Final Assembly
FINAL ASSEMBLY
Fiat's Google gotcha: A 500 shows up at VW's front door
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Score one for Fiat in the sometimes whimsical, sometimes not, rivalry between the Italian automaker and Volkswagen. The two companies seem to taunt and tease each other like kids on a playground, especially in Europe. Check out Volkswagen's Swedish headquarters in suburban Stockholm on Google Earth and you'll see a Fiat 500 parked at the front door of the building.... Read More » Comments [0] | Recommendations [0]
FINAL ASSEMBLY
DeBoer thinks Dodge Dart will hit the bull's-eye
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Customers who visit Dodge stores usually are looking for trucks rather than small cars, so some analysts question how well the new Dart compact will fare. But Sid DeBoer, founder and executive chairman of Lithia Motors, which owns a large number of Chrysler group stores, has a ready answer.... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
German press expects Audi to shuffle exec deck
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
A senior management shake-up is in the works at Audi. According to German media reports, Volkswagen marketing chief Luca de Meo will replace Audi sales boss Peter Schwarzenbauer, who once headed Porsche's North American sales arm.... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
China's top dealership group beats AutoNation in units -- but not revenue
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
China's new top-dog dealership group is China Grand Automotive, which passed Pang Da Automobile last year to become the largest auto retailer in terms of revenue. So how does China's No. 1 compare with America's biggest dealership group, AutoNation?... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
Some days, Akerson would rather bowl
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
When General Motors founder Billy Durant was found, late in life, to be running a bowling alley in Flint, Mich., he supplied future generations of GM bosses with a laugh line they could always turn to.... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
A Texas whodunit: The case of the fried Fisker
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 14, 2012
More bad news for battery-powered vehicles, or just a false alarm? Well, the fire alarm was real enough. A house blaze in suburban Houston destroyed a new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid car last week. But did the Fisker start the fire?... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
Chrysler calls minivan's obit premature
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 14, 2012
With apologies to Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan may be greatly exaggerated.... Read More »FINAL ASSEMBLY
Tire marks on Ming wall blacken Ferrari's reputation in China
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 14, 2012
A publicity stunt in Nanjing, China, turned into a public relations nightmare for Italian sports car maker Ferrari last week.... Read More »Manufacturing
DealersMore »
Q&A
Ally CEO: We have only 1 business -- auto
8:14 am U.S. ET | May 23 2012
Ally Financial has one focus now, CEO Michael Carpenter says: U.S. auto lending. That auto emphasis, in fact, is one of the reasons Ally's ailing mortgage unit, ResCap, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, he says.... Read More »
Finance & InsuranceMore »
F&I WEEK: Attorneys will help dealers with regulatory questions
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Auto dealers who have been watching regulatory developments will get some answers next month during Automotive News F&I Week -- a free online conference.... Read More »
MarketingMore »
Study: BMW replaces Toyota as most valuable global car brand
3:00 am U.S. ET | May 22 2012
BMW has overtaken Toyota as the world's most valuable automotive brand, an annual ranking of the world's top brands shows. Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi improved their brand value, according to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study by market research company Millward Brown.... Read More »
Used CarsMore »
Used-vehicle prices ease in April, index shows
2:41 pm U.S. ET | May 7 2012
For the first time in six months, used-vehicle prices in April stopped their upward trajectory and showed signs of easing, according to a closely followed gauge released today. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index in April stood at 126.1, down slightly from 126.2 in March and down from 126.6 in April 2011.... Read More »
Fixed OperationsMore »
Surviving the service trough
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
The auto sales collapse that started in 2008 is hitting home in the service department in 2012. Late-model vehicles traditionally represent the sweet spot for repair and maintenance work for dealership service departments. Fewer of them, combined with the continued decline in warranty work, mean a severe pinch in revenue opportunities for the service department.... Read More »
NADAMore »
EDITORIAL
New NADA study should avoid rearview mirror
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 14 2012
The National Automobile Dealers Association is commissioning another study, this one to generate hard data about dealers' return on investment from manufacturer-mandated dealership renovation programs.... Read More »
ManufacturingMore »
PSA-GM plan Brazil plant, report says
7:53 am U.S. ET | May 22 2012
PSA and partner GM are in discussions to build a joint plant in Brazil, according to a Brazilian media report. The two automakers established a partnership in February to share vehicle platforms and jointly purchase parts and materials. A decision on the project is expected by the end of the month, the report said.... Read More »
DesignMore »
CARS & CONCEPTS
Porsche drops 2-seater plan
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Porsche has dropped plans to build a two-seat sports car that would have been smaller and cheaper than the Boxster, CEO Matthias Mueller told a German newspaper.... Read More »
Future ProductMore »
Fiat and Mazda plan to jointly develop a roadster
1:50 am U.S. ET | May 23 2012
Fiat Group and Mazda plan to develop and build a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo brands, the companies said. The model will be a successor to the rear-wheel-drive MX-5/Miata and will have distinct styling for each brand.... Read More »
Green CarsMore »
Higher ethanol concentrations could hurt vehicles, study says
2:52 pm U.S. ET | May 23 2012
A new study suggests that ethanol-blended fuel could take a toll on vehicles when used in higher concentrations. Renewable-fuels trade groups blasted the results, but auto industry groups warned of the dangers of rushing new fuel blends into the marketplace.... Read More »
TechnologyMore »
Suppliers ride the mpg wave
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Gasoline at $4 a gallon and government-mandated fuel economy targets are creating vast opportunities for many big global suppliers. In North America, those suppliers are selling turbochargers, direct injection, stop-start equipment, eight-speed transmissions and many other systems that save fuel.... Read More »
Talk from the TopMore »
ROBERT YOUNG -- VICE PRESIDENT OF PURCHASING, TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA
Beyond crises, Toyota purchasing chief sees growth
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21 2012
Since becoming vice president of purchasing for Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American operations early last year, Robert Young has been tested repeatedly by world events. That year brought the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan and, months later, the floods in Thailand.... Read More »
Car CutawaysMore »
Plastic Omnium helps make the Peugeot 208 greener
12:01 am U.S. ET | May 23 2012
The Peugeot 208 features a rear bumper from Plastic Omnium that is made from 100 percent recycled materials. In total, 25 percent of the 208 is made using recycled or natural materials while its predecessor, the 207, contained just 7 percent.... Read More »
- General Sales Manager
Razzari Ford/Mazda -- Merced, CA, United States - Sales Manager and F&I Manager
Performance Toyota -- Memphis, TN, United States
