Automotive News Europe - Car Cutaways Supplement - 23

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A savvy plan for the Trump era
Automation allowed Gentex to shift to U.S. plant
David Sedgwick

dsedgwick@crain.com

EELAND, Mich. - The Trump administration has a vision for U.S. manufacturers: It wants them to rely less on overseas factories and to hire and train
more American workers.
Easier said than done? Well, Michigan mirror-maker Gentex Inc. offers a glimpse of what
the future might look like in the Trump era. The
supplier has figured out a way to move produc-

tion from overseas to the American Midwest -
and things are working out just fine.
In recent years, Gentex ended production at its
two foreign plants in low-wage Mexico and China and consolidated all production into a single
factory complex in western Michigan. The Zeeland plant now produces self-dimming mirrors,
garage door openers and everything else in the
Gentex product catalog for global markets.
This is the sort of business model the new president is pressing manufacturers to adopt. But

MAY 2017 | VOL. 2, NO. 5 | AUTOMOTIVENEWS.CA FOR BREAKING NEWS AND DIGITAL EDITION

$159/YEAR; $6/COPY

Contest losers sue winner, and lose again

TALK
FROM THE TOP

Gentex designed its plan not
for political reasons, but for
purely competitive ones as its
 Nissan's
products become more comJose Munoz
plex. And for champions of
I PAGE 18 I
the push to create U.S. auto Subaru's
motive jobs, Gentex has soTom Doll
bering news: Making modern
I PAGE 19 I
car parts in America today is
 Mazda's
2017
going to take a whole lot of robots. Ausgabe 12 · 29. Mai
Masahiro Moro
Factory automation is what made it possible
I PAGE 20 I
 How far away
are human-free
auto factories?
I PAGE 16 I
 New robots
applying for
supplier jobs
I PAGE 33 I

Dealer is 'shocked' to discover legal squabble
between finalists over $100,000 anniversary prize
60.000 Jobs

By ERIC FREEDMAN

LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

see ROBOTS, Page 33
VW-Konzern:
Autohändler
begehren auf
3Seite 4

A NOVA SCOTIA DEALER GROUP'S
$100,000
contest
B 58301
Euro
5,90 took an unexpected
turn from the showroom to the court-

Crain Communications GmbH

ADAC: Geschäftsführer
Möller im Gespräch 3Seite 8

BATTERED, BRUISED,
BUT NOT BEATEN
RELATED
V
STORIES

www.
automobilwochekongress.de

ETROIT - A Harvard education.
Global experience. Mentored by a
charismatic predecessor. And a
clean elevation to CEO for a
company not exactly known for seamless
transitions.
Mark Fields was supposed to be the poster
child for a new Ford.
Only he wasn't.
COMMENT
And that reality,
unleashed in the dead of the night last week,
may have said more about the state of the
industry than the fate of Mark Fields.
The reality that a leader who successfully
managed the massive transformation of the
F-150 pickup, repositioned a dying Lincoln
brand, restored European profits,
renegotiated labor agreements and started a
movement to the ambiguous, amorphous
world of mobility could be fired after
producing record profits raised these painful
questions: Is anyone safe? Is anyone
pursuing the correct path? And
what exactly does the correct
path look like if you're not sure
about the destination?
Mark Fields, the metaphor
see STEIN, Page 31

Jason Stein is the publisher
of Automotive News.

ZITIERT
„Beide Parteien müssen sich
ihrer emotionalen Eitelkeiten
entkleiden."

New CEO Jim Hackett, far right, with three key members
of his team. From left: Raj Nair, Jim Farley and Marcy
Klevorn - and Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

Markus Kienle,
Vorstandsmitglied der Schutzgemeinschaft der Kapitalanleger, zur hitzigen
Grammer-Hauptversammlung

ATUs Wachstumsplan

ATU-Chef Jörn Werner will das Unternehmen binnen drei bis fünf Jahren auf
das alte Umsatzniveau bringen. Gelingt
das, erwartet er auch die Rückkehr Tausender Jobs, wie er im AutomobilwocheInterview sagt.
ruc 3Seite 22

Sharon Silke Carty
scarty@crain.com

t the end of 2015, it looked like Ford's
then-CEO Mark Fields was going to
score a big win: a partnership with
Google to develop autonomous
vehicles.
The deal would have been a huge boon to
Ford. At the time, none of the major automakers had spelled out a serious plan for

MICHAEL GERSTER
AUTOMOBILWOCHE, 29.5.2017

STUTTGART. Die für Zukunftsthemen zuständige Einheit
CASE wird im Daimler-Konauf oberster Ebene angeFord. His failure to pullzern
off the
deal indirectly
getting fully self-driving cars on the road.
siedelt, wie die Automobilwoche
left Ford struggling to voice
an autonomous
And despite posting solid profits, Ford's
aus Unternehmenskreisen erVerdacht
vehicle
strategy that resonated
with Mercedes-Benz
stakeshares were falling becauseGM-Diesel
investors didn't unter
fuhr. Die bisher
holders
and
led
to
the
emergence
of JimStrategiesee anything coming down the
line
that
they
In den USA klagen Diesel-Fahrer gegen
Cars
zugeordnete
Hackett GM
as hishabe
replacement
as CEO.
felt excited about. An announcement
of a Ihr Vorwurf:
gruppe
soll Teil der KonzernGeneral Motors.
Sources with
knowledge
of the
talks said
Ford-Google pairing could have
signifi
cantly
strategie
werden
und auch für
die Soft
ware
der Abgasreinigung
von
BusseFields'
und Lkw
rund 700.000
Typen
the dealder
came
undoneVans,
because
en-zuständig
moved the needle on Ford's share
prices. Pick-up-Trucks
sein. „Dass
wirdidn't
diesen Schritt
ChevroletofSilverado
und
GMCfor
Sierra
thusiasm
Wall Street's
reaction
A look back at the timeline
the
bereits jetzt gehen können,
Duramaxthat
manipuliert.
GM weist die
Ford-Google talks reveals a moment
beVorwürfe
der Sammelklage
zurück. kro
came a turning point in Fields'
career
at
see GOOGLE, Page 32

Ist das VW-Management
noch glaubwürdig?

26,9 %

es sich bei allen
OWN AN ALLSTATE AGENCY
JA Ermittlungen
nur um
IN YOUR DEALERSHIP
einen Verdacht.
Schließlich handelt

73,1 %
Der Filz ist
überall. Das
zeigen die neuen
Ermittlungen rund
um Osterlohs Gehalt.

NEIN

Anzahl der Stimmen: 1812
Quelle: Umfrage auf www.automobilwoche.de

Weitere Umfragen,
Grafiken und Tabellen unter
www.automobilwoche-datencenter.de.

zeigt: Wir kommen gut voran",
sagte ein hochrangiger Manager
der Automobilwoche. Die Leitung
von CASE übernimmt Daimlers
Chefstratege und oberster Produktplaner Wilko Stark. Er berichtet direkt an den Vorstand.
Stark löst CASE-Chef Axel
Harries ab, der zum 1. Juni in
den Mercedes-Vertrieb wechselt
und dort unter anderem für das
Mercedes-Produktmanagement
zuständig sein wird. Harries
hatte die Einheit seit der Gründung im August 2016 geführt
und aufgebaut. Verstärkt wird

elektrischen
Produktfamilie
die CASE-Führung zudem mit
ACTIONS
OF A FEW
HURT MANYEQ
Klaus Entenmann, Chef von investiert Daimler in den nächs"I believe that most Volkswagen customers recognize this
Daimler Financial Services. Er ten Jahren zehn Milliarden Euro.
unfortunate
diesel scandal
Für Daimler-Chef
Dieter was
Zet- orchestrated by a select few
wird in der Geschäftsführung
who sche
are being
prosecuted.
All the dealer staff, majority of
die Verantwortung für Mobility
hat CASE
zentrale Bedeucorporate
staff einzelne
and factory
who built these affected
Services übernehmen. Mercetung. „Jedes
dieserworkers
TheTDI Volkswagens
are truly
innocent in all of this," said Onqa.
men hat das Potenzial,
unsere
des-Connectivity-Leiter Sajjad
Romaniuk
said
his
dealership's
efforts are proving sucKhan wird parallel zu seiner Branche auf den Kopf zu stellen.
cessful
retaining
customers,
Diein
wahre
Revolution
liegt aber many of whom have moved
bisherigen Funktion Technolointo other
Volkswagen
products.
darin, sie
perfekt zu verzahnen
giechef von CASE.
CASE umfasst bisher 300 und dem Kunden das überzeuMitarbeiter. Der Begriff steht gendste Gesamtpaket zu bieSEE DEALERS PAGE 19
für die Themen Vernetzung, ten", sagte Zetsche der Autoautonomes Fahren, flexible mobilwoche. Daimler soll vom
Nutzung sowie elektrische An- Autohersteller zum Mobilitätstriebe. Allein in den Ausbau der dienstleister werden. 3 Seite 10

Audi A1 wird zum Spanier
INGOLSTADT. Audis Kleinster
zieht um. Die Produktion des
neuen A1 (Debüt 2018) wird
künftig im Stammwerk von

Bislang lief der A1 in Brüssel
vom Band. Einer der Gründe ist
der Modulare Querbaukasten
der Größe A0. Auf ihm basiert
fortan nicht nur der Audi A1,
sondern auch bereits der
Seat Ibiza und der kommende VW Polo.

Durch den MQB A0 verändern sich die Proportionen des
A1 (längerer Radstand, kürzere
Überhänge, breitere Spur). Zudem wird er einige Zentimeter
niedriger. Dem optischen Auftritt verpasst Designchef Marc

Kompakt und sportlich: Den neuen Audi
A1 gibt es ausschließlich mit fünf Türen.
Computerdesign: Schulte

OWNER SAYS
SETTLEMENT DOESN'T
SEND A STRONG ENOUGH
MESSAGE; LAWYER SAYS
VAST MAJORITY
ARE SATISFIED

P18

TDI SALES BAN LIFTS;
BUYERS SNAP UP
LEFTOVER NEW
2015 MODELS

P19

BMW gründet

Datenplattform
They transfer
to whatever vehicles

MÜNCHEN. BMW startet als
Lichte deutlich mehr Konturen. weltweit erster Autohersteller
Bei Elektronik und Antrieben eine Datenaustauschplattform
bedient sich Audi aus dem Kon- für Autofahrer und externe
ByvirtuJEREMY
SINEK
Anbieter
auf Basis von Daten
zern. Optional gibt es das
T O R O N T O Caus
O R Rdem
ESPO
NDENT
Fahrzeug.
Die Plattelle Cockpit. Am Dieselmotor
halten die Ingolstädter fest, am form trägt den Namen „BMW
AS AUTOMAKERS
AND
THEIR
CarData" und
soll Ende
MaiSUPPLIERS
live
Dreitürer nicht. Das damalige
increasingly
conduct
engineering
design and develStartmodell - der
fünf- geschaltet
werden.
„Mit BMW
türige Sportback
folgte inCarData
die Konnekopment
Canada,erreicht
the province
of Ontario has
zwei Jahre später - tivität unserer Fahrzeuge eine
fliegt aus Kosten- neue Dimension", sagte Vorgründen aus dem standschef Harald Krüger der
Programm. Vom Automobilwoche. Die Plattform
seit 2010 gebauten entspricht der neuen Norm
A1 hat Audi mehr ISO 20078, die Datensicherheit
als 750.000 Ein- garantieren und für alle Anbieheiten verkauft.
ter von Daten aus dem Auto
Michael Specht gelten soll. bur, sch
3Seite 6

or demonstration purposes

AUTOCANADA

OFFENSIVE

Dealers still
picking up
the pieces
By HARRY PEGG

CALGARY CORRESPONDENT

FORT McMURRAY,
Alta. - The fire that ravaged the gateway city to
Alberta's oilsands a year
ago claimed none of the
four automobile dealerships there, athough all
suffered smoke and ash
damage, and some lost
employees who moved
on after their homes
burned.
Northstar Ford
Lincoln, Summit GM,
Noral Toyota and Legacy
Dodge were all spared
by the fire dubbed The
Beast, which threatened
to consume the entire
city. However, all faced

FORT MAC FIRE

ONE
YEAR
LATER

daunting cleanups and
employee vacancies once
the flames were doused.
Only Northstar dealer principal Marty Giles
would give a figure on
the cleanup cost for
his $35.6-million operation that had opened in
February 2015.
"No buildings were
lost, but cleanup ran to
about $500,000 because
all locations had to be
completely cleaned,"
says Giles, who lost
his home and a Shelby
Mustang in the fire.

SEE FORT MAC PAGE 23

LATE TO

M-plates cut registration red tape

Bei Seat entsteht die zweite Generation des Premium-Kleinwagens
need to be on the road for testing

Bewiesen ist nichts.
allstate.com/dealeragency
Seat in Martorell stattfinden.

VA N C O U V E R C O R R E S P O N D E N T

Daimler macht CASE zur Chefsache

SWEEPING LEADERSHIP
CHANGE/P6

Flames miss,
but smoke
damage and
displaced
employees deal
a lasting blow

By STEVE MERTL

OLKSWAGEN DEALERS IN CANADA ARE
sweating the details to help eligible customers navigate the settlement process for their affected diesel
vehicles, in some cases by providing secondary bills of
sale for those who don't have their originals.
"We're doing everything we can," said Bryan Romaniuk,
sales manager at St. James Volkswagen in Winnipeg. "If they
need computer access, a scanner, advice, replacement bills of
sale, we're helping them."
Customers applying online for their settlement are asked
to provide a bill of sale and proof the vehicle was registered
during the settlement period, which began Sept. 18, 2015
- the day the scandal broke - and ran through Jan. 4, 2017.
About one-third of St. James Volkswagen customers are having difficulty providing the paperwork, Romaniuk said.
"We are providing whatever support requested to our customers," said Binny Onqa, general manager of Volkswagen
Toronto,
who added that customers are not taking
Zukunftseinheit künftig auf Konzernebene angesiedelt - Wilko Stark Downtown
übernimmt
Leitung
out their frustrations on dealers.

Failed Ford, Google deal the turning point

CHART DER WOCHE

NEWSPAPER

Nach nur drei Jahren ist die
Ära des Ford-Chefs zu Ende.
Jetzt soll ein Möbel-Experte
anpacken.
3Seite 11

Foto: Getty Images

After Fields,
is anyone safe?

das Feld

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS ILLUSTRATION

Führende Automanager haben zum
Au t o m o b i l w o c h e
Kongress am 8. und
9. November in Berlin zugesagt. BMWVorstandschef Harald Krüger (Foto)
wird genauso erwartet wie
VW-Markenchef Herbert
Diess, Seat-Vorstandsvorsitzender Luca de Meo
oder Here-Chef Edzard
Overbeek. Seien Sie dabei!

SEE DEALER SHOCKED PAGE 23

DEALERS AND THEIR DIESELVEHICLE
DIESEL-VEHICLE CUSTOMERS

IN EIGENER SACHE

Krüger kommt

MORE FORD COVERAGE

room when disappointed finalists sued
the successful one.
Now the four losers have lost a
second time, and instead of getting
a chunk of the prize, they've been
ordered to pay the winner's legal bills.
On Jan. 17, the MacDonald Auto

Group of Halifax held a draw for a
$100,000 grand prize to celebrate the
company's 50th anniversary. It began
with a Nissan store and now also sells
Ford, FCA, Kia and Toyota vehicles.
The contestants had purchased a
vehicle in the previous year.
It was the dealer group's big-

Spezial „IT": Nichts geht
ohne Dienstleister 3Seite 14

REFOCUSING FORD
Fields räumt

 Keith Crain: Living by the sword I PAGE 12 I
 Hinrichs, Farley divvy up operations I PAGE 30 I
 Will Fields' initiatives survive? I PAGE 30 I
 Bill Ford to be company's voice I PAGE 31 I
 Klevorn to oversee new mobility I PAGE 32 I
 Insecurity is part of Ford CEO post I PAGE 36 I

online!

DIE BRANCHEN- UND WIRTSCHAFTSZEITUNG

MAY 29, 2017

introduced a Manufacturer Licence Plate program
to aid that trend.
Primarily intended to allow public-road testing of
prototypes and pre-production vehicles, the M-plates
are registered to the manufacturer and are not specific to the vehicle. Hence, they can be moved from
one vehicle to another without going through the
usual re-registration procedures.
The plates "exemplify Ontario's support of

SEE M-PLATE PAGE 23

PARTY,
ECOSPORT THE
BUT FORD

CANADA IS
OK WITH THAT

P20

Automobilwoche
PVSt B 58301

Abo-Service, D-65341 Eltville
DPAG
Entgelt bezahlt
20170529-01_Titelseite.indd 1

26.05.17 16:14

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2017

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