Electric Cars Ruling Detroit

Electric Cars Ruling Detroit

Stand anywhere on the Detroit auto show, and look around you. You will surely meet an electric car everywhere. The elctric car range is varied from $ 24,000 sedan powered with battery made by China’s BYD, up to the projected $ 400,000 SLS E-Cell supercar created by Mercedes-Benz. Despite the wide range of electric car here, auto executives are concerning something.

Nissan U.S. Chief Executive, Carlos Tavares said that battery is no longer a power for everyone. Indeed, electric car has created the highest buzz in this Detroit auto show or the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt has took up the top honors as the Car of the Year in this show. GM’s CEO, Dan Akerson, even announced his plan for an additional multipurpose vehicle.

This multipurpose vehicle is said to be using the Volt’s underlying technology, and will likely to come to the market in 2012 or 2013. Nissan also planning to offer some battery-powered cars with the launch of its Leaf sedan late last year. Other executives also concern if the electric technology may fall short of expectations. This is why they are also investing in other options such as the diesel, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen.

Electric Cars Ruling Detroit is a post from: Automotive News and Review

Renault Spy Involve Chinese Firm

An investigation by the Renault SA about the leaks of EV secrets by the company executives uncovered the links to several Chinese companies and one in another country. This is reported by a French official with knowledge. Renault’s traced payments by a China State Grid Corp. into accounts in Liechtenstein and Switzerland held by two of three suspended executives by Renault, said the official to Le Figaro.

The official who decline to reveal the name because this investigation is confidential, won’t identify the other companies or the second country. Renault report on Tuesday that they held final interviews with those three suspected executives as their dismissal for serious misconduct.

In other side, China rejected the reports. Hong Lei, the spokesman for the foreign ministry claims that those accusations are baseless and irresponsible, and his side can’t accept it. “China State Grid is looking the report and they may issue a statement if needed,” Said a spokesman who refused to be named on Wednesday. Renault want to file the criminal complaint on Wednesday. Caroline De Gezelle as the spokeswomen said in e-mailed statement that the investigation will be entrusted to the legal authorities.

Renault Spy Involve Chinese Firm is a post from: Automotive News and Review

Ford Lincoln Will Get New Design And Technology

Ford Motor Co. has offered a glimpse on its future lincol product plan today. They said that the Lincoln vehicles will be way different from Ford division products both in interior and exterior design, as well as the technology offered such as the unique powertrains. Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of global product said, “The strategy is not just new products, but also a full differentiation from the Ford brand in design and technology.”

This Lincoln plans will eliminate at least 200 franchises in top 130 of U.S. markets. For you who still want to stay, you must agree to the new expensive facility upgrades and some other changes. It makes many Lincoln dealers are encourage to know more details about the Lincoln’s future lineup before the decision coming.

Kuzak claims that Ford is able to tweak the current Ford platforms, and make them unique to the new Lincoln. For example is the Ford’s power steering and chassis electronic control. He said that he will adding suspension control in it. Lincoln’s director of product development, Scott Tobin said that they will include new designed interiors, expanded V-6 engine, and some features upgrading.

Ford Lincoln Will Get New Design And Technology is a post from: Automotive News and Review

Fiat Join Venture With Chrysler in Italy

CEO of Fiat, Sergio Marchionne, will likely win the workers’ backing over plan to relaunch the main carmaking plant of this group in Italy as the joint venture of Chrysler Group. Fiat and Chrysler are planning to build the Alfa Romeo and Jeep models at this plant for the European and North American market, in exchange for a more labor flexibility.

The Mirafiori workers will do the vote on January 13-14 on the agreement that should pave their way to the investment that worth i billion euros, or around $ 1.3 billion. Actually, Marchionne has won the backing from representatives of several unions of metalworkers for the Mirafiori deal. It mean more shifts and less benefits in exchange to the investment commitment and the new models.

However the leftist union Fiom which can count on the support for just under 20% of the workers at Mirafiory, has vigorously rejected this labor agreement and will call for a strike at the end of the month. In a sign that the growing hostility was provoked by the dispute, a red five pointed star, the symbol of the 1970s leftist guerrilla group, was spray painted in central Turin next to the sign of ‘Marchionne: Up yours.’

Fiat Join Venture With Chrysler in Italy is a post from: Automotive News and Review

GM’s CEO A Year Behind Product Development

A huge amount of cut in research and development spending when they were in bankruptcy protection is the key to set the General Motors’ new product plans back in only about a year. The top executive told it to reporters on Tuesday. Daniel Akerson, the Chairman and CEO of GM is working to accelerate the vehicle plans that were postponed when they cut the R&D spending to $ 5 billion per years.

The company is saving their money during 2009 to stay in bankruptcy protection. The spending itself has since been restored to $ 7 billion. The GM’s executives has been strugling to get their new products back to the market, while also trying not to fall too far below their competitors such as Ford Motor Co. as they are updating their cars and trucks on a regular basis.

The brand new redesigned cars and trucks tend to sell faster because they are taking advantage of the new technology and the new model are quieter, more efficient, and handle better. Akerson didn’t revealed which vehicles have been fast forwarded the development. This company has delayed the next generation of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks in its financial crisis.

GM’s CEO A Year Behind Product Development is a post from: Automotive News and Review