Automotive News - June 2, 2008 - (Page 28)

What’s next? More transplant models headed this way Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com Global automakers build 46 international-brand nameplates for the United States in North American factories. Several more models, such as the Renault Clio and Nissan Tiida, also are produced in North America exclusively for Mexico or export markets. Now another crop of vehicles is on the way into production here. Not all of the details are clear. And in some cases, automakers are keeping their plans fluid as the market shifts. Kia Motors Corp., for example, recently abandoned a plan to build a pickup truck in West Point, Ga., blaming the lackluster performance of the pickup segment. Such reversals, along with dicey economic conditions and changing currency ratios, are opening the door to other transplant vehicles in North America. Here is a quick guide to upcoming known projects — and others that could be in the works. States. It’s unlikely that Alfa would entrust its flagship 8C Competizione coupe to a transplant, so its highervolume 159 sedan is the logical candidate for North American assembly should Fiat forge ahead. Audi vehicle. Audi has confirmed that it is looking at sites for its first U.S. assembly plant. Its most logical step would be to share a factory and possibly a vehicle platform with its high-volume sister brand Volkswagen. But that route appears to be preempted by VW’s own hunger for U.S. market share. Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn recently ruminated in the German press about putting an Audi SUV into production here. The issue likely will not be clarified until midyear. Volkswagen wants to build the next generation of the VW Passat family sedan in a U.S. factory. North America. It is booting its lowselling Quest minivan from Canton for future production in Japan. Toyota Highlander. Toyota will slow its rush to produce the Highlander crossover at a new $1.3 billion assembly plant in Tupelo, Miss. The Highlander is coming, but it will appear in May 2010 rather than in late 2009. That delay will allow the U.S. plant to produce a slightly different version of the Highlander than now sold. BMW X3 BMW X3. BMW is spending $750 million to move its niche Z4 roadster from Spartanburg, S.C., to Europe and to bring its high-volume X3 crossover from Europe to Spartanburg. The X3 has been produced by Magna Steyr in Austria. By putting the X3 in Spartanburg, BMW will create a center of crossover expertise because that factory also is the sole global source for the X5 and the recently launched X6. Honda Ridgeline II. Honda confirmed in February that it will move production of its beginner pickup Kia Sorento truck, the low-volume car-based Ridgeline, from Alliston, Ontario, to Lincoln, Ala., in 2009. The pickup will be due for a redesign at that time. In the past, Honda has shown that it is adept at making dramatic changes in taking a young product into its second generation. (Think Odyssey minivan.) Kia Sorento. Kia Motors Corp. will open its $1.1 billion plant in Georgia next year with production of the next-generation Sorento SUV. Kia small car. Kia has been secretive about what second vehicle will be added to its Georgia plant in 2011. But last month the automaker revealed that it had wanted to produce a new Sorento-based pickup truck but scrapped that idea in favor of producing a small car. Mahindra pickup truck. U.S. distributor Global Vehicles USA Inc. plans to import a compact pickup from Mahindra & Mahindra of India next year. But those plans ran into the long-standing 25 percent U.S. tariff on imported pickups. This year, Global Vehicles executives said they will instead assemble the pickup at an Ohio factory from Indian kits. They have since declined to comment on the plan. Nissan large-truck chassis. Nissan North America’s new plan to create a family of U.S.-designed and engineered light-commercial vehicles in Canton, Miss., starting in 2010 could spawn other U.S. vehicles. Nissan has not revealed specifics except to say it will begin by focusing on the “truck side” of its commercial business. The truck chassis would require a truck platform larger than that of the halfton Titan, which Nissan says it will outsource to Chrysler in 2011 to be manufactured in Saltillo, Mexico. Nissan commercial van. Once its Mississippi plant enters the lightcommercial vehicle market, analysts believe Nissan will quickly go after a van similar to the high-roofed Dodge Sprinter in size and function. That will be the only van Nissan makes in Alfa Romeo 159 Alfa Romeo 159. Fiat is looking into building a plant in Mexico or the United States to serve two purposes: Bolster ongoing Fiat sales in South America, and support the reintroduction of Alfa Romeo in the United Toyota Venza Toyota Venza. Toyota is spending $350 million in Georgetown, Ky., to spin off the five-seat Venza crossover from the Camry platform starting late this year. Toyota based the Venza on its FT-SX concept from 2005 and forecasts sales of 75,000 to 100,000 units a year. Volkswagen Passat. Volkswagen has been candid about wanting to move the next generation of its family sedan-sized Passat from Germany to a U.S. factory, beginning in about 2011. VW’s supervisory board is expected to reach a decision on that plan in July, with expectations that a new plant would produce about 150,000 units a year. Volkswagen crossover. Assuming Volkswagen’s U.S. plant opens in 2011, it will need a second model to boost the company toward its longrange goal of selling 1 million vehicles a year here. VW executives have been quoted saying that a VW crossover also could be produced here. Volkswagen small vehicle. People familiar with VW’s studies of North American manufacturing say the German automaker also is contemplating a second new assembly plant here. It probably will be in northern Mexico, separate from VW’s existing plant in Puebla. The plant would yield a high-volume small vehicle, positioned close to either the Mexico-made Nissan Sentra or Nissan Versa. c JUNE 2, 2008 “PUMP MORE PROFITS INTO YOUR TIRES” Fight recession with inflation! PurigeN98 tire inflation pumps 98% pure nitrogen into your customers’ tires while pumping more profits into your business. Your customers will benefit, too! Higher gas mileage and lower greenhouse gases. Greater performance for a much smoother ride. More safety due to better braking and handling. Proper inflation and less oxidation for increased tire wear. The likeness of Jeff Gordon and other related trademarks and copyrights are used with the permission of Jeff Gordon, Inc. “I fill my tires with PurigeN98. 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Automotive News - June 2, 2008 Gas prices fuel industry's new era Chrysler faces tricky dealer mergers Honda may crank out more Civics in N.A. Mercedes will move into Chrysler Pacifica studio Ford to offer hatchback version of Fiesta Prestige Automotive sells stores but keeps Black Enterprise top spot Dealership marketers take to text messaging Senate to hear personal pleas on roof crush rule Magazine: Chrysler, Fiat are talking Former Fla. dealer gets jail for bilking bank That guy Alfred had possibilities Ford will make next Mustang look smaller Pontiac subcompact may come to U.S. GM: Battery glitch cuts hybrid sales Porsche exec: CAFE 'will not change our nature' Japanese rivals race for lithium batteries Jatco boosts CVT capacity in Mexico for N.A. vehicles Mercury deserves a better chance Rising gas prices have changed the U.S. market Marketing and sales: Context and content Mexico's Nemak grows beyond North America Buyers didn't quit GM; GM quit on its buyers Brand perceptions change slowly Bloggers are journalists, too Nice HQ, Nissan, but where's Nobe? Chrysler's Chernoby: Growing up gearhead Picture this Mitsubishi hopes new gearbox widens Evo's appeal Openlane gets funds Obituaries Survey: Going green can get your auto ad noticed Inrix: Router can reduce traffic delays Mazda6 gets own platform for U.S. ... sort of Mazda6 set to take on mid-sized sedan heavyweights Troubled or not, the United States still beckons What's next? More transplant models headed this way Exports help as Mitsubishi sorts things out Irma Elder: 'This is one of the toughest times we have had' Fitzgerald: Dealers, consumers need alliance Can Bertone design a comeback? Family-owned business struggles for survival Some design houses fall on tough times Hughes: Not a subscriber? No problem American Axle lines up new non-U.S. business GM think tank works to boost service business Toyota offers gas card as tire incentive VW turns to common software to develop products Continental's Calif. office targets Asian carmakers ZF sees chassis, axle opportunities in N.A. Flex: A new Ford image ... or just over the top? Ford targeted Flex interior quiet, ride Ex-dealership managers say firings were over religion Dealers Genesis in Toledo: It's a long story Back woes sideline Nardelli GM: 19,000 take buyouts Panama to head Nissan Mexicana Wilhite jumps to Jumpstart Dauch sons move up, out Kozyra leaves Continental Ford to lay off salaried staff More small cars to arrive in 2009-10 Even on used market, big trucks go begging Auto advertisers adopt mpg mantra Industry to motorists: We're here to help Diesel prices hit suppliers' Mexico sites Can Camry catch F series? Leno's words of wisdom for automakers Nissan's carbon credits ease global warming guilt Automotive CEOs' pay pales next to peers' Year of the Small Car can't come too soon Foreign suppliers adding capacity in Southeast From cows to kimchi: Making Alabama sweet home for Koreans After light-truck push, cars are king again Mexican suppliers expect sales record in '08

Automotive News - June 2, 2008

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