Toyota Finds a Way to Make its Kaizens Faster
Toyota Motor Corp., whose production system is widely emulated around the auto industry, will soon begin installing technology in its plants that holds the promise of the holy grail of efficiency: automated kaizen. Or at least almost automated. Automotive News reports the automaker has partnered with an Austin, Texas, startup to install thousands of units across its network of North American factories that will inconspicuously track workers' joint and eye motions as they move through their daily assembly processes. The tablet-sized units made up of a camera, processor and data storage in a single box will analyze those movements — without the need for supervisors watching or team members wearing tracking sensors — and then use artificial intelligence to suss out improvements in efficiency and safety. They will also notify the worker in real time when they've completed the task correctly. The system, developed by Invisible AI will be deployed first at Toyota's massive assembly plant in Princeton, Ind., and then spread across the automaker's 14 other manufacturing plants in North America. Click here to learn more.
4 Tips for Car Dealers When Onboarding New Auto Technicians
During a recent WrenchWay Roundtable broadcast, a statistic was shared showing that 42 percent of today’s auto technicians leave the workplace during the first two years. Why are so many auto technicians leaving, and how can this be fixed? The answer starts with proper onboarding procedures. With CBT News’ tips for dealers to onboard technicians, your workers will feel like a part of the dealership, ensuring they stick around longer. CBT News will share with you their four best tips, but there could be many more. From these ideas, brainstorm some other ways to onboard auto technicians. Prepare paperwork: Before your technician reports to work, you should get all of the paperwork ready. You don’t want the technician waiting around while you get this paperwork together. If you can send the technician the paperwork through email, they can fill it out ahead of time, allowing for more time on their first day. Click here to learn the rest of CBT News’ tips.
Now There’s a Stick Shift Shortage?!?
It’s become harder and harder to find vehicles equipped with manual transmissions in recent years, but Mini’s decision to stop selling stick shift models nonetheless comes as a surprise. Notice anything missing in this Mini? Yeah. The manual transmission, which is now on full hiatus due to supply problems reports The Detroit Bureau. The automaker blames ongoing supply chain disruptions for the decision to stop building manual models, according to Britain’s Autocar, which first reported on Mini’s move. It’s unclear what shortages, in particular, led to the decision, but the British automaker apparently wants to simplify its production operations at a time when it is struggling to deal with shortage-fueled disruptions. The good news for members of the “Save the Manual” club is that this is likely a manual moratorium rather than a permanent move. According to a company representative, the carmaker eventually hopes to resume offering a stick shift option. Click here for the full story.
More Dealerships Choosing to Accept Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is still emerging. But more dealerships are beginning to accept it as payment for a vehicle. Last month, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell in Kentucky sold a certified pre-owned 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580 to a buyer in Saudi Arabia who had submitted an Internet lead and paid using the ethereum cryptocurrency, said Kevin Frye of Jeff Wyler Automotive Family. Frye heads up marketing for the group, which owns the Fort Mitchell store. Several days later, AutoNation Inc., the nation's largest new-vehicle retailer, said in a tweet that its Porsche Towson and BMW of Rockville dealerships in Maryland now accept cryptocurrency. David Muller, a former colleague who covered used vehicles for Automotive News, last year wrote about a few dealership groups that had started to accept cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin and ethereum, and that it could become more common in auto retail. For Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, cryptocurrency is another way the retailer can offer a positive customer experience, Frye said. The group started to lay the groundwork for accepting such payment last August and had the mechanics of it in place by February, Frye said. Click here for the full story.
2022 Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR 86 Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards
For the first time since 2015, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 have received IIHS Top Safety Pick awards. In fact, they've actually received Top Safety Pick+ awards — better than the models tested previously. Autoblog reports in crash tests, the two coupes passed with flying colors, earning "Good" scores in all types of crashes. Headlights were also top rated, as was the optional forward collision prevention system. Child seat anchor usability was just rated the second-highest "Acceptable," but if you're cramming a car seat into a 2+2, you know you're in for a little more finessing than you might be if you'd bought a Toyota Highlander or Subaru Ascent. There is a small caveat to this award, though. The full Top Safety Pick+ award only applies to models with the optional forward collision system. That system is only offered on automatic-equipped BRZ and GR 86 models. The manual models do not receive any of the forward collision technology. It's an odd oversight considering that other automakers such as Mazda and Honda have combined such technology with manual-equipped cars in the last few years. Click here for the full story.
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The Petersen Museum's Annual Japanese Car Show Celebrates the 2023 Nissan Z [Motortrend]
2022 Volvo C40 Recharge Interior Review |Stylish, Spartan and Google Tech [Autoblog]
This is the 2023 Toyota Supra's New Color [Car and Driver]
Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers Replaced By Ex-Ferrari Boss Amedeo Felisa [Carscoops]
