Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - (Page 14) 14 • OCTOBER 20, 2008 ENERGY ALTERNATIVES EDITORIAL STAFF 313-446-0361 E-mail autonews@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com Keith E. Crain Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Peter Brown Associate Publisher and Editorial Director DETROIT 313-446-0361 Fax: 313-446-0383 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207-2997 David Sedgwick Editor dsedgwick@crain.com Edward Lapham Executive Editor elapham@crain.com Richard Johnson Managing Editor rjohnson@crain.com John K. Teahen Jr. Senior Editor Mary Beth Vander Schaaf Deputy Managing Editor Charles Child International Editor David Kushma Retail Editor Dave Guilford News Editor James B. Treece Industry Editor Jesse Snyder Senior Writer Karen Faust O’Rourke Insight Editor COPY EDITORS: Bob Allen, Tom Fetters, Patricia C. Foley, Kenn Jones, Gregory Skwira Susan Zavela Bamford/Graphics Editor Rick Kranz/Product Editor REPORTERS: Leslie J. Allen, David Barkholz, Mary Connelly, Ralph Kisiel, Jamie LaReau, Arlena Sawyers, Robert Sherefkin, Richard Truett, Bradford Wernle, Amy Wilson Mary Raetz Director, Automotive News Data Center Debi Domby, Camille Pippen Research Assistants Dan Jones Office Manager Robertta Reiff Editorial Assistant Corinne M. Price, Michael Garrison Information Center LOS ANGELES Mark Rechtin/Bureau Chief 310-739-8009 Fax: 310-832-6362 Kathy Jackson/Reporter 323-370-2481 Fax: 323-655-8157 Alysha Webb/Reporter awebb@crain.com 6500 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 NEW YORK Diana T. Kurylko/Reporter Phone/fax: 908-273-6059, dkurylko@crain.com WASHINGTON Donna Harris/Reporter 540-668-7295 Fax: 540-668-7296 Harry Stoffer/Reporter 202-662-7212 Fax: 202-638-3155 814 National Press Building Washington, DC 20045-1801 MID-SOUTH Lindsay Chappell/Bureau Chief 615-371-6654 Fax: 615-371-6655 April Wortham/Reporter/615-371-6617 104 East Park Drive, Suite 315, Brentwood, TN 37027 SHANGHAI Steven Ribet/Staff Reporter (86) 21 6431 1227 sribet@crain.com TOKYO Hans Greimel/Asia Editor +81-3-3828-9060 Fax: +81-3-3828-9061 hgreimel@crain.com Yurakucho Denki Bldg., 20th Floor 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan TURIN Luca Ciferri/Reporter/lciferri@craincom.de +39-011 961 0194 Fax: +39-011 961 0113 Viale Cavaglia, 8 10029 Villastellone (TO) Italy STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Eric Freedman/Legal file, 517-337-0269 www.autonews.com DETROIT Dave Versical/Editor Automotive News Online dversical@crain.com 313-446-6789 Philip Nussel Managing Editor, Automotive News Online Victor Galvan/Web Editor vgalvan@crain.com 313-446-0345 Scott Kennedy/Multimedia Editor It’s time we control our own destiny Mary Ann Wright Pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV anywhere in the world, and you will find a discussion about oil. Global leaders are striving to reduce their countries’ dependence on foreign oil and are stretching to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Where do we stand in the United States? Today, we are standing still. Some might say we are going backward. We must reverse the decline in manufacturing investment and eliminate the malignant transfer of our national wealth that results from purchases of foreign energy. This year alone, the United States will spend nearly a half-trillion dollars on foreign oil. Since the OPEC oil embargo of 1973, America has done little to secure its long-term energy future. The lack of interest and investment in alternative, domestic energy sources is now painfully familiar to all Americans. Fortunately, there is an effective replacement for petroleum motor fuels: electricity. But America must not swap today’s oil cartel for an Asian battery cartel. Today, nearly all the batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, along with the materials and equipment to manufacture them, are made in the Pacific Rim countries. Also, most of the other key electric powertrain components are available today only from offshore sources, primarily in Asia. Without a domestic manufacturing and supply base for advanced battery systems, America’s energy security will continue to be held hostage, exacerbating our economic problems from the trade deficit and a vanishing manufacturing base. Major industries, including automotive and energy, must team up with universities and the federal laboratory network to leverage domestic resources better. The Department of Energy’s support of the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium program has been a good success story. But innovation must be accelerated. And, most important, there must be a laser-beam focus on product commercialization and the establishment of an advanced battery manufacturing base. The key ingredients for success exist, but commitment and coordination are needed. During a recent visit comment Mary Ann Wright is CEO of Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions LLC. ernment-industry partnership. The United States must adopt a similar approach. An increase in engineering talent also is essential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a need for 160,000 more engineers by 2016. Equally alarming is that 59 percent of all undergraduates in China and 66 percent of all undergraduates in Japan are graduating with technical degrees. Only 32 percent of U.S. students are. Our universities must implement curricula that will enable their graduates to compete in an increasingly technical global workplace. We must rekindle students’ desire to have a positive impact on their world through the application of science and technology. We need to put the sexiness back into math and science. We have a strong history of persevering and dominating innovation and production. It will take concerted, sustained investment and collaboration involving industry, government and academia to return us to that position of pre-eminence and sustainable economic health. Japan’s leadership in the development and production of hybrid vehicles is a perfect example of the benefits of a formalized government-industry partnership. The United States must adopt a similar approach. to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, I was encouraged to see a unified mission to assist the manufacturing sector in basic energy r&d and manufacturing technology. Ultimately, we must build vehicles that use clean, domestically produced energy and that appeal to both common sense and an increasingly demanding customer. A long, tough road A powerful opportunity lies on the horizon, and the door is open for America to control its own destiny. Fuel-efficient vehicles — including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles — offer a variety of benefits. In addition to cleaning the air and reducing carbon dioxide emissions and oil consumption, those vehicles will help to revitalize our economy. To reap those benefits, we must invest our time, human resources and funding to develop the manufacturing infrastructure to become a global leader in the development and production of those vehicles. Going forward we must: Establish a domestic supply base for advanced battery systems, the equipment to manufacture them and for electric motors and controllers. Develop high standards for batteries and other components and systems. Implement federal incentives for consumers to purchase hybrids and plug-ins and for manufacturers to invest in product development and production of those new technologies here in the United States. Create national Centers of Excellence — hubs incorporating industry, universities and federal labs — to ensure that U.S. innovations become U.S.-manufactured products. Maintain high corporate average fuel economy standards and implement energy efficiency and CO2 reductions across all industries, not just automotive. What do you think? We would like to hear from you. Send a letter to the editor via e-mail (autonews@crain.com) or to the Detroit address near the top of the box at right. Here’s what we need. No more than 250 words Your name and title, company name if we can print it, city and state; or tell us about your connection to the auto industry Your phone number or e-mail address Your permission to print it 160,000 engineers needed Japan currently leads in hybrid development, which is no surprise in view of the decades-long cooperation between the government and industry. Japan’s leadership in the development and production of hybrid vehicles, including a stranglehold on the supply base, is a perfect example of the benefits of a formalized gov- GM missed boat on Cheyenne, Volt continued from Page 12 Hudson’s conflicting explanations made it sound as though he wants arbitration when he thinks he’s on top. Dealers and manufacturers alike lose credibility by making inconsistent arguments depending on the circumstances. Arbitration should be permitted for all. JOSEPH S. FOLZ Oakland Township, Mich. The writer is retired. He was executive vice president of corporate relations, general counsel and secretary of Volkswagen Group of America Inc. To the Editor: Am I the only one who remembers the 2003 Chevy Cheyenne Concept? I was stunned to see that it was left out of your General Motors 100th anniversary edition (Sept. 15) because, as with so many other great-looking vehicles, GM never built it. It was not even included in your recent design section (Sept. 22). The Cheyenne earned praise everywhere it was displayed, especially at auto shows, and magazine and newspaper writers described it in glowing terms. As usual, GM shelved it and built The Chevy Cheyenne Concept was another great-looking vehicle that GM didn’t build, a letter writer says. other, unnoticeable vehicles. To make matters worse, Honda stole bits and pieces of it and won Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year award. Now Toyota has designed its version, the A-Bat, which might be a home run. But it is not as good as the Chevy truck concept. The trend at GM continues with the new Chevrolet Volt. Once again, GM managers should be hiding their faces in shame. The Volt could have been another trendsetting design spectacular. Instead, GM showed us the “Jolt,” which is another look-alike that will be http://www.autonews.com http://www.autonews.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - October 20, 2008 Automotive News - October 20, 2008 Amazingly, vehicle inventories are low An upside of the big slide: Raw material prices dip â for now With GMAC out, banks trickle in Get your daily Automotive News - in video form, starting Nov. 3 Honda's Fukui favors fed loans, confirms V-8 To move the metal, Mike Kahn moves the store Hyundai airbag flaw tied to drink spills Texas promo: Buy a GM vehicle, get GM stock Chrysler's uphill road in China GM/Chrysler? Anything's possible GM/Chrysler deal? Companies' pension plans may need cash Acura dealers: A V-8 engine is on the way Buyers pursue former Heard stores Honda: We're still lending Gilles, Ligocki will speak at congress Fed list promotes high-mileage cars Party time: Saturn turns to grass-roots marketing Online inventory service aims to cut dealer costs Document fees must not become a dirty little secret Just put up a 'For Sale' sign Cash for clunkers? Scrap the idea Arbitration can work for everyone It's time we control our own destiny GM missed boat on Cheyenne, Volt Sept. truck sales fall 7.4% Microheat seeks Chapter 11 At Bosch, r&d spending remains strong GM's new diesel opens up, loses weight Urea must flow or new diesels won't go Hankook plans to bring fuel-saving tire to North America Odell: I can help Volvo tap more potential So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis Jatco builds China plant to meet expanding CVT demand 10 appointed at American Axle Personnel Milestones Obituaries Supplier Personnel Biking buddies Ford targets fleets with parental control key European sales fall; VW group bucks the trend 11 innovators win honorable mention 25 finalists selected for 2009 PACE awards Suppliers to the 2009 BMW X6 GMAC's loan cutbacks cost GM thousands of auto sales Credit tops agenda for NADA chief 'Flash' draws modest cash at theaters Booth's new berth sparks CEO speculation at Ford Economy's skid sends ritzy toys to eBay Report: Mazda scraps plan for U.S. plant GM's quandary: Finding loans for the imperfect Taylor to Hummer - and then ... ? Tough times at Tesla Automotive News - October 20, 2008 Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - With GMAC out, banks trickle in (Page 1) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - With GMAC out, banks trickle in (Page 2) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Texas promo: Buy a GM vehicle, get GM stock (Page 3) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Companies' pension plans may need cash (Page 4) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Companies' pension plans may need cash (Page 5) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Gilles, Ligocki will speak at congress (Page 6) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Gilles, Ligocki will speak at congress (Page 7) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Online inventory service aims to cut dealer costs (Page 8) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Online inventory service aims to cut dealer costs (Page 9) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Online inventory service aims to cut dealer costs (Page 10) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Online inventory service aims to cut dealer costs (Page 11) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Arbitration can work for everyone (Page 12) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Arbitration can work for everyone (Page 13) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - GM missed boat on Cheyenne, Volt (Page 14) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - GM missed boat on Cheyenne, Volt (Page 15) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 16) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 16A) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 16B) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 16C) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 16D) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Microheat seeks Chapter 11 (Page 17) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Hankook plans to bring fuel-saving tire to North America (Page 18) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Hankook plans to bring fuel-saving tire to North America (Page 19) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Hankook plans to bring fuel-saving tire to North America (Page 20) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Hankook plans to bring fuel-saving tire to North America (Page 21) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Odell: I can help Volvo tap more potential (Page 22) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Odell: I can help Volvo tap more potential (Page 23) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 24) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 24A) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 24B) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 24C) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 24D) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - So far, BMW cruises above the credit crisis (Page 25) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 26) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Biking buddies (Page 27) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Biking buddies (Page 28) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Biking buddies (Page 29) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Biking buddies (Page 30) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Biking buddies (Page 31) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - European sales fall; VW group bucks the trend (Page 32) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - European sales fall; VW group bucks the trend (Page 33) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Suppliers to the 2009 BMW X6 (Page 34) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - GMAC's loan cutbacks cost GM thousands of auto sales (Page 35) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Credit tops agenda for NADA chief (Page 36) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Credit tops agenda for NADA chief (Page 37) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Tough times at Tesla (Page 38) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Tough times at Tesla (Page 39) Automotive News - October 20, 2008 - Tough times at Tesla (Page 40)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.