Impressed in its recent trip from Japan, European car maker Volkswagen is reportedly mulling a possible 10% stake in Suzuki. Apparently, the market penetration of the Japanese car manufacturer into India is what caught Volkswagen’s eye, something that they have not been successful at to date.

This should be good news for Suzuki considering that they needs all the help they can get financially although some terms of that area may possibly need further elaboration. But whatever happens, you can bet that this potential investment or partnership can be a good one for both of them.

In late May 2009, VW said that it was mulling cooperation with the Chinese company BYD to build hybrid or electric cars.

(Source) Steel Guru

Tags: car maker, chinese company, cooperation, electric cars, guru, India, Japan, japanese car manufacturer, market penetration, partnership, stake, Suzuki, volkswagen, VW

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While other companies are facing the financial woes brought about a declining economy, Vauxhall UK continues to make great strides. Normally, you would link them to the misfortunes of General Motors but apparently, this European car maker has made the right decisions as far as their car line is concerned. In fact it looks like their latest model, the Vauxhall Astra Hatch will be something to watch once it hits the market slated later this year.

To get them through the recession, it is obvious that some companies have turned to adjustments as far as their overall car quality is concerned. But don’t tell that to Vauxhall which has successfully retained vehicle quality both in and out.

“Vauxhalls continued commitment to engine downsizing without trouncing performance is a master stroke. Running costs and low emissions are at the forefront of consumers mind. This car is for those who want style and power without compromising on costs and ethics.”

Indeed, you may think that should such a feature be compromised, the car would fail to achieve in retaining its mark of quality. But with the right adjustments made to areas that include passenger comfort and a FlexiRide system, motorists would barely notice the difference. In short, the concept of the new vehicle is astounding and produces a car worthy taking note of.

(Source) Press

Tags: car line, car maker, car quality, declining economy, downsizing, emissions, ethics, financial woes, forefront, General Motors, great strides, hatch, master stroke, misfortunes, motorists, recession, running costs, vauxhall astra, vauxhall uk, vehicle quality

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Fiat studies its options and one of them now includes bidding for German carmaker Opel. The Italian carmaker Fiat is seeking to merge its car division with General Motors Europe and ailing US car firm Chrysler to create an automotive giant second only to Japan’s Toyota in terms of production.

Fiat’s chief executive, Sergio Marchionne, will meet German government ministers today to discuss a bid for the German car maker Opel, part of GM Europe. If the talks go to plan, Fiat would list shares in the combined company this summer. Marchionne described the plan as “an incredibly simple solution to a very thorny problem”.

He told the Financial Times: “From an engineering and industrial point of view, this is a marriage made in heaven.”

Opel, hit by a slump in demand due to the global downturn, has four plants in Germany and employs about 25,000 workers. Thousands more jobs at suppliers are at stake.

(Source) Guardian

Tags: car division, car firm, car maker, combined company, Fiat, financial times, General Motors, german car, german carmaker, german government, global downturn, gm europe, government ministers, italian carmaker, marriage made in heaven, motors europe, Opel, simple solution, slump, thorny problem

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When it comes to car parts, Denso is a familiar and compatible brand with Japanese car maker Toyota. Denso is familiar with the usual sparkplugs used for gas vehicles and apparently they are broadening their product line by entering the fuel injector market.

Denso has slowly been releasing these OE parts to the aftermarket. That means that you and I can buy these parts for our vehicle at a fraction of the cost, with the satisfaction that our baby is getting the quality it deserves.

Denso’s aftermarket product line includes fuel pumps, wiper blades, heavy duty and automotive starters and alternators, spark plugs, ignition wires, oil, cabin and air filters, AC components and oxygen sensors. And they’ve just announced the addition of fuel injectors to their First Time Fit product line.

(Source) Prudent Press Agency

Tags: air filters, automotive starters, car maker, car parts, compatible brand, denso, fraction, fuel injector, fuel injectors, fuel pumps, gas vehicles, heavy duty, japanese car, oil cabin, oxygen sensors, satisfaction, sparkplugs, wiper blades

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Hyundai Automotive Groups has announced that approximately 50,000 cars will be recalled due to a light switch problem. The car models affected include that of vehicles produced between September and November of 2006.

Hyundai Automotive Group consists of Hyundai Motor Co. (005380.SE) and Kia Motors Corp. (000270.SE), which together form the world’s fifth-largest car maker by sales.

“Brake lights of some of Hyundai and Kia models were found not to function when drivers stepped on brakes due to the switch flaws,” the ministry said in a statement.

Hyundai will recall a total of 37,794 cars of five models and Kia a combined 10,842 vehicles of five models, the statement said.

The cars subject to be recalled include: new Santa Fe, Veracruz sport utility vehicles, new Avante, new Sonata and new Grandeur sedans from Hyundai and Grand Carnival, new Carnival, new Sportage, new Carens and Sorento SUVs from Kia Motors, it said.

(Source) Wall Street Journal

Tags: avante, car maker, car models, grand carnival, grandeur, hyundai motor, hyundai motor co, kia models, kia motors corp, light switch, new sportage, sedans, sorento, sport utility vehicles, switch problem

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We are often reminded to buckle up for safety and apparently, Volvo has been known to adhere to this reminder. In fact, Volvo is known for inventing the 3-point seatbelt way back in 1958 and has since become a standard seatbelt in most cars we see today.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the most important lifesaving device in automotive safety: the 3-point seatbelt. Patented in 1959, the 3-point safety belt has saved more than one million lives and was introduced in the Volvo Amazon (120) and PV 544 in the Nordic markets. Volvo thus became the first car maker in the world to equip its cars with 3-point safety belts as standard.

It is the safety belt’s ability to keep the occupant in the seat that is of crucial importance. All told, the belt reduces the risk of fatalities and serious injuries from collisions by about 50 percent. Seatbelt usage in the US reached its highest rate in 2008, with 83 percent of front-seat occupants buckling up.

(Source) Press

Tags: automotive safety, car maker, Cars, collisions, front seat, lifesaving device, pv 544, safety belt, safety belts, seat occupants, seatbelt usage, Volvo, volvo amazon

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To calm some jumpy workers on their end, Chrysler has boldly announced that it will weather the crisis whether Fiat will come in or not. While the deal with the Italian automaker would bring an estimated $10 billion, a big help especially now that the economies are crashing for most business sectors.

“During the dialogue [with the presidential task force], and in the additional data we have supplied in response to their requests, we have continued to emphasize that Chrysler is a viable business on a stand-alone basis and our future is further enhanced through the proposed global alliance with Fiat,” he wrote.

Nardelli also estimated that the deal with Fiat, which would give the Italian car maker a 35% stake in Chrysler, would bring the company between $8 billion and $10 billion.

“There is still considerable work and negotiations that must be completed to meet the government’s target date of March 31,” Nardelli added. “I can assure you that we are working tirelessly to continue our progress with the assistance of the U.S. auto task force to meet the requirements set for us by the government.”

(Source) Market Watch

Tags: car maker, Chrysler, Fiat, global alliance, italian automaker, italian car, u s auto

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In what has to be an outrageous for a car, Skoda has reportedly unveiled one of its most expensive and fastest production cars, the Superb V6 four-wheel drive. The price? Would you believe $48,000?

The price is indeed hefty and considering that today is the age of saving and turn towards electric and hybrid cars aiming to address the fuel and pollution problems, this car has to be kidding!

the latest Superb is the ‘most expensive Skoda ever built,’ according to the car maker. The Elegance version including all extras cost 45,229 euros including seven airbags and an array of assistance systems, leather upholstery and sunroof.

It is indeed superb but also impractical. I don’t think even the millionaires would waste their money on such a vehicle especially when you can buy better branded ones in the market today.

Source

Tags: airbags, car maker, elegance, fastest production cars, four wheel drive, hybrid cars, leather upholstery, skoda, wheel

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