Automotive News - March 3, 2008 - (Page 32h)

32H • MARCH 3, 2008 Electronic brakes struggle to get traction Systems improve; cost a downside Bettina Mayer bmayer@craincom.de Engineers have long itched to replace the crude and cumbersome linkages that form auto braking systems with neat wires, compact actuators and all-knowing electronic controls. But progress toward fully electronic brakes — also known as electromechanical brakes — has been held back, mostly by cost but also because laws in some countries preclude such systems. Because of those obstacles, auto suppliers are focusing on electrohydraulic braking systems. These systems offer some of the advantages of fully electronic brakes — better packaging and performance, especially on icy and wet surfaces — at lower prices. The pace of introduction for electrohydraulic braking systems is forecast to speed up in coming years. German supplier Continental AG is the latest entrant in this field. The company plans to have an electromechanical system ready by about 2011. Continental will compete with Robert Bosch GmbH, TRW Automotive and Advics Co. Ltd. in a market that, while negligible today, is expected to grow to 820,000 units a year by 2015, according to analysts Frost and Sullivan. TRW’s Slip Control Boost is an integral part of the hybrid regenerative braking system on the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, shown, and the GMC Yukon Hybrid. trohydraulic control unit and brake pedal simulator unit with a twin master cylinder to supply brake pressure. Bosch sees limited potential for electromechanical brakes before 2012. Carmakers also are skeptical that fully electronic brakes will go into production soon. Spokesmen for BMW and Audi say that their companies continue to be interested in fully electronic brakes but that the price remains a big problem. Bosch launched the first attempt at electrohydraulic brakes — the Sensotronic Brake Control that appeared on the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL class and 2002 E class. After two recalls, the system was replaced in the E class by a hydraulic brake from Bosch. The Sensotronic brake remains in the SL class, SLR McLaren supercar and Maybach ultraluxury sedan. Analysts agree that automakers will only slowly move to fully electronic braking. But with the total market of fully electric brakes in Europe expected to grow, suppliers have significant revenue potential to chase in years to come. According to researchers Frost and Sullivan, annual revenue will grow to 630 million euros (about $929.0 million at current exchange rates) a year by 2015 from $29.0 million in 2010. c Key parts of TRW’s Slip Control Boost system are an electrohydraulic control unit, right, and a master cylinder. Launch delayed The coming Continental system will succeed the electronic wedge brake that the supplier inherited when it took over Siemens VDO Automotive last year. Siemens VDO executives promised last year to launch the fully electronic brake in 2010. That timetable will not be met. Two months after taking over Siemens VDO, Continental focused on its system, based on a nonhydraulic spindle. This braking system, initially for rear axles only, is less complex than the wedge brake and has more parts in common with today’s hydraulic brakes. That will help keep down costs. “We believe that hydraulic brakes will continue to dominate both the mass and also the premium-segment markets for quite a few years for reasons of pricing and the requirements of high-volume production,” says Dirk Neunzig, Continental’s director for dry brake-by-wire systems. Continental says it wants to com- TRW’s Josef Pickenhahn: “Electromechanical braking is at least 20 percent more expensive than a regular hydraulic braking system.” bine the wedge and spindle-based brakes but did not give a timetable for the launch of the system. Says Continental automotive chief KarlThomas Neumann: “In the long run, we want to get rid of hydraulic brake systems.” Engineers at TRW agreed that cost is preventing fully electronic brakes from getting traction. “Electromechanical braking is at least 20 percent more expensive than a regular hydraulic braking system,” Josef Pickenhahn, TRW’s vice presiTRW AUTOMOTIVE dent of brake engineering, said in an interview with Automotive News Europe. Backup needed Pickenhahn said the technology is cost-intensive because it needs a fully equipped backup system. In addition, many people who have tested the technology do not recognize any additional value, he said. “They say it feels artificial,” Pickenhahn said. In November, TRW launched an advanced brake system called Slip Control Boost. The system is an integral part of the hybrid regenerative braking system on the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids. Slip Control Boost replaces traditional boosters, master cylinders and vacuum pumps with an elec- Auto industry robotics spending jumps 43% in 2007 Michael LeGault autonews@crain.com Driven by tool-ups for new car programs, sales of automotive-related robotics grew dramatically in 2007. Robot sales to North American carmakers and suppliers rose 43 percent last year, the Robotics Industry Association said. The auto industry bought about 10,140 robots worth an estimated $753 million, up from roughly 7,000 robots worth $630 million in 2006. Kevin Ostby, vice president of automotive at Fanuc Robotics America Inc., says robotics buying was broad during the year. The Detroit 3, new American manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers all made significant purchases. “There was a spike in purchasing for new vehicle programs in 2007,” says Ostby. “It’s cyclical but last year saw an especially strong peak.” Ostby sees sales flattening or declining slightly in 2008, then picking up in 2009 as automakers prepare for 2011-12 vehicle programs. The sales growth is a sharp contrast to 2006, when sales declined 30 percent. Jeffrey Burnstein, the robotics association’s executive vice president, says the automotive-related buying spree brought sharp increases for sales of special-use robots. Sales of robots used for spot welding doubled. Sales of robots installed in paint shops and other coating and dispensing operations grew 38 percent. New car programs aside, Ostby believes the rate of growth of robots in the auto industry will continue to climb. He cites faster product cycle times and the demand for faster throughput, better quality and lower costs. The increase in robots used in painting, for instance, is being driven by the need to apply a precise coating, reduce waste and cut emissions. An advance in robotic vision technology also is contributing to growth in robots that handle material. “More and more carmakers and Tier 1 suppliers are using robots for loading and unloading machines,” says Ostby. “Better vision technology reduces costs of fixtures, conveyors and containers.” Åke Lindqvist, vice president of global automotive sales at the automation giant ABB Group, says the automotive-driven turnaround in robot sales has been a pleasant surprise. But he adds that robotics manufacturers “still have a way to go” to expand their customer base. Lindqvist says that the industry needs more integration capacity to enable smaller suppliers to effectively use robots. c

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 3, 2008

Bob Nardeli's new big-idea guy New Kia boss reaches out to restless dealers Scion hits a wall Lithia losses raise caution flag Detroit 3 shun talk of NAFTA do-over Lincoln names new marketing manager Mercedes to launch hybrid sedan in '09 Mazda has new top marketing exec M-B will hit the road with 50-state diesels Pontiac puts big ad bucks into traditional media for G8 Reynolds, ADP diverge on growth strategies Ford plans to cut fleet sales 10% in 2008 Mazda: New models, styling will boost its loyalty rate Run-up to axle strike adds to supplier woes Webasto's fast heater will debut by 2010 Russian plant wants to be world's biggest A Lancer is hatched Chrysler throws out purchasing rulebook Honda sets lofty hybrid goal, with Civic's help Honda: Use of ethanol limited, must be biomass Honda CEO Fukui: No recession in U.S., despite soft sales in spots 550 hp? 620 hp? Is GM crazy? Doug Fraser was a great leader How ironic: Lyons learns caution Well done, Doug Don't let Calif. impose fuel rules on the nation Blame the dealer, not the brand Cutting weight doesn't cut safety When Lutz dumps on global warming ... JM exec Czubay: A taste for hogs, pierogi Doug Fraser: A good man to have known Fraser led UAW with 'combination of substance, politics and charm' Autonet finds success at NADA with wi-fi for cars GM to sell medium-truck business, keep dealer network Web classified ad firms renew marketing to dealers, buyers Chery designs venture's vehicles China venture eyes 20,000 Fiesta hatchback sales Toyota plans crossovers in China Dongfeng, YuAn plan minicars BMW shakes up global marketing, sales ranks Delphi divestiture boosts forging supplier Is Blackhawk purchase bucking a trend? Repair company grows as Detroit 3 struggle BorgWarner unit expands German automakers seek more parts sourced in North America Hyundai picks ArvinMeritor Japan parts firm to build Miss. plant Nissan to increase spending on IT Purchase keeps Tenn. plant open Automakers hit with apartheid claims Mexico sales flat in January Ford prices '09 Flex atop crossover line Hamp rejoins Visteon board RV deliveries decline 3.4% in December Subaru lowers Forester price Personnel Bright future for LED headlight suppliers? Valeo's Morin to Pardus: Learn before you leap German automakers aren't worried about U.S. recession Porsche's Wiedeking: We must retool VW Europe's loud debate over quieter tires Noise level depends on the tires, the road Auto industry robotics spending jumps 43% in 2007 Electronic brakes struggle to get traction Big Texas dealer returns to some domestic brands AutoNation chief sees tough '08, better '09 In downturn, Sonic looks beyond new cars GM promotes service, parts leads for dealerships 10 cool dealership technologies found at NADA Dealers Kia will build transmissions at Georgia plant Gibson leaves DealerTrack board Akebono closing Kentucky plant Feds issue Ford fire warning Magna net income drops VW to use Siemens' software A tale of 2 exhaust systems EU wants CO2 in ads; battle looms Maize malaise stalls ethanol Tata to siesta during Ford's Fiesta Honda moves its American bike offshore Honda will recycle cycle plant Tom LaSorda's multimillion-dollar smile

Automotive News - March 3, 2008

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