Tag: manufacturing

Finding out your vehicle's build history may take some sleuthing.

The last emperor of China drove a Buick, as did Sun Yat-sen and the man who partnered with Richard Nixon to open China to the West. In 1930, one in six cars in Shanghai was a Buick. Is it surprising that it's a big brand there now? Now GM is planning a Chinese-made Envision for the American market.

Local Motors has the Beach Boys on speed dial with its 3-D Swim, a lightweight carbon-fiber battery car with a built-in surfboard. And, yes, its body is 3-D printed atop a BMW i3 chassis.

Yes, indeed, though production is finally shifting to Michigan. And Fords are made in Mexico, VWs in Tennessee, Mercedes-Benzes in Alabama and Hondas in Ohio. Automakers are global, and when it comes to manufacturing, what matters is not where but "how well?"

Honda's cars are fuel-efficient, but the company also shines behind the scenes with energy-efficient dealerships, huge solar arrays, wind turbines and a no-waste paint process.

Ranchers once drove the beef to the rail head in centrally located Kansas City; now it's automakers and their suppliers that reap the benefits of building plants there.

What's happening to the VW brand I used to think VW cars were made to last forever and were built with incredible German precision and care Now I find out that all of the small models they sell in the...