GM going after tech with new venture capital subsidiary
Filed under: Technology, GM
General Motors has announced a new project aimed at sourcing and encouraging new automotive technologies. The company has set up a venture capital subsidiary under the General Motors Ventures, LLC banner, and it plans to use its new arm to bring a slew of new tech to market. What kind of goodies are we talking about? We honestly have no idea, but it’s clear the General is interested in everything from fuel-saving engineering to new infotainment gear.
GM says that the new organization will be headed up by Vice President Jon J. Lauckner. The guy will still retain his standard VP duties, but will also be responsible for directing exactly where the new $100 million venture capital firm goes over the next few years. Hit the jump for the short press release.
[Source: GM]
Continue reading GM going after tech with new venture capital subsidiary
GM going after tech with new venture capital subsidiary originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Volvo reportedly considering poaching Saab boss for CEO post
Filed under: Saab, Volvo, Spyker, Geely
With Volvo forever separated from Ford, the Swedish automaker needs of a new leader, and a report from Automotive News shows that that search may start and end in the country’s own back yard. Swedish Business daily Dagens Industri claims Jan Ake Jonsson, the current CEO of Saab, is on the short list of names who could one-day run Volvo. Volvo’s current CEO, Stephen Odell, will reportedly leave the Swedish automaker for a post as head of Ford Europe.
The Swedish paper reports that Jonsson has already been contacted for the position, though the current Saab boss told the news outlet that he promised Spyker CEO Victor Mueller that he’d stay on a while longer. That doesn’t sound like a long-term commitment to Saab, but it doesn’t say that Jonsson has his bags packed, either. We’re sure, though, that new Volvo owner Geely would calm a lot of nervous Swedes by appointing the native Jonsson to the top Volvo spot.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Volvo reportedly considering poaching Saab boss for CEO post originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Apple Showcases HTML5 (iPad Compatible)
Apple just published on its website an HTML5 showcase, compatible with most of its devices, including the iPad. The demos are aimed at encouraging developers to embrace the HTML5 standard instead of Flash, and most of them are nothing short of impressive.
The showcase demonstrates multiple aspects of HTML5, including audio/video, picture galleries, picture manipulation, transitions, and typography demos. Along with the showcase, Apple re-iterates its view on HTML5 vs. Flash: “Every new Apple mobile device and every new Mac supports web standards, including HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript [...] These web standards are open, reliable, highly secure and efficient [...] Standards aren’t add-ons to the web. They are the web.”
Between HTML5, and “stop-gap” solutions such as Smokescreen, the web experience on the iPad is poised to greatly improve over the next couple months, without the need of Flash. To see the demos, simply click on the image below (you will be taken to Apple’s website, and if you are not using an iPad you will need a recent version of Safari to see them).
Incoming search terms:
- html5 audio cool on ipad
Chrysler recalls nearly 35,000 vehicles for sticking accelator pedals
Filed under: Recalls , Safety , Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep After one month of investigation, Chrysler has decided to initiate a voluntary recall of 34,631 Dodge Caliber and 90 Jeep Compass vehicles from the 2007 model year in order to address a potential issue with sticking gas pedals. While the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has been investigating the problem for over a month, Chrysler reports that no accidents, injuries or property damage linked to vehicles equipped with these pedal assemblies have been reported. The pedal assemblies are supplied by CTS and are similar to those that triggered a recall of 2.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles earlier this year. The actual issue does not appear to be the same problem that afflicted the Toyota vehicles, although the end result of unintended acceleration can be similar. The Detroit Free Press reports that the issue is caused by a bearing housing that was made too large. CTS experienced a manufacturing issue for five weeks during March through May of 2006 that affected some of the first Calibers and Compasses built. According to Chrysler, only about one-third of the recalled cars are expected to actually have an issue with their pedal assemblies. Since announcing there was an investigation in early May, Chrysler has allowed customers to bring their cars in for a free inspection. If a pedal assembly is found to be defective, Chrysler will replace the entire pedal assembly for any of the recalled vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico. [Source: Detroit Free Press , Chrysler] Continue reading Chrysler recalls nearly 35,000 vehicles for sticking accelator pedals Chrysler recalls nearly 35,000 vehicles for sticking accelator pedals originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Video: Aston Martin V12 Vantage rocks our world
Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Videos , Aston Martin , UK , Luxury 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage - Click above to watch video after the jump If you’ve felt an unexplained disturbance in the automotive force recently, it can probably be attributed to the scheduled arrival of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage on American shores. We’ve been lusting after this thing since it first cropped up as concept way back in 2007, and now the ridiculously wealth or the fantastically in debt can finally get their paws on the car here in the U.S. The recipe is simple - take the brawny, 510 horsepower 6.0-liter V12 from the DBS , cram it into the engine bay of the lithe Vantage, add louvers and call it a day. Sorta. Aston Martin has taken it upon itself to prime the collective American pump for the V12 Vantage debut by releasing a quick teaser video. It’s dipped in sweet, slow-motion glory shots of the car doing what it does best - sending tires to their smoky grave and conning otherworldly speed out of seemingly plebian strips of asphalt. There are even a few shots of the race-derived version loftily beating its way around the Nurburgring. We’re in love. Hit the jump to see it for yourself. Gallery: 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage [Source: Aston Martin via YouTube ] Continue reading Video: Aston Martin V12 Vantage rocks our world Video: Aston Martin V12 Vantage rocks our world originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Ford offering dealers up to $200k to stop selling Mercury
Filed under: Ford, Mercury
Ford is getting out of the Mercury business in a big, fat hurry, and that means no 2011 models, no more Jill Wagoner commercials and cash compensation for the 1,700+ dealers who sell Ford’s long-abused step-brand. Automotive News quotes unnamed sources who say dealers will receive up to $200,000 to stop selling Mercury cars and crossovers, along with money for any new service parts they have lying around.
Ford sales boss Ken Czubay tells AN that the company has worked out a formula for compensation that calculates the three-year average of Mercury vehicles sold at a dealership as a percentage of overall Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales. The formula also calculates the cost for dealer signage and parts. An AN source claims that dealers who sell zero to 25 percent Mercury products receive $1,500 per unit retailed annually. The number shoots up to $1,650 per unit at 26 to 50 percent of sales and $2,000 for dealers at 51 to 75 percent. The dealer repayment program tops out at $2,500 for dealers who averaged a high 76 to 100 percent Mercury sales over the past three years. Dealers will also get 100 percent of their money back for Mercury parts purchased, and the dealers get to keep those parts free and clear.
Ford President Mark Fields called the dealer payoff “reasonable and fair,” adding that it is “beyond what the franchise agreement states. It is beyond what state law states. It’s well beyond what other competitors have done in the marketplace.”
Some dealers, of course, say the payment is far too small to cover their investments in the Mercury brand. One dealer, who didn’t want to be identified, reportedly told AN that he would be losing money even if Ford gave him $500,000.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.] Read more…
Blown call leads to free Corvette for near perfect Tigers pitcher
Filed under: Convertible , Chevrolet , GM Armando Galarraga with Corvette Convertible Grand Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery On Wednesday evening, Detroit Tigers baseball fans came within one out of watching Armando Galarraga throw the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Plenty of pitchers have come within an out or two from greatness, but only Galarraga lost his bid at retiring all 27 batters he faced because of a bad call by the first base umpire. General Motors decided to give the hard-luck pitcher a significant consolation prize Thursday in the size and shape of a brand new, cherry red Corvette Grand Sport Convertible . GM President Mark Reuss says in the post-jump press release that The General gave Galarraga the 436-horsepower droptop as a reward for an excellent performance and because of the way Galarraga handled himself in a tough situation. GM has been a big sponsor for the Detroit Tigers for years, which makes sense considering the fact that the company’s Renaissance Center headquarters is clearly visible beyond the center field fence. The General has also paid to advertise on the Tiger’s center field fountain. GM couldn’t afford to sponsor the fountain in 2009 due to bankruptcy proceedings, so team owner Mike Ilitch placed all three Detroit automakers on the fountain in a show of support for the Detroit automakers. We’re sure the Corvette isn’t quite as nice as having a perfect game on the resume, but it’s not a bad consolation prize, either. GM gets something from this situation as well, as the Corvette giveaway will probably make its way to many local news outlets, along with some time on ESPN. That kind of advertising probably costs a bit more than $58,580. Hit the jump to read over the GM press release. Gallery: Armando Galarraga Free Corvette Convertible [Source: Detroit News ] Continue reading Blown call leads to free Corvette for near perfect Tigers pitcher Blown call leads to free Corvette for near perfect Tigers pitcher originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read
iLuv iAD115 Micro-sized USB Car Adapter
The iLuv iAD115 is not your ordinary USB car charger because the gadget is so small. Measuring 22mm x 22mm x 43mm and weighing 10grams, the device allows you to recharge your iPhone, iPod, or any other USB devices with a car adapter. The iLuv iAD115 accepts 12-24V DC and puts out 5V DC @ 500mA. Each iLuv iAD115 micro-sized USB car adapter is priced at only $14.99. [ iLuv ] View full post on The Apple iPod and MP3 Players Blog
