Category Archives: milestones

Bosch to End Solar Business as Competitiveness is ‘Unattainable’

Posted on 22 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Bosch said today that it would end its solar business operations, including the making of ingots, wafers, cells, and modules at the beginning of 2014. More than 3,000 employees are affected. The German conglomerate, which is the biggest auto parts supplier in the word, said that individual business units would be sold, if possible Continue reading →

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Milestones – 100 Years of Bosch Generators

Posted on 14 March 2013 by Ken Zino

One hundred years ago, Bosch introduced the world’s first voltage-regulating generator for motor vehicles. Back then, it was only a power source for what were newly invented electric headlights by Cadillac founder Henry M. Leland. Leland also pioneered electric ignition on his cars, while Bosch – a magneto company – trailed that development. These were the early days of the electrification of the automobile, which continues to this day. Continue reading →

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Cadillac XTS Now in Production in China, World’s Largest Market

Posted on 26 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Criticisms that auto companies are making vehicles in China or transferring jobs there are at best ignorant of, or deliberately ignore, Chinese industrial policy, which requires local partners and production for access to the market. There are also high Chinese tariffs on imports that effectively restrict volume exports of the kind that are now coming out of, say, South Korea under the U.S. Korean FTA. (I can only imagine the outcry if Mercedes-Benz was required to partner with the city of Detroit to build cars there – the ruling party in Detroit controlling the jobs – as a condition of access to the U.S., one of the world’s most lucrative luxury car markets. This is required in China.) Continue reading →

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Acura RLX Uses New Steel and Aluminum Bonding for Doors

Posted on 18 February 2013 by Ken Zino

When the Acura RLX goes on sale in the U.S. next month, its outer door panels will be made of aluminum joined to an inner steel frame. This unusual combination of dissimilar materials results in a reduction of door panel weight by approximately 17% compared to the conventional all-steel door panel. Continue reading →

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Shape Memory Alloy Replaces Electric Motor On C7 Corvette

Posted on 15 February 2013 by Ken Zino

While much of the news about weight savings on the revised 2014 Corvette coming this fall has concentrated on the aluminum chassis that saves 99 pounds when compared to its steel predecessor, GM is also using a heat-activated shape memory alloy that replaces a heavier motorized part. The electric wire will be used in place of a heavier motorized actuator to open a the hatch vent that releases air from the trunk to allow for easier closing by releasing trapped air through the opening. When the hatch is closed, the vent closes. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Skoda Builds 15-millionth Car

Posted on 13 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Škoda has produced its 15-millionth car, a silver, third-generation Octavia – rolled off the assembly line at Šcoda’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav during the first week of February. The Octavia will be used as a VIP sedan at the Škoda Technology Center in Česana. The new Skoda Octavia is now being launched in the Czech Republic and Germany, while other markets will follow in coming weeks. In total, Skoda will launch eight new or face lifted models in 2013. Continue reading →

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Milestones – 50 Years of the Porsche 911

Posted on 11 February 2013 by Ken Zino

More than 820,000 Porsche 911 models have been built, making it, arguably, the most successful sports car in the world since it was first shown in 1963. For each of its seven generations the engineers in Zuffenhausen and Weissach have revised it, while retaining its identifiable and now classic lines and proportions, as well as its famous but often quirky performance. Continue reading →

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Rotary Engine Le Mans Winner Mazda 787B Selected as ‘Legend’

Posted on 9 February 2013 by Ken Zino

For the 1990s, the voting- using French sponsorship and nationalist math – was a “dead-heat” between the Mazda 787B and the Peugeot 905 – so 11 cars were given ‘legend’ status. Continue reading →

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Toyota Ousts GM from Global Auto Sales Leadership. VW Third

Posted on 31 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor regained global sales leadership in 2012 ousting GM by selling 9.75 million vehicles. GM’s sales were 9.29 million vehicles with Volkswagen Group closing on GM in third place at 9.07 million vehicles for the year. Toyota had led global sales from 2008 until 2010 when natural disaster induced production disruptions, the result of a tragic earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand, halted its growth. Continue reading →

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GMAC-SAIC Finance More than One Million Car buyers in China

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ken Zino

GMAC-SAIC Automotive Finance Company says its customer base has now surpassed one- million car buyers in China. The first and largest auto finance company in China since its founding in 2004 also has a continuous record of profits. In August 2012, GMAC-SAIC reached 880,000 customers when it celebrated the company’s eighth anniversary. Continue reading →

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Chinese GAC Group to Build Jeep Models in China

Posted on 15 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group Company will build Jeep models in China, according to a revised joint venture signed in Michigan today with Fiat S.p.A. GAC already manufactures the Fiat Viaggio – aka Dodge Dart – and distributes the imported Fiat 500, Freemont and Bravo in China. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class and CLA-Class Unveiled in Detroit

Posted on 14 January 2013 by Ken Zino

“In 2012, we sold more than 274,000 cars in the U.S. and thus achieved a new sales record for Mercedes-Benz. Because we are bringing so many new models to market in 2013 – the new E-Class line, the new CLA-Class and the new S-Class – we anticipate that sales will again increase in 2013,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Continue reading →

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Milestones – Nissan Begins Assembly of 2013 LEAF EV in Tennessee

Posted on 9 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Nissan is starting U.S. assembly of the 2013 LEAF electric car at its manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, where it will be made along with the far more popular Altima and Maxima models. Since 2010 Leaf has been imported from Oppama, Japan. Continue reading →

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BMW Opens Health Center at its South Carolina SUV Plant

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ken Zino

BMW Manufacturing has opened a Family Health Center at its South Carolina plant for all BMW workers, retirees and their dependents. BMW’s existing onsite family pharmacy was relocated to the new facility and joined there by occupational, primary care services, as well as vision, dental and physical therapy. Continue reading →

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Ford Sells off Former Lincoln Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan

Posted on 5 January 2013 by Ken Zino

The Wixom plant opened in 1957 and produced numerous vehicles over the years, including the Lincoln Continental, Town Car, LS, Mark VI, VII and VIII, as well as the Ford Thunderbird (an LS underneath and with the same interior) and Ford GT. Ford stopped production at the Wixom Assembly Plant in 2007 as sales of Lincoln vehicles, by then rebadged Ford models, plummeted. Continue reading →

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