Automotive News - March 31, 2008 - (Page 22B)

22B • MARCH 31, 2008 Suppliers to the 2009 Dodge Journey ENGINE CHAIN TENSIONER 2.7L INA CAMSHAFT CASTINGS CWC Textron PISTONS Mahle ALTERNATOR Bosch; Mitsubishi Electric QUICK CONNECTOR Jiffy-Tite POWDER PRIMER PPG RADIATOR Behr POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT Getrag TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS (6-SPEED AUTO) Stackpole ENGINE COVER 3.5L Woco Motor Acoustic Systems PARK DETECT SWITCH Johnson Electric Auto Products STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS Methode Electronics Automotive TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR Schrader Electronics SOUND SYSTEM Harman/ Becker Automotive Systems FRONT DOOR GLASS RUN CHANNELS Jyco Sealing Technologies FLOOR CARPET HP Pelzer Automotive Systems FUEL LINES CooperStandard Automotive HOOD HINGES Edscha WASHER BOTTLE Kautex Textron ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL Continental GLOVE BOX LATCH Southco INSIDE PRISMATIC MIRROR Magna Donnelly RADIO Alpine Electronics of America WINDSHIELD Vitro SUNROOF Webasto ROOF-DITCH ROOF RACK BEAM MOLDINGS Brown Advanced Rehau Corp. Accessory Systems EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES Siegel-Robert Automotive FUEL FILL PIPE COATING Magni Group FUEL FILLER TUBES TI Automotive FUEL TANK SHIELD SKD Automotive REARVIEW CAMERA Hella LOCKSET Strattec Security TAILGATE Plastic Omnium TRI-FOLD LOAD FLOOR BBi Enterprises LICENSE LAMP ASSEMBLY ADAC Automotive FIXED TOW BAR Westfalia-Automotive WHEELS ArvinMeritor; Lacks Enterprises; Superior Industries REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAG REAR CALIPERS TRW Automotive STEERING COLUMN; I SHAFT ThyssenKrupp FENDER U. S. Steel HEAT SHIELDS; SIDESHAFT GKN Driveline BRAKE FLUID Dow Automotive ABS/ESC SENSOR CABLES Leoni FRONT DOOR HINGES Multimatic ACOUSTIC BAFFLE Sika Suppliers wanted: If you are a supplier and have questions or want your information considered for our car cutaways, contact Steven Wingett at: automotivenews@supplierbusiness.com Ford spills the beans on car seats Soy-based cushions cut CO2, costs Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com Howa USA opens interior parts plant in Kentucky BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Howa USA Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese supplier Howa Textile Industry Co., opened a plant here to manufacture dash insulators, headliners and interior products for the auto industry. Howa Textile, of Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, Japan, has been manufacturing interior auto parts since 1955. NASHVILLE — Ford Motor Co. has come to a conclusion about building autos: Petroleum is dirty and expensive; soybeans are good. Just five years ago, the automaker began a modest experiment to make seat cushions with a patented soybean oil product it calls soy polyol. It worked. Now the notion has sprouted. The company is using the resulting soybean-based foam on seats in the 2008 Ford Mustang, F-150 pickup and Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator SUVs. In 2009, three more models also will contain the soybean cushions, including the Ford Escape crossover, said Matthew Zaluzec, manager of the company’s Materials Research & Advanced Engineering Department in suburban Detroit. At the same time, Ford plans to push the soybean content into other interior components, including headrests, armrests, floor mats, glove box liners and trunk liners. Ford Motor will use soybean-based foam seats in four 2008 models and three 2009 models, including the Ford Escape. cent of petroleum content out of cushions. Now that the cushions are a reality, Ford is using 10 percent soy and thinks it easily can replace 20 percent of the petroleum content. “We’re thinking 40 percent is possible,” Zaluzec said last month during a technical presentation in Nashville. But there is a tail wind behind this movement. When the lab began the project, petroleum was selling for $40 a barrel, and shifting to soy would have raised Ford’s parts costs — the opposite of what the company’s global sourcing department has been asking suppliers to do for the past decade. “But when petroleum hit $60 a barrel, soybean gained a cost advantage,” Zaluzec said. “And now we’re at a $100 a barrel, so things have changed.” Zaluzec said his lab is working with key Ford component suppliers, including Lear Corp. and Johnson Controls Inc., to help them convert from petroleum to soy polyol. Additionally, Ford has begun experimenting with soy meal and soy flour to replace petroleum-based additives in its vehicles’ rubber components. Recently, Ford licensed the polyol technology to John Deere to use in tractor seats. Deere also has experimented with using soy content on body panels. But Ford’s primary motivation remains environmental, Zaluzec said. “Our mission is to reduce our carbon dioxide footprint. We want to be a greener company.” Ricardo center has battery focus DETROIT— Ricardo Inc. has set up a battery systems development center at its headquarters in suburban Detroit. The center will be responsible for developing battery pack systems for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. It will house three lithium ion development chambers — equipment capable of developing large hybrid/electric battery cyclers and simulating vehicle environments. The company estimates the center will have a staff of 32 to engineer lithium ion and nickel-metal hydride battery pack systems. Ricardo has technical centers and offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, providing engineering for low-emission and fuel-efficient powertrain technology. Greener environment Zaluzec estimated that in the life cycle of 1.0 kilogram of petroleum — from initial processing through finished manufacturing — 3.5 kilograms of CO2 are created. By comparison, the life cycle of 1.0 kilogram of soybean polyol eliminated 2.0 kilograms of CO2, he estimated. Zaluzec said putting soy-based seat cushions in all of Ford’s North America-built vehicles, at just 10 percent soy content, would require 850,000 bushels of soybeans. c Dollar signs What started as an academic experiment in reducing Ford’s carbon dioxide footprint suddenly has turned commercial. The experiment started in 2003 with $200,000 from the United Soybean Board. The idea was to see whether Ford could siphon 5 per-

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 31, 2008

Axle strike leads GM to alter production plan Industry expert Ferron joins Automotive News Group Hummer adds E85 models Lear expands in China Ford spills the beans on car seats Concern ... confidence ... curiosity — welcome to America, Tata Expect most Ford-bred executives to stay put Tip for Tata: Let British brands be British brands Dana CEO sees need for growth in Asia Chrysler: Any deal for partner would be done by Cerberus Farley retools Flex marketing strategy Malibu attracts import-minded buyers European purchasing execs to suppliers: Costs must fall Reynolds removes dealership modems New Saturn ads will promote Aura, Vue, Outlook This Spring Hill launch is a fraction of the first one GM works on small global car Hal Riney, Saturn campaign creator, dies Dealer sours on China importer Secret computer lets Nissan planner peek into future XM-Sirius merger: Lower prices, more choices? Key Chrysler product developer resigns Ford's new boss in HR plans no major changes Wagener to replace Pfeiffer as Mercedes design chief It's time to break the glass ceiling Autos don't cause all global warming Toyota plumbed the depths of Scion Customer loyalty is serious business Future bright for Tata brands Dauch sends wrong signals as Axle strike drags Yanase opened Japan to Western cars Fewer dealers, sure, but more brands What if Ahn falls short? Want to inspire Lori Queen? Just say no Hanwha to build GM Powertrain assembly line Toyota enters untapped Korea, home of Hyundai James O'Rourke Jr. Picture This -- March 31st, 2008 Lexus pays dealers for innovations Suppliers to the 2009 Dodge Journey Ricardo center has battery focus Howa USA opens interior parts plant in Kentucky N.Y. show suggests a future of smart powertrains, muscle BMW sees new models as sales saviors Ford contract has unique take on core jobs 6 more PACE-setters in auto innovation Buy-here, pay-here may grow Dealers Mercedes SL: A fresh face — with 1 flaw Ex-Chrysler design chief John Herlitz dead at 65 Future could be bright for Jag, Land Rover Land Rover in good shape, but challenges remain Fuel economy fines loom for Tata As segment shrinks, Chrysler minivan output takes a big dip Mercedes names 27 AMG dealers Continental to cut jobs Cobalt SS price: $22,995 Kia opens Ga. training center Nissan idles Mexico plant Plastech legal bill: $1 million for a month Magna will add 3 plants in Mexico El Camino diehards say Pontiac G8 should have been a Chevy No 2nd chance for Nasser, other Ford alums Buick grabs a name from the past After short list, a short stay for Laymon Lori Queen or Ellery Queen? Daimler's mum on BMW Southern supplier strategy Tracing the Camaro's bloodline Alfa searches for a U.S. factory

Automotive News - March 31, 2008

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