In the past Honda has pointed towards fuel cell powered vehicles as the future — Today at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has again stated his company’s stance on the fuel cells saying that hydrogen energy is the best long term strategy for the auto industry.

Sure, Honda has some electric vehicles in the works such as the Honda EV-N and the Honda CR-Z but Ito says once the industry realizes the limits of batteries they too will turn to hydrogen.

What do you guys think? Is hydrogen the future or will we be seeing batteries stick around for a bit longer?

via..

Tags: ceo, fuel cells, Honda, Hydrogen, takanobu ito, tokyo motor show

Continue reading...

It seems that Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is unhappy with the current hype surrounding his company due to its decline since the late 90s. Well, if what he says is true Lotus will be on par with Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari soon enough.

Autocar quotes Mr. Bahar:

“Lotus was mentioned in the same sentence as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati in the 1970s-1990s. Then, it got closed into a corner. We believe it’s the right time to bring Lotus back to where it was.”

Will they succeed? All three of the automakers he plans to go against have long been regarded as some of the highest quality, most expensive and fastest cars in the industry, so let’s wish them luck.

Tags: ceo, dany bahar, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati

Continue reading...

It seems that the iconic motorbike maker Harley-Davidson has recently posted a 91% drop of earnings for the first half of 2009 compared to the same time period of 2008.

Despite the frightening drop, Harley CEO Keith Wandell was quoted to have said “the underlying fundamentals of the Harley-Davidson brand remain strong.”

While I have to say I agree that whenever someone sees a hog drive down they road they immediately think ‘Harley’ I don’t know if the fundamentals of the brand are strong enough to save the company from the economy.

via Jalopnik

Tags: ceo, earnings, economy, harley davidson, keith wandell, recession

Continue reading...

Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has reprimanded two company board members for speaking negatively about the company’s financial standing. Porsche has been trying to keep its poor financial condition quiet as it searches more than $2.4 billion in government loans. Wiedeking wrote letters to IG Metall union head Bertold Huber and Volkswagen AG Chairman Ferdinand Piech – both members of Porsche’s board.

Huber and Piech got the letters after publicly criticizing Porsche’s financial standing. Wiedeking found himself in trouble after racking up $12 billion in debt during the unsuccessful takeover of Volkswagen. Porsche presently has a $3.5 billion cash shortfall.

Tags: Bertold Huber, ceo, Ferdinand Piech, Porsche, Wendelin Wiedeking

Continue reading...

Tesla has had three CEOs in the last three years alone and now, original founder and designer of the famed Tesla Roadster, Martin Eberhard, has filed a lawsuit against current Tesla CEO Elon Musk, suing over a number of actions that could be possibly damaging to both Musk and the company. This suit covers slander, libel and breach of contract. Eberhard claims that Musk consistently set out to expel him and gain control of the company when he initially became an investor. Eberhard is also claiming that Musk is discounting his role as the original founder of Tesla and is alleging that Musk is claiming to have founded the company and originally had the idea for the Tesla Roadster.

Finally, Eberhard is suing for severance pay that he never received, as well as a special Founders’ Series of the Tesla Roadster, which was limited to the first few Tesla models off the assembly line. Evidently he was promised one of these early models, which his lawyers believe could be worth several million dollars eventually, but instead Musk gave the car to a friend. The Roadster that Eberhard finally received was shattered due to some endurance testing that required running the car into the back of a truck. This whole saga sounds like a big, expensive mess.

Tags: ceo, Elon Musk, lawsuit, Martin Eberhard, Tesla, tesla roadster

Continue reading...

We have seen that through the months, the focus nowadays is on the charging stations made for electric cars that are expected to boom soon. And while we may soon see a dilapidating count of gasoline stations, the new mode of business nowadays is shifting towards recharging stations, obviously aimed at electric cars that are going to be out in the market.

“Battery electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles are just around the corner,” stated Mike Sheriff, CEO of ArcAngel Technologies. Established companies such as GM, Chrysler, Nissan and new companies, Tesla, Zenn, and others will begin shipping electric vehicles late this year and early 2010. “It’s intriguing with all the push for electric vehicles that the charging infrastructure has not received more attention,” continued Sheriff. “Eliminating ‘charging anxiety’ for users is very important, and important to the success of our Business Plan.”

Indeed, the need for charging stations is expected to blossom and while many are still adamant on whether the electric car shift will prosper, it is obvious that one way or another that it will. People are getting tired of the fuel-efficiency hitch, not to mention bulging fuel and oil costs. Electric cars are expected to take over and one can just imagine the demand for charging stations once they grow in numbers in the coming years.

(Source) Press

Tags: arcangel, business plan, ceo, Chrysler, electric car, electric cars, electric vehicles, fuel efficiency, gasoline stations, GM, infrastructure, Nissan, oil costs

Continue reading...

Chrysler’s in quite a slum right now but once they get out of bankruptcy things may be looking a bit better for the automaker — It seems that Robert Nardelli was deemed unfit for the job of CEO as he will step down with C. Robert Kidder filling the spot.

Nardelli comments on the new filling:

We are most fortunate that Bob Kidder will lead the new company through its transformation. My number one priority has been to preserve Chrysler and the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on its success. With his broad expertise serving on numerous world-class boards and his accomplished business background, Bob will provide the leadership and strategic counsel that will help to create a strong global competitor moving forward.

Some kind words there Mr. Nardelli, especially towards someone who will be taking your job. But this all raises the question, does Kidder have what it says to get Chrysler out of their current state and back up to glory? Let’s just hope they don’t come out with another PT Loser Cruiser.

Press release detailing Kidder’s new position after the break. (more…)

Tags: Bankruptcy, c. robert kidder, ceo, chrysler group llc, economy, recession, robert nardelli

Continue reading...

In comments to the automotive and environmental press last week in Seattle, Volkswagen of America president and CEO Stefan Jacoby said that while VW is considering electric vehicles along with other alternatives, he does not see advanced plug-ins or EVs becoming a significant part of the market within the next decade. “We cannot expect in the next ten years a major change,” said Jacoby, who said that even if electric vehicles become a significant portion of the market, they “will not be affordable to the American middle class.” And that’s before considering the obstacles related to reliability, safety, and durability of battery packs.

“We have to be realistic,” he added. The automaker hasn’t totally shied away from hybrids and plug-ins as it is currently working on both. Last year it revealed a Golf Twin Drive Concept, a plug-in hybrid with a compact lithium-ion battery pack and a TDI diesel engine, and it is reportedly preparing to test the vehicles in a limited fleet.

Tags: ceo, Stefan Jacoby, volkswagen, VW

Continue reading...

iBidMotors just got bigger with the reported acquisition of Monster Motors, a leading automotive online auction site. The expanded iBidMotors platform now has hundreds of car dealer clients and over 30,000 vehicles available to consumers from coast to coast.

iBidMotors and Monster Motors both launched in 2006, with iBidMotors focusing primarily on the Eastern United States, while Monster Motors focused on dealers primarily in the Midwest and Western parts of the country.

“The completion of this acquisition represents a significant step for iBidMotors in our strategy to expand our geographic footprint and establish ourselves as the leader in the rapidly growing online platform for car dealers,” said Bob Schiff, iBidMotors Founder and CEO.

Over the past two years the iBidMotors.com online auction has sold over $100M in retail automotive sales, making them one of the fastest growing automotive sites and the platform of choice for some of the largest dealer groups in the country.

(Source) Press

Tags: 100m, acquisition, automotive sales, car dealer, car dealers, ceo, consumers, country source, dealer clients, dealer groups, geographic footprint, ibidmotors, midwest, monster motors, online auction site, schiff

Continue reading...

Digital Car Audio promises to be the next step towards in-car audio entertainment and for Australians, they are practically the ones who will provide feedback on whether the digital car radio can become a demand. Will it flourish, or will it be assigned to the digital reject bin, like Mini Discs and HD-DVD?

Digital radio is an impressive enough format – possessing cleaner and improved sound, extra channels, track title and artist info, pause and rewind, downloadable music and images, just to name a few features.

Commercial Radio Australia’s CEO Joan Warner said that talks with the auto industry are underway, working towards a solution for the DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) system.

(Source) The Motor Report

Tags: artist info, audio entertainment, australians, auto industry, broadcasting system, car audio, car radio, ceo, commercial radio, digital audio broadcasting, digital car, digital radio, downloadable music, hd dvd, images, mini discs, radio australia, system source

Continue reading...

The world’s first purpose-built vehicle was officially introduced in the market by Bright Vehicles. The vehicle is called the IDEA, the multi-use vehicle falls into the light truck classification. The company announced it plans to produce 50,000 vehicles annually by 2013, providing businesses and government agencies with a highly durable, cost-saving and eco-friendly new vehicle, and creating thousands of American jobs.

Bright Automotive showed a fully operating concept version of the vehicle to a crowd that included Members of Congress, White House Officials, media, and customer and supplier representatives.

“We created the IDEA by starting with a clean sheet of paper, listening to customer needs, and using breakthrough technologies and materials,” said John E. Waters, President and CEO of Bright Automotive. “The IDEA leverages Bright’s highly experienced team and delivers a lower cost of ownership than competing vehicles. At the same time, the IDEA demonstrates technological leadership for the American auto industry and will create thousands of new ‘green collar’ jobs here at home.”

High volume production of the IDEA will begin in the U.S. by the end of 2012 — with an annual run rate of 50,000 units beginning in 2013. To produce its vehicle, the company plans to create over 5,000 jobs — directly and through suppliers — by 2013.

(Source) Press

Tags: american auto industry, breakthrough technologies, ceo, cost of ownership, government fleets, jobs, MPG

Continue reading...

Mazda has recently expressed their interest in following the marketing and making a shift towards a more green campaign.

They won’t be completely green right off the bat as up until 2015 Mazda will make a huge effort to increase the gas efficiency of their current lineup. However, when 2015 does roll around that’s when the real fun begins.

Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi was quoted as saying the company will, in fact, begin producing both hybrid and plug-in electrics in 2015. You have 6 years to get this right, Mazda, you better make it count!

Read (AutoBlogGreen)

Tags: ceo, Electric, hybrid, Plug-in, takashi yamanouchi

Continue reading...

There are a lot of things you can purchase online these days and cars are included. And while technology has made it easier for the modern consumer, it has also become an opportunity for crooks to take advantage of. For that matter, key automotive industry leaders announced today they are forming an alliance to address the growing threat of fraud in the online private party used car marketplace. ‘F.A.I.R.’ (Fraud Abatement through Industry Response) will host their first one-day roundtable event, including a public forum for Q & A, in Los Angeles on April 23, 2009 at the historic Petersen Automotive Museum.

Forty-four million used cars were sold in the US last year; over half of which were sold online. During the same period, Internet fraud rose 33 percent, according to a recent F.B.I./IC3 report. With consumer confidence at an all time low, the threat of increased risk could dampen online sales and further harm the ailing automotive industry if steps are not immediately taken to address this challenge.

“The for sale by owner market is being choked by fraud,” said Reza Bundy, CEO of Mota.com, a partner in the F.A.I.R. initiative. “The occurrence of fraud and financial loss in the peer-to-peer space is increasing and together our intent is to create standards that will ensure fair and square transactions for American consumers.”

(Source) Press

Tags: abatement, american consumers, automakers, automotive industry, bundy, Cars, ceo, consumer confidence, crooks, industry leaders, industry response, initiative, internet fraud, marketplace, occurrence, Petersen Automotive Museum, private party, public forum, reza, risk

Continue reading...

Talks about fully electric cars from major automakers have been circulating for a while. Some fully electric ones have even managed to be mass produced and sent to market.

Well, despite all this, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn says that daily electric car use is still very far away and he’s even investing in this assumption capitalizing on the ability to power cars with gas, but just less gas.

What do you guys think? How much longer do we have to wait until electric cars become the norm?

Read (AutoBlog)

Tags: ceo, martin winterkorn, speculation

Continue reading...