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Volkswagen to open US plant
Twenty years after the closure of its last American plant, Volkswagen is returning to the United States. With its planned factory in Chattanooga, the company is hoping to regain US market share and also buffer itself from euro-dollar currency fluctuations.
German carmaker Volkswagen announced on Tuesday it would invest close to €1 billion ($1.59 billion) to build its first factory in the United States after the closure of its last plant 20 years ago. The company said it expects to open a new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee by 2011. VW plans to produce 150,000 automobiles annually at the site as part of its effort to increase market share in America, which has eroded in recent years.
Read more... Twenty years after the closure of its last American plant, Volkswagen is returning to the United States. With its planned factory in C... more -
VW to open a plant in Tennessee
German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has chosen to locate its new US car plant in Tennessee, a move that could pump $1bn into the local economy. VW opted for a site in the city of Chattanooga in preference to possible locations in Alabama and Michigan.
The euro's rise against the dollar has made it costly to make cars in Europe and export them to the US, leading VW to explore manufacturing again there.
When it is up and running in 2011, the new plant will employ 2,000 people directly as well as offering business to hundreds of suppliers. The new facility will eventually have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and will be used to build a new midsized vehicle for the US market.
German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has chosen to locate its new US car plant in Tennessee, a move that could pump $1bn into the local eco... more -
GM Announces Big Cuts
General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will lay off salaried workers, cut truck production, suspend its dividend and borrow $2 billion to $3 billion to weather a severe downturn in the U.S. market. General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will lay off salaried workers, cut truck production, suspend its dividend and borrow $2 billion t... more
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B.C. oil could ease crisis
Canada could play a crucial role in helping alleviate the international energy crisis if it continues to expand Alberta oilsands production and considers allowing exploration off B.C.'s pristine coastline, says a senior official with the International Energy Agency. Canada could play a crucial role in helping alleviate the international energy crisis if it continues to expand Alberta oilsands produ... more
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General Motors blames its lagging hybrid tech on public.
Head of GM Rick Wagoner, speaking at an industry conference in Dallas commented, "We have to build cars and trucks that people want to buy," in response to why GM's hybrid lineup is lagging behind.
Autoblog continues, "..your company also has to have at least a modicum of foresight in order to be successful in the tough American market these days. For instance, Toyota is just now reaping the benefits of its hybrid electric vehicles, despite the fact that the automaker has been building them since 1997. Did Toyota know something that GM didn't? Not really".
Head of GM Rick Wagoner, speaking at an industry conference in Dallas commented, "We have to build cars and trucks that people want to... more -
Fill up your car... at your home hydrogen fuel station
A fuel station producing enough hydrogen to run householders' homes and cars has been unveiled today.
The British invention, due to go on sale within two years, is roughly the size of a heating boiler and will cost under £2,000.
Its creators say it will revolutionise commuting, help homeowners slash energy bills, and give easy access to a fuel that does not produce carbon dioxide emissions, helping to combat climate change.
ITM Power also unveiled a Ford Focus that has been converted to run on hydrogen.
The hydrogen generator, which when it goes on sale will be small enough to fit in a garage or home, will use water and offpeak electricity to generate the gas.
It will be stored in a pressurised tank and can be used to provide power for a range of domestic or commercial purposes.
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Daily Mail A fuel station producing enough hydrogen to run householders' homes and cars has been unveiled today. ... more -
Ford 'to make fewer big vehicles'
Car giant Ford has said it will cut its production of large trucks and large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in favor of more fuel efficient models.
It will also delay the introduction of its new pick-up truck by two months.
The US economic slowdown has reduced sales and soaring fuel prices have put consumers off buying bigger vehicles.
Ford said it will make a loss this year and predicted that the worsening US economic situation would make it difficult for it to break even in 2009. Car giant Ford has said it will cut its production of large trucks and large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in favor of more fuel effi... more -
Water-fuel car unveiled in Japan
Click on the image or go to the link to watch the video.
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BMW GINA Light Visionary Model: Premiere
This car is flexible!
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New 'skin' covered BMW concept car
Fine purveyors of quality motors, BMW, have released a press video of their latest concept car. And it looks crazy.
Sweeping lines, some kind of 'skin' outer layer and no doubt a rapid engine make me want one.
Fine purveyors of quality motors, BMW, have released a press video of their latest concept car. And it looks crazy. ... more -
Amazing truck art
I received this email with this amazing truck art and I thought I should share it with all the friends ... Enjoye ...
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Photos of the day: all gussied up in stunning chrome
These are absolutely gorgeous, colorful photographs of collectors' vintage automobiles, which have been obsessively dressed up with lots of party-time fantastic shiny chrome (and presented for you in stunning high-resolution).
In addition, a photo-gallery of these glittery little gems is included. Have a look and enjoy them!! These are absolutely gorgeous, colorful photographs of collectors' vintage automobiles, which have been obsessively dressed up with lo... more -
Ford to cut up to 12 percent of Salaried Jobs
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) plans to cut its U.S. salaried work force by up to 12 percent after its turnaround plan stalled because of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the Detroit News reported on Wednesday.
Ford warned last week it would not achieve its long-standing goal of returning to profitability in 2009 because of the U.S. economic downturn and a permanent shift in demand toward cars and crossovers and away from large trucks and SUVs.
The automaker also told employees in a memo last week that it expected to make cuts in hourly and salaried employees by August 1 and would detail those steps in July.
The cuts would be involuntary and were still being worked out by Ford, the newspaper reported.
A Ford representative could not be reached immediately for comment.
(Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080528/bs_nm/ford_cuts_dc_...
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Photo by Flicker user Ford Motor Company
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) plans to cut its U.S. salaried work force by up to 12 percent after its turnaround plan stalle... more -
Video Radical Lowrider, Tuningworld Bodensee 2007
This makes Herbie look hella lame.
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Nissan plans electric car in U.S. by ’10
The race is on! Who will be first to make the electric car again?
The commitment — expected to be announced Tuesday by Nissan’s chief executive, Carlos Ghosn — will be the first by a major automaker to bring a zero-emission vehicle to the American market. Nissan also expects to sell a lineup of electric vehicles globally by 2012. The race is on! Who will be first to make the electric car again? ... more -
Who is Stopping the Water Powered Car?
20 Billion dollars are being spent to stop water powered cars or hydrogen/oxygen powered cars, using 100% water as fuel is real. By spiltting water by electrolysis and creating hydrogen/oxygen gas, you can replace gasoline. We have been taught this is impossible! Engineers, scientists and professors may in fact tell tell you you're crazy to believe such non sense. They will also set out to prove you wrong. They base their laws of physics form 1825 thinking. Faraday's laws. Did you know that the first ICE engine ran on hydrogen from water? BMW has them! Hyunda will be making them. Japan indorses them. Many patents, inventions have been bought and there project is shelved, yes it is true. Some of the stubborn inventors who don't sell out disappear. Yes that's right. It happens in the US, Aus, NZ, UK and India. We are in a crunch to find alternative fuels. The pressure is on. War for oil is not the way to go. 20 Billion dollars are being spent to stop water powered cars or hydrogen/oxygen powered cars, using 100% water as fuel is real. By sp... more
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Electric cars & lies
This week's episode of Zaproot with Jessica Williamson uncovers some sad news about ZAP!, the California based company that produces electric and zero air pollution vehicles. I was so excited about the ZAP-X! Aaaagh! :-(
http://www.zapworld.com/
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ViroPop is a NextNewNetworks property.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
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This week's episode of Zaproot with Jessica Williamson uncovers some sad news about ZAP!, the California based company that produces e... more -
Think: Norwegian Car Company Announce Plans For Affordable E.V. In U.S.
Norwegian electric carmakers Think have announced plans to manufacture and sell their reasonably priced, eco-friendly cars here in the U.S.
The company has partnered with two leading clean-tech venture capital firms, RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins, Caulfield and Byers, to form Think North America. The new venture was announced at the 2008 Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference held in Pasadena, California (April 21-22, 2008). The aim of the invitation-only event is to bring industry leaders together to discuss the impact and opportunities presented by the green-movement.
Think North America hope to have their first vehicle, the Think City, in production in the U.S. sometime in 2009. It is likely that the company will be based in Southern California, and that cars will be assembled locally. The electric car, which is currently only available in Norway, is a 100% emission free, battery-powered vehicle. Made of 95% recycled material, it has a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge.
The Think City "is a mass-market vehicle," said Kleiner managing partner, Ray Lane . "Our desire is to be selling 30-40-50,000 of these cars in a couple of years." The two-seater cars, which can be fitted with additional rear seats intended for children, will retail for under $25,000.
Think was founded under the name Pivco (Personal Independent Vehicle Company) in Oslo in 1991. Ford acquired the company in 1999, but sold its stake in 2003 around the same time that General Motors dropped the now mythical EV1, after California passed legislation significantly backtracking on its ZEV (zero-emissions vehicle) mandate. In March of this year General Electric announced an alliance with Think at the Geneva Motor Show, investing $4 million in the EV company, and a further $20 million in A123 Systems, who will manufacture the car's batteries.
Interestingly, in Norway, Think offer a "Mobility Pack" lease program for the car's batteries. Under this business model, Think own the batteries and charge a monthly fee in exchange for a full maintenance, service and replacement plan. They promise to "take responsibility for battery performance throughout the cars life span" for a fee of around 200 EUR (approx $290), which also covers insurance and electricity costs. The move is intended to give customers peace of mind, and maintain the car's re-sale value. It has yet to be announced if a similar program will be available for North American customers. Norwegian electric carmakers Think have announced plans to manufacture and sell their reasonably priced, eco-friendly cars here in the... more -
Danica Patrica nets first female win in open wheel
Danica Patrick wins the Honda Motegi 300. Netting the first win for a female driver in open wheel racing. Danica Patrick is also the first and to this date only woman to lead laps at the Indianapolis 500. This is a long time coming as female drivers were not allowed into the IRL until Janet Guthrie in the early seventies. In a rare move, the IRL allowed fans on to the track for the historic podium ceremonies. Danica Patrick wins the Honda Motegi 300. Netting the first win for a female driver in open wheel racing. Danica Patrick is also the f... more
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Can the world run on water?
Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this technology works and will soon catch on! From being used by this guy's torch, HHO gas can prove to be a means to fuel automobiles. The prospect of using HHO to fuel cars successfully almost seems like a dream come true. Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this technology works and will soon catch on! From being u... more
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