David E. Zoia

David

E. Zoia

Editorial Director

WardsAuto

Email: dzoia@wardsauto.com

Dave writes about manufacturing, vehicle technology, management issues and international trends.

Even though auto makers are designing new, advanced infotainment systems, they’ve been forced to work within the confines of conventional interior architectures. That could be about to change, insiders say.

The success of the two cars has taken even the auto maker by surprise, Jae Min says, pointing to stable transaction prices in the U.S. and the success of the bigger Jetta in Germany.

The two Japanese auto makers remain atop the pack in Planning Perspective’s Tier 1 relationship ranking, but the gap with Detroit continues to narrow, and the consultancy fears the industry is “converging toward mediocrity.”

The April performance, the 28th straight month of year-over-year gains, kept the big-truck market 29.9% ahead of like-2011 for the year.

The KPIT Cummins technology is designed for both original-equipment and aftermarket installation, can work with any powertrain and will be available with either lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, depending on range needs.

Range Rover’s latest looks as if it is dressed for a royal wedding, but its sticker price of $49,745 represents a clear bargain. It’s “an aesthetic and quality homerun,” notes one tester.

CEO Sergio Marchionne says 2012 should provide a solid foundation for 2013, a “big year” in planned new-product introductions for the auto maker.

Chrysler has poured $20 million into new quality processes and productivity improvements at its Belvidere plant to ensure its first Fiat-based model is a hit with buyers.

China’s move toward methanol has supplier Freudenberg-NOK in the midst of $50,000 study to determine the fuel’s effects on gaskets, seals and other rubber and plastic parts.

The Focus Electric will have a longer range, better EPA rating and much quicker recharge time than the Nissan EV, Ford officials say.

An ongoing release of pent-up demand and steady economic growth will offset any negative impact from rising gasoline prices and drive the industry closer to 14 million sales in 2012, the auto maker says.

Initial plans call for cooperation on platforms for B- and D-segment vehicles. The first joint model is expected to arrive by 2016.

Market growth in the BRICs will be five times the 2000 level by 2020, The Boston Consulting Group predicts. The four countries will account for 64% of global volumes by the end of the decade, up from 44% in 2000.

It’s a cutthroat world, FirstLook and MAX Systems founder Pat Ryan Jr. says, where dealer profit margins are under attack by well-armed consumers and a ferocious used-vehicle market is making it hard to maintain inventories.

A long list of auto makers now is onboard and supplying Infomedia with parts data to help dealers compile fast, accurate service quotes. Here in the U.S., the company has deals with GM, Toyota and Chrysler so far.

Auto companies sold 6.56 million vehicles worldwide in April, a 3.4% increase over same-month year-ago, raising total deliveries for the first four months of 2012 to 27.2 million units.

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David E. Zoia

Articles by David E. Zoia

Navigation-system maker TomTom is offering downloads of celebrity voices (including some of these) to guide you on your route. Who would you like to have tell you where to go?

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