August 24, 2010

Hyundai's John Krafcik isn't Your Typical CEO Type
USA Today reports that John Krafcik has guided Hyundai from No. 9 in U.S. sales in 2007 to seventh among individual brands through July this year. Sales are up 23.8 percent so far over the same period in 2009. His brand just bumped Nissan from Kelley Blue Book's list of top five brands for buyers. Maligned for poor reliability only a few years ago, Hyundai is moving up the ladder to the top tier in quality. Hyundai's breakout, coming even as the automotive industry faced some of its hardest times, has made Krafcik a rising star. Besides successful new models, he has scored marketing coups, and always has a knack for good timing. Click here for USA Today's photo gallery of Hyundai's vehicle lineup. Yet for all of Krafcik's company's recent success, he doesn't come across as brash. Rather, he's cerebral, detail-oriented, and self-effacing. Hyundai's growth offers an excuse to brag, but Krafcik - who tries to personally handle at least one customer complaint a day - stresses the need for humility. For more on Krafcik's background and his philosophy in leading Hyundai, click here.

A Look at the Evolving Design of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS
It began as a cryptic sculpture bathed in blue and silver light at the Detroit auto show. It continued this spring at the China show with the reveal of the striking "Shooting Break" concept. Now, it all comes together. Automotive News reports that after months of teasing, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS will debut at the Paris motor show this fall with crisper lines and creases that make for a sharper demeanor. This is the next generation of the mold-shattering design that presented four doors in an elegant fashion and has since been emulated by luxury rivals BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, and Audi. The timeless proportions remain, but the car clearly has a sharper focus with impressive new design elements, including a prominent grille and a long hood. Click here for an image of the vehicle. "The new CLS points the way forward for the future perceptible design idiom of Mercedes-Benz," design boss Gorden Wagener said. "At the same time, it takes its inspiration from the great tradition of stylish, refined sportiness which has always been a feature of Mercedes coupes." The CLS arrives at U.S. dealerships in mid-2011. Click here for details of the all-new 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS.

Toyota Shifts More Authority to U.S. Units
Years before Toyota Motor Corp.'s quality problems raised doubts about its centralized management style, the automaker already was planning to shift more authority to its U.S. operations to allow them to react faster to changing market conditions. Now, according to The Detroit News, Toyota is pursuing that strategy with renewed vigor, after reviewing the missteps that led to record recalls in its most lucrative market. Since June, Toyota has promoted several U.S. and Canadian executives to build the ranks of future managers for North America. Toyota drafted a plan in 2002 titled "Project Self-Reliance," which was adopted two years later. But it didn't advance far. Toyota is moving fast now, appointing four U.S. and Canadian managers to run assembly plants in the past two months. But it also plans to send Japanese executives on North American stints to support the regional operations. Those executives also are expected to strengthen the analytic capabilities in the region and transfer expertise across a wide range of areas, from parts procurement to production. Steve St. Angelo Toyota's chief quality officer for North America said, "On the outside, it may appear like we're adding layers of management, but we're able to make decisions quicker because all the right players are in the room." To read more about Toyota's management shifts, click here.

Meet Obama's Point Man on Electric Cars
David Sandalow starts his five-mile commute each day by unplugging an orange extension cord connecting his Toyota Prius hybrid to an outlet in his brick carport. MSNBC reports that if American consumers begin to shift to electric cars this decade, Sandalow will be one of the government's driving forces behind the change. Crafting policy from the vantage point of an electric car driver himself, the former Brookings Institution scholar has helped shape the Obama administration's ambitious plan to pump billions of dollars into partnerships aimed at developing cars running on electric power, creating an advanced battery industry and helping communities prepare for the transition. With concerns about global warming and oil politics, the administration sees an opportunity in electric cars, and Sandalow is leading the charge. Obama pushed a $2.4 billion grant program to develop next-generation batteries, which could lead to 500,000 batteries a year by late 2014. A 2007 energy law, meanwhile, has led to billions in loans for automakers to retool their plants for fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric cars. Sandalow has helped the administration speed the development of electric cars and offer incentives for consumers and communities to begin taking steps to transition off conventional vehicles. To read more about David Sandalow and his work to spur the use of electric cars across the U.S., click here.

Ferrari 458 Italia Has Enough Superlatives to Match the Sticker
Heat pouring from its carbon-ceramic brakes, the Ferrari 458 Italia rests its heaving lungs at Monticello Motor Club, preparing for more shrieking laps to come. The New York Times' Lawrence Ulrich writes that as club members romp at this challenging track, the scene resembled an improptu Ferrari family reunion: there was the Italia's beach-bum cousin, the California convertible; its just-retired predecessor, the midengine F430; and from the traditional gran turismo side of the clan, a 599 GTB Fiorano with a V-12 engine. The 458 Italia was definitely the prettiest. The smartest, too, thanks to the latest Formula One diet of Ferrari racing technology. And the Italia is also the second-least-costly Ferrari (after the California) at $230,275. That base price undercuts the 599 by over $100,000. Click here for a slideshow of Ulrich's favorite Ferrari. The Ferrari certainly buffs Italy's reputation for high design. It may also represent a revival of Ferrari's legendary styling form. The cabin is all about the driver, with every control and display angled that way. Ferrari claims a 3.4-second run from a standstill to 60 miles per hour, and a top speed of 202 mph. It opens an unmatched window onto how a champion driver must feel. Click here to read more from Ulrich on the joys of experiencing the Ferrari 458 Italia.

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