TOKYO MOTOR SHOW
Detroit 3 pull out of Tokyo auto show
The Detroit 3 automakers have pulled out of this year's Tokyo auto show to cut costs. Ford Motor Co. this afternoon confirmed Japanese media reports that Ford would not be participating this year. It wasn't clear if Volvo or Mazda would participate. Exhibiting in the show, which is held every two years, cost General Motors $2 million in 2007. That's money better spent elsewhere, said Rick Brown, president of GM Asia Pacific. » Read Article [REG] 10:17 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009 | UPDATED: 1/14/09 4:02 p.m. EST
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Chrysler rules out sale of individual brands
imageDETROIT (Reuters) -- Chrysler LLC ruled out selling an individual brand or plant but said today it would look to sell equipment and could license production of some of its current models to other automakers as it works to shore up its cash position. Chrysler Vice Chairman Tom LaSorda said he could not address the question of whether Chrysler's owner, private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, was shopping the company to potential buyers in its entirety. » Read Article [REG] 9:30 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009 | UPDATED: 1/14/09 4:45 p.m. ET
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
GOP senators want to block more bailout money
A group of Republican senators today proposed legislation that would block release of another $350 billion of federal money to rescue the nation's financial institutions. The funds also would be the source of further emergency loans to the Detroit 3, if needed. The senators said they oppose the second wave of money, in part, because a previous allocation of $350 billion included loans to General Motors and Chrysler LLC. » Read Article [REG] 4:23 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Obama's EPA to 'revisit' state CO2 rules for vehicles
imageLisa Jackson, President elect Barack Obama's nominee as EPA administrator, promised today to “immediately revisit” whether states should be allowed to enforce limits on vehicles emissions of greenhouse gases. The pledge sets the stage for an early challenge for automakers under Obama, who takes office Tuesday. Automakers and their allies oppose state-by-state regulation of greenhouse gases. » Read Article [REG] 1:04 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Nissan will continue 4-day weeks
Nissan North America Inc. will continue running its two U.S. assembly plants on reduced hours “indefinitely” because of slow U.S. sales. Nissan's auto plants in Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss., have been running only four days a week, eight hours a day, to reduce vehicle inventories. Nissan began operating some lines on four-day weeks last April and moved all production to the schedule in October. » Read Article [REG] 3:08 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Ford, Navistar settle engine dispute, end contract
Ford Motor Co. and Navistar International Corp., which have been locked in a dispute over a diesel engine supply contract for several years, said on Tuesday they had reached a settlement that brings the legal fight to an end and effectively dissolves a 30-year partnership. » Read Article [REG] 9:00 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Kia eyes 15% fuel savings from new stop-start engine
Kia Motors Corp. will start offering in Europe this spring a stop-start feature that can improve fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent by turning off the engine at traffic lights. The technology debuts in a new version of the Cee'd, a lower-segment car sold only in Europe. But Kia will bring the stop-start feature to other models in other markets in 2010. » Read Article [REG] 2:34 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Koichi Suzuki returns to head American Suzuki
American Suzuki announced Tuesday that Koichi Suzuki will rejoin American Suzuki Motor Corp. as executive vice president in charge of automotive operations. The appointment is effective Jan. 28. Koichi Suzuki, 45, replaces Mark Harano, 45, who will return to Japan to oversee Asian markets. » Read Article [REG] 11:07 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Delphi sells exhaust business to Mexican company
A Mexican maker of catalytic converters and exhaust systems has agreed to buy Delphi Corp.'s global exhaust business for $17 million. Katcon S.A., a subsidiary of Mexican holding company Bienes Turgon S.A., will use an equity increase and cash reserves to finance the deal, Katcon said in a statement yesterday. The deal is expected to be completed in the first half of this year. » Read Article [REG] 4:16 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
BorgWarner launches joint venture with Chinese automakers
Supplier BorgWarner Inc. said today it will form a joint venture with a consortium of 12 Chinese automakers to manufacture dual-clutch transmissions in China. BorgWarner signed the joint venture contract with China Automobile Development United Investment Co. Ltd., which is owned by China's largest automakers. » Read Article [REG] 3:11 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Visteon expects sharp drop in revenue for year, quarter
Visteon Corp. says that revenue for 2008 and the fourth quarter plunged more than expected, and that it is expanding its cuts to employee benefits. The suburban Detroit supplier of lighting, interiors, electronics and climate controls has been bludgeoned by production cuts in North America, particularly those at its largest customer and former parent, Ford Motor Co. Ford accounted for 39 percent of Visteon's business in 2007. » Read Article [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Porsche prices updated Boxster, Cayman
imagePorsche has announced pricing for its freshened 2009 Boxster and Cayman models. » Read Article [REG] 3:20 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Fiat veteran Cravero to head Alfa Romeo
imageItalian industrial group Fiat said on Wednesday it had appointed Sergio Cravero as head of its Alfa Romeo sports car brand. Cravero replaces Luca De Meo, whose surprise resignation sent Fiat's share price lower on Monday. » Read Article [REG] 6:45 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009 | UPDATED: 09/01/14 15:18 CET
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Wagoner: GM will assess need for additional bailout funds
imageGeneral Motors CEO Rick Wagoner says the company won't know how much more in government loans it will need until March 31. Wagoner, speaking on a nationwide radio show Tuesday night, said GM has enough money to fund its business operations through the first quarter. » Read Article [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
Jaguar Land Rover to cut 450 jobs
imageBritish luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover announced 450 job losses on Wednesday due to a "severe" reduction in demand for new cars. The Coventry, West Midlands-based company, part of India's Tata Motors said it was proposing to shed about 300 management roles and a further 150 salaried agency staff. » Read Article [REG] 7:00 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2009
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Corker hopes Chrysler will merge
imageTennessee U.S. Senator Robert Corker came to the Detroit auto show today and said Chrysler LLC needs to find a merger partner and General Motors is carrying too much debt. Corker, a freshman Republican, emerged as a point man in the automotive debate after he and a group of Southern lawmakers blocked auto-bailout legislation last month. » Read Article [REG] 4:15 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 13, 2009 | UPDATED: 1/13/08 5:23 p.m. EST
DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Dodge surprise: Challenger R/T Classic harkens back to '70s era muscle
imageDodge is evoking the spirit of the original 1970 Challenger with a special edition car it will introduce later this month. Dodge quietly placed the Challenger R/T Classic special edition car on its Detroit auto show stand during press days but won't announce details until later this week. » Read Article [REG] 2:57 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 13, 2009
Bernhard resurfaces at Magna
imageWolfgang Bernhard, one of the executives who steered DaimlerChrysler AG's effort to revive Chrysler in the U.S., is working as an adviser to auto-parts supplier Magna International Inc. Magna confirmed the appointment to Automobilwoche, a sister publication to Automotive News. The company would not say whether Bernhard would be offered a full-time position. » Read Article [REG] 7:59 am U.S. ET | Jan. 13, 2009 | UPDATED: 1/13/09 11:18 a.m. EST
DETROIT AUTO SHOW
Tesla working with Daimler on electric Smart car
imageCalifornia hybrid automaker Tesla Motors is working with Daimler AG to create an electric version of the Smart car, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said today at the Detroit auto show. » Read Article [REG] 12:50 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 13, 2009 | UPDATED: 1/14/09 10:33 a.m. EST
THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Lawmaker prefers help for auto buyers, not companies
A veteran Republican lawmaker says it would be better for the federal government to give $5,000 to every new-vehicle buyer than to pour more taxpayer money into struggling companies. If more people buy new cars and trucks, “the economy will restart itself,” Rep. Donald Manzullo, R-Ill., said today. » Read Article [REG] 5:28 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 13, 2009
AUTOGRAPHED ADOLF HUEHNLEIN NSKK PHOTO BOOK
Limited edition 1938 NSKK photo book signed by NSKK
Korpsführer Hühnlein with dedication to Luftwaffe General.
Mercedes-Benz
NAZI COLOR BOOK - AUTO RACING
Superb Nazi Mercedes-Benz color photo auto racing book!
KdF A bis Z
NAZI KdF VOLKSWAGEN CAR MANUAL
The rare, heavily illustrated KdF (VW) car glove box manual.
Mercedes
NAZI AUTO RACING BOOKS MERCEDES-BENZ
Two heavily illustrated rare Third Reich auto racing books.
KdF-Wagen
NAZI KdF CAR PURCHASE APPLICATION
Authentic 1938 KdF Wagen Sparkarte application form.
NSKK
1944 NSKK AUTOMOTIVE BASICS BOOK
Rare, very late war edition of the NSKK-Kraftfahrzeug-Fibel
or NSKK Motor Vehicle Primer.
NAZI CAR LICENSE PLATE
An authentic Third Reich German license plate from the
city of Freiberg near Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany.
Motorschau
MOTOR SCHAU MAGAZINES
Dozens of issues of the premier heavily illustrated Nazi
automotive magazine Motor Schau from 1937, 1939, 1940, and 1942
Echo Continental
NAZI TIRE COMPANY MAGAZINE
April/May 1938 heavily illustrated Nazi magazine Echo Continental.
KdF Wagen
RARE NAZI AUTOMOTIVE BOOK 1942
Illustrated handbook for automobile workers, includes Volkswagen!
Nazi MV Book
RARE NAZI MILITARY VEHICLE BOOK 1940
A photographic treasure trove! Jungens, Männer und Motore
contains 120 photos of the Hitler Youth in motor vehicle training schools.
Nazi motorcycle
NAZI CAR SCHOOL BOOKS
The technical and traffic books for a German automobile driving school.
Aluminum alloy products particularly for automotive applications, e.g. panel members, may be produced from a body of aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of, by weight, 0.5 to 0.85% Si, 0.25 to 0.48% Mg, 0.05 to 0.4% Fe, 0.75 to 1.1% Cu, 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, the balance essentially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. The alloy body may be homogenized at a temperature in the range 900° to 1100° F. and thereafter worked into a wrought product such as sheet which may be continuously solution heat treated and quenched and aged to a T4 condition prior to forming into vehicular panel members, for example.
The improved sheet and other wrought products produced as herein described have a range of yield strength of from around 12 to 30 ksi, typically 15 to 25 ksi, for sheet in the naturally aged condition following proper solution and quench treatments as described herein. The naturally aged condition is achieved without any added treatment and occurs naturally with the passage of time. There are two aspects of natural aging in the practice which make such particularly suited to use in automotive or vehicular body applications. One aspect is that a stable property level is reached relatively quickly, after about only 1 or 2 weeks, or perhaps a month at room temperature, wherein the strength levels off and remains substantially at or near a relatively constant level for many months, or even years. Another aspect is that this stable level of properties is characterized by strength and formability qualities particularly suited to automotive or vehicular body applications. The condition of naturally aged stable properties is termed the T4 temper.
Aluminum wrought products produced in accordance with the foregoing practice provide material having the strength and forming characteristics required to serve as automotive or vehicular body sheet. One test of formability is a bend test which relates formability, especially with respect to the hemming or seaming which is sometimes employed to join inner and outer automotive panels in a dual panel structure such as a door or hood. It will be noted that the bend can be 180° and the radius of curvature can be equivalent to half the thickness (1/2 T) of the metal. For example, the bend radius would be 0.02 inch for 0.04 inch thick sheet. Automotive body sheet should be capable of withstanding such 180°-1/2 T bends without cracking, crazing or other signs of failure or incipient failure. The cracking in the hemming operation not only weakens the structure comprising the outer panel and support panel, but is also generally considered unacceptable aesthetically and can necessitate additional work to fill in and finish the hem area.
Sheet or other wrought products produced in accordance herewith are relatively readily formed into shaped or contoured automotive panels or structural members. Such forming typically includes pressing or stamping between opposite mating dies. In the case of a bumper, an extrusion or relatively thick sheet is stamped to provide the longitudinal curvature. A wheel is formed by first forming a welded hoop from a sheet, further forming the hoop to provide the desired contour and the welding or riveting to the inside of the hoop of the radial spider member which is typically stamped from sheet. These forming operations are typically carried out at room temperature but can be effected at slightly elevated temperatures of up to around 200° or at the so-called warm forming temperatures of up to around 400° F. or perhaps 450° F. However, it is preferred in some instances to perform the forming at substantially room temperature meaning not over 150° or 200° F. in order to avoid inducing uncontrolled precipitation effects in the alloy member.
