Author: Ersin Kara

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) has named the Bosch Automotive Parts Center in honor of a $40,000 gift to the school’s automotive technology program from Robert Bosch LLC Automotive Aftermarket North America. Officials from Bosch and SIU dedicated the facility on April 9, 2015. Officials from Robert Bosch LLC Automotive Aftermarket North America and Southern Illinois University Carbondale are shown at the dedication of the school’s Bosch Automotive Parts Center (l to r): Mike Behrmann, Adam Wolfe, James Seargent, Andy Wang, Tim Bruin and Rob Darrow. The Bosch Automotive Parts Center acts as the central hub for connecting students to the public, and for providing quality automotive parts for student laboratory work. It also houses the automotive technology department’s retail parts and service operations office. The university’s automotive technology program is one of only a few in the nation to offer an automotive Technology baccalaureate degree. Established in 1952, the competitive admission program has more than 250 national and international students with more than 70 graduates each year. Representatives from Bosch Automotive Aftermarket NA, including Tim Bruin, vice president field sales; Rob Darrow, manager-strategic projects; and James Seargent, senior customer marketing analyst, presented a dedication plaque to SIU’s Andy Wang, dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts; and Mike Behrmann, automotive Technology department chair. Darrow and Seargent are both SIU automotive Technology program graduates. Adam Wolfe was also on the dais representing current SIU program students. Wolfe is also a Bosch co-op. “This gift from Bosch supports the university’s mission to recruit talented students to serve the region and beyond,” says Wang. “Through this Bosch Automotive Parts Center, we are able to create a unique learning environment with advanced automotive technologies and a great variety of auto parts and supplies that equip our students to become leaders in the automotive industry.” Support from Bosch also allows the department’s outstanding faculty to remain involved in research and development of some of the most advanced technical and business innovations occurring in the industry, according to Behrmann. “The SIU and Bosch working relationship supports the entire educational environment for students, faculty and the public.” Bosch says its aftermarket division regularly recruits and currently employs a number of graduates of the SIU automotive technology program in a range of sales and marketing positions. “We find the SIU grads to be knowledgeable from both the technical and business perspectives, highly enthusiastic, and innovative thinkers who have advanced Bosch and the industry through their contributions,” says Bruin. “As the world’s largest automotive supplier, Bosch has a particular passion to foster the education and growth of those who will build the future of this industry,” says Odd Joergenrud, regional president North America, Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Aftermarket. Visit www.automotive.siu.edu/ for more information about the SIU Automotive Technology program. Source: http://www.moderntiredealer.com/news/story/2015/04/university-dedicates-bosch-automotive-parts-center.aspx

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. announced on Friday that its global automotive interiors joint venture with Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd. is officially complete. Johnson Controls said the agreement will create the largest automotive interiors company in the world with revenues of approximately $7.5 billion. Johnson Controls will have a 30 percent share in the joint venture; Yanfeng will hold the majority 70 percent share. “Joining our two interiors businesses is a natural extension of our already very successful existing partnership with Yanfeng in automotive seating, which has flourished over the past 15 years,” said Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls chairman and chief executive officer, in May 2014 when the plans were first announced. “It creates a strong combined company with a market leading position and a foundation for sustained global growth. This also aligns with Johnson Controls’ corporate commitment to China, which is increasingly becoming a major center for the global automotive industry.” The new venture will be headquartered in Shanghai, with global engineering, development and customer centers in the United States, Europe, China, Japan and India. The agreement is a noncash transaction comprised of asset contributions by the two parties and is subject to limited conditions. Yanfeng is a subsidiary of Huayu Automotive Systems Co. Ltd., which is the component group of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., a state-owned company. Source: http://www.biztimes.com/article/20150413/ENEWSLETTERS04/150419971

A display of environmental, safety and comfort technology for world customers Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. will exhibit at the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2015), to be held at the National Convention and Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China on April 20-29, 2015. Toyoda Gosei is specialist in the fields of rubber and plastics automotive parts and LEDs. At Auto Shanghai 2015 our exhibits will be focused on products and technologies that contribute to environmental-friendliness, safety and comfort-all matters of increasing importance to consumers. The Toyoda Gosei booth will include a Wire-made Exhibition Car fitted with our lightweight fuel filler pipe that is made of plastic instead of metal and our full-cover 360° airbags that protect passengers from impacts from every direction. This model, exhibited for the first time in China, lets viewers see exactly where Toyoda Gosei products fit on an automobile. Also on display will be our latest console boxes for interior stylishness and convenience. Toyoda Gosei has thirteen business locations in the China region, where we are working to actively grow our business. In January of this year we took steps to strengthen our local technical development operations. We aim to continue meeting customer needs in the growing Chinese market and further expand our business there. Main exhibit items Environmental friendliness Lightweight plastic fuel filler pipes, plastic turbo ducts, and other plastics parts Highly energy-efficient surface-emitting LED room lamps and other products Safety Full cover, 360° airbags; vehicle emblems that can be used with millimeter-wave radar collision prevention systems for passenger protection Comfort Console boxes for greater convenience Radiator grilles with lacquer black plating; leather wound steering wheels Sources: http://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/toyoda-gosei-exhibit-auto-shanghai-2015/

NEW YORK — Honda upstaged the New York Auto Show on Wednesday with a sharp new redesign of its Civic and vows to take its popular compact car back to its performance roots. “This is the return of the sporty Civic,” says John Mendel, Honda’s executive vice president in the U.S. The company also announced a new turbocharged engine and more variants of the design — including a performance version and hatchback — than ever before. The 10th-generation appearance abandons the cab-forward design that the Civic has had for years to give it a long hood and sense of more power. The new one is a little longer and wider. In front there are new LED running lights and in back, a new wrap-around taillight design. Yet even with the changes, the car still has the unmistakable look of a Civic. The goal was to create “the most charismatic, most ambitious and most fun-to-drive and sportiest Civic we’ve ever made,” says Guy Melville-Brown, who led the U.S. design team in the creation of the car expected to sell around the world. While only a concept version of the coupe was shown, the first next-generation Civic to go on sale will be the sedan in the fall. Mendel said the production version of what he calls the “epic Civic” will hew closely to the looks of the concept. The coupe and hatchback will follow. While he would not confirm that a hybrid version will be made, Mendel said that a Civic Type-R, a sport version found outside the U.S., will be coming to American showrooms. Among the engine choices in the Civic will be a new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. It will also come with a CVT, or continuously variable transmission. Honda Civic remains one of the nation’s best-selling cars. Honda sold 66,722 in the first three months of the year, down 6.2% from the same period a year ago. But through the years, its image has bounced from compact and exciting to reliable but dull. With the new one, analysts say Honda could help put Civic’s styling doldrums behind it. “The 2016 Civic should correct that trajectory, offering styling and performance that will stand out in the crowded compact car segment,” says Karl Brauer, analyst for Kelley Blue Book. Besides the longer front hood, the wheels are closer to the front bumper to give a more racy feel. To also make the car look cool, the concept is being shown with huge 20-inch wheels, making it look even more substantial. “We really tried to go beyond the superficial of the current car,” Melville-Brown says. Source: USA TODAY

Last August, Siemens announced it would build the world’s first eHighway project in California near the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the two largest ports in the U.S. Today, I’m pleased to report that eHighway construction is now underway. This first-of-its-kind system will use electricity delivered via overhead lines to electrify road lanes and provide clean and efficient power to trucks. Using electricity to power the heavy-duty trucks that travel on the 1-mile stretch near the ports will result in significantly reduced emissions and lower noise pollution. If you travel near Alameda Street and Sepulveda Boulevard in the city of Carson, a suburb of Los Angeles, you’ll see infrastructure for the first eHighway project taking shape. We’ve begun work to install the test track located on an off-shoot of Alameda Street where we’ll also house the substation that will power the overhead lines. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll install the overhead poles and lines on the 1-mile corridor of Alameda Street that will become the eHighway. We’re thrilled to mark this project milestone along with our partner the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The technology, similar to trolley systems or streetcars with overhead lines, allows these intricate logistical hubs need to meet increasing local and global demand for goods. By improving the transportation systems in and around the Ports, these hubs can better meet the growing demand through the use of sophisticated and innovative electrification technology. Moving freight efficiently and economically, while remaining environmentally conscious, is a challenge, but it is one we believe that eHighway will help solve. Siemens’ Steffen Goeller, the head of our Rail Electrification business, highlighted eHighway as a technology that could shape next-generation transportation systems at last week’s ITS America Freight Symposium in Los Angeles. Goeller noted in his panel Moving Freight into the Future that “this California project is crucial to understanding how electricity can answer today’s transportation challenges. By installing the technology in a real-world scenario, it can be evaluated with a view of how it can be scaled up not only to connect the ports, but possibly on surrounding freeways and in other cities.” We know that technologies like eHighway will make the future of transportation more clear and we’re excited to move a step closer to the system opening in fall 2015. We look forward to continue serving as a technology partner for the Los Angeles region to bring the world’s most efficient, advanced and innovative transportation technology to the state of California. Source: Siemens USA Newsroom

İnsan hayatını kolaylaştıran ve küresel çevre, üretim, sağlık gibi sorunlara yenilikçi çözümler sunan, 2015’in en önemli 10 yükselen teknolojisi belirlendi. Dünya Ekonomik Forumu tarafından hazırlanan raporda, 2015 yılının “en umut verici ve yenilikçi” 10 yükselen teknolojisine yer verilirken, listede ilk sırayı sıfır emisyonlu hidrojen yakıt hücreli otomobiller aldı. Bunu sırasıyla yeni nesil robotlar, geri dönüşümlü termoset plastikler, hassas genetik mühendisliği teknikleri, 3D yazıcı teknolojisi, yeni yapay zeka, dağıtım üretimi, hisseden ve kaçınan insansız hava uçakları, nöromorfik teknolojisi ile dijital gen teknolojisi takip etti. Söz konusu teknolojiler ve bunların yakın gelecekteki getirileri hakkında bilgi verilen rapora göre, elektrikli ve hidrokarbon araçlara göre büyük avantajlar sunan sıfır emisyonlu hidrojen yakıt hücreli otomobiller, en önemli küresel çevre sorunlardan biri olan hava kirliliğinin azaltılmasına önemli katkı sağlayacak. Yeni nesil robotlar ile de robotların insan eli gibi esnek bir yapıya sahip olmaları, çevre şartlarını daha iyi algılamaları ve buna göre hareket etmeleri sağlanacak. Daha çok tarım alanında kullanılmaya başlanacak bu robotlar sayesinde, tekrarlanan işlerin 24 saat boyunca daha ucuza yapılması ve büyük ekonomik yarar sağlanması hedefleniyor. Geri dönüşümlü termoset plastik teknolojisiyle de cep telefonlarından uçaklara kadar bir çok yerde kullanılan plastikler, geri dönüşüm özelliğiyle ön plana çıkacak ve gelecek 5 yıl içinde geri dönüşümü olmayan plastiklerin yerini alacak. 3D yazıcılar doku üretiminde kullanılacak Uzun dönemdir tartışmalı bir konu olan genetik teknolojisi, “hassas genetik mühendisliği” teknikleriyle yeni boyuta geçecek. Buna göre, tarımda sürdürülebilirlik genetik teknolojiyle sağlanacak. Bitkiler, genetik kodları değiştirilerek, daha besleyici ve değişen iklim şartlarına uyumlu hale getirilecek. Üretim teknolojisinde devrim yaratacak nitelikte değişiklikler ve yenilikler getiren “üç boyutlu yazıcılar” ile yaratıcı fikirler ve tasarımlar gerçek modellere, son ürünlere, parçalara ve prototiplere hızlı bir şekilde dönüşebilecek. 3D teknolojisinin, ileride doku tamirinde ve yeni doku oluşturulmasında kullanılması hedefleniyor. “Yeni yapay zeka teknoloji” ile de geliştirilmiş makine gücünden yararlanılarak, insanların ihtiyaç duyabileceği bir çok hizmet, akıllı robotlar aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilecek. Tüketiciye tek aşamada üretim hizmetini sunacak “dağıtım üretimi” sistemiyle de kaynakların daha etkin kullanılması ve fabrikalardaki atık miktarının azaltılması amaçlanıyor. İnsan DNA’sı USB belleklere yüklenecek Son yıllarda savunma sanayisinde önem kazanan insansız hava uçakları da çevre koşullarını daha iyi şekilde algılayacak hale getirilecek. Bu şekilde söz konusu uçaklar yüksek duyu özellikleriyle, havada beklenmeyen tehlikelere karşı ani tedbirler alabilecek ve insanlar için riskli olan vazifeleri de yerine getirebilecek. “Nöromorfik teknolojisi” ile yeni bilgisayarların insan beyni gibi çalışması ve düşünebilme yeteneğine sahip olması sağlanacak. “Dijital gen teknolojisi” ile de insan DNA’sı, USB belleklere yüklenebilecek. Bu şekilde daha etkili sağlık hizmeti verilmesi, doktorların kanser gibi hastalıklarda daha hızlı karar verebilmesi amaçlanıyor. Kaynak: http://www.aa.com.tr/tr/u/485431–yukselen-10-teknoloji-gelecege-yon-verecek

This week the New York International Auto Show opens with a series of high-profile global vehicle debuts. As the competitive energy within the auto industry escalates every carmaker is being pushed to produce models with more compelling design, cutting-edge technology, superior performance and improved fuel efficiency. And while the New York auto show has always provided a first glimpse at a few key cars and trucks, this year’s show has more crucial global debuts than I’ve seen in my 20 years in the industry. That’s great news, not only for the show itself but for consumers and car enthusiasts looking for one last hurrah in the traditional auto show calendar (the New York auto show is always the last big show until fall). Normally I’d have to struggle to list 10 big deal world debuts in the Big Apple AAPL +1.81%, but the 2015 New York International Auto is bursting with all-new, never-before-seen cars that will play critical roles in each brand’s upcoming product plan. This will be a high-level look at each vehicle. You can see more details and breaking news from the show floor all week at Kelley Blue Book. 1. Lincoln Continental Concept: The attractive styling and advanced features seen on Lincoln’s new Continental concept are almost overshadowed by the car’s name — it’s not an acronym! It’s encouraging to see Lincoln embrace its rich history with a sleek luxury sedan wearing an iconic badge. Convincing serious — and notoriously elitist — luxury buyers that Lincoln is a genuine player in the premium market will be a long road, but a car like the Lincoln Continental Concept will shorten the journey if it materializes as a production model with the same flare seen on the show stand. Given Lincoln’s recent launch in China a car like the Continental, with its premium interior and first-class rear seating, is a smart step toward bolstering the brand’s global appeal. 2. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: After struggling to establish the current Malibu in the ultra-competitive midsize sedan category Chevrolet is set to make a splash with its all-new 2016 version. The sleek shape wraps around an all-new interior while featuring a long list of high-tech features. Parents will be able to monitor their children’s driving behavior, and a new hybrid model will offer class-leading fuel efficiency of at least 45 mpg. Looks like Chevrolet will finally give the segment leaders in this category something to worry about. 3. 2016 Cadillac CT6: It’s been too long since Cadillac offered a competitive, top-tier luxury sedan, which means the CT6 can’t arrive soon enough. As the brand continues to rebuild its image a worthy competitor to iconic models like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class will go a long way toward establishing Cadillac’s premium pedigree. I’m not sold on the latest naming convention, as I feel it will lead to more confusion than the existing nomenclature, but if the CT6 provides a powerful blend of advanced luxury features and capable performance the name won’t hold it back. 4. 2016 Lexus RX: The RX has been Lexus’ most successful model since it was introduced nearly 20 years ago. This means the brand has to balance bringing in new customers without alienating the existing fan base when redesigning the RX. This new version offers a more aggressive look than past models, reflecting Akio Toyoda’s mantra to increase his products’ emotional appeal while maintaining their high quality and refinement. Did the designers go too far with this one? We’ll know soon enough, but the latest RX will surely maintain its balance of luxury, technology and functionality, which will overcome any potential styling quirks in the eyes of traditional Lexus customers. 5. 2016 Scion iA and iM: Toyota’s Scion division has never delivered the kind of consistent, high-volume traffic its parent company, Toyota, wanted when it introduced the “youth brand” back in 2002. A combination of funky styling and low-cost materials, both designed to appeal to young buyers, seemed to turn away as many shoppers as it pulled in. With two all-new models debuting in New York Toyota is clearly refusing to admit defeat. The sedan, which sits on the Mazda 2 platform, offers styling that suggests Scion has finally found the right balance between low cost and “cheap.” However, while the new sedan and hatch look fine there’s still no SUV in the line-up, and in today’s world that’s an undeniable handicap for any brand trying to grow volume. 6. 2016 Jaguar XF: Jaguar caused quite a stir when the new F-Type debuted last year, yet it needs to refresh the rest of its line-up if it wants to increase sales and stay competitive in the luxury market. The new XF retains much of the previous car’s look, but a lighter, stronger chassis and improvements in drivetrain and suspension technology, along with a more advanced driver interface, will enhance the XF’s performance and appeal. Jaguar’s upcoming SUV will truly expand the brand’s customer base when it debuts next year. Until then the updated XF will give luxury sedan shoppers a compelling reason to consider the brand. 7. 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: The market for hybrid vehicles remains a tiny niche, and as fuel prices faltered in 2014 so did the market for hybrids. Toyota itself has shown increased dedication to fuel cell technology and is planning to introduce a consumer-ready fuel cell car next year. But hybrids remain a key component of the automaker’s near-term plan, and an all-new RAV4 Hybrid will debut in New York. The compact SUV segment is the hottest slice of the U.S. market right now, which means a RAV4 Hybrid, all by itself, could significantly increase total hybrid sales. 8. 2016 Kia Optima: Kia’s efforts to inject visual appeal across its model line have paid off in recent years. The current Optima is considered one of the best looking cars in the midsize sedan category, which puts pressure on Kia’s design team to improve an already attractive model. Thankfully they succeeded with the latest Optima, keeping the same sleek profile while enhancing details to further elevate its on-road presence. The Optima’s sales volume hasn’t yet approached segment leaders, but it’s visual appeal continues to bring in new customers, consistently moving that number in the right direction. 9. 2016 Nissan Maxima: The large (non-premium) sedan category isn’t dead…yet, though sales over the last decade confirm it’s fading fast. The reason why is easy to explain: why would anyone spend more for a sedan that’s only slightly larger than today’s midsize family sedans (Accord, Altima, Camry, etc.) when those sedans offer not only comparable interior volume but also the same degree of premium features? For example, the distance between an Altima and Maxima has all but vanished, though fans of the original “four-door sports car” can take heart that Nissan hasn’t surrendered. At one time the Maximum owned the large sedan category, and an all-new one will appear in New York to defend what’s left of its turf. 10. Mystery Machine: No, not the van from Scooby-Doo, this is a vehicle, that cannot be written about until April 1st when the embargo lifts. It’s a big deal. The details will be provided on Wednesday. Source: Forbes written by Karl Brauer

Mooted Apple electric car is expected to be released by the end of the decade Speculation regarding a possible Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Car has been accelerating, and to exacerbate this process the website carwow has produced a digital impression of this mooted vehicle. And considering the well-documented links between Apple and Tesla, it should not come as a huge surprise that this particular impression of the Apple Car very much resembles a Tesla vehicle. Apple-Tesla links Apple has previously been associated with Tesla for several reasons. Firstly, it was reported last year that the consumer electronics giant could be in buyout talks with the electric car manufacturer. Apple has invariably denied this, but links between the two corporations continue. It has also been asserted that Apple is intending some sort of collaboration all linked-up with Tesla, with the intention of strongly pushing its software as a car-based solution. But the strongest indication that Apple is planning to manufacture an electric car has been with regard to the revolving door between the two companies. Although, it must be said that this door is primarily revolving one way. Rumors about a possible Apple electric car were stimulated by the fact that Apple has recruited numerous notable individuals who previously worked for Tesla. Not to be outdone, it was reported by Bloomberg Business in February that Tesla had also been recruiting employees from Apple. Tesla has hired at least 150 former Apple employees; more than from any other company. Producing an electric car would also seem to make sense for Apple in some respects. There is certainly scepticism that Apple has the production capabilities to produce an electric vehicle, and there will also be issues for the company with regard to some of the logistics of vehicle manufacturing. Apple Car logical But Apple has always attempted to push its green credentials, and it obviously has many of the capabilities and much of the experience required to manufacture something which is at least partly electronic in nature. And somehow an electric vehicle just seems to fit the Apple remit and image. There is something inherently Apple-like about an electric car, quite aside from the fact that the consumer electronics giant is already very strongly placed to produce software for vehicles. Apple’s Tesla-like vehicle Thus, the carwow impression of a possible Apple Car is certainly not baseless. Already the media has dubbed the potential Apple electric vehicle as the iCar, but whether this would seriously turn out to be the name of an Apple Car is dubious. Apple has moved away from naming all of its products as iDevices with the release of the Apple Watch, and it seems an unlikely prospect for Apple to call its proposed vehicle iCar. Nonetheless, according to this hypothetical design, the links between Apple and Tesla are about to intensify. It is notable that the Apple Car could take strong cues from the Tesla Model S, which would seem to be logical considering that Tesla is by far the most successful manufacturer of electric cars in the history of the niche. Other technical specifications involved in the vehicle include a futuristic looking interior, featuring an iPhone dock on the center console, large navigation displays, and a separate screen for the front passenger. Clearly this is precisely the sort of design which one would associate with Apple, and it seems inevitable that any Apple Car would be one very much focused on multimedia. Apple Car challenges One cannot underestimate the massive undertaking involved in producing a motor vehicle from scratch. Apple has absolutely no experience in this whatsoever, and simply producing a roadworthy car is a huge challenge. Once this has been achieved, convincing the notoriously harsh and demanding motoring press that you have produced a genuinely high-quality vehicle that people will actually want to drive will be no easy task. And Apple cannot call upon the usual cachet which is the foundation of its success in consumer electronics; if anything people will be sceptical about the haughty claims of this newcomer to the auto trade. So with this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that the technical specifications proposed for the so-called Apple iCar are somewhat modest. Carwow claims that the top of the range Apple vehicle would benefit from 250 BHP Billiton plc (NYSE:BBL) (LON:BLT) (186 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) output while the battery pack would last for up to 310 miles (499 km). It also believes that a recharge of an electric car produced by Apple would take around four hours. Apple Car by 2020 Although Apple will remain resolutely quiet about the prospect of an electric car for many years, as is its general conduct, analysts believe that we can expect such a vehicle by the end of the decade. Having said that, the number of delays which Tesla has experienced with regard to some of its vehicles, and the general trend of release dates of motor vehicles being pushed backwards, suggest that this should be very much viewed as a tentative suggestion. Another interesting aspect of a possible Apple Car is the idea that it will feature some form of autonomous driving technology. This is becoming increasingly feasible with modern technology, and indeed numerous vehicles already feature driving assists, with apps available to expand this process still further. By the end of the decade, and even some way into the next decade, by which time Apple is expected to have released this proposed vehicle, such autonomous technology will have advanced even further. In the meantime, Apple is also strongly pushing its CarPlay feature. As in all areas that Apple becomes involved in, there is already a battleground between Apple and an Android competitor, Android Auto. Many analysts believe that Apple’s interest in the electric car niche is at least partly motivated by its intention to dominate it with its own proprietary software. And the company has certainly been making progress with this plan, with current Apple CEO Tim Cook suggesting during a media event recently that the Apple CarPlay infotainment system will become available on 40 new car models before the end of the year. Apple clearly has designs on the car market by hook or by crook, and it could be that many of us will be driving around in an Apple ‘iCar’ before too much longer. Source: http://www.valuewalk.com/