Tag Archives: auto news

DOT Secretary LaHood Blasts Distracted Driving Yet Again

Congress has prohibited DOT from enacting national regulations governing driving behavior, so LaHood can do little about it except use his “bully pulpit” to address the growing issue, which has been called repeatedly an epidemic by safety advocates. Continue reading

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Chrysler and U.S. EPA Research Hydraulic Hybrid Minivan

Since Chrysler Group’s U.S. sales are comprised of more than 70% of vehicles rated as trucks, the company remains vulnerable to rising fuel prices. The E.P.A. claimed that a hydraulic hybrid could provide +35% in fuel efficiency gains, and possibly as much as a 60% improvement is city driving, compared to traditional powertrains in the same type of vehicles. Continue reading

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General Motors Appoints Mary Barra, a GM Human Resources Executive, to Head Global Product Development

General Motors today named Mary Barra, 49, senior vice president, Global Product Development, to lead the design, engineering, program management and quality of vehicles for GM’s 11 brands around the world.

Barra comes to the high visibility position once occupied by formidable car guys, including Tom Stephens and Bob Lutz from her position as vice president, Global Human Resources. Prior to this appointment, Barra had been vice president, Global Human Resources since 2009. Both Lutz and Stephens carried the title of vice chairman, so Barra’s job has been downgraded in the latest GM reorganization. Continue reading

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Akerson Reorganizing GM Again! Product Development Split. Vice Chairman Stephens Moved to Chief Technology Officer

The new CTO position was said to be a “major element of Akerson’s goal to make the company more customer driven and technology focused.”

However, the previous GM technology position occupied by Larry Burns was in practicality more of academic exercise that produce reams of press releases extolling the virtues of fuel cells and other advanced technologies that had no immediate production prospects, and did not connect GM to customers or advance sales as the company sped toward bankruptcy. Continue reading

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China Will Lead Electric Vehicles as U.S. Remains Conflicted

China could lead the race to roll out electric vehicles and will deploy new transport technologies more quickly than the United States, according to a report by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). However, the U.S. could lead a global biotechnology-based agricultural revolution that will generate more biofuel breakthroughs.

The report, “The US and China: the race to disruptive transport technologies,” claims that China’s state-backed focus on electric vehicles (EVs), its domestic supplies of lithium and current battery production capacity will give it a competitive advantage over the U.S. in EVs. Continue reading

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Laser Attacks on Airplanes Double in 2010

The Federal Aviation Administration announced today that the number of laser strikes on airplanes in 2010 nearly doubled from the previous year to more than 2,800. This is the highest number of incidents since the FAA first began keeping track of this new safety threat in 2005. Continue reading

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OnStar Presidential Shakeup. Preuss Out. Marshall In

As a lifelong public relations professional, Preuss was likely much more sensitive to the growing distracted driving problem than Wall Street and other executives who emphasize growth with little or no concern for the social problems that the growth might cause. Continue reading

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Ford will invest $400 million in its Kansas City Assembly Plant

Ford Motor Company announced today that it will build a new vehicle at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri after Ford Escape production moves to Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant. Continue reading

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GM Donates First LSX454R Crate Engine to Charity

GM Performance Parts (GMPP) will auction the first production LSX454R crate engine at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event this Friday, with the proceeds going to the American Heart Association. Over the years, GM and the GM Foundation have contributed more than $1 … Continue reading

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Lexus Commercial Suspends Five Cars from Crane

Lexus has debuted a new commercial, titled Chain, which links five vehicles on cables and suspends them from a crane.

Shot on the runway of an airport, a crane is used to lift Lexus after Lexus until five – an LS, RX, GS, ES and IS – are suspended in midair nose to end. Finally, an LFA parks directly below the chain of vehicles. The voiceover says, “The hard way is how Lexus inspires absolute confidence. The hard way is the pursuit of perfection.”
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General Motors Recalls Pickups, SUVs for Rear Wheel Lockup

General Motors is recalling almost 27,000 pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles from the 2011 model year because the rear wheels can unexpectedly lock, possibly sending the trucks out of control and causing an accident. Continue reading

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EU Auto Sales Slump Continues in 2010 for Third Straight Year

The European passenger car market shrank for the third straight year in 2010, with registrations declining by 5.5%, from 2009, according to the latest data just released from ACEA, the automakers’ trade group in the EU. Continue reading

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OnStar Starts Voice Application Student Competition

OnStar is looking for new in-vehicle voice-enabled applications through a contest at five U.S. universities.

The growing telematics subsidiary of General Motors is a leader in the controversial area of in-vehicle electronics OnStar is interested in working with students who are studying voice application development. The voice platform allows OnStar to provide more connectivity to subscribers.

This also might enable more distracted driving accidents, currently responsible for 6,000 deaths and more than 500,000 serious injuries each year, according to the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics. A total of 33,808 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. Another 2.22 million people were injured. Continue reading

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GM Gives Stock to Its Deeply Underfunded Pension Plan

General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) today confirmed it has completed a contribution of 60.6 million shares of GM common stock to its U.S. hourly and salaried pension plans, valued at roughly $2 billion. Continue reading

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NHTSA Administrator Strickland Visits NAIAS Show Promoting Jobs, Not Safety? The Endless Partison Political Campaign Continues

The man responsible for traffic safety in the United States, David Strickland, visited the North American International Auto Show – NAIAS – this week promoting the Obama Administration’s jobs agenda – or at least the let’s talk, but do little, part of it, with nary a word about traffic safety. Continue reading

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