Automotive | SilverScorpio.Com

Toyota faces record fine for ‘hiding defect’

April 7, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Japanese carmaker Toyota is facing a fine of more than $16 million for failing to promptly notify US authorities about safety defects in its cars.

US regulators say they have evidence Toyota knew of problems with sticky accelerator pedals four months before they began the biggest ever vehicle recall.

The US transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, says Toyota knowingly hid the dangerous defect and did nothing to protect American drivers and their families.

Mr LaHood is calling for the maximum $US16.4 million ($17.7 million) fine against Toyota.

“We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations,” Mr LaHood said.

“Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from US officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families. For those reasons, we are seeking the maximum penalty possible under current laws.”

It is the largest civil fine against an automaker ever sought by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles has allegedly been tied to 51 road deaths in the US.

Toyota has two weeks to agree to pay the fine, or contest it. If the two parties cannot agree a settlement they could go to court.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: automotive, business-economics-and-finance, company news, industry, law-crime-and-justice, United States

Next Generation Automotive Gets Revved up for Multi-Media Networks

April 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

SAN JOSE, CA, Apr 05 (MARKET WIRE) —
Micrel Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth
communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today introduced the KSZ8873MLL
AM, a highly integrated 3-port switch on a chip IC, with low power
dissipation, efficient power management and sophisticated QoS features
(e.g., IPv6 priority classification support). The solution is qualified
for AEC-Q100 and as such, enables automotive manufacturers to use
Ethernet as the backbone for their next generation automotive multi-media
networks. The IC is currently available in volume quantities, pricing is
available upon request.

Last year, Micrel was the first IC manufacturer to supply Ethernet
devices to a car with its introduction of the KSZ8041NL AM — Single-Port
Fast Ethernet Physical Layer Transceiver; KSZ8842-PMBL AM — 3-Port
Managed Fast Ethernet Switch with PCI; and KSZ8893MQL AM — 3-Port
Managed Fast Ethernet Switch with MII/RMII — the industry’s first and
only AEC-Q100 Automotive qualified Ethernet devices. The next step is
using Ethernet as the backbone for next generation automotive multi-media
networks carrying ‘live’ traffic.

“As Ethernet significantly reduces the cost of ownership in the
automobile, the global automotive community is quickly embracing Ethernet
as the defacto network platform in a car,” noted Dr. J.C. Lin, Micrel’s
vice president of Ethernet Products. “Micrel, known for the highest
quality and reliability products, is the first vendor to offer Ethernet
ICs for automotive diagnostics and software download. This new switch
product, with its low power and small footprint, offers customers the
ideal solution to build the Ethernet backbone for the multimedia network
in the next generation of vehicles.”

Micrel’s AEC-Q100 qualified (for automotive applications) device offers
low power consumption and advanced power management schemes that
accommodate “green” system design requirements. The KSZ8873MLL AM’s small
package size (64-pin LQFP) and high integration (on-chip LDO) reduce
system cost and simplify system design. In addition, the Port 1 and Port
2 by-pass mode allows the device connected to the MII interface so it can
enter a power saving mode without impacting the normal switch operation.
Enhanced QoS support (4-queue traffic prioritization and source address
filtering) facilitates implementation of advanced QoS policies in the
Ethernet ring network for automotive applications. Finally, the chip
features source address filtering, rate limiting per queue and
Auto-MDI/MDIX that eliminates the need for cross-over cable, thus reduces
installation costs.

About Micrel, Inc.
Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC
solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets.
The Company’s products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power
semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management,
Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers
include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial,
mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products.
Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication
facilities are located in San Jose, CA, with regional sales and support
offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the
Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an
extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web:

http://www.micrel.com.

Contact:
Julieanne DiBene, Marketing Communications
1-408-474-1276
Email Contact

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: automotive, Ethernet, Prioritization, sophisticated, telecommunications

Jobs boost as ACL sales increase

March 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Launceston car parts manufacturer ACL Bearing has begun hiring casual staff to meet an increase in demand from its customers.

The company laid off more than 100 staff last year after it went into administration.

Receiver Greg Keith says there has been a concerted effort by the new administrators to increase sales.

“We’ve visited a number of the clients overseas and successfully increased the sales to our overseas customers,” he said.

“In addition to that, one of our competitors has agreed to close one of their lines and outsource their production to us which is a really positive sign.”

Mr Keith says no date has been set for selling the business.

“We believe the business can be viable and profitable going forward and our intention is to trade the business at a profit throughout this year so we can demonstrate to interested parties down the track that the business is an ongoing, viable, profitable business.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Acl Bearing, automotive, Car Manufacturer, Car Parts, Casual Staff, concerted effort, intention, interested parties, jobs, launceston-7250, Overseas Customers, Profitable Business, TAS

Better car design could save pedestrians: researchers

March 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Researchers have found more than two thirds of cars on the Australian market fail to meet international standards on pedestrian safety.

The Centre for Automotive Safety Research at Adelaide University tested 33 models and found just six met the standards.

Centre spokesman Daniel Searson says there is no motivation for car makers to change their designs.

He says making improvements would help save lives.

“Twenty-eight fatalities per year would be saved by the introduction of the standard, about 1,000 serious injuries about 1,000 minor injuries and about $380 million in crash costs,” he said.

He says simple design changes could make a big difference.

“The clearance between the outer surface of the car and the stiffer, harder components underneath needs to be increased,” he said.

“So if you’ve got the engines sitting quite close to the bonnet, for example, if a pedestrian does strike the bonnet, the bonnet might deform but it comes into contact with that harder structure underneath.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Adelaide University, adelaide-5000, adelaide-university-5005, Australia, automotive, automotive research, Automotive Safety, bonnet, Car Design, Car Makers, cars, community-and-society, Crash Costs, Design Changes, improvements, minor injuries, motivation, Outer Surface, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, Research Models, road transport, Sa, safety, Safety Research, searson, spokesman, two thirds, university-and-further-education

Temporary reprieve for Drivetrain workers

March 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Albury gearbox factory workers who were stood down two weeks ago have been offered their jobs back, for the moment.

Drivetrain Systems International (DSI) cut 170 casual positions at its Lavington plant because it was owed money from Korean car maker Ssangyong.

Sean Morgan from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says Sangyong has paid its debt and has also paid for more gearboxes up front.

He says it is only five weeks work at this stage, but it is good news.

“According to my senior delegate down at DSI, the company has started to ring those employees that were stood down and asking them to start there ASAP,” Mr Morgan said.

“I always take good news where I can find it and it’s some comfort at least to know there’s at least a further five weeks there anyway.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: albury-2640, Australia, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, automotive, business-economics-and-finance, car maker, Casual Positions, delegate, Drivetrain, Dsi, gearbox, Gearboxes, industry, jobs, Korean Car, lavington-2641, manufacturing, MONEY, mr morgan, nsw, Reprieve, ssangyong, wodonga-3690

CEO report indicates solid industry recovery

March 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

A poll of Australian chief executives shows growth in the country’s manufacturing, construction and services sectors is expected to be reasonably solid, but uneven in 2010.

The result is contained in the latest CEO survey, Industry in Recovery Mode in 2010, conducted by the Australian Industry Group and Deloitte.

An improvement was expected across all three industries, with particular strength in the services and manufacturing sectors.

The survey also found improving consumer confidence in incomes growth and employment prospects, as well as rising household wealth and exposure to strong growth in China, would drive growth this year.

But the fading effects of the Federal Government’s stimulus and the impact of higher interest rates were likely to hit the construction sector particularly hard.

On average, manufacturers were anticipating a 5.6 per cent increase in the nominal value of sales in 2010 to about $415 billion.

Sales in the services sector were set to rise 6.6 per cent and construction sales were forecast to grow by 2.5 per cent.

Employment in the manufacturing industry was expected to rise 2.9 per cent, service sector employment was due to increase by 2.3 per cent, and the construction sector was set for employment growth of just 0.5 per cent.

Those employers surveyed said the possible re-emergence of skills shortages was a real worry, as the economy returns to growth.

The chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, Heather Ridout says the economy looks set to consolidate this year, but the rebound won’t be as strong as those that occurred after previous downturns.

“Despite the stronger sales and employment expectations, investment trends across these sectors remain soft and conservative,” she said.

“The challenges for policy and for business will be to strengthen the recovery while addressing the ongoing requirement to build on the foundations of longer-term growth.”

The manufacturing partner for Deloitte, Damon Cantwell says 2010 would provide businesses with a range of opportunities to make up ground.

“While 2009 was characterised as a year founded on survival, 2010 offers real opportunities for growth,” he said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: accounting, advertising-and-marketing, air transport, Australia, Australian Industry Group, automotive, banking, bauxite, Biotechnology, building-and-construction, business-economics-and-finance, Cantwell, Ceo Report, Ceo Survey, chemicals-and-pharmaceuticals, coal, Construction Sales, construction sector, Consumer Confidence, copper, economic-trends, Education, electricity-energy-and-utilities, electronics, Employment Expectations, Employment Growth, Employment Prospects, Food And Beverage, gold, Heather Ridout, household wealth, housing, industry, insurance, Investment Trends, iron-ore, lead, manufacturing, Manufacturing Sectors, media, mineral-sands, mining, Nominal Value, oil and gas, packaging, pipelines, plastics-and-rubber, rail-transport, Recovery Mode, retail, road transport, sea-transport, Sector Employment, services sectors, skills shortages, Steel, Survey Industry, telecommunications, Textiles, timber, Tourism, transport, uranium mining

Emission-free future for Australian cars

March 22, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Up to 20 per cent of Australia’s cars could be emissions free by 2020, according to a key player in the global electric vehicle industry.

Speaking on ABC1′s Inside Business program, Better Place Australia’s chief executive Evan Thornley said the change would be driven by motorists in the outer suburbs with larger cars and annual fuel bills of up to $6,000.

Mr Thornley says with 51 new plug-in models planned to be on the world market by 2012, there would a tipping point in the industry in the next few years.

He says the growth in sales will become very steep, with the complete conversion to electric vehicles possible within 20 to 30 years.

“We know how the movie ends. Battery prices are going down, petrol prices are going up – that tells you what’s going to happen. It’s just a question of how long that takes,” Mr Thornley said.

“We think it will take between 20 and 25 years for the entire Australian fleet to transition from petrol to electric because it takes a while for things to transition.

“But we think you’ll kick in to the sort of sharp end of that s-curve around the middle to the early second half of this decade.”

Mr Thornley says the transition will provide an enormous opportunity for local car-makers given their experience in building large cars.

“It’s what customers want in this country; it’s what we know how to build; it’s where the money is,” he said.

“There’s more margin in large cars than small cars and I think there’s still a global leadership position open in the large car market.”

Mr Thornley has also confirmed that Victorian motoring club RACV has just invested $2 million in Better Place Australia to speed up the building of infrastructure to support plug-in cars.

Australia will be the third market open in Better Place’s global rollout, after Israel and Denmark.

The first charging stations are due to open in Canberra late next year.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Australia, Australian Cars, automotive, Battery Prices, Business Program, business-economics-and-finance, Car Makers, Cars Australia, Electric Vehicle Industry, electric vehicles, environment, Evan Thornley, Fuel Bills, Global Leadership Position, Global Rollout, industry, large cars, Motoring Club, Mr Thornley, Outer Suburbs, petrol prices, Place Australia, RACV, s curve, Small Cars, Vic

Fuel leak forces Holden to recall 9,000 sedans

March 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

As the world’s biggest carmaker tries to restore confidence in the Toyota brand, Holden in Australia faces its own big safety problem.

The company is recalling 9,000 of its big-selling Cruze sedans because of concerns about potential fuel leaks.

The small car was launched in June last year and is selling at the rate of about 2,000 a month.

Holden hopes a locally built version of the car will one day replace the Commodore as its top selling car.

Concerns with the fuel feed hose on Holden’s Cruze sedan had been doing the rounds of dealers for weeks following reports of fuel leaks.

Late yesterday Holden announced it was asking more than 9,000 owners of the 2010 Cruze models fitted with 1.8-litre petrol engines to return the cars to their dealers to fix the problem.

The company has identified a manufacturing problem with the fuel feed hose.

Holden says it is aware of 71 cases of possible fuel leaks but that no accidents or injuries have been reported.

The popular small car is manufactured in Korea but is due to be built at Holden’s plant in Adelaide from next year, along with a hatchback version.

Marton Pettendy, managing editor of GoAuto online, says it is embarrassing because the Cruze is an important car for Holden.

“It’s a fairly embarrassing first recall for Holden’s Cruze which is its all new small car entrant in Australia – Australia’s biggest segment,” he said.

“It is the model Holden hopes to perhaps one day replace lost sales of Commodores with.

“Interestingly, Holden issued a stop delivery notice on March 3 to its dealers but it took until yesterday to announce the official recall.

“There are a number of hurdles car companies have to go through before the recall notice is made.”

It is the third recall affecting Holden this year, following defects with its Captiva and its Combo van.

Recalls have become commonplace in the automotive industry this year, which began with Toyota recalling more than 8.5 million cars including its Prius hybrid.

Mr Pettendy says for Toyota it is likely to be seen as a welcome diversion from its own woes.

“Having said that, only 2,000-odd Prius’ have been recalled in Australia from more than eight million globally – so this is four times the number of that,” he said.

He says the problem that prompted the recall is “very much a manufacturing issue out of the Korean factory”.

“The bigger issue for Holden is virtually a month’s worth of lost sales of its significant selling car,” he said.

“In a depressed industry any hit like that is going to hurt them, but the pipeline will bank up and once those cars are fixed they will be back into dealers and on the roads again.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: adelaide-5000, Australia, australia australia, automotive, automotive industry, business-economics-and-finance, Captiva, Car Companies, carmaker, Commodores, Consumer Protection, Delivery Notice, doing the rounds, fuel feed, Fuel Leak, Fuel Leaks, Holden Australia, industry, Litre Petrol, million cars, Petrol Engines, Prius, Sa, Safety Problem, sedans, selling car, small car, South Korea

Toyota claims ‘inconsistencies’ in runaway Prius story

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Toyota says there are “inconsistencies” in the story of a man who called police for help saying his Prius was speeding uncontrollably down a California highway.

The story made national headlines last week after a local television station captured images of the blue 2008 Prius and the car’s owner, James Sikes, spoke to reporters about his harrowing experience.

The case added fuel to criticism that Toyota has failed to address potential electronic problems with more than 8 million vehicles recalled worldwide due to problems with sudden acceleration.

Toyota spokesman Mike Michaels says it has found no problems with its electronics and that its mechanical fixes are sufficient.

“While our analysis is not finalised, Toyota believes there are significant inconsistencies between the account of the event of March 8 and the findings of this investigation,” he told reporters.

“We’re not calling him a liar and we’re not judging what he did or did not do.”

Mr Michaels says an analysis of the vehicle found no problems with the car’s brake override system, which would have shut the engine throttle down if Mr Sikes had applied sufficient pressure to the brakes.

The car’s computers recorded 250 incidents in which the brake and the accelerator were depressed one after another in rapid succession during the event.

Mr Michaels says while the front brakes were overheated and “nearly destroyed”, all other vehicle systems were functioning normally.

He criticised the “sensationalised” news coverage of the runaway Prius story and said claims of unintended acceleration have “inexplicably skyrocketed” since Toyota’s recall woes began making headlines.

“This is an issue of complex and great importance, but rushing to judgment in the absence of facts and balance does the public a disservice,” he said.

“Jumping to conclusions is dangerous, and investigations should be allowed to take their course.”

Federal safety regulators say their analysis of the vehicle has not found any problems which could have caused the Prius to speed out of control.

“So far, we have not been able to find anything to explain the incident that Mr Sikes reported,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement.

“We would caution people that our work continues and that we may never know exactly what happened with this car.

“It is rare to recreate these unintended acceleration incidents except in floor mat entrapment cases.”

Federal safety officials are investigating more than 60 complaints of sudden acceleration in recalled vehicles which have received Toyota’s mechanical fix.

Mr Sikes lawyer, John Gomez, says he is standing by his story.

He says it is not surprising or unexpected that the engineers were unable to replicate the wild ride.

“There’s a ghost in the machine, and no-one is able to replicate it or pinpoint it or identify it,” he said.

He says Mr Sikes has no incentive to make anything up as he has made it clear that he has no intention of filing a lawsuit and has turned down invitations to appear on national television.

“He’s not trying to get rich, he’s not trying to get famous. He only wanted the truth to come out,” Mr Gomez said.

- AFP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 2008 Prius, accelerator, automotive, California highway, Consumer Protection, disservice, Electronic Problems, Engine Throttle, Federal Safety Regulators, Inconsistencies, Japan, jumping to conclusions, liar, Local Television Station, Mike Michaels, million vehicles, National Headlines, Prius, rapid succession, road transport, S Brake, Sikes, Sudden Acceleration, United States, woes

GM and SAIC Promote Fuel Cell Propulsion Technology

April 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Introduce Shanghai Brand Vehicle Powered by GM System

Shanghai – General Motors Corp. and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group
(SAIC) announced today the launch of SAIC’s Shanghai Brand Fuel Cell Vehicle,
which is powered by GM’s latest fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion
technology.

The vehicle from SAIC uses the same 700 bar high-pressure hydrogen fuel cell
system adopted in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. Ten Shanghai Brand Fuel
Cell Vehicles will be built. The zero-emission high-tech vehicles will join
the Equinox Fuel Cell as part of a fleet of both GM and SAIC vehicles to
shuttle VIPs at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

“The Shanghai and Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles will be featured in the
most extensive fuel cell demonstration program ever conducted in China. This
follows the government’s call for the creation of a sustainable transportation
system,” said GM Group Vice President and GM Asia Pacific President Nick
Reilly. “GM supports China’s move toward sustainability, and we are providing
our latest fuel cell technology in line with our overall strategy of in China,
with China, for China.”

SAIC engineers have been co-located at GM facilities in Germany and GM
engineers have been co-located at SAIC facilities in China to produce the
vehicles. The original Equinox fuel cell propulsion system has been modified
and improved to fit into the Shanghai Brand Fuel Cell Vehicle.

GM and SAIC are the exclusive joint global automobile partner of World Expo
2010 Shanghai. In line with the exposition’s theme of “Better City, Better
Life,” GM and SAIC plan to showcase their solutions for sustainable
transportation while promoting the vehicles of tomorrow at their corporate
pavilion.

The two automakers, which operate eight joint ventures in China, earlier
signed a pair of agreements to promote advanced vehicle technology. Their
Shanghai GM joint venture began selling the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid last
year as part of its Drive to Green strategy. China is slated to become one of
the first markets for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle in
2011.

GM has deployed more than 100 Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles around the globe,
making it the largest fuel cell electric vehicle fleet to date. Vehicles are
being driven by a wide range of customers, businesses, government agencies,
celebrities and media as part of Project Driveway.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world’s largest automakers, was
founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With
its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 243,000 people in every major
region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries.
In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following
brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel,
Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is
the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada,
Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle
safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be
found at www.gm.com.

Contact: Sophia Luan
General Motors China
(+86-21) 2898-7631
(+86) 139-0183-4073
sophia.luan@gm.com

/PRNewswire — April 19/

SOURCE General Motors Corporation

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Advanced Vehicle Technology, April, asia, automobile, automotive, bar, Better City, Brand Fuel, Brazil, buick, Buick Lacrosse, cadillac, call, Canada, cell, Cell Demonstration, chevrolet, Chevrolet Equinox, China, com, contact, corp, corporation, creation, Daewoo, date, demonstration, detroit, drive, driveway, eco, Equinox, Expo, exposition, fleet, fuel, Fuel Cell System, Fuel Cell Technology, Fuel Cell Vehicle, Fuel Cell Vehicles, general, general motors corp, Germany, globe, Gm Engineers, Gm Group, Gm System, gmc, Government, green, group, Group Vice President, headquarters, holden, Hummer, hybrid, hydrogen, Hydrogen Fuel Cell, industry, information, introduce, Joint Ventures In China, lacrosse, launch, leader, life, line, Luan, market, move, Nyse, OnStar, Opel, pacific, pair, part, partner, pavilion, plan, Pontiac, powered, President Nick Reilly, PRNewswire, program, project, promote, Propulsion, propulsion system, Propulsion Technology, range, region, Russia, saab, safety, saic, saturn, security, shanghai, Shanghai Gm, showcase, shuttle, Sophia, source, strategy, subsidiary, sustainability, Sustainable Transportation System, system, Technology, theme, today, tomorrow, transportation, United Kingdom, United States, Vauxhall, vehicle, venture, vice, vips, Volt, world, World Expo 2010, Wuling, www, year

Volkswagen India to follow mixed vendor policy

February 25, 2009 By Dinesh Leave a Comment

Chennai, Feb 24 (IANS) German car maker Volkswagen’s India arm, which is setting up a 110,000-unit plant in Maharashtra, Tuesday said it will follow mixed vendor policy in the country.

‘The issue of single or multiple vendors will depend on the component and its quality. Around 400 component vendors are registered with us,’ Kurt Rippholz, Volkswagen India communications head, told IANS from Pune.

He said around 280 suppliers participated in a two-day vendor meet the company held in Pune Feb 23-24.

‘The meeting is to inform the potential suppliers about Volkswagen’s philosophy and to lay the foundation for a cooperative partnership in India. The conference also gave an understanding about the automotive division of the Volkswagen brand as well as the soon-to-be-commenced manufacturing plant in Chakan in Pune,’ Rippholz added.

However, he declined to comment on the components for which the company has single vendor.

Volkswagen will roll out the hatchback Polo next year and another Sedan model by 2010-end, Rippholz said.
Indo Asian News Service

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The Writers Block, Master Aerospace Consultants forge a joint venture

February 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangalore, Feb 10 (ANI/Business Wire India): The Writers Block (TWB) and Master Aerospace Consultants (MAC) have come together to forge a joint venture that will operate as TWB+MAC.

The venture will address the growing technical communication and documentation needs of the Aerospace, Defense, Maritime, Hi-Tech Engineering, Automotive and related markets.

Indian defense and aerospace industry is on a major growth trajectory and is a market pegged at USD 30 billion.

The military aerospace market is valued over USD 150 billion for the 20 years.

“The Indian defense and aerospace industry has received tremendous impetus in recent times through increased MRO and outsourcing orders, international collaborations, greater export potential and accent on indigenization of production capabilities and managing offset requirements.

Quality technical documentation, which makes up for 15 percent of the product development life cycle completes the value chain. TWB+MAC is fully equipped to address the market need and is pleased to be a part of this opportunity,” said K. V. K. Menon, Managing Director, TWB+MAC.

Speaking about the venture, Rakesh Shukla, Chairman of TWB+MAC said, “The venture reinforces our commitment to be the pioneer in Technical Communication in India. The defense and aerospace documentation in India is an under-served market. TWB+MAC will complete the value chain in the growing aerospace services and products space and enhance the offering available in the market.”

TWB+MAC brings together the technical documentation expertise of TWB and the deep domain expertise of MAC to service customers in the aerospace, defense, naval and maritime, hi-tech engineering, automotive and related sectors to provide unprecedented value to customers.

TWB+MAC provides a range of technical documentation and technical publishing services ranging from IETM / IETP development, S1000D conversion and integration, XML / SGML authoring, technical writing authoring, parts catalogs / provisioning, data provisioning, graphics/technical illustration and development of training programs. (ANI)

Filed Under: Business News Tagged With: accent, Aerospace, ANI, automotive, Bangalore, block, business, chain, chairman, commitment, communication, Consultants, conversion, cycle, defense, Development, director, documentation, domain, engineering, expertise, export, Feb, growth, hi, IETM, IETP, illustration, impetus, India, indigenization, industry, integration, K. V. K. Menon, life, mac, managing, maritime, market, master, MRO, offering, opportunity, part, percent, pioneer, potential, product, production, publishing, quality, rakesh, range, SGML, Shukla, space, Tech, technical, training, trajectory, TWB, USD, value, venture, wire, writing, XML

Abu Dhabi fund may buy in to trouble German industrial group

February 10, 2009 By Dinesh Leave a Comment

Berlin – Schaeffler, the struggling German automotive parts group, may receive an investment offer from a sovereign investor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a German newspaper reported Tuesday.

Schaeffler, originally a maker of ball bearings, controls Continental, the bigger German group that makes tyres and electronic parts. It has asked its own staff to go without pay rises as it struggles against a crushing level of debt.

On Sunday, the owners, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and her son Georg Schaeffler, asked for government aid. They said in a written statement they were willing to lose some equity in Schaeffler to save the company.

The Financial Times Deutschland newspaper quoted “financial sources” saying the International Petroleum Investment Company
(IPIC) of Abu Dhabi had shown interest and was considering a bid for at least 20 per cent, and more likely 25 per cent, of the group.

The newspaper said IPIC was still at the stage of seeking a first contact with Schaeffler management, so it was not yet clear if actual negotiations would follow. IPIC was contemplating buying into either Schaeffler or Continental.

Schaeffler spent 10 billion euros (13 billion euros) to buy into Continental. The target firm’s value slumped as the world economic crisis spread, meaning Schaeffler paid well over market value to pursue its ambition of creating a new “global champion.”

On Monday, Schaeffler management confirmed it had appealed to labour to wait until December 1 for a pay rise that Schaeffler had earlier promised on May 1. It has already reduced working hours for 20,000 staff as it copes with a slump in orders.

Wolfgang Mueller, an official of the trade union IG Metall, said it was a sign of Schaeffler’s desperation.

The German government has been largely unreceptive to Schaeffler’s appeals, with leading politicians saying it is not the function of the state to offer loans to secure the current proprietors’ control. (dpa)

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Subdued Detroit auto show reflects economic realities

January 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Detroit – US carmakers have to walk a very fine line at this year’s Detroit auto show, keenly aware of the economic realities that hovered over what is usually a glittering affair.

After pleaded with the US Congress for emergency loans to stay alive, US manufacturers are being careful to avoid the kinds of expensive-looking exhibits that could smack of hypocrisy – and a waste of taxpayer money.

But with car sales plunging by more than 35 per cent from October to December, carmakers still need this month’s automotive show to generate fresh excitement for their suffering product lines. The show opens to the public on Saturday and runs until January 25.

Detroit’s delicate balancing act, during the three-day media preview this week, led to a more business-like event that focused on the cars themselves, rather than the pomp and ceremony that usually accompanies them.

“A lot of (carmakers) have taken away the frivolity that might have been there in the past,” said Jay Ward, a spokesman for Ford Motor Co. “This year, we’ve gone back to basics.”

Gone was General Motors Corp’s fashion show, which in past years was used to role out their new product line. Chrysler LLC backed away from taking over a bar opposite Detroit’s Cobo Centre, where journalists once enjoyed free snacks and beer after reviewing the show.

The show’s sober attitude was “keeping with the tone of the times,” GM chief executive Rick Wagoner told reporters, adding that GM saved 10 million dollars on its stand in the process.

“People almost uniformly have tasteful exhibits, but it looks less elaborate than what we’ve seen in recent years, and I think it’s the right thing to do under the circumstances,” Wagoner said.

Ten million dollars in savings is a pittance compared to GM’s and Chrysler’s 17.4-billion-dollar bail-out by the federal government last month.

But the toned-down event is as much about what the public and media expect as it is about the industry’s economic realities.

“There’s an element of perception as being very important in all of this,” said Ward.

As an example, Ward points to the lack of food and drink stands for journalists wandering the exhibits this year. Hardly a costly thing to offer, but had they done so the media “might have written ‘Is this Ford squandering their hard-earned resources?’”

While the pressure was mostly on domestic carmakers, foreign competitors were aware that they, too, could provoke a public backlash if they spent lavishly on frivolity during a global economic meltdown.

Foreign manufacturers have suffered sharp drops in US sales, too. Most even supported the federal bail-out of GM and Chrysler, fearful that their collapse would threaten the parts suppliers and dealers that all carmakers rely on.

Honda Motor Co passed up the opportunity to hold a press conference in addition to their stand, even though the Japanese carmaker was unveiling a highly anticipated new model, the Honda Insight, a hybrid car it hopes will compete with Toyota Motor Corp’s best-selling Prius.

Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra said that all carmakers were being careful to stick to business this year, rather than provide entertainment.

“We’re not immune to what’s going on,” Ra said. (dpa)

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South Korean carmaker Ssangyong applies for receivership

January 9, 2009 By Rajiv Gupta 1 Comment

Seoul – Cash-strapped South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor applied for receivership in a Seoul court to avoid bankruptcy Friday, following a decision by its Chinese owner.

The decision to file for receivership was made at a meeting Thursday night by parent company Shanghai Automotive Industry to tackle Ssangyong’s liquidity crisis, after the company was denied new bank loans two weeks ago, the sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufacturer said in a statement

“The board of directors decided to apply for a court receivership in order to cope with the current liquidity crisis and turn the company into an entity capable of a continuous growth,” Ssangyong said.

Ssangyong, the smallest of South Korea’s five carmakers, said it received 45 million dollars from Shanghai Automotive, which holds 51 per cent of the company, in December. Its main creditor, the state-owned Korea Development Bank, ruled out further loans unless there was additional funding.

The carmaker as been hit hard by the global economic downturn. Sales in 2008 collapsed to 92,665 units, down 29.9 per cent. (dpa)

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Soon, ‘green’ cars made of coconut husks

January 7, 2009 By Rajiv Gupta Leave a Comment

Washington, Jan 7 (ANI): Researchers at Baylor University have developed a new way to transform coconut husks into automotive interiors.

They say that it is possible to make trunk liners, floorboards and car-door interior covers using fibers from the outer husks of coconuts, replacing the synthetic polyester fibers typically used in composite materials.

“Why coconuts? That”s the first thing people ask,” The Washington Times quoted engineering professor Walter Bradley, who is leading the research, as saying.

“We knew coconuts were abundant – about 50 billion grown a year. But 96 percent of those coconuts are grown by poor farmers, not big plantations. We wanted to figure out a way to make things better for them, to create a viable new market for them,” Bradley added.

Bradley said that the farmers, an estimated 11 million around the world, make about 500 dollars a year. If the coconut car interiors gain traction, their incomes would triple, he added.

The ‘mechanical properties’ of coconut fibers are as good or better than synthetic or polyester fibers. They also are less expensive and the stuff of the greenest dreams.

“They”re better for the environment because the coconut husks would have otherwise been thrown away. Coconuts also do not burn well or emit toxic fumes, which is crucial in passing 10 safety-performance tests required for commercial applications,” Bradley said. (ANI)

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Carmaker SsangYong bailed out by Chinese top shareholder

January 5, 2009 By Rajiv Gupta Leave a Comment

Seoul – Ailing South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor Co is to receive 45 million dollars from its Chinese top shareholder Shanghai Automotive Industry (SAIC) Motor Corp, the company said Monday.

The measure showed SAIC’s determination to keep the SUV maker going, SsangYong said. Also the company received an order for 2,000 cars and minivans from SAIC.

SAIC holds a 51-per-cent stake in cash-strapped SsangYong, which had been hit hard as car sales dropped at home and abroad. In 2008, sales of the smallest of South Korea’s five automakers dropped by 29.9 per cent to 92,665 units.

The Korea Development Bank, a main creditor of SsangYong, had made SAIC’s help a prerequisite for its aid to bail out the company.

Labour unions called on their 5,200 members working at SsangYong to strike over fears that SAIC will lay off workers within the restructuring measures. According to South Korean media reports, up to 3,000 jobs are endangered.

SsangYong re-started production Monday after a more than two-week break. (dpa)

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Microsoft plans to invest 60 million dollars in South Korea

November 5, 2008 By Rajiv Gupta Leave a Comment

Seoul – Microsoft Corp plans to invest 60 million dollars in South Korea’s software industry over the next three years, chief executive Steve Ballmer told President Lee Myung Bak Monday during a visit to the Asian country.

The world’s largest software maker wants to concentrate its investment on advancing software developers and new companies in the industry, Ballmer was quoted as saying by Lee’s office.

US-based Microsoft also wants to encourage these firms in their expansions to other countries, he added.

Before his meeting with Lee, Ballmer signed an investment agreement with South Korean authorities for the promotion of the software sector.

South Korea is seeking to develop its software industry into a engine of growth for the country’s economy and, therefore, has sought to strengthen partnerships between Korean and foreign software firms, the presidential office said.

“Various cooperation projects involving Microsoft are in line with the campaign,” it said.

South Korea’s Hyundai Kia Automotive Group together with Microsoft on Monday opened a research centre near Seoul to develop information-technology products for use in cars. The Korean Institute for Information Technology Development is also participating in the project. (dpa)

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Sundaram-Clayton to make foray into ‘Internal Combustion Engine Segment’

October 26, 2008 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

Chennai-headquartered Sundaram-Clayton Ltd, a unit of TVS Group Companies, has decided to enter into the manufacture of internal combustion engines, initially for stationary application such as gensets and later for off-high way vehicles such as fork-lifts.

Sundaram-Clayton is now mainly left with the foundry business and is eyeing to foray into other areas.

Founded in 1962, Sundaram-Clayton Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes various automotive components in India.

The company offers non ferrous low pressure die castings and gravity die castings to automotive original equipment manufacturers.

The company has reported a net profit of Rs 6.84 crore for the quarter ending September 2008 against Rs 7.8 crore reported during previous quarter.

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Daimler in talks to sell remaining Chrysler stake

September 24, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Stuttgart – German automotive group Daimler confirmed Wednesday it was in talks to sell its remaining Chrysler stake and finish the story of its unhappy merger with its US rival.

In a statement from its main office in Stuttgart, it said it was in “discussions with Cerberus Capital Management regarding the redemption of its remaining 19.9-per-cent stake in Chrysler.”

Private-equity investor Cerberus owns the other 80.1 per cent of Chrysler.

A Daimler spokesman in New York, Han Tjan, declined to give further details.

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