Larry P. Vellequette Reporter covering Toyota and Volkswagen for Automotive News [email protected] 313-446-0478 See All Staff Page Recent Stories The new Stellantis pickup: Schrödinger's Dakota A source told Automotive News that the resurrection of the Dakota nameplate is still moving ahead after an online blog reported the midsize pickup's revival would be axed. New-school solution for recruiting auto techs While other dealerships struggle to find technicians, Magic Toyota in Edmonds, Wash., is training its own techs in-house, hiring a full-time professor to lead staff development efforts. Toyota banks on plug-ins as rivals push BEVs The automaker's decision to add at least a third PHEV nameplate to its U.S. lineup next year bucks a trend that has seen other automakers pull back their offerings as full battery-electric vehicles proliferate. Lexus packs 5.0-liter V-8 into IS to launch F Sport Performance line The 2022 IS 500 F Sport Performance is the first of what Lexus says will be a new line of performance-oriented variants. The sedan will arrive this fall equipped with a 472-hp V-8 engine. Toyota to boost jobs, engine output of W.Va. plant The investment will be used to upgrade the plant's current six-cylinder production line with additional equipment and machinery to make it more flexible. The additional jobs will allow the plant to boost engine production for the RAV4 by 5,900 engines per month. Toyota takes modest approach to EV rollout While some global automakers such as Volkswagen Group and General Motors plan to go big on battery-electric vehicles, the world's largest — Toyota — is hedging its bets on a broader array of powertrains, at least in the U.S. Inventory levels fall back under 3 million Strong retail demand in certain segments and production issues have kept inventory levels down. Audi dealers go it alone at make meeting Meeting without brand representatives, retailers took a deeper look at the last two dealer attitude surveys. And dealer council chairman Don Flow detailed his plans to boost transparency. Crossovers, EVs spur confidence for VW Volkswagen expects double-digit sales increases, with five crossovers, including the Taos and the ID4, expected at dealerships by July. Toyota speeds up SmartPath rollout Division chief David Christ said the automaker believes it can now launch up to 30 dealers per month on its digital retailing tool and a "critical mass" of dealers will be running within three years. Valeo execs' carbon accountability The French supplier is putting its executives' money where its promise is, tying compensation packages to progress toward meeting the company's 2050 carbon-neutrality pledge. Walser: Diversify and engage Minnesota dealer Paul Walser, the 2021 NADA Chairman, says dealers must grow the numbers of minority-owned dealerships in the United States and reexamine the partnership with their factory to simplify the purchasing process. NADA COVERAGE » For Audi dealers, a closer look at surveys VW confident in new crossovers Volkswagen dealers will have five crossovers in their lineups by July, which — along with a recovering economy — should mean big sales growth in 2021, dealers heard at their NADA make meeting. Audi dealers could see lift from lineup shift Don Flow wants to spend his term as chairman launching what he hopes will be a longer-term study about just what works and what needs work in the way Audi dealers do business with the factory. Load More
Larry P. Vellequette Reporter covering Toyota and Volkswagen for Automotive News [email protected] 313-446-0478 See All Staff Page