Automobile industry
Porsche AG and other high-end auto brands performed exceptionally well in the J.D. Power and Associates study, measuring satisfaction after 90 days of ownership. Notably, domestic companies like Ford Motor Co. showed significant improvement in rankings. The study, now in its 11th year, assesses performance, layout appeal, and customer
Automobile industry
General Motors, struggling to keep up with sales of fuel-efficient Toyota hybrids, is secretly developing a plug-in hybrid vehicle that can travel over 60 miles per gallon. The new vehicle, which uses a battery that can recharge at any outlet, aims to outdo Toyota's best-selling Prius hybrid, which
Automobile industry
A surge in Russia's economic growth and rising purchasing power has drawn Japanese companies, particularly automakers, to the country. Toyota Motor Corp. is building a plant in St. Petersburg, with production set to start in late 2007, while Nissan Motor Co. plans to begin production in 2009. These
Automobile industry
The market for 4x4 pickup trucks, such as Mitsubishi's best-selling L200 and Nissan's Navara, is growing rapidly in Britain, largely due to favorable tax treatment. These vehicles are classed as commercial, allowing VAT-registered buyers to claim back the 17.5 per cent VAT. Additionally, pickups pay
Automobile industry
Earnhardt Auto Group, a large automotive dealer organization based in Arizona and Texas, has standardized its customer relationship management (CRM) operations on the DealerSocket platform, affecting all departments at its nine dealerships. This move is expected to streamline and integrate sales, customer service, communications, and automotive service departments across the
Automobile industry
China's auto industry began taking shape in the 1950s, with the establishment of the First Auto Works in 1953. However, it wasn't until the 1980s that the industry began to gain momentum, with the assembly of the first Santana car in 1983. This marked the beginning
Automobile industry
The Chinese car market has long been subject to rumors of a massive boost in car sales due to the increased availability of motor vehicle financing. However, analysts believe that credit risk and a cultural aversion to credit buying will slow this process down. Despite optimism, car financing sales have
Automobile industry
Nissan Motor Co. claimed the top spot in 2005 as the most productive automaker in North America, according to a report by private consulting firm Harbour Consulting. Nissan achieved this feat by reducing the time to assemble one vehicle by 3.5% to 18.93 hours, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp.
Automobile industry
Charterhouse, a leading print management specialist, has finalized the acquisition of Intelligent Print Solutions (IPS), a print management operation based in Tonbridge, Kent. The combined company, Charterhouse Intelligent Print Solutions, aims to achieve a turnover of £60m in 2006/07, making it the fifth largest print management company in the
Automobile industry
Golf's resurgence as a popular sport has led to a surge in sponsorship opportunities, with car manufacturers, banks, and financial services companies among those vying for a piece of the action. With 50 PGA Tour events sponsored by major brands, the sport has become a global stage for
Automobile industry
Harbour Consulting, a leading manufacturer and management consulting firm, is set to release its annual analysis of plant floor productivity in the 2006 edition of The Harbour Report North America. This year's report will feature expanded data from Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., and Toyota Motor Corp.
Automobile industry
Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's leading automotive conglomerate, has pushed back its plan to roll out mass-produced hybrid cars by at least three years to 2009 due to concerns over profitability. The group had initially aimed to start selling mass-market hybrid cars by the end of 2004, but
