Archive for the ‘Buick’ Category
New architecture allows for future connected car tech.
by Michael Strong on May.21, 2019
GM's new digital vehicle platform can process 4.5 terabytes per hour and will debut on the 2020 Cadillac CT5 sedan.
General Motors is pushing to remain a leader in autonomous technology with new vehicles and mobility services; however, it’s latest development may be the most critical to ensure it remains at the front of the pack.
The company unveiled its new all-new digital platform architecture, designed with the needs of future, such as connected cars, autonomous electric vehicles and other technologies, in mind. Until now, GM has been loading up its previous gen architecture with new tech, despite the fact it is more than 20 years old and comes with limitations.
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The new architecture, which will underpin the 2020 Cadillac CT5 sedan and its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature, should be available across nearly all GM product lines by 2023, the company says. (more…)
Tags: GM debuts new electronic architecture, GM new digital brain, GM unveils new vehicle architecture, GM's new digital brain, General Motors digital architecture, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, autonomous vehicle news, gm news, gm super cruise, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, China, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, GM, GMC, Infotainment, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Safety, Safety, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, South America, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, V2V | Comments Off
Stealing a page from the Koreans – and undercutting them, in the process.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on May.03, 2019
The Zotye T600 shown making its debut at Auto Shanghai last month.
At 69, Duke Hale has been selling cars, either at a dealership or working for an automaker, for 50 years, but he’s betting he can become a sort of automotive Pied Piper to Millennials and Gen-Z.
He and a team of aging Baby Boom industry veterans are getting ready to start selling what may become the first cars imported from a local Chinese carmaker. It’s no easy task, his California-based start-up, known as HAAH, is still pitching its idea to the dealers who will have to bet on a brand that’s not only unknown to American car buyers but which is saddled with the ungainly name, Zotye.
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Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time U.S. motorists were won over by a brand whose name they’ve had to struggle with. Think Hyundai, which Americanized its name to “Hun-day.” The Chinese brand, pronounced “Zoh-tee,” hopes it can lift some other pages from the Korean carmaker’s playbook, starting with a price low enough to make it an appealing alternative to a used vehicle.
(more…)
Tags: auto news, auto shanghai, car news, china auto import, china car, chinese auto import, chinese car, duke hale, import car, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, zoltye, zoltye auto shanghai, zoltye news, zoltye t600
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Buick, Business, China, Crossovers/CUVs, GM, Markets, Mazda, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Shanghai, Subaru, Toyota, Trade, Trends, U.S./North America, Volvo, Zotye | Comments Off
Choice of ragtops growing increasingly thin.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on May.02, 2019
Nissan will still offer the Z Roadster overseas, but it's dropping the ragtop in the U.S. due to slow sales.
Nissan is pulling the plug on its 370Z Roadster at the end of the 2019 model-year, the Japanese automaker has confirmed, marking the end of one of the brand’s most iconic offerings.
The good news for roadster fans is that the coupe version of the sports car will remain in production indefinitely – which doesn’t mean it will last forever, just that there are no current plans to once again remove it from the line-up.
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The 370Z Roadster joined the Z Coupe after it was returned to the Nissan family in 2009, part of the automaker’s turnaround program. Its demise comes as automakers rethink their passenger car strategies and, in particular, cull their slow-selling convertible offerings.
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Tags: Aston Martin convertible, Miata, auto news, bmw z4, car news, convertible, convertible sales, convertibles being dropped, nissan 370z convertible, nissan 370z roadster, nissan convertible, nissan dropping 370z roadster, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Audi, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Convertibles, Crossovers/CUVs, Daimler, Fiat, GM, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Pickups, SUVs, Sales, Sedans, Smart, Sports Cars, Super Cars, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Support comes despite conflicting study from IMF.
by Joseph Szczesny on Apr.19, 2019
A new report from the U.S. Trade Representative says the new USMCA will bring substantial benefits; however, an IMF study suggests otherwise.
Detroit’s automakers are rushing to defend a report from the Trump administration that touts the benefits of the new North American Free Trade Agreement.
The Trump administration report, produced by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), was released Thursday in advance of less than an underwhelming independent government estimate of the economic impact of proposed U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
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Trump has portrayed the new agreement he negotiated as a replacement for NAFTA as likely to lead to a rush of new investment and jobs in the U.S. and an end to the outsourcing he and others have blamed for a hollowing out of American manufacturing. (more…)
Tags: AAPC supports Trump report on USMCA, AAPC supports USTR report on USMCA, AAPC supports new NAFTA report, American Automotive Policy Council, TheDetroitBureau.com., USMCA report, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Executives, FCA, Ford, GM, GMC, Lincoln, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Politicians, Ram, Regulatory, Sales, Trade, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Buick takes top honors in non-premium segment.
by Michael Strong on Mar.14, 2019
Porsche took first place in JD Power's 2019 Customer Satisfaction Index, ahead of Lexus and Cadillac.
Communication is key to the success or failure of any relationship, and perhaps nowhere is that more true than in the service department of an auto dealership.
Auto dealers that communicate the best, i.e. the way consumers want, finished atop J.D. Power’s new Customer Service Index ranking. This year, that means Porsche, Lexus and Cadillac took the top three spots in the luxury car rankings.
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In the mainstream results, Buick, Mini and somewhat surprisingly, Mitsubishi took the first three spots. Mitsubishi’s third-place finish came as a result of the greatest improvement (27 points) in the entire study year-over-year. (more…)
Tags: Customer service issues, J.D. Power Customer Service Index, Porsche tops Power Customer Service Index, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, dealers make difference for brands, j.d.power, michael strong, strong customer service, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Executives, Lexus, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Mini, Mitsubishi, Personalities, Porsche, U.S./North America | 1 Comment »
Terry Dittes ready to make tough demands of No. 1 automaker.
by Joseph Szczesny on Mar.12, 2019
Terry Dittes, vice president of the GM Department for the UAW, said its time for GM to build more vehicles in the U.S.
The leader of the United Auto Workers responsible for negotiations with General Motors took aim at the automaker’s Mexican production during a speech at the UAW Special Convention on Collective Bargaining in Detroit.
Terry Dittes, UAW vice president in charge of union’s GM Department, said in a report to the 900 delegates that roughly one third of the vehicles GM sells in the U.S. now come from Mexico and that will be a major issue in the UAW’s upcoming contract talks with the automakers.
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“Don’t kid yourself there are more plants that may be in jeopardy as time goes on,” Dittes warned the delegates. “This is not a good will speech. (more…)
Tags: Terry Dittes UAW vice president, TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW GM negotiations, UAW GM plans, UAW bargaining convention, UAW demands for General Motors, UAW's GM negotiator, auto news, gm news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Contract Negotiations, Executives, GM, GMC, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Expect tough talks with auto companies.
by Joseph Szczesny on Mar.11, 2019
UAW President Gary Jones will be looking to get back from union locals across the country.
The United Auto Workers heads into its bargaining convention this week against tumultuous backdrop that includes suddent plant closing, a grinding federal investigation of the union’s handling of training funds and grumbling among union members, who have made it plain this winter the expect some gains when the UAW goes to the bargaining table this summer with Detroit’s three automakers.
The resolutions adpted during the meeting will be broad so as not to encumber union bargainers in future negotiations but specific enough to shape the tenor of upcoming talks not only in the auto industry but also other sectors where the union has members.
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“It is an ideal way to get members from a variety of workplaces and backgrounds together and discuss what is important to their fellow workers, their families and their communities,” UAW President Gary Joines said in a new issue of Solidarity, the union’s magazine. (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., UAW President Gary Jones, UAW and automakers, UAW leaders meet, UAW members focus on labor talks, UAW prods members for information, UAW readies for labor talks, UAW taps membership, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, uaw news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Contract Negotiations, Dodge, Executives, FCA, Ford, GM, GMC, Leaders, Lincoln, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Chevy delivers a surprise in J.D. Power 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.13, 2019
The Prius is one of the vehicles that helped Toyota lead the latest J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.
Toyota and its luxury arm Lexus captured the top spots among mainstream and premium brands in the latest J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, but the 2019 VDS also delivered more than a few surprises when it comes to how three-year-old vehicles are holding up.
The study placed Lexus at the top of the charts, followed by Porsche and then Toyota, but Chevrolet nabbed the fourth spot, a significant turnaround for a brand struggling to convince potential buyers it has overcome the quality and reliability issues of the past.
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The new Power VDS shows that Japanese automakers no longer have a lock on vehicle dependability. Tellingly, only Toyota and Lexus landed in the top 10 this year, while the list also included two American brands, four from Germany and both of the South Korean carmakers operating in the U.S.: Hyundai and Kia. (more…)
Tags: J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power news, Japan out of vehicle dependability, Lexus and Toyota top vehicle dependability, Lexus leads Power VDS, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, paul a. eisenstein, power vds, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Executives, Hyundai, Lexus, Markets, Mini, Personalities, Porsche, Quality and Reliability, Sales, Toyota, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Company ups effort to end racist acts in Ohio plant.
by Michael Strong on Feb.12, 2019
Several employees have reported incidents of racial intimidation at GM's powertrain plant in Toledo, Ohio.
General Motors’ battle against racist acts in an Ohio plant is getting more serious as the automaker is now offering a $25,000 reward to anyone who has information about nooses and other racist symbols appearing at the site.
The company began offering the $25,000 reward in January at the GM Powertrain plant in Toledo, after a string of complaints from employees about the behavior of other employees starting in early 2017 and symbols evolved into a lawsuit against the company in the fall of 2018.
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“We have zero tolerance for discrimination, and we’re doing everything we can to identify the culprit. This is another step we’ve taken, working with police to intensify the investigation,” GM said in a statement to the Free Press. “We’re outraged that anyone would face threats, and our hearts go out to anyone affected by this bigotry.” (more…)
Tags: GM fighting racism in Ohio plant, GM noose reward, GM plant nooses, GM racism, GM racist Ohio plant, GM reward to catch noose hangers, GM struggle with racism in Ohio plant, General Motors $25K reward, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, gm news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Executives, GM, GMC, Lawsuits/Legal, Markets, Personalities, Politicians, U.S./North America, UAW, Union | Comments Off
Musician shows support with performance of musical in Oshawa.
by Michael Strong on Feb.11, 2019
Actor/musician Sting and the cast of The Last Ship in Toronto are going to Oshawa for a free performance to support workers at the GM plant that is shutting down.
Union workers at General Motors’ plant in Oshawa, Ontario, have found a high-profile ally in their fight to prevent the announced closure of the plant: Musical star Sting.
The musician, who has won multiple Grammys and fronted The Police before expanding into acting and musical theater, is joining forces with Unifor in protest of the plant closure. He and the cast of his musical, The Last Ship, are performing in Oshawa on Thursday.
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The musical is currently playing at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. However, it will travel to Oshawa for this performance – at no cost. Unifor is paying the cost to rent the theater. (more…)
Tags: Sting joins Unifor protest of Oshawa closure, Sting lends support to GM workers in Oshawa, Sting performance supports Oshawa workers, Sting protesting Oshawa closure, The Last Ship performance supports Oshawa workers, TheDetroitBureau.com., Unifor news, auto news, gm news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Celebrities, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America, Unifor, Union | Comments Off
