Taking on responsibility for Mercedes operations in Canada, Steve Cannon believes the brand needs to offer more 4matic all-wheel-drive models north of the border, possibly offering a 4matic option across the portfolio....More
Foreign automakers can import their small cars into Korea, but without city-car certification they must compete against homegrown models that meet the requirements and entice buyers with many government incentives....More
Following the concept of Daimler’s Smart minicar, Daihatsu rejects the notion it is difficult to alter a car’s design after it is bought, and instead is enabling customers to make post-purchase changes in line with their preferences....More
BorgWarner adds thermostats to emissions-control arsenal; Daimler quits JV with maker of battery cells for Smart; Dirac technology will customize Harman Kardon audio system in Volvo V70....More
Renault’s Twin’Z and Twin’Run concepts have been displayed at several events since March 2013, but the successor to the 20-year-old Twingo will be revealed in its production-ready form at next month’s Geneva auto show....More
Mercedes will not mention its use of the Tesla powertrain in marketing its new B-Class EV. “We have an ownership stake in Tesla, but the B-Class is still a Mercedes product,” MBUSA President Steve Cannon says....More
The all-new Wards 10 Best User Experiences competition drills deeply into the user-friendliness of vehicle systems designed to minimize distraction and frustration, prevent accidents and improve safety in neighborhoods and on the highway....More
Winner profiles will appear on WardsAuto.com beginning Sept. 21, and honored automakers will receive their trophies on Oct. 4 at the WardsAuto User Experience Conference at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI.
Under the terms of the settlement, the automaker’s assembly plant in Oshawa, an engine and transmission plant in St. Catharines and a parts depot in Ontario all will receive significant new investment....More
We call out vehicles with problematic fit-and-finish, materials, ergonomics or unfortunate design choices. Each of these items resulted in points deducted as WardsAuto editors selected the 2016 Wards 10 Best Interiors.
Understanding the relationship between F&I and the service drive can boost dealership profitability exponentially, despite today’s market pressures....More
