Sales of Hybrid Cars Continue to Rise
From AFX News Limited DETROIT — U.S. sales of gas-electric hybrid vehicles rose 28 percent from 2005 to 2006, but the rate of growth is starting to slow, according to a company that analyzes automotive industry data. Consumers bought 254,545 hybrids last year as gasoline prices hit $3 per gallon or more for much of
Bosch Group 2006 Sales Grow 5 Percent
The Bosch Group announced that it reached its growth target for 2006, by achieving sales of $54.9 billion, a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Profit for the year was slightly down, with the pre-tax result at the lower end of the target corridor of between seven and eight percent of sales. The company said primary growth drivers were the Asia-Pacific region, the Consumer Goods and Building Technology business sector as well as the Industrial Technology business sector.
GM Plans High-Mileage Battery for SUVs
From AFX News Limited MILWAUKEE — General Motors Corp. has announced it would team up with two automotive and battery manufacturers to develop a lithium-ion battery that would let sport utility vehicles get 70 miles per gallon. GM currently produces the Saturn Vue Green Line, a hybrid SUV that gets 27 mpg in the city
Timken President Elected New SAE International VP of Automotive
Jacqueline "Jacqui" Dedo is the new vice president of Automotive for SAE International. The elected position is a three-year term and Dedo will be replacing Richard Schaum, who will serve as the 2007 SAE International President.
Executive Interview with Sean Stanic, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Siemens VDO Service & Special Solutions
This week, we hear from Sean Stanic , vice president, sales and marketing Siemens VDO Service & Special Solutions, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive electronics/electrical systems and components. An 18-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket, Stanic was appointed to this position in December 2004 and has been responsible for managing the company’s sales, marketing, engineering services and tech support departments in Allentown , PA. Stanic also sits on the board of AAIA and is active in the government affairs committee. Join us as Stanic talks about the company’s role in the global aftermarket, the company’s core competencies and new product offerings.
Delphi Books $3.3 Billion in New Steering, Halfshaft Business in ’06
Delphi said it has already booked $3.3 billion in new steering and halfshaft business to date in 2006. The company announced yesterday that it expects additional new business awards prior to year end. Most of the new business awards are approximately five years in duration. Sixteen global customers are included among the new business awards, with no single customer representing more than 50 percent of the total business, according to Delphi. More than half of the new business is for vehicles produced in Europe, Asia and South America.
Raser Technologies Hires Hybrid Vehicle Expert
PROVO, UT — Raser Technologies, a technology licensing company established to develop and license advanced electric motor, controller and related technologies, has hired James Spellman as director, business development, transportation. In this new role, Spellman will direct Raser’s efforts to commercialize the company’s Symetron technologies in transportation markets. Spellman joins Raser after a 27-year career
Bosch Expands Fuel Pump Program
Robert Bosch Corp. has expanded its program of premium replacement OE modules and OE fuel pumps. The program includes OE electric turbine pumps for both current and older vehicles equipped with either turbine or positive-displacement-type fuel pumps. According to the company, Bosch OE turbine fuel pumps provide superior quality and advanced turbine technology for a wide variety of current and older domestic and import vehicles.
Executive Interview with Richard Shiozaki, Senior Vice President, DENSO Sales California
Richard Shiozaki directs the aftermarket sales group, aftermarket planning group, commercial and industrial systems group and the corporate service group for DENSO Sales California, Inc., the more than $276 million affiliate of DENSO Corp. Yesterday at AAPEX, Shiozaki gave a press conference to announce a number of new initiatives that DENSO will be focused on this year. Just prior to the show, we had a chance to sit down with Shiozaki and get all the details.
India: New Hub of the Automotive Industry
India’s car market has emerged as the fastest-growing in the world. With the number of cars sold in the country projected to double by 2010, Europe’s key automotive players are busy building factories in the sub-continent, where costs are low and margins high. In the space of five years, production of passenger cars in India has jumped by more than 100 percent to 1.11 million vehicles sold last year. International analysts agree that the country is in the major league of Asian automotive markets, but until now most car companies preferred China over India as the location for a manufacturing bridgehead.