Report: GM execs fired over fraudulent India emissions testing

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Chevrolet, GM, India

Chevy Tavera Neo3 - front three-quarter view

General Motors hadn’t had a recall in India since 1995. That changed when it was discovered that certain employees were playing tricks with local emissions testing in order to ensure passing grades for engines. More than ten GM Powertrain employees in India and the US have been let go over the ensuing emissions flap, including Sam Winegarden, VP of global engine engineering, a man who has been with the company since 1969, leading development of some marquee powerplants.

According to Automotive News, an internal investigation revealed that employees “violated testing procedures,” sometimes swapping specially prepared low-emissions engines during testing regimes for the Chevrolet Tavera SUV equipped with the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines. Employees were also manipulating weights in order to get vehicles placed into different emissions categories. The discovery has led to GM recall the 114,000 Taveras produced over an eight-year period and halting their production and sale.

The Economic Times of India reports that the issue is due to “a faulty component.” GM has developed a solution to the issue, and once it is validated in testing and approved by the Indian authorities, the recalled vehicles will be fixed at dealers and production will resume.

GM execs fired over fraudulent India emissions testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Cadillac sales chief fired over policy violation

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Cadillac, GM

Cadillac US sales chief Chase Hawkins fired over policy violation.Amidst a good year for Cadillac, which is experiencing higher sales gains than any other US brand this year, the US sales chief has been fired over a policy violation, Automotive News reports.

The sales chief, Chase Hawkins, “has left effective immediately,” GM spokesman David Caldwell told Automotive News. Caldwell went on to say that Hawkins’ replacement would be chosen soon.

Hawkins became the US sales chief in June 2012, and before that was the regional sales director for Cadillac in the Northeast US, overseeing 168 dealerships.

In a brief phone interview, Hawkins told Automotive News that his firing had more to do with a personal issue than a company violation, and he left it at that.

Cadillac sales chief fired over policy violation originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jul 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Italian bus driver fired for driving with elbows while using two phones

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

Bus Driver with two cell phones in Rome

Bus Driver with two cell phones – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Italians sure do know how to live. Their vehicles are more beautiful, their meals more delicious and their bus drivers more distracted. Just take a look at the video after the jump to see what we mean.

While jostling through the hectic traffic of Rome (of course it’s in Rome, where else?) this particular driver took the time to attempt to set up his email on a new smartphone while speaking to customer service on a second handheld device. That’s right, this guy was rocking two phones at once while ferrying a load of people through the city streets.

Now, you may be wondering exactly how the mechanics of such a situation would play out. Our enterprising pilot took to steering the bus by using his elbows. According to The Guardian, the company that owns the bus service has suspended the driver pending a full investigation. Still, it’s terrifying to know that this guy is likely still behind the wheel of his personal vehicle. Click past the break to see the full video for yourself.

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Italian bus driver fired for driving with elbows while using two phones originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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