Articles written by Bernard Swiecki

Bernard Swiecki

Contributing Writer

Center for Automotive Research

The Center for Automotive Research focuses on the future of the international automotive industry. Its overall objectives are to provide industry research and analysis, communication forums, and informational resources that respond to the changing needs of the international automotive and automotive-related industries.

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Results: 21

	Turning the brights on the automotive industry 2012 has the markings of a transitional year for the automotive industry. If the sales and efficiency gains achieved by the industry, which began in 2009, can be sustained, there is ample reason to believe that salad days lie ahead of automakers, suppliers, and dealers alike. Publish date: April 27, 2012
	Lower-tier suppliers and the automotive recovery The automotive suppliers who survived the recent economic crisis are smaller than before and their capability to add capacity has been reduced. With predictions of 15 million cars sold in 2011, this is a big concern. Publish date: May 11, 2011
	Pricing sanity returns to the automotive industry Automakers have held the ground on the sales incentives that had eaten away at the industry's profitability for a decade. As a result, many suppliers are reporting positive financial performances, revenue growth, and a return to functioning outside the panic mode of the last two years. Publish date: March 10, 2011
	How bankruptcy and restructuring are changing the Detroit Three Publish date: August 1, 2009
	Selling Chrysler Selling Chrysler only nine years after the merger is a de facto admission that it was a mistake. While some analysts publicly wondered if Daimler would not eventually sell Chrysler, the suddenness of the declaration was unexpected. Publish date: July 10, 2007
	A tale of two cities Facing deep structural problems and mounting financial stress, Big Three executives publicly sought a meeting with President Bush to discuss how the federal government could assist the automotive industry, and the hundreds of thousands of Americans it employs. Publish date: May 8, 2007
	Bigger is better All automotive suppliers, regardless of size, find themselves facing a business environment more challenging than any they have previously experienced. Size with the economies of scale it brings is just one of numerous strategies that can be used to cope with the demanding nature of today's... Publish date: October 10, 2006
	To E or not to E Vehicles running on E85, a fuel that blends traditional gasoline with ethanol, are receiving considerable attention. While proponents claim the benefits of E85 range from environmental friendliness to improved national security, critics argue that the widespread adoption of E85 will be a... Publish date: September 12, 2006
	The U.S. sedan — an endangered species? Soaring fuel prices caused by Hurricane Katrina and turmoil in the Middle East have turned U.S. tastes toward passenger cars. Rather than trying to catch up with the competition, the Big Three are using global partners to speed their response to international automakers' passenger car success. Publish date: August 8, 2006
	The Midwest automotive exodus—fact or myth? While the Midwest has not lagged as far behind in international investment as many believe, the financial struggles of the Big Three have been a substantial economic burden for the region over the last three decades. Publish date: July 11, 2006
	SUVs: A profit center in flux As oil hovers around $60 per barrel, SUVs aren't that cool anymore. Many view them as dinosaurs, remnants of '90s excess that have no place in a thriftier, more environmentally conscious century. Publish date: June 13, 2006
	Race to be green Automakers are racing to introduce green technologies. Toyota is the leader in hybrid sales and plans to introduce two new models even though it will continue to lose money in the short and medium term. Instead of trying to outsell Toyota, GM has introduced flexible-fuel vehicles that run on... Publish date: May 9, 2006
	Auto show lessons The North American International Auto Show held in Detroit is a stage for automakers to display their latest and greatest; it also serves as a harbinger of what's coming at suppliers over the next few years. Publish date: April 11, 2006
	Selling to GM – A tough customer gets tougher The automaker's relentless focus on cost cutting has made few friends in the supplier community. GM recently made several announcements that may signal an even greater focus on price. Publish date: October 11, 2005
	The Big Three's 2005 cost challenges Publish date: April 11, 2005
	Platform consolidation gradually erodes supplier business The Big Three are in the midst of a decades long process— platform consolidation. While it will make them more cost-competitive with the Japanese automakers, it also will take away business from tooling and stamping suppliers. Publish date: February 8, 2005
	The evolution of automotive stamping Publish date: December 7, 2004
	The problem with quality In May, automotive quality gurus J.D. Power & Associates released the results of its 2003 Initial Quality Study (IQS). As is the case every year, the winners will trumpet their scores while the losers will promise improvement. A closer look at the numbers, however, reveals some interesting... Publish date: July 10, 2003
	Car Corner: OEMs sock it to suppliers The businesses that supply the auto industry with its parts are doing more and more work for less and less of the pie. Publish date: August 29, 2002
	Trouble in Motown Detroit's Big Three have big problems ahead if they can't figure out a way to profit in a time of booming sales, let alone downturns such as the one looming this year. Publish date: February 14, 2002
	To e, or not to e? The idea was to have e-commerce solve everything. Then the thud of a million dot-coms hitting bottom gave people a new perspective. Are automakers still hip on e-commerce? You'd better believe it. Publish date: October 25, 2001