Automotive News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 3)

FEBRUARY 25, 2008 • 3 82nd year — No. 6296 Push buttons will alter interiors Keyless starter technology gains foothold among mainstream vehicles Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com CSM: Cuts in auto output to ease in 2nd quarter DETROIT — Stronger-than-expected sales of the Chevrolet Malibu and some crossovers have prompted CSM Worldwide to ease slightly its prediction of North America vehicle production cuts in the second quarter. CSM Worldwide, of suburban Detroit, predicts second-quarter production will total about 3.80 million vehicles, down 6.4 percent from the year-earlier period. A month ago, the company predicted the second quarter would fall 7.2 percent to 3.77 million. CSM Worldwide expects the quarter to be the bleakest of the year. Mike Jackson, CSM Worldwide director of North American vehicle forecasts, said interest rate cuts, an income-tax rebate and government steps to slow mortgage foreclosures should help loosen consumer spending in the second half. — David Barkholz Interior changes Push-button starters and smart keys can bring these changes to cars’ interiors. Metal keys and locks will be dropped. Starter buttons can be anywhere, such as the center console or instrument panel, instead of the steering column. Smart cards can unlock doors; adjust seats, radios and mirrors; and preheat the cabin. “Once you go to the button, you’re no longer confined in where you put it,” Perry points out. “It can be on the console or on the steering wheel or above your head.” Poised to exploit the trend are electronic suppliers, such as Continental Automotive Systems North America The humble push-button starter is about to change U.S. vehicle interiors significantly. Nissan North America Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. have begun introducing push-button starters on some mid-priced vehicles, such as the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. More introductions are coming in other brands. Now that the technology is spilling into the mainstream, changes to interiors are bound to follow. For example, push buttons liberate designers and engineers to place ignition switches where they please, says Mark Perry, Nissan North America’s director of cross carline product strategy. and Denso International America. The losers will be low-tech stampers that make key cylinders and keys. Larger changes inside cars will come when automakers adopt push-button starters and related technology. Using transmitters in the driver’s smart card, concealed antennae and on-board microprocessors, the system can adjust seats, mirrors, radios and heaters. “With driver recognition, the vehicle could pre-position the driver seat as you approach,” Perry says. “It could adjust the mirror or find your favorite radio station. It really starts to open up a lot of new possibilities.” The secret is to get a smart card or key — roughly the size of a credit card, in the case of the Altima — into the pocket of the driver so that the vehicle can recognize him. And with push-button starters, drivers need to carry a smart card. The smart card sends a signal that enables the push-button starter. Variations of the technology include see STARTERS, Page 29 Schwarzenbauer leaves Porsche for Audi Peter Schwarzenbauer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America Inc., is leaving to join the Audi AG management board as head of global sales and marketing. On April 1, Schwarzenbauer, 48, will replace Ralph Weyler, 55. Porsche’s new North American CEO will be Detlev von Platen, 44, who now heads Porsche in France. Von Platen has worked at Porsche since 1996. Before joining Porsche, he held posts at BMW Motorrad GmbH. Schwarzenbauer has run Porsche Cars North America since 2003. Porsche owns 31 percent of Volkswagen AG, Audi’s parent. — Ryan Beene and Mark Stevens CORRECTIONS A chart on Page 6 of the Jan. 14 issue that ranked North American assembly plants by 2007 unit production listed some plants in the wrong order. A revised chart can be seen at www.autonews.com/plants. In some cases, preliminary figures available at that time have been replaced with official numbers. Also, Ford Motor Co.’s twin production lines in Kansas City, Mo. — Kansas City SUV and Kansas City Truck — should have been included on the original list as a single assembly plant. When counted as one plant, Kansas City ranked second with 2007 production of 480,725 units. A photo accompanying a story on Page 24 of the Feb. 18 issue was of the wrong person. At right is a photo of David McGuffie, the new president of Covisint. Reporter Hans Greimel tests seat belt technology that Nissan hopes will keep people safer in rollovers. The technology is available on several models. The upside of upside down: Better belts Hans Greimel hgreimel@crain.com TOKYO — No, it’s not some torture apparatus from the Spanish Inquisition. Nissan’s car-flipping machine is meant to test the strength of the company’s safety belts in accidents where the car turns turtle. And it works best if a live human is strapped inside. So I volunteered. Only when the car started tilting did I doubt the wisdom of climbing aboard. But the belts on this sea-blue March compact held me snug as the world rolled upside down and blood rushed to my head. Even at 180 degrees, my rear barely left the seat. The display was part of a recent demonstration of Nissan safety innovations. The company has been working on better seat belts, among other items, since CEO Carlos Ghosn set new priorities for r&d in 2003. Holding the driver stationary is especially important because it improves the chances of keeping control of the car in a crash. A motor firmly snaps the belts taut when a computer detects emergency braking. It detects the speed and pressure with which the driver is slamming on the pedal. The feature is offered on several models, including the Infiniti G37. Meanwhile, Nissan hopes a new low-friction seat belt will coax more people to buckle up. Debuting last August in the X-Trail SUV, the belt uses a herringbone weave that Nissan says makes it 10 percent easier to pull on. And because the texture produces less friction, it reduces pressure to the occupant’s torso by 20 percent. If seat belts are more comfortable, Nissan says, there’s one less excuse for not wearing them. c http://www.autonews.com/plants

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - February 25, 2008

Automotive News - February 25, 2008 Chamco's 'consultant' is forced into limelight Group 1, Gulf States clash Dealer profit stuck in neutral Ghosn: Autos are in recession NHTSA investigates Toyota, Pontiac cars' windows The upside of upside down: Better belts Push buttons will alter interiors Schwarzenbauer leaves Porsche for Audi CSM: Cuts in auto output to ease in 2nd quarter Ford's Hispanic ad campaign takes it to the mat Hydrogen slips as a solution for the greening of autos Kia to spend big to upgrade dealerships GMAC: Office cuts won't affect dealers LaSorda: Chrysler's $700 million axle plant is 'going up' Toyota hybrid battery partner boosts output Buick may add a car below the LaCrosse Toyota could add 2 more small vehicles to U.S. lineup Calif. regulators shoot for 40-plus mpg by 2020 Loyalty/conquest: Power's best, worst Chrysler firm on retrieving tools from Plastech Former NUMMI exec applies Toyota ideas to aircraft industry Kozyra's resume reflects volatile supplier climate Obituaries Chrysler, Plastech now have chance to work together Do it the NADA way Hail, Geneva; spring must be near Volt's potential is unlimited The Volt is terrific; give GM a hand Beware of high tech running amok Teach reporters half full/half empty Dealer wants to view Conti exec: Inside, it's about the info Dealers Caddy chief's goals: Build on CTS, prestige, high-tech Geneva looks like another green scene Volvo XC60 system senses impact, hits the brakes Saab 9-1 concept awaits green light GM: Supply of vehicles to certify will stay steady Used-vehicle supplies up, prices down in Jan. Black Book plans daily updates Cars.com rolls out video service Manheim launches search tool Luxury sales channel is high on GM agenda GM seeks dealers' help with 5-point green plan Northwood offers dealer MBA Court rejects Chicago dealer's appeal Taxes distort Jan. sales in Europe Nissan to cut designers NHTSA studies window woes Bank: Autos easier to afford VW labor boss gets jail term Delphi sells 2 units Toyota Tundra had tough Jan. Chrysler's white knight: We're investors, not heroes Ford's 'Knight Rider' is Sync on steroids GMAC parties have lost a bit of their pizazz Global warming? It's a crock - but . . . Nardelli's NASCAR debut is a winner A frosty reception for the TSX

Automotive News - February 25, 2008

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