VW expanded portfolio, while other manufacturers cut

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau - 3 days

Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne have Alfa Romeo outside put the range of the Volkswagen Group for now, but there is a good reason to believe that VW looking for a thirteenth and possibly even a 14th, brand the large and diverse stable of name badges, according to industry observers Add.

While many manufacturers - notably General Motors and Ford - back on their brand portfolios cut Chairman Ferdinand Piech has expanded aggressively by German manufacturer brand count Volkswagen AG. VW last year finally completed the takeover of the Porsche brand number 12 - and Piech has continues to say he wants Alfa, despite Marchionnes protest Geschrei.

Piech said in an interview with German monthly magazine ADAC Motorwelt, that his children will drive 10 years one of the automaker of "at least 13 brands." VW representatives declined comment.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker now enough job on his hands has leads the divisions that he already has, said CEO Martin Winterkorn in August. VW has eight car car nameplates, a light commercial vehicle unit, two heavy-truck maker and a motorbike brand Ducati a year ago have acquired.

Piech, seemed but unimpressed by such challenges if he yet to explain what other brands he wants - or how he expects to get them.

But VW Insider familiar with the operations of the company, not identified, suggested there are a couple of ways.

For starters, VW under the pressure from the Chinese authorities is to create a new brand in China. The Chinese want distinctive Western and Asian car manufacturers operating in the booming nation to establish Chinese brands should at least appeal to customers in smaller towns and rural areas.

That led General Motors the Baojun brand with its Chinese partners SAIC and Wuling Motors 2011 created, while Nissan and its Chinese allies recently introduced the Venucia brand.

VW, which dominate vies with GM on the Chinese market, supervisory authorities has so far resisted demands, but it appears to move closer to adding a new brand in China. Not only VW Chinese authorities happy to keep, that can add a second brand wants to be driven by emergency. The current brands VW and Skoda, are not in position, where they appeal to a wider section of the Chinese consumer prices can reduce.

Bring on a new brand with vehicles, at a cost of under $9,000 or $10,000 actually makes sense, as the Chinese market continues to develop, according to a knowledgeable VW officials not be identified.

There are still other possibilities that could set VW brand tally.

The German manufacturer has a longstanding relationship with protons, an independent car manufacturer based in Malaysia, which has a strong presence in future markets in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia. The Administration, which is always more expensive to develop Proton, the new vehicles, it could decide that it makes more sense to join the VW Group, which, has enough resources to pay for such programs.

In fact, if VW could acquire it Proton a 2-for-1 trade mark deal the Malaysians get as British sports car manufacturer Lotus-, the depth of some bags could use work, promote a private, sophisticated product.

Copyright 2013 the Detroit Bureau

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Foreign car manufacturers keep the line UAW

"Member of the United Auto workers is to announce a shirt ' United we stand' at a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the"battle of release."

By Paul A. Eisenstein, msnbc.com of mysteries
Late last month, the United Auto workers quietly the 75th anniversary celebrated the historic engagement with clubs by the Ford Motor Company The event, which came as the "battle of release" became known, ended years resistance to organize the Union drive, effective anchoring of one of the most powerful companies in the modern labor movement.

But now, weakened by a sharp decline of membership, is what some believe is a generally hostile national mood and jahrelanger forced concessions, the UAW, is an equally important and perhaps even tougher struggle. One that could determine the future of not only the UAW, but the American automotive industry, and perhaps even the American movement itself.

While UAW Detroit's big three manufacturers who continue, it could but completely to gain representation privileges for the so-called transplant lines now through almost all of the large foreign automobile manufacturers BMW, Toyota, Volkswagen. Prevent an observer to win workers critical for the long-term survival of the Union in these transplants, and UAW leaders apparently believe that their best chance at the big Nissan plant in Canton, Miss., may, where the Union located in the large organization's car.

"I think you will see an unprecedented effort" to organize the transplants, said Harley Shaiken, a work Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in an interview.

In fact, the Organization has driving his top priority since assuming that post in 2010 UAW President Bob King. He has openly warned that failure of the UAW could threaten survival. Since membership only more than 1.5 million in the year 1979 have the UAW roles on just under 400,000, fell - with push-to clerical and health care workers and others sign outside the automotive industry.

Despite heavy cost to reduce, the UAW is now running an operating deficit and open up its financial reserves, notes analyst and broadcaster John McElroy, host "AutoLine: Detroit."

"they have to him give a try, since they no choice," McElroy said. "But it is hard to see how she could succeed this time." You try to organize in a right to-work is a general anti-union attitude. "

If the UAW a third of a century ago reached its peak, dominated Detroit-based car manufacturer by an overwhelming majority the American market. But there were ominous signs of the one in the works change. Arising from the second the oil crises of the 1970s Mideast, began motorists by the thousands, then millions switch to Japanese imports.

With strong political pressure, Honda a small motorcycle plant in Marysville, Ohio, and in November 1982 added the first North American assembly plants. Today, virtually every major foreign manufacturers from Europe, Japan and South Korea has followed. Honda, produces mainly now about 90 percent of the vehicles, which it sold in the United States in factories in the North American free trade agreement. Nissan and Toyota are not far behind and, if at all, the foreign manufacturer expand its presence on the skewed exchange rates. Volkswagen opened a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last year is already more layers add and add a mirror-image property talks within a few years.

So far, only three have been transplant organised facilities - and then, only facilities as joint ventures between U.S. and Japanese manufacturers in the life. Even worse for the Union, the new United motor manufacturing, Inc. joint venture between Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, California, was closed, and Mazda is to abandon the joint venture with Ford in suburban Detroit. It remains only the Mitsubishi plant in normal, Illinois, originally a joint venture with Chrysler, trade unions organized.

Organize the rest who became transplants a goal any UAW leader since the mid of 1980s and the Union that as far as a vote twice mile long twice, in fact last Assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee in the Nissan. Although it rejected was more than two-to-one in 1989 and re-released in 2001. Efforts somewhere else not even achieved the vote.

UAW organizers believe that a rift in the Nissan other U.S. plant to have found; Workers at the Canton are estimated $1.50 per hour less than the reported $26.50 earned paid in Smyrna. Then again, the Mississippi plant pays also an average $10 more than the prevailing wage in this State and workers extensive services get, the heavily reduced prices for new cars and auto insurance. In the meantime, the UAW has pain remind workers, the Nissan released a single hourly employee store in the United States has not since establishment

In a statement, UAW President King also complained, that the carmaker is not only to make his point attempts but workers subjected to has his anti-Union message to extensive "interrogations" and daily sessions more - the company calculates negative.

If there is something that could work in favor of the Union the bones tiring schedule workers, especially since both Nissan workers in Canton and Smyrna ramp-up production of the all-new Altima are 2013 subject to - the company believes that it can enter large mid-sized sedan and long-time head of the Toyota Camry to overturn the high-profile leadership in the segment.

While the start of production at the Smyrna Plant last month, Bill Krueger, Deputy Chairman of the Nissan Americas, played, the burden when it comes to adding a new third layer. "It allows us to our work force (in Smyrna) with 11 and 12-hour shifts, (no longer) burden" something he noticed results "in the factor fatigue.", if in the comprehensive extension for a continued time

In the early part of the 20th century, trade union leaders, to shed blood, often had to organize their efforts. First President of the UAW, Walter Reuther, was seriously injured during a battle with Ford Club on a transfer of the manufacturer's giant river Rouge complex leads.

There is little chance a similar confrontation with transplantation. But organizers expect union to shed their blood in their drive to store the UAW much sweat and tears, if not.

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Car manufacturers put their cars on a diet

Fuel consumption is with gas prices the $4 per gallon threshold pushing a big problem for car buyers and automakers alike become. Many U.S. drivers still hesitate seem to embrace the kind of pint-sized vehicles, the in markets such as Europe and Japan common.

"People don't want small cars, drive", stresses George Peterson, automotive analyst at AutoPacific. "they want bigger, more fuel-efficient cars drive."

With American driver taste, some experts suggest that the challenge for automakers is today not the 50 miles per gallon come with a small car,. Instead the challenge is a medium-sized model to create, which can deliver 40 mpg.

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Until recently, this objective seemed a fantasy, at least without a costly hybrid drive. But automakers have come to discover a variety of other tools in their Toolbox, can improve the mileage substantially without downsizing, Peterson said.

They are for example vehicles on a diet at Ford set.

"Medium-term from now until 2017 or 2018, we will remove anywhere from 250 to 700 pounds, depending on the vehicle,", said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's global product Chief.

According to an industry rule of thumb has each 100 pounds added or subtracted from the mass of a vehicle a mpg impact on fuel consumption, so Ford's weight should result strategy anywhere from about two to seven miles a gallon in extra fuel, everything else is equal.

Ford is by no means the only manufacturer to folder. Hyundai moved about 150 pounds of the weight of his new accent subcompact, who it a highway reaching review of more than 40 mpg helped.

And Honda has similar steps. John Mendel, Chief Executive of the automakers of US subsidiary, has with reference to the improvement of fuel, the economy that "There of only so many levers you can pull and are two of the largest weight or size." said.

How shed a few pounds for a wedding or a reunion anyone who has ever tried white, is not easy diet. And it's especially hard for automotive engineers. Every year seems to new safety regulations require new equipment for cars, such as stability control, or rigid bodies that survive the latest roof can crush standards.

Add all the integrated features, consumers demand of heated and cooled leather seats, twin headrest mounted rear seat video monitors, and the challenge of slimming down is even more difficult.

"That is why, despite all our efforts in the industry cut weight in the last decade, the weight of most vehicles have actually increased," lamented Carlos Tavares, President and CEO of Nissan Americas.

Concerned business, steel makers have that come with a variety of super strong alloys, actually reduce the amount of metal needed in a car, losing even with the tougher roof crush standards.

But the industry is also migrate, as far as possible, to newer, lighter alternatives. For example, she used latest Jaguar XJ, an aluminium housing and housing, while the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 lightweight carpets.

The Porsche Cayenne redesign has a full 408 kg with the use of lighter materials and a revised drive shed. The line across it gets at least a 10 percent increase in mileage, even with the Twin-Turbo V8 model of the car accelerate from 0-60 times drop from 4.9 to 4.4 seconds.

Aluminium can shave hundreds of pounds of the weight of a body of conventional steel car. And the metal is mounted in steadily increasing demand, such as magnesium, which is used for applications such as the cross-beams behind many modern instrument panels.

Plastic, in all their material of choice for bumpers, instrument panels, Interior trims and even some body panels many forms, has become - although the discontinued Saturn brand was over the material for doors and fenders because of a nasty tendency to the shrinking and swelling, depending on the ambient temperature.

The material of the future, many are betting, is carbon fiber. Seemingly so easily such as air, the material has become extremely popular with manufacturers of high-priced sports car, such as Lamborghini, the carbon fiber for a large part of the new 200 mph Aventador used sports car.

The problem is cost. Traditionally has a price tag in the range of $200,000 required with carbon fiber in a car, but the changes can be. The Geneva Motor Show earlier this year would mini showed concept Rocketman, the carbon fiber on a car priced at just under one-fifth as much as use of Lamborghini Aventador. Mini's parent, BMW, invested in carbon fiber research, such as some other manufacturers have.

"Carbon fiber has come potential, if we can with possibilities for improving the manufacturability and lower costs," said Ford Kuzak.

The Detroit automaker of engineering Czar stressed that it is difficult, an existing vehicle set on a diet. Instead, it is better to start with a new car platform. One of the advantages with this approach is that if you cut a few hundred pounds of total weight of the vehicle you can save even more then a smaller engine adoption, "Downsizing" of the brakes and other components.

While Ford was driving has to trim mass even faster than before, Nissan's Tavares warned that "you should concentrate not only on weight loss."

There are many other ways, fuel consumption, aerodynamics, improved tyres and reduces friction drives, including impact, he said. By investing in all these areas, car manufacturers have many ways to improve the mileage enough to reduce buyer bigger cars abandon their fuel economy without that that they like.

© 2011 msnbc.com. 

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Legislators limit Florida lawsuits against automobile manufacturers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A profit for big business approved the Florida House a bill on Wednesday, which makes it more difficult to win liability damage of automakers and other manufacturers for injured plaintiffs, product.

The measure was approved by the votes of 80-35 and sent to Republican Governor Rick Scott. It had cleared the Senate.

The Bill, which is expected to sign the business-friendly Scott countered a decision 2001 Florida Supreme Court against Ford, who said, to introduce evidence of the root cause of a crash, such as driver error or drunkenness, product liability cases may not.

According to the new law, juries would have to "consider the fault of any person to an accident, have if damage in a products liability action allocation."

"The jury not to all the details, including a critical piece of information about the status of the driver, be unjust and absurd," said Barney Bishop III, President of associated industries of Florida, the State lobby of big business.

"Correct this injustice will now open the doors to the automotive production companies, which previously, the operation had not Florida as a base," added Bishop.

The legislation on the "crash"doctrine as the focus of a lobbying battle between trial lawyers representing injured parties and business interests led by Ford Motor Co.

Under this doctrine when, for example, "an airbag will fail while providing an initial collision and then collides the driver with the windshield, the manufacturer may be liable for damage caused by the defective airbag, due to the second collision" a personal analysis.

Democrats have argued, the Bill for the taxpayer injured would shift costs for medical care for crash victims and that manufacturers for their mistakes should be held responsible.

"See how much they paid, to ensure that in this case" State Republic Richard Steinberg, D-Miami, said in debate, referring to Ford and other business interests campaign contributions to the Republican legislators.

"What does this law is your fault, if it is it not a seat belt," added Steinberg. "But if the safety belt does not work, it's not their fault."

But State Republic Larry Metz, R Yalaha, the "doomsday scenario", said that plaintiff was earned empty sunk from the courthouse unfounded.

He said "Judge still decisions on quality and weight (evidence) can make,". "We should not relevant evidence from juries screens."

The law overrules the decision in the case of Karen d ' Amario, whose then teenage son was badly burned and three limbs he lost, as the car in was riding crashed into a tree and exploded. The driver was killed.

D ' Amario allegedly her son's injuries because the explosion was caused by a defective relay module to a fuel pump. The jury on the part of Ford, where he claims the switch was good and the fire on the collision fault because it the car broken sump.

The judge ruled that the jury was confused by the evidence, that the driver drunk and speeding up, instead of focusing on the product liability claim. The opinion reversed the jury verdict and said that such evidence should be excluded from future cases, the claim "Advanced" injuries.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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