering

DETROIT - The recruitment and development of American engineers must improve if U.S.-based auto makers still want to rely on homegrown talent, General Motors Corp. executives say. “We're having a very difficult time attracting engineers,” Jim Queen, GM vice president-Global Engineering, says here at the Society of Automotive Engineers Congress and Exposition. “It's almost bordering on a crisis situation.”

By Brian Corbett • April 13, 2005

Atlas Testing Accelerates Material Development

DETROIT – Atlas Weathering Services Group aims to shorten the amount of time auto makers spend testing the durability of materials used in vehicles with four new temperature-controlled, outdoor, accelerated-testing services shown here at the Society of Automotive Engineers conference. Atlas’ Equatorial Mount with Mirrors for Acceleration, with or without Water (EMMA/EMMAQUA) accelerated-weathering

By Mike Sutton • April 12, 2005

Trust a Must If Perfect Launch Is Goal

DETROIT - Engineering the perfect new-vehicle launch takes cooperation and communication between the OE and supplier - plus a great deal of trust, agree executives from suppliers, consulting companies and an auto maker on hand here for a special roundtable on the subject. All emphasize the need for better upfront planning to ensure vehicle programs are launched on time and hit quality and cost targets

By David E. Zoia • April 12, 2005

SAE Adopts New Engine-Power Test

DETROIT - The Society of Automotive Engineers announces at its annual World Congress here significant new updates to improve the accuracy of the test standard auto makers have used for more than 30 years to rate the power and torque of light-vehicle engines in North America. Equally important, the SAE also is introducing an all-new, voluntary test procedure designed to ensure the engine horsepower

By Bill Visnic • April 11, 2005

The Ultimate in Exclusivity: Hand-Built Engines

Customers who chip in the substantial extra cost for vehicles crafted by the various auto makers' in-house tuners want, first and foremost, enhanced performance. But they're also chasing something more elusive in this day of $30,000 Benzes and McMansions in every suburb: exclusivity. And for the horsepower-hungry, what can be more exclusive than a thundering powerplant lovingly assembled by hand just

By Bill Visnic • April 1, 2005