automotive Pressreleases

Volvo CE to Move Motor Grader Business as Part of North American Consolidation Plan

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Volvo Construction Equipment will move the majority of its motor grader activities currently located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada, to the company’s facility in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Volvo CE will incur an estimated restructuring cost of approximately 45 MUSD, which will be recorded in the third quarter of 2008.

The decision to consolidate the industrial operations for road machinery in North America to Shippensburg was taken to improve the competitiveness and profitability of the total road machinery business and will also reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations within North America. The move, which will affect 500 employees in total, will take place in various phases, concluding no later than 2010.

The adjustment measures to be adopted for employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will be the subject of discussions to be held with the Union. The central parts warehouse currently located in Goderich will be relocated to the Volvo Parts warehouse in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

A comprehensive Human Resources plan will be developed in collaboration with the local union and government agencies. This plan will include, but will not be limited to, training programs, counseling support and help in the search for new employment.

Volvo Construction Equipment is a major international company developing, manufacturing and marketing equipment for construction and related industries. Its products, leaders in many world markets, include a comprehensive range of wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, articulated haulers, motor graders and compact equipment. Volvo Construction Equipment is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service.

New adaptive high-beam assistant automatically adjusts headlamps for optimum lighting in every traffic situation

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Nighttime journeys by car are about to become safer in the future. Mercedes-Benz has developed an innovative system that automatically adapts headlamp range to the distance of vehicles ahead or to oncoming vehicles. This means drivers will benefit from optimum headlamp range at all times to recognize other road users, pedestrians or danger spots more easily and more quickly. The adaptive high-beam assistant will be available from spring 2009.

Unlike conventional systems that simply switch between dipped and main beam, the new Mercedes-Benz technology is adaptive, adjusting light yield in accordance with prevailing traffic situations. Dipped beam range can therefore be increased from around 65 metres to as much as 300 metres without dazzling other motorists. If the system detects oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead it continuously adjusts headlamp range so that the headlamp cone falls in front of other road users. The high-beam assistant also takes steering angle into account, so that headlamps are dipped appropriately on tight corners. On empty and open roads, the system gently switches to high beam.

Practical tests have shown that the adaptive high-beam assistant significantly enhances the safety of motorists when driving in the dark. Despite oncoming traffic, pedestrian dummies positioned at the edge of the road were recognized at a distance of around 260 metres -- approximately 150 metres earlier than with conventional dipped beam lighting. The new Mercedes-Benz assistant therefore offers a more than two-fold safety bonus.

In addition, the system helps relieve the burden on car drivers because it is no longer necessary to operate the lever on the steering column. Once activated, the adaptive high-beam assistant will automatically provide the optimum headlamp range so full concentration can be given to driving.

According to the latest studies, the main beam is switched on for approximately just eight percent of journeys at night on average.

Every 40 milliseconds the headlamps receive new data for headlamp adjustment The brand new Mercedes-Benz technology is based on a camera positioned inside the front windshield that monitors the traffic situation in front of the car. Thanks to an intelligent image processing algorithm, the camera can recognize other vehicles and determine their distance. The range of the bi-xenon headlamps can then be varied and continuously adapted to the distance of the car ahead or to oncoming vehicles. The system has lightning quick reaction times, transmitting new data to the headlamps every 40 milliseconds.The adaptive high-beam assistant functions at speeds above 55 km/h and is fully automatic from the time the driver switches the rotary light switch to “Auto” and the multifunction control lever on the steering column to high beam. As a result, Mercedes-Benz models from spring 2009 will benefit from the world’s most efficient headlamp technology.

Ford Model T Plant Gets Makeover

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant unveils restored facade as part of Model T 100th anniversary celebration

Henry Ford would be proud! For the first time in decades his original plant on Piquette Avenue in Detroit looks just like it did when he opened its doors over 100 years ago. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was the assembly site for the first 12,000 Model Ts.

The front facade of the plant has undergone a painstaking and complete summer-long restoration to bring it back to its original look when it opened in 1904. Restoration work was handled by Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor, a firm that specializes in historic preservation. The front facade will be unveiled in a ceremony today as one of the stops in the
motorcade celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Model T. The motorcade was organized by Ford Motor Company and MotorCities National Heritage Area.

"We were thrilled to take on this assignment," said Lis Knibbe, AIA, at Quinn Evans. "The Piquette plant is a national and even an international landmark in industrial history. It was the birthplace of the Model T and the incubator for the moving assembly line. It had enormous impact not only on the auto industry but on every industry that followed and on the whole
of society."

The restored front facade had been the most deteriorated and altered part of the structure over the years and required extensive masonry and window repair and replacement work. Building contractor Grunwell-Cashero of Detroit individually repaired most of the bricks and completely replaced others that had been destroyed by paint and weather. The biggest challenge of the restoration, the arched office entry, had been replaced by a garage door. Fortunately there were good archival photographs of the original entry that provided a model for its reconstruction. Today, the entry will greet visitors to the building just as it originally greeted Henry Ford and his workers.

"Restoring this plant inside and out has been a labor of love for me and for our entire team of volunteers," said Jerald A. Mitchell, Founder and CEO of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. "The restored façade is a huge and exciting step that brings the place back to life. It shows that we truly respect what Mr. Ford did here and ensures that the memories will
live on."

The facade restoration was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation under their Transportation Enhancement Program. The restored Piquette plant houses a Model T museum and other Ford memorabilia.

About MotorCities National Heritage Area

The programs and activities of the MotorCities National Heritage Area are designed to increase tourism throughout the State of Michigan; develop and deploy educational and informational programs that tell the story of the automobile industry and labor in our region; and encourage revitalization through conservation. MotorCities was designated by Congress
in 1998 and is currently one of 40 National Heritage Areas in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.motorcities.org.

For more information on the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, please visit http://www.tplex.org

SOURCE: MotorCities National Heritage Area

Automotive Engineers Innovate Safe Technology

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Recent innovations in automotive engineering have produced active safety systems ranging from side alert, often called blind spot warning, to adaptive cruise control, to collision detection and warning. What this means to the average consumer will change over time as these products become increasingly available. What this means to the automotive engineer is increased attention to safe technology.

Many impressive innovations beyond the now customary car navigation system have existed - and even been on the market - for years now. Adaptive cruise control has been available since the early '90s. Electronic stability control has been an option for many vehicles since 1995. Scanning radars, crash sensors, pre-crash mitigation and vehicle and occupant safety systems are also emerging. Such systems offer insights into how roads can be made safer in generations to come and where automotive technology is heading. In other words, as cars become "carputers," automotive engineers are driving shifting technologies.

The myriad of promising innovations includes vehicle occupant safety systems. For example, a crash sensor generates a signal based upon a potential crash or one already transpired via a continuously variable severity output signal. If an accident has occurred, sensors signal certain actions like deployment of airbags. If an accident is likely to occur, sensors can alert the driver in various ways so that she or he can try to take necessary actions to avoid an accident and/or the sensors can take action themselves by pretensioning seatbelts or initiating automatic braking. In many ways, this process is not dissimilar to the functioning of the human brain: The brain sends a signal to the body to complete an action, often in response to stimuli received from the outside world. Who knew humanity would serve as its own model for creating devices designed for our safety?

Often, though, such examples of automotive technology are integrated into high-end, expensive cars first, due to high pricing. As the benefits of these products become more widely known and their popularity expands, costs decrease due to economies of scale and advancing technology. As research and development pay off, these advanced products become more widely distributed.

The advantages of automotive system and component integration expertise will continue to increase over time. Such knowledge may be paramount to an industry focused on better fuel economy, safety advancements and financially feasible products. Engineers versed in not only the basics of these systems but also in how to integrate them is only the beginning. Savvy engineers who are engaging in up-integration - adding software that makes one electronic module do many things - and sensor fusion - using complementary technologies to enhance object detection and classification - may have an edge in an ever-competitive job market.

In the rush to meet consumer demand and stay competitive, suppliers tend to be increasingly eager to develop ways to integrate safety and other technology systems. Many vehicles currently come with automatic on/off, high/low beam and rain sensor technology for instance. A separate camera, of course, is not necessary for this. Install a camera for a lane departure warning system, and suddenly a world of possibilities opens up. Intelligent headlight plus pedestrian and sign recognition programs can also be added, to name a few, without the need for additional cameras. Separate module manufacturing for each technological innovation becomes unnecessary. Multiple functions and features on the same apparatus decrease cost and increase functionality

So, what's next? It seems to be the perpetual question that automotive engineers ask - no matter how far we advance. Perhaps an entirely self-driving car. Perhaps hover vehicles on highways, following designated pathways and communicating with surrounding vehicles to avoid crashes.

What do consumers want? The evolution of technology. Inventions born of new ideas. And, ultimately, innovative products that can even make us all safer. It's the engineers, though - the technological innovators themselves - who make it possible.

BorgWarner Introduces the NexTrac(TM) System - What's Next in All-Wheel Drive Systems

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

BorgWarner's NexTrac(R) system, the company's latest all-wheel drive (AWD) system, offers compact design, improved performance and lower weight for enhanced stability, traction, fuel efficiency, and the fun driving experience drivers crave. Born from BorgWarner's experience in producing over 1,000,000 AWD clutches since 1998, the NexTrac(R) system is a high-performance, electronically controlled, all-wheel drive system designed to meet the growing front-wheel-drive-based crossover, sport-utility and passenger car vehicle markets. The NexTrac(R) system debuts on the 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, Tucson and KIA Sportage.

"BorgWarner's NexTrac(R) system is the next step in all-wheel drive systems," said Dan CasaSanta, President and General Manager, BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems. "For OEMs, the NexTrac(R) system delivers improved fuel efficiency in a scalable, compact design. For drivers, the NexTrac(R) system offers improved stability, traction and agility, adding up to an exciting and safe driving experience."

The latest product in the i-Trac(R) series created exclusively for FWD/AWD products, the NexTrac(R) system features proprietary organic friction materials developed by BorgWarner Transmission Systems for smooth response and less noise. To promote fuel economy, engineers optimized the system's size and weight within a scalable design so that it can be offered in various sizes, based on vehicle segment, torque requirement and package criteria. Because the primary and secondary clutches in the system can be individually tuned, the NexTrac(R) system offers best-in-class drag torque performance, contributing to better fuel economy. To reduce cost and improve heat dissipation, the compact clutch housing is made of lightweight aluminum. Finally, the NexTrac(R) system is controlled by an ECU that manages driving torque and is able to detect loss of traction to prevent wheel slippage, assuring instant response in nearly every driving situation.

BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems is a leading independent global designer and producer of transfer cases and torque management devices for all-wheel drive passenger cars, crossover vehicles, sports-utility vehicles and light trucks. These systems enhance vehicle stability, security, and drivability.

Chrysler LLC Surges Forward With Production-Intent Electric Vehicles

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

One targeted to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010
Chrysler LLC to have approximately one hundred electric vehicles on the road in government, business, utility and development fleets in 2009
Chrysler electric-drive technology to be applied to front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms
Dodge EV: All-electric Performance Sports Car
Jeep(R) EV: Wrangler Range-extended Electric Vehicle to allow customers to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time
Chrysler EV: Town & Country Range-extended Electric Vehicle
Chrysler and General Electric pursue joint project with U.S. Department of Energy

Chrysler LLC announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles -- one for each of its brands, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge.

Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately one hundred Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles, and that it will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

At its World Headquarters here today, Chrysler revealed its electric-drive prototypes -- Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV – and demonstrated the driving performance and capability of each.

"We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO -- Chrysler LLC. "The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market."

Marcus Evans to organise Asia Automotive 2008 Conference in Malaysia

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

In 2008, with rising oil prices, the automotive industries are experiencing the effects of the price rise. Despite suggestions that the broader inflationary effects will take months to flow through to prices, consumers have already begun to respond. Marginal consumption has declined and consumers are altering habits. As for that, auto manufacturers face an increasingly challenging business environment that includes global over-capacity, smaller profit margins, a persistent lack of useful knowledge about the consumers, and an embedded risk.

Marcus Evans’ ‘Asia Automotive: Innovative Transformation’ conference recognized the effects of the oil price to overcome the effects of oil prices. This conference aims to achieve competitive advantage and increase organisation's revenue by providing an in-depth look at the trends & developments in the automotive industry (business & technical), look at growth opportunities as well as major issues such as strategies to strengthen internal processes, market-leading technology and innovative, new services & applications. In order to maintain the market leadership, the industry players need to create sustainable business propositions in the marketplace that is faced with liberalisation, new environmental and regulatory legislation, while undergoing immense pressure to reduce costs and streamline processes to overcome the effects of oil prices.

This year’s conference ‘Asia Automotive: Innovative Transformation’ will be held at Park Royal Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5th and 6th November 2008 and will look at the cause and effects of increased oil prices to the automotive industry, penetrating the global hybrid car market and overcoming the challenges of global expansion, identifying the needs of consumers in order to compete in the global automotive playground, cultivating western automotive technology into the Asia automotive market, captivating the market through effective automotive branding and marketing, striving for continuous technological development which acts as the foundation for building corporate value, understanding the crucial necessity of forming partnerships between carmakers and suppliers, probing the impact of bio diesel fuel consumption and its influence on the automotive industry, exploring the future of clean diesel cars as a solution to reduce the effects on environmental pollution.

Among the speakers for this conference would be Dr Daniel Aklil-D’Halluin Managing Director, (Pure Energy™ Centre), Michio Shinohara General Manager, (Honda Motor Co.,Ltd, Japan), Lito S. German Corporate Communications & Marketing, (BMW), Dr AK Jindal Head of Technology (Tata Motors, India), Gunadi Sindhuwinata Group CEO, (Suzuki Motor Corp Indonesia), Dr Momoji Kubo Professor, (Japan) and Bob Feinschreiber COO, (Former Federal Tax Audit of Chrysler Corporation and currently the Director of Taxation and Financial Analysis of National Association for Manufacturers, Consultant of United Nations and Professor of Department of Economics of Russian Economics Institute). This conference also highlights the participation of representatives from international organizations such as Ford Motor Company (Philippiines), Volvo Private Limited (India), Brazil Japan Ethanol Co. Ltd (Japan), Euromobil (Malaysia) and Top Gear (Malaysia & Singapore).

Marcus Evans is an international business events and information company with four main principle areas of business activity

Business Events: providing valuable and niche focused industry insights to delegates worldwide and bringing B2B buyers and sellers together at over 2000 conferences, summits & congresses annually
Business Training: training programmes in a variety of formats including Professional Training, Financial Training, Language Training and Industry Sector Training
Corporate Hospitality: providing first class hospitality to Fortune 500 companies at the world’s leading sports and cultural events
Business Information: providing in depth analysis through subscription research products and publications

Marcus Evans employs more than 3500 people in over 32 countries around the globe delivering intelligence and business products across a full range of commercial sectors, including Capital Markets, Life Sciences, Defence, Healthcare, Information technology and Legal.

**An exclusive 10% discount is extended for “Auto Focus Asia” subscribers/readers to attend the conference if they register with Catherine at CatherineF@marcusevanskl.com

For more information, please contact:
Miss Catherine Foo
marcus evans
Tel: +603 2723 6757
Email: CatherineF@marcusevanskl.com
Website: www.marcusevans.com

New Motor Takes a Giant Step Towards Solving Energy, Pollution Crisis

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Brazilian scientists have announced the development of a breakthrough new motor that they hope will soon power everything from cars to industrial equipment. Just like solar panels capture energy from the sun, the Keppe Motor captures energy from the so called "vacuum" of space -- which it turns out is no vacuum at all.

Actually, all motors do this, but the prevailing scientific theory doesn't recognize it. Technology today is still locked into trying to get energy from matter and this outmoded process actually blocks the capturing of free energy found in space. As a result, motors today are much less efficient than they should be.

As non-renewable energy sources dwindle fast, massive environmental damage and global warming continue unchecked and electrical bills and oil prices skyrocket. The revolutionary -- and completely green -- Keppe Motor ushers in a new era of sustainable, clean and inexpensive technology.

The motor is named for Brazilian scientist Dr. Norberto Keppe, whose book The New Physics proposes an ambitious new direction in our planet's technological philosophy. The Keppe Motor is the first tangible invention arising from the ideas outlined in this book.

Keppe worked with scientists Cesar Soos and Roberto Frascari of the STOP the Destruction of the World Association, an international group working for the preservation of life and nature. They were able to create an electric motor following Keppe's principles that requires significantly less electricity to generate power than a normal motor -- more than 75% less electricity to be precise.

"People tend to believe that electricity comes from batteries, electrical outlets, etc.," Soos says. "What we are showing is that the traditional process of electricity actually signifies a loss of energy. That's why electric cars are so difficult to develop. Our process works with what we could call a non-entropic energy. So it's much more efficient."

Navevo Unveils Sat-Nav Solution for the Disabled Driving Community

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Navevo, the UK's leading specialist GPS software developer, has today announced the launch of BBNav, the first dedicated Blue Badge sat-nav solution, specifically designed to support disabled drivers and those caring for the disabled, such as their families or carers.

To assist Blue Badge holders in finding suitable parking locations and points of interest, Navevo has exclusively teamed up with PIE (Public Information Exchange), the UK's leading publisher of disabled parking guides. Covering 150 major cities and towns across the UK including all the London boroughs, BBNav provides users with greater flexibility and choice when shopping, driving into town or just going out for the day.

BBNav includes all of the features found on a standard sat-nav but has been enhanced to provide detailed information to support Blue Badge holders including: on-street disabled parking bays; disabled accessible car parks and local council Blue Badge concessions, as well as a wide range of points of interest to support people with disabilities.

Key Features:

- Blue Badge and Red Route on-street parking bays

- Disabled-accessible car parks

- Local council Blue Badge parking concessions

- Over 60,000 Points of Interest (20,000+ Blue Badge)

- NAVTEQ street level mapping covering UK and Republic of

Ireland

- 7 digit postcode routing

- Safety Camera Alerts

Blue Badge car park and on-street parking database

BBNav features a database of Blue Badge car parks and on-street parking bays. This unique feature can save not only time but can also take out the uncertainty when driving around and searching for a car parking space. Clear colour-coded and numbered icons are displayed on the mapping while driving and you can easily search for a car park/parking bay of choice and navigate directly to it.

To ensure the right type of car park is found for specific needs, most are graded from 1 to 3: Grade 1 being suitable for wheelchair users traveling independently; Grade 2 for wheelchair users traveling with assistance and Grade 3 for wheelchair users or those with some degree of mobility, able to walk a limited distance. BBNav also provides information about any height restrictions above 2.2 meters, which can be extremely useful if you are driving a converted vehicle for example.

BBNav also allows you to locate and navigate directly to over 10,000 on street parking bays, including Blue Badge and red routes bays. With clear icons on the map it's easy to identify the bays, as well as understand the waiting times or any restrictions.

In addition, BBNav's mapping has been uniquely colour - coded to clearly show the rules that the local councils apply for Blue Badge holders, so users can easily identify whether they can park legally on yellow lines, pay & display or in residents' bays.

POI data in association with PIE

In addition to over 40,000 UK points of interest, BBNav offers a database of over 20,000 POIs tailored specifically for people with disabilities making it the perfect travel companion. For carers wanting to take a client or family member out for the day, BBNav opens a new world of possibilities and helps making choices easier. If you are visiting an unfamiliar town for a day trip, BBNav will tell you where you can park, where the public toilets with disabled facilities are and will even point out the nearest shopmobility scheme should you want to take a powered scooter or wheelchair to see the local attractions in greater detail. BBNav also provides details of accommodation with disabled facilities, as well as over 300 beaches with disabled accessibility.

BBNav's POI data displays the disabled access type and contact telephone numbers making it easier than ever to plan a stress free trip and if you fancy taking a detour, you have the freedom to do so with the knowledge that BBNav will be able to offer invaluable and vital information to make the trip so much easier.

BBNav comes complete with street level mapping for the UK and Republic of Ireland*, seven digit postcode lookup and a six month free trial of safety camera alerts, featuring visual and audile safety camera alerts for all six UK safety camera types including SPECS and Mobile.

"We have developed BBNav to make traveling far easier for the disabled driving community," says Nick Caesari, Navevo's CEO "We have teamed up with PIE to ensure that we are delivering the most comprehensive solution available that uniquely addresses Blue Badge drivers', or their carers' specific needs."

Ricardo to Develop World-Class R&D Capability for Leading Indian Tier 1 Supplier

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:53:08 GMT

Ricardo, a leading independent provider of technology, product innovation and engineering solutions to the world's automotive, military, transport and new energy industries, will help Indian Tier 1 supplier Sharda Motor Industries define and implement an independent, self-sustaining and state-of-the-art product development capability. Sharda supplies exhaust systems, catalytic converters, fuel tanks, independent suspensions, seat frames and other components to Indian automakers and the regional operations of international manufacturers.

Ricardo's strategic consulting and Indian divisions will lead the project, with an emphasis on product strategy and development processes, infrastructure requirements, development tools and facilities, and skills and core competence requirements for the Sharda's staff. The Ricardo team will carry out a rigorous analysis of the markets in which the company operates and the drivers likely to affect those markets in the coming years. These will include projections of the technology road maps of Sharda's customer base and estimations of the emerging engineering requirements for future product portfolios. Ricardo then will develop detailed organizational development and implementation plans with the goal of delivering future product development capability within a clearly defined time period and against measurable outcomes.

Sharda and Ricardo will collaborate to implement a strategy that will include comprehensive technology transfer as well as engineering and testing support from Ricardo until Sharda fully implements its own research and development capabilities. To support Sharda's ongoing product engineering requirements, Ricardo will provide advanced computer aided engineering services. This will ensure that Sharda has access to the technology required to meet its immediate program needs, as well as having long-term plans in place to support its future strategic product development aspirations.

"The support being provided to Sharda Motor Industries is an excellent demonstration of the breadth and quality of services that Ricardo can offer, as well as the effectiveness of our strategy of providing a global reach to our business operations," said Ricardo CEO Dave Shemmans. "Sharda is a leading automotive supplier to the Indian market and can benefit both from the expertise of our strategic consulting team in charting the future direction of its business, as well as that of our engineering teams in providing the expertise required for its immediate product engineering programs. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with Sharda Motor Industries as this project progresses."