Toyota’s Way Changed the World’s Factories. Now the Retool

Over decades, Toyota Motor Corp. built a corporate culture that was the envy of the manufacturing world. Now the auto industry’s most-emulated company is overhauling the way it brings its vaunted production system to every corner of the business. The automaker last month created a single group, staffed with 200 employees, to manage the Toyota Production System,… Continue reading Toyota’s Way Changed the World’s Factories. Now the Retool

China Digest: Gay dating app Blued, new energy vehicle firm SKIO secure funding

Chinese technology companies continue to secure funding from venture capital and private equity firms. The latest recipients are gay dating app Blued and new energy vehicle firm SKIO Matrix. Blued secures $100m in Series D Beijing-headquartered Blued, one of the world’s largest social network and dating apps for the LGBT community, has closed its Series… Continue reading China Digest: Gay dating app Blued, new energy vehicle firm SKIO secure funding

UK new car registrations decline in January

UK new car market declines in January – down -6.3%, as 163,615 cars leave showrooms. Demand for petrol and alternatively fuelled vehicles rises, but fails to offset fall in new diesel registrations. SUVs only vehicle segment to show growth, with 6.6% uplift leading to record market share. The UK new car market declined in the… Continue reading UK new car registrations decline in January

Ford CEO Jim Hackett on the future of computing, cities, and self-driving cars

In May 2017, Ford announced that it had replaced its CEO, Mark Fields, who had been with the company since 1989, with Jim Hackett. Despite being on Ford’s board since 2013, Hackett was probably best known for leading Steelcase, the large office-furniture company, for decades and turning around its fortunes, as well as for working… Continue reading Ford CEO Jim Hackett on the future of computing, cities, and self-driving cars

Wall Street sours on Hackett’s Ford

DETROIT — To hear Wall Street tell it, Ford Motor Co. is in dire straits. Ford shares last week fell under $11, lower than when Jim Hackett became CEO last May, despite big gains for the broader market in those eight months. Ford’s earnings outlook for the year dimmed in light of lower-than-expected 2017 results.… Continue reading Wall Street sours on Hackett’s Ford