Delphi Outlines Transformation Plan
Delphi this morning outlined its strategy to prepare for its return to stable, profitable business operations through a broad-based global restructuring in order to complete the Chapter 11 cases for Delphi and 41 of its domestic U.S. subsidiaries in the first half of 2007 as previously announced. Delphi’s transformation plan is intended to allow the company to become competitive in the global marketplace.
Auto Engineers Are in Demand, Jobs Experts Say
Automotive engineers remain in demand, despite this week’s announced layoffs at General Motors Corp. Just this week, Hella, a German manufacturer with a facility in Plymouth, MI, announced plans to hire 50 new lighting and electronics engineers before the end of the year. Ironically, Hella needs the new talent because it’s picking up more business from General Motors, and Ford Motor Co. chose it as a strategic supplier for exterior lighting.
Are Hybrid Sales Running Out of Gas?
Every car company hopes for hit models that are in high demand, and long windows of time in which it doesn’t have to offer sales incentives. Hybrid cars and SUVs have been among that exclusive club. But auto makers investing in the vehicles are seeing some cracks in consumer demand as more people question hybrids’ financial payback.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at the Impact of Hybrid Vehicles
Last week, as part of a speech on his Advanced Energy Initiative, President Bush called for increased spending on scientific R&D and incentives for makers and consumers of alternative sources of energy in order to reduce the United States’ dependency on foreign sources of energy. The most promising breakthrough in alternative energy, the president said, is the hybrid vehicle. As interest in hybrid vehicles grows, it also raises many questions both for consumers and the technicians who must eventually repair these cars.
Executive Interview with Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Visteon’s North American Aftermarket Operations
As vice president and general manager of Visteon’s North American aftermarket operations, Gregory Gyllstrom is responsible for expanding the organization’s aftermarket business by coordinating and directing the company’s sales, product development and marketing activities. Recently, Gyllstrom shared with aftermarketNews a few insights into the underhood category as well as Visteon’s evolution from a Ford spin-off into an ‘all-makes/all-models’ supplier.
The Little Hybrid Engine that Could
One of the most impressive cars at last week’s Philadelphia Auto Show doesn’t come from Japan, Germany or Detroit. It came from the auto shop at West Philadelphia High School. The car — designed and built by students in the school’s Academy for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering — delivers more horsepower than some Porsches and gets gas mileage comparable to a Toyota Prius. It runs on fuel made from soybeans.
Automotive Aftermarket in China Demand to Reach $4.9 Billion in 2009
The aftermarket for light vehicle components and parts in China is projected to increase at an annual rate of 13.8 percent, reaching 40 billion yuan (about $4.9 billion) in 2009, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial market research firm.
Rapid Growth Still Projected for China’s Motor Vehicle Industry
Although China’s automotive industry has experienced its fastest pace of growth in the past five years, rapid growth is still expected for the industry in the coming five years from 2006 to 2010. The next five years are likely to see breakthroughs in industrial structuring, research and development (R&D), environmental protection, standard making and exports.
Bosch’s Oxygen Sensor Technology Receives Frost & Sullivan 2005 Technology Innovation Award
Frost & Sullivan has selected Robert Bosch Corp. as the recipient of the 2005 Technology Innovation Award for its aftermarket oxygen sensors technology. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to a company that has exhibited technological superiority within its industry. The award recognizes the ability of the company to successfully develop and introduce new technology, formulate a well-designed product family, and make significant product performance contributions to the industry.
KS Bearings and Miba Bearings Form Joint Venture
Kolbenschmidt Pierburg’s KS Bearings division and Miba Bearings US LLC have created a 50-50 joint-venture company in Indiana to produce materials that are needed to manufacture plain bearings for the automobile and commercial vehicle industries.