Ford http://wardsauto.com/taxonomy/term/53589/more en 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference: Floor Shots http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/2013-wardsauto-interiors-conference-floor-shots This year's WardsAuto Interiors Conference was held May 22 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, MI. The sold-out event delivered compelling keynote speeches and panel sessions, celebrated winners of Ward's 10 Best Interiors and honored student designs from the College for Creative Studies. <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/auto-makers/2013-wardsauto-interiors-conference-floor-shots" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/gallery_promo_image/Amko Byron Alisa.JPG" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/2013-wardsauto-interiors-conference-floor-shots" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/2013-wardsauto-interiors-conference-floor-shots#comments Public Management & Strategy Auto Makers Asia Pacific Suppliers Vehicles & Technology North America U.S. Japan South Korea Chrysler Ford JCI Lear Lexus Lincoln Mazda Mercedes 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference Interior Product Development Fri, 24 May 2013 19:40:00 +0000 779581 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Ford&#39;s Amko Leenarts speaks with WardsAuto editor Byron Pope after keynote speech.</strong></p> Cultural Progressives, And Bessie, Part of Lincoln Rebirth http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/cultural-progressives-and-bessie-part-lincoln-rebirth <div class="field-deck"> 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference </div> <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/auto-makers/cultural-progressives-and-bessie-part-lincoln-rebirth" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/andy-georgescu.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Lincoln’s product marketing manager explains the importance of “cultural progressives” who enjoy new experiences and a good meal. They even like to know where the butter comes from. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/cultural-progressives-and-bessie-part-lincoln-rebirth" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/cultural-progressives-and-bessie-part-lincoln-rebirth#comments Public Management & Strategy Auto Makers Sales & Marketing North America U.S. Lincoln Sales & Marketing 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference Product Development Andy Georgescu cultural progressives Ford interiors Lincoln Luxury Fri, 24 May 2013 18:55:00 +0000 779511 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Lincoln&rsquo;s Andy Georgescu discusses &ldquo;delivering a superior luxury automotive experience.&rdquo;</strong></p> Ford Back in France http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-back-france <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/plants-amp-production/ford-back-france" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/ford-van-dyke-trans.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> France and local governments invested €125 million in the project to build automatic transmissions, and Ford agreed to keep employment at its reacquired facility at 1,000 jobs for five years. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-back-france" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-back-france#comments Premium Plants & Production Auto Makers Europe France Ford Transmission Unions Fri, 24 May 2013 18:24:00 +0000 779491 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Ford nearing capacity at Van Dyke transmission plant.</strong></p> Cadillac, Lincoln Begin Long Road Back http://wardsauto.com/industry-voices/cadillac-lincoln-begin-long-road-back <div class="field-byline"> Warren P. Browne </div> <div class="field-deck"> <font color="800517">INDUSTRY VOICES</font> </div> <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/industry-voices/cadillac-lincoln-begin-long-road-back" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/warren-p-browne-industry-voices.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Cadillac and Lincoln have the cash to reclaim some of their greatness and continue the development of great premium cars and trucks. Both brands can seriously say they have begun a long road back to top tier in their home market. Much more is required globally. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/industry-voices/cadillac-lincoln-begin-long-road-back" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/industry-voices/cadillac-lincoln-begin-long-road-back#comments Public Industry Voices Management & Strategy Auto Makers Sales & Marketing Vehicles & Technology North America U.S. Cadillac Lincoln Sales & Marketing Product Development Vehicles & Technology Fri, 24 May 2013 10:24:00 +0000 776841 at http://wardsauto.com Ford to Shutter Australian Plants in 2016 http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-shutter-australian-plants-2016 <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/plants-amp-production/ford-shutter-australian-plants-2016" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/ford-falcon-061312.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Ford is ending production after 88 years, but it’s not going away. Rather, it will become a full importer. Officials say it costs four times as much to build a car in Australia as it does in Asia, and twice as much as in Europe. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-shutter-australian-plants-2016" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/plants-amp-production/ford-shutter-australian-plants-2016#comments Public Management & Strategy Plants & Production Politics Auto Makers Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific Australia Ford Sales & Marketing Capacity Utilization Finance Globalization Product Development Restructuring Ford Australia Thu, 23 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000 778401 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Falcon nameplate, inextricably linked with Australia, to be retired.</strong></p> Study: Refreshed Vehicles Going Stale More Quickly http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/study-refreshed-vehicles-going-stale-more-quickly <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/vehicles-amp-technology/study-refreshed-vehicles-going-stale-more-quickly" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/golf-r-rear-3-4.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> A vehicle’s improved technology and new styling, facilitated by modern design techniques, makes its predecessor look dated and less attractive when being re-sold or traded in. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/study-refreshed-vehicles-going-stale-more-quickly" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/study-refreshed-vehicles-going-stale-more-quickly#comments Premium Management & Strategy Retail Auto Makers Sales & Marketing Europe Vehicles & Technology Europe - Regional United Kingdom Ford Volkswagen Design Emissions Product Development Remarketing Vehicles in Operation CAP Automotive David Saville Thu, 23 May 2013 08:38:00 +0000 777051 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Golf substantially unchanged first nine years; current model&rsquo;s predecessor had 3-year run.</strong></p> Inspiration Key to Crafting Vehicle Interiors, Top Ford Designer Says http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/inspiration-key-crafting-vehicle-interiors-top-ford-designer-says <div class="field-deck"> 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference </div> <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/auto-makers/inspiration-key-crafting-vehicle-interiors-top-ford-designer-says" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/amko-leenart-1.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Amko Leenarts, Ford’s global interior-design chief, says the influx of technology into today’s vehicles creates challenges such as finding space for the different components. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/inspiration-key-crafting-vehicle-interiors-top-ford-designer-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/inspiration-key-crafting-vehicle-interiors-top-ford-designer-says#comments Public Auto Makers Vehicles & Technology North America U.S. Ford 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) Interior Vehicle Interiors Wed, 22 May 2013 19:04:00 +0000 777771 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Leenarts looking for input from Ford designers worldwide in crafting new interiors.</strong></p> Interior Lighting Takes Lead Role http://wardsauto.com/north-america/interior-lighting-takes-lead-role <div class="field-deck"> 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference </div> <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/north-america/interior-lighting-takes-lead-role" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/robert-gelardi-ford-no-glasses.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Experts agree lighting must be integrated into the design process earlier, so it complements the styling pillars of a particular vehicle program. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/north-america/interior-lighting-takes-lead-role" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/north-america/interior-lighting-takes-lead-role#comments Public Auto Makers Vehicles & Technology North America U.S. Ford Hella 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference Cockpit Interior Center for Creative Studies Ford Mustang Hella light-emitting diodes Mark West Michael Godwin Osram Robert Gelardi Steve Lietaert Wed, 22 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000 777761 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>Ford&rsquo;s Robert Gelardi wants lighting further upstream in design process.</strong></p> It’s What’s Inside That Counts http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/it-s-what-s-inside-counts <div class="field-deck"> 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference </div> <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/vehicles-amp-technology/it-s-what-s-inside-counts" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/kathy-sirvio-gm.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> As the WardsAuto Interiors Conference gets under way today, various sectors of the industry strive to deliver the newest technology, the cleanest fit-and-finish, the most advanced human-machine interface and the most comfortable seats at the best price. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/it-s-what-s-inside-counts" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-amp-technology/it-s-what-s-inside-counts#comments Public Management & Strategy Auto Makers Suppliers Vehicles & Technology North America U.S. World Acura Chevrolet Ford Mercedes 2013 WardsAuto Interiors Conference Interior Product Development Vehicle Interiors 2013 Ward's 10 Best Interiors Amko Leenarts College for Creative Studies Ford J.D. Power and Associates Johann Jungwirth Mercedes-Benz Mike VanNieuwkuyk WardsAuto Interiors Conference Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000 775341 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>GM&rsquo;s Kathy Sirvio accepts Ward&rsquo;s 10 Best Interiors trophy at last year&rsquo;s conference for Chevy Sonic and this year will accept for Chevy Spark.</strong></p> Ford Cutting Back on Summer Shutdowns to Meet Demand http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/ford-cutting-back-summer-shutdowns-meet-demand <div class="field-image-promo"> <a href="/auto-makers/ford-cutting-back-summer-shutdowns-meet-demand" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop imagecache-linked imagecache-med_crop_linked"><img alt="" src="http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/med_crop/uploads/2013/05/ford-shutdown.jpg" title="" height="200" width="355" class="imagecache imagecache-med_crop" /></a> </div> Ford’s North American plants are pushed to the limit, with total capacity utilization at 114.0%, up from 103.2% year-ago, according to WardsAuto data. <div class="og_rss_groups"></div><p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/ford-cutting-back-summer-shutdowns-meet-demand" target="_blank">read more</a></p> http://wardsauto.com/auto-makers/ford-cutting-back-summer-shutdowns-meet-demand#comments Premium Limited Plants & Production Auto Makers Sales & Marketing North America U.S. Ford Capacity Utilization Employment Engine Sales Results Stamping Transmission Vehicle Assembly Wed, 22 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000 776951 at http://wardsauto.com <p> <strong>One-week shutdown yields an additional 40,000 units.</strong></p>