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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Most F&I managers aren't forgers 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Only a small number of F&I managers, automotive professionals or Americans in general would ever consider signing a name other than their own or committing forgery.... Read More »
LETTER TO THE EDITOR In F&I, honesty is still the best policy 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Thank you for the April 17 interview with F&I trainer George Angus, "Payment packing is deception -- it's not OK" (Finance & Insurance newsletter). I agree that a lot of dealerships still pack payments.... Read More »
DAVE GUILFORD Price is next hurdle for Tesla growth 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Tesla has had one hell of a run lately. It reported its first quarterly profit. It's brainstorming self-guided cars with Google. The stock is sizzling. Let's just take a deep breath. Amid all the buzz, it's important to realize what Tesla has and hasn't accomplished Dave Guilford is enterprise editor of Automotive News.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Again, Tokyo show a no-go for Detroit 3 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 The Detroit 3 will sit out the Tokyo Motor Show, no-shows for the third straight time.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Shaq: No grease needed to slide into his LaCrosse 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Can Shaquille O'Neal really fit into a Buick LaCrosse? During a recent episode of the "Inside the NBA" postgame show on the TNT network, analyst Charles Barkley kidded the 7-foot-1-inch Shaq about his LaCrosse ads by saying O'Neal had to be rubbed down with Gold Bond Lotion to slide in.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Tesla's soaring stock price buries short sellers 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 The recent rocket ride of Tesla stock has put the hurt on holders of "shorts" -- those gambling that the price of the stock will fall.... Read More »
Used-hybrid prices down from '12 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 A more crowded market of electrified and efficient gasoline-powered vehicles is pushing down prices of used hybrids. Moderating gasoline prices are hurting, too.... Read More »
BEST PRACTICES Old-school Rizza roars into the digital age 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  In an age when auto dealers are plunging into digital tools for marketing, store management and customer retention, Chicago's Rizza Cars has become a star practitioner. The six-store retailer is a case study of a traditional dealership group transforming in a new era of operating technologies.... Read More »
Smart: Battery rental will ease consumers' EV anxiety 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Smart USA says it can ease consumer jitters about EVs by offering customers who buy or lease the electric-powered ForTwo that went on sale last week the option of renting the car's lithium ion battery.... Read More »
Industry: EU trade deal would lift exports 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 U.S. auto exports to Europe could quadruple within 15 years if regulators get rid of tariffs and adopt standard vehicle-safety rules, automaker associations say.... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: JOE HINRICHS, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAS, FORD MOTOR CO. Hinrichs: Quality is 'of the highest priority' at Ford 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  After three frenetic years overseeing Ford's ambitious Asia Pacific expansion plans, including the construction of nine plants, Joe Hinrichs returned to the Dearborn, Mich., world headquarters in December to take over as president of the company's most profitable region: the Americas. Hinrichs found Ford's North American operations in the midst of a major growth spurt.... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: MARK REUSS, NORTH AMERICAN PRESIDENT, GENERAL MOTORS GM seeks clean launch, regular updates for pickups 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America, says GM is staying vigilant on the June launch of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups, its most important rollout since the company's 2009 bankruptcy. He says GM is closely monitoring suppliers to avoid bottlenecks that could delay the launch or hurt quality.... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: JIM LENTZ, CEO, NORTH AMERICA REGION, TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. Toyota streamlines decision-making for North America 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda restructured the company's management this year to give more authority and autonomy to local regions. Nowhere was this more evident than in North America, where Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., was placed in charge of all Toyota sales and manufacturing for the region.... Read More »
TALK FROM THE TOP: LUDWIG WILLISCH, CEO, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA BMW counts on new models to keep luxury sales crown 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Mercedes-Benz led the U.S. luxury-brand sales race through April of 2013, but BMW of North America CEO Ludwig Willisch expects BMW to repeat as No. 1 for the year. Willisch says help is on the way in the form of three models debuting this fall: the 3-series GT crossover, 4-series coupe and a redesigned X5 crossover.... Read More »
Auto loan delinquencies, repossessions rise 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Auto loan delinquency and repossession rates rose in the first quarter fueled largely by an increase in subprime loans, Experian Automotive said last week.... Read More »
Kogai takes reins of Mazda's comeback 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Mazda Motor Corp.'s CEO designate, Masamichi Kogai, had a big hand in creating the more stable, profitable carmaker he inherits. But formidable challenges lie ahead.... Read More »
How dealers can avoid thefts by employees 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Dealer Danny McKenna is learning to trust his employees again. Last year McKenna says he discovered that two veteran employees were in collusion and had stolen some $600,000 from him over several years.... Read More »
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Snap-Happy 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Donna Gebers, general manager of East Bay BMW and East Bay Mini in Pleasanton, Calif., makes no apologies for including at least 60 photos of each used vehicle. The 60 photos per used-car listing required of Hendrick-owned stores is at least three times the average number that appear in listings on many third-party shopping sites.... Read More »
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Veteran Texas dealer mines data to sell pickups 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  It takes something special to get Hayden Elder's attention now that he has run a Chrysler dealership in Texas for decades. But software installed at Elder Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in the past month has turned his head.... Read More »
Cost is key to fate of talking cars 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Cars that communicate with each other to avoid crashes or traffic jams will save lives, but the cost of the systems will determine consumers' acceptance, the U.S. transportation secretary said last week.... Read More »
Acura seeks image boost by reviving NSX in Ohio 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Honda officials hope the revived Acura NSX, an advanced hybrid sports car scheduled to arrive in 2015, will strengthen Acura's luxury footing. Honda said last week that it will invest $70 million in Ohio to assemble the NSX.... Read More »
Small BMW team rethought electric cars for huge cities 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Nearly six years ago, BMW AG's Project i began to position the automaker for the future. In an interview with Automobilwoche, a German language sibling to Automotive News, Project i chief Ulrich Kranz explained how the idea of a carbon-body car for megacities emerged from his team.... Read More »
It's official: Tundra is a bit player in pickups 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Gone are the days when Toyota expected to challenge Detroit's dominance in full-sized pickups. "We're never going to challenge the Big 3 in terms of volumes," said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota's North American region.... Read More »
PRODUCTION LINE Chafing against engine friction 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Friction is enemy No. 1 for powertrain engineers striving to meet rising fuel-economy standards. Lower friction enables engines to efficiently produce more horsepower per liter of displacement.... Read More »
PRODUCTION LINE Q&A: AUDI'S BERND MARTENS Audi plans 90% local sourcing in Mexico 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  In September, Bernd Martens took over Audi purchasing as a member of the Audi management board. Martens, 47, gave Automotive News' German-language sibling publication, Automobilwoche, a look at how he and his team explored sourcing in Mexico.... Read More »
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