Automotive News articles from March 2003

Automotive News archives from March 2003

From A to V, debutantes dominate: Part 1 of 2.(new cars at the Geneva Auto Show)(News)
March 3, 2003... Like its predecessors, the 2003 edition of the annual Geneva auto show will be a showcase for the newest the auto industry has to offer. Press days are on March 4 and 5. The show opens to the public March 6-16. Here's an A-to-V preview...

Letters to the Editor.(Letter to the Editor)
March 3, 2003... He writes to say, 'I told you so' To the Editor: Just a short follow-up to my Letter to the Editor of April 22, 2002, in which I predicted that the then-new BMW 7 series, which was taking a severe beating from the media, would outsell...

Get real, GM.(tables turned on General Motors, design protection)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... First, General Motors copied the Jeep grille for its popular Hummer H2 and beat down a court challenge by the Chrysler group, which was not at all pleased by the similarity. Now, the situation is reversed. GM is bearing down on Avanti Motor...

From A to V, debutantes dominate: Part 2 of 2.(new products from automobile manufacturers)(News)
March 3, 2003... Maserati New products: Maserati will show production versions of the Coupe and Spyder for the first time. The most interesting new technical feature on the cars is an updated electronic stability control system. Talking points:...

Runge wants to rewrite CAFE; New rules would improve auto safety.(Jeffrey Runge; corporate average fuel economy)(Cover Story)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Harry Stoffer The nation's top motor vehicle regulator wants to rewrite fuel economy standards and reverse the harm the rules have done to car and truck safety over the past quarter century. Dr. Jeffrey Runge's planned changes...

Valeo, Denso split GM wiper deals.(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Julie Cantwell Valeo North America has won an important contract to supply wipers for the next generation of General Motors' high-volume full-sized pickups and SUVs, but the deal was not a clean sweep. Valeo will supply the...

Acura designs new TSX to rival Jaguar, Audi.(News)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Truett Acura hopes the crisp lines and wedge shape of the new TSX sports sedan make the same sort of emotional connection with potential buyers as does a Jaguar X-Type or an Audi A4. ``You've got to have your styling...

R&D centers: The industry's incubators.(name, location, executives, number of employees, size, capabilities of each center)(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Byline: K.C. Crain Catalytic converters, airbags, high-compression engines - many of the technical advances that make today's vehicles safe and comfortable were developed in automakers' r&d labs. From the time electric-starter inventor...

GM hasn't decided on cash for Fiat.(decision not made on whether to help recapitalize Fiat Auto)(News)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... General Motors has not decided whether to participate in Fiat Auto's recapitalization plan to raise $5.4 billion, a company spokeswoman said Friday, Feb. 28. ``We have been in discussions with Fiat, but we have not reached a decision to...

Jan. sales fall 7.7% in Mexico.(light vehicle sales, production)(Sales)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Light-vehicle sales in Mexico slid 7.7 percent in January as three of the top five car companies had double-digit declines. General Motors suffered the largest drop, as its sales plunged 22.7 percent from January 2002. Other losers:...

Porsche, Acura latest to try out TiVo showcases.(Marketing)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Tobi Elkin Porsche and Acura are the newest automotive companies to advertise on TiVo. TiVo is a personal video recorder service that, among other things, allows you to look at live TV, record as many as 30 hours of programs...

GM's global team.(engineering executives met to promote global sharing of vehicles, components, manufacturing)(News)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Top GM engineering execs meet quarterly to push for global sharing of vehicles, components and manufacturing practices. Here are the key players. * Jim Queen, vice president for North America engineering * Hans Demant, vice president...

The key parts.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... * Air conditioning compressor * Glycol * Water-to-air intercooler * Supercharger

Destination: U.S.(What a Germany engineer must adapt to when working in the United States)(Insight)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Things a German engineer has to adjust to in the United States * Open communication * Absence of hierarchy * Work spaces without walls * Group approach to problem solving

Space invaders.(automotive stowaway third-row seat engineering challenges)(Insignt)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Engineering challenges related to stowaway third-row seats * Rerouting of rear heating, air conditioning units * Location of spare tire * Rear suspension design, especially for all-wheel drive * Higher road noise levels *...

Masters of innovation; 12 auto suppliers receive top honors in 9th annual PACE Awards ceremony.(News)
March 3, 2003... Automotive News and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young present the 12 winners of the 2003 Automotive News PACE Awards.The awards, which since 1995 have recognized innovation and creativity in the supplier community, were announced on Sunday, March 2, at...

Late News.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Jaguar mulls aluminum XK BIRMINGHAM, England - The next Jaguar XK coupe likely will be the second Jaguar after the flagship XJ sedan to have an aluminum body. The XK, which won't be replaced until 2005, will be on the same platform as...

Auto News briefly.(automotive industry news)
March 3, 2003... Bullwinkle as a spokesmoose? Mazda may want to consider touting its toughness in future TV commercials. According to an Associated Press report, a couple was driving a red Mazda 232 through southern Norway last month when a 770-pound moose...

Visteon mandate to suppliers is a bad idea.(Opinion)('pay to play' strategy)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Visteon Corp. should drop its ``pay to play'' strategy for new parts contracts and replace it with a system that shows more of a shared approach to cutting costs. Visteon wants its suppliers to commit to large price cuts at the start of...

DCX offers tire program for Chrysler dealers.(News)(DaimlerChrysler AG)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Donna Harris DaimlerChrysler AG is starting a tire program for Chrysler group dealers this month that is designed to capture maintenance business lost to tire stores. Ford Motor Co. and General Motors have introduced similar...

Mitsubishi weighs its factory possibilities; Normal, Ill., plant could take on more capacity.(News)(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s talk about the need for more North American production doesn't mean the Japanese automaker will build another factory here. President Rolf Eckrodt recently counted a second North...

Destination: Japan.(Insight)(comparison of engineer's duties in America, Japan)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Things an American engineer has to adjust to in Japan *l Longer working hours * Focus on manufacturing * Deeper written analysis * Duties that go beyond the job description

M-B names Schembri used-car sales chief.(Mercedes-Benz USA L.L.C., Dave Schembri)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Mercedes-Benz USA LLC has tapped one of its most senior executives to take over certified used-car and fleet sales in a push to expand the businesses. Dave Schembri, vice president of marketing since 2001, was...

Channel surfing.(data for General Motors Corp.'s car dealerships)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2003... GM wants combined Buick-Pontiac-GMC stores in most markets as part of its retail ``channel strategy.'' Here's how they stacked up as of Dec. 31. Total franchises Buick: 2,766 Pontiac: 2,807 GMC: 2,525 In-channel stores...

Auto News digest.(automotive industry news)
March 3, 2003... Lincoln Mercury reduces prices LOS ANGELES - Lincoln Mercury Division has cut $2,000 from the price of the base Lincoln LS V-6 sedan with automatic transmission. The price is $32,495. All prices in this article include the freight charge....

Plans for Alabama.(News)
March 3, 2003... * Startup will move rapidly to big volumes. * There will be 10-15 Korea-based suppliers. * There will be hundreds of U.S. suppliers. * U.S. managers eventually will run the operation. * On-site engine production will use...

Mercedes pumps sales of C coupes; Dealers get allowance of $4,000 on cars sold to demo, loaner fleets;retail incentive stays at $1,500.(Mercedes-Benz USA L.L.C.)(Cover Story)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Edward Lapham Mercedes-Benz USA LLC last week launched a month-long program to whittle down a six-month glut of unsold C-class coupes. The program pays dealers $4,000 for each C320K or C320C that the dealer buys before March 31...

Dewar's profile: Fast-moving, dealer-friendly.(News)(Chevrolet marketing general manager Brent Dewar)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Dave Guilford Chevrolet's new marketing chief, Brent Dewar, says he won't disappear into the bowels of GM's headquarters here. Dewar, 47, succeeds Kurt Ritter as Chevrolet marketing general manager. Dewar had been general...

2004 Acura RSX.(product information, specifications)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2003... Height: 57.3 in. Length: 183.3 in. Width: 69.4 in. Wheelbase: 105.1 in. Curb weight: 3,320 lbs. Engine: 2.4-liter, 16-valve double-overhead cam with iVTEC4 cylinder Horsepower: 200 hp @ 6,800 rpm Torque: 166...

On a quest; Nissan hunts for engineers in the Big 3's back yard.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Lindsay Chappell The radio ads aired in southeast Michigan for weeks in December and January. A friendly voice beckoned engineers who are skilled, ambitious, imaginative and open-minded to a land of opportunity 20 miles...

Delphi predicts hot sales in China.(Suppliers)(Delphi Corp. forecasts strong sales growth in China)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Yuzo Yamaguchi Delphi Corp. expects its sales in China to grow at ``a double-digit pace'' this year after growing more than 30 percent in each of the last two years, the company's head of international operations said here last...

Seat unseen; Hideaway seats are back, and buyers see their value.(Insight)(minivans, SUVs)
March 3, 2003... Byline: TIM MORAN Minivans and SUVs are designed for hauling, usually a combination of people and stuff. But the vehicles' image of versatility is diminished when it comes time to switch to maximum cargo mode. The seats usually are...

BMW: China JV on schedule; But deal to make 30,000 cars awaits state OK.(Bayerische Motoren Werke AG expects state approval for joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd.)
March 3, 2003... Byline: James B. Treece BMW AG remains resolute that its proposed joint venture to build 30,000 BMWs annually in China will begin on schedule this year despite turmoil at its partner. ``We are confident that state approval will be...

Rotten stuff; Sulfur has few friends in the auto industry. Here's why.(Insight)(environmental aspects)
March 3, 2003... Byline: K.C. Crain Sulfur may be good for eggs and matches, but its presence in fuels is a roadblock to the auto industry's drive for reducing emissions and increasing fuel economy. Since the auto industry doesn't produce fuel, it must...

Supply line.(news briefs from automotive parts industry)
March 3, 2003... Dura wins GM business DETROIT - Dura Automotive Systems Inc. of Rochester Hills, Mich., has won a contract to supply sliding rear windows for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups. Production of the windows will begin...

Mazda's Hughes says he was fired; Move takes place after a 4.2% dip in 2002 sales.(Charlie Hughes fired as CEO of Mazda North American Operations)(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Amy Wilson Nearly two and half years after coming out of retirement to become CEO of Mazda North American Operations, veteran marketing executive Charlie Hughes says he was fired on Wednesday, Feb. 26, by the Japanese parent...

Safety steps.(pickup and SUV safety developments in the wings)(Cover Story)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Pending developments on pickup and SUV safety * Auto, insurance industries will seek remedies for car-truck mismatches. * NHTSA will decide if CAFE can be changed to boost car-truck safety. * NHTSA will begin testing vehicles for...

Cool runnings.(Ford MOtor soups up the SVT F-150 Lightning concept with the SuperCooler, an almost-forgotten part from 1993 Mustang Mach III concept car)(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Truett Not long before the Detroit auto show in January, Chris Theodore, Ford Motor Co.'s chief of North American product development, looked at the SVT F-150 Lightning concept and wondered whether the 500-hp muscle truck's...

Engineers abroad.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... In an increasingly global industry, more automotive engineers are spending portions of their careers overseas. With those stints come language and cultural challenges - in addition to the technical ones that define their jobs. On these pages,...

Environmental group says trucks can be earth-friendly.(American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's Green Book provides environmental scores for automobiles)(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Harry Stoffer Truck doesn't have to be a dirty word. So says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. No, it's not a front group for automakers, on the defensive about the ominous warnings from safety and...

La. plant slated to build H3.(Hummer H3 to be manufactured in Shreveport, Louisiana)(News)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Dave Guilford The Hummer H3 is likely to be built in the Shreveport, La., plant being refurbished for the automaker's new mid-sized pickups. Industry sources say the plant is slated to get the H3 in addition to the 2004...

Rolls courts Phantom buyers at Concours d'Elegance events.(Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to market Phantom at Concours d'Elegance events in Florida, Connecticut, California)(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Chaz Osburn Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is about to take production versions of its new $320,000 Phantom before potential buyers for the first time. And they may even get a test drive. Rolls-Royce will court buyers at the Amelia...

GM Certified bolsters ad budget by 50.(50% for used-vehicle programs)(Marketing)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... General Motors stepped up its certified used-vehicle programs and stepped out as the sales leader in 2002 with 385,091 certified sales across all of its divisions. But there's lots of room to grow, says Jeff Heichel, director of General Motors...

Ritter's task: Combine GM dealerships; Chevy veteran takes over at newly united Buick, Pontiac-GMC.(Kurt Ritter)(Cover Story)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Dave Guilford General Motors took another step last week toward combining more Buick-Pontiac-GMC stores. GM tapped Kurt Ritter, former Chevrolet marketing chief, to head Buick and Pontiac-GMC - a new entity that merges...

David Cole's group flies solo.(Center for Automotive Research)(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Julie Cantwell The Center for Automotive Research is breaking out on its own in hopes of cutting costs up to 40 percent. The center has been owned by the Altarum Institute, a nonprofit research organization in Ann Arbor, Mich.,...

Designing foldaway seats is no small feat.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Byline: TIM MORAN Engineers working on self-storing seat concepts face three challenges: 1. Freeing space in the vehicle chassis to fit the stored seats. 2. Designing seats to be light, thin and comfortable. 3. Designing...

Dealers.(People)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Beginnings * Dave Belcher of Royal Automotive (Volkswagen-GMC-Volvo-Saturn-Oldsmobile-Isuzu) in Birmingham, Ala., broke ground for a Volkswagen Marketplace showroom. Milestones * David Smith of David Cadillac in Lockport, N.Y.,...

Work life has gone smoothly, but where do you go for lunch?(Insight)(working at DaimlerChrysler in Germany)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Asked to recall the toughest aspect of his 18-month assignment in Germany, American engineer Joe Zamowski is stumped. Sitting in a meeting room in DaimlerChrysler's Sindelfingen complex in Germany on a Friday...

In for the long haul.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Benefits of improving long-term vehicle durability * Longer lasting parts reduce warranty costs. * Components can be shared among several models. * Durability translates into better quality. * Better quality improves resale...

High volume.(Suppliers)
March 3, 2003... Valeo supplies wipers for GM's current full-sized pickups and SUVs, which had sales of 1,498,574 units in 2002. They are * Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche * GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL * Cadillac Escalade, Escalade...

Ford's new diesel has problems; 6.0 Power Stroke is important test.(News)(defective sensor in diesel engines)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is acknowledging that some of its crucial new 6.0-liter diesel engines have a defective sensor, leading to bucking and stalling in cold weather. Since November, the company has sold more than 18,000...

Time for AIADA to fade away.(Opinion)(American International Automobile Dealers Association)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Edward Lapham Is there any reason for AIADA to exist? That is not a new question. In 1988, when Ron Tonkin was soon to be head of the National Automobile Dealers Association and Lee Seidman was chairman of the American...

Move to ban SUVs sounds familiar.(Column)
March 3, 2003... Byline: KEITH CRAIN It looks like everybody is starting to pile on the poor SUV and pickup. Those vehicles are blamed for getting lousy mileage and for being unsafe for passengers and a menace to everyone else on the highways. Don't...

Group 1 establishes high goal for fixed operations.(News)(CEO Ben Hollingsworth of Group 1 Automotive Inc.)(Interview)
March 3, 2003... Group 1 Automotive Inc. of Houston is serious about the service and parts business. Though it prides itself on its lean headquarters staff, it recently hired an assistant for its vice president of fixed operations. Group 1 is No. 6 on...

The price of a great job? Little sleep.(Insight)(expatriate engineers in Japan)
March 3, 2003... Byline: James B. Treece Some elements of engineering, such as long hours, transcend national boundaries. But what happens during those work hours in Japan can be different from what American engineers might expect. ``Engineering...

On the lookout.(Insight)(engineering staff buildup at Nissan)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Key sources of Nissan's engineering staff buildup Parts makers: In the past 15 years, suppliers have expanded their own r&d capabilities, resulting in larger staffs of engineers. Contract engineers: Companies such as MSX International...

Destination: Germany.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Things a North American engineer has to adjust to in Germany * Communication hurdles * Size of Sindelfingen * Logistical issues * How to pay for lunch

Hyundai plans fast Ala. start; First Korean plant in U.S. won't mimic Japan's methods.(News)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Lindsay Chappell A single section of steel frame is standing over Hyundai Motor Co.'s massive tract of flat ground in south Alabama, dwarfed by the mile-long site of overturned soil and burrowing bulldozers. The steel pieces...

Kia breaks records with '02 revenues, profits.(News)(Kia Motors Corp.)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Peter Chang Buoyed by brisk export sales of high-margin SUVs and minivans, Kia Motors Corp. reported record revenue and profits for 2002. The automaker, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., said its net profit for 2002 surged...

It's the little things.(News)
March 3, 2003... 4 little features on the new Rolls-Royce Phantom 1. The hood ornament lifts out of and lowers into the radiator grille with a button on the ignition key. 2. The RR logos on the wheels remain vertical when the vehicle is moving. 3....

He thought he knew America until he landed in Alabama.(Insight)(German Mercedes-Benz engineer Thomas Penno)(Interview)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Lindsay Chappell When he arrived from Germany three years ago for his assignment in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Mercedes-Benz engineer Thomas Penno felt he was prepared for everything. He spoke English. He had watched enough American...

Test of time; Gains in initial quality won't be enough to match the Japanese, the Big 3 must make vehicles last longer.(Insight)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Truett More than 100,000 miles have passed under the wheels of two 10-year-old compact cars for sale in Florida. When new, these cars were priced within $600 of each other. After traveling a distance equal to roughly four...

Pardon me, do you have any gray Maybachs? Ultrarich are attracted to DCX's low-key event marketing.(News)(DaimlerChrysler marketing director Leon Hustinx focuses on selling to the extremely wealthy)
March 3, 2003... Byline: David Sedgwick, Bradford Wernle Do your liquid assets exceed $10 million? Does your fleet of cars include a Mercedes? Do you enjoy polo, yachting or golf? If so, Leon Hustinx has likely tried to sell you a Maybach. As marketing...

Selling to ultrarich.(News)
March 3, 2003... * Hold VIP receptions at prestigious events * Create marketing partnerships with other luxury brands * Emphasize your brand's heritage * Don't use mass-market advertisements

The 'bespoke' car is loaded with luxury.(News)(one person's experience in the Maybach showroom)
March 3, 2003... Byline: David Sedgwick I step into the Maybach showroom in the swank Mayfair district of London. I try to ignore the Smart car in the corner as I make eye contact with Simon Inglefield. ``Good morning, your excellency,'' Inglefield...

12 win PACE Awards.(Cover Story)(12 suppliers win the 2003 Automotive News PACE Awards)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Automotive News and CapGemini Ernst & Young present these 12 suppliers as winners of the 2003 Automotive News PACE Awards. * 3M Automotive * Bishop Steering Technology Inc. * Robert Bosch Corp. * Brembo S.p.A. * Delphi...

Suppliers: Earlier vendor input improves parts quality.(Insight)(durability can be improved if automotive firms change how they purchase parts and systems)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Richard Truett Suppliers say the Big 3 can improve long-term durability by changing the way they buy parts and systems. Instead of issuing a set of design specifications and seeking bids from suppliers, automakers can get...

Saturn halts Ion, L series.(Production)(Saturn and Ford Motor Co. are slowing production)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Debi Domby * The car line at General Motors' Spring Hill, Tenn., Saturn plant will be down this week and next for the first time in three years because of slow sales of the Ion. The plant's production of the Saturn Vue will...

GM's new push for an old goal: Global savings.(News)(common vehicle architectures)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Dave Guilford General Motors long has sought to gain an edge over competitors by sharing its global array of vehicles and parts. But for every success, such as boosting U.S. light-truck sales with Isuzu diesel engines, there...

A bright idea returns, with some questions; Headlights that turn with steering wheel are safety concern.(News)(adaptive lighting)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Harry Stoffer An idea whose time came briefly in the 1940s and the 1960s is back. It is adaptive lighting - headlights that turn with a vehicle's steering so that a driver literally can see around curves in the dark. Headlights...

Changes at General Motors.(News)(managerial appointments)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Roger Adams Age: 46 Old job: Marketing general manager, Buick New job: General manager, GM Customer Network Challenge: Make good use of the company's vast, but neglected, customer database. Katherine Benoit Age: 52...

The Taurus revived Ford - for a while.(News)(a look back on the success of the 1986 Ford Taurus)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The auto industry's hits don't come much bigger than the 1986 Ford Taurus. It was one of those exceptional times when an automaker's designers and engineers propose an uncompromising, visually stunning vehicle - and the company actually...

Auto lobbying group hunts for CEO.(News)(Korn/Ferry International is hired to help the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers find a CEO)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Harry Stoffer Automakers have thrown their search for a superlobbyist into high gear. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has hired the executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry International and hopes to consider a candidate...

Renault Megane II.(News)
March 3, 2003... Height: 57.4 in. Length: 165.7 in. Width: 79.8 in. Wheelbase: 103.3 in. Curb weight: 2,563 lbs. Engines: 1.4L, 1.6L and 2.0L gasoline, 1.5L and 1.9L diesel

'05 Sentra first test for Nissan, Renault sharing.(News)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd. is developing the next-generation Sentra)
March 3, 2003... Byline: Mark Rechtin It's difficult to develop a well-equipped compact car while keeping costs low enough to make it a profitable business case. Tougher still is the task of engineering it to be flexible enough to accommodate styling...

N.A. production.(News)
March 3, 2003... Vehicles built in Illinois: Endeavor, Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus Vehicles that end in 2005: Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus

Suppliers say collaboration is path to profits.(News)
March 10, 2003... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Delphi Corp. is on a path to repair the so-called broken business model that has pitted suppliers against automakers and other parts makers. The world's largest auto parts maker is adding "supplier...

Power play.(News)
March 10, 2003... A 42-volt system could provide power for * Electric steering * Direct-injection systems * Heating and air conditioning - when the engine is on or off * Drive-by-wire technology

The Diesel Panel.(News)
March 10, 2003... Kevin DeHart Title: Vice president, diesel fuel systems Company: Robert Bosch Quote: "Diesel is the best interim solution until fuel cells arrive around 2020." Brian Fitzgerald Title: Director, diesel systems - North...

The Gasoline Engine Panel.(News)
March 10, 2003... Daniel Kapp Title: Chief engineer, powertrain operations Company: Ford Motor Co. Quote: "We'll continue to apply demonstrated technologies on higher volumes and continue to develop more cost-effective new technologies." Franz...

The up side.(News)
March 10, 2003... 2 benefits of accepting industry specifications: 1. Faster cycle times 2. Easier logistics

Personnel.(People)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2003... JM FAMILY ENTERPRISES INC. - Colin Brown, 53, to president and CEO. He was president and COO. Ken Czubay, 54, to president of Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC, which is owned by JM Family Enterprises. Czubay has been general manager since...

PAG plans to make a splash in Frankfurt.(News)(Brief Article)
March 10, 2003... Byline: Bradford Wernle The Frankfurt auto show will be the most important in the short history of Ford Motor Co.'s Premier Automotive Group. ``There will be a big statement from PAG in Frankfurt,'' said Mark Fields, PAG's chairman....

Being prepared.(News)
March 10, 2003... As war with Iraq nears, automakers are * Stockpiling parts in Europe * Cutting North American vehicle production * Monitoring bottlenecks, such as the Suez Canal * Asking suppliers to make contingency shipment plans *...