Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - (Page 18H) 18H • JULY 7, 2008 Supplier input varies in Nissan’s tech plans Engine, transmission development likely will be done in-house Lawrence J. Speer lspeer@craincom.de Coming soon Nissan has presented 5 technologies this year that it plans to launch in future models. 1. New V-8 Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) engine that increases acceleration potential while reducing emissions 2. New clean diesel developed with Renault 3. Catalyst that halves raw material costs by using fewer precious metals 4. Smart headlights that improve visibility during twilight hours 5. Intelligent seat belts that automatically retract when a driver loses control or makes sharp turns PARIS — Nissan will integrate suppliers in plans to introduce 15 technologies a year beginning in 2009. “There will be some key technological areas where we will want to pilot development up to the manufacturing process; then we will hand it over to suppliers,” Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Nissan Motor Co.’s executive vice president in charge of r&d, said during a press briefing here. “For some other technological developments, we will need to have supplier involvement from the very beginning,” Yamashita said. Engine and transmission developments are those most likely to be done in-house, Yamashita said, while interior and safety features will likely be developed closely with suppliers. The push into new vehicle technologies is a key element of CEO Carlos Ghosn’s Nissan GT 2012 strategy. Ghosn’s plan aims to redefine the Japanese carmaker as a technology leader. This year, Nissan already has presented five technologies that demonstrate the type of products to come. Many advancements are linked to Nissan’s aim to be a leader in zeroemission vehicles. Yamashita said that Nissan will Nissan’s electric car, due in 2010, will be about the size of the Micra, shown. begin marketing plug-in electric vehicles in Japan and the United States in 2010, in Europe a year later and in the rest of the world in 2012. Volume is expected to be several thousand units in 2010, Yamashita said. Nissan says plug-in electric cars could cost twice as much as gasoline or diesel cars. The automaker expects governments initially to subsidize as much as 75 percent of that cost difference. The need for subsidies will drop when sales of the electric cars, powered by lithium ion batteries, reach substantial numbers. “More than 80 percent of battery production is machining, and as we manufacture more, the price will go down,” Yamashita said. Nissan’s first electric car in 2010 will have a driving range of about 170 kilometers (about 105 miles) on a single charge, Yamashita said. Two years later, a second-generation car will have a range of 180 to 186 miles per charge. Later the range could reach as far as 248 miles, Yamashita said. Nissan will develop small electric cars about the size of the Micra. For larger cars where drivers will need a longer range, the carmaker plans to introduce gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains. “Even if the electric vehicles are a success,” Yamashita said, “we still see the possibility for hybrids.” c GM Europe exec: Curbing CO2 is ‘around the clock’ effort The word “powertrain” is becoming outdated, says Mike Arcamone, vice president of General Motors Powertrain Europe. Engineers, he says, are working on advanced propulsion technology. The challenge is meeting tougher emission standards worldwide. Arcamone talked about GM’s “march toward zero emissions” with Automotive News Europe News Editor Douglas A. Bolduc. How has your life changed because of the push to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Europe and around the world? Today, we are not talking about powertrains. “Powertrain” is an old word now. We are talking about propulsion technology. We have the ability to really bring out advanced propulsion technology. When we talked about the extended-range electric vehicle many years ago, we had no real date when this could happen. Now we can predict. We have products that are very close. Are we working around the clock to bring out these technologies? Yes. How much do you think a customer will pay for these new technologies? We will not tell a customer, “If you want stop-start, you will have to pay X number of euros.” We are saying this vehicle has this type of technology; this is the entry point. Is it technologically feasible to get to the European Commission’s proposed target to reduce average CO2 emissions from Europe’s new cars to 120 grams per kilometer by 2012? General Motors supports getting to better emissions. The vehicles we designed last year have to be able to questionanswer GM’s Mike Arcamone: “ ‘Powertrain’ is an old word now. We are talking about propulsion technology.” meet 2012. Is that a challenge? Absolutely. Will we meet it? Absolutely. What type of hybrids will GM launch in Europe? We have products such as singlemode and two-mode hybrids in some of our regions, and we are looking at the application across other regions. Europe is definitely a region we are looking at. We want to know which application best suits the mar- ket needs and the consumer needs. It may be a simple stop-start system. When we go to the two-mode hybrid with two electric engines, it will provide a comfortable driving experience at low range and high range. That type of technology is what is being looked at for Europe. But European drivers have been slow to accept hybrids. To reach the next level of CO2 emissions, we have to introduce new technologies. It can’t be done just with diesels. The current products can only give you so much. We are gaining by refining the conventional internal combustion engine and continuing the march toward zero emissions. Diesels use less fuel and thus produce less CO2 than gasoline engines. When will the CO2 performance of the competing powertrains be equal? In the next two to three years. As we introduce technologies such as hybrids and HCCI (homogeneous charge combustion ignition), all this will bring us to the point where the gap will be significantly reduced. Are you asking your suppliers to help you meet the future CO2 limits? We are partnering. We are letting them develop some of the technology, and we are buying it as a component. When it comes to emissions, if we look at where we need to be now and in 2012, the slope is straight down. The advanced work we do with our suppliers is becoming more exciting because we have less time. We need to get to market faster. It excites the supply base that we can use some of the technologies they have been working on. c http://WWW.ANX.COM http://WWW.ANX.COM
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Turnaround trouble: Mitsubishi back on the skids It's a panic — but don't panic CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED Japan's new diet plan: Slim down, ounce by ounce Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans Reynolds sues dealer over computer upgrade Chrysler and dealers to improve Internet marketing strategies Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts Nissan: Despite a truck glut, Titan gets no more incentives American Axle cuts staff; boosts India business, CEO bonus Bosch sees N.A. red ink this year Bill Mitchell's designs blew away the past Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder GM Europe exec: Curbing CO2 is 'around the clock' effort Supplier input varies in Nissan's tech plans Great Wall becomes Chrysler's 2nd Chinese partner Steel prices nudge up Nano's costs Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund Automakers create opportunities for Mexican molders Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs Researchers test capturing CO2 before it leaves the car Some execs win even when their companies lose Tata's personal touch Show me the money Obituaries Study: Dealership service shops extend their hours New Web tool promotes GM service Fiat CEO Marchionne is Industry Leader of Year Jim O'Sullivan Johan de Nysschen Sergio Marchionne Ratan Tata Dick Colliver Fritz Henderson Martin Thall Jim Farley Jack Stavana Roger Penske Walter de' Silva Mike Stanton Tim Manganello David Friedman Jim Hallett Larry Jutte Kim Kosak Ron Gettelfinger Tom Stephens Bob Lutz Tom Shoupe Jay Amestoy June caps a dismal first half Personnel Auto roof rule due by Oct. 1 Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations Small-car transaction prices rise in June Turbo taboo may end for BMW M's The mpg fracas: Pick your favorite fairy tale Great news? Analysts shun the Kool-Aid at Chrysler And now, from Wall Street, a short tale of terror VW tells builders: Plan for Southeast plant Dodging a bullet: Half-off deal busts dealer's Ram jam To run the train, should you be an engineer? Automotive News - July 7, 2008 Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 1) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED (Page 2) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Amid sale rumors, Volvo has upmarket plans (Page 3) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 4) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Seat strategy: Lear aims to make more profits by producing more parts (Page 5) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 6) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Hyundai Santa Fe to get a 4-cylinder (Page 7) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 8) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Analyst: GM could tap UAW benefits fund (Page 9) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 10) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Chrysler pitches gas savings on hybrid SUVs (Page 11) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 12) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 13) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 14) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Show me the money (Page 15) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 16) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 17) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18A) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18B) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18C) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18D) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18E) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18F) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18G) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18H) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18I) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18J) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18K) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Obituaries (Page 18L) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - New Web tool promotes GM service (Page 19) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Dick Colliver (Page 20) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Walter de' Silva (Page 21) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Larry Jutte (Page 22) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 23) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 24) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 25) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 26) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 27) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Jay Amestoy (Page 28) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - June caps a dismal first half (Page 29) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Mitsubishi dumps 9 ad associations (Page 31) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 32) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - Small-car transaction prices rise in June (Page 33) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 34) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 35) Automotive News - July 7, 2008 - To run the train, should you be an engineer? (Page 36)
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