Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM reportedly holding up some shipments of Buick LaCrosse over quality concerns]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/gm-reportedy-holding-up-some-shipments-of-buick-lacrosse-over-qu/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/gm-reportedy-holding-up-some-shipments-of-buick-lacrosse-over-qu/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/03/gm-reportedy-holding-up-some-shipments-of-buick-lacrosse-over-qu/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Buick LaCrosse - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The high-profile 2010 Buick LaCrosse, the vehicle the automaker hopes will lure younger buyers into its showroom, is being delayed a few weeks due to manufacturing quality concerns. Mark LaNeve, GM's VP of U.S. Sales, told reporters and analysts that although 300-400 cars were shipped in August, future deliveries will be halted until Buick works out the so-called "quality issues." While there was no elaboration or specifics, LaNeve added that the issues "were not serious but were enough to delay us three or four weeks while we made sure they were fixed so that our customers didn't have any problems."

Arguably the most important vehicle launched by the brand in decades, Buick is positioning its all-new LaCrosse as a serious competitor to Volvo, Lexus, and Acura. Furthermore, the mid-size luxury sedan is bait for people in their mid-40s and 50s, decidedly younger than the brand's 68-year-old median age buyer last year. Few would consider a short quality-related delay a stain on the launch of the new model. In fact, the publicity this is generating will likely help spread Buick's LaCrosse message.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Buick LaCrosse



[Source: ABC News]

GM reportedly holding up some shipments of Buick LaCrosse over quality concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 Buick LaCrosse2010BuickLacrosseBuickBuick LaCrosseBuickLacrosseDelayHoldIssuesLaCrosseQCQuality ControlQualityControlRepairThu, 03 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[What's German for "kickback"? Daimler workers broke Mercedes' for profit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/whats-german-for-kickback-daimler-workers-broke-mercedes-fo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/whats-german-for-kickback-daimler-workers-broke-mercedes-fo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/17/whats-german-for-kickback-daimler-workers-broke-mercedes-fo/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A master mechanic and two clerks, among others, are being investigated for intentionally sabotaging Mercedes cars being built at the Sindelfingen factory. Allegedly, repair shops in the area that weren't part of the Daimler corporation were bribing workers with gifts, trips, and cash to alter the cars so that the repair shops could get the contracts to fix them.

The sabotage included scratching the cars, loosening clamps and bolts, as well as -- incredibly -- putting foreign liquids into brake lines. According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, the cars affected were C-, E-, and S-Class. The Stuttgart prosecutor's office estimates the costs to Mercedes in the many of millions, but the greatest irony is this: the workers under investigation were part of the quality control department.

[Source: Suddeutsche Zeitung via Benz Insider]

What's German for "kickback"? Daimler workers broke Mercedes' for profit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daimlerdaimler agDaimlerAgmanufacturingmercedesmercedes-benzplantsquality controlQualityControlsabotagesindelfingensindelfingen factorySindelfingenFactorystuttgartMon, 17 Nov 2008 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Automaker Smackdown: Hyundai vs. Toyota]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/automaker-smackdown-hyundai-vs-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/automaker-smackdown-hyundai-vs-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/automaker-smackdown-hyundai-vs-toyota/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



So, you're Hyundai. You badly covet more market share in the US, and your targets are Honda and Toyota. What would be better than to hire a defector from the other team? It's even better when the defector brings along plenty of top-secret information to share. That's just what engineer Bruce Shibuya did when Hyundai nabbed him from Toyota and appointed him vice president of the Hyundai-Kia North American Quality Center. Little details like non-disclosure agreements must have been lost in the shuffle, as a tipster inside Hyundai alerted Toyota to the blatant theft and disclosure of trade secrets, which of course has led to a lawyer-fest. Shibuya's alleged brazen acts included giving Toyota-branded powerpoint presentations to Hyundai and copying binder upon binder of technical information, all handily marked "do not duplicate", and sending that information on to Hyundai HQ in Korea. Since Toyota's lawyers arrived on the scene, Shibuya has been terminated and Toyota has yet to file litigation against Hyundai.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Required]

Automaker Smackdown: Hyundai vs. Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>espionageHyundaiquality controlQualityControlsecretsterminationToyotaMon, 27 Nov 2006 12:02:00 EST