SEPT. 22, 2005Car Companies Add
iPod Integration Systems
SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 7, 2005)- Apple Computer announced it has teamed up with Acura, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen to deliver iPod integration with their car stereos for 2006 model lines.
After first teaming up with Volvo last January, there are now 15 car companies around the world offering iPod integration, and more than 5 million cars will ship with iPod support in the United States in 2006, says Apple. "We're thrilled to team up with Acura, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen to provide drivers with a seamless iPod experience," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "Car companies are embracing the iPod and over 30 percent of the cars sold in the U.S. in 2006 will offer iPod integration."
The Honda and Acura Music Link iPod integrations will be the first to include text-to-speech capabilities or VoiceID, which is used to search for playlists, artist and album names or genre information. Acura and Honda will feature iPod integration in the majority of their lineups beginning later this year.
Beginning in November, Audi will feature iPod integration in the A3, A4 and TT models. Volkswagen reports it will offer iPod integration for the majority of their 2006 US lineup.
(Source: Apple Computer)
Magna Contracted To BuildAll-New Jeep Commander
AUBURN HILLS, MI (Sept. 8, 2005) - A division of Canadian-based Magna International Inc. has been contracted to build yet another vehicle for DaimlerChrysler, this time the all-new Jeep Commander. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2006 at Magna's Graz, Austria plant to support demand in Europe and other markets outside of North America. The vehicle also is produced at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit.
The new vehicle will join the five other Chrysler Group products already produced in Graz: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300C Sedan and Touring, Chrysler Voyager and the Chrysler Grand Voyager.
Magna's built-for-Chrysler vehicles are all assembled on one production line in Graz, Austria, where the two companies share paint shop and trim, chassis and final lines. The production line also can simultaneously pilot additional models without disrupting current production. This kind of manufacturing efficiency is critical to Magna's successful operations, in order to hold production constant despite the varied volume and timing of individual models.
(Source: DaimlerChrysler)
VW Partners With Chinese Firmto Build Hybrid Vehicles
WASHINGTON (Sept. 9, 2005) - The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) said that Volkswagen AG (VW) , in cooperation with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., will develop, assemble and sell gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles for the Chinese market beginning in 2008.
The company is reported looking at both passenger cars and a minivan. VW also is collaborating with Tongji University in Shanghai to develop fuel cell vehicles, saying that it would work with the university to develop the electronics needed to make the electrical and mechanical systems work together in a hybrid vehicle.
General Motors and Toyota Motors also are involved with hybrid production projects in China.
These joint ventures, says AIADA, will accelerate the Chinese auto industry's advances into one of the most high-technology areas of automotive design. Second to the United States in oil imports, China is expected to rapidly increase its imports of oil, while also implementing government policies to control fuel economy and tax vehicles that produce lower fuel economy ratings.
As one of the world's most populated and rapidly developing nations, the opportunity to skip older generations of technology in yet another industry seems imminent. China has already accomplished this in other industries, such as telecommunications and computers. In telecommunications, for example, the nation is predominantly wireless, having skipped over older wire and pole technology. Chinese interest in using imported and developing domestic hybrids and hydrogen technologies would allow it to do the same with its automotive market.
(Source: AIADA)
Asbestos Legislation FacesSome Hurdles This Session
WASHINGTON (Aug. 25, 2005) - According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate report of asbestos litigation reform legislation, the "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Act of 2005" (S. 852), the trust fund that the proposed bill establishes would collect a maximum of $140 billion in revenues in contributions from companies facing suits for asbestos exposure and their insurers, and it would face claims of between $120 billion and $150 billion.
The asbestos bill would eliminate and replace all asbestos litigation by instead paying asbestos cancer victims from a set schedule based on the type of illness and severity of the disease. Critics raise concerns that there may not be sufficient resources to pay all asbestos claims, and that the proposed legislation is too lenient on companies faced with litigation claims.
"If the business and insurance community is determined to get a bill like the one coming out of committee, I'd be pessimistic. But if they are willing to make it more fair to victims, I still think there's a chance," said Jonathan Hiatt, general counsel for the AFL-CIO labor federation.
The bill's sponsors on the Senate Judiciary Committee remain committed to bringing the bill to the floor this session, and are optimistic for its adoption by October. Sponsoring Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) voted to approve the bill last May.
Following the release of the CBO report, the sponsors said that although the measure wasn't perfect and still had structural problems that needed to be addressed, "$140 billion is reasonable and realistically calculated to cover the claims."
(Source: Congressional Budget Office)
Frankfurt Auto Show Showcases Adaptive Cruise Control SystemsFRANKFURT, GERMANY (Sept. 12, 2005) -Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, Delphi Corp., Siemens VDO Automotive and TRW Automotive Inc. are highlighting their versions of second-generation adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems at the 61st International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, held September 12 through 25, 2005.
These systems allow cars to maintain a safe distance from a vehicle in front at speeds below 20 mph. The systems will work in conjunction with other safety and driver-assistance features, such as crash avoidance, lane-departure warning and night vision.
Robert Bosch GmbH will introduce a system called "ACCplus" on the Audi Q7. Bosch says its system can bring the Q7 to a complete stop, if necessary, in city traffic. ACCplus works in combination with a safety system called Predictive Collision Warning, which warns of pending rear-end collisions.
TRW Automotive's "Autocruise" system will be included on a 2006 Volkswagen Passat and be available this year as an option. At Volkswagen's direction, the TRW system works at speeds as low as to 20 mph. TRW does have a prototype of a system that will bring a vehicle to a full stop. According to the company, the full-stop technology is featured on a new version of the Volkswagen Phaeton called the Park Place, not yet in production.
Siemens VDO Automotive's Advanced Driver Assistance System is an electronic suite for driver assistance that includes adaptive cruise control system, lane-departure warning, night vision and blind-spot detection. Rather than using radar, Seimens employs a light-based system called "lidar," which can be installed inside a windshield, free from exposure.
Continental AG will demonstrate its product, a system featuring radar system designed to ensure a safe distance to the car in front. Once the vehicle comes to a halt, the brake remains engaged until the driver presses a button or touches the throttle to move.
Delphi Corp., which had a first-generation system on the Jaguar XK, will unveil "Forewarn Smart Cruise Control." Delphi's product includes an anti-collision warning system.
At press time, vehicles that the Seimens, Delphi and Continental products will be introduced on later this year had not yet been released.
(Sources: Bosch, Delphi, Siemens, TRW)
BMW Joins GM, DCX inHybrid Collaboration
MUNICH, GERMANY (Sept. 8, 2005) - BMW AG has signed a memorandum of understanding to join General Motors Inc. (GM) and DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX) in a joint effort to develop fuel-saving hybrid engines, the companies announced Wednesday. GM and DCX finalized their own hybrid partnership last month.
In a market dominated by Toyota and Honda, hybrids currently cost around $4,000 to $9,000 more than a conventional vehicle. "The creation of a shared technology platform for hybrid drives will allow us to more quickly integrate the best technologies on the market," said Burkhard Goschel, BMW's head of development. The companies said collaboration also will enable the company's to produce less costly hybrids.
(Source: BMW)
2006 Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Awards AnnouncedCHICAGO (Sept. 8, 2005) - R. L. Polk and Co. announced it is sponsoring the 2006 Aftermarket Inventory Efficiency Awards. Mike Gingell , vice-president within the strategic markets division of R. L. Polk and Co. said, "The awards were created to help the industry focus on, identify and educate participants on improvements and innovation in managing inventory."
As one of the most difficult cost items faced within the industry, the awards recognize outstanding innovation in inventory management by the automotive aftermarket at both the manufacturing and the wholesale distributorship/retailing levels. The primary criteria used to determine the winners include the completion of the project or achievement within the past 18 months, measurable business impact, demonstrated innovation and the degree of collaboration between people, firms, processes and technology.
Important dates for the 2006 awards are:
Oct. 1, 2005 - Applications available online.
Feb. 1, 2006 - Last date for entries.
May 17, 2006 - Presentation of awards.
All aftermarket firms are eligible to apply and can do so online at www.polk.com.
(Source: R.L. Polk & Co)
Get Your Racing FixSPARTANBURG, SC -(August 25, 2005... Motorsports enthusiasts: Hold on to your helmets. The BMW Performance Center is offering a special racing program this October with its Advanced M Experience at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) along with admission to the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series race. Participants can enjoy watching BMW Team Prototype Technology Group (PTG) compete on VIR's challenging circuit and then train on the same track for two days with BMW's high-performance M brand vehicles.
The BMW Team PTG M3s, in its 10th season, will compete again in this year's VIR 400, which takes place on Oct. 9. Participants who attend the race will have paddock passes, which get them into the race team arena. Advanced M Experience program tuition includes a ticket to the Oct. 9 race with either the October 10 and 11, or October 12 and 13.
"We designed this program for BMW racing enthusiasts who want to combine the BMW experience with the excitement of the racing competition" said Diane Nevelle, driving school manager of the BMW Performance Center.
Participants will test their skills on the 3.27-mile VIR race circuit with street-legal vehicles. They will take on curves at varying speeds while they learn toimprove their steering, shifting and high-speed braking techniques. For example, participants will learn how to handle a corner at a quick speed, and then keep the vehicle on course as they brake heavily for the second turn, while easing off the throttle and transferring the weight of the vehicle.
BMW instructors give instant feedback on a two-way radio system, so participants can find out how to improve or correct their driving as they prepare to go back around the course.
Other exercises include heel-toe downshifting, autocross driving maneuvers on the banked track and car control lessons on the skip pad. The VIR circuit features 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change on which participants will drive the 400 horsepower M5 and the 333-horsepower M3 Competition Package.
Class size for is limited to 15 participants and features eight instructors. Tuition is $3,950 per person, which includes a dinner and reception the first night of the program. The prerequisite for the BMW Advanced M Experience is the BMW M Experience or another advanced driving program, and all participants must bring their own helmet. For more information, call 888-345-4BMW (4269).
(Source: BMW)
DENSO Develops AdvancedRemote Security System
TOKYO - DENSO Corp., together with Toyota Motor Corp., has developed a new remote security system that alerts drivers electronically if someone breaks into their vehicles. This new security system is installed on the Toyota Lexus GS introduced last month in Japan.
With this remote security system, the system photographs the interior of the vehicle and alerts the driver of the break-in attempt via e-mail, as well as sounding the vehicle's horn and flashing the hazard lamps. The e-mail is sent to the driver's personal computer or mobile phone with a break-in notification, including vehicle position and an Internet address. By accessing the Internet address provided, the driver can view the remote security system's photographs of the vehicle's interior.
DENSO developed three components for the system: a remote security electronic control unit (ECU), a security camera and an upgraded data communication module.
When an intrusion is detected, the remote security ECU sends commands to the security camera to capture photographs. The data communication module receives the photo data and vehicle position information from the remote security system and sends it to an external information center called a G-book Center. The G-book Center then sends the information to the driver's personal computer or mobile phone.
DENSO's upgraded communication module provides high-speed Internet connectivity, allowing the transfer of large amounts of data between the vehicle and the information center. In addition, says the company, the speed of information transmission and reception is greatly increased.
(Source: DENSO Corp.)
Fall Car Care Month Postersand Banners Available BETHESDA, MD (Sept. 13, 2005) - New October Fall Car Care Month posters and banners have been added to the Car Care Council's "Be Car Care Aware" point-of-sale kits to help repair shops and parts stores focus motorists' attention on the importance of preparing their vehicles for the upcoming winter months. The point-of-sale kits can be easily ordered through www.carcare.org.
Additional materials include "Be Car Care Aware" signage, consumer education materials and a Service Interval Schedule. The schedule helps consumers track regular vehicle servicing by taking the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed. The kit also includes National Car Care Month materials that can be used in April 2006.
As a bonus, repair shops and parts stores that purchase the kits will be included in the "Find A Shop" and "Find A Store" locators on the www.carcare.org Web site.
Advance AcquiresAutopart International
ROANOKE, VA (Sept. 15, 2005) - Advance Auto Parts Inc., an automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items, announced that it has acquired all the stock of Sharon, MA-based Autopart International Inc. (AI) in an all-cash transaction.
AI provides replacement automotive parts to the growing do-it-for-me commercial market, as well as to warehouse distributors and jobbers. Privately held AI's 61 auto parts stores throughout New England and New York State complement Advance's growing presence in the Northeast. Including the 61 stores acquired in this transaction, Advance now expects its total new store count for 2005 to be in the range of 220 to 230 stores, compared to prior guidance of 150 to 175 stores.
"The commercial market represents an excellent growth opportunity for Advance," said Jim Wade, executive vice president, business development. "The acquisition of AI augments Advance's share of the still highly fragmented commercial market.
