A Motor Show for demanding buyers

Even though automotive industry continues to struggle for 2008, the oncoming 86th Motorcar & Motorcycles Show taken place in Belgium anticipates to welcome over 700,000 visitors.

The so-called Brussels International Motor Show will be carrying out from 15 to 27 January of 2008 and it is said that the name of the exhibition fulfils the ambition of Belgium to enhance its position as major motor show among other European countries. Besides, Brussels is the first motor show of the year and hence it aims at attracting a big range of product launches.

The European Motor Show, which is regarded as the flagship for Belgium motor sector, offers every single year a variety of new and conceptual car models all of them coming from an upgarded and re-designed production.

For people who have already started to think of attending, the target audience includes Executives& Businessmen, high-net-worth individuals and families, Corporate Buyers & CEO's, Decision Makers, Automobile Professionals, Tourism and Hospitality, Transport Operators, Technicians, Engineers, Media & Press. For those who felt missed out it's also a good chance of having a closer look at good cars!

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The green technologies of 2008

The truth is that alternative fuel vehicles have been in the market for a while. The forseeable petrol crisis in the future is likely to encourage production and use of such vehicles so many automotive giants are investing time and money to get them on the market first.

The scientific fight is over two types of technologies:

1. Plug-in hybrids (cars that get charged on a special plug and run a little further with the help of a back up diesel-powered generator)


2. Fuel cell, using hydrogen and emmiting water. They tend to be more expensive to make.

Whatever goes it is certain that alternative fuel is here to stay. Seems that the corporates are all dabling with both technologies undecided but trying to stay in the game. Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp and Toyota Motor Corp are all doing it.

Which technology and which company is it going to win though?

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Ride of the Month competition by Import Tuner

Import Tuner, the import cars performance and apprearance specialist publication by PRIMEDIA is running a free T-Shirt photo competition. The winner entry is going to be featured in an exclusive article about your ride.

Once you submit your contest entry and photos about your outstanding ride Import Tuner will choose the top three entries and feature them in an online article. Each winner will receive an importtuner.com t-shirt.

Enter from 9:00 a.m. PST 6/01/2007 till 17:00 p.m. PST 6/22/2007. Online voting from 17:30 p.m. PST 6/22/2007 till 17:00 p.m. PST 6/30/2007. So stay tuned to see if you are a winner.

ImportTuner.com also features technical and other important information on import cars, parts and accessories, video games, events and a community forum with discussions and findings. You can get quotes for new cars as well as auto loans.
On top you also get the import models section where you can feast your eyes on top models from the latest automotive exhibitions, shows and conferences.
The website has currently added a new blog section with news and the latest gossip from the car manufacturers stables. Not to be missed.

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About time to learn how to drive

Have been researching a few websites regarding driving lessons for my daughter. She is based in Manchester for studies so I had to find a local provider. I stumbled upon the Activ8 Driving School. As I am crazy about design I found the website offer appealing and decided to give these guys a call.

Turns out they are good to talk to and my daughter is in her third lesson and enjoying it.

Just thought of letting you know.

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Ford executive vice president retires early

Mark Schulz, Ford Motor Co. executive vice president, is going to retire early next year after 30 years of service with the automotive manufacturer.

Schulz is responsible for Ford automotive operations outside of North and South America. He joined the world's second-largest automaker, in 1970 as an assembly line worker.

Schulz is one of the latest senior executives to leave since the company appointed Alan Mulally, 61, as CEO three months ago. A series of other senior executives including Ford's second-ranking North American executive, the North America manufacturing chief and the chief of staff announced their departures after Mulally's Sept. 1 hiring.

After Schulz's departure, Ford will have three remaining executive vice presidents: Don Leclair, who is also CFO; Lewis Booth, superviser of Ford Europe and Ford's Europe luxury brands, including Jaguar, and Mark Fields, head of Ford's Americas unit.

Industry insiders are now speculating a full company re-structure as Alan Mulally is implementing a series of changes in strategy and organisation.

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Motorbike ride a day keeps the traffic away

Ever felt fed up with cars? It's funny I should say that but there is nothing more annoying then driving in London. A real nightmare. Going from A to B becomes a day-long adventure that does nothing for my nerves.

So I decided to get a bike...
A motorbike of course, haven't gone mad yet.

Started searching and came across Brooks Barn. Simple, fast and furious. I am talking about the website, the service and the motorcycle. Was easier than buying a bag of crisps.

And YES, I am proud of my brand new Suzuki EN125-2.

Saves me 25 min everyday and love bypassing the car drivers that stare back in anger.

:)

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Traffic Accident Research Centre

The Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Group are setting up a joint Traffic Accident Research Centre in China. Volvo is continuing to acquire information and expertise in the drive to develop safer vehicles with its active traffic accident research, while at the same time hoping to contribute to safer road traffic in the world's most populous country.

Volvo's in-house state of the art traffic accident research is the most advanced in the automotive industry. Its main centre is in hometown Goteborg, Sweden but there are more local operations in the USA and Thailand. Volvo has built up a unique database of facts including detailed information about almost 40,000 car accidents involving more than 50,000 passengers.

The safety systems introduced into Volvo's cars, buses and trucks over the years were developed from the knowledge that Volvo's accident research unit has gathered from real-life traffic accidents. A few examples are the SIPS (Side-Impact Protection System), frontal offset impacts and child safety equipment in passenger cars, as well as the deformable steering wheel and FUPS (Front Underrun Protection System) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) for buses and trucks.

Volvo wants to contribute to this growing positive trend in this vital area and aims to create a traffic accident research centre in China. Local research for cars, trucks and buses will take place in co-operation with Chinese organisations and universities, while the operation's foundation will remain at Volvo's headquarters in Sweden.

So Volvo is taking a step in the right direction when it comes to safety. Hopefully other major automotive industry players will soon follow suit.

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Fiat India records profits

Positive results by Fiat’s core automotive division is reported to perform well as it posted again profit for the fourth straight quarter this week.

The company continued gaining from improved sales of Grande Punto hatchback and other popular Fiat models.

Fiat is aiming for a 2006 group trading profit of 1.85 billion euros, targeting a net profit of 800 million euros.

Fiat Auto is the group’s biggest division by sales, making a trading profit of 51 million euros against a loss of 85 million euros for the same period last year.

Despite recent negative trends in the automotive industry Fiat is proving that successes still exist for the companies that work hard to get operations and sales right.

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The Bosch Group bids for Pacifica

The market is excited with the news that Bosch Group has made a $495 million bid for Australian auto parts manufacturer Pacifica Group Limited (PBB). Bosch intends to make an off-market takeover offer for Pacifica.

The offer includes the assumption of Pacifica’s existing net debt. The Bosch cash offer represents an outstanding opportunity for Pacifica shareholders to immediately realise a significant premium to the recent trading value of Pacifica shares.

Stockbroking analysts haven't found the offer from Bosch surprising.

Bosch stated that the volume weighted average price includes the recent surge in the share price fuelled by speculation of a potential takeover of Pacifica.

Dr Bernd Bohr, a member of the Bosch Board of Management and chairman of the Automotive Group, said the offer represents full and fair value for Pacifica.

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Toyota hiring new staff in Lafayette

The Toyota Subaru production plant of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette is hiring a 1,000 strong automotive workforce.

SIA and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development have collaborated to design a paperless, online application process that will begin on Oct. 30. Applications also will be accepted at any WorkOne office in Indiana.
SIA is one of the highest wage manufacturers in the Lafayette area according to Kevin McNamara, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

Applications also are expected to come from far outside Tippecanoe and surrounding counties, as people seek employment that offers good pay and substantive benefits.
Through a contract with the Toyota Motor Corp., SIA will hire approximately 1,000 people in two phases, to begin production of the Toyota Camry next year.

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